Sustaining The King's Life 142 Manipulator

Faustina soon eradicated the thought about going on larger groups to be destructive. 

"I'll go on ahead to check the parameters," says Leviticus.

"Isn't that a risky move?" Faustina asked. "You might be attacked . . ."

"It's okay," Mich.e.l.le said to Faustina as she gave a pat on her shoulder. "Leviticus is going to be fine."

Leviticus gave a smile before he sauntered towards the path ahead—his shadow disappearing with him to the darkness. Faustina turned to Mich.e.l.le, who gave her a bright smile.

"Leviticus can stealthily go forward and warn us what's ahead. He said he got his skills from Zweite, his home continent." Mich.e.l.le said. "I'm sorry. Were you surprised at how we strategize?"

Faustina was, on a matter of fact. It was completely different from how Anakin and the n.o.bles did it, after all. The other group was very much careful and was taking their time on the exam. Faustina thought about the haste earlier; it had mirrored Anakin's frustration. The n.o.ble's frustration because the commoners were ahead of them.

"So, what are we actually going to do?"

"Well, we're going to continue to walk towards Leviticus' path," Mich.e.l.le answered. "He'll come back rus.h.i.+ng if there's something wrong, after all; and by that time we should be near him."

"Isn't it a bit inconvenient, especially for him?" Faustina asked. "After all, going ahead would mean he would have the risk to face the enemies alone, even if he's on stealth . . ."

"We told him about it," one of the examinees from the crowd said. "But Levi's persistent and wants everyone to pa.s.s—so he said this was the best decision we all could take."

"He's a good leader," Mich.e.l.le said. "Which is why I wanted him to go to win the elemental race."

"That's right . . . the elemental race," Faustina exclaimed, realizing just now. Who was it that won the race in this group?

Faustina and the others were walking straight to were Leviticus had gone to. He was leaving marks—marks that only Mich.e.l.le's magic could detect. They said this earlier when they explained Leviticus being stealthy. As they sauntered towards the darkness of the courtyard, and with only the gems in their staves serving as the light—they talked to ease their worries about the infernal ground.

"The professors said that the first one to win will get into Ianua I," Mich.e.l.le said. "At that moment, we're all sure it would be Levi who would get into the finish line first—"

It was what Faustina was thinking too; after all, Anakin and Claire raced so hard to get into the finish line with all their magic. They were both determined to get that golden ticket. 

"But then, he slowed down," Mich.e.l.le said. 

"Did he give way for the examinees?" Faustina asked, tilting her head.

"I figured you'd say that," Mich.e.l.le answered with a smile. "But no, Levi isn't like that—it would be too insulting for us. He ran at a full pace, with all his might as well. But he was still in the middle. It was the strongest and oldest among us who managed to get the first place."

Faustina stared at Mich.e.l.le, who was smiling as she talked about Leviticus.

"You see; Levi isn't that strong too," Mich.e.l.le said. "Dracus here is better at him in combat. Turla surpa.s.ses him even in magic."

"But you know—out of all of us, Levi's the only one who's cut to be the leader." Mich.e.l.le exclaimed. "Usually we've seen leaders like that n.o.ble boy your group—pardon me—your group has," 

"Go on," Faustina answered, opting Mich.e.l.le to continue.

"That n.o.ble boy, he's got strong magical potential as well. His mana is above average, unlike us; and his compatibility with fire is something else, too—given the fact he got a ruby for a gem. He's also very charming, which makes him what you can call a natural-born leader. He emanates this aura that says: 'you have to follow me.' Which is something that Leviticus doesn't have."

Faustina tilted her head. Why is Mich.e.l.le insulting Leviticus now, considering she was praising him earlier? The confusion showed so visibly in Faustina's face that Mich.e.l.le and the authors inevitably laughed.

"I'm not insulting Levi, don't worry," Mich.e.l.le giggled. "I was just saying the truth."

"Yep, all Mich.e.l.le said is true," Dracus said with a laugh. "That Levi doesn't know how to act like a boss. He only gave that n.o.ble brat a feigned arrogance to annoy him, but he got worn out cause of it."

"Aha! I remembered the exhausted look on his face when we were on the tunnel of the secret door," One of them said. "Levi's really amusing when you look back to lots of things he did, especially on the elemental race."

"Ah, that one is golden." Turla stifled a laughter. "He literally tripped, didn't he?"

"Yeah, and he said from the start of the race—'right now, there's no friend or foe; we're all just racers wanting to get that number one'." Pomelette, a girl beside Dracus, repeated Leviticus' face and articulated with a mimicked face of Leviticus. The group laughed at this certain mockery that even Faustina was able to chortle silently.

