Curse of fate

Langst Vitaline

Four days after the assassination of the Director of the Ultra Academy.

5:30 AM

"Director Yuron."

"I told you not to call me Director, we were friends for a long time," Yuron said to me, still the same kind and cheerful young man.

"You're the Director now, it doesn't matter what we were."

"Alright... what did you want?"

"I want a day off."

Yuron was surprised for a moment as he knew I had never taken a day off. "A day off? But you know how tense things are, if something happens, you need to be here."

"The other teachers are here, they will be enough if something happens."

"But—" I didn't let him finish. "Director... please..."

He hesitated, but didn't refuse. "F-Fine... you can go. One of the staff will take your shift today."

"Thank you."

I left the academy and went far away. Very far. To a place only the dear ones know about. An old and dilapidated house in the middle of the forests and dangerous wilderness. I knocked on the door three times, and a girl I've known for a long time, Fyorai, opened it. I asked her, "Is he busy?" She answered, "No."

I entered the house. Even though it was dilapidated from the outside, it was a beautiful house inside. I sat on the couch and waited for someone. My wait didn't take long.

"How are you, Langst?" said a man wearing a long robe and a straw hat, who then sat on the couch in front of me.

"Rivan,"

"I'm used to you calling me Riv, is there an official matter now?"

I looked at the ceiling before continuing, "Your words..."

Rivan smiled at that moment. "Did you finally believe? The assassinations of the directors and—"

Before he could finish, I spoke. "Rivan, you fool... if only you pretended to be ignorant." Tears began to fall from my eyes. I involuntarily placed my hand on my face and gritted my teeth. Rivan remained silent.

Even though I had my eyes closed, I could see Fyorai looking away, and Rivan lowering his straw hat so he wouldn't see me in this state.

I slowly moved my hand away from my face and looked at Rivan. My eyelids were red, even though I hadn't cried much. I spoke. My tone only carried brokenness and regret. "Damn fate."

---

Yarasou Vitalis

I stopped reading this book, but two of the directors were killed, Rivan... I don't want to believe your words...

I held the book, but didn't pull it out. I clenched my left fist. I took a deep breath.

I said quietly, "Damn fate." Then I pulled the book out.

---

Four months later

---

Leo Vitalite

I said as I looked at the sky... or the sea? I still don't know what the sky is in the academy. "Two months left."

Sai responded with a sigh, "This year is long..."

"At least nothing serious has happened like at the beginning of the year."

He raised an eyebrow, wondering, "What do you think we'll learn in the second academic stage?"

I shrugged at his question. "I don't want to think about that..." Who would want to think about something like this...

Beatrix interrupted us, smiling. "Why don't we have some ice cream?"

I smiled as soon as I remembered the taste. "Good idea."

We went straight to the first garden in the academy, and once we bought the ice cream, we started sharing our tastes.

"Vanilla is the best," I said, tasting the ice cream.

Sai responded confidently, "Chocolate is better."

Beatrix shouted after lifting up her ice cream, "Shut up! Milk is the best!"

Kinto suddenly appeared and said, "I agree with Sai."

Sai was startled by his sudden appearance, "Where the hell did you come from..."

And suddenly, Mary started running toward us, shouting, "Are you eating ice cream without me?!"

I smiled at that moment. I wasn't sure why I smiled, but I think it was gratitude.

---

7:00 AM

"Students, we have a mission," Langst said.

I sighed and said, "Please don't make us use our abilities..."

Langst responded, "It's an exploratory mission, Leo. Of course, you'll go with your abilities. There's an abandoned rural village where strange phenomena have started happening. Even the nearby villagers say they hear voices of people there."

Mary raised an eyebrow and said, "Are we entering some horror play or what?"

Langst continued, "But this time, you won't be allowed to help each other. Each person must reach the village on their own."

Kani, worried, asked, "But... how will I get there?"

"Think of a way. Let's start now."

Beatrix flew in the air.

Kyutai created a moving floor and wall behind him to push him forward.

Garin jumped into the air and created clouds of mist beneath him to jump on one after the other.

Karez created a metal surface that carried him into the sky.

As for me, I created Beatless, but this time, I made it from the inside out.

Kano looked at the teacher and said hesitantly, "teacher... how will I go?"

Langst responded, "I told you, think of a way."

After a moment of thinking, Kano gathered sand in his hands and blast it to the ground, propelling himself forward.

Kano shouted enthusiastically, "This is amazing!"

Kani was encouraged and said, smiling, "Why not copy you a little, Karez?"

She took out glass from her body and merged it to form a surface that she controlled using the control shingen.

She said, "If I lose control of the Shingen, I'll fall, right?... Then I won't lose it!"

Sai shouted, "Even though you're using your abilities to fly, I'll beat you all by just running!"

He activated his enhancement and started running very fast.

Kinto, while drinking a potion, said, "It's good that I made a potion that enhances physical ability, even though I'll need to sleep for 15 hours after it wears off..."

He started running beside Sai.

Mary confidently said, "I don't need anything. The forest is the best place for me."

She took out her hooks and started moving gracefully between the trees thanks to her flexibility.

Langst smiled and said, "You've all grown so much... I'm proud of you."

Then he started running as well and overtook everyone.

He said, "I'll beat you this way, hurry up more, students."

I screamed when I heard his words, "You won't beat me!" I enhanced Beatless' speed even more.

