A few days later, the first exam of the summer took place at the academy's training grounds.
Ren and Licia had been exempt from the practical classes since their first year, but the exams were a different matter. They had both participated from the morning, and it hadn't been long since they completed their test for Imperial Swordsmanship—the curriculum's foundation.
Ren was already famous, not only for his exemption but also for a reputation that now rivaled the descendants of the Seven Heroes. There was no way he and Licia wouldn't attract attention, but because the exam focused primarily on technical forms, they weren't scrutinized as intensely as Ren had feared.
In the academy’s shower room, Licia finished her business a step ahead of the others.
As she sat on a stool before a milky-white vanity, a voice called out to her.
"Mind if I take the spot next to you?"
"Not at all."
Sera, who had also just finished her exam and showered, sat down beside her.
The two sat side-by-side and began drying their hair with magic tools. Since the hum of the warm air made it difficult to hear, they avoided talking for a while.
Eventually, as Licia slid her arms into the sleeves of her uniform shirt, her skin—still flushed a soft peach from the heat of the water—showed slightly through the fabric. Noticing that Licia’s silhouette had become significantly more curvaceous compared to their first year, Sera couldn't help but look at her with a touch of envy.
"……Sigh."
"Why are you staring at me? Is something wrong?"
Licia turned this way and that, checking her reflection, but she was only puzzled; she didn't feel as though anything had changed.
That very gesture was adorable in its own right.
Seeing her confusion, Sera gave a mischievous grin.
"I guess it’s true what they say—people really do get cuter when they fall in love."
"Wh—th—that has nothing to do with this!"
"I'm saying it because it has everything to do with it. Oh well, never mind. Just ignore me."
"Goodness… even if you tell me to ignore you…"
Unable to let the comment slide completely, Licia looked back at the mirror and reached for her bangs.
Sera watched her best friend affectionately as Licia meticulously adjusted the angle of her hair with pouting lips. Finally, Sera couldn't resist leaning over and hugging her.
"Ah, geez! I asked what's wrong!"
Licia let out a cry of surprise, though she didn't sound particularly displeased.
"Sorry. I just acted on impulse."
"……"
"Oh, come on, I said I'm sorry! It was my fault, so don't look at me like that!"
Sera hurriedly apologized as Licia directed a cold, flat stare her way. Sera then began whistling poorly as she changed into her own uniform.
"I wonder if I should reconsider how I deal with you, Sera."
"I—I said I'm sorry!"
The two finished getting ready while continuing their banter and left the shower room.
Given that it was a swordsmanship exam, Sera didn't seem worried about the results. She was relaxed enough to crack jokes, which led to a new observation.
"By the way, you two don't seem like the type to ever fight."
"You two? Who are you talking about?"
"Licia and Ren. It was a swordsmanship exam earlier, right? It just made me think about how long you’ve been training with him."
From their usual behavior, Sera simply couldn't imagine the two of them ever raising their voices at one another.
However...
"……We have proper fights, you know."
Sera reflexively looked at Licia’s face, stunned by the unexpected response.
"You do!?"
"Wh—what's wrong with that? If you keep pressing the issue, I'm going to stop helping you with your entrance exam study!"
As Licia launched her counterattack, Sera panicked.
The White Saint walked a few steps ahead and turned back with a provocative smile.
"No way! Anything but that! Please!"
"I wonder what I should do…… even if it is a request from my best friend, after what just happened……"
As Licia walked ahead with light steps, Sera's desperate voice followed her.
"Wait for me!"
Hearing that, Licia let out a small chuckle.
As they continued talking on their way to the classroom, several upperclassmen appeared from the opposite direction. They were likely about to take their swordsmanship exam after the second-years.
One female student among them walked toward Licia and Sera.
"Are you two finished?"
It was Charlotte Rofelia.
She was a girl from one of the Seven Great Archduke Families, a member of the third-year Special Merit Class.
