"Hey, Luden?"
Ashytara wriggled uncomfortably in Ludenberg Lavante's arms, her face rare in its bewilderment. What on earth had gotten into him all of a sudden? She could overlook the fact that he'd shown up unannounced without even making an appointment, but she couldn't fathom why he was acting so boldly.
Was it connected to that pale expression she'd glimpsed just moments ago? Wondering as much, Ashytara tried to slip out of his embrace, but he wouldn't allow even that slight movement.
"Luden?"
She called his name again, but Ludenberg seemed lost in thought, only pulling her tighter against him.
"Whoa..."
"What's going on?"
"Are they making their relationship official?"
"I'm jealous."
Whispers like that floated around them. Someone even let out a shrill shriek.
"Eek!"
It wasn't a scream of disaster piling up, but one of pure delight and excitement that had slipped out unbidden. For Ashytara, who had wanted to publicly declare Ludenberg as hers to everyone else, this was quite satisfying. Still, the situation was embarrassing enough that she called out to him once more.
"Luden. What's wrong? Why are you doing this?"
"...I'm glad."
His ragged breath brushed her nape like a held-back exhale. Her cheeks flushed hot, perhaps from that warm gust.
"Glad? Why?"
"You're alive."
"...Huh?"
What kind of out-of-the-blue remark was that? Ashytara's face filled with suspicion, then a story Ludenberg had once told her resurfaced. The tale he'd shared while she nursed him in Ortara. The story of her in the trial world... And she remembered how that story had ended.
"Ah."
Ashytara let out a soft exclamation of realization and spoke to him.
"I'm fine, Luden. So, could you let go a little?"
"No."
Ludenberg usually followed her words without much resistance, but how shocking must that trial world have been for him to act like this? In the end, she gave up and surrendered her body to his embrace. Until he calmed down.
For his part, Ludenberg couldn't bear to release her unless he confirmed she was alive like this—the horrific image of her from the trial world kept resurfacing otherwise. With his senses filled only with Ashytara, he didn't even register that he was now the spectacle of countless female students.
How much time passed? By now, nearly every girl in the dorms was watching them.
It was nice, sure, but this couldn't go on. Ashytara whispered in Ludenberg's ear.
"Luden."
"...Yeah."
"I have a rough idea of what happened, which is why... How about we move somewhere else for now? Everyone's staring at us."
Even for her, who wanted to flaunt her connection with Ludenberg, being gawked at by so many people like this was a bit off-putting.
"...Oh."
Having regained some calm from her familiar scent, he finally noticed the gazes converging on them. They'd been blatantly cuddling in the girls' dorms since early morning—how could they not draw a crowd? Realizing what he'd done, Ludenberg's face turned beet red. He grabbed Ashytara's arm and hurried to a less crowded spot.
When it came to secluded spots few people visited, the Star Tower was the obvious choice. Besides, they couldn't carelessly discuss the trial world anywhere else, so even on a holiday, they headed there. Perhaps few visited even on days off, as the tower was utterly deserted, without a single soul in sight.
As they strolled through the empty interior, Ashytara spoke.
"The trial world, right?"
"...Yeah."
"If you're acting like this, it means you saw the end of the story."
"Right."
"...I died there, didn't I?"
"Yeah. A horrific scene I never want to relive."
Ludenberg hardened his expression, recalling it. His face was still pale.
"Can you tell me the details?"
"Sure."
Ludenberg began recounting his trial ordeal slowly, in a low voice.
"It started at a banquet."
When he'd entered the hall.
"We danced."
The lively dance.
"Drank... talked. That's when the erosion opened."
An erosion rift tore open.
"Like the Solemnute raid, countless erosion beasts ravaged the city, and a devourer appeared."
He still couldn't forget it. That monstrous thing with a dragon's head, human-faced wings grafted on.
"And you... died."
Ludenberg's pale face twisted further, as if imagining it tormented him.
"I told myself it was the trial world, not real, over and over, but it was hard to shake. More than anything, failing to protect you hurt the most."
Ashytara pulled him into an embrace, watching his pain. She understood. Even if it was an illusion, seeing someone precious in peril was unbearable. Like the day of the Solemnute raid, when his chest was pierced by a greatsword. A wound that would kill anyone ordinary. She'd felt it too.
"It's okay."
She released the hug, stared straight into his eyes, and declared it. Her shining blue eyes captured him fully.
