In the end, she finished the recipe for the mana potion with all the substitutes of the expensive and nearly inaccessible ingredients for a scholarship student in debt like her. She was tired, hungry but she truly couldn’t care less about any other things. She hardly look at the time when she finally exited the library with her

Her hatred for the cold only intensified as the chilly night breeze clashed to her exposed skin. Aediva let out a shaky sigh as she rubs her body in futile attempts to warm herself.

Stars and a half moon overhead shine her way - although, she had the hunch she might lose her way if she accidentally takes a wrong while her head is still feeling like a balloon waiting to pop. Her legs carried her to a bench instead and she sat down, hearing the bell from the clock tower ringing - its echoes probably reached to the ends of the vast campus grounds.

She let out a sigh as she looked at Cath who was already sleeping soundly in her thick sweater - reminding her that she had actually been wearing thick sweaters everyday from the first day of their school. She remembered both Arthur and Eden asking her about it in one of their idle chatter which she answered because of the coldness she always felt.

“... Maybe I should tell the tailor to make more tights and thick pantyhose for me…” she said, thinking about Lisa, the tailor who had made her pull a thousand spools of mana. Again, she let out a sigh.

This time, she’s tired. Tired, upset, trapped in so much emotions like she never even felt before. But she could never know whether it’s true or not.

She cups her face into her palms. It didn’t take her long to notice footsteps approaching her despite the winds billowing loudly around her - already causing her skin numbed by the chill. She glanced to the side and saw a roughly female outline walking nearer towards her.

“... Zielle…” Aediva murmured the name of the one approaching.

“Aediva… I’ve been searching for you…” with dim lighting around them, Aediva winced when seeing the white glow from the phone in the hand of the girl with pastel green hair but quickly look away. Honestly, she is not in any mood to even talk to anyone.

Seeing her silence, Zielle had the feeling she didn't need to ask why she was there. It was clear she was researching for the mana potion Aediva wanted to make.

“Let’s get back to Aval Dorm. It’s freezing out here. You’ll catch a cold” Zielle said. Aediva stood up from the bench and silently, she followed Zielle back to the dorm. Even after they reached the dorm, Aediva’s silence persisted until they heard a growling sound.

Aediva looked away when Zielle looked at her - the latter snorting in response to the sound of Aediva’s growling stomach. Aediva only let out a sigh, rubbing at her stiffened hand from the cold of the night and her own body.

“I brought some food with me actually. I'll prepare it in the kitchen. You can clean yourself up and change into your pyjamas first” Zielle said. She didn’t really have to repeat what she said since Aediva wordlessly went up the stairs with a sleeping Cath she took out from her sweater. Zielle merely watched until the girl and the sleeping monster disappeared from her field of sight with a worried look in her mint-coloured orbs.

For midnight snacks, it was really well done. Turkey sandwiches, crackers and cheese with a little bit of red jam on top of the cut cheese and a mug of piping hot chocolate. Aediva didn’t wait long to dig into the snacks Zielle prepared for them - feeling a little light-headed from fatigue and encumbering stress. At least there’s no Cath to make any other noise that would only serve to annoy her.

While she eats, she merely ignores Zielle’s stare. Eventually, Aediva let out a sigh.

“... Is there no other way for me to actually use magic properly without getting my memories back…” she murmured idly, attracting Zielle’s attention as the girl rested her chin on her palm.

“Not all memories. Just the trigger memories, really” Zielle said something that made Aediva looked at her.

“Trigger memories? That’s… I never came across that in any books I’ve read” the silver-eyed girl said - a frown appeared on her otherwise clean forehead. Zielle smiled.

“That’s because it’s a common knowledge that everyone knows from the moment they comprehend words. It’s pretty rare to find in advanced books. Unless it’s children’s books, of course…” she said, calmly as Aediva sipped her hot chocolate - the frown on her forehead still hasn't disappeared.

“... Is it really important? Can’t I make a new one instead? Huh… These things are really starting to annoy me” Aediva said, her voice starting to growl albeit very quiet. Zielle honestly wanted to make Aediva feel better but she feels like lying would only serve to make the silver-eyed female even more foul-mood than she is at that moment.

“... That is…” Zielle faltered and eventually let out a sigh.

“Vestige of the first memory… It’s hard to recreate and in return, it’s also hard to forget. This may come up as sounding rather condescending but to lose that one memory, is a huge blow to anyone who is capable of magic. It’s not rare for people to have amnesia but what’s truly rare is the fact they forgot that one memory. Vestigium magic is the identity of a mage. Lose it and you’re…”

“Basically similar to the rare magic-less beings like an animal. Great. Nice to know” Aediva continued where Zielle paused in hesitation. Aediva gulped down the rest of her drink, giving an annoyed sigh afterwards.

“So much for being a student of a magic school. Huh… Whatever. Do you think you can get me books or anything relating to the Vestigium memories? About everything is starting to either piss me off or frustrates me. Especially now that I have to go back to that accursed place. Ah… I’m having some unpleasant flashbacks about things I’d rather forget” Aediva grumbled as she sits up - taking the now empty plates and cups.

She was quick, especially when Zielle noticed the dark blemish on her hand that shocked the Kazbelius first-year student. She pulled the sleeve of her baggy hoodie and walked away as if she didn’t understand what Zielle was being shocked about.

Although, to her surprise, Zielle didn’t ask about it when she entered the kitchen to help her with the dishes. Aediva couldn’t help but to let out a silent sigh of relief for knowing that Zielle is the kind who knows how to not prod further than she should. Aediva wished at that moment, Arthur and Eden had at least a bit of Zielle’s subtlety.

“... So… What are you going to do at Efren Dorm? Did something happen that requires you to plan something like this?” Zielle suddenly asked after they were done with the dishes while Aediva was wiping her hands with the dry hand. Aediva remained silent for a while, probably contemplating whether to answer Zielle’s question or not.

