Chapter 203 - Another Secret

Faustina knew that she shouldn't just come to the library without a backup, and so she prepared a line she would say when people ask her why she was coming to the main library in such an hour. As she walked she had rehearsed her answer, and it was impeccably flawless. There was no way they would find anything suspicious with such an excuse she has—

"What are you doing?"

"Eek!" Faustina shrieked as she turned towards the source of that voice.

Being illuminated by the passing firefly was the golden juxtaposing triangle earrings of a certain someone. And Faustina knew only one person who wore these unique earrings.

"L-Leviticus?"

Leviticus stared at Faustina, who looked utterly surprised.

Faustina's words juggled on her mind; she parted her lips to say a word, yet none came but a "you're here too?" question.

Leviticus tilted his head. "What do you mean I'm here too?" He then looked around. "Are you expecting someone?"

Now that sounds even more suspicious! "N-no! I'm not expecting anyone!" Faustina exclaimed. "You, what are you doing here?"

Leviticus grinned. "I followed you since you looked suspicious."

Faustina wanted to slap herself. And she thought she was doing well.

"Kidding, kidding! I know why you're here," Leviticus said. "You're here for that, aren't you?"

"'T-that…'?"

Faustina gulped. Does Leviticus know about her secret? About what she was trying to do? She thinned her lips—this was too soon. Is she really opted to fail in the end? Faustina wanted to bawl her eyes out. How come—just how did Leviticus know? 

"You know. That overbearing thing." Leviticus sighed as a small magical circle appeared on top of his palms, dropping what seemed like a leather-bound notebook. 

"The assignment," Leviticus exclaimed. "You know. The one with the gem stuff on our mediums."

Faustina then remembered her excuse—the assignment!

--

"Now your mediums of magic are said to link to your very roots," said the professor. "People would often say that alchemy isn't connected to mediums because it's a completely different branch, let me just say it is wrong. Mediums of magics can actually be linked to alchemy—and that answer lies into what we can consider to be the gems on the peak of your staves, or the ones at the top of your wands."

"And so, I will give all of you an assignment; go search for the meanings behind the gems of your mediums. It will be passed at our next meeting. Dismissed!"

--

"I figured you might be struggling since our dormitory's library has limited information. I know your staff is quite on the unique side, so it'll be harder for you to search for the gem's linkage to alchemy." Leviticus said. "So I came here to offer help!"

Faustina blinked as she slowly raised her head.

"Help… me?"

Leviticus then ruffled her hair.

"Yes, who else would I help?" He asked. "Besides, my gem's pretty easy to find and I've already researched way back home. So let's just say I'm the best candidate in helping you find the answers!"

**

Faustina and Leviticus then entered the library. Faustina was partly relieved because Leviticus now could help her evade suspicion and even help her find. But then what if they find critical information? Does that mean Leviticus will know something that could lead to confusion and even further suspicion; Faustina shouldn't let that happen, so as much as possible, she had to be quick in searching.

"I'll be searching on that section," Leviticus said.

Faustina nodded as she sauntered her way to another part of the library. She was carrying a lamp, given the library was dimly-lit. There were also artificial fireflies serving as the light along with the magical, warm lamps hanging atop. But then for closer inspection, they needed to light a lamp.

Ambling towards the dark parts of the library, Faustina began to search for the book of alchemy and gems, as well as mediums. Leviticus said he would be searching for books of Folkmanor and Goldenfag who had given their own theories about each of the gems on the mediums of magic. 

The further she walks, the lesser the fireflies frequented. Usually, the fireflies would linger about the dark to illuminate the paths; however, given the fact that the main library was considerably large, the fireflies may be unable to drift around its entirety.

It was only the lamp Faustina was carrying that was her source of light; she was in the aisle—in between of towering bookshelves that are chockfull of books grouped into many categories. She stared upwards; and there she had seen the spiraling stair leading to more books. Magierstadt's library was a bookworm's heaven. 

