"What's Wrong?"
Ashytara, smiling as she asked her question, left Ludenberg stammering helplessly before he knew it.
He was bewildered by his own changes. Strangely, every time he looked at Ashytara, an inexplicable emotion began to well up inside him. Just gazing at her made her seem beautiful, and even a slight smile from her sent his already racing heart pounding even faster.
Ludenberg tried his utmost to control his body, but it wouldn't obey. No matter the stars embroidering the sky, the curtain of light, or the comet—his gaze inevitably fixed on Ashytara. Watching her sparkling blue eyes widen in awe at the wondrous sight, he felt his heart's fierce beats quickening further.
It was the classic reaction of someone falling for another, but Ludenberg—who had grown up swinging a sword in isolation, never learning even the basics that boys and girls his age should know—found these sensations utterly foreign.
Yet even the clueless Ludenberg could sense one thing: this emotion wasn't negative in the slightest. A strangely pleasant flutter was gradually lifting his spirits. Unbidden, a smile crept onto his lips.
"Come to think of it, we haven't had dinner," Ashytara said, and Ludenberg nodded.
"Yeah. Should've grabbed something? You hungry?"
"I can manage. Oh, right—didn't Professor Nah give us that soup?"
"Oh, yeah."
The two pulled out the bowls they'd tucked into their robe pockets and took a sip of the soup. As the warm liquid slid down their throats, the biting chill eased a little.
"It's nice and warm. Never imagined summer could feel this cold. And this soup's seriously good."
"Yeah."
Ashytara's gaze, as she spoke, lingered on the distant comet. Sipping their soup, they watched it for a while. To their eyes, the comet moved quite slowly, though out there, it hurtled toward the ground at tremendous speed.
Time flowed slowly for some, quickly for others. And right now, their time was dragging luxuriously.
In that gap, Ashytara sipped her soup and thought: I hope this lasts a bit longer. I want to etch this moment deep in my heart as a memory.
Finishing her soup, she capped the bowl, slipped it back into her robe pocket, and turned to Ludenberg.
"Where do you think that comet's falling toward?"
"Dunno... no idea."
"The more I look, the prettier it gets."
"Uh... yeah."
Ludenberg nodded, his eyes locked on Ashytara.
"Hey, Lude."
"Yeah."
"There's something I've wanted to say for a while."
"...What?"
"That day you were so cold to me... I'm glad I didn't give up."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. My second-best choice was sticking with that one. Probably won't make a better decision in my whole life. Being here with you in this scenery—it's so happy."
Each of Ashytara's words struck Ludenberg's heart.
"So thanks, Lude."
"No, thank you. For not giving up on me... for waiting for a fool like me."
"Hehe. That was all I knew how to do."
"Without you, I'd still be isolated, forgetting why I even held a sword. If so... I'd probably have become the kind of monster others rightly call me."
"No. That's too much of a leap."
"It's not. I know I would've. And the fact I didn't is all thanks to you."
"If you think that, I'm grateful."
"I'll repay you someday."
"No need."
"I want to."
Ashytara simply pulled a pendant from her robe and held it up before Ludenberg.
"This pendant and letter you gave me—they're more than enough. Really."
Her beaming smile was utterly captivating. Ludenberg had long forgotten the comet. His gaze held only the girl who had devoted herself to him.
"...No. I feel like it's not enough."
"I said it's fine. You're making me feel burdened. Like I have to keep giving you stuff too?"
"...Is that so?"
"Yeah. It's really okay now. But later, if I ever owe you something, pay me back then. With something even cooler than this pendant!"
"Got it. Promise."
"Yeah. A promise. And this..."
With that, Ashytara suddenly grabbed Ludenberg's pinky with hers.
"...Huh."
Ludenberg flushed deeply, flustered by her sudden touch. Warmth from her hand traveled up his pinky straight to his heart. Just minutes ago, I was fine. Why now? he wondered, letting her press her thumb to his.
"There. So, what debt will I owe you next? Maybe I'll end up owing you instead."
"Guess we'll see when it happens."
"Yeah."
Finally, they took in the fading comet one last time. Even Ludenberg's gaze, fixed on Ashytara until then, turned skyward for that moment.