“Come on now. Don’t tell me it’s nothing important. I know you’re interested in the mystery of the disappearing Efren students” Zielle said with an impish smirk. Aediva only gave Zielle a glance before placing the towel on the counter.

“And what exactly is this mystery?” Aediva asked.

“Hm~ You really don’t know? Lately, students from Efren Dorm have gone missing. Although the high committee members of the dormitories said they were resting due to overworking themselves and some workplace accidents. But people found a few ‘escapees’ running to other dorms all beaten up with this red bruise around their neck. When they were sent to the infirmaries and other similar places, the next time their visitors came to see…”

“They’re gone?” Aediva continued, didn’t sound shocked in the slightest.

“And never seen out of the dorm ever again” Zielle confirms. Aediva scoffed.

“Let me guess, no one ever tried to find out what happened to them either?” the silver-eyed girl asked.

“They did…” Zielle rectified Aediva’s statement - getting a raised eyebrow from the one listening to her.

“But I can’t say that they find anything truly mind-blowing. Especially when they were always caught by Ms. Rachel and got suspended for various rule-breaking reasons like vandalism and disobeying curfews” Zielle sighed, shaking her head with a frown. Almost immediately Aediva cracked a smile on her face as if amused by what Zielle told her.

“Ms. Rachel again, huh? So what is her relation to Efren Dorm?” Aediva asked.

“Oh, Ms. Rachel? She’s the Efren’s dorm warden” the guest answered.

“Oh? That’s interesting. So, Zielle” suddenly Aediva called out for the green-haired female who tilted her head at the one calling.

“How would you feel like sneaking into this dormitory filled with odd accidents and overworked students?” Aediva said with a smile as Zielle beamed back at her with equal vigor and excitement for mischief.

Meanwhile, for a certain individual - everything was starting to get a little bit too boring for him. Despite the comfy seat, surrounded by things that ordinary folks would only dream to have in their hands. Expensive rosé wine in the glass flute at the side in front of him, clothing of velvet and silk soft against his skin. Servants are always a beckon away to do things for him. This is indeed a norm for him - considering how long he had been living that sort of life.

Yet something feels off.

Something that he had been thinking for a while but placed at the farthest back of his mind. The youthful-looking male with kempt platinum hair cut short and slicked to the back, let out a sigh. Since the start of the day, he felt his left hand stinging as if it was struck repeatedly with something with a blunt small tip of a pen.

The man only flexed his gloved hand, distracted enough to notice his ride came to a stop. It took him a few seconds to note the sound of people at the door as it opened - revealing the rows of people or rather, his bodyguards forming secure lines along his path to the hospital.

“Master Luzeheart. We’ve arrived at the hospital” the young male assistant said to the man inside the limousine who went out of his ride - not until after he used a pair of sunglasses. The sound of his cane tapping on the cobblestone pavement bounced back to his ears as his surroundings turned oddly silent - leaving the tapping of his Oxfords to break the silence.

When he reached the room he had been itching to visit for the past few months, the strapping man with nothing but luxury and beauty on his body stopped at the door. A subtle smirk appeared on his face, his strong chiselled jaw moved a bit at the sudden change of reaction.

He opened the door, startling the one inside who quickly seemed to be hiding something behind her.

Those eyes concealed behind the dark-tinted glasses looked at the woman - all wrinkled and decrepit. A picture perfect of someone who had been left miserable after reaping what she sowed.

Marie Andrews, finally looked like the woman her age. A woman the age of 78-years-old.

“You look positively old. I supposed all those youth energy you took from the poor children of the academy was finally sapped away from you, Mrs. Andrews” the mysterious man with platinum blonde hair spoke - revealing his deep charismatic voice. A voice that Marie, the former senior staff of Ba’athoris Night Academy recognized immediately.

Shiver ran through her feeble body struck with a curse as she realized the identity of her visitor.

“... Mr. Cypher Luzeheart… I’m sorry for my---”

“How’s your body doing, Mrs. Andrews? Last I heard, your legs have been completely frozen by the curse” before Marie could even say anything more, the man called Cypher interrupted. Marie parted her lips to answer but immediately clamped it shut as she trembled - a surge of the usual emotions swirling inside of her at the mention of her body’s condition.

“Don’t worry, it’s actually starting to slow down as it was reachign your important organs. Although… Looks to me you’ll have no other choice but to amputate both your legs” a statement filled with cryptic messages, a smile crept on Cypher’s face as he faced the view outside the room. A gentle sunrise greets him after arduous business trips that last for months - warming his face.

Yet the prickling coldness behind him continues to bother her. He knows very well that it's hardly something that should radiate from a foolish and arrogant human. A curse that struck her left an odd bitter taste in his mouth, painfully accompanying him for the past months after he received the news of what had transpired in the academy while he was away. He grasped the ornate handle of his cane as he turned around.

“... How would you like me to rid you off the curse, Mrs. Andrews?” Cypher offered Marie with the abstruse smile still steadily remaining on his face.

“Consider this my kindness and thanks for your service to the academy” he said. Marie sat there dumbfounded.

When Cypher walked out of the room, he closed the door behind him silently and faced his assistant - wiping his hand with the handkerchief he kept in his breast pocket before nonchalantly throwing it away to the trash bin nearby.

“Disappointing. Yet intriguing. Looks like Faraday wasn’t bluffing about the presence of the true Frost during the explosion” Cypher murmured to himself before turning to the young man at his side.

“I’m going to the academy in the morrow. Orbelesia Grace is around the corner. I would love to see if the students are indeed busy with their preparation for the event…” Cypher dragged his words before walking away.

“... Or preparation for other things…” he murmured under his breath.