Chapter 179 - The Sixth Dorm

Faustina had walked east as per Magierstadt's map. The dorm of the sixth Ianua was the farthest among all of the other dorms. It was near the 'Magi Forest' which was located north. Fireflies, magic lamps, and the bright half-moon served as the light of the students. The entire academy was still lively at night. Many students were still scattered, searching for their 'Houses' or their Ianuas. Some are chattering and were sitting into the grass as they peer through the night sky and the place surrounded by the warm glow of fireflies.

Magierstadt was indeed a large academy. In the center of the map was the main castle. There was also the greenhouse located north. On the western portion of the academy was the dormitories for Ianuas I, II, and III. On the east was for Ianuas IV, V, and VI. The southern part was the academy's entrance where the Fountain of Wishes was located. There was also a vast array of forest located on the far north, which the greenhouse was located as well. The floating islands are on the sides of the map where the research laboratories are situated. The Colosseum, where the Grand Magic Games is being held, is also on the floating islands. The dormitories are castles that are located near two cliffs where the ocean can be viewed. 

This… is the place where Eula had studied.

Her alma mater.

Faustina still couldn't move on from the fact that Magierstadt was beautiful. 

It was truly a spectacle to behold.

After walking through the cobblestone paths, some sheds, and even passing by flower gardens, Faustina finally reached her dorm.

The sixth Ianua was yet another castle. It had a Romanesque motif. Faustina had passed through several other Ianua dormitories, which had different looks and distinction from each other. The sixth Ianua was the same size as the other castles, but the others seemed to have more design and sophistication the higher their class is.

But no one could deny the fact that even the sixth dormitory was amazing on its own.

The gates were opened wide, and many students were outside chattering to themselves, going to the large, opened doors, and simply lounging around getting to know their fellow students. Faustina looked around, hoping she could see people that she recognizes—but to no avail, there was none.

Faustina took a deep breath as she walked forward.

'Watch over me, Master.' Faustina then took a step into the light. 

**

Upon stepping to that light, Faustina was welcomed with a crowd. Mages of different kinds gathered inside the lobby of the castle and the place seemed to be akin to the streets. Chatters surrounded the entirety of the lobby, and the masses were just too many. Faustina was only able to fit through by excusing herself several times in order to reach the reception area.

The people around the lobby and outside the Sixth Ianua were just too many. Back at the Armillas Ceremony where they were given their corresponding Houses, Faustina had noticed that Ianua VI held the most numbers of students.

Faustina already passed through the other Ianua castles. They looked fancier and were more sophisticated than theirs, but they were just the same size. She wondered if their dorm wouldn't run out of rooms considering their numbers.

Faustina looked around as she gets shoved and have her feet stepped with. She winced in pain but she had endured until she reached the reception. The receptionist was another mage—who looked like a student—except she had a badge around her right arm. The badge was a red-color cloth that had a firefly emblem inside a magical hex enclosed to it. There was also a 'VI' that was etched onto the badge, which Faustina had guessed to pertain to their House or their class.

They were all wearing the same uniform, nonetheless: a dark-red skirt that fell above her knee. It was also paired with a white blouse and grey vest, and around the collar was a dark-red ribbon. Faustina had worn dark boots also. Acting as a cherry on top was the additional dark robe. Other students had already removed their robes and used minimizing magic to be able to conceal it to their duffel. But Faustina preferred the robe on. It gave her the feeling of security.

"What can I do for you?"

Before Faustina could answer the student receptionist, she spoke again.

"Ah. Faustina Feuerlon, huh. You're on the East Wing, which is for the girls. Room number would be Room 359." The student receptionist exclaimed. "My name is Wen. Your senior. You have your key already, right? Just survive the crowd and you'll be able to go to your room."

Faustina nodded. "T-thank you."

Wen only smiled.

"Ah, and don't forget. There's a welcome party later at midnight," she says. "Make sure to go to the Dorm's Main Hall dressed properly."

Faustina nodded, and then she went off. 

**

Faustina was able to get away from the crowd after several minutes of struggling and exerting effort. She panted as she finally reached the stairs. The castle was larger than she had thought. If the dorms are this large, the academy was five times bigger. Faustina looked around. There were still artificial fireflies flying around, illuminating her path. The moonlight served as her light as well.

