Ch.7- The red looming on the horizon.

The four teachers responsible for examining the first-years’ abilities, as well as Amy and the other first-years, walked through the Academy halls, which got nicer the farther in they went, with more gold on things and more paintings of people Amy didn’t recognize.
At some point, they stopped in front of two big doors made of crystal. Above them was a small sign that said 708.
“The Sanctum of Convergence,” Professor Vanheim announced.
‘Sanctum of Convergence’… can’t they just call it room 708 or something…?
“This is Class S’s main study and practice hall,” Vanheim continued. “Most of your theoretical lessons will be held here.”
Without saying much more, he opened the doors. Inside was a very, very, veeery large room with tall windows and seats going up in circles around a platform in the middle.
Woah…
Amy stepped in along with the rest and looked around, then stopped when she noticed the people already sitting there.
Right, the second-years.
Crow was near the windows with Ash, Lyra, and Lain. A few tables away sat a thin dark-haired boy reading alone, whom Amy recognized as Zayd, the creepy professor’s nephew. Iris was somewhere too.
Everyone was staring at them.
Professor Vanheim cleared his throat. “Second-years. These are your new classmates. I expect you to treat them with the courtesy owed to fellow members of Class S.”
Some people answered while others just stared in silence. Lyra, especially, did not look happy at all; Amy wished it were just her imagination and that she wasn’t staring directly at her.
This is so awkward…
“I’ll leave them to you, Lirienne,” Vanheim said. “Kaelen, Drayke. We have things to discuss.”
The three of them went away, closing the door as they left, and the green-haired professor walked to the platform in the middle. Her hair moved while she walked, even though there was no wind.
I need to get whatever shampoo she uses.
“First-years, sit wherever you like,” Lirienne said. “Today will be informal. Just an introduction to special abilities and where they fit into magical theory.”
Her voice was really nice, annoyingly nice for some unknown reason.
Everyone started spreading out. Alba and Stella sat together at the front. Tallen went straight for a group of second-years who all looked rich. Lysander and the purple-haired girl whose name Amy still didn’t remember both picked seats away from everyone.
Amy went for the back, as far from Crow’s group and Kaelen’s nephew, Zayd, as she could get while still seeing the platform. She also put her satchel on the empty table next to her so the book could watch.
Wait, can this book even see past the satchel? Actually, how does a book even see…
“Today,” Lirienne said, after waiting until everyone had sat down, “we’ll be looking at what special abilities actually are, and what makes them different from normal magic.”
She waved her hand and a diagram appeared in the air above the platform.
Amy looked at it for a while.
Yeah, no idea what that’s supposed to mean.
“Magic is the manipulation of natural energies. Anyone with the aptitude can learn to channel them with enough study. That’s what a spell is.”
The diagram changed shape. Some people were taking notes. Amy wasn’t. She didn’t even know what she was supposed to write in the first place.
“Special abilities are different. They can’t be taught or learned. You either have one, or you don’t.”
Amy yawned. She was so tired…
[The class has only just begun. I’m surprised you’d find it dull already.]
Amy rubbed her eyes. “I just hate school that much. Always have.” She stifled a yawn. “Plus, I barely slept last night, and that assessment drained whatever energy I had left.”
[Still. You should listen.]
“How much? On a scale from ‘waste of time’ to ‘if I don’t listen to this slop I’m probably gonna fucking die’?”
[Middle.]
“…that’s not an answer.”
[It’s the one you’re getting.]
“…fine…”
Amy sat up straighter and tried.
It didn’t work. She pinched her arm, but that only bought about a minute.
Lirienne explained something about five categories, apparently. Something about elements. Something about physical enhancement. Prophetic insight was in there, which was hers, so that one stuck.
Everything else went in one ear and out the other. Something about abilities pulling power from inside you instead of outside, which was better, except also worse, and if you overdid it you got burnout.
Amy’s attention came back when she realized that at some point throughout the long torture, class had finally ended.
“That’s all for today,” Lirienne said, and waved the diagram away. “Tomorrow we start practical applications. Nine o’clock. Your schedules will be handed out in the morning.”
Finally.
“First-years, use the rest of the day to walk around and learn the layout. The unrestricted parts. Second-years, make yourselves available if they have questions.”
Amy stood up. Her body was heavy.