Sai said, "I'm the fastest, Leo!"

"Impossible!"

After a long way, we arrived at the village. Langst tried to enter, but someone stopped him, saying, "Stop right there! What do you want?!"

Langst said, "I should be the one asking that. The village has been abandoned for a long time. Why are you here?"

The man answered angrily, his features starting to show his frustration, "This village is no longer abandoned."

Langst replied cautiously, "How can I be sure?"

"Why should I answer you, anyway?"

Before the situation escalated, an old man came out and said, "Welcome, I am Warik, the mayor of this village. Please excuse my son's rude behavior."

His son objected, "But father—"

Warik interrupted him by hitting him on the head, "Stay silent."

Langst said respectfully, "It is a pleasure to meet you, mayor. I would like to ask you some questions."

Warik replied kindly, "Of course, come with me."

We entered the village, only to be surprised that it was full of life, with no trace of abandonment or ruin.

Karez, his face filled with astonishment, said, "It's unbelievable that this village was abandoned."

I added to his words, "It's full of life..."

Warik said, "We've arrived."

Kinto asked in confusion, "What is this place?"

Warik answered, "My home. Please come in."

His wife welcomed us, and we sat in the reception room.

Langst said seriously, "Mayor, we have known for years that this village was abandoned. How has it come back to life so quickly?"

Warik answered calmly, "My children, we are the former villagers."

Langst was surprised and asked, "Does this mean you returned to the village? How did you rebuild it so quickly?"

Warik replied with a mysterious smile, "We didn't return to the village... We returned to life."

A silence followed, and everyone was astonished by his words. This was the least that could happen in such a situation. After all, something like this is entirely illogical. I felt in that moment that the mayor's aura was truly different. I couldn't believe I hadn't sensed it before. I placed my hand on my sword, just in case.

Langst stammered, "W-What do you mean?!"

Warik said, "We... are dreamers."

"Mayor, what does that mean?"

"Not even I know. Our lord came to the village. It was abandoned, and we were dead, but after his blessing, we returned to life."

Langst, trying to understand the situation, asked, "What do you mean by 'dreamers'?"

"I don't even know. Our lord said we are dreamers. And when we asked him what that meant, he said, 'When you reach the required level, you will get the answer.'"

"Do you know his name?"

Warik shook his head, "No, no one knows him."

"I understand. Some soldiers will come to the village in the next couple of days for security purposes. I hope you understand."

Warik replied with a smile, "Of course, they can come at any time."

Langst turned around and said, "We will leave now."

Warik stopped him, saying, "Wait, you are our guests. You shouldn't leave like this."

Langst said, "I appreciate this, but we cannot stay."

Warik replied, "We've already prepared food."

"Food?!!" Sai said eagerly.

Kano added, "Professor, we can stay for a little while!"

Langst sighed, "Fine, fine..."

Everyone started eating. I don't know how they managed to prepare so much food in such a short time, but... who cares?

"Delicious!" said Kano, his smile wide.

"Very!" agreed Sai.

I then said, "don'ttalk while eating..."

We then bid farewell to the mayor and returned to the academy, where Langst reported all the information he had gathered to the kingdom's security.

The next day, we woke up to news that shook the kingdom's security. All the "dreamers" who were in the village had disappeared.

"The professor said today's lesson is special," said Mary.

I answered, "Are we going to learn something new or what?"

"We'll see," she replied.

"If it's not interesting, I'll just sleep," said Kinto.

"Students, today is a special lesson... You will meet the top three students in the academy," said Langst.

The top three? This will be interesting.

"Silva, Kon, and Marin... Come in," said Langst after looking at the door.

The three entered the classroom, and their presence alone showed the difference in strength. As soon as they entered, I felt a strange sensation from Silva. No, it was a strange feeling coming from me towards Silva. I felt a sort of attraction, a Shinta attraction.

"How are you, my brothers?" said Kon with a smile.

"You just met them, and you're already calling them your brothers?" said Marin. A tall girl, reaching the height of Kyutai or more.

Kon replied, laughing, his muscular body noticeable, "What's wrong with that?"

"Why do we have to do this..." Silva muttered.

Karez asked, "Kon, how did you reach this level?"

"Well... I... I don't know..." said Kon hesitantly.

"Ah... I see..."

I approached Silva, "What's your ability?"

He hesitated for a moment but finally answered, "Shadows."

Finally, someone like me! "And I am darkness!"

"What a wonderful coincidence..." Silva said with a kind smile.

Beatrix joined in, "Two with evil power?"

I turned to her, "I told you those are childish stories..."

On the other hand, Marin was talking with Kano and Kani. Kano was trying to move away a little, I don't think she realizes she's too close.

Her ability is strange, and... I don't know... she can transform into all kinds of animals.

"What's your ability?" Kinto asked.

"Engines," answered Kon.

"Can you transform into a car?"

Amidst the questions, Kyutai stood up, "teacher."

"No, Kyutai... you can't," Langst said, anticipating what Kyutai was about to say.

"Teacher, I want to fight them," said Kyutai insistently.

"I told you no..."

"Teacher, it's okay... he can fight us," said Kon calmly.

"If you don't mind..." Langst answered.

We went straight to the training hall.

Kyutai stood a few meters away from Kon. His sharp eyes waiting for any movement from his opponent even before the fight began.

The fight started.