Chapter 212 - Double Dinner, Double Trouble (Part 3/5)

The sound of folk music had enveloped the entirety of Magierstadt's city. The town wasn't as flashy as the parties held in Feuersturm's capital, but its rich culture, dances, custom, and the overall ambiance, was enough to compete against the leading country of Zuerst; the Feuersturm Empire's festivities.

Faustina was looking around with an awestruck face. She had been in the city before, but seeing it yet again was just equally enthralling as before. Perhaps it was because of how lively it was and how the music played so distinctively and different from where she was from.

"Isn't Magierstadt beautiful?" Ezekiel asked.

"It is," Faustina answered as she marveled at the sight. Magical items and people of different races all frolicked around, admiring the country even further.

"People of various origins often come here to not only sightsee but also to mingle with others," Ezekiel exclaimed. "Agins, the people of Zuerst and Zweite... they all come here to set their differences."

Faustina stared at the stalls and the people talking among themselves. Voices are blended with the music and the place that was supposed to be dark was so bright and tinged with warm light.

Ezekiel smiles to himself as he watches Faustina's expression. Somehow seeing her like this made him feel quite relieved. "I'm glad you look well,"

Faustina turned to Ezekiel. "Well, I can't stay looking all gloomy, right?"

Ezekiel chuckled as he stares at Faustina. He then proceeded to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Thanks for agreeing to my selfish request."

They were in the middle of the street. This time of the day, the night market floods the entirety of the city. The night market was lively and the streets were chockfull of people. It was the same when Faustina first came to Magierstadt, except now there weren't many students (although there are notably some people who were wearing uniforms going on about).

Faustina stares at Ezekiel's amethyst eyes. He looked a lot different to the forsaken, but there were notable features about him that resembled him. But those certain features didn't remind Faustina of the Forsaken, the one that had taken Eula's corpse from her.

Ezekiel was very akin to the image in the history book of Magierstadt. The image of Jonathan Unsterblich. Although they aren't alike in many ways, Faustina had seen how they had the same smile like the one in the book.

"I really thought you wouldn't agree," Ezekiel said as they walked.

"To what?"

"To the dinner."

It was truly odd, having Ezekiel invite her out of the blue. Of course, there was no way the son of the schoolmistress would just invite someone else just because he feels like it...

Right...?

Faustina felt a metaphorical bulb light into her head. That's right, she doesn't know Ezekiel wholly. Maybe he takes many people to dinner out of courtesy? Perhaps because he's bored? Faustina tried to enumerate the possible reasons, narrowing her list as her brows furrowed while they walk.

**

As they ambled their way to the restaurant, Ezekiel cannot help but smile as he observes Faustina think deeply while they walk. He smiled, observing her expressions he had never seen before.

Ever since he had met her into Feuer Capital, he couldn't stop thinking about how troubled and how her round, chocolate-brown eyes looked like they were eager to learn. She had a spirit that was both bright and new to Ezekiel, much different from the others. She danced with him in the capital, and she had lost her shoe running. She was also chased by a certain marionette.

She was both mysterious and intriguing. The questions that surrounded Faustina's very being intrigued Ezekiel like never before. Perhaps it was because of this odd feeling he got from her; she was always having magic around her, no matter the situation. Although it was a subtle feeling, to magic-sensitive people, it was still observable.

He considered that perhaps Faustina's mana was just irregular due to her being sick. But what about the fact that she was chased by marionettes in the Feuer Capital? What about the odd things surrounding every happenstance she was in? Ezekiel heard that Faustina was with Chastity Beverly back then when they were in the elemental race. She was also a part of the last batch, who managed to summon all of the undead royals.

Coincidence?

Ezekiel knew that although the teachers appeared to have overlooked it, some were noting Faustina Feuerlon's involvement in it. She was, after all, the same as the Forsaken.

Irregular mana.

They were running background checks on her, and as of the moment, they haven't found anything suspicious.

But it wasn't that Ezekiel was investigating about anything else.

"Whoa..." Faustina smiles as she sees magician entertainers performing tricks.

He smiled gently again as he stares at Faustina. She was looking at everything with awe and sparkling eyes.