In this part of her dorm, there weren't many people around. It was silent, but it wasn't an eerie silence compared to the Dark Castle. Faustina took several steps before she was able to step through the carpeted floor. 

Excitement.

How odd—she was indeed brimming with excitement. She couldn't hide her smile.

A school. A dorm. Welcome party.

"I never thought I could experience this, Master."

Eula's alma mater. She couldn't believe she was indeed here. Faustina then went towards the hallway and then as she walked, she had seen several paintings and murals of mages who were fighting what seemed like… other mages?

Faustina stopped at a certain painting.

The painting was the largest among all others. It was fixed against the wall. The painting displayed a man with silver-colored hair that fell to his waist fighting multiple mages. He had worn clothes that were foreign to Faustina. There were golden, and circular earrings on his ears and he had no clothes on top, only a white robe strapped to his lower body. He held a staff—an amethyst staff. 

Faustina recognized the man immediately. He was the one seen into Magierstadt's textbooks—the first founder of the academy. But in the pictures, he did not have such long hair. 

The painting also emphasized the warriors he was fighting. They looked like mages, but they all wore pitch-black robes and translucent but dark masks that had intricate golden patterns around the sides. They also held dark-wood staves. But what piqued most of Faustina's attention was not that… but their hair color.

Like the silver-haired man fighting them alone, these mages also had hair that fell to their waist. 

"Black… hair."

"They are Heilen."

Faustina blinked, turning to the source of that voice.

"Michelle!"

It was Michelle, who had her staff strapped to her back and had also carried a duffel bag and some other larger bags which had composed of her personal items.

"Hello, Faustina—er, Lady Feuerlon," Michelle smiled, bowing her head a bit. She also seemed a bit shy now, for some reason.

"Just Faustina is fine, Michelle." Faustina exclaimed.

Michelle only smiled, but her expression did not change.

"Um… are you also heading towards your room?" Faustina asked. 

"Yes, as you can see, I'm on my way. And I see you are as well, Lady Faustina," said Michelle.

"That's good. Maybe we can walk together." Faustina smiled brightly. "Right?"

"U-um…"

"Oh, if it isn't the disgraced noble."

Faustina and Michelle turned towards the ones who had spouted those words. Three women came towards them, with their arms crossed to their chests.

"And… some commoner," remarked the girl in the middle as she stares at Michelle.

The women then looked at Faustina from head to toe.

"I've heard that the duke's youngest daughter came to partake the exam, but I never thought she was THIS plain-looking and didn't hold an ounce of resemblance to any of her siblings."

Faustina didn't answer her remarks, so the woman continued to speak.

"Such a disgrace—to have a daughter that fell to the lowest Ianua. No one in Magierstadt had irregular mana that bursts like an erratic flame. That must mean she has no talent." The girl in the middle sarcastically quipped as the two giggled to themselves.

"Lady Faustina has talent. Besides, if any decent student would have also studied Magierstadt's textbooks, they would surely stumble upon a passage about rare mages having irregular mana. And since they are considered to be very rare, they are said to be powerful as well." Michelle stared at the women who flinched in response. "It looks like some people aren't just that focused on studying."

The women then sweat bullets. 

"Y-you're wrong! I have been reading textbooks!"

"Th-that's right!"

Michelle tilted her head.

"Oh? Were you the ones I was pertaining to?" Michelle covered her lips. "So you three haven't been reading, then?"

The three women then exited.

"W-we'll remember this!"

Michelle sighed. "Nobles…"

Faustina then chuckled. "That was a lie, wasn't it?" Faustina smiled. "The mages with irregular mana."

Michelle only grinned. "Yes. But it worked since they aren't really studying."

"Thank you, Michelle." Faustina exclaimed. "For helping me."

Michelle seemed to be taken aback. Her coy disposition was slowly diminishing as she stares at Faustina. "L-Lady Faustina,"

"The exams are over and we passed," Michelle exclaimed. "So right now maybe… you know… c-can we become... friends?"

Faustina blinked.

"Aren't we already?"

Michelle's face brightened up.

"We are…?"

Faustina gave Michelle a warm smile.

"We are."