The Door Embroidered with Starlight
A door embroidered with starlight stood before Ludenberg. Innumerable sacred law formations were etched around it, swirling in orbits while emitting a starry glow.
Facing the Gate of Setra for the first time in his life, Ludenberg peered through it once. Beyond lay only a nightscape adorned with stars.
"Cool, right? Pretty mysterious sight, huh?"
"No one guards this place?"
A door that transcended space—it could summon any manner of danger. Yet the absence of guards planted a seed of doubt in Ludenberg.
"Oh. The reason no one specifically guards the Gate of Setra is simple. It's got a cipher."
"A cipher?"
"Yeah. Building the Gate requires a massive sacred law formation. They engrave a cipher into it to prevent misuse. And it changes every moment, so unless you're a Setra bishop, even solving it is tough."
"But how did you...?"
"Because I'm one of the Setra bishops. A cipher like that is easy for me."
Nah Tes was a Setra bishop. Ludenberg was stunned.
"You're a bishop?"
"Yep. More precisely, bishop of the Solemnute Adem branch. Not that surprising. Lately, young bishops like me have been getting appointed in the Setra Church."
"But why teach history...?"
"Figured if I was gonna hang around the academy as a bishop with nothing to do, might as well teach history. I already knew plenty about it, so snagging the professor gig was easy."
"The knight who checked us earlier just called you 'Professor'..."
"I told the other priests not to treat me like some big shot bishop—just call me Professor. So everyone does. Oh, and you haven't taken Setra theology yet, right?"
"No."
"I teach that too, so look forward to it. Won't be boring scripture readings."
"...Haha."
Ludenberg let out a dry laugh, but Nah ignored him. She stood before the Gate of Setra, channeling divine power to etch her own memories into it, unraveling the cipher in an instant.
The scenery beyond shifted. What had been a mere starry nightscape sharpened into a clear form, revealing a massive structure within.
"That building..."
"That's our destination today. The ruins where the Starting Knight was unearthed. It's been found for a while now... but we don't think we've excavated everything yet."
"Do I have a specific role there?"
"Nah. But if something happens to you in those ruins, tell us. That way we can report your cooperation and give you proper compensation."
"...Understood."
"Alright, let's go."
Before stepping in, Nah grabbed Nadan and Ludenberg's hands and murmured an incantation softly.
"By the guidance of the stars. I take steps into my past."
Confirming her grip, she intoned the prayer with intent. Light poured from the Gate of Setra, drawing the three through to the other side.
Ludenberg felt his vision black out for a moment. But when it cleared, the sight before him was... awe-inspiring.
The ruins dated back over a millennium, yet aside from slight weathering, the structure stood nearly intact. Its overwhelming grandeur crushed Ludenberg in an instant.
"Incredible."
Born to high nobility, frequenting the imperial palace amid grandeur untold, even Ludenberg couldn't help murmuring his awe.
Moreover, the ancient ruins exuded an otherworldly sanctity. Like... a temple.
"We freaked out the first time too. Priests wondered how such a place stayed hidden."
"Where to next?"
"Straight ahead. Keep going, and you'll hit a vast, empty hall."
Following Nah's lead, they passed the entrance and delved inward. Unlike the majestic exterior, the interior felt utterly hollow. Even the passage to the central hall lacked the slightest ornament.
"Has it always been this barren?"
"Yep. Since we first found it."
While Ludenberg and Nah spoke, Nadan stayed silent, his eyes glazed like a dreamer wandering reverie.
"Professor. Why's that big lug like that? Hasn't said a word."
"Leave him. He gets like that sometimes."
"...I see."
"Yeah."
The conversation ended there. In silence, they reached the expansive central hall.
Contrasting its grand, antique facade, the interior was barren. The hall stood utterly empty save for seven doors shrouded in misty barriers.
"What are those barriers?"
"Barriers."
"Barriers... So we can't enter?"
"Right. We've surveyed the exterior and interior thoroughly, but those barriers stalled progress. When we first arrived, everything—inside and out—was just empty."
"Then that book..."
"The only thing in this hall: a book on the floor. We've been desperate to decipher it, but progress is glacial. A year's work yielded just a few lines."
Ludenberg grimaced. He'd hoped for some clue here, but blocked by barriers, it was a waste of time.
"Can't the barriers be dispelled?"
"No. Even the archbishops tried and failed."
No answers, then.
What now? Ludenberg pondered. Scan the surroundings? The vast hall held nothing—no fragments, no structures. Just the seven barred doors.
"If you want to look around, go ahead. Tell us if you find anything."
"Got it."
Ludenberg headed to the nearest central door. As he approached—
Whoosh.
The central door's barrier dissolved abruptly.
"Ah?"
Stunned, Ludenberg blurted dumbly. Nadan and Nah turned, mirroring his shock.
"...Huh?"
"Why'd it open?"
"Beats me... You saw it too. We slaved over analyzing and dismantling those sacred laws."
"We did."
"So why now? The archbishops couldn't budge it. Wait, don't tell me..."
"Looks like that's exactly it."
One thought struck them: Nadan's words when he first met Ludenberg.
'It had the exact same interior layout as these ruins. Anyway, there was a white altar in that space... and my ash-pile buddy stood on it.'
Nadan's tale from their first encounter.
"Uh... Professor? What now? Can I go in?"
Ludenberg asked just then.
"Let's go."
Nah pondered briefly, then approved.
"Is that okay?"
"Yeah. But you lead. Seems the barrier opened because of you."
"...Understood."
"And."
"Yes?"
"If you see or hear anything—hallucinations, whispers—tell us."
"Why?"
"We gain new knowledge from your accounts. Even if you take something from here, we can justify giving it to you."
Simple: Share knowledge, keep the artifact.
Ludenberg was baffled. Why help him this much?
"One question? Why go so far for me?"
"What? Haha."
Nah burst out laughing.
"Fair question for normal folk. Give to get. But not us. Or rather, that's the Setra Church's way."
"The Church's trait?"
"As I said before, our priority is pursuing knowledge."
"You did."
"And you showed us potential for new knowledge."
"Fair point."
"That's it. Even if you snag a holy relic here, we won't cling to it. The archbishops would approve me handing it over. Especially..."
"Especially?"
"If your knowledge is novel, they'd gladly let it go. Nothing trumps knowledge for us."
"What if the relic yields knowledge?"
"We'd study it, then return it to the original owner."
Ludenberg recalled what he'd learned of the Setra Church. They shunned material greed, invoking it only for knowledge. Rare indeed to see them covet otherwise.
They cherished an unilluminated scrap of paper over any treasure or weapon.
Their mindset eluded Ludenberg. Why yield possessions to others?
Despite days observing, he couldn't grasp Nah and Nadan's attitudes.
"...I can't understand it."
"No surprise. We're beyond normal logic. But we don't ignore reality—we jumped through hoops to bring you here."
"Talk's over. Let's go. Curiosity's killing me."
Nadan grumbled from behind as Nah explained.
"Fine, fine. So impatient. Alright, Ludenberg. In we go. Remember: share discoveries. Got it?"
"I'll keep it in mind."
"Good."
Nah smiled satisfiedly. Ludenberg stepped beyond the vanished barrier.
Confirming no anomalies, he called back.
"Nothing strange here."
"Good. Let's go, Nadan."
"Yes, sis."
Soon, Nah and Nadan followed Ludenberg through the door.