"I'm right here."
Not far away, not in danger.
"Not in the trial world, but in front of you."
Her words began to dim the anxiety in his heart, bit by bit. Not the hollow eyes from the trial, but vibrant blue ones gazed back at him.
"No need to blame yourself for not protecting me. I'm perfectly fine."
Not bloodied and broken, but whole.
"So relax."
One by one, the despairing visions from the trial overlaid with reality.
When she finished, Ludenberg nodded silently.
"Feeling a bit better now?"
"Yeah."
"Good. Man, you really startled me. Never thought I'd see you like that."
Only then did Ludenberg's face flush bright red.
"No, I mean."
"Come on, shall we head down?"
As he tried to make excuses, Ashytara laughed and tugged his arm.
"...Yeah."
Descending from the Star Tower, she asked,
"Luden. What should we do now?"
"Good question."
"It's a holiday anyway, nothing much to do... and we finished our assignments before it started."
"True."
"What do you think?"
Suddenly, something from the trial world's Ashytara came to mind. She liked crowds, but surely she preferred quiet, serene times.
"Tara. Do you... like quiet places, by any chance?"
Just to be sure, he asked.
"Quiet places? Like what, specifically?"
"Hm... A small hill with a big tree, vast blue sky stretching out. A spot where you can just gaze at the clouds without a thought."
"Oh."
Ashytara let out a quiet exclamation.
"Sounds nice. That kind of place."
"Shall we look for one? In this big world, there has to be something like that."
"Great idea."
"Maybe ask around the shopping district first? Locals would know better."
"Not a bad plan. Let's go, Luden."
"Yeah."
They headed straight to the shopping district. Merchants who'd been there for years often knew hidden gems.
Their hunch was spot on.
"Looking for what? A small hill? There are too many around Solemnute Adem to count!"
Dennis, the restaurant owner they frequented when skipping meals for training, furrowed his brow at their question. The area they described was far too common.
Small hills everywhere.
"Specifically, a small hill with a big tree, where the surrounding scenery is all visible at a glance."
Ludenberg stepped in with details, and Dennis narrowed his eyes further.
"...Still a ton of those. Let me think... Ah, that spot. Perfect. From Solemnute Adem's main gate, head left and keep going—there's a pretty steep hill with a full view of the academy."
"Steep hill?"
"Yeah. A bit further up, and there's the big tree. Not much of a hill, really, but it's the only place with that panoramic view you mentioned."
"Thanks. We'll check it out."
"Go ahead."
Dennis muttered curiously as they left.
"But why seek out a place like that? Whatever, none of my business."
Following Dennis's directions, they passed Solemnute Adem's main gate, turned left, and kept walking. Soon, a rugged path veered off, and they immediately spotted the enormous tree he'd described.
"That must be it."
"Yeah."
"Let's go."
It was more like climbing a mountain than a hill, but that posed no issue for them. Reaching the tree leisurely, they understood why Dennis recommended it. The area around it was completely open, no obstructions, offering an unfiltered view of everything nearby. The elevation gave a clear panorama of Solemnute Adem from beside the tree.
"Wow."
Ashytara exclaimed at the sight. Different from viewing the academy from the Wind Path—it now showed buildings and strolling people in vivid detail.
"Never knew a place like this existed. Good call asking in the district."
"Yeah."
Ludenberg leaned against the tree and sat.
"Tara."
He patted the spot beside him, calling her—just like the trial world's Ashytara had done for him.
"Yeah?"
"Sit here."
"Should I?"
"Or just lie down."
"Oh. That sounds good too."
Ashytara lay down, pillowing her head on his lap.
"How'd you know?"
"Know what?"
"That I like places like this. Even guessing, you nailed it on the first try."
"...Saw it in the trial world. That version of you reflected the real you, so I figured tastes might match."
"Ah."
"Glad it did."
"Yeah. Is that why you brought us here on purpose?"
"...Pretty much."
"Hehe. You've grown, Luden."
"Grown how?"
"Not long ago, you'd just follow wherever I led. Now you're thinking of me like this. Though you were a bit proactive in Ortara... usually, you were pretty passive."
"True. But... from now on, I'll try to change that."
"Haha."
So amused, Ashytara gazed up at him from his lap. After a while, drowsiness crept over her, and she closed her eyes. Ludenberg brushed her bangs aside, watching her. It was a time of utter peace.