Chapter 7: Fated Person

'Please... no more dramatic shocks today.'

---

Aiden spotted Alaric and Elric already seated on a bench in the classroom. A single spot was empty beside them, so he quietly joined.

Alaric turned to him. "Did you fill out the form for the two additional classes we're supposed to choose?"

So much had happened lately that Aiden had completely forgotten.

'But there's still time — six days left,' he thought.

He quickly glanced at the form again, read through all the available classes, and then marked his choices: Alchemy Class and Time Magic Class.

Aiden replied calmly, "Done."

Alaric raised an eyebrow. "You chose your classes just like that? On a whim?"

"I didn't choose on a whim," Aiden said. "I went through all the options and picked what I think will help me the most."

"Whatever," Alaric muttered.

Elric chuckled. "Don't worry, Alaric. Aiden is smart — he knows what he's doing."

Then Elric turned to Alaric. "So, what did you choose?"

"Alchemy Class and Concepts of Magic and Science."

Alaric then asked, "What about you, Elric?"

"Alchemy Class and Concepts of Natural Phenomena."

Then Alaric said, "At least we have one class in common."

Aiden listened to their conversation, visibly amused.

---

Soon, Evander entered the class and began demonstrating various one-circle magic spells with a serious tone. The class ended after two hours.

"Any questions?" he asked.

Silence.

"Alright then," he continued. "If any of you have filled out your additional class forms, you may submit them now."

Everyone handed in their forms.

Evander smiled slightly — the first time Aiden had ever seen him smile.

It surprised him.

Evander said, "Next week, on the same day, I'll give you your class schedules."

Then he added, "Class dismissed. Have a nice day."

With that, he left.

---

Afterward, Aiden attended his Physique Training Class.

The professor — a middle-aged yet incredibly handsome man, just like every other professor here — led the entire class on a three-hour run.

Even he ran alongside them.

By the end, every student was exhausted — including Aiden, and even Calista.

The General Knowledge Class would start next week.

After returning to his dormitory, Aiden took a shower, visited the library, and borrowed several books — including ones about time-related fairy tales.

He returned, made dinner using the dorm's ingredients, ate quietly, and then settled down to read.

Among the fairy tale books, he found something interesting: a myth that claimed one could turn back time if they obtained the mythical Time Stone.

Of course, it was just a fairy tale.

'If anyone finds out I'm starting to believe in fairy tales... they'll think I've lost my mind,' he thought, then chuckled.

---

Seven days later...

In the morning, he took a shower, prepared breakfast, and had lunch early.

Then, wearing his magical mask and storage bracelet, he once again left the academy and headed toward the same dark alley in Vermalion City.

Standing there, he whispered:

> "The Eclipsed Eye, I have a job for you."

In an instant, he was teleported into the familiar dark hall.

The same hideous-masked man stood there.

"You're just in time," the man said, pulling out a thick bundle of papers. "Here — all the information you requested."

Aiden accepted the bundle and stored it in his bracelet.

"Thank you," he said.

"No need to thank us," the man replied. "You paid for it."

He then added with a laugh, "If you need more, come again. We'll give you a discount next time."

His laugh echoed through the chamber — dark and disturbing, like a demon chuckling in glee after crawling out from the underworld.

'How ominous,' Aiden thought with unease.

Then, once again, he was teleported back to the alley.

---

Returning to his dormitory, he locked the door and pulled out the bundle of papers.

He began reading.

Time passed quickly — and before he knew it, it was already lunchtime, and he wasn't even halfway through.

After eating, he continued reading. It wasn't until nighttime — after another shower and dinner — that he reached the final pages.

He even found his own information in the stack. It was strange, seeing himself through someone else's eyes.

He kept reading.

Then he found Elric's and Alaric's profiles — nothing suspicious.

He read Calista's file. Again, nothing stood out.

At some point, a strange guilt crept in.

'Is it really okay to go through their personal information like this... without telling them?'

But then...

He found it.

The file that made his heart stop.

His hands froze.

Eyes widened.

He had finally found the person — or perhaps the thing — he was looking for.

And what he read made him shudder.