Chapter 191 - The First Day of Class (Part 2)

"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.

**

Faustina sighed. She had no timetable, so she didn't have a way to tell which floor or room her class was. The only way to solve this problem was to take a detour to get her timetable. Realizing she was practically absentminded and still awestruck, Faustina slapped both of her cheeks, rendering them rubicund-red. She sighed as she walks back, exiting the castle's main grounds. 

She then reached the entrance. Appearing before her was the Fountain of Wishes. Many students were still chattering outside the school. As it turns out, Magierstadt was quite lenient to its student, as opposed to the image they have implored back at the dungeon.

Faustina sauntered her way towards the Fountain of wishes. It was a large and magnificent fountain. Faustina stared at her reflection into the water. The water was crystal-clear and was slightly tinged with a turquoise color. Somehow, it reminded her of the ocean that she had seen at the balcony of her dorm, except it looked a deeper blue.

"I wish, I wish to be in the first Ianua!"

"Me too!"

"We pray that the firefly will light us the path."

Faustina glanced at the students who had just tossed a copper coin to the fountain. She watches them go as hey chatter about the academy's magnificence.

The prayer to the Firefly.

Magierstadt's symbol was the firefly, which was the symbol of knowledge. The history of Magierstadt traced to the Magi tribe. 

They said the one who brought upon the new symbol and was the reason that Magierstadt is what it was now was the very first schoolmaster—a part-Magi, and part-Zweitfolk, blood mixed from the second continent. A half-blooded shaman, a demi-Magi. His appearance appeared to be different from the rest; the shamans were known to be bestowed long lives, and their appearance was similar to that of indigenous folks; they had tattoos of ancient patterns in their tan skin matched their pitch-black eyes; their copper-colored locks were tied into a distinctive variation of braids. They had staves that were from a 'seed' they grew exclusively in their land, and spells they made on their own. They were folks whose magic was unknown to the continent, but they were individuals who obeyed. They did not promote hostility, and whoever came to their land were treated with hospitality.

But such ways were ended by the late 300s when a single, demi-Magi arose. Unlike the shamans, he had a striking silver hair, a gleaming, fair skin, and purple eyes in contrast to the appearance of the Magi tribe. He was revered as the Demi, a result of the love between a General from Zweite and a shaman Priestess. The land that was merely a diminutive nation swiftly transpired into the county of magicians. Civilization rose; the population grew; the country developed.

And then the Demi named the country Magierstadt—the Mage City—as he built the largest place that harbors Magicians—the academe, Magierstadt—where knowledge reigns supreme, along with peace and integrity. He built it for the span of several years with magic. The Demi was the epitome of a magician ruler. He was the one responsible for the urbanization of the country, freeing them to the shackles of obedience to others.

Books from Magierstadt often depicted him as a charming ruler, someone who was calm and composed, as opposed to other rulers who were barbarous and uncivilized. He also had a lamp that trapped fireflies, which was supposed to act as a 'guide'.

This was the prayer that every alumnus and the students in Magierstadt chanted. Faustina had heard of it several times already.

"May the firefly guide you all to your chosen paths."

Faustina stared at the academy—at its large castle.

This… was the place she ought to investigate.

"Your duty is to study in that academy and find out more about your master and her connection to the Forsaken. I believe that his connection to her is notable and could provide us a lead." The king told her. "If you can regain your memories and remove the seal of your mana as you study in the academy, consider your task fulfilled."

Faustina knew that her task doesn't stop there. She still had to reclaim Eula's body. It wouldn't be long before Jonathan finally use necromancy to summon Eula from the dead if he still hasn't. The king told her that they were securing every family member of the Fortunatorums to keep them from suffering that certain fate.

Faustina sauntered back to the academy grounds.

The timetable.

Did she really leave it? If she did, then she's probably going to be late for her first day of class. Although it was still early, the academy was too vast. They were still first-year students, so they do not have much access to the facilities that will make things easier for them; such as portals, brooms used to fly, and other modes of transportation. Faustina had to walk all the way to that island from the main castle.

She sighed.

The headache she had that day and her dream didn't help her focus. It was just too sudden. All too sudden. Faustina stared at her map as she passed by the garden of the academy. It was akin to a maze considering the hedges were almost as tall as her.

Faustina blinked.

Why was she in the garden again?

Lately, she has been so out of focus, ever since that headache had surfaced. She figured that she might be thinking about the dream too much too… but to wander around the castle when she should be getting the timetable to her dorm post-haste was simply baffling.

Yet…

The garden was so silent.

Peculiarly enough, there was no one in the garden, even though the students were practically swarming every nook and crook of the academy. Faustina walked into the aisle of the labyrinth-like garden which was filled with neatly trimmed hedges.

Silence.

Yes.

This was something that she had been craving for. The silence of the place and the peace of mind she can only get when she interacts with the things similar to the place she grew up.

The smell of plants. Dirt. Leaves.

Faustina missed the life she had with Eula.

The breeze got stronger, sweeping her grey hair to the air. Faustina's chocolate-brown eyes darted towards a certain boy that appeared in the aisle.

Silver-colored hair and a pair of amethyst eyes.

He wasn't wearing the Magierstadt uniform, but a black vest which had a long-sleeve and puffy blouse underneath. He also wore trousers and leather shoes.

Faustina stared at him. The rays of the sun made his hair appear l.u.s.trous and shiny. His innocent-looking and big, purple eyes were gleaming and appeared to look like they were pieces of precious gems.

Faustina had never seen a child look this ethereal.

The boy then ran away from her.

"Wait—"

Faustina found herself walking to the direction where the boy went. She had a strange feeling in her gut that she ought to find him.

Faustina had several glimpses of the boy due to the notable silver hair he possessed. But eventually, he disappeared from her sight.

"Where did he go…?"

Ambling her way towards the garden, Faustina stumbled upon a path of lilies. Soon she was able to reach a place that was both familiar and breathtaking unlike any other.

"I remember Eulalia Fortunatorum was with the Forsaken a lot of times back in their school days. There is an ill.u.s.tration in a book that they hung around under a certain place.

Orwell's words resonated in Faustina's mind as she stares at the spectacle before her.

An old acacia tree stood into place. A tree that was considered to be older than the academy itself.

The tall tree, which was said to inhabit The Guardians of the land— Großer Baum.

Under that tree was a young man that looked exactly like the boy from earlier.

Ezekiel Unsterblich blinked as his eyes met hers.

"What are you doing here… Lady Faustina?"