Chapter 77: Fate
While Catrina was heading toward the western gate, Lathel was already inside the Academy.
At least, he still believed this place belonged to the Academy.
Kiyome’s carriage had indeed passed through a side gate guarded by Church soldiers. She merely showed them the silver card, and the two guards immediately let them through without asking a single question. That proved that at least part of what she had said was true.
After getting out of the carriage, Kiyome led Lathel through a long stone corridor. To the left was a spacious garden with several low magic towers, while rows of rather old classrooms stood on the right.
Lathel observed his surroundings carefully as he walked and quickly realized that this place was completely different from the crowded reception area outside.
It was much quieter here, to the point that only occasionally would a student in robes pass by.
Pandora finally spoke inside his head.
"You still trust her?"
’No.’
"Then why are you still following her?"
Lathel looked at Kiyome’s back ahead, one hand still gripping his writing board.
’Because we really did enter the Academy.’
Pandora did not argue.
That was exactly what made her uncomfortable.
If Kiyome had been lying completely, things would have been much simpler. The problem was that she always told enough truth to make everything else difficult to judge.
Kiyome walked a little farther before suddenly turning around.
"Worried?"
Lathel took out his board and wrote:
[Who are we going to meet?]
"Someone responsible for a special examination."
[Name.]
Kiyome remained silent for a second, her gaze lingering on his face longer than usual.
"You really are more cautious than before."
Lathel did not react to that and simply kept staring at her, waiting for an answer.
Because of that, the smile on Kiyome’s lips faded slightly.
"Valen. A Mage responsible for the old examination area."
Lathel memorized the name and continued writing:
[How much farther?]
"Not far. We only need to pass the old chapel ahead."
Kiyome turned and continued walking.
Pandora immediately said:
"I don’t like this."
Neither did Lathel.
Ever since they left the main area, the number of people they encountered had steadily decreased.
By the time they passed through a small abandoned garden, Lathel could barely see anyone at all.
His steps slowed.
Kiyome noticed immediately.
She stopped as well and turned around.
"Something wrong?"
Lathel raised the board.
[Does a special examination have to be held somewhere with no one around?]
Kiyome looked at the sentence, her expression remaining completely calm.
"Some tests involve the soul and Fate. Those kinds of examinations aren’t suitable for crowded places."
Lathel immediately frowned.
The last word made him think of something unpleasant.
Fate.
Even Pandora fell silent for several seconds.
Kiyome observed his reaction before suddenly speaking in a softer voice.
"You can go back. I told you from the beginning that if you don’t trust me, you can leave."
She pointed behind him.
The stone gate they had just passed through was still open, and no one stood beside it to block the way.
Lathel looked at the path back, then at Kiyome.
She was too calm.
And that very calmness made him even more cautious.
However, only a few seconds later, the image of Leviana lying unconscious appeared in his mind again, followed by the name Lathel had long since memorized.
Soul-Anchoring Grass.
That was why he had come to the Academy.
In the end, Lathel lowered his head and wrote:
[I’ll meet that person. But if anything feels wrong, I’ll leave.]
"Of course."
Kiyome smiled and turned around.
But the moment Lathel could no longer see her face, that smile slowly disappeared.
...
At the reception area on the other side, it was finally Elias’s turn.
He handed the staff member an application form that had been folded until it was completely wrinkled and introduced himself naturally.
"Elias Halden."
The man accepted the paper, looked through a few lines, and asked:
"No recommendation letter?"
"No."
"Qualification certificate?"
"Don’t have one."
The staff member began to frown.
"Proof of sufficient funds for tuition?"
This time, Elias remained silent for longer.
The staff member slowly raised his head.
Elias smiled.
"Don’t have that either."
The man: "..."
Seeing the change in his expression, Elias immediately added:
"But I can work. I’m strong, I can carry things, and I know how to cook porridge."
The staff member rubbed his forehead, clearly beginning to get a headache.
"Are you here to register for the Magic Academy or apply for a job?"
Elias seriously thought for several seconds before asking:
"Can I do both?"
