Chapter 149 - Rumors Confirmed

Orwell Lotheringwood was a well-known graduate of Magierstadt. He had aced the exams along with Lucas Feuerlon, managed to have his wind spells in The Book, and then conquer the land of Lothlorien. Orwell, who was known by everyone even among the streets, was seen with a girl.

"This never happened before."

"Is she her lover?"

"Then Orwell courted his best friend… er, rival's younger sister?"

Rumors had spread in the course of hours. After Orwell gave Faustina that 'good luck spell' he shortly headed out of the academy. But he didn't exit Magierstadt as sooner as he could expect. The professors that weren't judges for the contest then went to greet him.

"Orwell! We thought you're never coming back!"

"Oh, it's our famous Moscow—no, he's Lotheringwood now!"

"Did you change your mind and came here to be a professor?"

"Or perhaps, researcher?"

"Aye! He's not going to waste his talents in seclusion like you. There's no way we could make such a valuable graduate into a researcher!"

"Being a mage researcher is a NOBLE profession, mind you! If he becomes a researcher, he'd be able to enhance his talents in making spells."

"He's a good professor too—and staying in Magierstadt will give him more exposure!"

Orwell chuckled. 

"I'm still going to stay in Lotheringwood." 

"Eh? Then what's your business here, Orwell?" One of the professors who were close to him in his school years asked. "Not that we don't want you here. It's just so sudden."

"Well… I just helped my student," Orwell exclaimed. "Gave some encouragement before she took the exam."

"Oooh," the professors said in chorus. "Wait, what? Student! You're a teacher?!"

"Ah, sort of a tutor, Professors." Orwell clarified. 

Maddie sauntered her way towards them, and bowed at the professors. 

"Mr. Orwell, it's time,�� Maddie exclaimed. 

"Oh," Orwell nodded. "I'll have to go, Professors. It was nice talking to you all."

**

Orwell and Maddie went down back to Magierstadt's streets. Fireflies lingered across the air and give light to their paths. And as Maddie and Orwell walked in comfortable silence, Maddie's train of thoughts stopped as she glanced at Orwell.

"You're awfully in a good mood, Mister Lotheringwood."

"Just Orwell, Maddie," Orwell said with a smile.

Maddie still had the reds on the corner of her eyes from her tears earlier. Parting with Faustina clearly made her saddened, and Orwell couldn't keep wondering IF it was the strength of Sheila's magic that made Maddie so attached to the girl, or if Faustina was just that likable.

Of course, the latter seemed to be more plausible. Even if there is magic involved, nothing but the outside has changed. The inside cannot be tweaked with spells. Maddie's reaction and Faustina's—and the people around them as well—didn't change. Sheila said that glamours only give temporary spaces in people's memories which could be forgotten after the spell wears off. 

It was too convenient and would spark the evil inside others. Which is why it IS a good thing that only the Clairvoyants can use this certain spell. And clairvoyants, who are essentially small in number, uses the spell in absolute discretion. Sheila is a high priestess serving the king, and that gave her absolute authority over the use of spells. And this easily makes her a formidable enemy.

"You've been chirpy after saying goodbye to M'lady," Maddie speculated. "Is there something that happened earlier that I didn't know?"

Orwell blinked several times, turning to Maddie as they both stopped in the middle of the streets, A firefly illuminating their faces, but hiding the slight blush in Orwell's cheeks.

"Whatever do you mean, Lady Maddie?"

Maddie giggled. "M'lady is adorable, isn't she?"

Orwell tilted his head. "Sure she is."

"Don't you find her very determined in the most adorable way?" Maddie exclaimed. "Because I find her like that. But sometimes, I worry. I worry about her being so much engrossed with doing this even if her body's health is on decline. She still can live an easy life even if she won't go to Magierstadt. She's a Feuerlon, after all… So I wonder, from time to time, why the king was so much involved with her and she's got a magic tutor and all that."

Orwell didn't give Maddie a response. 

It was a part of the consequences to have the people who were tricked by the glamour be confused. Glamours, after all, are only masks. They do not change anything. Instead, they 'make up' something. In the end, the truth will always linger and confuse people. But the spells are strong, and there are ones on the top controlling the strings. 

The king himself is doing this.

"I wonder why things became like this… or how she was allowed to even take the exam… or have a magic tutor. Erm, not that I mean to offend you, Mister Lotheringwood… but…"

"It's nothing," Orwell said with a smile. "Faustina simply wants to study magic, that's all."

