Chapter 218 - All About Orwell (Skippable)

REGULAR CHAPTER RETURNING TOMORROW

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01: Request

Orwell of Lotheringwood, or known by his peers and the Academe as simply Orwell Moscow, Lovellia Moscow's son. He earned his title 'Lotheringwood' by conquering the lost land of Lotherlien, an isle found in the middle of Magierstadt and Alte Stadt, the ancient city. Orwell is a biologist and a magical scholar, equipped with knowledge and mystical prowess.

His outstanding performance in the academy and his achievements granted him the title Lotheringwood, next to the Academe's top student Michael Westfarthing, an Earl of Assiah, a country located in Zweite. Orwell remained in the Academy after his graduation, and built a mansion in Lotherlien to continue his research.

He is one of the few selected by the High Magicians to research and tasked to find the cure for 'Nightmare' with the exchange of his silence and disappearing from the public eye. It did not bother him much, for he liked to work alone, and be in solitude.

His origin was noble, coming from a family of a wealthy Baron of a father. Nonetheless, their title was useless—the Moscows were provincial lords, with only wealth but names not even recognized. On the other hand, Orwell's Mother, Lady Lovellia Woldenfreg, was the daughter of an Earl, a rather popular Earl owning a Tea Company, in league with merchants. At her youth she was very graceful and even until the age of her middle 30s, her demeanor was as blooming as ever.

This made Orwell a son of a rich Marquess. But then, in his early childhood, magic appeared spontaneously from his chubby, little hands as he was playing with his parents. His father, the Baron, did not like the idea of having his first-born son possessing magical prowess and soon he was neglected. His mother, however, saw this as a blessing.

And it was.

Orwell stared through the windows of his study. The manor built in Lotherlien grasped a spectacle as beautiful as one can be seen in history. Below him was a courtyard and his garden with roses the color of the scarlet dusk. Beyond was the sea and clear skies that appeared endless. But there was also a faint sighting of Alte Stadt, the ruins of the ancient city and Magierstadt, the school of magic. He was also in the middle of the two continents: Zuerst and Zweite.

The Island of Lotherlien was cursed with never-ending waves and it was almost impossible to track it, since with the magic contained in its lands were forming a barrier that made it vanish from a Mundane's sight. The magic formula was foreign and undecipherable... until Orwell discovered a new way to deduce its incantation and breach its walls. He conquered Lotherlien using his knowledge, skill, and experience. His own formula for breaching magical isles were added to The Book itself, and were taught to a new generation of magicians.

He was a powerful scholar, a great contributor of knowledge.

"You are tasked to train Faustina Feuerlon, the youngest daughter of Duke Feuerlon. For Lovellia Moscow, Etiquette. The king has chosen you because of your outstanding grace. You also are to teach her a bit of Literature and Music. For Orwell of Lotheringwood, Magic, History and Philosophy."

Orwell tilted his head, as he read the child's biodata. "The child is already 16. Why must I teach her History and Philosophy? These are taught at early childhood. Magic, I can understand. However,"

Sheila, the priestess of the church raised her brow. "The king chose you because it is known that you prefer to be on solitude. I must say, he may be incorrect because you are rather inquisitive."

Orwell thinned his lips and then his gaze drifted towards his mother, who was staring straight ahead, unmoving but in suspicion.

"We accept."

"It is not a request, though." Sheila retorts with a snicker. Orwell's gaze locked upon the clairvoyant's magnificent staff. There was a ruby lying on the scepter's top, with branches peeking out like trees curving on roads of the forest. There were vines of flowers enveloping the staff's body. Orwell found himself mesmerized.

**

From the start, everything was interesting and intriguing for Orwell.

The summon from the king. The nusquam. The conspiracies. The Feuerlon's altered memories.

Faustina.

All of it sent a shiver down his spine, and he could also tell it intrigued his mother too. The moment the spells was done, it was finally the time to plan. He knew it was impossible for the Feuerlon brothers to be included in the altering of memories. He tried to think of a possible spell that could alter a memory, and there is a theory in his head.

An act that will "not" be an act if the latter knew it was. For an instance, a dream do not necessarily have to be a "dream"—a dream can be our form of reality if we do not know it is a dream.

Orwell formulated different theories in his mind, such as hypnosis and dark magic. But he could not discern how it could work. The spells the priestess chanted were words he never heard of before—languages that aren't native to Feuersturm. The spells did not use chaos, a type of dark magic; therefore, Orwell is certain that it is not a forbidden spell.

