Fate Alchemist - A Regression Academy LitRPG

For the rest of the day, they explored the campus, searching the halls and learning their way around. Wulf took note of the routes, and searched for hidden hallways or less obvious access routes through the enormous building.

And, of course, he planted the spring-thyme seeds that he'd gotten from Chef Kennet. It wasn't exactly the right growing season for them—they needed to be planted late-winter, and they'd mature quickly in the early spring—but that didn't matter in his storage pendant. He could control the amount of sunlight it got exposed to, simulating certain weather conditions, and though he couldn't give it the same temperature as a northern Istalis winter, it was certainly cooler within the storage pendant than it was outside. It just might make the final plant a little smaller, a little more scraggly.

At dinner, they ate quickly, then sent Irmond and Seith back to the dorms. As Wulf and Kalee left together, Wulf whispered, "Where are we meeting your guy?"

"On the outer rampart," Kalee said. "Third watchtower over from the main gate."

"Got it," Wulf replied.

"You think Seith and Irmond think we're going on a date?" Kalee asked.

"...No idea." Wulf swallowed. The comment made his heart pound a little faster. Faster than it ever really had in a long while, and not just with the thrill of battle. He pushed those thoughts to the back of his mind.

They left the meal hall in a hurry, then raced to the edge of the academy. There was an outer wall that snaked all around the building, sometimes pressing right up against a new addition. It was only about two storeys tall, and made of sandstone brick like the rest of the building.

Non-Ascendant guards wandered around the outside, peering between the merlons and lighting the torches. They weren't going to keep any major threats out, but this was a big city, and they would deter any mortal ruffians from getting into the city. Or, if there was a larger threat, they could alert the powerful faculty staff.

Wulf and Kalee approached the main gate of the academy. It was at ground level, but the old wooden doors were nearly four-storeys tall. Students passed in and out of it, coming back from their evening activities in the city or heading out for a late night jaunt. The sun was setting, and being the summer, that meant it was pretty late.

Instead of leaving the academy grounds, they turned and took a nondescript door just inside the main gate, which they'd scouted out earlier in the day. It led up into a stairway, which they ascended to the ramparts above.

The wall wasn't thick, and there was only enough room for two people to walk side-by-side on the ramparts. Wulf let Kalee lead, and as they were walking, he looked out over the city. The towers of downtown seemed distant from down here, and the port even farther away. At night, the massive wall, which they were simply calling the Centralis Wall (as if that wouldn't make things even more confusing, with how many things were named Centralis), was still under construction. A new shift of workers climbed up, lit torches, and continued chiseling stone and shovelling grout into the gaps.

For a moment, he entertained the idea of using powerful stone-aspect Ascendants to raise the earth and create a wall that way, but without deepstone, such abilities weren't permanent. The stone was weak and would crumble back to its original position given a little time.

When they reached the third watchtower, they climbed up a spiral staircase, rising a few storeys to the top, where they met a non-Ascendant guard. He wore a thick red gambeson, which had to be uncomfortable, given the temperature, a layer of chainmail, and finally, light (and mostly ceremonial) plate armour.

"Ah," he said, lifting up the visor of his helmet. He was a human with olive skin and graying hair, a Centralis local. "I didn't expect to see either of you tonight. The contact wasn't reliable, but I thought I'd give it a shot."

Wulf tilted his head, then glanced at Kalee. "How'd you get in contact?"

"I just talked to a gate guard," she whispered back. "He said he'd relay the word to his captain."

"And you've found him," the man said. "I am Captain Basil." He hoisted up his spear and marched to the very edge of the watchtower. "The night shift is mine, and I can't leave it long to speak with you two. Be quick. You're aware of the reema dealers?"

"Yes," Wulf and Kalee both said.

"And you want to help bring them down?"

Again, they both said, "Yes."

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

"Well, you've come to the right captain. I've been trying to stop them for years, and any time I've actually caught someone, the complaints have been dismissed. Can't have a non-Ascendant, just a low-paid guard, going around revealing the bad habits of powerful guild kids, now, can we?"

Wulf hung his head. Of course it'd be like that here, too. "So what makes you think we can take them down this time?"

It was a bold plan. He didn't exactly want the crown prince to get arrested for dealing reema, but they needed to get him out of the Lions somehow, and that meant they'd have to infiltrate and bring down the Association.

Already the second day, he thought. Already the second day at the academy, and you're causing problems.

