Chapter 257 - Warlock Magic

Faustina was greeted amorously by the students in her form. They all showed concern, and Faustina felt relieved for a while, seeing all of them alright.

"It's a good thing that Magierstadt's defense is strong." Faustina exclaimed as she walked around the school grounds. They were now outside—and of course, Faustina was given permission to explore. She then turned to Leviticus who was holding the communication orb and Anakin who was on the other side beside him.

"You guys are sooo silent." Michelle said as she walks beside Faustina. "Show some enthusiasm. Faustina's here."

Faustina wish she could tug Michelle, but she was a mere projection. "No, Michelle. It's alright." She smiled at Michelle who now pouted. They were here to explore the academy and take a breather—and they were doing it for Anakin.

"Anakin," Faustina exclaimed, "do you feel better?"

Anakin only smiled. Although his complexion was better than before, he didn't look like he was alright. Faustina couldn't help but feel guilty—because she knows. Lilianne Disfiegro had disappeared—and it wasn't that she's missing. It was because her body was occupied by l.u.s.t. Faustina wanted to tell Anakin that, but it would only make the situation worse.

So she had to bear with it.

--

The walk lasted for a while until they decided to ponder into the garden. There were only few students around. As usual, the academy was still the same as it was, except there were less students going outside now. Faustina figured that perhaps it is due to the fear of the war.

The war—many have said that those from Zweite may have been the ones helping the forsaken due to them being out of reach in this dire moment, which now puts a lingering uncertainty to the students of the two continents here in Magierstadt. But then again, even those who are the sons and daughters of Zweitians couldn't even reach their parents and guardians, so it was a futile argument to direct the blame on them.

Anakin sat by the bench with Leviticus while Faustina and Michelle decided to go for a walk to the rose garden. It was within the vicinity, so they left the communication orb to Leviticus.

"I can't believe that there's going to be war." Michelle said as they finally arrived into the garden. "If that happens, we don't know how long it'll last, too…"

It was true. The great war lasted for 300 years… "Faustina,"

"Yes?"

"Do you know what the 'prophecy' is?"

Faustina felt a shiver run down her spine as she stares at Michelle, who had asked her something she didn't expect.

The prophecy.

"They said that the prophecy will happen soon." She said. "When that happens, a war that is greater even than the great war will take place."

Faustina stared at Michelle who then picked a rose. "Imagine that. If the great war had an entire flock of warlocks… and this, just seven and the forsaken, imagine how strong they might be?"

Goosebumps. Faustina couldn't help but feel one thing. Fear—the realization that Michelle was right. There was that persisting thought that kept reappearing—about Eula's words.

'Do not adhere to the prophecy'… Was Eula telling her not to believe it? Not to succ.u.mb to it? Not to follow it? Faustina couldn't help but overthink the possibilities… And Eula, who was still under the forsaken's care, may or may not have had revived from necromancy. Faustina knows that her memories have come back, but there were still missing pieces—such as why the forsaken seemed to be different from time to time. He was her father, but the one she had seen that night felt someone different… and all those have to be answered when he's captured.

That means when the war is over, if there will be one.

"This can't be…"

"Huh?" Michelle turned behind. She then let out a gasp.

Faustina did so, as well. And as she saw what, or who Michelle was looking at, she realized why Michelle had let out such a pleasant gasp.

"You're here," he said.

"My grey-haired Cinderella."

**

Maria Unsterblich gritted her teeth.

"I'm not his mother. I did not give birth to him…" She said through a tremulous voice as she stares at the mirror.

Sunken eyes and protruding cheekbones, with disheveled and dulled silver hair… she hasn't taken a bath in a week, nor did she even eat properly. Maria Unsterblich hasn't come out of her room the moment she heard that the forsaken had appeared in Feuersturm.

She thought he was dead.

She wished he was dead.

The boy who destroyed her entire life—the boy who made her miserable.

Jonathan!

"I did not give birth to that devil…" She said through the broken mirror. "Right? I did not give birth to him. He didn't come out of my w.o.m.b. He's not my son…"

Maria Unsterblich's eyes widened as a memory flashed into her mind.

