In that same night, a young man with a silver-colored hair and a pair of amethyst eyes staring at the dark of the night, let himself drown on the depths of his mind.
He had no staff nor was he clothed properly.
Anyone would freeze wearing only a pair of trousers and a long-sleeved shirt. The air in Magierstadt was chilly, especially in the schoolmistress' tower.
"Ezekiel."
He turned to the woman who was sitting in front of a desk. She had just finished signing doc.u.ments. She then put down her quill pen and then proceeded to pay attention to her son.
"What brought you here? Make it quick. I'm a bit busy."
Ezekiel stared at his mother. They were so alike—that people would find no traces of Ezekiel's late father's appearance him.
"Why didn't you fail Anakin Disfiegro?" Ezekiel asked. "You were also the one who held to your ground and didn't fail him despite the fact that the deans all decided to."
Anna Unsterblich stared at her son.
Even he was straight to the point—just like she was.
"Why?"
Ezekiel frowned. "'Why'?"
"Why do I need to fail a brilliant student?" Anna smiled. "He possesses the attributes of a good mage. I can see him rising to the top as he polishes his skill. It would be a waste to fail him, no? Especially the circ.u.mstances Magierstadt is and will be facing in the future not far from now."
Ezekiel couldn't answer his mother.
Anna, seeing this, only smiled at her son.
"Is this about his attempt on sabotaging Faustina Feuerlon?"
She stared at Ezekiel, who showed a fraction of surprise.
Anna shook her head. Her son still has so much to learn.
"I suggest you stay out of the way for a while, Ezekiel Johann. This matter concerns the a.d.u.l.ts. Although you are the next schoolmaster, which is still three years from now, you still hold no authority." Anna exclaimed. "We decided to eliminate the weak for important reasons."
Ezekiel lowered his head.
"The prophecy is being fulfilled. You know that fully." Anna narrowed her eyes. "If we want to keep strong mages, then we must overlook their flaw."
"Do you understand, Ezekiel?"
Ezekiel clenched his fist.
"Yes, Mother…"
Anna Unsterblich stared at his son who seemed reluctant, still.
"The first day of class will be a few days from now," Anna exclaimed. "Prepare yourself. The deans will not treat you the same as they did when you were a child."
Ezekiel nodded as he headed towards the door.
He then turned the knob.
"I know, Mother."
**
The first day of class.
Days have passed since Faustina had that strange dream. It had rendered her exhausted for days. She also kept her distance for a while to provide a room to think.
Those dreams were far too odd to be considered as the truth.
There was no way that Faustina could remember the time when she was still a child. She could also only remember Eula rescuing her from slave traders.
Her dream was trying to prove otherwise, though.
In her dreams, it was as if she was Eula's child, and in that dream, it was as if they were real family… but there was no way that that would be the case. Eula, a prodigy in Magierstadt, wouldn't just fall in love with a Heilen slave.
Faustina walked towards the academy grounds. She had just finished breakfast and she was now outside her dormitory. The dormitory, which was on a small island, looked like an individual castle. Faustina looked around, seeing the ocean. The morning breeze had a sweet and cold smell to it.
Everything was just so peaceful.
Students in their bags and their staff chattering to each other, and then a tranquil morning that says 'it is a good day ahead'. Faustina still couldn't believe how breathtaking Magierstadt was. Eula never brought her books about magic—only history books, as well as medical ones. Faustina wondered why; if Eula anticipated this, then shouldn't she have prepared her beforehand?
'Sustain the king's life. Do not adhere to the prophecy.'
What prophecy?
Faustina continued to walk to the bridge that led to the main academy.
She then stared back at the map she was holding.
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.
"Magierstadt is indeed a large academy, huh…"
Faustina continued to walk towards the main castle, which was a bit of a distance from where she was. She came from the east where her dormitory was situated, after all.
"That's the floating island, right…" Faustina turned towards one of the students who whispered among themselves. She glanced towards where they were looking.
Into the sea, one of the floating islands can be seen. It was also protected with a visible barrier and had all intricate magical formulas engraved upon it. The castle looked entirely different from the buildings in the academy. Its architecture was way too different—it looked more advanced and less into the historical feel of the academy.
"That's the laboratory for the researches, right?"
"Yes. I've heard that only the top scholars can get into that island."
"Ooh… really?"
"Yes. They said that the island was actually unreachable since it's enclosed with a dimensional magic that makes it further and further away from people the closer they get closer towards it."
"Isn't that inconvenient to others who have access?"
"Apparently, that island doesn't appear far to the people with access, even if they are with the ones who don't. It's a peculiar magic, so only scholars get it."
**
Faustina rummaged at the duffel given to her.
She didn't think this through.
She arrived at the main academy, yes…
But she didn't think about the classroom she should be going to!
Faustina wanted to sigh. The academy was jam-packed with students, especially freshmen like her. They were looking at what seemed like their schedules.
Their schedules.
Faustina continued to rummage through her duffel—but there was no schedule to be found. Did she forget it somewhere? But she was sure these are the only things that Magierstadt had provided.
Faustina looked around, seeing she was practically alone and lost. She took a deep breath and mustered all the courage to go to a girl who was chattering with other students as she held her timetable.
"U-uhm…" That was enough to get the girl's attention, along with the others who were with her. Suddenly the group had stopped laughing.
"Do you know where I can get my timetable?" Faustina asked the girl.
The girl crossed her arms as her timetable disappeared due to her magic. She raised her brow and then eyed Faustina from head to toe.
The girl had a curly, blue hair that was tied into a high ponytail. Like Faustina, she also wore Magierstadt's uniform: a grey vest, a red ribbon that complimented their white blouse, and a maroon-colored skirt. She was also wearing thigh-high black stockings and heeled boots, which made her appear even taller than Faustina.
Since she had no emblem or a crest on her uniform, Faustina assumed that she was just a first-year, just like her.
"You don't know where to get your timetable?" The girl chuckled. "How cute."
Faustina tried to smile.
The girls behind giggled as they look at Faustina mockingly.
"You know, Magierstadt is an elite school. For an Ianua VI like you that barely climbed her way here, you have the audacity to forget something important." The blue-haired girl glowered down at Faustina without breaking her smile.
"What was your name again?" The woman tauntingly laughed. "Faustina?"
"How do you know my name?"
The girl arched her brow.
"Oh? Feigning ignorance, are you?"
At this point in time, they were starting to gather attention as the air began to get tense. Faustina stared straight at the woman's eyes.
She couldn't afford to be looked down again.
"Huh. You're the girl with the same mana as the forsaken. Students saying it's a blessing because another prodigy might be born are just a bunch of miscreants. You, who got into the last Ianua, is here to laze around—a blessing?"She c
Faustina scowled.
"What are you talking about?" Faustina stared straight to the woman. "I was only asking how to get the timetable. You didn't answer my question. Is your comprehension that bad?"
The woman's brow twitched.
She clearly didn't expect Faustina's retort.
That's right.
There was no point in looking down and trying to avoid contact. There was no point in bringing down one's confidence.
Here, she was different.
Here, she wasn't a Heilen.
Faustina stared at the girl whose face was fl.u.s.tered. Everyone was seeing this, after all.
"L-let's go!"
Faustina closed her eyes.
What a way to start her first day of class.