Chapter 197 - Faustina Heilen

A strange thing happened.

As Faustina's fingertips finally pressed towards the surface of the orb, a current that only felt like a slight tingle made Faustina flinch in the slightest. She stared at the thing that was the orb—she could see how her mana—a golden light, began to form and transpire into something else.

She waited in both anxiety and anticipation right at her sleeve. Even that didn't leave Anakin's eyes.

Faustina's eyes widened as she sees distinct colors of every element there is; fire, water, wind, air, and earth.

The professor narrowed her eyes.

They began to merge.

And form into something that was completely foreign.

A cyan-colored crystal formed—Faustina's eyes widened. The cyan crystal was definitely familiar to her.

It was similar to the broken gem atop her staff!

"What's that? A crystal?"

"What does that mean?"

Faustina drew her fingertips away, making the crystal vanish without a trace. She then turned to the professor, eager to know the interpretation behind the results.

"Miss Feuerlon," says the Professor. "What you have seen is a crystallization of your compatibility. You are the one with the regular mana, no? The one similar to that of the Forsaken."

Silence.

The term Forsaken had rendered the students speechless, yet intrigued. Faustina, after all, was the only person who was similar to the Forsaken. The one with the irregular mana.

Now Faustina knows this was a big deal. She was a Heilen, after all—and the Forsaken, who had pitch-black hair, was the same as her — an irregular mana. There are three things Faustina could think of the reason behind this. The first is that the Forsaken is indeed a Heilen and all Heilen have irregular mana. However, this kind of claim can be a bit unfeasible considering Faustina had her mana sealed by Eula, so that might be the one making her mana unstable and in this case, irregular.

The second she could think of is that the Forsaken made her like this. Although she could think of it as something that was considered to be a little far fetched, the Forsaken was still a powerful Warlock. He could have done something to her that she wasn't aware of. That could happen, given the fact that Sheila also said that 'you are with the devil'. That meant at some point, the Forsaken was able to use a medium that infiltrated with her mind—and possibly, her magic as well.

The third reason Faustina could think of is the Undead Maid's words.

"You hold a Warlock's Staff."

Faustina always thought that her medium of magic was weird. From Orwell's description, mediums of magic have to correspond which possible element your mana can take from. It also embodies the personality of the person.

Faustina's medium had a wooden handle that was closer to black. It also had intricate patterns that were engravings that were probably of an ancient kind. Orwell considered the possibilities of the engravings to be the inscriptions of Heilens, and he had been searching for possible means to decode it for long.

The broken cyan gem that rested on the peak of the staff was the real eye-catcher. It was different; in fact, too different that it was ominously suspicious. But none could change or glamour a medium of magic.

This is why Sheila strictly told her she shouldn't incur any unnecessary attention, given she was already an attention magnet herself. It would be for her own good, and for the success rate as well.

"It might be coincidental," the professor exclaimed, bringing back Faustina to the present time. "The Forsaken could be the same as you, considering you are a bright pupil."

Professor Mariam nodded at her, and then called for the next student. Anakin and Faustina went back to their respective seats.

Faustina turned to the professor.

So that was it? She wouldn't ask about anything else anymore? Faustina was still baffled herself from the crystal that appeared inside the orb. She had seen how all the elements mixed and form the crystallization.

One thing is for sure. She will have to report it back to Orwell.

**

The first day of class finished right before the sun had set. It was four in the afternoon when the class finally finished. Faustina stretched as she, Leviticus, Michelle, and Anakin had gotten out of the classroom.

"That bummed me out..." Michelle exclaimed. "Apart from the elemental compatibility test, all of our lessons were lecture types..."

Faustina turned to Anakin and Leviticus, who, unlike Michelle, was looking as if refreshed.

"Amazing. I didn't know that charms work like that. All I know is we convert mana from our body to an element." Anakin exclaimed.

"Yeah! I can't believe there is still a long and a cellular level process on magic. Isn't that just amazing?" Leviticus said to Anakin.

