Exhausted Reunion
After going through a whirlwind of tumultuous events, Ludenberg Lavante and Ashytara Solenute could only meet each other utterly drained.
"……Hi."
"……Hi."
They raised hands in greeting toward each other, then sat casually on a nearby bench before saying anything more.
"Haa."
The two let out sighs with uncharacteristically limp gestures, then suddenly burst into laughter.
"Pfft!"
"Ahaha!"
They didn't need words; they could tell just from each other's actions that they'd both been through a lot that day.
"How was your day?"
Ashytara asked Ludenberg cautiously. After all, everything he'd gone through stemmed from her.
"Don't ask. Everyone was staring at me like crazy……and even that idiot Nadan picked a fight. The rumors spread way faster than I thought."
"……Nadan? Why?"
"He said he'd heard I……slept with you. That a guy like me should just die……."
"Ah."
Ashytara nodded. She knew Nadan well enough to understand exactly why.
"So what happened?"
"What do you think? I beat some sense into him. Then Professor Nah Tes dragged him off."
"……You had it worse than me."
"Worse than you? What did you go through?"
"Well, I got an earful from my sister. And……hey, Lude, what do you think about getting engaged to me?"
"……Engaged? Out of nowhere?"
"My sister……."
Ashytara slowly recounted what Sione Solenute had told her. Since their relationship could tarnish the imperial prestige, if both of them agreed, they could at least try pushing for an engagement.
Ludenberg felt his mind go blank at her words. He hadn't even answered her confession yet, and now engagement?
"I'd love that, obviously……but shouldn't there be some order to things?"
Ashytara nodded, feeling the same.
"Yeah. So how about we hold off on announcing the engagement until after the Glory Festival? Until then, we just play along with whatever rumors my sister spreads?"
"If it's just that much……."
"Great. Then I'll tell her you agreed."
"Got it."
"And when we head back to Solemnute Adem this time, let's go see Duke Leonard Lavante together. We'll meet him and tell him properly."
"……Yeah."
"I'll hold you to that. Oh, Lude."
Ashytara hesitated a bit before speaking to him.
"Yeah?"
"Sorry it's late, but……I'm sorry. You got caught up in all this mess because of me. The rumors got way out of hand. I know you hate getting dragged into gossip, but I acted out of my own selfishness. That bothers me."
Looking up at her with a hint of anxiety in her eyes, he smiled softly instead.
"Hearing those rumors actually made me happy, even if it was awkward."
"……What?"
Ashytara's eyes widened in an instant.
"The more I heard them, the clearer it was that you wanted me all to yourself."
Why else would Ashytara let those rumors slide? Why not deny them? The reason was simple. To show everyone that the bond between her and Ludenberg was untouchable.
Ludenberg had realized that too, so he could take joy in the rumors sparked by her.
Who wouldn't be thrilled that the person they loved desired them so fiercely?
"Hey, Tara."
He said to Ashytara, whose face had flushed red.
"Yeah?"
"I've realized something lately too."
"Realized something?"
"Yeah. You're way more popular than I thought."
"……What?"
How many times had she heard this ridiculous line today? Ashytara found Ludenberg's words bewildering.
"I didn't notice before. But lately, I've seen it. All those guys staring at you."
He recalled a recent incident. Right around when he'd first realized his feelings for her as more than friendship, all the boys' eyes had been on Ashytara.
He still couldn't forget that shock, and it stirred ominous thoughts. If he kept hesitating, someone else might steal her away.
That's why the fallout from today's rumors pleased him even more. No need to worry anymore.
Of course, thrilled as he was that she'd chosen him, he vowed to work harder. To give her his answer at the Glory Festival and seal their engagement. And someday, to become husband and wife, just like the visions he'd seen in the world of trials.
"Anyway, enough of that. The friendly match finals are tomorrow, so let's discuss what strategies Dalia Retiu and Seia Shahain might bring."
"……Yeah. We should."
Ashytara replied hesitantly to Ludenberg, then stood up. It was time to prepare for the final events in Ortara.
Dalia Retiu loved sunsets.
Some complained that it signaled the end of the day, the vitality fading away. But for her, it was a signal of anticipation for tomorrow.
