Chapter 91: Whims of Fate II

House Fontaine, one of the Four Great Houses of the Eidelgard Kingdom.

Alongside the Rosenheims and two other families, the Fontaines possessed enough wealth, military strength, and political influence to rival the Royal Family itself.

Specifically, the Fontaine territory was home to the largest port trading hub in the world. Even Eisenbran was just a small fish in comparison.

That was especially why Rian remembered that picking a fight with Fontaine’s heir in the middle of the Academy’s entrance hall would be a terrible idea.

Back in the Graveyard, Martin had been an Academy employee. Here, he was once again the personal servant of Declan Fontaine.

Accusing Martin now would give him a chance to hide behind the Fontaine name. Worse, Declan might decide that Rian was using the incident to cause trouble for his family.

The Rosenheims already had enough of that after Eisenbran.

Charlotte looked between them.

"Declan Fontaine?"

"His servant."

"What about him?"

Rian watched Martin turn and follow Declan toward the exit.

"That’s part of the long story."

She folded her arms, unconvinced and prepared to drag the story out of his mouth if she had to. "You’re going to have to tell it eventually, you know..."

"After I’ve slept."

"...Fine. Are you heading to the Rosenheim Estate in the capital?"

"That was the idea."

Rian adjusted the strap of his sling bag and started toward the main doors. A bath, a proper meal, and enough sleep to forget the entire fiasco that just happened.

But even so, the fact that no one died, along with Rian managing to snag a good amount of Lifespan...he would definitely call this expedition a success.

All the planning and scheming would wait until tomorrow.

"Young Master Rosenheim."

’Fuck.’

An Academy knight approached from the side staircase, stopping him directly in his path. Rian glanced toward the doors, which were now only a short walk away.

’Should I just book it? No...he’ll catch up to me in no time.’

’Curse this body...!’

He sighed and turned back.

"What is it?"

"Headmistress Selene wants to speak with you."

"...Can it wait?"

"I was instructed to bring you to her office as soon as your treatment was finished."

Rian looked back toward the medical corridor. "Does she want everyone from Base Camp D? Something like reports of the incident?"

"No, Young Master," the knight shook his head. "She wants to speak with you. Specifically."

’This can’t be good.’

Knock—! Knock—!

"Headmistress. I’ve brought Rian Rosenheim per your request."

"Send him in."

The doors opened, and Rian stepped inside.

Selene’s office occupied a circular room near the top of one of the Academy’s towers. Tall windows lined the far wall, overlooking the courtyard where candidates were still being directed toward the gates.

But what caught his attention the most, was a stone altar that was connected to a skylight, shining down from above. Though the purpose had been clear enough:

A Star Map.

Selene sat behind her desk with a pen in hand, expression more serious than he saw her at the presentation. Her pointed hat rested nearby, leaving her long ears completely exposed.

"Make yourself comfortable."

He gladly did so.

"Would you like some tea?"

"I’d prefer to go home."

"Then I’ll try to keep this brief."

Selene set the pen down before leaning back in her chair, staring out at the window overlooking the Academy.

"Do you remember what I said before the examination?"

"That whole thing about the stars?"

"Yeah..."

That ridiculous entrance of hers came back to him, along with the golden constellation she had formed above the hall.

"You said there were ten exceptional students. The Golden Class, or something like that...?"

"I lied."

"..."

"There were twelve."

’Dragged me up here to vaguepost?!’

Rian managed to keep the thought off his face, remaining neutral to her revelation. All he could muster was—

"I see."

"Do you?"

"Not particularly."

Selene let out a small chuckle before raising a finger toward the Star Map. The stars above them began to shift, most faded until only a handful remained.

"Reading the stars is a little more complicated than counting whichever ones happen to shine the brightest," she explained. "Their positions matter, so do their movements, and their relationship with the stars around them."

Rian followed her gaze upward.

"And sometimes, what interests me most is what happens to a star that has almost gone out."

One of the lights dimmed, so much so that Rian could barely distinguish it against the dark ceiling. The Headmistress pointed to the one at the very center.

"This one had been dwindling for quite some time. It was quite bright when it first emerged," she said softly. "Every reading showed me the same outcome, and there was very little left for me to interpret."

"...What did you see?"

"That it would eventually die out."

"But..." she continued, and with a flick of her hand, the very same star brightened once more. "When it should’ve disappeared, it recovered. Enough that I initially wondered whether I had been following the wrong star."

’Is she...talking about me?’

He couldn’t be certain.

But a life that had been slowly approaching its end, only to suddenly recover when it should have been extinguished...There weren’t exactly many candidates that came to mind.

"Perhaps your first reading was wrong," he suggested.

"Perhaps."

She accepted the possibility far more easily than he expected. "But then something else happened."

A second star drifted closer to the first. Unlike the others, its light was beginning to flicker.

"This one still had time remaining. Not much, but enough for its path to cross with the star I had been observing."

A thin line suddenly appeared, connecting the two. Rian watched the second light weaken until it looked ready to disappear. But when it was...

FWOOOSH—!

Light shone brightly once more.

Rian recognized the implication instantly.

’Julius...another talent that should’ve died in the Graveyard.’

"Another reading that failed to come true," Selene murmured.

Knowing Astral Magic existed was one thing. But having someone describe his actions so perfectly, especially when those actions involved changing a story nobody else was supposed to know about...

"I’m afraid I don’t understand why you’re telling me all this."

"No?"

"I’ve never studied Astral Magic. If you need someone to explain why your readings were wrong, I doubt I’d be much help."

"Then perhaps I’ve judged too hastily?" the Headmistress leaned back in her chair, finally meeting his gaze. "But I know there’s more to you—"

"Then you thought wrong," Rian cut her off. "I’m just the terminally-ill youngest son from Rosenheim."

"Are you...?"

Selene tilted her head, a hint of amusement appearing on her face. "Yes, you are that same Rian Rosenheim..."

"But according to my teacher, you’re also something else?"

’Don’t tell me...’

"What am I then?"

"The Fairy King."