If only she didn't have any mission of some sort, she would have immersed herself in this place. 

But then again, she wouldn��t be here for that certain mission.

"Right." Faustina then looked around. "Where to begin…?"

Faustina rummaged around the books as she scanned them one by one for their titles. The librarian didn't seem to be that friendly, so Faustina preferred to look around herself. Besides, the king had said it before—that there was something suspicious in Magierstadt. It wouldn't be wise to give your trust to the personnel very easily.

"History… hobbler…" Faustina reads the titles, "Ianua I… II… III…"

Faustina continued to walk around with her lamp as she looks around. After a while of not finding what she was looking for, she sighed exasperatingly. The library was more extensive than she initially thought—and it was also dark. Should've she gone by day, it would be easier—but then, it won't give her the stealth she needs. 

But then even Leviticus found her suspicious.

"Maybe I should've asked the librarian for help," Faustina murmured as she stopped in the middle of the aisle.

Faustina stared at a certain book that was significantly thinner and looked like it was wrongly placed, considering it was on top of the other books, not vertically aligned with them. Faustina tilted her head as she tiptoed to get that book.

"'The Story of Faustus'," Faustina reads. "What is this? A novel?"

Faustina then shuffled through the pages. "A picture book?"

It was a peculiar sight; there were only words on the circles—dialogues—and visual images that depicted certain happenstances. It was Faustina's first time seeing such a book. "Is this a novel?"

Faustina was able to read only the single lines.

"Do you wish for more knowledge, Faustus?" Asked a gentleman who was wearing a prim tailcoat. "And that knowledge—in exchange for your soul?"

Faustina stared at the man in the book who now responded to the gentleman's question. The book was only using black ink, so Faustina couldn't tell if the man had black hair or it was just the ink which gave a definition. 

"Yes; what would I do with a soul here on Earth? Nothing—this body shall only return to the soil, and this soul will know nothing of what occurred hereinafter."

"But you cannot bring knowledge nor your discoveries in the afterlife, Faustus."

"But I can bring knowledge upon the world." Faustus retaliated. "If I can bring a bit of what I know to the world, then I would rather die without anywhere to go but hell."

"When you sell your soul to the devil, your soul will only cease to exist for all eternity. Do you still want to gain knowledge for that eternal price?"

"Yes."

Faustina stared at the picture that depicted a young gentleman who was named Faustus which was on the cover—and a certain someone who looked like a gentleman in a tailcoat, yet a shadow that displayed the devil. 

"What an odd book," Faustina murmured as she slips it back inside the shelf.

"Truly."

Before Faustina could turn towards that source of the voice, she was pinned to the shelf as both arms landed onto both of her sides.

Faustina was still holding the lamp, which served as the only light.

"I thought it was odd, for someone to find that book I hid very well. It wouldn't be nice if Mother knew I was reading these type of things, so I opted to hide them at places that aren't frequently being visited," 

A pair of luminous, amethyst eyes. A charming smile, and silver hair.

"You're…" 

"Shh," he smiled. "I'm here in secret. It wouldn't be good if you utter my name. Fireflies know my name, after all."

Faustina blinked, and then he leaned even closer. 

"I'm sorry. I don't want the fireflies to see me, or my mother would know that I'm here instead of sleeping in my room." He exclaimed. Faustina gulped as she feels an odd thumping in her heart—perhaps it was from the suddenness of the situation, or how he speaks as if he was an escapee. Faustina stared at his eyes, which were so beautiful in the night.

Sapphire.

Faustina blinked—for a split second, the king's face, his sapphire eyes in the night—flashed to her mind.

"It seems like this will be another of our secret," says Ezekiel.

"Miss Faustina."

**

Chain's Corner:

Send PS to encourage and motivate me. And also, I'm thinking of doing the ill.u.s.tration of the cover, so comment down below your suggestions ~