Noel Faust

Morning assembly passed without a sight of her. Fortunately, I was assigned to my old classroom, likely because my old self was absent. I'd see her soon enough, I thought. I was standing outside the class, waiting to be introduced as the new student.

My targets were both present as well: the instructor and his son. I'd never spoken much to either, much less anyone. They all ignored me as much as possible.

I ran my hand over my neck, feeling the areas where my scars used to be.

I'd apparently already almost died before. I didn't remember much about my early childhood. My first memories started with Sil.

"Silica? How about Sil? It's easier to say," I'd said as a kid. I think I was around four when my mother first took us to Frostmoore.

"Y-You brat! How dare y—" one of her attendants, Hestia, had started.

"It's fine," she interrupted. She looked straight at me. "Come with me."

Then she turned and walked off. I simply followed her. What we did is hazy to me, but I always remembered how she held my hand. Maybe she just felt bad for me. That's what I thought initially.

I remembered when Sil brought me back to the small hut my mother was still building. My mom laughed about how she got chewed out. Everything else spoke for itself. Despite the initial best efforts of the Frostmoore elves, she stayed by me. That continued at the academy, every year.

"Please come in, Miss Noel," a voice said. I realized I was crying.

"All right, one second!" I said.

I quickly wiped my face, then barreled in. Well, I'll get this over with quick! I thought. "Heyo, I'm Noel Faust of the Faust Family, nice to meet ya!" I said.

"Wow, the Faust Family? I didn't know we were to receive them in Caedril."

"She's so beautiful!"

"And tall..."

The eyes on me felt suffocating. I was used to the exact opposite of this.

"Say, Noel, tell us more. Is the Faust Family here to stay? Or are you temporarily sampling what Caedril has to offer?"

"Ah, uh, they didn't discuss that with me... I guess," I responded, scratching my head.

"Her voice is so melodic! Can you sing, Noel? Oh, I just know she can!"

I tried my best to answer the torrent of questions. Yet I felt his gaze on me the entire time. Something inside of me was screaming, begging to be anywhere but here, with him. I felt all of Rebecca's emotions. I noticed things I think I never would have before. Through the classroom, the urge to kill, to maim the man before me, was rising to the point of being unbearable.

"Miss Noel? You can sit over there, in the left seat. She's not here yet, but Silica is our star student. You'll learn well from her."

"You really will, Princess Silica is amazing!" one of the students said.

"I can't wait!" I responded.

I took my seat, sitting through one boring lecture after another. I wasn't proficient in channeling Eldyr anyway. None of this applied to me.

"Noel, why don't you come show the class an example? Being the new student, I'm sure everyone would love to see your ability."

I stood up, walking to the front of the class. Whatever, this was the moment everyone would begin ignoring me anyway. Regardless of family status, the powerless are ignored. I felt no aptitude for any element when I first awoke in this body.

"Now, clause sixteen of Eldyr manipulation requires channeling your found element to form a layer of protection on your skin. Go on and do a quick demonstration."

I raised my hand. Before my arm even fully extended, a brilliant purple flame erupted, the flames thrashing wildly but cool on my arm.

I blinked. Everyone else did as well.

"It's magnificent..." a girl in the seat cornering mine said, her eyes wide. "The Faust Family truly are prodigies."

The instructor, however, looked like he'd seen a ghost. The feeling in my chest told me why.

I hadn't just adopted Rebecca's feelings; her Eldyr was empowering me. It felt surreal, visceral, as a pain started at my head and tore through my body. I quickly sat back down, the flames dispelling a moment later.

I needed time to think, but didn't have an outlet. I wished Silica was here. Why would that power manifest in such a way? Why did it feel like second nature to wield something so powerful?

Harry Trapper's eyes were glued to me. He looked to his father several times, seeming to look for an escape route. Had she shown herself to them? That practically set off an alarm. I had to act, but I didn't really know what to do.

The instructor cleared his throat, his deep voice cracking as he stiffened. "Wonderful display, Noel. Stay after class; I'd love to discuss in detail how the Faust Family implements their practices."

And he moved right along. Harry continued to sneak glances at me, yet even that came to a halt as the classroom door opened a few minutes before the lecture ended for the day.

Silica stood at the door. Her eyes were cold, and she looked different than I remembered. Her silver hair cascaded over her pale blue skin. She simply walked in and sat down, not acknowledging anyone in the room at all. The instructor didn't seem intent on saying anything either.

I'd seen her be her usual self plenty of times. This was beyond that. Her eyes almost looked glazed over as she sat next to me. I was too stunned to even say anything. I wanted to hug her, apologize to her, or what. But I wasn't me anymore. I didn't even know if it was okay to talk to her.

Why, after thinking of nothing but seeing her, did I get cold feet now? I scratched my head, tapping on the desk, doing anything to try to quell the thoughts raging inside of me.

When I turned again, she was staring straight at me.

"I need to talk to you," she said. she was staring right at me. I nearly choked. Then I took a deep breath.

"S-Sure," I responded. trying to seem cool, like my heart wasn't racing. i couldn't make eye contact.

"Artie, it's okay," she whispered. "I know."