Unwavering Faith
Ludenberg Lavante gazed at the street scene. There was nothing he could do. No unusual incidents had occurred. No one seemed suspicious in their movements, unless you counted the pickpockets wandering the alleys—and even they had been swiftly caught by the guards. For an apprentice knight stationed at the city gates like Ludenberg, there was simply no work to be done. All he could manage was watching the Terra priests bustling about in preparation for the Prayer Festival.
The Terra priests hurried here and there, carrying vibrant flowers and various decorations. They were probably for adorning the church interior and Solemnute Square. As he watched for a while, his shift was drawing to a close. With nothing noteworthy having happened, Carmen was just about to dismiss the group when someone suddenly addressed her.
“Lady Carmen.”
“Bishop Tania? What brings you here so late?”
It was Tania Grand, bishop of the Setra Church.
“The Prayer Festival preparations aren't finished yet. We have to wrap up by tomorrow, but there's so much material to handle... Requests for aid are pouring in from the other churches right now.”
“Shouldn't everything have been done by today, as per schedule?”
“The newly appointed Terra archbishop is putting extra effort into his first festival. Last year's was so lackluster due to various issues... He probably wants to make up for what couldn't be done then. Anyway, could you spare one knight faculty student to help?”
Carmen glanced around at the students. “Anyone willing to lend a hand?”
It was right at the end of their shift, so the students hesitated, exchanging awkward glances. They'd stood idly at the gates for three hours straight and were utterly exhausted. Unable to stand it any longer, Ludenberg spoke up. He still had plenty of energy left, having already completed his daily training earlier.
“I'll go.”
Carmen and Bishop Tania's faces lit up at his offer.
“Thanks. Bishop, you can take this student.”
“Thank you. This way, then, student.”
Ludenberg followed Bishop Tania. The streets around the still-bustling church were filled with people tearing their hair out over endless supplies.
“Right, we'll help over there. Let's go.”
“Yes, Bishop.”
Upon arriving where supplies towered like mountains, Ludenberg and Bishop Tania began moving items in their own ways. Some exceptional priests used divine power to shift the loads, but the sheer volume barely diminished. Delicate items like floral crowns, wreaths, bouquets, and saplings were especially tricky—using divine power risked damaging them, so they had to be carried by hand, slowing progress to a crawl. Priests rarely trained their physical strength, leaving them no choice but to rely on knights. But with knights so few in number, they had no option but to pull in some knight faculty students after their shifts.
That said, they couldn't just dragoon students willy-nilly. The students were fatigued too, and they had to manage the throngs of crowds starting tomorrow. In the end, the workforce hauling supplies for the Terra Prayer Festival consisted of about fifty knight faculty students, ten imperial knights, and priests and knights from various churches. Even with all that manpower, no one could guarantee they'd finish today—clear evidence of how much heart the current Terra archbishop was pouring into this festival.
As Ludenberg carried various loads amid the frenzy, his sharpened senses picked up something faintly irritating. The floral scent that had wafted from spots around Solemnute upon his arrival yesterday suddenly intensified. The overpowering fragrance gave him a slight headache, but it wasn't enough to stop him. He said nothing and diligently transported the scattered supplies, focusing on the heavier ones beyond the priests' strength.
“Ah, thank you.”
“Any more to move?”
“We're making progress here. Help over there—it has the most students, but also the toughest loads.”
“Got it.”
Heading to the spot the priest indicated, Ludenberg saw students clustered tightly, hauling away. In the midst, he spotted Ashytara Solenute carrying a load. As she set one down and reached for another, he intercepted it.
“I'll take this. You grab something else.”
“Ah, thanks.”
It looked heavy at a glance, so Ashytara readily handed it over with a grateful smile.
To her soft smile, Ludenberg said, “And... if you can, could you spare a moment later?”
“Huh?”
Surprise flickered across Ashytara's face.
“Yeah, sure. What's up?”
She quickly shook off the shock, her expression turning expectant.
“Just something I want to ask.”
“Okay.”
