Chapter 220: The Solem Church
The Solem Church was located near the Solemnute Imperial Palace and the Sun Tower. Aside from its inner sanctum, it was open to the public, allowing anyone to come and go freely. However, people tacitly avoided stepping foot inside. Not only was it the holiest place in Solemnute, but it was also frequented by imperial family members beyond count. If one happened to offend a royal's sensibilities by mistake, that day could very well be one's last. Even high nobles had no choice but to tread carefully when visiting.
Especially if any item went missing... terrible incidents had occurred before.
Ludenberg knew this well, so he proceeded toward the church with utmost caution. Even though he'd come at Ashytara's invitation—no, precisely because of that—he had to be extra careful. He couldn't risk causing her any trouble on his account.
"Rud."
"Yeah?"
"You seem too tense. You don't need to be that cautious."
"No, still..."
"It's fine, I said."
Ashytara took Ludenberg's hand and led him inside. Along the path, statues of Solem and the other six gods stood prominently. That wasn't all. The church interior was adorned with countless paintings, and mythic records were inscribed as text on the walls.
"What do you think?" Ashytara asked in a lowered voice.
"It's incredible."
"It's probably different from other churches."
"Yeah, it is."
Ludenberg gazed at the murals and inscriptions with a sense of awe. The song of Kyle that they'd recited in literature class was naturally there, along with records of each hero. There was also a section summarizing the achievements of Solemnute's founding emperor, Kyle.
"Honestly, it feels a bit like a museum."
"Haha, right? Recording Solem's history is part of the priests' duties, after all."
"I see."
He looked around the interior with fresh eyes. Built with solium, it gleamed with brilliant gold in every direction.
This is where Tara grew up.
"Tara."
"Yeah?"
"So this is... where you've been staying all this time?"
"Yeah. About four years, I think. Excluding the year I spent in the inner sanctum learning doctrine in earnest, I've been here at the church continuously."
"Could you tell me what it was like living here?"
"Sure. Why not?"
Ashytara smiled and obliged Ludenberg's request. As her lips parted, stories of her time at the church began to flow out bit by bit.
"When I first came here, I reacted the same way you are now."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
Ashytara, dressed in her neat priestess robes, took one careful step at a time.
"I had no choice but to be cautious. Otherwise, I'd have gotten scolded."
She gazed at the statue of Solem at the front of the church interior, lost in reminiscence.
"I had to shed my identity as a princess and become a devout priestess. To be honest, it was incredibly tough."
Her soft smile as she spoke carried a faint air of wistfulness.
"Yeah."
Ludenberg said nothing more, simply waiting for her to continue.
"I remember walking this path for the first time. Instead of the ornate clothes I wore as a princess, I was in apprentice priestess robes."
A young girl must have walked these halls with a mix of wonder and caution, overwhelmed by the grandeur.
"My sister guided me. She warned me over and over: don't move carelessly, always maintain a reverent attitude."
"Ah."
"After joining the church, strict lessons awaited. I got scolded—a lot—back then."
"...Scolded?"
"Yeah. Especially by my sister. My posture was sloppy, I hadn't memorized the doctrines... stuff like that. It was tough in all sorts of ways."
She spoke as if it were no big deal, but Ludenberg realized Ashytara hadn't had it easy back then either.
"Must've been rough."
"It was. But looking back, I wonder if I'd be where I am now without that harsh training. Sure, training with you built up my resolve, but... it wasn't enough on its own."
"What's the most memorable part?"
"Memorable? Oh, awakening my divine power, hands down."
"Awakening your divine power?"
"Yeah. It was a real ordeal. I had to stand barefoot on solium heated by the sun's rays and commune with Solem's holy relic."
"...Wait. Heated solium?"
"Yeah. They said it was to attune me to the sun's power... but honestly, it felt like my feet were burning. They said some skin actually melted off."
"..."
Ludenberg's expression was one of shock.
"H-Hey, don't freak out. It healed right up."
"No, that sounds like unimaginable pain..."
"Of course it hurt like hell at the time. But here's the weird part—want to know?"
"What?"
"At first, it was pure agony. Like I was burning alive. But then... the pain faded, and this blazing heat started consuming my whole body."
Ashytara continued, still finding the memory mystical.
"After that, my mind got hazy. And I felt some power enveloping me."
