Chapter 186 - The least I could do

"How lucky we are right now. Our generation is truly blessed."

Those words… Anakin couldn't understand them. What was blessed with having an irregular mana that was the same as the forsaken? He observed the students giving Faustina glances. If it made her uncomfortable—then it made Anakin irate. These students have no complacency. And he doesn't understand the logic behind it. 

Blessing.

The forsaken—Jonathan Unsterblich—was the only one with irregular mana. He had noticed at the welcome party about how they looked at Faustina, but none dared to approach her at that time. Anakin narrowed his eyes. Perhaps that was because he was with her? And she had the company of Leviticus and Michelle?

Anakin glanced towards Faustina, who was uncomfortably eating. 

He still couldn't go and tell the students to stop looking at her due to the circ.u.mstances. Now would not be the moment for that.

"How is it a blessing? She has the same problem as the Forsaken!" One of the students in his table hissed. "I can't believe they allowed her here. What was Magierstadt thinking?"

Anakin glanced at the student who had said that. Finally, someone who wasn't glorifying Faustina. It wasn't like Anakin wanted the students to hate her, but he found it odd they were looking at her with awe. He didn't like the attention they were giving her—but he didn't like the disrespectful remarks even more.

"I heard from the teachers that people with irregular manas have the ability to master all elements because their affinity is too high to everything." Another one whispered. "I also heard that having someone with irregular mana is a blessing to the other students."

Anakin frowned.

"Where did you heard of that?"

"Umm… ah! I heard it from some rumor."

"From some rumor?" Anakin repeated.

"Yes,"

Odd.

From what Anakin had heard, they were all basing from 'some rumor' which isn't natural at all. Typically he would be able to narrow down who had spread this type of information now—but it was all too general. And it was a big thing for Anakin, considering he was usually able to predict the patterns of people—especially on a social scale.

Anakin drank from the goblet. 

Something doesn't sit right, but he still couldn't narrow down what that was. It wasn't because it was hard to pin the very person who was the root of it all--it was as if there was no root and almost everyone had just decided to label their actions as 'due to some rumor'. 

Anakin shook off his thoughts. 

For now, he'll just do what he can.

"You can all just pay attention to your food instead of gossiping about a girl who's eating peacefully." Anakin purposefully yelled to the crowd; his voice resonating to the entirety of the Main Hall. "Is this how Magierstadt students should act like? Odd. What a disgrace to the name of the academy."

One of the senior students glanced around each other.

"We should recruit him," one whispered.

"I agree. His personality is very strong. He can shut the other students' mouth like a passing thunder."

"What was his name again? I think he was… Ana… something."

They all glanced towards the calm young man eating his soup.

"Anakin Disfiegro."

**

In a secluded room where potions are being brewed and another room where information is being sold, a man with paper-white hair and blood-red eyes sat into an uncomfortable chair.

"What an odd time to be alive, indeed." He exclaims.

"Are you complaining?" The woman with foxy, red eyes glared daggers at him.

Even him, an assassin, knew who was more powerful and who could obliterate the other without a trace. One wrong answer and he could shrivel into dust.

"I am not, Lady L.u.s.t." The man exclaimed. 

The woman named L.u.s.t leaned to the crystal ball into the table. "What a naïve-looking girl." She stared at the grey-haired girl who was eating uncomfortably. "But oh well. She had proven to be quite decent in keeping her feet to the ground. At least Father was right about one thing."

The man who was robed parted his lips with his fangs showing.

'Father' 

'Prophecy'

'Girl'

He had been hearing this on repeat to the siblings who came to his quarters. 

L.u.s.t, Greed, and Pride. 

Of course, he knew this weren't pet names but their titles. Anyone in the underworld would know who these nefarious people are.

The Seven Warlock Generals.

The shawled Albino thinned his lips.

The forsaken wasn't called 'The Warlock of Seven Seas' for nothing. He was in command of the seven remaining warlocks in the world, or so they said. The seven warlocks were always wreaking havoc around the globe—causing natural disasters, and everything of the sort. Everyone, at some point in their lives, would have heard of them. For the past five years, though—there wasn't news about them. Even from the forsaken, there was nothing.