As if she already knew what it was, she nodded slightly. A brief, awkward silence followed their exchange. Feeling the discomfort, Ludenberg clamped his mouth shut and hauled supplies at double speed.
About two hours later, as midnight approached, the Terra Church finally released the students, deeming it impossible to continue. After mutual thanks, the students headed back to the knight barracks in groups. Ludenberg sought out Ashytara. The two slowed their pace, sensing a long talk ahead.
“Right, Ludenberg. You said you had something to ask?”
“Why did you do it?”
“Do what?”
“Cletta Peliche. What you said to her... the rumors around it. And the dorm room duel with Mion Altis.”
Ashytara replied to his blunt question, “I hated it.”
“What?”
“I couldn't stand hearing all those stupid rumors about you.”
“So you used Cletta Peliche? And chased Mion Altis out of your room?”
“Yeah.”
She nodded frankly.
“Why go that far for me? Have you forgotten how I treated you?”
“I haven't.”
“Then why?”
“Even if you don't see me as a friend anymore, I still see you as one. The most precious one.”
Ludenberg was momentarily speechless.
“How can you...”
How is that possible?
“I was furious at first. Even thought about cutting ties. But... old memories resurfaced. All the words you said for me, everything you did. That's why.”
“Even though I'm not the same as back then?”
Ashytara shook her head at his words. “People don't change that easily, Ludenberg.”
“No. They do.”
Most people he'd seen had. Everyone who once praised him had turned to curses in an instant. Gawin Greta, Leb Heinz, Marvin Ashus. Even the maids and knights who spoke kindly to him stopped; their gazes shifted to fear and disapproval. Some even pitied him now. Having lived it all so vividly, Ashytara's words were impossible for him to accept.
“Sure, some people might. But not you. You haven't changed.”
“You really don't know anything.”
His expression darkened.
“No, I do.”
“You do? Don't make me laugh! What do you know?!”
She knew nothing—of his circumstances, his betrayals. As he shouted, Ashytara's emotions surged too.
“I do! Do I look like an idiot? I saw it! Eden Asta and Mion Altis snickering behind your back last time you yelled at Cletta! Those bastards must've done something to you, right? Am I wrong?”
“That's...”
“If you'd really changed, you wouldn't have bothered with any of it. But you've always been diligent. You wouldn't have taught Cletta swordsmanship like that—just given her a quick once-over. But did you? No! You fixed every flaw in her form, helped her improve. Who does that for someone they barely know?”
“...”
Ludenberg wanted to refute her. It was just playing along to gauge her intentions. But he couldn't say it. No matter how he thought about it, she was right. As she'd said, he could've half-assed Cletta's training—no one would've complained. So why had he remade her technique?
“You wanted to help someone who was giving up, Ludenberg. Just like you always grabbed me when I wanted to quit.”
She answered the question in his mind. It was true. He hated seeing anyone abandon their divine power like he had—even strangers.
“I can't imagine or understand the anger and sorrow you felt back then, but I want to say this, Ludenberg.”
“...”
He remained silent.
“No matter what happens, I'll never betray you. Even if everyone else turns away, I won't. So... you don't have to be afraid.”
“...I don't want to believe it.”
He forced the words out, denying her. But even that, she affirmed.
“Yeah. You don't have to. Even if you don't believe in me, I'll believe in you.”
Her trust choked him. How can she say that? Why?
“Ha...”
He exhaled heavily. The fear he'd hidden so long—the dread she might betray him, his own weakness. She already knew.
Ashytara gently gripped his speechless hand and rested her forehead on it. Warmth began to flood in.
“It'll be hard right now. You won't want to believe. That's okay. I'll wait. Until you can trust people again. Like how you kept waiting for me that day I wanted to give up on the sword. So, Ludenberg...”
Her voice trembled briefly as she took a deep breath.
“Don't give up.”
For an instant, Ludenberg froze, as if every function in his body had halted. Ashytara gazed at him sadly, smiled faintly, and turned away.
“I'll head back. You need time to sort your thoughts. See you tomorrow.”
Ludenberg stood there like a fool, his face a mask of confusion, utterly speechless.