Chapter 98 - Orwell's Solitude, and Faustina's Slap

Silence could be either pleasant or unpleasant, depending on how it was conveyed. For Orwell, the silence was solitude, which is partly why he chose to reside in Lothlorien. The noises he could only hear are the splashing waves, the leaves of foliage brushing against each other along with creaking branches, the chirps of small birds in the morning, and the wind. There was nothing better than silence—he had servants in Lothlorien, but they understood that their magician master ought to do things unobtrusively. He had built his manor on the land he conquered with the treasure he acquired. He was famed for it. Thrilled was he when the king wanted something from him; he was presumptuous that they would be asking him for assistance in the search for Nightmare's cure, or to formulate complex magical formulas to strengthen the kingdom's barrier…

But no. He was called to the palace because he ought to teach a girl. A Heilen. His solitude was broken into smithereens and he wasn't in his usual comfort. He was set to teach, with uncertainties. Without explanation. He was ordered, and he wasn't allowed to ask why. It wasn't Orwell's style. Research revolved around formulating hypotheses and determining the questions needed answering. But this—what had happened—was beyond his expertise. He tried to come up with speculations, but he cannot decipher something he himself couldn't understand. He lacked information.

For many years, Orwell adored silence. Until he was tasked to teach this girl, who was hemmed in certain circ.u.mstances he cannot believe, even if it was laid before his eyes. This girl was sixteen, with dark hair—the color of the night; one could associate such features with misfortune. She was most definitely a Heilen, the clan desired by slave traders; which, as a matter of fact, were extinct. His life wasn't silent anymore—it was filled with questions the moment he held her biodata, and the day he met her in the palace; she looked lost, confused, and struggling—she was a girl smaller for her age, paler than fair, and a girl who was leaking with mana because of her weak and unstable body—nonetheless, she can only use weak magical spells. This was abnormal; if your mana is leaking, then it's overflowing in your body—meaning that you have way too much and you are supposed to be overpowering with it. Yet this girl channels the mana weakly. Her magic was sealed and the leaking mana meant she had a tad too much inside; the seal was wearing off. Orwell never knew it was possible.

He loved silence, and it was now gone. She welcomed him with many questions. Orwell's life was now filled with inquiries and curiosity—thanks to her. The silence was gone.

Until now.

The silence reimbursed. However, the silence in Owen Lopez's office wasn't the pleasant one he associated with solitude. The silence was ringing on his ears. His thoughts were circling and orbiting in loops without any answers. He could not speak—his eyes were fixated at the table, but he wasn't 'looking' at the table—his gaze blank, he was absorbed in thought; deep in the abyss of his mind. Orwell was confused, intrigued, and rendered speechless.

"That's all that happened," Faustina says.

"You defeated the marionette…" Orwell says after a long pause. "By saying those things?"

Faustina nodded.

"I still can't believe it," Orwell mutters. "Never have I heard of that way to defeat a creature summoned by darkness."

Faustina stared intently.

"There was a white light that appeared as the marionette vanished," Faustina says. "It was warm, and I was fairly sure it wasn't an evil entity."

"A white light?" Orwell asks. "Marionettes only harbor dark magic… wait… but it didn't hurt you, right?"

"It didn't. It just wanted to have me step to a magic circle."

"Can you describe that magic circle for me?"

Faustina nods and explained the markings she saw from the magic circle.

"That must be it," Orwell says. "It may have been a form of a magic circle for teleportation."

"Magic for teleportation?"

"It's quite common, but it's restricted by Magierstadt. They keep records on who uses teleportation circles, and to where they want to take a certain person. It's in the Magic Registry; when there're suspicious activities, they restrict that magic circle to transport. That's one way to catch magician thieves,"

Faustina nodded. "Then, does that mean we may be able to track the one who ordered the marionette?"

"Bingo," Orwell says. "It won't be easy, though. Even if I'm a former graduate, we have to still process the request."

"How long will it take?" Faustina asks anxiously.

"Hey…" Orwell pinched her cheeks.

"O-Orwell?"

"Don't worry about it. I'll handle that. You should only focus on the exam." Says Orwell. "Secondly, after knowing the Priestess is indeed hiding something from us, it wouldn't be wise to tell her the details of how you defeated the marionette. I think it's for the best."

Faustina nodded. "I think so, too."

"We'll tell them when we find something out on the registry," Orwell says. "And you don't call me Mister Orwell 'nymore, huh?"

Faustina blinked. "I'm sorry,"

"I'm just joking." Orwell smiles and sighs. "You seem to be on edge lately. Are you okay?"

Faustina lowered her gaze.

"I don't know," Faustina says. "I don't know what I'm doing."

"Faustina…"

"I'm not sure if I can get Eula's body back." Faustina mumbles. "I don't know if I'll be able to do these things."

Orwell firmly held Faustina's shoulders.

"Look at me."

Faustina slowly lifted her head, as her gaze locked with Orwell's.

"I understand what you're feeling," Orwell exclaims. "And I won't force you to get over it quickly."

Faustina stared and listened as Orwell continued to speak.

"You're caught in the middle of things, Faustina," Orwell says. "And I understand plenty. I know how it feels to be ordered without you understanding a thing."—a pause—"but believe me; eventually, you'll understand. And when you do, you will be able to walk your own path."

**

Lucas and Ezekiel returned to the City Hall, five minutes late. Lucas Feuerlon was there to propose a plan, and Ezekiel was sent by his mother to learn the ropes since he was going to be the next schoolmaster. Lucas already asked for Anna Unsterblich's counsel regarding a quest he was willing to take but was rejected. He was thinking of gaining the favor of City Hall as an alternative to change Anna's mind. And to do that, the proposal of the expedition must be executed properly. But again, they were five minutes late, dwindling their chances to turn this around.

