Ashytara Opened Her Eyes
Ashytara opened her eyes. The hotel room's view stretched out before her, and beside her bed, she could see Ludenberg Lavante. It seemed too early to wake; a hazy light bathed the entire room.
She sat up, gazing out at the scenery. Her mind was a bit tangled from the mysterious events she'd been experiencing lately. In front of Ludenberg, she'd feigned appropriate wonder... but Ashytara couldn't shake off the ominous feeling.
Power always came with a price. Ludenberg's strength, and the power she herself would gain through future training—what was it all for? What truth did Raha and Leven's stories hold? And when that truth came to light, how would the world change?
I don't know. She placed her hand on the window. Even in the dark night before dawn, Istaltin—known as the City of Stars—shimmered with a soft glow. It was a magnificent sight, one with a beauty different from Solemnute's, drawing her eyes unwittingly.
Feeling foolish for her sentimentality, Ashytara let out a soft, wry smile.
Yeah. No matter what happens... I'll be by Rud's side. In that moment of quiet resolve, a faint ray of sunlight touched the window, unfolding a breathtaking vista before Ashytara's eyes.
It was Istaltin's morning, the one she'd only heard rumors about. Tourists to Istaltin often said the city's finest spectacle was gazing at that dawn from a hotel window. And it was exactly as they described.
The subtle glow of the City of Stars mingled with the sun's radiant brilliance, reflecting in Ashytara's eyes and making the world shine brightly.
"Whoa..." She admired the view from the window, then hurried to Ludenberg's bed, determined not to let him miss it. "Rud!"
"...Mm. Tara? What's up?" He asked, eyeing her urgency.
His voice carried a hint of sleepiness, and Ashytara smiled as she replied. "It's not bad news—just get up. Wow, I never imagined a sight like this!"
"...Okay." Ludenberg staggered out of bed and peered outside, his expression mirroring hers. The drowsiness vanished from his eyes in an instant, and he let out an exclamation.
"...Incredible."
"Right?"
"Yeah. It's a view you can't get at Solemnute Adem or anywhere in Solemnute, so it's even more amazing."
"Since we're here, we should see everything we can, yeah?"
"Yeah."
"Speaking of, back to the small room today?"
"Probably. The academic conference is at the Cradle of Stars anyway, so we won't be leaving Istaltin much."
"Kinda disappointing."
"Can't be helped. We're not here to play. Partial sightseeing might be okay, but let's stick to the main goal."
"Yeah."
Ashytara seemed genuinely bummed by Ludenberg's words.
"...That disappointed?" He looked at her and asked.
"Honestly? Yeah."
"Then after the conference... let's explore Istaltin properly."
"...Really?"
"Yeah. Though we'll need a guide since I don't know the way."
"That sounds great!" Ashytara's face lit up instantly.
"Good morning." As they headed to the first floor for breakfast, they spotted Professor Nah Tes seated at an elegant table. She greeted them with a languid expression, clearly having pulled an all-nighter.
"Up all night?"
"Yeah. But I can handle one day."
"You look tired."
"Sleepy, yeah... but no choice. Can't close my eyes in this situation."
"What about Nadan?"
"He's wrapping up now. Thanks to your help yesterday, the framework's all set... Just need to compile Liberatus's diary and attach it, then done."
"Got it. Won't take long."
"Yeah... but you might need to step in during the conference."
"Because of Liberra?"
"Exactly. We have to test the saint law. Let's try it today too."
"Understood."
"And... we have guests coming today."
"Who?"
"Kids you've met before. Denetim Setta and Tradiaan Setta."
"Ah!"
"First time since the friendly match, right?"
"Yeah."
"They're coming with high expectations. They're the type who can't resist exciting discoveries, so they might act differently than last time... Bear with it."
"That's fine. No malice there. Plus, they're Istaltin royalty. I already know what they're like." Ashytara nodded at Ludenberg's words.
"I'm okay with it too."
"Thanks for understanding. Anyway... let's eat first. The food here's pretty good."
"Sure."
As they ate, a groaning voice suddenly filled the air—like someone on their deathbed. It was Nadan Tes, who'd come down from his room research, stomach rumbling.
"Ugh..." His sickly stagger made him look like a bedraggled chicken; Ludenberg and Ashytara watched him with pity.
"...You okay?"
"...No."
"Eat something."
