Birthday Reflections and a Heartfelt Letter
The celebration for Ashytara's birthday continued for quite some time afterward. Ashytara and Ludenberg Lavante savored the exquisite dishes prepared by the imperial chefs, and the maids enjoyed them just as much. Later, word reached Sione Solenute, who joined in, and the party only wrapped up at nightfall due to all the unexpected guests.
Everyone returned to their quarters, drifting off to sleep while savoring the day's lingering warmth. Ludenberg, back in his own room, lay on his bed with a quiet sense of pride.
How many years had it been since he'd celebrated someone's birthday and seen their joy? He could truly feel that his surroundings had changed for the better—far beyond what they once were. And it was all thanks to Ashytara. The most precious friend who affirmed him was irreplaceable, after all.
Ashytara's happy face flickered in his mind. Compared to the expression he'd seen right after enrolling at Solemnute Adem, it was like night and day. Why was I so cold to her back then? He had his reasons, but feeling guilt even now for treating her that way over something so trivial.
No. I can make it right from now on. She'll forgive me that much... right, Tara?
Ludenberg tried to sleep with that thought, but sleep wouldn't come. His mind kept swirling with tangled worries. This time, they weren't about Ashytara.
They were about the strange events surrounding him and Raha. The Salvation Cult's sudden raid last time, when he'd brushed death. The eerie vitality that had surged through him then, and the unbelievable strength he'd wielded. Raha had said that vitality came from him. But Ludenberg couldn't summon it again.
If it was truly his power, he should be able to call it at will. Since he couldn't, he doubted it was really his.
How do I control that power freely?
Lying in bed, he thrust out his fist. It held only his usual strength—no trace of that immense force from before. He mulled over Raha's words, hoping for a clue on how to draw it out.
She said that when I crossed death's threshold, the power accumulated from trials manifested as vitality to let me fight. So, trials build power inside me, and to unleash it, I need a near-death battle. That's the hypothesis.
Having formed it, Ludenberg outlined the steps to test it.
For now, that's enough sorting it out. But I can't neglect basic training. Trials may accumulate power, but if my body isn't ready, I won't wield it properly.
With his thoughts organized, Ludenberg sprang from bed. He'd swung his sword that morning, but only to check Ashytara's form—his own training had been half-hearted at best.
He assessed his condition objectively. For a chest wound that had pierced right through, he was in remarkably good shape—no pain. No issues during Ashytara's practice either. He could handle intense training like this.
Alright. Time to head out.
Ludenberg stepped outside without delay.
* * *
Meanwhile, as Ludenberg headed to the training grounds, Ashytara was examining her birthday gifts in her room. First, the pendant around her neck. She beamed, studying it closely.
A scarlet glow like a blazing sun, not quite gold. And etched inside, a familiar flower shape.
Rishianthus... I never thought he'd remember that even now.
Back on her tenth birthday—the day she'd come to embrace birthdays instead of dreading them. That was why Rishianthus was her favorite flower, and Ludenberg had remembered, gifting it for her special day. How could she not be thrilled?
On Ludenberg's next birthday, I want to give him something meaningful too.
Ashytara turned to the other gifts. Heartfelt letters from the maids caught her eye one by one. Starting with thanks for her kindness, they revealed just how well she'd treated them all along.
A mix of pride and bashfulness welled up as she opened Ludenberg's letter last.
He said it was a reply to my letter, right?
Among today's gifts, after the pendant, this was what she'd anticipated most. Too embarrassed to write, he'd insisted she read it later, alone.
What could be in it?
Ashytara slit the envelope with a letter opener and unfolded the thick pages. The lengthy letter began like this:
To my dear Ashytara.
Hello, Tara. This is probably my first letter to you. Quite the contrast to the four you sent me over the past five years. Back then, you always hoped for a reply, but I never sent one. I'm truly sorry, saying it now. If I must make excuses, I just couldn't trust people. Whenever I faced someone, all I thought was what they might say about me behind my back. And I assumed you were the same.
But you weren't. You worked tirelessly to change how others saw me and gave faith to someone who couldn't trust anyone. You broke down the walls of distrust around me. Learning there's at least one person who truly trusts me let me dream of hope in people again. The happiness I felt defies words. Thank you so much.
I won't brush off the five years you worried and endured heartbreak with mere words. From now on, I'll be your strongest ally, never letting your enemies go unpunished. I'll be by your side when you're struggling—just as you were for me.
And... happy birthday. You don't still hate your birthday, do you? If any such feelings linger, cast them aside. You deserve every blessing. I'm sure Empress Itara would agree. So may today be a happy day for you.
I'll end here.
—Your friend who holds you most dear, Ludenberg Lavante.
P.S. I'm no good with words, so it took days just to write this much. Forgive me—my first letter, and I had no idea what to say.
Ashytara couldn't stop her lips from curving into a smile as she read. It was her first reply in five years, melting away years of hurt in an instant. Her friend was the same as ever—the kinder-than-anyone Ludenberg from back then.
Her heart pounded, excitement bubbling up. But she pushed the joy aside, steadying herself. She was happy, yes—but now was time to calm her heart.
Today was a birthday to celebrate, but also the anniversary of her mother's passing. A day for sorrow.
With her mind settled, Ashytara stepped quietly out of her room. She headed for Empress Itara Solenute's tomb.
Leaving Itara Palace, past the gardens and training grounds, lay the imperial mausoleum. She visited late at night to avoid worrying others—especially the maids. She hated seeing them fret over her.
They weren't like the old maids who neglected her, trapped in her mother's shadow. On her tenth birthday, Emperor Rajeta Solenute had replaced everyone in Itara Palace. The current maids had served her since her positive change, and knowing everything, they disliked her visiting the tomb on her birthday. It wasn't a day she should solely mourn.
Aware of that, she'd always slipped out at dawn when everyone slept. Tonight was no different.
Ashytara traversed the dim corridors and exited Itara Palace. Savoring the night's silence, she crossed the gardens toward the training grounds.
Then, a sound shattered the quiet from the grounds' center— the whoosh of a sword swinging.
Ashytara knew instantly it was Ludenberg. Who else would train at this hour?
Heading to the center, she spotted him under the moonlight, just as expected.
"Lud?"
"Tara? What are you doing up?"
"Heading to Mother's tomb."
"The tomb? Ah... right, today's the anniversary of Empress Itara's passing."
"Yeah. If I go during the day, the maids will worry. I've done it this way since I was ten."
"I see. Mind if I come along?"
After a brief hesitation—wanting to talk with him anyway—Ashytara nodded.