Before the staff member could decide how to answer, two students standing behind Elias started talking.
"I heard the special examination area is closed today."
"Yeah, the western Magic Array is under maintenance."
Elias had not been paying attention at first, but the words "western area" immediately made him pause.
Which direction had Kiyome taken Lathel?
He turned his head and looked outside, remembering the direction the carriage had gone.
West.
Elias immediately turned toward the two students behind him.
"The special examination area in the west is closed?"
The two looked at him in confusion.
"For three days already."
"I heard there was a problem with an old Magic Array, so that entire area has been temporarily closed."
The smile on Elias’s face slowly disappeared.
The staff member in front of him tapped his fingers on the desk.
"Are you still registering?"
"Yes."
Elias put the application down.
"But I’ll come back later."
"Wait, you..."
Before the staff member could finish, Elias had already turned and run out of the registration area.
...
At the same time, Catrina had just arrived at the western gate when a Black Rose female knight hurriedly ran over.
"Your Grace!"
Catrina immediately turned around.
"Found him?"
The woman stopped in front of her, still breathing heavily.
"A guard saw a man matching the description."
Catrina immediately stepped forward.
"Where?"
"He was with a woman."
A sense of unease almost instantly rose inside Catrina.
"Who?"
The female knight hesitated.
Only for a very brief moment.
But that was already enough.
Catrina immediately placed a hand on her subordinate’s shoulder.
"Who?"
"Kiyome."
In that instant, every sound around them seemed to disappear.
Catrina stood motionless.
The hand resting on the female knight’s shoulder unconsciously tightened.
The force was strong enough to make the woman’s expression change from pain, but she gritted her teeth and remained silent.
"Kiyome..."
Catrina slowly repeated the name.
Countless pieces of information connected almost instantly inside her mind.
Kiyome knew Lathel.
She knew the identity of the Blessed One.
She even knew far more than she should have known.
And most importantly,
Kiyome was cooperating with Aldric.
Catrina immediately released her hand.
"Which direction?"
"After entering the gate, the carriage turned toward the old western district."
Catrina’s expression immediately changed.
"The old western district?"
"Yes."
She turned toward the Black Rose captain.
"Are examinations being held there today?"
The captain did not answer immediately.
Instead, she pulled over someone from the Academy and asked.
It only took a few sentences to get an answer.
"No. That area is closed for maintenance."
Catrina’s heart seemed to sink.
She stood still for exactly one beat before immediately turning around.
"Call everyone."
"Your Grace?"
"Seal off the western district."
Catrina’s voice was very calm.
So calm that everyone standing nearby felt a chill run down their spines.
"I don’t care who tries to stop us. Not even the Church."
The Black Rose captain’s expression changed slightly.
"But if we cause a conflict with the Academy..."
Catrina turned her head.
A single look from behind her mask was enough to trap the rest of the sentence in the woman’s throat.
"Lathel is there."
No further explanation was needed.
The captain immediately lowered her head.
"Yes!"
Catrina did not wait another second and rushed straight toward the western district.
At that moment, only one thought remained in her mind.
’Please.’
’Please... don’t let anything happen to you.’
She had been given a second chance.
She had found Lathel again.
She had even once kept him right beside her.
Yet in the end, she had chained him with her own hands, made him afraid of her, and pushed him away from the one place where she could protect him.
If Lathel died again this time, Catrina did not know who else she could blame but herself.
...
Lathel stopped in front of an old chapel.
The building was smaller than he had expected.
Moss covered the stone roof, the two wooden doors had faded with age, and the wall in front no longer bore the emblem of the current Church.
Only an old insignia remained, nearly worn away by the passage of time.
Kiyome stepped forward and pushed open the door.
Creak.
The interior was much darker than outside.
"That person is in the basement."
Lathel did not step inside immediately.
He turned and looked at her.
Kiyome stopped as well.
"Changing your mind again?"
Lathel took out his board and wrote:
[Show me the card.]
She frowned slightly.
He added:
[The recommendation card.]
