Alexander Octavius Ein Feuerkrieger IX, the current king of Feuersturm.

The sole heir to the throne, with the splitting image of the first king, Alexander Octavius I.

Same gold-like blond threads of hair, bright against the sun; eyes of pale blue like skies being reflected upon seawater.

Two different souls, trapped in one body.

Faustina stopped writing on her journal. She closed the leather notebook and stared at the window facing the garden outside. It was bright now—dawn was at its peak, the air was cold and thin, but the breeze was refreshing and the aftertaste was almost as sweet as honey.

She barely had any sleep. Last night she was in an audience with the king and his knights. The five knights of Fire Empire. The twin knights, who are Sir Elvis and Sir Elliot Wainwright. Lorenz Schmidt, the knight with the cheery and gleeful face, possessing an unusual hair color of purple, like that of the color of belladonna, with white edges. She did not catch the name of the other knights, since they did not even bother to introduce themselves.

One with the hostile look, a white-haired man with red pupils—an albino. The other seemed to be a red-head, who paid no attention to her at all.

Faustina can't remember much, but she knew clearly how the king deliberated each word as if he is commanding an absolute order. It was also her will, after all there was nothing to do but to move forward. Although Faustina strongly believes she contains no such power like the king suggests, she was pretty much powerless to disobey his command.

Eula told her to survive after all.

And above all that—she was curious. Curious of the academy, of Sheila's memories, and how Eula was there, how she ended up with that man. With Jonathan.

For her whole life, Faustina never bothered to question Eula's existence; she simply knew she was there—Eula was there for her to teach her, to be her master, and to take care of her and let her live like a normal child.

"You will sustain the king's life," says Sheila. "You must. It is not a choice for you to make."

Faustina stared indifferently, trying to weigh her words. She felt the king's piercing gaze, the arctic and blank stares of the people surrounding Sheila, the ones with the moss cloaks. The knights looked at her, emotion void from their eyes.

"I will do my duty." Faustina says.

Faustina stared at her journal. This has been with her for a while now, along with her duffel containing several herbs and potions. This was given to her by Sir Elliot, the knight with the tousled hair, who seemed to be sympathetic and friendly with her than the rest. He had given her the few tattered clothes, which he believes came from Eula, at the burnt cabin which was her home for her whole existence.

Faustina held the cloth, a ripped piece of fabric from the hem of Eula's dress. She held it tight to her heart.

"Good morning, Eula."

**

Faustina was attended by the maids that morning, and told her that the king shall see her once again. There was another blue dress prepared for her, beautiful and different from what they told her to wear at the palace.

"Wh-what's with the dress?" She asked the maids.

"Well, the king told us you shall be with him the whole day." One of the maids said, blushing. "We also have the nightgowns and all the makeup you need for the night, my lady."

"Huh?"

"The king will be meeting you to his chambers tonight!"

"What?"