The Arrow That Pierces First
Seia Shahain had begun her research into Hidea Rune for one simple reason. She had been born in the slums.
Living like trash rolling in the filthiest depths, she had survived day by day with no hope whatsoever. But even her wretched existence saw a turning point.
Whenever she devoured the bread given by priests who came to aid the slums every weekend... they spoke to her.
"You've turned twelve this year, haven't you?"
"...Yes."
"Good. Then come with us."
"Huh? Where to?"
"To receive your baptism. In the Solemnute Empire, every twelve-year-old must be baptized. The kids around you will start getting theirs one by one."
"What changes if I get baptized?"
"You'll gain divine power... and hope."
"Then I'll go."
Hope. She knew it was an utterly vague notion. But... rather than rotting away in the gutters like this, she wanted to cling to even the tiniest shred of it.
For the first time in her life, she washed thoroughly and donned fine ceremonial robes. The luxurious texture of those clothes was a shock to Seia, who had only ever worn ragged, torn hand-me-downs.
At the church hosting the baptism rite... Seia awakened to Lanur's divine power.
Those who awakened Lanur's power were exceedingly rare in the Solemnute Empire, so her life changed dramatically from that point onward.
The Lanur Church began supporting their long-awaited aspiring priestess from the slums... and bolstered by those expectations, Seia resolved to become an exceptional Lanur priestess.
After devouring the history of the Lanur Church—including the Founding Era—she developed an admiration for the Moon Knight, Hidea Rune, and chose the saint law symbolizing her, Reversal of Causality, as her research topic.
Aspiring priests in the Lanur Church had to select a research topic before ordination, and they could only be appointed after achieving it. Setting an overly difficult topic was discouraged by the Church itself.
The Reversal of Causality that Seia chose had been attempted by countless Lanur priests before her, but none had truly succeeded. Due to its immense difficulty and danger, even the Lanur Church had eventually abandoned it.
Yet Seia declared it her topic despite the risks and the Church's repeated dissuasion... She was determined to succeed.
To devote herself to the Lanur Church that had taken her in.
To recreate Hidea Rune's saint law and offer it back to the Lanur Church.
The silver lining, if any, was her indomitable mental fortitude and talent. Despite countless failures, she persisted with Reversal of Causality, achieving modest results... and to verify them, she entered the Saint Law Competition.
Seia Shahain gazed ahead.
Seven judges and crowds of students filled her view. It would have been natural to feel tense, but her expression remained impassive, laced only with faint longing as she stared straight forward.
In truth, she hadn't placed much weight on the competition. She simply wanted the professors to evaluate the modest results of her research.
Murmurs rippled around her, but they didn't register clearly in her ears. Her mind was wholly consumed by Reversal of Causality.
The judges watched her with concern. They knew what saint law she was pursuing.
In fact, the professors considered it miraculous that she had retained her sanity this long. Lanur saint laws demanded immense mental strength, and she—a mere student—was tackling the most notoriously difficult one: Reversal of Causality.
Seia raised her hand. Ethereal Lanur divine power swirled around her body... and began manifesting what she desired.
The power extended from her hand, gradually taking form. At last, it shone from her palm, transforming into a bow gleaming with moonlight.
The students looked puzzled. They had expected something grand from the final participant, but this seemed too simplistic.
"What?"
"A bow? That's it?"
But the judges' reactions were far from casual.
"That’s...!"
Irina Jericho, the Lanur theology professor, forgot her usual laid-back demeanor in sheer astonishment as she stared at Seia.
Undeterred by the commotion, Seia continued. The divine power lingered in the bow as an arrow of light formed.
She shifted her gaze from straight ahead to the side. There stood a crudely made target—hastily prepared by Dalia after Seia mentioned needing one before ascending the stage.
Seia's eyes locked on the target. She drew the bowstring.
And in that instant—
Crack!
The sound of the target splintering echoed.
Confusion spread across the students' faces; the professors looked aghast.
Because... Seia hadn't fully drawn the string yet.
Yet the arrow had already pierced the target.
A beat later, Seia released the string.
Twang.
The divine power string vibrated in everyone's ears.
"Student Seia, could you tell us what this saint law is?"
As curiosity gripped the hall, Dalia asked.
"Yes."
Seia nodded wearily.