I wanna sleep so bad…
She was done. She didn’t want to think about the Gaspards, or her ability that didn’t work, or the fact that she’d been isekai’d and was apparently supposed to be normal about it. Or the plot. Or the end of the world.
She just wanted to lie down.
But of course that didn’t happen.
Crow was looking at her again with the same face as this morning. He said something to the others, then got up and walked over.
[Here comes trouble.]
Amy sighed and fixed her expression.
“Amy,” Crow said. “I believe we have a conversation to finish.”
“The deal?”
“Yes. Not here, though.”
He started walking toward some glass doors leading to the terrace, and Amy hesitantly followed. At this point, she might as well just get it over with as fast as possible.
“Hold up, Crow,” a male voice suddenly said. Ash, Crow’s companion, seemed to have caught up with them. “Aren’t you gonna introduce us?”
“No,” Crow said without turning back.
“So mean.” He walked with them anyway. “C’mon, I wanna talk to our junior.”
Crow said nothing, which probably meant he didn’t care enough to get in the way, something that Ash seemed to take as acceptance.
“Hello,” Ash said to her. “Nice to finally meet you. I’m Ashwin, but everyone calls me Ash.”
“Am—”
“I see the ambush is complete,” Crow said with furrowed brows.
Amy followed his gaze, turning around only to see Lyra coming over, pulling Lain along by the arm.
“It’s not an ambush when it’s Academy business in an Academy building.” Lyra looked at her without hiding any of her suspicion. “Hi. I’m Lyra, this is Lain.”
Damn, girl, why look at me like that… I don’t want your man, no need to be so guarded…
Lain, unlike Lyra, simply nodded to Amy with an emotionless expression, which Amy returned with a nod of her own.
[“Gonna keep a healthy distance from the main cast,” she said. Hilarious that she thought it was up to her.]
I want to smack this book so bad…
They all passed through the glass doors and walked onto the balcony. Outside, the sun hit her right in the eyes, and she had to squint. She went and leaned on the railing next to Crow, mostly because her legs hurt from walking so much today; she really was in bad form, huh…
“So, four against one,” she said. “Should I be worried?”
Ash laughed. “Nah. If we wanted to scare you, we’d have brought Iris.”
“Ash.”
“What? I’m being friendly. She’s got a point though, this looks like we’re about to steal her lunch.”
Crow scratched his head, then cleared his throat. “I only wanted privacy. What I want to discuss is… sensitive.”
“Then you have my attention.”
She already knew what he wanted. And she didn’t like it. Not because it was bad, but because of what came after.
“Before he says anything,” Lyra said with squinted eyes. “Who are you? Don’t take it the wrong way, but isn’t this a bit convenient? You meet Crow at a teahouse, you get into Class S the same day, and it happens to be right when we need someone who does exactly what you say you do.”
“Lyra,” Crow sighed.
“It’s a fair question.” Ash wasn’t smiling anymore. “We’re not trying to corner you, Amy. But you’re pretty easy to be suspicious of.”
[Honestly, fair.]
Reap what you sow, huh… So much for the mysterious act; should’ve gone with braindead junior…
“I don’t know what answer would satisfy you,” Amy said. “My name is Amy Stake. I got into Class S the same way you did. As for needing my capabilities… Are you talking about my foresight?”
Ash’s eyebrows went up. “You just said it? Just like that? I was expecting some denial. Mysterious hinting, maybe.”
So Crow talked about me to them, huh…
“You already knew. Denying it wastes everyone’s time.”
“And you tell that to people you just met?” Lyra said.
God, this girl really does not like me.
“It’s not a secret. I just keep it quiet. If I really didn’t want anyone knowing, we wouldn’t be talking right now.”
“Can we focus?” Crow said as he took something out of his pocket, wrapped in dark cloth, and unwrapped it:
A golden key.
Yep. That thing. Fuck.
[Interesting. In the original story he took this to Zayd, didn’t he?]
He did. So that meant the story was deviating even further than it already had with Kaelen’s appearance.
“You said you saw this in one of your visions,” Crow said, bringing her back from her thoughts. “We found it in some ruins last semester. Vanheim let me keep it for ‘independent study.’ We’ve tried everything since. Records, analysis, asking professors quietly. Nothing.”
He was still holding it up; her arms were getting tired just watching him. What need was there to put it right in her face? She could see it just fine. Was it just for dramatic effect?
“So now you’re trying prophecy,” Amy confirmed.
