Scumbag Fate System-Chapter 75: Yor Departure

Reinhard stood outside the academy’s main gate with the others around him.

Beside him, Sirin had a faint smile, Rika kept glancing at the road leading away from campus, and Alice bounced on her heels with nervous energy. Louis leaned against the stone wall, but his casual pose couldn’t hide the tension in his shoulders.

They were all waiting for Yor.

A carriage pulled up with elegant silver designs etched along its sides. The Noctyne family crest, a crescent moon over crossed swords gleamed on the door. Two horses stamped their feet impatiently as the driver secured the reins.

Then Yor appeared around the corner with the three students trailing behind her. The tall boy carried a small bag. The girl with short black hair kept wiping her eyes. The boy with glasses looked pale but determined.

"You’re really going through with this," Alice said as it was half statement and half question.

Yor nodded with a small smile playing at her lips. "I have to. They deserved to have their siblings back to normal."

Victoria emerged from the academy building next with Professor Chen following close behind. Both wore traveling clothes instead of their usual academy uniform. Victoria’s silver eyes swept over the gathered group before she approached the carriage.

"Everything packed?" she asked the three students.

They nodded mutely as anxiety cleared on their faces.

"Are you guys all going to be okay?" Reinhard inquired.

Victoria chuckled with a grin. "With me there, nothing will go wrong." She stretched her arms. "I promise you that."

She wasn’t boasting but just stating facts. Victoria was an Ascendant, one of only people beside the Headmaster in the academy. Her power dwarfed most combat specialists and she was the second strongest in terms of pure magical strength here.

"And Chen isn’t exactly weak either," Victoria added with a glance at the stern professor.

Professor Chen nodded curtly. "Between Victoria’s combat prowess and my defensive capabilities, we can handle any threat that presents itself."

Louis straightened from his lean with some of the tension leaving his shoulders. "That’s reassuring actually. If anyone tries something, they’re in for a bad time."

The three students looked less worried after hearing this. The tall boy squared his shoulders. The girl stopped wiping her eyes. The boy with glasses managed a small smile.

"Don’t worry you three." Victoria said as she addressed them directly. "I don’t fail my missions."

Yor turned to her friends as her silver eyes moved from face to face.

She stepped toward Sirin first. "Thank you for all your research help," Yor said softly. "And for being patient with me when I was still learning to be a friend."

Sirin’s composed mask cracked slightly as she pulled Yor into a brief hug. "Come back safely. We still have so much to discover about void magic together."

Next was Rika, who immediately teared up when Yor approached. "I’m going to miss you! Three days feels like forever!"

"It’ll pass quickly," Yor reassured her as she returned Rika’s tight embrace. "And I’ll have so many stories to tell when I get back."

Alice didn’t wait for Yor to come to her and simply swept Yor up in a crushing hug that lifted her off the ground. "You better come back! And bring back details about how everything went! I want to know everything!"

Yor giggled despite the lack of air. "I promise. I’ll take mental notes just for you."

Louis offered his hand for a firm shake when Yor reached him. "Stay safe out there. And don’t let Victoria boss you around too much."

"I heard that," Victoria called out with amusement coloring her voice.

"You were meant to!" Louis shot back with a grin.

Finally, Yor turned to Reinhard. He stood slightly apart from the others with his black hair catching the morning light. Their eyes met as something wordless passed between them.

She stepped close then took both his hands in hers. "I’ll be fine, you don’t need to worry... Me fixing my mistakes is just the next step." "

"I know," Reinhard said, though his grip tightened slightly.

Something flickered inwardly, but he just couldn’t understand what it was.

"Three days," Yor whispered with a faint smile.

Reinhard nodded with a smile, inwardly hiding his worry. "Three days."

Victoria clapped her hands once with the sharp sound cutting through the emotional farewells. "Alright everyone, time to move. We have a schedule to keep."

The three students climbed into the carriage first as they settled onto the cushioned seats inside. Professor Chen followed with her stern expression while Victoria paused at the door then turned back to the gathered friends.

"I’ll bring her home safe." She said directly to Reinhard. "You have my words as both a professor and Ascendant Hunter."

For emphasis, she let her aura flare briefly.

Silver-white energy erupted around her body like visible flames. The air itself seemed to bend under the pressure of her power. Even standing twenty feet away, Reinhard felt the weight of it, like gravity had doubled for a moment.

Then it vanished as quickly as it appeared. Victoria smiled pleasantly as if she hadn’t just demonstrated why Ascendants were feared across the continent.

"See? Nothing to worry about."

"Right." Reinhard chuckled as he watched Victoria climb into the carriage gracefully.

Yor gave one last wave to her friends before joining them inside. The door closed with a solid thunk.

The carriage rolled forward as wheels crunching over gravel then transitioned to the smoother stone road leading away from the academy. They stood watching until the carriage disappeared around the first bend.

Alice was the first to break the silence. "So what do we do for three days while she’s gone?"

Sirin sighed then grabbed Alice’s arm with determination clear on her face. "We’re going to celebrate. Yor gained control over her power and passed the trial... She’s even going to go heal those infected by the void. That deserves proper recognition."

Alice’s eyes lit up before nodding and then she turned around. "Then come on! There’s a restaurant that serves excellent food. We’re eating well today!"

"Celebration sounds good," Louis agreed as he pushed off from the wall. "I’m starving."

Rika nodded with a smile. "Yes! Let’s make it fun!"

The group started walking as their voices grew more animated with each step. Planning what to order while arguing about which restaurant was actually best.

Reinhard followed but lagged behind slightly. He glanced back toward the road where the carriage had disappeared. That feeling hadn’t gone away, the sense that something was wrong. Should he activate precognition? Look five seconds into the future to check for immediate danger?

But danger to whom?

Yor was miles away by now and Victoria was with her. With an Ascendant and professor Chen, there was nothing that should threaten them.

Is it just my imagination? Or...

"Rein!" Alice called back. "Are you coming or what?"

He shook off the worry and smiled. "Yeah, sorry. Just thinking."

He jogged to catch up with the group as they entered the town proper. The restaurant Sirin had chosen sat on a corner with large windows showing the bustling interior. They claimed a table for five then began ordering far too much food.