It might not be the truth, but it wasn't a whole lie. Faustina Heilen has mana that could outrank anyone, although it wasn't obvious given her timid demeanor. Her mana obviously has some seal as a clear leak is observable in any mage's eyes. But this leak was glamoured as well to prevent suspicion. 

To be able to stabilize her mana and remove her magic's seal, Faustina must study magic. Orwell tutored her the basics, but he couldn't go beyond them. Magierstadt, the academy that harbored the Forsaken and the only elite academy that accepts both students from Zuerst and Zweite. Enrolling Faustina in this academy would be hitting two birds with one stone.

Faustina would be able to stabilize her mana, could possibly even undo the seal of Eulalia Fortunatorum in her, and then perhaps even find the truth.

And…

The king would be able to sustain his life, and could even get rid of the disease called Nightmare if everything would turn as he planned.

Orwell continued to walk as Maddie followed.

If only it were that easy, though.

**

Maddie and Orwell were able to arrive in time to Magierstadt's ports. They would come back to Lotheringwood as per the request of Orwell's mother, Lovellia Moscow, who was in Orwell's mansion to request his presence.

Lovellia had already prepared them a private ship that would transport them back to Lothlorien, which should be about an hour or two voyage from Magierstadt's ports to the island depending on the currents. 

Orwell took this as the time to think about what he had done earlier.

"Orwell?" Faustina tilted her head.

"Be careful out there," Orwell utters, and then leaned gently, kissing Faustina's forehead.

He drew away with a smile. "There."

"Wh-what . . . was that?" Faustina asks, her face a deep red.

"A protection mark," says Orwell. "It's my own spell. A good luck spell."

A good luck spell, really? What did he just do? Orwell ruffled his hair. He then removed his glasses, staring at the starry night sky, expression turning serious.

He has been thinking for a while now, about Faustina, and the shawled man who told them about the exams being remodified. Whatever it meant, he needs to investigate.

**

Orwell and Maddie arrived in Lothlorien, a small island that is protected with a magic barrier made by Orwell himself—which safeguards his mansion, which was deep in Lothlorien's forest. Orwell's mansion is inhabited by several servants that keep the mansion clean and kempt. His mother, Lovellia Moscow, often comes on the island to visit her only son, but that practice dwindled when Sheilalev Ortflacon went to Lothlorien carrying the 'king's command'.

Ever since that day, Orwell and Lovellia got used to teach the same girl and then talk about her afterward. Orwell's research was discontinued, as well as Lovellia's works. They do not have the authority to say no to the king—not that they didn't want to do his command. And Orwell knows why.

"Mother,"

"Orwell!"

Both mother and son were intrigued by teaching a Heilen girl that was under the king's protection.

Orwell arrived into his mansion welcomed by the butler. Maddie was escorted by the maids to her room to rest, and then Orwell went with his butler to the drawing-room, where his mother could be found. The night was void of clouds, calling for a clear sky. The drawing-room had only glass walls within it, which would be a perfect spectacle for a discussion.

"You can leave us, Aldenon," Lovellia said into the butler, Aldenon. Aldenon then gave a bow before he exited the promises.

Orwell scowled. His mother usually didn't let people leave the room even when she discussed things.

"What's wrong, mother?"

Lovellia Moscow stood up and then faced Orwell with an apprehensive expression. Orwell felt the strange feeling of unease. What was happening? He hardly saw his mother getting frazzled, so it was considered a big deal for Orwell.

"Have you heard of the rumors?"

"Rumors…?" Orwell had heard plenty, but what could his mother be talking about?

"About Magierstadt changing its exams. It's spreading to Feuersturm now." 

Orwell scowled. "Yes, I know, Mother. Why?"

"Those rumors were just confirmed earlier," Lovellia exclaimed. "And since I've watched your research, I recognized one thing."

"Recognized one thing?"

"You are aware of Zweite's fallen Dark Castle, right?"

Orwell nodded. Of course, how could he forget? Zweite's Dark Castle had the history of a gruesome murder that was cursed by warlocks. Even if it is a minor reoccurrence that wasn't in any way popular, he was still familiar with it due to the sinister value it holds.

"Apparently, Magierstadt made a dungeon that imitated the dark castle…" Lovellia exclaimed. 

"No… Magierstadt MADE a dark castle that harbors the cursed souls of the real undead, Orwell." 

Orwell blinked.

"And when the undead lurks…"

"…it searches for those with strong mana." Orwell continued, with a bead of sweat dripping across his temples.

Orwell gritted her teeth.

'This is bad.'