The Final Day of Adem Festa
The final day of Adem Festa dawned. While the students felt a pang of regret knowing that the festival would end tomorrow and they'd return to their dull routines, they poured all their energy into making the most of this one last day—burning it all up. And so... the number of people indulging in drinking from broad daylight onward had exploded.
Not just the shopping district, but even the various gardens on campus were dotted here and there with students passed out drunk.
"Whoa, what a mess."
Ashytara pinched her nose against the foul stench of alcohol thick in the streets. Ludenberg felt the same. With the boozy haze permeating every corner, even he felt a bit dazed.
"Drink in moderation, people. How do you plan to watch the parade tonight if you're like this? Dalia said this one's the grandest yet..."
"Maybe boozing it up and partying trumped watching some fancy parade for them. It's got nothing to do with us anyway... Let's check out the spots we missed yesterday and catch the parade."
"Yeah. Sounds good."
The two continued wandering the school grounds. All sorts of mystical shops unfolded before their eyes, and the sacred law artifacts occasionally crafted and sold by the theology department seniors offered some truly astonishing experiences. Nothing was quite as outlandish as Lanur's sacred laws, but they cleverly drew out the unique traits of each person's awakened divine power to bring joy to the crowds.
Probably because they were upperclassmen... they had to submit their research findings to Solemnute Adem. The days of graduating on faith alone were long gone. Since solid research on sacred laws was now required to earn a theology diploma, it was no surprise that the students' mastery of the subject improved by the day.
The sacred law artifact right in front of Ludenberg and Ashytara now—weaving earth to craft delicate sculptures... it had likely been born from such regrettable circumstances.
Ashytara gazed at it with keen interest, occasionally letting out gasps of admiration and smiling at Ludenberg... but he struggled to inspect the artifacts or fully enjoy the festival like she did.
His gaze kept drifting to her, and every time she smiled, his heart raced for no reason.
The reason was simple. It stemmed from some emotion that had stirred yesterday.
It was surely something akin to affection, but poor Ludenberg, unaware of such feelings... couldn't even understand why his eyes kept following Ashytara.
He'd pondered the sensations he'd felt while staring at her yesterday, but with no knowledge of such things, he completely missed that the ticklish feeling was one of liking her.
He simply knew he enjoyed her company. He understood the concept of "romance," but not the actual emotions it entailed—leaving him completely unable to put a name to what he was feeling right now.
A boy who hadn't even properly grasped the concept of love was awakening to his first crush; in a way, it was inevitable.
Thus, Ludenberg simply reveled in the joy bubbling up from wandering with Ashytara, content with that alone.
If she knew, she'd sigh at how oblivious he was.
"Lude."
"Yeah?"
"You've seemed out of it since yesterday... You feeling okay?"
"Huh? Oh, no. It's nothing."
"If you're tired, just say so. We can find somewhere quiet to rest."
"I'm really fine. Don't worry."
But despite Ludenberg's dismissive wave, Ashytara eyed him suspiciously.
He looks kinda sick...
Even perceptive Ashytara couldn't conclude that Ludenberg liked her. His usual rock-like demeanor made it impossible for her thoughts to reach that far.
So she could only assume he wasn't feeling well.
"C'mon. I wanna see more places."
"Uh, yeah."
With that, Ashytara suddenly grabbed Ludenberg's hand.
"...!"
In that instant, Ludenberg jolted in surprise, feeling a thrilling current surge through his hand the moment she took it. Unthinkingly, he yanked it away—and met Ashytara's gaze as she looked up at him with a flustered expression.
"Lude...?"
"Ah. S-sorry."
"You're acting really weird today. What's wrong? Do you... not wanna hang out with me...?"
"No, absolutely not. I just got distracted for a second without realizing."
Thoroughly flustered, Ludenberg apologized profusely to Ashytara and firmly took her hand again.
But... the question marks swirling in her head showed no sign of fading.
Evening was drawing near before they knew it. Ludenberg and Ashytara had wandered everywhere, savoring the festival.