Kiyome looked at Lathel for several seconds before finally taking out the silver card and handing it over.
He accepted it and carefully examined it.
The card was real.
The Church’s mana inside it was also real.
But one very simple thing was wrong.
The name of the person being recommended was still blank.
Lathel immediately looked up.
Just from his gaze, Kiyome knew he had noticed the problem.
He lowered his head and wrote:
[There’s no name on the card.]
Directly beneath it, he added:
[This card wasn’t issued for me.]
Kiyome did not deny it.
Lathel continued:
[What is the real examiner’s name?]
This time, Kiyome did not answer.
The atmosphere between them changed almost instantly.
Pandora immediately said:
"Leave."
Lathel did not hesitate.
He immediately took one step back.
Kiyome looked at him.
For the first time, a faint fluctuation appeared in her golden eyes.
"Lathel."
He continued stepping backward.
Kiyome exhaled softly before slowly saying:
"I really... didn’t want to use this method."
Lathel immediately turned around.
BOOM!
The stone gate behind him slammed shut.
Almost at the same time, a pale red barrier appeared and completely sealed the exit.
Lathel stopped.
He did not panic.
Nor did he immediately charge into the barrier.
He only slowly turned around and looked at Kiyome.
His gaze had completely changed.
The last trace of goodwill he had toward her was gone.
Kiyome immediately felt a familiar chill running along her Fate.
She had experienced that sensation before, so she instantly understood what it meant.
Lathel truly hated her now.
But this time, Kiyome did not retreat.
"I’m sorry."
Lathel raised his board.
He wrote only one sentence.
[Why?]
Kiyome looked at the words, her fingers slowly tightening at her sides.
The faces of her dead tribe appeared in her mind.
Children.
The elderly.
Families who had once laughed together before falling one after another before her eyes.
All the people she still could not forget even after receiving a second life.
Kiyome drew in a faint breath.
"Because I also have people I want to save."
Lathel looked at her for several seconds before writing again:
[So you chose to kill me?]
Kiyome did not answer.
But that silence was enough.
At that moment, slow clapping came from deep inside the chapel.
Clap.
Clap.
Clap.
Lathel immediately turned his head.
A figure slowly emerged from the staircase leading down into the basement.
Familiar hair.
A familiar face.
And a smile that immediately caused Lathel’s entire expression to turn cold.
Aldric.
This time, there was no foul smell on him.
He was not covered in waste, and no one had sent him flying either.
His robe was clean, the arm that had been injured before had been secured with healing magic, and his eyes were completely clear.
"Finally."
Aldric looked at Lathel and smiled.
"You came."
Lathel tightened his grip on the writing board.
Pandora said coldly:
"I told you something smelled wrong."
’Yeah.’
"Got a plan?"
Lathel did not answer immediately.
He looked at Kiyome on the left, Aldric ahead of him, then finally glanced toward the barrier sealing the exit.
’Thinking.’
Aldric stepped down from the final stair, looking so calm that it was almost as though the person standing in front of him had not just been lured into a trap.
"Don’t be nervous."
He smiled.
"I only need to borrow something from you."
Lathel lowered his head and wrote:
[What?]
Aldric looked at him as though he were already an object in his possession.
"Your Fate."
...
Outside the western district, Elias was running.
He had already asked three people.
The first two knew nothing.
The third was an old maintenance worker who had seen Kiyome’s carriage heading toward the old chapel.
Elias barely thought about it before running straight there.
He continued until he saw the stone gate ahead covered by a red barrier.
He immediately stopped.
Beside the gate stood a small sign.
[AREA CLOSED - DO NOT ENTER]
Elias looked at the sign, then at the barrier.
"Lathel really went in here?"
Naturally, no one answered.
He stepped forward and placed one hand against the barrier.
Almost immediately, a force rebounded and knocked his hand away.
Elias frowned, looked at his hand for a moment, then stepped back twice.
"Won’t let me in..."
Both hands slowly clenched into fists.
"...then I’ll break it."
On the other side of the barrier, Lathel was still facing Aldric.