"...Divine power?"
"Yeah. Specifically, Solem's flames. Solem's divine power splits into two lineages: light and flame. I heard it's been decades since someone inherited the flame lineage."
"So that's why at the Glory Festival and celebrations..."
"Yeah, exactly. Rituals only flame lineage priests can perform. That's why I'm both a priestess and a saintess—the Saintess of the Flame Lineage."
"I had no idea..."
"No reason you would. I don't go around advertising it."
"Wait, then what about Heydel?"
"Brother's light lineage. Same as my sister."
"Ah..."
"Kinda disappointing, right? If brother had stayed in Solemnute... who knows, maybe history would've changed."
"That big a deal?"
"Yeah. You saw my sister fighting in Ortara last time, right?"
"Yeah. She dispatched a highest-grade erosion beast effortlessly, wrapped in light..."
"Heydel's divine power is even stronger. My sister said if he'd honed it steadily, he could've swept away every erosion beast below devourer rank with sheer overwhelming force."
"...No way."
Ludenberg was stunned anew by Heydel's untapped potential.
"Well, he didn't train consistently, so he's not at that level. She's even stronger than him now, which is a shame."
"Anyway... you've been through a lot too."
"Right? Not as much as you, but still. Come on, Rud. Time to see the holy relics."
"Okay."
Ashytara led him to the chamber where the holy relics were strictly preserved. Upon arrival, she clasped her hands and bowed her head as if in prayer; Ludenberg followed suit.
"Good. You have to view Solem's holy relics with reverence."
"Got it."
"Shall we take a slow look around?"
"Sure."
The relics alone evoked the flow of ages. Some were on the verge of crumbling from age, while others looked brand new.
Suddenly, Ludenberg's eyes caught on one relic.
"...That one."
"Hm? What?"
"That's the holy relic Professor Eldora gave me during my baptism."
"...What!?"
Ashytara rarely looked so shocked as she stared at him.
"I didn't awaken divine power in the end, but I never imagined it was from here."
"How did you even..."
"Why? Is it something special?"
"Special? That gem was a gift to the founding emperor from Empress Orpina, the first empress. It holds the divine power he blessed it with intact."
"...What?"
"Even my sister can't touch it casually. Only His Majesty—Father—or his brothers can. And even they need his final permission..."
"Wait, so Professor Eldora was going to hand me something like that?"
"...No wonder. Now I get why Aunt Eldora was placed under house arrest back then."
"House arrest?"
"Yeah. Right before my baptism, she suddenly got disciplined... That must've been why."
"Whoa."
Ludenberg hadn't dreamed the gem he'd clutched like a lifeline held such value.
"I handled something terrifying without knowing."
"Pretty much. I was shocked just hearing it passed through your hands."
"Me too."
"Well, that explains it. Hmm."
Ashytara nodded, then glanced around.
"Tara? What's up?"
"Hold on... Ah, there it is. Rud, look over there."
"Huh? What?"
Ashytara pointed to a weathered cross greatsword.
"...A sword?"
"Yeah. That's the holy relic I used to awaken my divine power."
"Oh..."
Ludenberg couldn't help but let out a gasp of admiration. The old cross greatsword exuded a mystical aura. Faint flames flickered around the blade, enough to make one feel their heat just by looking.
"It doesn't feel ordinary."
"Ah, you'd have trouble sensing it. That sword is pure divine power incarnate. Even after I absorbed its power to awaken Solem's flames, a massive amount remains."
"Is it yours?"
"Sort of... but I can't wield it yet. I can't handle the divine power infused in it."
"...I see."
"Of course, once my skill catches up, I should be able to. So I'll train hard until then. You'll help, right?"
"Obviously."
"Hehe."
After admiring more relics, they left the church. They hadn't stayed long; the sun was still high in the sky.
"...What next?"
Ashytara muttered idly, and Ludenberg shook his head too.
"Dunno."
"Think about it, Rud."
"Nothing comes to mind..."
"Hmm. But heading back now feels like a waste."
"Wanna wander around more? Festival's on, so there should be plenty to see."
Ashytara shook her head at Ludenberg's suggestion.
"Not bad, but... nah. You need rest. The festival will keep us busy. Let's just go back."
"...Yeah."
With nothing pressing, Ludenberg nodded readily and returned to Itara Palace with Ashytara.