A toddler who held her hand.

'Mommy.'

"NO!!!"

"M-mom?"

Maria Unsterblich slowly turned to the one who spoke.

A child, with amethyst eyes with the brightest sheen of purple, along with silver hair that was smooth and beautiful.

Maria's expression softened as she saw him.

"David, my son…" She said.

David then went inside the dark room, with only the opened door as the source of light. Maria knelt down as she embraced her son. That's right. This was her son, David. Her only son.

"Mom… aren't you coming out of your room?"

"No, baby," Maria answered. "I still have some work to do here."

"Work?"

Maria smiled. "Yes. Work. You'll understand once you grow up."

David then stared at his mother.

"Brother… they said he's my brother."

"Ezekiel? He can be y—"

"No," David shook his head. "I heard the maids talking… that… the 'forsaken' is my brother…" David said in a small voice. "They said his name was Jonathan…"

Maria's head throbbed as her heart clenched uglily. "NO! YOU'RE MY ONLY SON!!!"

David's eyes widened as Maria stood up and began to wreak havoc to her own room. "I HAVE NO OTHER SON!!! I DID NOT GIVE BIRTH TO THAT BASTARD!"

The passing maids then noticed what was happening inside the opened door. So they rushed to take David away—

"THAT'S MY SON! GET AWAY FROM HIM!!!"

"Sister, stop!" Anna Unsterblich then rushed towards David, and with her wand she separated the mother and son from each other. She then carried David to her arms as she enclosed Maria in a barrier.

"Her pills. Make her take her pills!" She said. "Lock the doors. Have it covered with a barrier."

The maids then nodded and drew their wands.

Anna Unsterblich, carrying David, then went out of the room and then went into her office. Gently she let David into the floor.

"Care to explain yourself?"

David then lowered his gaze.

"I just wanted to see mother…" He said. "And ask her… about my brother."

Anna stared at David. "Brother?"

"It's true, right, Auntie? That I have a brother. And his name is Jonathan—"

"We do not speak that name here," Anna said. "He's long gone from this family."

David stared at Anna. "But why?"

"Because…" Anna sighed. "He did bad things."

"Can't he be forgiven?" He asked. "Can't he come back when you forgive him?"

Anna stared at David who was looking eager; innocent eyes looking at worn out once. Anna was once again reminded that she was talking to a child.

"It isn't that easy, David…" She said. "You'll know once you've grown up."

"That's what all of you are saying! Once I grow up! You don't even try to make me understand what's really happening!"

"David!"

But he was now gone, and had run off from the office. Anna went out and realized David used the portals that doesn't use magic made by Ezekiel.

She sighed.

"What am I going to do with all these happening…" She said, massaging her temples.

**

David had gone out and then found himself at the hidden forest in Magierstadt. He then walked towards the place he had always spent his time with—and it was the cliff that viewed the vast sea.

David sat down to the bare grass and then buried his face to his knees, as he hugged the front of his legs with his arms. David sniffled as he cried. They were always like that; his family. "They treat me like I'm an outcast just because I'm a child…"

He was also forbidden to read the books that were about the past. They said that he should simply look at the present and study magic… they don't involve him in discussions, and whenever he asks a question, all of them tell these words: when you grow up, you'll understand.

"I hate all of them…"

"Who do you hate?"

David then raised his gaze, and then there he saw a beautiful woman wearing a black dress, sitting against the broom. David instantly recognized what she was, based on the children's book his mother used to read him at bedtime—"Witch!"

The woman smirked; her lips were luscious red.

"Witch? That's too lowly." The woman then landed in front of him, towering over David with her black stilettos.

"So, who do you hate?" She asked.

David stood up. "Who are you…?" He asked. "You're… not from here."

"Wary and perceptive child, aren't you."

David's eyes widened as the woman leaned to him.

"Stay silent." She whispered, and in that moment David felt a chill run down his spine.

"You wouldn't want everyone here to be in danger…" She said dangerously. "Do you?"