"Yeah..." Gone was Nadan's usual laid-back vibe; he shuffled through his meal and returned to his room.
"...Do saints get stripped of their title if they don't produce results at conferences?"
"Nah. Just his greed."
"I see."
"Alright, breakfast done—let's head up. Gotta greet the guests later..."
"Sure."
Back in the room, Professor Nah Tes immediately asked Ludenberg, "Shall we start with the experiment? Can I borrow your sword for a bit?"
"That might be tricky."
"Any reason?"
"It's bound to me—touching it harms others."
"...I see."
"But casting saint law on it should be fine. Want to try?"
"Let's."
Ludenberg fetched Liberra from his room, and Professor Nah Tes channeled her divine power into it, deploying the saint law. A soft starlight lingered on Liberra... and seeped in without resistance.
"...It's accepting divine power?"
"Seems so."
"No rejection at all..."
"...Yeah."
Ludenberg could only agree. Raha had said no one else could touch it, so he'd assumed it rejected others' divine power.
"Here goes." Professor Nah Tes focused and activated the saint law—one that revealed past forms.
Suddenly, amid the faint starlight on Liberra's blade, white letters glowed brilliantly. They flowed down the blade, circling Ludenberg in a ring.
"...What's this now?" Professor Nah Tes looked baffled. These letters circling Ludenberg weren't her saint law.
She'd only used one to show an object's past—no such effect.
The circling letters halted, then flooded the room with bright light. Images of the past flashed by like afterimages—far, far into the distant past.
Finally, the scene settled on rugged terrain. Countless warriors and knights raised their swords against hideously twisted beings.
"Ngh..." But it didn't last. Liberra voraciously drained Professor Nah Tes's divine power; sensing danger, she severed the connection.
"Professor!" Nadan, Ashytara, and Ludenberg cried out as she staggered.
"...I'm... fine." Her face was ashen, as if her life force had been siphoned. Composing herself, she addressed them.
"This proves it sufficiently. With evidence this clear... convincing people will be easy. But the divine power drain is massive. I might not manage alone."
"Even for you?"
"Yeah. You saw. My power's not enough. For the conference, we'll need help from those with lots of it."
"I'll help."
"Obviously. But we've nailed the key proof easily... Just finishing touches left." Despite her fatigue, Professor Nah Tes grinned with exhilaration.
"Liberatus's diary?"
"Yes. Documenting his life in this study will properly introduce the Starting Knight, Liberatus Ahad, to the world. Might even warrant rewriting history books."
"Whoa, then..."
"Yeah. You'll be busy too, Nadan."
"No, I've been plenty busy. I wanna rest."
Nadan protested, but Nah dismissed it outright.
"Anyway, it'll be groundbreaking. Maybe the most valuable research we've ever done."
"Yeah. Oh, aren't those kids coming soon?"
"Who? Denetim and Tradiaan?"
"Yes. We can squeeze their divine power to examine it more closely, right?"
"Oh ho. Not bad."
"They want results? They pay the price."
"True."
Their faces turned devilish in an instant; Ludenberg and Ashytara offered awkward smiles, already pitying Denetim and Tradiaan.
...They're in for it.
"Hello!"
"Greetings."
Barging into the room with lively steps were the ever-energetic Denetim and the polite Tradiaan.
"The friendly match was impressive. Didn't expect you to be that strong."
"Haha, thanks."
"Especially making that Eve Arcadia bitch look like a fool. So cool!" Denetim and Tradiaan gazed at Ashytara with near-reverence. Having no love for Eve Arcadia, they showered praise on the pair who'd thoroughly crushed her.
"What's the occasion for the conference?"
"Ah, helping Professor Nah and Nadan's research."
"I see." Tradiaan nodded at Ludenberg's reply.
As they exchanged pleasantries, Denetim spotted Nadan averting his gaze and lit up.
"Nadan!"
"Ugh. Hey, cut it out. You're not a kid."
She hugged his massive frame like a playful little sister.
"Hehe. Doing well?"
"Thought research would kill me. You?"
"Great. No prep for this conference, though."
"Huh? Not participating?"
"Didn't get selected."
"Why?"
"Dealt with that attack last time..."
"Right..."
"Handled fine, no worries."
"Got it."
"So, your research? Preview?"
"Sure... but it costs."
"Costs?"
"Divine power. In return, something amazing. Guaranteed." Nadan grinned wickedly.