Chapter 193 - The First Day of Class (Part 3)

The acacia tree didn't relatively look like an acacia at all. As a matter of fact, it shouldn't have grown here. It looked so out of place, with its golden flowers and its thick trunk. Underneath the tall tree was Ezekiel, whose eyes of the amethyst gem glued onto Faustina.

Faustina parted her lips as to speak, but she found herself awestruck and equally flabbergasted.

The wind was breezy, even in the morning—given the fact that they were on an island. Faustina couldn't avert her gaze at the spectacle.

This was the place where Eula and Jonathan always hung around...

The tall tree.

"Lady... Faustina?"

Faustina blinked, snapping back to reality.

Ezekiel Johann Unsterblich stared at her with his bewildered expression.

"I!" Faustina, realizing she had come here without permission—"I-I'm going to head back now!"

Right! The level of access was limited. She was still a first year, and she hadn't attended even the Freshman Ball yet! Faustina wanted to bury herself to the ground.

What was she thinking, coming here just because her instincts told her to?

Earlier...

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.

...

Faustina wanted to bury herself to the sand again.

"Lady Feuerlon?"

"Y-yes!"

"Are you, perhaps, lost?"

Faustina stared at Ezekiel, who had tilted his head as he inquires. Faustina nervously smiled and opted to agree. She nodded, "Y-yeah, I was on my way to the dorm to get my timetable so—yeah—haha—clumsy me!"

Even her laughter sounds fake. Trying to convince Ezekiel through an obvious lie was akin to an amateur trying to walk through a tightrope. It was too far-fetched. He wouldn't buy it, but Faustina had no excuse. It also sounds weird if she would say there was a child in here whom she had followed.

'Do not incur unnecessary attention.'

Sheila strictly prodded to warn her over and over again before. Garnering suspicion among Magierstadt personnel—the son of the schoolmistress, at that—would cause her to fail.

And failure is not an option. She had reached this far—several more steps and she could find the truth and have her seal undone. With that, she would also be able to get Eula's body and she could peacefully give the rest her master deserves.

But those were only vague ideas, given the fact that Faustina didn't even know where to begin—on how she would investigate.

But that would come along after she figures things out.

"I see."

Ezekiel smiled gently at her. Faustina couldn't help but feel fascinated. She had never seen Ezekiel Unsterblich after the event in the capital. Although it wasn't that long since then, it felt like it was only a distant memory.

Oh. No. That can't be right; Ezekiel gave her a flower a few days ago after the exam.

But she had only seen him for a moment, so this was the closest and longest she was able to see him wholly.

"Did you forget that you can conjure your own timetable?"

"What?"

Ezekiel chuckled.

"I meant you can request for your own timetable using a spell." He says. "I'm pretty sure the teachers said that during the orientation."

"They... did?"

Ezekiel ambled towards her. He looked ethereal, really. His purple eyes and his silver hair looked out of this world. Faustina cannot help but be entranced by his beauty.

"The medium of magic can be stored and thus so are other things. The professors said that when you wish for them, they would eventually be given to you. Do you remember when the duffel was given by a magical hex?"

—

"In those bags are your primary needs. A First-Year General Magic book, a map of the academy, your schedule, and the key to your dormitories." Professor Yoan exclaimed. "Now then, students; it has been a long night for all of you. Now you may head towards your respective dormitories and take plenty of rest. The classes won't start until the next few days, so take your time readjusting to the academy."

—

"Oh."

"That's right. The hex can be summoned when desired. You can actually do it yourself too. Like this,"

Faustina's eyes widened as she sees the small magical circle being suspended through thin air, which then evoked a piece of faded paper. In that paper were inscriptions, and the succeeding times as well as subjects and all.

"Wow. How did you do that?"

"It's simple. You just have to wish for it. I believe that the academy gave us the permission to use that magic as long as it is from the things they used to give us, considering all teleportation magic goes under them."

Faustina's eyes widened.

That's right; Orwell said so too. He told her long ago that every teleportation magic is in Magierstadt's records.

So that applies not only to people but to objects as well.

That means she can only send fire letters if they would be able to slip through the barrier.

"Why don't you try it, Lady Faustina?"

Faustina stared at her hand.

Timetable.

I wish to have my timetable.

A magical hex slowly appeared as a rolled scroll fell to Faustina's palm.

"Oh, it looks like you've only opened yours now." Ezekiel smiled.

Faustina also smiled.

Now she won't have to go back all the way to her dorm just to get her timetable. Faustina sighed in relief. Just the first day of class and she was being this forgetful.

Ever since she had that headache, she became too out of focus.

"Are you alright?"

Before Faustina could respond, Ezekiel already dr.a.p.ed his hand tentatively over her forehead. He had also leaned in close.

"Your temperature is a bit on the hotter side." Ezekiel's amethyst eyes were laced with worry. "Do you want me to take you to the infirmary?"

Licorice.

Faustina had caught a whiff of a certain fragrance as Ezekiel leaned close. It was the sweet smell of licorice. Faustina blushed as she met his eyes.

He smiled at her, in contrast to her fl.u.s.tered expression.

"What are you really doing in this prohibited garden, Lady Faustina?"

Faustina stared at Ezekiel, who only smiled gently. His eyes tell her he wasn't buying any lies anymore.

"Um... I... I honestly know that the garden for the tall tree is a place that a student shouldn't go to, but it's not just me who disobeyed the rules, right?"

Ezekiel looked surprised for a moment, but then he laughed right after.

"Quick on the uptake, aren't you?"

Faustina didn't know what else to answer. To be fair, she didn't know that this garden led to the tall tree. As a matter of fact, she didn't even understand why she was led to it in the first place.

"But I'm surprised you were able to pass through the mazes and get through here. Mother made it so students would just meet dead ends when they come here."

Faustina blinked.

"I have only mastered the right route since this is practically my home."

Faustina parted her lips. So he was violating the rules ever since he was a child.

"I—was led here by a child."

"A child?"

"Yes. This tall. I ran after him and followed his track, then I saw the tall tree and you." Faustina asserted. "I know it's a bit unbelievable—a child at Magierstadt."

Ezekiel didn't look pleased.

"Can you describe the child's appearance for me?"

Faustina tilted her head, but she complied, nonetheless.

"Um... he's this tall. He also has the same silver hair and purple eyes, he also wore a vest and puffy long sleeves. I think he's the son of a noble, considering how he's dressed."

"Ah. That brat found his way out." Ezekiel muttered.

Faustina stared. She didn't understand a word other than 'out'.

Ezekiel smiled at her again.

"Thank you for telling me this. I will tell mother about this matter." Faustina's eyes widened. "But don't worry. I won't mention you breaking ground rules. That would result in expulsion, considering Magierstadt is being stricter nowadays."

Faustina sighed in relief.

"Of course, everything comes with a price."

Faustina blinked.

"H-huh?"

Ezekiel only smiled warmly at her.

"In exchange, can you keep me, breaking the rules, a secret as well?"

Faustina looked at Ezekiel for a second before she laughed.

"Okay," Faustina exclaimed.

Ezekiel then stuck his pinky finger to her.

"Promise?"

Faustina giggled. This was so childish, but it made her feel relieved.

"Promise." Faustina whispered, as she entwined her finger with Ezekiel's.