Chapter 20: Bonds and New Beginnings
After Fate named his Aether Jellyfish Soo-ah, Professor Dylan raised his hand and called the six students who had nearly come to blows.
"Alright then… the six of you who were about to fight earlier, stand up."
Fate, Kyle, and Isabelle rose immediately, their expressions calm but resolute.
Opposite them, Thomas, Andrew, and Jake also stood, their faces twisted with arrogance and barely concealed irritation.
Professor Dylan's eyes gleamed with quiet authority as he addressed them.
"How about a little game to settle all of this?"
Isabelle raised an eyebrow.
"A game?"
"Yes," Professor Dylan replied with a faint smirk. "This game will test how well you can fight with your tamed familiar. The rules are simple."
He paused, letting the tension build. "The team that loses… will be demoted to the B-rank Classroom. What do you think of that?"
Whispers rippled through the classroom. Other students exchanged incredulous looks, some clearly amused, some shocked.
Jake chuckled arrogantly, pushing his glasses up his nose.
"Heh… a piece of cake for us," he said, smirking at Fate and his friends.
Andrew and Thomas grinned mockingly, clearly confident in their superiority.
Kyle frowned and asked Professor Dylan directly.
"Professor… how exactly will you enforce a demotion? We're in Rank S, after all."
Professor Dylan's smirk widened.
"Don't worry. I've already arranged it. Three students from the B-rank Classroom will simply be swapped with whoever loses. It's under control."
Fate exchanged a glance with Kyle and Isabelle. Both nodded. That was the cue—they were ready to accept the challenge.
Fate straightened his posture and said firmly.
"We accept, Professor."
"Good," Professor Dylan replied. "You will all have one week to train. On Monday, the six of you will face off in the Academy's Arena. Be prepared."
With that, he waved and departed, leaving the classroom in murmurs and whispers as the students processed what had just happened.
One by one, students began leaving the room, some discussing the upcoming match excitedly, others speculating on which team would win.
Fate began packing his things, his gaze resting on the trio of delinquents; Thomas, Andrew, and Jake.
They were glaring at him, their hostility unmistakable.
Fate met their stare evenly, unflinching.
Kyle and Isabelle flanked him, sharing his tension.
Even Chloe, who had been watching from the side, shot a cold glare at the three students.
Eventually, the delinquents left the classroom, but not without a final, disdainful look back.
Chloe approached the trio who remained; Fate, Kyle, and Isabelle. Her voice carried concern.
"Are you all going to be alright?"
Fate's expression hardened, determination radiating from him.
"Don't worry. We'll beat them."
Chloe exhaled slowly, shaking her head.
"Good… just don't underestimate them."
The four of them began walking toward their respective destinations. Fate, however, paused, suddenly remembering something important.
"You can all go ahead," he said, turning to his friends. "I have somewhere I need to be."
Kyle tilted his head, frowning.
"Alright… just be careful."
Fate waved them off and sprinted toward the Academy's Pillar.
The wind whipped past him as he ran, each step purposeful.
Soon, he reached his destination and found Lisa Astryx sitting quietly on the edge of the pillar, her legs dangling, a book resting on her lap.
"Lisa!" Fate called.
She turned her head, her expression calm as ever.
Fate approached and bowed slightly, his usual calm tone tinged with embarrassment.
"Sorry… I'm late."
Lisa smiled faintly, her voice soft and welcoming.
"It's alright. Also… thank you for helping me earlier."
Fate closed the distance between them, brushing off her thanks with a shrug.
"No problem. I just can't turn a blind eye to someone being insulted."
His thoughts drifted momentarily.
This wasn't about curiosity or needing to understand Lisa, it was instinct. He had been bullied relentlessly in his past life school, college, work.
Every instance of cruelty had left scars, and seeing Lisa threatened stirred something deep within him. He couldn't ignore it.
He refocused on her.
"I'll be straight to the point. What did you mean when you said we have something in common?"
Lisa stood gracefully, brushing a strand of hair from her face. Her gaze was steady and piercing.
"Even if you reconstruct your body… you cannot change your soul."
Fate frowned, confusion flickering across his face.
"What do you mean by that?"
She took a deep breath, her voice serious and measured.
"You… you're a transmigrated person."
Fate's eyes widened.
"How… how do you know that?"
Lisa's expression softened slightly.
"You can often understand someone… if you've experienced the same thing."
Her words hung in the air. Then she revealed the truth, almost shyly
"I am also a—transmigrated person."
Fate exhaled, a mix of relief and surprise. He had known such people existed but had not expected to meet someone like her so early.
"I understand…" he said, nodding. "May I ask… how did you get transmigrated here?"
Lisa paused for a moment, then said quietly:
"I… was transmigrated here by reincarnation."
Fate's eyebrows knit in concern.
"I'm sorry… I didn't mean to pry into something sensitive."
Lisa waved her hand dismissively.
"It's alright. I was destined to die anyway—I had cancer, and only six months left to live."
Her voice softened as she asked
"Can you… be my friend?"
Fate smiled, his heart understanding the depth of her suffering.
"Why not?"
Lisa's face brightened, and the two walked together toward their dormitories.
Fate's was on the right, Lisa's on the second floor.
As they parted, Fate waved.
"This way is my dorm."
Lisa returned the wave.
"See you tomorrow…"
They went their separate ways, Lisa ascending to the second floor, Fate heading right to his room.
His dorm was clean and simple. On the dining table, a meal was already laid out.
Fiona, sweeping the floor, noticed him.
"Good evening, Master Fate. Dinner will be ready shortly. Please take a shower while I finish."
Fate nodded.
"Alright."
He went to his room, changed into pajamas, and turned on the shower.
Water cascaded over him, washing away the day's fatigue.
While showering, he summoned Soo-ah.
A small magic circle appeared, and the Aether Jellyfish floated into reality, circling his hand.
Fate's gaze hardened.
"We'll be fighting next week. Will you help me defeat our enemies?"
Soo-ah swirled around his hand, signaling her agreement.
After a while, Fate unsummoned her and dried himself.
He put on his pajamas and headed to the dining table.
The meal was elegant, each dish meticulously prepared.
Fiona's poker face softened into a small smile as Fate began eating.
He looked up.
"Come now, Fiona. Eat with me, it's no fun alone."
Fiona hesitated, then finally joined him, picking up a fork with practiced precision.
The two shared a quiet dinner, the warmth of the room contrasting the tension of the upcoming battle.
After finishing, Fate retired to his bed.
His body exhausted from the day, he closed his eyes and drifted into a deep, well-earned sleep, Soo-ah hovering nearby, her glow faintly illuminating the room.
(Tomorrow… the real training begins. And we will not lose.)
Chapter 20 end