Setting aside the bizarre happenings everywhere, watching students roam howling in regret over the festival's end proved unexpectedly entertaining, drawing smiles from the pair each time.
Ludenberg still couldn't control his racing heart when looking at Ashytara, but he at least restrained himself from flinching at her physical touch.
He couldn't forget the expression she'd worn earlier—like she'd lost the world, hollow and forlorn.
Yet even so, a strange sense of fulfillment welled up inside him. For some reason, that fulfillment felt like it pleased him.
What was this emotion? What name should he give it?
He had no idea.
But one thing he knew: he had to find the answer himself.
The heartbeat echoing when he saw Ashytara smiling shyly at him was a fragment of emotion he'd never felt before.
That said, he had no desire to tell anyone about it to understand it. It might be foolish, but he sensed he'd regret it if he did.
Like a child discovering a secret treasure map, wandering lost but determined to find his own path to the treasure.
With that thought, Ludenberg resolved to keep this emotion to himself, never voicing it to another soul.
As he mulled it over, Ashytara tugged his hand.
Leaving behind the school's twilight landscape bathed in sunset glow... she seemed to shine.
Ludenberg let her lead him to Solemnute Adem's main gate.
The area near the gate was already packed with crowds. Even students uninterested in the festival seemed drawn to the parade capping off Adem Festa.
The "parade" here was exactly that—a procession. Vast crowds gathered, advancing toward a destination. But it was adorned with all manner of sacred laws and spectacles.
Theology students in ancient priest garb and others in knights' armor from antiquity escorted gorgeously decorated carriages—a sight magnificent in itself.
"All upperclassmen, right?"
"Looks like it. Look! There's Dalia!"
What especially caught their eyes was Dalia, perched atop a carriage in splendid ancient high priestess robes.
Dignity radiated from her, contrasting her usual playful demeanor. No one dared belittle her.
Despite her small stature inviting mockery, not a soul did.
In Dalia's hand atop the carriage burned a massive torch.
Ashytara and Ludenberg recognized it at once.
"Solem's flames..."
Dalia reverently raised the torch, yielding to the slowly advancing carriage.
Behind her followed disguised students and stern student council executives—alumni of the school.
Shedding their usual carefree attitudes for the event, the students feigned solemnity, while the naturally grave executives donned ornate armor and priestly robes, marching like knights escorting a saintess in sync with the carriage.
Sparks flew, tracing tiny arcs in the air.
Unlike the rowdiness they'd expected, the procession unfolded in solemn silence, like a rite closing the festival.
How much time passed?
The quiet didn't last long. Mystical sacred laws began unfolding around Dalia.
Winds danced, water sprayed, starlight swirled, and the earth trembled.
Students watching blew whistles in delight.
The once-silent parade now brimmed with clamor as it pressed on.
The noise swelled.
Yet no one reined it in.
By the time the procession reached the plaza, students shaking with excitement had joined in.
Likely the ones who'd been drinking since noon.
At the plaza's center loomed a massive brazier.
Dalia dismounted, torch in hand, and approached it.
Just as Ashytara had lit the sacred flame at the joint funeral rite, she solemnly touched the torch to the brazier's kindling.
Whoosh!
With a ferocious roar, flames erupted from the giant brazier, soaring nearly to the heavens.
Dalia said nothing, but everyone present knew.
This marked the end of Adem Festa.
An end that permitted all chaos.
Drunken students grabbed hands at random and began dancing.
Nobles and commoners alike shook freely to the rhythm.
"Lude."
Ashytara's soft call made Ludenberg understand her intent.
They clasped hands and surrendered to the flow.
The two danced before the brilliantly blazing fire.
It wasn't the formal dances they'd learned.
A clumsy mix of noble elegance and anyone's free-spirited moves.
But they didn't care.
No one here would mock the dancing— they'd just laugh along in joy.
Ashytara's smile never faded as she spun, nor did Ludenberg's as he watched her.
It was the festival's end.