A Soldier's Diary from a Thousand Years Ago
A thousand years ago, when the evil god Prisper tore through the clear blue sky and descended, the crimson sky of erosion ripped open, unleashing monstrous erosion beasts upon the world.
These erosion beasts, capable of devouring all manner of life and manifesting their traits, were nearly impossible to kill—and to early humanity, they were nothing short of a horrifying catastrophe. It was truly humanity's darkest hour.
Ordinary swords and spears couldn't even scratch their tough hides, and even if you pierced the exterior, the ceaseless regeneration made slaying them a futile endeavor. Worse still, the six gods who guarded the world found themselves on the brink of defeat against the overwhelming might of the invading outer god.
With even the supreme deities teetering on the edge of collapse under the outer god's pressure, humanity was perishing at a terrifying pace. Hope seemed utterly lost.
Yet as the saying goes, where there is despair, there is hope. As extinction loomed at humanity's throat, the six gods on the verge of defeat bestowed their final hope—their power and names—upon knights who had crossed the line between life and death countless times to reach the pinnacle of their art.
Thus was born the power granted to those knights: divine power.
When the divine power of the supreme gods merged with flesh honed to its absolute limit, the knights surpassed even the gods themselves in strength. Clutching this last ember of hope, the six knights led a desperate suicide squad to confront Prisper at Tachgalde, humanity's final bastion—the impregnable fortress.
In an endless battle, the six knights finally reached Prisper and succeeded in sealing her away. Even at the very last moment, they saved the world without sacrificing a single soul against that mighty god.
Humanity honored them as the Six Heroes of Tachgalde, and their names have echoed through the ages ever since.
Sun Knight, Kyle Solenute.
Earth Knight, Orpina Testia.
Moon Knight, Hidea Rune.
Sea Knight, Parrel Mer.
Sky Knight, Adalin Cielm.
Star Knight, Istradim Seta.
Among them, Sun Knight Kyle Solenute wed his childhood friend, Earth Knight Orpina Testia, and with the survivors of the suicide squad, founded a modest nation—the dawn of the Solemnute Empire, which would endure a thousand years...
"Alright. That's the founding legend of Solemnute that everyone knows, right?"
"Yes."
The Innocence students nodded eagerly, eyes sparkling. It was a tale they'd heard since childhood—no one could forget it. Moreover, the Six Heroes were the ultimate aspiration for every Knight Faculty student; no Innocence could feign disinterest.
"Now, some of you might wonder why we study the Solemnute founding legend in literature class."
A few Innocence students nodded in agreement at Professor Eldora's words. It made sense. The legend wasn't just folklore; it was the empire's very first history.
Yet the reason it was included in literature was simple.
"Because the founding legend is packed with countless works of literature. Poems and songs lamenting the era's plight, personal accounts—they let us glimpse those people's hearts, even if indirectly. Today, let's look at the earliest of those accounts, 'A Certain Soldier's Diary,' and the literature it inspired."
"Yes!"
A Certain Soldier's Diary captured the moment a soldier witnessed the knights, on the brink of death amid the horrors of battle, hearing the voices of the six gods and rising anew.
Sense of time had grown hazy. How many battles had we fought? We'd retreated time and again until we finally fell back within Tachgalde's walls. It was the same here as everywhere else. Wails of those who'd lost loved ones echoed everywhere, thick with utter despair. Even our six guiding knights collapsed in exhaustion. I was no different. Too tired today—I'll end it here. But one thing is certain. I'm still alive.
Tachgalde Fortress was humanity's last bastion. I stood atop its walls, gazing down. Grotesque horrors swarmed the ground below, besieging us in layers. They meant to breach Tachgalde at any cost, dooming humanity. We had to hold here. The moment those walls fell, it would all be over. Realizing that, a crushing weight of responsibility and fathomless despair coursed down my spine. No hope in sight. Could we survive? Fear gripped my body, my sword hand trembling—then Sir Kyle approached and spoke.
"It's okay to be afraid. Run if you must. Just survive, somehow. I'll lead the charge, so surely there'll be space for one more. A knight exists to protect the weak. If defeat looms, flee. Keep hope's spark alive. You can do it. We'll hold this place, the six of us."
I swore I would.
I still can't forget it. Amid despair as erosion beasts closed in, the six knights revived in distant, shining light. Most striking was the knight with jet-black hair, Sir Kyle. From his broken sword poured white flames alongside sunlight, their heat blanketing the battlefield. Yet it brought no terror to us—it was a beacon of hope, piercing the blinding darkness.
The other five were the same. They'd fought at the forefront, clashing fiercest with the horrors, and now each awakened their god's power. Starlight gleamed on Lady Istradim's gauntlets, which shattered hides barehanded. Earth clung to Lady Orpina's greatsword, larger than she was. Wind swirled around Lady Adalin's massive iron spear. Sea waves danced from Sir Parrel's slender blade. And moonlight graced Lady Hidea's arrows from her enormous longbow, ever supporting us.
In that instant, the tide turned. Where sunlight passed, erosion beasts crumbled to ash. Each swing of the massive greatsword triggered quakes, hurling abominations into abyssal depths. The wind-laced spear unleashed tempests with every thrust, shredding all nearby. The thin sword's sweeps summoned waves that blocked every assault on our soldiers. Arrows from the longbow wrought bizarre phenomena—piercing foes before launch, curving impossibly. Absurd, unbelievable to outsiders. But those impossibilities saved us miraculously.
After endless struggle, as night faded and warm sunrise enveloped us, one emotion ruled me: relief. Then, I'm alive. I survived. Through hellish battle, I'd made it to see the dawn. That radiant sun I witnessed—I still remember it. Being alive. Eating, drinking, talking to those beside me. Joy overwhelmed me; I embraced a surviving comrade, shouting our fortune. When the Six Heroes returned to the fortress, we toasted victory, crying out:
Praise to the great Six Heroes! To beautiful life!
"When you first read this diary, you must have felt something indescribable—especially after the opening of the founding legend."
The Innocence students nodded, eyes fixed on Professor Eldora.
"That's literature. Seeing something, feeling it deeply, yearning to express it. Our ancestors felt the same."
She spoke with utter conviction.
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because from this diary sprang countless epics and songs. Take one example: 'Kyle's Song.' You all know it, right?"
Kyle's Song praised Kyle's unyielding spirit, protecting people amid the erosion war's despair. It was the anthem sung at Knight Faculty graduations upon knighting—so the Innocence students gasped in unison.
"Ah!"
"No way?"
"Exactly. Kyle's Song draws from Sir Kyle's words in this diary—the first emperor of Solemnute, Kyle Solenute himself. Anyone remember the lyrics? Hands up."
No one raised a hand. Truth be told, every Innocence had memorized it; no aspiring knight in Solemnute hadn't. But they held back, sensing danger. She might make them sing.
Poor performance here meant personal humiliation—and in gossip-hungry Solemnute Adem, rumors of tone-deafness could spread across the entire Knight Faculty overnight.
Ludenberg Lavante wanted no part of that. Though he'd mastered the song perfectly, his hand stayed down.
"Oh dear, no one knows it? Come on—you all do, you're just scared I'll pick you."
"......"
The Innocence students flinched subtly, but Professor Eldora, veteran of years teaching, caught it. She smiled knowingly.
"How perceptive you all are. Yes, exactly. Just listing tales in literature class would bore anyone. We need spice—like watching someone squirm. What could be more fun in grueling academy life?"
Her eyes gleamed mischievously.
"Who's the top Innocence in this classroom right now?"
All eyes turned instantly to Ludenberg.