They entered the City Hall shortly with the governors already sitting at their designated seats. There was a long rectangular table, and on the other end was Feuer's Lord, Axkell Feuerfalke. Like Feuerlon clan, Feuerfalke is one of the subsidiary family of the Feuerkriegers. The royal family has three family branches who possessed the kingdom's high ranking positions: Feuerlons, the dukedom; Feuerfalkes, the governors of the capital; and Feuersoldat, the generals of military power.

"You are late, young Feuerlon," says Lord Axkell sharply. His blond hair was faded platinum, and his eyes were the color of shining gold. His gaze was sharp, and his look was deadly.

"Business matters are important more than anything else. Have you been idle? You could have sent Bethrion instead." Says a young woman, with her legs crossed. She was sitting beside Axkell, their faces painstakingly similar. Her blond hair was long and was braided intricately, she wore a hot red gown that complemented her fair features. Her jewelry composed of gold and rubies.

"I sincerely apologize, Eli." Lucas smiles at the woman.

She harrumphed.

Lucas sauntered towards the girl and then knelt to kiss her hand.

"I'm sorry for being late, Lady Elindei Rossana Feuerfalke." Lucas politely says to the daughter of the Lord.

Eli glared at Lucas and snatches her hand away. When he stood up and paid his greetings to the lord, he flashed the sweetest smile at Eli who winced grimly, which was rather horrendously evident to the governors, but not to Lucas.

"Ezekiel Johann Unsterblich." Lord Axkell says, looking directly at Ezekiel who was observing the whole enchilada with disinterest.

"Does this bore you?" Axkell inquires, his voice noxious and stern.

Ezekiel smiles.

"It does."

Chatters and undertones inundated the entire room as they pick up Ezekiel's riposte.

"Such disrespect…"

"He's talking to the man who's the Lord of the capital…! How could he?"

"He said that to a branch family of a royal! Such nerve!"

Axkell chuckled, and then the whispering stopped. Even Eli, his daughter, stared in bewilderment. Axkell never laughed, or smiled!

"I like you," Axkell exclaims. "Proceed with the proposal. Let me hear what you have in your sleeves."

**

"Bow before me, peasant!"

People in the lobby are comprised of nobles ranging from barons to counts; Liliane Disfiegro is the daughter of a marquis, the nobles next to the dukedom. The hierarchy of nobles ranges from bottom to top: Barons, Viscount, Count, Marquis, Duke, and finally, Royalty. Such big differences in status meant they cannot do anything even when they witness something unjust if it's committed by a noble whose status is ranking higher than them.

Maddie slowly leaned her head down, bowing while placing her hand atop the other modestly.

"This inn is rented by my father, and I don't think there's a room for you or your master here." Says Liliane. "The nobles I've let to stay are all at my mercy."

"I apologize, but that may be untrue." Says Maddie politely. "I already inquired. There is still a suite unoccupied."

"My father rented this WHOLE place, which part in that are you unable to grasp?" Lilliane snickers, "like master, like servant, indeed."

"I deeply apologize, but I have things to attend to," Maddie exclaims. "Please excuse me, Lady Lilliane." And with that, Maddie turns away to book—but then…

"What do you think you're doing? I'm not done talking with you yet!" Lilliane indignantly utters as she seizes Maddie by the arm, and forcibly turning her, which resulted in Maddie losing her balance as she tripped down to the floor.

"Oh!" Lilliane snorted. "A rude master, and an inept servant. What a pair you are."

The nobles who were watching laughed and giggled as they spoke to themselves. Maddie noticed the staff worrying over her, but they were unable to do anything. This was the daughter of the marquis—it wasn't just a random noble. The nobles rising in power—the Disfiegros—were nobles with the track record of violence and grace. No one would want to come across them. Maddie bit her lip and tried to stand up, only to find a red heel stomping the back of her hand.

"Bow." Says Lilliane. "Bow properly. I trust you know who I am."

Maddie bit her lip to hold back her sob. She wasn't used to such humiliation.

"What are you waiting for?" Lilliane asks with the sweetest, cold voice. "Bow before me!"

"What are you doing?" A voice says, with footsteps reverberating across the whole lobby. The other nobles stopped snickering as their whispers died down. Ash grey hair swirled as she walked, with chocolate-brown eyes looking through Lilliane's with a fixated gaze. There was an air around her that spoke for itself; there was no mistaking who was the one walking towards the bowing servant. Everyone knew who she was in an instant—the distinct ash-grey hair, and as if on a spell, they recognized which house she belonged to; whose child she is.

"What am I doing? I'm doing nothing. Can't you see this servant is simply bowing down?" Lilliane snickers. "Or are you dimwitted and—"

Staggering down to the floor, Lilliane held her now sore, reddened left cheek. She was stopped midsentence with an ear-shattering slap. All the nobles were taken aback, even Maddie stared unblinkingly. The girl, who was smaller than Lilliane, just delivered such a fierce blow to her which sent her stumbling to the ground.

Faustina turned to Maddie and helped her to her feet. Faustina eyed her rubicund hand, with the dent of a heel. Orwell hid Maddie behind, to guard her against prying ears and umpiring eyes.

"Let's go, I do not want to share a place with a foul creature," Faustina says, eyeing Lilliane. Afterward, they walked away with Orwell guiding Maddie, walking away without turning their head back.

"My fiancé will hear about this…!" Lilliane thrashed angrily. "Ezekiel will not forgive you…! Wench!"