Fate Alchemist - A Regression Academy LitRPG

Wulf didn't sleep that night. That was to be expected. At any moment, he expected the Lions to return and cause problems, or to get lumped in with them.

And then, of course, there were all the meetings. First, with Dr. Azanthius and Captain Basil. The guard captain spoke for them, and Athllas insisted that they were using this to try to get to the supplier.

Azanthius said "You have to know how this looks" many times throughout the course of the conversation, but eventually, he came to the conclusion that the only punishment was to be a deduction of mana-water for the rest of the semester, and mainly as a punishment for going behind his back about this.

Then he dismissed Athllas, Seith, and Irmond. Athllas would have plenty of damage control to do once word got out about Varl's disappearance (and Wulf didn't really plan on telling anyone about what had actually happened to Varl—that he'd gone down into the dungeons).

No matter how unsafe it was, Wulf needed another dungeon run if he was going to keep Wraith.

Finally, Azanthius leaned forward, resting his elbows on his desk. "Why is it always you two?"

Kalee had been awfully silent throughout the conversation, and Wulf wasn't sure how to take it, but he still had to deal with the headmaster first.

"We're just doing what we can, sir," Wulf said. "Thought we could help out a little by taking down a reema distributing gang."

"I'm sure you've heard rumours circling around the city by now," Azanthius said. "The Black Pilgrim."

"Yeah. We know nothing about it."

Azanthius sighed. "You've caused a stir. 'The boy from Carolaign.' People think you're an Alchemist."

"They think I'm a reincarnation of Panne, or something like that." Wulf shrugged. "Sounds like a bunch of made up mumbo jumbo. Someone's upset, and trying to get me booted from the academy. I have made a decent amount of enemies, or just people who see me as a threat and want me out sooner than later."

The headmaster let out a huff and rubbed his forehead. "I want to help you, and I want to believe you, but you have been quite…suspicious."

"I apologize for trying to help out."

"Will you tell me what's happening with you?"

The Headmaster wouldn't believe him anyway, and if he did, there was a chance he stood in Wulf's way. Or worse, a chance that he spread the word.

"I don't know what you mean, sir," Wulf said. "I don't want to see demons destroy that world. Is that such a crime? Knowing some other people, and how much someone like Umoch controls you, I'd say it feels like one."

"Enough, Hrothen," Azanthius said. "I'm very tired, and I am doing my very best. But I am confined by the systems I grew up, forced to walk on eggshells by all the ancient Field pact I have made…long life is not always a blessing, as I'm sure you've heard."

Wulf had never really bought that. Lots of people seemed to think that immortality was a curse, but only for people who had nothing to do with themselves. He didn't think there was ever a world where he'd run out of things to do.

But he kept that to himself. "I'm sorry, sir. I'll hold my tongue next time." He leaned back in his chair. "Sir, what do you know about the Great Alchemist Panne?"

"Not much, except what I've read. The best accounts of his life are unusual, and we suspect lots of it is fabricated or bent with how much time has passed." Azanthius sighed. "Why do they think you're an Alchemist, I wonder?"

"I do too, sir," Wulf said. He'd been pretty careful. There was only one person who'd gotten away from him after learning that he was an alchemist. "But I think…people are looking for a place to put their faith. They want someone to believe in, to tell them that the world is going to be alright when everything is collapsing around them."

"Do you think you can give it to them?"

"I'm not going to consciously try," Wulf said—and that was honest. "I am, however, going to keep doing my best to save them, whether they decide to worship me or not."

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Azanthius nodded. "You're a good kid. Now, if you'd like, I will prepare some summer reading for you—on Panne—but you must focus on your studies. And you have a dungeon delve coming up. Your lecture section is scheduled first, and that will be next week. Focus on preparing yourself for that."

"Understood, sir," Wulf said.

"You're dismissed."

Wulf and Kalee both walked back to their dorms. They got cleaned up. When Wulf returned to his room, he looked inside, but Irmond had already passed out. Wulf had already accepted that he wasn't going to sleep, however. He wandered the hallways of the dorms, until eventually, he found himself back in the common room.