She gazed at the sky. Watching it gradually fade into purple hues brought a swirl of thoughts to her mind.
The friendly matches, student council, graduation, juniors, the future…… Typical traces of youth.
A smile touched Dalia's face. Always boisterous, loving conversations and leading them, but in these moments, she became quieter than ever.
Small footsteps approached her. Dalia knew who it was instantly but didn't turn her gaze.
Instead, she spoke in a voice softer and lower than usual.
"Seia, you came?"
"Here you are. Watching the sunset again today."
"Yeah."
"Tomorrow's the last one. The friendly matches."
"Sure is."
"We made it to the finals again. Think we can win this time?"
Surprisingly, the talkative one was Seia. Gazing at the sunset, she seemed sentimental, chattier than usual.
Despite their reversed attitudes, it didn't feel awkward. It was familiar.
"Last year……it was close."
"That was my fault."
"No."
Last year too, Dalia and Seia had teamed up and reached the finals against now-graduated seniors, Clere Klaus and Yurike Renaris.
"It was my fault for being weak. Not yours. We got pushed back from the first clash."
Her fierce axe-spear had been crushed by Clere's, and Seia's saint law had been utterly dismantled by Yurike, the Setra priestess.
"I got wrecked by Senior Yurike too."
"Then we both lost. They were overwhelming. Both of them."
The reason Dalia and Seia were more famous in Ortara than Clere and Yurike was simple. They'd crushed Ortara's promising stars with confidence.
"Speaking of, what are those two up to now? Clere was student council president, right?"
"……No idea."
"Huh?"
"Just heard they're wandering somewhere. Hope we meet again someday."
"Yeah."
"Time flies, doesn't it?"
Dalia said to Seia, staring blankly at the sky. Her words carried a subtle regret.
Seia caught it and nodded.
"Yes."
"Not much time left shooting around Solemnute Adem with you."
"There's still a bit."
"Still……can't help feeling wistful. Seia."
"Yes."
"So let's give it our all. No regrets at all."
"Yes."
"Can't show an ugly side to our cute juniors."
"Right."
"Honestly, looks even more hopeless than last year."
"That's true too."
"Ashytara might be winnable somehow, but against Ludenberg? No chance. Felt it when our weapons clashed last time."
"Me too. Didn't expect my saint law to get broken that fast. He's got insane instincts."
"Yeah, I felt it too. But Ashytara's no pushover, so no slacking against her."
"Right. She held back then, but if she unleashes Solem's flames full force in the finals, my saint law won't hold."
"We'll lose anyway, but gotta fight like we're winning."
"Of course. Can't look pathetic in front of the juniors."
"Let's do our best to the end, Seia."
"Yes, Senior."
"By the way, you hear the rumors today? Knew those two would cause a scene eventually."
"……Yeah. Always stuck together. Could be just rumors, but given how they've acted……probably true."
"Good. Before tomorrow's friendly matches start, let's tease them about it and throw them off."
"Sounds fun."
Dalia shook off her pensive expression, flashing her usual playful yet energetic smile. With a silly joke.
The sunset's magical time had long ended. The darkening night sky now reflected on Dalia's face.
Sunset moments are beautiful because they're fleeting. Dalia hoped her brief school days would be as lovely as the purple sky just before dusk.
They say the day of reckoning always comes. At last, the day to cap off the long schedule had arrived.
The friendly match finals.
Before that grand name, the massive arena built inside Ortara National School buzzed with cheers from countless people.
Solemnutian students' voices were a big part. They figured this year's win would be theirs too.
No matter who won, the championship was Solemnute's. Ortara folk, who revered the strong, were impressed by the Solemnutians' performance, filling the arena with unprecedented heat.
In the center, three armored students and one in priestess robes glared at each other.
Ludenberg eyed the two before him. Dalia and Seia. Stronger foes than any in the friendly matches.
With a touch of tension, he gripped his sword. Ashytara drew her cross greatsword from its sheath.
Dalia and Seia did the same. No trace of the teasing they'd planned—just serious expressions as they readied their weapons against Ludenberg and Ashytara.
Now, the friendly matches that had dragged on for quite some time were finally reaching their end.