Oh well. They couldn't afford to take their time.

"I need hard evidence to present to the faculty, and this time, I'll have the word of students on the inside to back it up," Basil said. "Ascendants."

Wulf nodded. "I see."

"Who are you two? I don't see any guild pins or Association crests."

Wulf and Kalee shared a glance, then grimaced. Kalee said, "Sorry, sir, if we've misled you. We are Ascendants, but the both of us aren't from important families. See, we're actually from Istalis, and just got promoted."

Captain Basil's face darkened, and he rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Oh…oh dear. So, you've been here, what, a week, and you already want to go after the reema dealers?"

"Two days," Kalee clarified.

Basil let out a long, drawn-out sigh and shook his head. After a few seconds, he said, "Why, then? Why stir the pot so soon? Are you trying to get me fired? Did Dr. Purdy put you up to this?"

"My sister's life was ruined by reema," Wulf said. "I don't want that happening to anyone else." He crossed his arms and hardened his expression, but tried to let a little emotion slip through just to make it convincing enough. "If we get inside the Lions and report on their activities, will you raise it to the right levels and get eyes on it?"

"Of course," Basil said. "But I don't like your odds. I need to know exactly who's involved, how we can catch them red-handed, and who the dealer is."

"We've had worse odds," Kalee said. "After all, two lowly kids made it this far."

Basil shook his head, then said, "Right. You'll find things work slightly differently here. But that's beside the point. Try your best, and if you succeed, I'll help you get this to the higher-ups. For now, get out of here before you raise any suspicions."

Wulf and Kalee obliged. They took the stairway back down to the wall, then, dodging guards, navigated back to the academy gate. A lower guard muttered something about sightseeing first-years, but Wulf paid him no more attention.

When they reached the main hallways of the academy and began walking back toward the dorms, Kalee whispered, "Was that story about your sister…true? Or were you just saying that to make Captain Basil trust you?"

"A bit of both," Wulf replied. "It…happened in the future. She started with painkillers for a farm injury, liked the buzz, and needed something stronger. I dunno what happened to her, but I doubt she survived until the end of the world, that's for sure."

"That's…cold," Kalee said. He sensed a little disgust in her voice.

"She wasn't the nicest," Wulf replied. "I was the only Ascendant in my family. Born from nothing. She wanted it to be her. I don't know what to say to that. I can't control how I'm born, or the Class I have."

Kalee nodded slowly. "I see. Alright, then."

"We'll meet tomorrow evening? The spot we decided on?"

"As planned. Plan C."

~ ~ ~

The next evening, immediately after dinner, Wulf, Kalee, Seith, and Irmond followed the Lions to the same meeting spot, but stayed much farther back this time. They sent Seith ahead to scout, because the prince's guard wouldn't have seen her last time.

She returned to report that the Lions were indeed meeting in the same spot.

Wulf signalled to the side, and they walked back a few steps, then took a side door in the wall, which had previously been locked, but Wulf had held it open with [Arm of the Alchemist] a few hours ago, when a janitor had used it. He wasn't able to keep the Skill active the entire time, but since he stopped it from closing, it didn't lock all the way.

He pushed it open, let the others into the hall, then slid it shut slowly, so it didn't even thud. Before the others could do anything, he held up a finger to his lips. He needed complete silence if this was going to work.

Finally, he reached down to his haversack and retrieved the vial with the Somnia potion. It was a light purple, and it glowed faintly.

Motioning down the janitor's back hallway, he pointed ahead. This was the same hallway that the guard had sent them back through after catching them snooping on the prince. Cramped, tight, and poorly lit, but it'd lead them right to the guard.

Keeping his finger on the potion's cork stopper, Wulf set off down the hallway, rolling his feet and landing softly. The hallway deposited them in the guard's room, at the end of the hall—which Wulf now realized was a janitor's closet at closer inspection. There were brooms and buckets and mops. Luckily, the guard hadn't blocked it off with a wall of stone this time.

And of course, in the center, sat the prince's red-coated Pilot guard. Pilots weren't exactly known for their impeccable senses, but the man was a Silver. He'd pick up on Wulf soon enough.

Wulf darted into the room, and, triggering [Arm of the Alchemist], whipped the Somnia potion out from its vial. He splashed it on the back of the guard's neck.

The guard whipped around, his hand reaching up to his sword. He was within striking distance.

Wulf winced, half-preparing himself to dodge a sword swipe. This potion had better work.