And as the comet vanished and the curtain of light dissolved...
Everyone there felt a pang of regret, chattering to etch the wonder into memory forever.
"Haa... that was amazing."
It was the common sigh from students leaving the Star Tower. Even the upperclassmen felt the same—Adeem Festa this year had been that bountiful. Especially the Star Tower's bizarre spectacles, each leaving unique footprints in countless students' hearts.
"Eden. Where you headed?"
"Training."
Eden's curt reply to Mion's question came with a stiffened expression, unlike the other students.
"You've looked off since earlier. You okay?"
"I'm fine. Just... feel like I need to get stronger ASAP."
"Don't rush it, Eden."
"I know, but... it doesn't go as planned. Sorry, Mion. Ruining a good day with my sour face."
"I'm fine. Just worried about you."
"Heading out first. Need to train, and I'm kinda beat."
"Too bad, but can't be helped. Guess I'll head back too. Nothing to do without you."
"See you tomorrow."
As Eden waved and headed to the dorms, his grim expression twisted further.
Damn it. Of all things, that scenery...
What kind of 'good' past is that? Eden couldn't help grumbling inwardly at Professor Nah.
What he'd seen was... the past where he'd cornered Ludenberg and gotten thrashed.
Yeah. He had to admit it. Back then, even taking a beating from Ludenberg had thrilled him. He'd thought he'd royally screwed over that once-in-a-generation genius.
The following scenes extended that: him spreading nasty rumors about Ludenberg and laughing about it.
But seeing it now... Eden could barely stand his own patheticness.
Should've trained more instead of wasting time on that crap.
That approach had already failed. His actions hadn't toppled Ludenberg, who still shone with genius.
Facing failure head-on soured anyone's mood, no matter what. Eden's twisted face stemmed from that disgust at his own shortcomings.
He was ashamed of his failure. If he'd honed himself then, maybe he could've landed a hit on Ludenberg now.
Pure speculation, but the nagging thought that he'd snuffed out even a tiny possibility in countless futures irked him.
So despite the festival, he headed to the training grounds, sword in hand.
Next finals evaluation, and... the Glory Tournament after. I'll definitely... make him pay then.
With venomous resolve, Eden shouted "Down with Ludenberg!" and swung relentlessly.
Thus, Adeem Festa's second day ended—flustering delight for some, fury for others.
Back in the dorm, Ludenberg lay on his bed and heard Raha's voice through Liberra.
"Hello."
"Raha?"
"Yeah. Heard you told Ashytara about me."
"...Yeah. Was that a problem?"
"No. You did well."
Ludenberg had expected some displeasure for blabbing, but her praise made him tilt his head.
"Why? More importantly, why tie Tara to me?"
"Because that's how your fate changes most dramatically. Remember the future I showed you?"
"...Yeah."
Ludenberg recalled his future of blood-soaked mountains of corpses.
"Without Ashytara, your futures mostly end that way. But... with her, they change."
"...So in the end, both Tara and I are just dancing to your tune."
"Won't deny it. But try not to resent me too much."
"I'd have raged at first, but now I get it somewhat. I can imagine what I'd be without meeting Tara."
"Thanks for understanding? Oh, and did you see the bit on Istradim?"
"Yeah. That book in the Star Tower—was that your doing?"
"Yep. Took some effort to place it where you'd see it. It wasn't woven by me, though—it was handed down in the Setra Church. I just made sure it caught your eye."
"I see."
"That's it."
"Got it. So the next trial's probably about Istradim Seta, right?"
"Correct. It'll come after your festival ends, so relax. You need rest too."
"How touching."
"Ahaha. Well, I'll be off then..."
"Raha."
"Yeah? What?"
"Thanks. Just... wanted to say it. Without you, I wouldn't have reconciled with Tara."
"Hehe. Then channel that gratitude into freeing my seal."
"...Noted."
"Good. Rest well. The trials ahead will still test you hard."
As Raha's voice faded, Ludenberg lay there, pondering the Star Tower events. That mysterious emotion toward Ashytara. He needed to figure out what this intense, uncontrollable feeling was.