Crow nodded, then finally dropped his hand. “I think it’s connected to something hidden in the Academy. I just can’t tell what, or where.”
Amy thought for a second before nodding to herself. She hadn’t expected to be dropped into this whole mess right from the get-go, but it was exactly what she had wanted to happen, which was what made her suspicious. Isn’t everything going too well?
“…Why me?” Amy asked after a pause. “There’s another seer in the class; why not ask him?”
Crow’s face darkened, then he pursed his lips and spoke. “Zayd and I have a complicated relationship.”
“It might sound insane,” Ash said, “but he trusts you, a total stranger who is also extremely suspicious, more than he trusts Zayd.”
It took Amy a couple of seconds to remember why.
Right, the Gaspards and Crow’s dad — Abaddon, whom he was searching for, and the primary driving plot — were hinted to be related in some way.
“I see. Lucky me.”
“So.” Crow was still holding the key up. “Can you do it…?”
Of course she could do it. She even knew exactly what it opened; she’d read it, after all. But obviously she wasn’t going to say that.
“Probably.”
Nobody said anything for a second. Crow’s eyebrows went up, and Ash’s mouth actually fell open.
“Probably?” Crow said. “You haven’t even looked at it properly.”
“I don’t need to.”
“That’s not how prophetic magic works,” Lyra said. “It isn’t instant. It needs ritual, focus, prepara—”
“Amy.” Crow cut Lyra off without raising his voice. He was deciding something, and it took him a few seconds. “Since you don’t seem very determined to hide your ability, if you don’t mind me asking, what exactly is your power?”
Ahh~ it feels so nice when things just fall into place.
It took actual effort not to smile.
Thank you, Crow. Now I can finally refine my ability.
This was the exact moment to use what she’d figured out with the book this morning. No chance this conversation didn’t make it into the next chapter. Honestly, she didn’t know if she was just a genius or the luckiest person alive.
Time to level up.
“I can see the future I want to reach,” she said. “I follow the general paths of fate through signs until I get there.”
“You can… manipulate fate?” This time it was Lain who spoke; Amy almost missed the question because her voice was so low.
“Not manipulate. More like… navigate it.”
“Yesterday you came directly to me rather than asking for directions in the store,” Crow said. “So you found me because I was part of the path you wanted to arrive at…?”
“Yes. I wasn’t looking for you specifically, though. My power doesn’t tell me the details of the road. Just the destination, and how to get there.”
“…I see…”
His eyebrows pulled together, and he looked extremely serious for a second, and so did the others.
Nobody was talking. Lyra and Ash were looking at each other. Lain hadn’t taken her eyes off Amy once. Meanwhile, Crow turned to stare at the floor.
Uh…? What’s up with this atmosphere…?
[You have no idea how terrifying that sounded, do you?]
Amy frowned before turning to her satchel, trying to convey the question on her mind through telepathic powers she did not have.
[They already think you’re suspicious and possibly dangerous.] The book thankfully explained a second later. [And you just announced that your power lets you reach any objective you want. Which raises a question. Was this conversation a coincidence, or a step toward whatever you’re doing?]
What…?
Oh.
Oh no. That does sound scary.
“Then…” Crow said. “You can lead us to whatever the key opens. Right…?”
Amy turned once again back to the group, which was staring at her very warily, before nodding. “Probably,” she repeated.
“Probably, huh…”
Ash rubbed his neck and thought about something for a few seconds. Then he looked her dead in the eyes.
“What do you want in exchange?”
Amy smiled as she suddenly felt dopamine flooding her brain. “What’s your offer?”
“I can pay you,” Crow said. “Name your price.”
Amy pretended to think about it.
Money. What was she even going to do with money? She’d just guilt the book into buying things. Rather than that, she should probably get something more practical.
[Why do I suddenly have a bad feeling…?]
“How much are we talking?” she asked, mostly to be polite. She didn’t actually need—
“Fifty gold crowns, if you succeed.”
Amy blinked. She knew from the manga how much that was; fifty gold crowns was a house. A house, plus a year of not working.
WHY IS THE PROTAGONIST SO DAMN FUCKING LOADED!? Isn’t he an orphan???
It took a moment for her brain to remind her that Lain was heir to a noble house and everyone in Class S was going to be running the world in ten years. Of course they had money.
God, or Goddess, or whoever’s listening. Give me strength. Future me, I’m sorry.
