The king have not visited her after days of preparation for her departure. She will be boarding on ship along with few delegates to guide her to Magierstadt. The country of Feuersturm is located in the midst of the Zuerst continent, therefore they would be going on carriage until they reach the port located in the West, and then they will be boarding on a ship to last them at least a day.
It will be a first for Faustina. One stopover they will be having is the capital of Feuersturm, a city where Eula promised to take her. Faustina was told to go incognito when going to the city, because slave-traders are widely spread throughout the country. Sir Elvis and Elliot were appointed to be with her, along with Orwell to guide her at her first day of school.
"You are being babied."
"What?"
Faustina raised her brow at Orwell, who was eating grapes as he watches Faustina pack her things to her suitcase. Her duffel was ready and was laid upon the soft mattress of her bed. Orwell snapped his fingers and then Faustina's clothes started to fold by themselves. Orwell has the greatest compatibility with wind, which is why he can make inanimate objects to move with ease, almost as if they have a mind of their own. He calls this "movere" spell, a simple spell taught to first year students with a high compatibility to wind.
Faustina remembers her first time seeing how the objects floated, how she cannot hide her grin and amazement as she looked upon the spectacle before her. She asked him as well if she could learn it—and to her glee, he said yes. It was one of the simplest spell that can be taught to the Freshmen, he says. Faustina found herself captivated by Magic, ever since then.
"The king treasures you a lot. I have never heard of the king sending his knight—𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘬𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 —mind you, to simply guide a girl to her first day of school."
"Wh-what, it's just—"
"I'm kidding." Orwell says as he chuckled. For a moment his gaze was sharp and his eyes were piercing like knives darting towards their target. Faustina returned his gaze with a rather clearer one: just a look of nothing but apprehension.
"You will need to be cautious, M'Lady." Orwell exclaims, his voice stoic and warning. "I know you already are aware of what people can do outside, and how greed can overpower reason. I understand why you needed... yes, needed protection. The world is evil, Faustina."
"And beautiful," Faustina says. "Like spring."
"Spring!" Orwell grinned. "It's November now, a bit later than ever in starting the classes at Magierstadt. It's almost winter, achoo! It's been raining for a while here."
Faustina nodded. The chills have been very much making her tremble. At times like this she can only reminisce times with her master; Eula gathering herbs, Eula telling her the beauty of snow, Eula tending the sick.
"You are my spring,"
Faustina snapped back to consciousness as she heard those words. She stood frozen, not from the cold but rather from the surprise. She felt flabbergasted yet astonished. Her gaze carried nothing but questions.
"What do you mean, Mister Orwell?"
Orwell smiled. "It's a song, Faustina. A song made by the most beloved scholar of all time. By Eulalia Fortunatorum."
"Eula...lia?"
"Yes." Orwell closed his eyes, and hummed. "It's a wish for a peaceful winter and a mellow spring. We sing it at times like this."
Maybe it was because of the cold; Faustina felt her knees like straws, weak and falling. She sat by her bed, while the wind blew inside her chambers. The transparent curtains swept and danced along the breeze, while Orwell hummed a familiar tune.
"Say, Mister Orwell." Faustina starts, her voice trembling. "Wh-what was Eulalia Fortunatorum like?"
"Well..." Orwell caressed his chin. "I was still a child when I saw her. If I am at the age of 19 now, it was about ten years when I had a glimpse of her. She was... always hanging around with the Forsaken at that time, if my memory serves right."
"The Forsaken... Jonathan Unsterblich?"
"Shh. We do not say that name." Orwell shushes, "the teachers told me it was bad omen—and believe me, how stupid I thought it was. But it's true. Bad things really do happen if his name was repetitively spoken. I would like you to refrain from saying it casually, M'lady."
Faustina nodded.
"Eulalia, she was the top student of Magierstadt. Her portrait is still hung by The Walls of the Recognized, and her name was still engraved in the school's Scholar System. She is the epitome of a perfect academic; a powerful magician. She is the pride of Zuerst, I tell you." Orwell says. "I remember she was with The Forsaken quite a lot of times, hanging around by the Tall Tree."
"Tall Tree?"
"It's an old acacia in Magierstadt even before it was built. It is said that The Guardians existed right there. Don't you remember what I taught you?"
"Oh. Yes, I do remember. But it was called 'Großer Baum' in the book."
"Which in Mundane tongue, 'Tall Tree'. The school has a habit of translating every word to Mystisch."
Faustina nodded slowly.
"Almost the literature in Magierstadt are in Mystisch. I believe you studied Literature in your Etiquette class as well? It is one of the few things required. You have to know at least the basics."
"I can write Mystisch and read Antiquorum."
"Good."
Faustina closed her suitcase, and then strapped her duffel around her shoulder. Orwell smiled, "It's almost like I am sending my child to the school for the first time."
Faustina smiled.
There was a knock on the door, and then a butler came, not the butler that Faustina sees with maids, or the butler hanging around the kitchen. It was the king's butler, old and eyes emotionless.
"Lady Faustina." He says. "The king asks for your presence."