The Day After the Voice
The day after hearing that voice, Ludenberg Lavante felt waves of sensations crashing over him unbidden. It was as if his senses had been amplified far beyond their limits, and he clutched his head in response.
"What the hell... my senses..."
His head spun for a moment, followed by a surge of nausea.
"Urk!"
Vision, smell, taste, touch, hearing—all of them slipped from his control. When he looked ahead, his field of view suddenly widened too much, throwing off his depth perception. Scents assaulted him without invitation, a chaotic mix of odors he had no business noticing. Flavors exploded with excessive spice, making even swallowing difficult. And the faint mutterings of others invaded his ears like thunder.
Feeling things he normally ignored became overwhelming, and Ludenberg grew more strained by the second. Suspecting illness, he sought out a Mare priest at the healing ward, but...
"Nothing wrong with you at all. Hallucinations, maybe? If it's serious, tell your advisor professor and take a break."
"...No. I'm fine."
No answers there.
Right. Body's perfectly healthy. Which means... that thing's doing.
This sudden change overnight had to be the work of that voice tied to his evil fate.
[If you so desire that thorny path, I'll lend a hand.]
"Damn bastard. Pulling this crap..."
How it did it hardly mattered. Whatever it was, it was clearly some transcendent entity. Gritting his teeth, Ludenberg fought to regain control of his body. He'd trained to master his senses since childhood, but taming this wild surge was another beast entirely. He tried, but failed. In the end, he gave up, irritation mounting from his hypersensitive state as he headed back to the dorms.
He was always the one getting bitten; he wouldn't give them even a scrap of an opening.
Theoretical classes today... Erosion studies and history, right? Finished the Erosion studies assignment early, so that's fine. History's the first class, though. Damn. Senses going haywire like this is driving me insane. Need to get used to it fast...
Thankfully, he'd wrapped up the Erosion studies homework before the sensory chaos hit, so no worries there. His routine usually started with early morning training, but walking was a chore now—he had to skip it.
He wanted to skip class, but Professor Calvin Giod's threat to punish any slacker on the first day, plus the debut history lecture, left no choice. The world spun, chaos flooding his senses in every form. If he could control it the old way, fine—but he had no clue how to handle this amplification.
Going mad here.
From then on, he half-abandoned his mind to it. Once swept into the sensory storm, sanity was a lost cause.
By the time he reached the lecture hall, it was a sight.
"You finish the Erosion studies assignment?"
"Yeah. Don't remind me—I pulled an all-nighter. Tried borrowing books, but barely any left. Got mine just yesterday."
"Tsk tsk, told you to do it early."
"Who wants homework right after starting school?"
"Fair, but..."
Tiny noises, chatter, laughter slamming desks, flipping pages—each one roared like sky and earth colliding.
Ah. So damn loud.
He wanted to yell, but that'd just paint him as a lunatic. Thud! Instead, unable to sit still lest he snap, he slammed his face into the desk and plugged his ears.
"What's with him?"
"Dunno."
"Were we that noisy?"
"Nah?"
"Don't wanna piss him off and deal with trouble. Let's sit—professor's due soon."
"Got it."
The mood chilled instantly. The chattering Innocence students eyed the suddenly face-planted Ludenberg, and the room fell deathly silent.
Sick or something?
Only Ashytara Solenute, watching him, sent a worried glance.
Right on cue, Professor Calvin Giod arrived. He tossed a casual "good to see you" and handed out papers to the Innocence ranks.
"No way..."
"Nah?"
They paled, fearing another test.
"Just class materials. No need to freak."
Unlike their dread, it was simple handouts.
"Oh, and submit assignments at the end of class. Let's begin. You, head-in-desk—look up."
Ludenberg lifted his head at the call, staring ahead with slightly unhinged eyes.
"Yes."
"Everyone got the handouts?"
"Yes!"
"Good. Before diving into Erosion studies, let's check the syllabus."
The Innocence students silently scanned the papers. The contents read:
Definition and Research of Erosion Beasts, Locations of Natural Erosion Occurrences, Erosion Precursors, Salvation Cult Overview.
"First, definition of Erosion Beasts. A thousand years ago, the evil god Prisper created them to invade our world. They crave all life here and can morph into any form. You all know this, right?"
"Yes!"
"Erosion studies covers researching these beasts, natural erosion sites, precursors, and finally... the Salvation Cult. That's the field in a nutshell."
"We study the Salvation Cult too?"
Someone asked after reading and listening. The Salvation Cult—the fanatical group the Solemnute Empire officially condemned. Hated across the continent, from southern Istaltin to western Abaran and northern Ortara. They opened erosions, summoned Erosion Beasts, polluted lands, kidnapped people for sacrifices.
"Obviously. They worship Prisper, so we must study them. You're knight faculty— you'll fight them someday."
"Ah... Understood."
"Anyway, that's your syllabus for the year. Might not cover it all. I'll push hard, so keep up."
"Yes, Professor."
"Now, Erosion Beast classifications. From low, mid, high, to highest grade. Beyond that? Devourers."
Professor Calvin pressed on. As the real first class, it stuck to basics.
"Strength usually ties to size. They grow by devouring, so they bulk up. They morph, but can't shrink their mass—a key trait. But beware."
The moment he mentioned a caveat, an Innocence student jumped in.
"Devourers—they're the exception. They control size, think and speak like humans. Totally different from regular Erosion Beasts."
"Like humans? Speak?"
Some less-informed students perked up curiously. Calvin nodded, elaborating.
"Yes. Rumor says Salvation Cult high priests teach them Prisper's saint laws. So, they wield saint laws too. But you'll never face one— just know it."
"Yes."
Growing up in the east, Ludenberg knew most of this, so he followed along even half-dazed. Calvin coldly detailed the beasts' nature without forcing questions—Ludenberg survived unscathed.
"Class dismissed. Drop assignments here."
As Erosion studies ended, Ludenberg submitted his and face-planted again, blocking senses.
Can I last till next class?
The worry crept in unbidden, but no choice. Senses still uncontrollable, his mind fraying.
If I can't hold, ask the professor for leave. This is bad.
"Um... Ludenberg?"
Mid-head-clutch, he sensed someone approaching and heard a soft voice. He looked up instinctively.
Dark blue hair, clear, vibrant blue eyes. The girl he'd coldly brushed off last time to hide his weakness—expecting no more kindness now.
Ashytara.
She gazed into his foggy, off-kilter green eyes, her own filled with undisguised worry.
"...What?"
"You okay?"
Her voice, amplified, lingered in his ears. A soft, concerned whisper—loud, yet the only pleasant sound amid the lecture hall's noise barrage. Her faint, fragrant scent cut through the room's foul bodily odors, easing him unexpectedly.
That sliver of calm dragged shadows from his past into his storm-ravaged mind. Days when he and Ashytara were close. After grueling training from his father, complaining together. That memory flickered before his eyes.