"Right! And when the..."

Faustina smiled as she stares at the two chatter about the lessons they have learned. The four now walked to the hallways, which is jam-packed with students that were also lounging around and some that are going home.

Faustina was also chattering with Michelle who was complaining about the pain around her back due to her leaning down to take notes. Faustina chuckled as she continued to talk with Michelle.

Soon they were already outside of the main campus.

"So we're heading to the dorm now, huh?" Faustina asked. She had thought about the things she would be reviewing and the report she would send as a fire message to Orwell.

Michelle grinned. "Fufufu. Of course, we aren't!"

Faustina blinked. "We aren't?"

"I heard that a café is opened for first years!" Michelle exclaimed. "Don't you want to check it out?"

"Café?"

"Ah, Michelle." Leviticus tapped Michelle's shoulder. "Faustina, a café is where people gather to buy and eat desserts and beverages. Oh, Lord Anakin. That's the explanation as well, considering you have a pretty confused look on your face earlier."

"Wh-what!? I know what a café is!"

Michelle giggled as she turned towards Faustina.

"Isn't this fun, Faustina?"

Faustina blushed.

"It is."

Michelle smiled as she then cast a summoning spell. Without even a second later, her map now appeared before her. She grinned.

"According to the ladies talking on the back earlier... here's where the rumored café was."

Faustina glanced at the map Michelle was holding.

"The rumored café is said to be right about... here!" Michelle pointed.

"That's outside of the academy..." Faustina exclaimed.

"Exactly," Michelle said.

"We're allowed to go outside?" Faustina asked.

"Girl, do you think this is a cage?" Michelle laughed. "Even if we stay outside at night—well, not beyond the 11 PM curfew of our dorm—it'll be completely fine!"

"Alright, so let's go... to the café, and Magierstadt's street!"

**

Faustina now remembered that Orwell did come out of the academy from time to time. He said that he survived the perils of the exams and the academic workload from the kebab being sold on the streets. The boar meat that they've eaten had given the students hope, they said.

Faustina doesn't know why she thought that she would need to be secluded around the academy. Perhaps it was what she initially thought about—because she was, after all, still not completely free. However, she was the luckiest of the Heilen clan. She was able to be under the king's protection and is even given this kind of opportunity. The king could have chosen to make her a slave and use her life to sustain his, yet he chose not to.

Faustina blinked.

How did she know that?

The wooden, round door opened with a clang as Faustina, Michelle, Anakin, and Leviticus entered the café.

"Whoa, so many students..."

The café is brimming with students. Wafting across the air was the smell of cupcakes, and baked goods. Faustina's eyes widened in a pleasant surprise as she sees a tray floating towards them.

"Free cookies..." Michelle read the paper that was pasted onto the plate. The cookies then floated adrift to each of them, and landed to their palms. Michelle was the first to bite.

"Wah, wah! What's this! Delicious!"

"It's true!" Anakin exclaimed.

"Nirvana!" Leviticus chomped.

Faustina then took a bite—and flavors exploded to her mouth.

"Delicious, isn't it? Table for four, coming right up!"

Faustiba blinked as she sees a redhead that had orange and white-colored cat tail and ears. She then led Faustina and the others to a table that was near the round window.

"Here's the menu!" The cat-like woman exclaimed as she clicked on a button. The button then displayed the menu powered by magic to each of them.

"Now then, enjoy your meal at the Magi Café!"

**

That day, Faustina felt as if she was a completely different person. She was like a regular student who was just in the company of her friends, going onto the streets, eating dinner together, and then going back to their respective rooms in their dorm.

But when Faustina had sat down in front of her desk to write the report, she realized that all she was experiencing is nothing but fleeting.

Faustina lowered her gaze as she began to write under the warmth of her witch lamp.

Once again,

she was reminded—

That she wasn't Faustina Feuerlon.

But Faustina Heilen.