Chapter 185 - Irregular Mana

Faustina woke up from her deep slumber without feeling refreshed or anything of the sort. In fact, she felt rather tired than she had ever been before. Was it because of the strain from the exam? She wasn't so sure.

"Maddie?" Faustina called.

But then, as she observed the place, she realized she was alone.

The curtains were still the same as they were last night, and everything just seemed to be a bit brighter in comparison. The balcony door was closed, and the sea breeze was swaying the transparent curtains, unfurling them into thin air. Faustina sat down, her body was still heavy and she was still feeling groggy.

The room was still a bit dark, but from the outside, the sun was impending to rise. Clothes over the distance were tinged with a red hue, like a distinct appearance of fall. Faustina stood up. Her bare foot had touched the cold floor.

If she remembers correctly, the schedule for breakfast was about 7 in the morning. She would need to prepare herself before that. Classes will start a few days from now, so she would be able to explore the academy freely.

--

After taking a bath and dressing up to her uniform, Faustina exited her room and walked to the hallways.

She barely remembers what happened after she went to her room. All she remembered is that she had a pleasant dream. But the contents of that dream were just a spring-like haze into her mind. Faustina couldn't recall it at all. Was she that tired?

Faustina glanced towards her staff, which was dangling into its very own place into the wall. She sauntered towards the staff, and then stared at it.

A dark wood with intricate patterns. A broken cyan gem with unknown markings.

Orwell and Faustina had studied about different kind of staves. Staves are usually labeled as the medium of magic that is the materialization of the person's mana and their affinity. Fire evokes rubies. Water summons sapphire. Earth materializes amber. 

But what does cyan symbolize?

"It's an odd gem—broken, at that. If I were to guess the best course of magic you can use, it is wind." 

Faustina stared at her arms.

Wind.

She had used another magic other than wind—and to what cost? Her mana began to fluctuate and the veins on her arm throbbed. This shouldn't happen at people with lower affinity to other elements. Usually, they would just conjure weaker magic. A person who had a higher affinity to fire could cast a fire spell that would be thrice the power than a person with a wind affinity can. The same principle applies to the other. 

But what affinity is she most attributed to?

Orwell said that there are others who have a strong affinity to each of the four elements, while others don't. Others who aren't compatible with any of the elements but can transform mana to magic and could foretell prophecies—are called Clairvoyants.

Faustina sighed. Her staff didn't even tell what her affinity is. 

And a broken gem.

'You, who hold a warlock's staff…'

Faustina glanced at the clock on the wall.

"It's time."

**

"Good morning, Lady Feuerlon!"

"Blessed morning to you, Lady Faustina!"

"I'm glad I was able to see you in face, Lady Faustina!"

Faustina felt as if her head was spinning. The moment she arrived into the Main Hall, a chockfull of students came to greet her in sheer delight.

Faustina doesn't understand why she was getting this much attention. What was happening?

"You're a very amazing Lady. We've heard that you're terminally ill, yet you still managed to go to the academy!"

"Some also said that you have a peculiar and diverse staff!"

Faustina couldn't keep her thoughts straight as the students continuously stack questions onto her. They were being very persistent and she had lost all her train of thoughts just as they surround her. Faustina couldn't answer anything other than saying 'um' and 'no'. Faustina began to back away but even from behind they continued to flood her. What was happening? Why is she being their center of attention?

"Is that how Magierstadt students should act?" 

The students stopped at that familiar voice.

Anakin Disfiegro had stepped unto the scene.

"The breakfast would be prepared in five minutes. Go to your corresponding seats." Anakin narrowed his eyes, glaring daggers at the students. "Now."

"Eek!"

"Scary…"

"We're all first years, but he gives off an intimidating aura."

Faustina mustered to conjure a nervous smile. It was true; Anakin did have an air around him that makes people obey. It was the same as the exam. 

"Th-thank you, Anakin."

Anakin stared at Faustina briefly, and then his cheeks turned bright red the longer he stared.

"G-good morning…" 

**

Faustina sat beside Leviticus and Michelle as they ate breakfast. The attention was still focused on Faustina. Even Leviticus and Michelle had noticed.

"Why are they looking at you like that?" Michelle asked. 

"I don't know…"

Leviticus observed the students. From time to time they were giving Faustina sideway glances. Even he couldn't understand what made them act like this. Did something happen overnight? But judging from Faustina's reaction, there seemed to be none.

Leviticus stared at Faustina, who was eating her breakfast uncomfortably.

Then what was it?

Leviticus, even as a prince, didn't have much attention from the people in Atziluth, given the fact that the country is more matriarchal based. Princes don't really garner that much attention, given they are males. Males barely hold any significance to Atziluth, so it was just decent attention he had received as a prince in his country.

The stares are composed of different emotions.

Awe.

Fascination.

Curiosity.

Judgment.

Of course, not everyone will think highly of her. There are bound to be some criticisms lingering around the air as the time goes. 

However…

No matter which angle Leviticus looks at this, he just finds it odd.

There are many other students worthy of looking to—such as Anakin Disfiegro.

So, why Faustina?

"She's the one with the irregular mana, right?"

Leviticus turned to the young man on his side who whispered to another student. 

"How lucky we are to even be with her right now. Our generation is truly blessed."

Leviticus scowled. What was this vibe he was getting from these people?

It was as if they were worshipping her.

Was he missing anything?

Wait.

"Irregular mana…" Leviticus murmured.

Hold on.

"Shh. That's a forbidden topic." One of the students whispered to themselves.

Leviticus thinned his lips. Now he had gotten a grasp of why these people are acting like this. Leviticus had spent time with her, so he didn't really think about the association between HIM and her… but now he was able to look at it from a different perspective. 

Into their own shoe.

Their awe-stricken faces and the fascination, along with the suspicious and curious glances. All of them are associated with one thing. Something that was considered to be the same as 'that' person, whose name was even forbidden to be uttered. That one thing that no one had other than that man. Of course, people would make a fuss over this.

The likeness between the Forsaken…

…and Faustina's irregular mana.

--

Long ago, before they were even born, there is a young man that had the attributes of a slave clan. Black hair as dark as night, and eyes as red as rubies.

That young man was Jonathan Unsterblich.

He was the son of the past schoolmistress, Maria Unsterblich. He had grown with criticisms and judgment. This made him unsociable and withdrawn. He would usually be in the corner most room on each gathering, but his black hair and red eyes were just standing out no matter where he goes.

"He's like a Heilen."

"I heard his mother had an affair with a Heilen slave!"

"Shh. That's the schoolmistress of Magierstadt."

"Even so, what an immoral woman."

"That child ruined everything for her."

That young man, who had grown hearing that, had bowed his head lower than it should be and had his confidence shatter into pieces.

And then, when his magic manifested, he was able to enroll in Magierstadt. He imposed a great magic affinity. His mother still paid him no heed, but he was striving to at least be an average magician… or so the stories say.

No one was able to predict what that young man thought.

The night where the armillas determined their Ianuas… he was given the place of the first Ianua.

"What an explosive magic…! What an irregular mana!"

An irregular mana. 

He had an irregular mana, as opposed to the red-haired girl who also was placed as the same class as him. 

"The mana that seals others."

An odd match. 

That was the prelude of the story of a man that soon marked his name into the evil of history—and a girl that was a prodigy who was associated with a tragic death.

Jonathan Unsterblich and Eulalia Fortunatorum. 

**

Chain's corner:

I'm thinking of doing special chapters that feature Jonathan and Eula / the king's childhood. What do you guys think?