“I don’t want your money,” she said, and it physically hurt. “How about a favor instead? I help you, you owe me one.”
Yup. Favor. That was the play. Crow was the most important person in this world, behind herself, as far as Amy was concerned. He was the protagonist, after all. Having him owe you something could only be good. She could ask for money later anyway.
Best choice. Definitely the best choice. She was definitely not regretting it right now…
“A favor?” Crow’s face got very guarded.
…ouch. Why look so suspicious? Who do you think I am…?
“What kind?” Ash asked, making the exact same face.
“I don’t know yet. But when I need something, I want to be able to come to you.”
Crow looked at her for a long time, then sighed. “I can agree to that.”
“Crow—”
He raised a hand, and Lyra stopped.
“With limits. Nothing illegal. Nothing that harms others. Nothing that goes against my principles. Is that acceptable…?”
Amy pretended to think about it, mostly because making things tense was fun. Then she nodded. “That’s acceptable.”
“I see.”
Crow kept studying her face, which made her want to squirm. The other three looked relieved, at least.
“Could you…” He paused. “Would it be possible to do it now?”
Ugghhh, really now?
Half of her wanted to go collapse and stop existing for six hours. The other half remembered how important this plot point was for both the story and Crow himself. So, she closed her eyes and made a whole show of it.
“I see…” she said, opening them. “The first sign should be at the entrance to the Class B building.”
“Class B?” Ash looked at Crow. “You sure?”
“That’s where we start,” Crow said while looking at Amy. “Meet there during the break tomorrow; we’ll be there.”
“Great.” Amy fought down a yawn. “Then I’m going to my room. It’s been a long day.”
She turned and left the balcony, and she could feel all four of them watching her the whole way.
[That went better than expected, wouldn’t you say? When the next chapter updates, you should get a substantial change to your powers.]
“I guess.” Amy dragged her feet toward the exit. “Still can’t believe I turned down fifty gold crowns. That physically hurt.”
[I was confused by that too. You’re not rich. You have no money at all. You’ve been living entirely at my expense.]
“…I really needed that favor…”
[Mmm. Really?]
No.
“Yes… so please keep taking care of me, oh great benefactor.”
[Sigh…]
Once outside the classroom and the building, Amy walked through the Academy grounds without looking where she was going, and after a while her thoughts went back to the key.
Her chest got tight.
“I hate this…”
Her hands were shaking a bit. She made them stop.
In the manga, this had looked like a small thing. A golden key from some ruins. Interesting, not urgent. And then it started the entire second arc.
Thirteen Class B students. She remembered the panels of corpses laid out around some kind of creepy ritual. She’d typed something about cheap gore from an author out of ideas. She’d gotten a lot of likes for it.
“I don’t know if I’m ready for this,” she said, quietly enough that she barely heard it herself. “Things have been stressful, sure. But safe. Nobody’s died yet. No blood on my hands. But from now on…”
She stopped at a window and put her forehead against it. The glass was cold.
“I know how this goes. I’ve seen it. And I’m the one walking them into it.”
[…]
“Will I be able to stop it, I wonder…”
[You could always walk away.]
“And then what, wait around until doomsday?”
[You won’t feel it. Neither will I.]
“…if the world ends, you die too?”
[Yes.]
“…”
[I don’t fear it, if that’s what you’re asking. But think about leaving. Seriously. There’s a place in the north. I could take you there.]
“…”
[I’d provide what you need. Within reason. Don’t get shameless about it. I’d rather you didn’t start treating the things I—]
“It’s alright…”
Amy pushed off the window and started walking again.
“Running away from all my problems sounds amazing. Genuinely. But I don’t want either of us dead. I’m not a hero. I’m not anything close to one. I just hate the idea of someone dying because I was a coward. Especially you.”
[…]
She didn’t remember most of the walk back. One second she was outside, then she was at her door.
The book only spoke again when her hand was on the handle, in that robotic voice from this morning.
[Your sentiment is… unexpected. And somewhat incomprehensible. But not unwelcome.]
Amy didn’t answer. Too tired.
She pushed the door open, dropped the satchel on the nightstand, and fell face-first onto the bed.
[You should probably take your shoes off before sleeping.]
“Mmmphhh,” Amy said.
[Your uniform will wrinkle.]
She groaned and kicked her shoes off. They hit the floor somewhere.
“…happy now…?”
[Ecstatic.]