It was a lot to process. There had been a demon-spirit among them, controlling the demons and learning about them—and on a mission of some sort.

What else could that mission be, except to cause the demons trapped in the dungeon to awaken? Clearly, he planned on attacking the city.

Wulf got the feeling their dungeon delving expedition was going to go awry slightly, but that was no matter. In truth, he was somewhat excited—it meant more mana for them all, if they could pull it off.

He was more concerned about what the others were saying about him. There was a chance he got exposed as an Alchemist. If he couldn't keep this secret forever, would they kick him out of the Academy?

The problems were mounting, and he had no end in sight. Now, there was someone going around spreading the word that he was a reincarnation of the old alchemist, a demon spirit thought there was something unusual about him and put a target on his back, and they weren't yet at Iron, leaving them vulnerable to Lord Umoch's machinations.

Wulf paced back and forth across the common room. There wasn't really an easy solution. He could try to think of who had spread the word about him. Alright, well, it could've been Prince Athllas. But why? It didn't seem likely.

And then there was Umoch—the younger one. Wulf hadn't killed him…what if this was some elaborate ploy at revenge?

Or worse, what if Umoch was serious about this? What if he truly thought he was spreading the message, telling everyone that an ancient god had returned in the form of this boy from Carolaign.

Wulf chewed his lip. He could try to use this to his advantage. At some point, he'd need people on his side. If he had followers…

Part of it didn't sit right, but ultimately, if he needed them, he could use them. He could, at the very least, be honest with them.

In the end, he realized that he didn't want to think too much about it. He had lots of problems, but like so many times before, he wished he could just punch his way through them. It'd be so much easier.

If he wanted to do that, he just needed to increase his tier, get himself to a place where he'd never have anyone standing above him telling him what he could or couldn't do.

After a few more minutes of aimlessly pacing and stewing, and thinking about things against his will, he became aware of a presence in the doorway behind him. He stopped and turned, finding Kalee standing right there behind him.

"Hey," he said.

"A few hours 'til sunrise," she said.

"Yeah. Couldn't sleep?"

"No." After a few seconds, she said, "Seith was snoring."

"Sure."

"Well, she was."

Wulf laughed softly, then said, "That's why you couldn't sleep?"

"No. You know why."

"I have my guesses. Gotta do with demon-spirits and such, and learning that one was running around?"

"Suffice it to say, the one I dealt with in my past life tried to possess me many times," Kalee said. "Not a pleasant experience, and I don't want to talk about it."

"Understood." Wulf nodded. "You want to sit?"

"Yeah."

They both took a seat on the chairs around the central brazier. They were wide and close together. As they watched the fire slowly burn down, and as they listened to the night shift janitors slowly work through the hallways, Kalee slowly leaned over until her head was resting on Wulf's shoulder. He didn't say anything, but he did wrap an arm around her back. She'd been there for him after Ján had died, and he could return the favour.

He didn't know how long they sat there in silence, but the fire died down to embers. He stopped thinking about all of his problems for once. She'd used a soft, floral-smelling soap, and it was a little distracting, but otherwise, he was just calming down.

Finally, when the rising sun began shimmering through the ventilation and lighting shafts, Wulf gently shook her shoulder. "We should probably go get ourselves ready—before Terrence finds us and we get in even more trouble."

"Yeah," she whispered. "Thank you, Wulf."

"No problem."

When she finally stood up, releasing him, he asked, "Hey, once this stuff is done with, over the summer, you wanna go get coffee or something? I've never tried coffee, I'll admit, but I think that's what we're supposed to do."

Kalee gave him a slight smile. "You know, I've never really had anyone ask me on a first date before."

"Well…was it really a first?" Wulf asked.

"Probably not. Do you consider dungeon delving a first date?"

"What about meeting your family?"

She exhaled. "Point taken. Summer, then. Good luck in the coming week, and hey…we've still got some progress to make."

Wulf nodded. "I've got potions to finish, I think. And we still have to figure out what we're going to do about Wraith's hand."