"But there's one thing redeeming about Levi," Mich.e.l.le said after wiping the tears of laughter on the corner of her eyes. "Levi is actually very much sympathetic to people. Although he can be considered intrusive at first due to his curiosity."

"And you know what?" Mich.e.l.le said as she faces ahead of the way while they walked. "Leviticus is very much dissimilar to the talented leaders who control everything while people follow their light. And that's a good thing,"

Faustina tilted her head. That's a good thing?

"Leviticus is empathic to the people around him. Instead of being that s.h.i.+ning light that everyone follows, that one talented prodigy that is meant to govern—he becomes a small, radiant ray of suns.h.i.+ne that descends before us." Mich.e.l.le smiled. "He doesn't have that big light emanating from him—instead, he has this warm light that walks along with the people who are around with him."

"I'm sorry, was that too melodramatic?" Mich.e.l.le asked; cheeks red from her blabbering. 

Faustina shook her head. "No. You just conveyed your feelings and nothing is wrong with that,"

Mich.e.l.le blinked, as if taken aback. "You know, Miss Faustina—you're different from the n.o.bles that I've seen and encountered." She said, and then blushed yet again. "B-but I don't mean it in a bad way. I mean it in a good way. Usually, n.o.bles we've encountered either looked down on us or thought we were unfit to even stand here. But you . . . you look like you're not bothered with that."

Faustina wasn't able to answer. It was because she wasn't a real n.o.ble herself—and she just couldn't say that out loud. 

"U-um, did I make you uncomfortable?"

"No," Faustina immediately answered. "It's just that . . . it's flattering. And um . . . I've been in our manor ever since I remember—I don't interact with people either, so I guess I'm a bit . . . different." There was a certain truth to this deceptive lie. It was true that Faustina doesn't interact with people that often which made her quite different. Back when she was at the cabin, Eula would get people from Nebel and tend to them with Faustina's black hair tied on a bun and her head covered with a shawl. This way, they were able to hide the fact she was Heilen. When Faustina requested Eula to dye her hair, Eula refused; saying "I don't want what you're naturally born with getting tarnished just because of this world's stupid traditions. You don't have to abide by their cruel law, Faustina."

"I think it's just because you're a good person, Miss Faustina." Said one of the examinees. 

"That's right, it's not because you're different. It's just that you have a good heart." Turla said. "People often think high about themselves and look down on others because of social status; but you—as clear as day—aren't basing our abilities because of that. I observed you from the start, after all."

"Yep, me too. You're silent, but the distaste you showed when n.o.bles say the nasty stuff was so loud and clear we were certain you aren't like that." 

Faustina's chocolate brown eyes gleamed. "I . . . I showed that kind of aura?"

Mich.e.l.le laughed. "You don't seem to be bothered by it," 

Faustina smiled warmly. "I don't. I'm . . . happy,"

"Happy?" Mich.e.l.le tilted her head.

"I'm happy you think of me that way," Faustina exclaimed, smiling brightly. 

Mich.e.l.le's smile also got wider, and then jumped to hug Faustina. "Let's be friends, Faustina!"

Faustina blinked.

"Hey, Mich.e.l.le! No fair! Be my friend too, Miss Faustina!"

"Me too! Me too!"

"Can I get a hug as well?"

"I want to hug her too!!!"

Faustina chuckled. In the midst of the gloomy place they were in were bright smiles and echoing peals of laughter that had eased the heavy atmosphere. 

At that certain moment, Faustina thought it was alright to be relieved and be at peace for a while. That it was alright to make friends—even amid the darkness of the cruel, exam grounds.

How she was so wrong.

"What's that?"

"The ground—"

Faustina and the others were interrupted with the quaking ground. Vigilantly, all the examinees held their staff firmly to form their very own barriers. Mich.e.l.le made one for Faustina, who was noticeably struggling with it.

"Someone's coming!"

From the east where the quake was originating, a silhouette from the thick fog of mist ambled his way towards the group. And as the figure approached them, his appearance gradually became perceptible.

Golden hair disheveled, bruises all over, and staff that is hanging loosely on his right hand being supported by the left. He had walked so weakly; contrasting the remorse painted all over his face.

Anakin Disfiegro was on the brink of collapsing.

"Oi . . . isn't that . . ."

"The n.o.ble leader brat . . ."

Anakin fell to his knee in front of all of them, his gaze lowered down.

"Why do I have to cross paths with you . . ." Anakin's slumped shoulders quivered. 

With scornful eyes, he lifted his head to snarl at the grey-haired girl who was looking at him with only confusion laced all over her face.

"WHY DO I HAVE TO CROSS PATHS WITH YOU," Anakin thundered, looking straight to Faustina with anger in his eyes. "MANIPULATOR!!!!"

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