66: Faye’s Conclusions
Faye had no reason to doubt the logical conclusion that Adonis was primarily targeting the students of the Academy. He used music to entice humans and weaken their personal barriers, then worked further magic on selected targets, which manifested through lyrics personalised to the target. This realisation now began to cast new light on his previous behaviour, which Phantasia had been suspicious about from the start. During the dance lesson Adonis had encouraged strong reactions from the students through his praise and criticism, and careful manipulation of groups and pairs. At the time Faye had no reason to find the behaviour suspicious, but now she wondered if Adonis had been testing the students from the very start, and preparing their minds for his later actions.
With knowledge of his abilities growing, Faye began to consider the possible identities of Adonis. It was still most probably that he was an agent from SEELIE but Princess Phantasia was convinced otherwise.
“I’m telling you, he’s manipulating everyone!” she insisted as they arrived early to Sapphire Second’s tutor room, “He’s using that music to pull them in, then messing with their minds! It’s like he’s…he’s Evil Titania!”
“Princess Titania did not use music to captivate the populace,” said Faye, “And Adonis had shown no evidence of utilising illusions. I do not see the logical connection,”
“He’s messing with their minds!” repeated the Princess, “I showed you, remember? His will was reaching out to people! You said yourself he was affecting their thoughts!”
“He may have been testing their mental barriers,” replied Faye.
“Look, I don’t care if he’s with that SEELIE thing or not, he’s still manipulating people! It’s wrong, and I won’t stand for it!”
That was the heart of the argument as far as the Princess was concerned, and the identity of Adonis a moot point. The one thing she hated more than anything was manipulation. Little was she aware of just how much went on around her, or how vital such behaviour was for the greater good, but Princess Phantasia was naïve and idealistic by nature, just as Faye was reasoned and logical. Her frustration was quelled briefly by the arrival of their fellow students, as the morning greetings took her attention away from the matter, but it wasn’t long before Adonis was once again the focal point of conversation.
“Presenting Lysangelo’s Comedy of Tragics, part fifty-three: The Mulleted Mincer!”
Faye found it difficult to understand the behaviour of the two boys Lysander Goodfellow and Angelo Foley. The former was protected by an abnormally strong personal barrier that prevented her from hearing even the slightest of thoughts, while the latter’s mind was filled with a incomprehensible jumble of non-sequiturs. Lysander was undoubtedly the public face of the two, and having made the announcement, took a bow and stepped back to direct attention towards his companion. Angelo was wearing a blonde wig made from synthetic fur. Oversized and moulting, it hardly resembled Adonis’s hair, but there was little doubt that this was the intent.