But it was different now.

"Did you cast a spell for the rumors?" L.u.s.t asked.

The shawled man answered yes, which made L.u.s.t smirk. 

"Ah. Look at her bewildered face." She exclaimed. "Isn't she such a naïve little creature. Just looking at her makes my blood boil. I want to corrupt her, and then kill her this instant if only father had given me permission."

"Aren't you being petty, L.u.s.t?"

L.u.s.t's eyes constricted as a blood-red chain wrapped around the neck of the shawled man and then as she raised her index finger upwards, so did the man's body. The man's robes fell down to his shoulder as he choked from L.u.s.t's magic.

"Do not call me petty, Assassin," said L.u.s.t as she dropped the man. He coughed continuously as he dr.a.p.ed his palm around his throat. "If I wasn't needing your expertise, you would have dropped dead not long before. Be thankful you still have some use to us."

The man covered his head and his face once more. There was no way l.u.s.t would be this merciful again. He shouldn't have pushed his luck.

But at least, he gained information.

"Now then. What should we do next to her?" L.u.s.t asked as she shifted her attention back to the girl on the crystal. "Maybe an illusion? A nightmare? Or maybe something that can break her heart into a million pieces?"

He stared at her.

This woman… 

Is a monster.

**

After breakfast, students were allowed to do as they please at the academy. Leviticus and Michelle asked her to tour, but Faustina politely declined their offer. 

"Is it the glances?" Leviticus asked.

"Yes… I just want to rest to my room right now," Faustina exclaimed. "I'm still feeling some headaches."

"Are you alright? Do you want to go to the infirmary?" Said Michelle. "I know there are Clairvoyant-nurses who can tend to headaches."

"No, I just need enough rest." Faustina smiled. "Thank you, Michelle."

"Don't overstrain yourself," Leviticus said to Faustina. "If you need anything, you can contact us using the magic crystals given to us."

"Magic crystals?" Faustina tilted her head.

"Yes. We're given a crystal ball that we can use for communication. Just say our name when you need to talk to us," Michelle smiled as she hugged Faustina gently. "Rest well, Lady Fa—er, Faustina. We can visit the academy together tomorrow, so don't look so down!"

Faustina smiled warmly at Michelle.

"Thank you."

"Alright then, bye-bye, Faustina!"

Faustina waved her hand as Leviticus and Michelle left.

All of the sudden, as she was eating, she felt a throbbing pain on her head. Perhaps it was because she wasn't that well-rested. Faustina sauntered towards the stairs as she exited the Main Hall, deciding she would just come back to her room and get more rest.

"Lady Faustina?" 

Faustina glanced at the source of that voice. "Lord Anakin."

"Are you alright? You look pale." He said. 

Faustina glanced at what he was carrying.

"Ah, this?" Anakin looked down at the books he was carrying. "This is a Magierstadt history book."

"Oh," Faustina blinked as she sees the cover. It was indeed the castle of the academy.

"I got this from the library. I actually brought two with me," says Anakin. "Do you want to borrow them?"

Faustina thought about it. She was going to do nothing in her room, after all. Reading will kill time—and the history of Eula's alma mater will definitely be of help to her.

"Alright," Faustina answered, taking the book Anakin had offered.

"Now then…" Anakin glanced around the students who are giving Faustina stares again. They were clearly waiting for an opportunity to approach her.

Anakin sighed.

"I'll escort you to your room."

Faustina blinked.

"Huh?"

"It'll be fine," Anakin exclaimed. "I won't enter the girl's dorm. I will be able to walk you to the eastern wing, at least."

Faustina tilted her head.

"Is that going to be okay?"

Anakin raised his hand and then he patted the top of her head.

"It's alright." He exclaimed. "This is the least I could do for you."

**

Chain's corner:

So the next chapter would be the majority about Magierstadt's history/Jonathan and Eula's story. Thank you for unlocking the chapters and reaching this far. 

Stay tuned for more.