But he never heard of such thing as a spell as complicated as altering one's memory.

After the incantations, they spoke with Sheila and were instructed in the king's plans. And for the whole day, he hasn't seen Faustina or the king break out of nusquam.

"I cannot believe what happened today." Lovellia says. "We are a part of something so dangerous, Orwell."

Orwell remained silent.

"I believe it is because of your connections to Magierstadt." She says. "Do you think the king suspects you?"

"No," he says. "Rather, he thinks I am beneficial."

"Orwell..."

Orwell stared at the obscurity through his round spectacles, his mind lost in thought.

"This is dangerous." Lovellia says. "Being involved with the Forsaken. But we cannot disobey His Majesty."

Orwell smiled. "So that's it."

"Orwell?"

"Nothing." He answers.

** ~ interlude 

After a while, Orwell and Sheila, along with the Diener de Lichts casted a spell to change Faustina's appearance. There is a combination of glamour and variation of spells to create an illusion, along with a manual dying of her hair into an ash-grey combination. The spells were mostly chanted so it could appear as "real" as the ones the duchess has.

And this was all done in Faustina's sleep.

"She is not waking up." He says. "Why is that?"

"The toll of the medium." Sheila says. "Unlike us, she has a weak constitution. Her magic is also sealed. Not only that, she is also under the devil's trick just few months ago. Her body cannot keep up with all of the things that are laid upon her."

"Hmm."

"What?" Sheila smiled. "You do not believe me?"

"I do not." Orwell answers. "Her constant fainting and her body's consistent losing of consciousness when she encounters the king is too much good of a timing. Her body responds into a proable stimulus that makes her like that. Tell me: is the king absorbing her energy?"

"Bingo."

Orwell's eyes widened. "Then..."

"This is why the king never visits her." She says. "Because the theories were right."

"What?" Orwell says in surprise, as he connected all the past events—the circ.u.mstances in which Faustina and the king dwelled into. Faustina dreaming of the king coming to her room—was it a dream? Or did he come to her chambers, but she drifted out of consciousness because of her energy being absorbed by the king?

"Nightmare absorbs the energy of a Heilen." Sheila says. "It lengthens the lifespan and gives fuel to the person possessing the curse."

"Then how is a Heilen going to 'sustain' the king's life?" Orwell exclaims. "Do you plan to shorten Faustina's lifespan... no, do you plan to kill her?"

"The theories were correct." Sheila retorts, her blank gaze fixated on Faustina. "It is all going according to plan. She will not meet death."

Orwell's brow furrowed in confusion, as the priestess' gaze drifted from Faustina towards him, smiling sweetly.

"Do not exhaust yourself from thinking, Orwell of Lotheringwood."

**

Happy Orwell in Magierstadt:

"I'm asking you if you're . . . alright?" Orwell asks. He stops walking, and then one of the small firefly orbs found their way near to Orwell's face, showing his concerned expression. To Faustina's surprise, he held both of her shoulders, steadying Faustina into her feet. Maddie tilted her head, staring at both of them.

"Are you nervous?" Orwell asked, and then for a brief moment, there was silence. Faustina chuckled anxiously. "W-well, not exactly . . ."

Orwell grins. "You got this, okay? Orwell Lotheringwood is your teacher, after all!"

Orwell then moved his hands away from Faustina's shoulders and then proceeded to walk ahead of them.

Maddie slowly sauntered beside Faustina.

"Mister Lotheringwood is kind of bubbly ever since he stepped foot here, M'lady,"

Faustina smiles, still staring at Orwell who was being greeted by the shop owners and was fairly noticed by a good amount of people in the crowd. He smiled at them with a sheepish grin and a wave. Orwell then went to one of the stalls to check for a mana crystal, and then began to chatter with the stall owner, who obviously knew him.

Orwell then turned to gesture Maddie and Faustina to follow him but was interrupted with the shop owner pinching his ear, who then started to lecture Orwell about etiquette and how to treat young ladies properly.

"Mister Lotheringwood is a wonder," says Maddie. "One day he's a profound gentleman, the other day he's . . . like this."

". . . It's because he's now home," Faustina says through her smile. "That's why he's this happy."

**

Chain: Orwell's pretty close to the main protagonist in my other book. He's very dear to my heart, lmao. Also lemme ask this critical question...

Do you want him to have other love interest?