Chapter 25: Where Lines Are Crossed
In the dormitory hallway, Fate was running.
His footsteps echoed sharply against the polished floor as he chased after the direction the student from earlier had gone.
While running, his thoughts raced.
(If I'm not mistaken… those documents I saw earlier looked like an alchemy thesis.)
(That means he must be heading toward the Research Faculty.)
Without slowing down, Fate turned into another corridor, scanning the signs along the walls.
After several minutes, he finally spotted it.
Research Faculty.
Fate didn't hesitate. He pushed the door open and rushed inside.
The moment he stepped in, a different atmosphere greeted him.
Shelves lined with herbs, monster parts, mana crystals, and sealed containers filled the room. The scent of reagents and processed mana lingered in the air.
Fate looked around carefully.
After a brief moment, he spotted someone familiar.
A student wearing a lab coat stood near a table filled with documents. Goggles covered his eyes, but his black hair was unmistakable.
Fate approached cautiously.
"Uhm… excuse me."
The black-haired student turned around.
The moment he saw Fate, his body stiffened.
"A-a… y-you're f-from b-before."
Fate nodded.
"Yes. And… sorry again about earlier."
The student shook his head lightly.
"It's o-okay. I w-was also at f-fault."
He hesitated, then asked, "B-but… w-what b-brings y-you here?"
Fate explained calmly.
"My letter must've been mixed in with your documents when we picked them up."
The student's eyes widened behind his goggles.
"I-i see. I'll h-help you l-look for it."
"Thank you," Fate said sincerely.
The two of them began sorting through stacks of papers together.
While they searched, Fate spoke again.
"If you don't mind me asking… what's your name?"
The student paused, then answered softly.
"My n-name is A-Autumn… Autumn Greenwoods."
Fate smiled.
"Nice to meet you, Autumn. I'm Fate Kindspring."
After exchanging names, they returned to searching.
Several minutes passed.
Then—
"Ah," Fate said, spotting a familiar envelope.
"This is it."
He picked it up carefully.
"Thank you for helping me," Fate said.
Autumn shook his head.
"It's n-nothing."
Fate waved slightly.
"Alright then. See you around."
Autumn returned the gesture with a small smile.
Not long after Fate left the Research Faculty—
BAM!
A loud noise echoed behind him.
Fate stopped in his tracks.
"…What was that?"
He turned around and immediately headed back inside.
The moment he entered—
His eyes widened.
Autumn was on the ground.
Standing over him were three familiar figures.
Jake. Thomas. Andrew.
Jake had Autumn by the collar of his uniform, lifting him slightly off the floor.
"Hey, commoner," Jake sneered.
"What do you think you're doing? Glaring at me?"
He tightened his grip.
"Do you want me to beat you up?"
Thomas stepped forward and slapped Autumn across the face.
"Hey," Thomas said mockingly.
"Know your place, monkey."
Behind them, Andrew was grabbing stacks of papers.
"I wonder," Andrew laughed, tearing them apart,
"what would happen if I burned all of this."
Autumn's voice trembled.
"P-please…"
"D-don't d-destroy… m-my th-thesis…"
Jake and his friends burst into laughter.
To them, it was nothing more than entertainment.
But then—
A cold voice echoed behind Andrew.
"Hey."
Andrew turned.
"Huh—"
He never finished the sentence.
CRASH!
Fate's kick struck Andrew squarely, sending him flying across the faculty.
Andrew slammed into the ground—unconscious.
Silence swallowed the room.
Fate stood there, eyes cold.
"Let him go," he said slowly.
"Before I start breaking your bones."
Jake froze.
Anger flared in his chest—but beneath it was something unfamiliar.
Fear.
Jake released Autumn, letting him collapse to the floor.
Fate immediately moved forward, helping Autumn stand.
Jake glared at Fate.
"You always get in my way."
He scoffed. "What are you? Some kind of hero?"
Fate didn't answer.
He only stared back—his gaze sharp and unyielding.
"Tsk…" Jake clicked his tongue.
"We're not done yet, Fate Kindspring."
With that, Jake turned and left, dragging Thomas with him.
Fate crouched beside Autumn.
"Here," he said gently.
"Let me help."
Fate raised his hand.
(Heal)
Heal
Rarity: Common
– Casts the skill Heal to recover basic wounds.
A soft glow enveloped Autumn's bruises, easing the pain slightly.
Fate supported him.
"Let's get you to the clinic."
"T-thank you…" Autumn whispered.
At the clinic, a physician examined Autumn carefully.
"His injuries aren't critical," the physician said.
"But he'll still need time to recover."
"I understand," Fate replied.
"Please take care of him."
Fate left the clinic and resumed his path toward the mail service.
As he walked, his fist clenched tightly.
(Jake…)
(I'll make sure you pay for everything you've been doing.)
Chapter 25 End