"Oh. We're near to the restaurant." Faustina smiled. She wasn't really that anxious as earlier. Her sudden change of mood and uplifting energy stirred something inside him.

Really, how can Ezekiel label this feeling as suspicion? He glanced at Faustina's smile and her expressive, brown eyes. Looking at her made him feel something else she had never felt before.

Ezekiel knew deep inside it was something that couldn't be explained by magical formulas, or spell enchantments. Not even the theories of Goldenfag and Folkmanor would be able to explain what he was feeling.

And it was thrilling.

Ezekiel found himself smiling as he walked alongside her. She was looking around still, with eyes like that of a child marveling at the sight of a beautiful place.

But to Ezekiel, she looked more beautiful than the stalls, the music, or the magical items being presented into the city. She was so different and intriguing—perhaps from curiosity as well, Ezekiel wanted to know her more. He, after all, waited so long ever since their encounter in the capital.

Not long after, they arrived at the restaurant.

**

The Firefly Feast.

It is considered to be a renowned place in Magierstadt, which served its specialties using spices that are enhanced with magic. Even the professor in greenery, Professor Devon Belle, said proudly that the produce being used was magically engineered to be more flavorful and healthier. She said that the restaurant was receiving direct produce from the research facility itself, considering it is owned by the Unsterblichs.

"The restaurant is meant to attract tourists and also act as the forefront that represents the fruit of Magierstadt's research."

And so, along the way she was with Ezekiel (oddly enough he preferred to walk with her that teleport), Faustina was able to ask as many things as she could. Ezekiel answered them with a smile. Although there is still a question that lies beneath the mind of Faustina, she managed to gouge the answers she needs.

The restaurant.

This was a golden opportunity for her to gather intel. It would not be easy, but it wasn't an impossible task to complete. She could test the food herself and bring samples that she could tell Orwell about. Faustina thought of numerous things that would come out with this dinner. So far, the pros had outweighed the cons.

There was no way she would let this pass.

They entered the restaurant, which is by far the most stunningly elegant place Faustina had encountered in the night. Chandeliers and floating night lamps, along with magical items into the entirety of the premise. Musicians were playing solemn pieces from the distance as people ate on their respective tables.

Somehow the place was quite different from the restaurant in Feuer Capital. The restaurant was a buffet type, while this was slightly different. Ezekiel and Faustina sat on their table as they are guided by one of the magician receptionist.

"That's the schoolmistress' son, right?"

"Based on his silver hair and amethyst eyes, there's no mistaking it.... that's Ezekiel Unsterblich."

"Who's that with him?"

"Oh... look at her."

"Is she noble?"

"Who's she? I've never seen her before."

Of course, the range of glamour magic was still limited. Mostly they could only cover notable persons in Feuersturm and background at least in the people surrounding Faustina. But magic doesn't just activate on random strangers.

'Think of it as a domino effect. Say, the duchess is the red domino which will act as the first in the line. Imagine it like this—my glamour magic will be the trigger. When the magic takes effect on the duchess, it'll continue to affect those connected to her. However, like any other chain, it ought to stop somewhere else. Imagine the dominos being farther and farther apart from each other, making it impossible to actually reach a certain span." Sheila said. "But that doesn't mean the chain stops. It just needs to reactivate. The magic will give a background then, and when their mind seeks for more, that is when the glamour magic generates yet another trigger."

"Isn't that like... deceiving people?"

Sheila scoffed. "When you agreed to the king's plan, you are already opted to lie to everyone else. Keep that in mind."

"...Faustina?"

Faustina snapped back to her thoughts as she stares at Ezekiel.

"Are you alright?" Ezekiel asked, draping his hand around her forehead. "You don't seem to be sick."

Ezekiel drew his hand away and smiled.

"Are you spacing out again?"

Faustina blushed. What's with her and these occasional daydreams?

"Sorry..." Faustina said, which made Ezekiel smile gently.

—

Unbeknownst to the two...

A pair of red eyes had his gaze glued to them.

He caressed his magical circle as he stares at another image into the crystal orb.

"I'll make sure this will entertain you," the man licked his lips, which momentarily showed his fangs. "L.u.s.t."