"This saint law... is the 'Arrow That Pierces First,' a lesser form of Reversal of Causality used by one of the Six Heroes, Lady Hidea. It reverses cause and effect, making the arrow strike the target before the string is even released."
"She succeeded!"
Irina Jericho shouted excitedly the moment Seia explained.
To her, a fellow Lanur priestess, Seia's achievement bordered on legendary.
"...Yes."
"My goodness. 'Incredible' doesn't even cover it. What a feat, Miss Seia."
"...You're too kind. My divine power control is so immature that one use leaves me on the verge of collapse... and the 'Arrow That Pierces First' is merely the basics of Reversal of Causality."
"That's monumental in itself. The Saintess will be overjoyed...!"
"Thank you."
Watching Irina's dramatic reaction, the students finally grasped the significance, and the auditorium buzzed with excitement.
Seia allowed herself a satisfied smile.
The competition's winner was unanimously chosen as Seia by the judges.
The prize was just a modest sum of prize money, but that alone satisfied her. She had showcased her hard-earned results before everyone.
Evelyn Ansis, who had entered on a whim, shockingly placed third. As a first-year, her precise saint law had deeply impressed the professors.
"Evelyn! Congrats on third!"
Granias smiled and congratulated her, but Evelyn's expression remained stern.
"Granias."
"Yeah?"
"You think I'll let that slide?"
"...Can't you?"
"Brian, Jerome. Where do you think you're sneaking off to?"
"..."
Of course, third place didn't mean Evelyn forgave her friends. As Ludenberg Lavante and Ashytara Solenute watched, she began thoroughly punishing them.
Nadan Tes, eyes sparkling, cornered Ludenberg and Ashytara right after the event ended, raving about Seia's monumental achievement before rushing off to question her.
After the commotion died down, silence remained. The two who emerged from the auditorium gazed at the darkening sky.
"We didn't get to wander as much as I thought."
"The festival continues tomorrow anyway. We can hit the spots we missed then. The main event tomorrow is just the Star Tower viewing, right?"
"Yeah. True. The Setra Church seemed to be prepping something in the Star Tower—what could it be?"
"Who knows? We'll see when we get there. For now... shall we head back?"
"Sure."
Returning to the dorm, Ludenberg Lavante heard Raha calling him.
[Ludenberg.]
"Raha? What's up?"
[Get ready. I know the festival has you excited, but duties come first.]
"I'm not particularly excited."
[With that smile on your face, it's not convincing. No need to worry. Today's trial will just involve encountering a few key figures.]
"Is that even a trial?"
[You'll navigate the trial alongside them. Think of it as a brief respite before greater ordeals.]
"...Understood for now."
Ludenberg quickly prepared to enter the trial world. Preparation just meant going to sleep, of course.
The trial world.
In Liberatus Ahad's body, Ludenberg rode a carriage toward somewhere. Judging from the previous trial, it was likely Garundel Castle.
What puzzled him was the absence of the castle lord, who was supposed to ride with them.
The lord isn't here... What's going on?
At his side, Kyle Solenute and Orpina Testia chattered away, while Liberatus listened impassively.
"Sir Liberatus, why did you abandon such a high position? Imperial Knight Commander... that's huge, right?"
"There were reasons. Don't pry. It's not something I can share."
"Ah, got it."
Kyle shut his mouth the moment Liberatus seemed displeased.
"Have you ever visited Garundel before?"
Orpina, bored now that Kyle was quiet, asked Liberatus.
"Wandering other places, I stopped by occasionally. Stayed at an inn, of course."
"Aha..."
"Still, it's fortunate in its way."
"Why?"
"A castle's condition beats any inn. And decent food, too."
"Hehe, yeah! The lord seems nice. He took a separate carriage so we wouldn't feel awkward."
Orpina beamed, and Kyle nodded. Liberatus glanced at them before turning to the window.
Only then did Ludenberg understand. With Kyle and Orpina present, the lord must have thought his presence would make things uncomfortable.
"We're almost there."
The carriage halted before massive castle gates. A knight from the trailing carriage bellowed, escorting the lord.
"Open the gates!"
The gates swung open, and the three disembarked.
"Please, join me from here."
"My thanks for your kindness."
The lord spoke courteously to Liberatus, who bowed politely in return.
As the two proceeded, Kyle and Orpina stuck close behind Liberatus, entering the castle.