The student persisted in questioning Faustin, demanding to know why he wasn't restrained like the others. Faustin attempted to brush him off, but the student's insistence grew more pressing, threatening to draw unwanted attention. Enraged by the student's pestering, Faustin's eyes darkened, and in a strange, unsettling echo, the other student's eyes darkened in tandem, as if enthralled. The student turned away from Faustin, his actions psychically dictated and returned to his desk, his gaze fixed obediently forward.
The teacher, momentarily distracted by the brief commotion, inquired about the disturbance, but Faustin assured her that everything was fine.
"What did you do to him?" Enid whispered, his voice barely audible, careful not to draw the teacher's attention or spark curiosity among their classmates. Faustin gave a subtle headshake, implying that nothing significant had occurred.
"As students of the Academy of The Cursed, you've all been aware of our policies since primary grade," the teacher said, her eyes scanning the room before settling on Faustin. "But for our new student's benefit, let's review the rules. Our goal here is to help you harness your cursed abilities, to learn control and discipline, and to navigate the shadows of your powers without succumbing to their darkness."
"The school's barriers are absolute," she warned, her tone firm and her gaze lingering on Faustin, as if daring him to defy the rules. Faustin's eyes drifted away, unimpressed, and he let out a silent sigh. The class session dragged on for a while longer before the bell finally rang, signaling the start of break time.
Faustin lingered in his seat, reluctant to join the exodus from the classroom. He wanted to be left alone, lost in the turmoil of his thoughts. But Enid approached him, his eyes
inquisitive. "You did something to that other student, didn't you?" he asked, his tone probing. Faustin turned to him, unsure how to respond. Then, Faustin shifted the conversation, "Your name is feminine, by the way," he said, changing the subject.
Enid gave Faustin a knowing look, one that said he recognized the subject change but wouldn't press the issue if Faustin didn't want to elaborate.
"Yeah, my parents thought I was female when I was born," Enid said with a nonchalant shrug. Faustin's expression turned puzzled, his eyes peppering questions that his lips couldn't form. Enid burst into laughter at Faustin's bewildered face, clearly amused by his reaction.
"I was born...cursed unlike many others," Enid continued, still chuckling. "My genitalia weren't visible at birth, and my parents misjudged my sex." he added, his laughter fading into a sly smile.
Faustin's puzzled expression lingered for a moment before morphing into a smile, which gradually blossomed into a low, amused chuckle. The person standing before him was undeniably intriguing – perhaps a potential friend amidst the Academy's taunting hall.Enid flashed a wide, toothy grin at Faustin.
The bell's shrill ring signaled the start of another class session, and their homeroom teacher walked in, accompanied this time by the Headmaster and his personal aide. The classroom atmosphere turned tense with the Headmaster's entrance, the students falling silent. Master Faruq commanded both affection and fear from the Academy's students; his presence alone demanded authority and respect. He had come to address the freshmen, though they hardly needed a welcoming speech – many were children of Academy alumni, familiar with its traditions long before high school. His eyes landed on Faustin, who sat quietly, and a gentle, warm look crossed his face. Then, his gaze swept the room, searching for Anon – perhaps he was in the sophomore class instead.
As the headmaster addressed the class, Faustin's gaze locked onto Master Faruq's PA. The air was charged with unspoken tension, their eyes conveying a complex message that neither dared to verbalize. It was clear that their connection went beyond mere acquaintances, but it wasn't romance or lust that fueled their intense stare.
After addressing the class, the headmaster noticed his PA's distant gaze and called out to her, but she didn't respond. Following her line of sight, he discovered Faustin was the object of her attention. Intrigued by the intensity of their gaze, the headmaster observed them, trying to decipher the connection between the two. However, Enid's interruption drew Faustin's attention away, and to the headmaster's surprise, the PA's gaze shifted simultaneously, as if she were psychically linked to Faustin. She quickly composed herself, leaving the headmaster perplexed and watching the pair with growing curiosity.She exited the classroom, with the headmaster following closely behind. He nudged her, curious about her intense gaze at Faustin, but she responded with a confused expression, as if she had no idea what he was talking about. Master Faruq's inquisitive gaze lingered on her for a moment before he shifted gears. 'We haven't spoken in a while,' he said, letting the earlier incident slide and instead focusing on the fact that she had been avoiding him since the incident with the cursed child of the lagoon.
She turned away, her face angled to the left, avoiding his gaze. The silence between them was palpable as Master Faruq's words met with her refusal to respond.
'What's wrong?' he asked softly, his hands resting on her shoulders. 'Did I hurt you?'
His eyes searched for hers, but she kept her face averted. 'No, you didn't,' she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. Master Faruq's gaze lingered on her, trying to read between the lines, but she remained closed off, unwilling to share what's really going on.
"'Let's discuss this in my office,' he suggested, his gaze sweeping the walkway discreetly, mindful that students might be watching and that a public conversation would be unbecoming. Once inside, he tried to get her to talk, but she remained tight-lipped, her face turned away. Her right hand covered her left wrist, hiding the restraining markings that were slowly fading – a detail Master Faruq hadn't noticed. The heavy silence in the room grew oppressive, until finally she spoke up, asking for space.
He let her be, choosing not to push the issue further. Though her rejection and distance stung, he refused to let his emotions dictate his actions. Instead, he decided to give her space, opting for a more subtle approach – to wait patiently and observe, allowing her the time she needed to reconnect with him on her own terms.
The PA's footsteps faded into the distance as she retreated to her cubicle, leaving her alone in the deserted corridor. She made to enter the staff restroom, the fluorescent lights overhead casting a harsh glare. Faustin stood before her, their footsteps synchronized in a strange, unsettling harmony. They halted, frozen in silence, the air thick with unspoken tension. The silence hung like a challenge, neither willing to break the oppressive stillness. It was Enid's voice that shattered the spell, his call piercing the darkness like a cold blade. Faustin's eyes flickered toward the sound, and with a forced smile, he murmured, 'Just looking for the men's room.' Enid's response was a low, even tone: 'This is the staff area. You're a long way from the student facilities.' Faustin's nod was curt, his eyes darting back to her for a moment before he turned to follow Enid's direction.