Her features were far too glamorous for a mere student, and her figure was strikingly well-defined. Despite her mature appearance, the expression she gave Sera and Licia was that of a girl their own age.
"Just now. Are you starting, Sharo?"
"That's the plan. As for how your exams went——well, that’s a foolish question to ask, isn't it?"
She gave a soft laugh.
Sera was a descendant of the Seven Heroes known for her mastery of the sword, and Licia had been even more famous for her skills since childhood. No matter how prestigious the academy's exams were, there was no need to ask how they had fared.
"Well then, see you. I have to go give it my best too."
"Ah, wait, Sharo. Is Kaito not here?"
"Kaito should have gone to the training grounds much earlier than me. Didn't you see him?"
"I don't think I did…… how about you, Licia?"
"No. I don't believe I saw him either."
Kaito was also a descendant of the Seven Heroes, a boy with a reliable, big-brotherly air who excelled at physical activity above all else. If he had been there, they should have noticed him immediately.
"……He probably just couldn't wait to get moving. Since the training grounds are occupied by the exams, maybe he’s exercising somewhere else."
"Probably. That sounds like Kaito."
After those final words, Charlotte turned away. A short distance off, she turned her upper body slightly and gave an elegant wave of her hand.
"Let's both do our best on the remaining exams. It'll be summer break as soon as they're over."
Sera began walking toward the classroom again, reflecting on Charlotte's words. As she felt the harsh, glaring sunlight, she could keenly sense that midsummer was fast approaching.
"Licia, what are your plans for summer break?"
After thinking for a few seconds, Licia spoke in her usual tone.
"I don't have any plans to return to Clausel, so I expect I'll be training at the Lion Sanctum or taking supplementary lessons."
"……Sigh."
"Hey, could you not sigh immediately after asking me?"
"I mean, even if you say that, your summer break plans are just too much like your usual self."
Sera's reaction was half exasperation and half surprise.
"Listen," the descendant of the Seven Heroes said, pointing her finger straight at Licia. "The things you’re saying are important, and we have the Demon King Cult to deal with lately, but……"
"Yes. We have to properly handle the matter of the Demon King Cult."
"……I thought so. I knew you’d say that, Licia."
The descendant of the Hero Gajir Riohalde broke into a smile at the predictable response.
"But what about the 'Night of Prayers'?"
At those unexpected words, Licia's reaction was delayed for a moment.
"……Eh?"
"We haven't gone lately because of entrance exam study and the Lion King Grand Festival, but there's that big event in Crushera during the summer. I assumed the Clausel family was invited too."
Licia looked thoughtful. She naturally knew about the city of Crushera and was aware that a major event took place there, but...
"I——have never been to that event before."
A short distance away, Ren had just run into Kaito and Lizred.
Kaito, who had been itching for exercise, spoke to Ren with a refreshing smile. From there, the topic shifted to how they would spend their summer break, just as Licia and the others had been discussing.
"So, what are you guys up to, Ashton?"
"The usual—training and taking supplementary lessons, I suppose. Of course, I plan to continue the investigation into the Demon King Cult as well."
"Hahaha! That’s so like you, Ashton! Though I think we'll be doing something similar."
The person laughing boisterously despite the exams being about to start was Kaito Leonard. Ever since he had been recognized as the master of the legendary shield used by his ancestor—the Silver King's Shield Airia—he had made it a point to wear it on important occasions.
The way he protected his comrades with that greatshield was as heroic as his ancestor. He was a boy with a clear, pleasant personality who was well-liked by all his peers.
"By the way, Lizred, why are you with Upperclassman Leonard?"
"I happened to see Kaito running around like an idiot, so I was just asking him what he was doing."
"Ah, so that’s why you were together."
"That being said, I really should be heading to my classroom soon."
Her bright hair, looking like cherry blossoms mixed into milk tea, fluttered softly. This petite and adorable girl was Lizred Archayse. She was a young lady of the Seven Great Archduke Families, descended from a great witch. She had entered the Imperial Academy this spring and belonged to the first-year Special Merit Class.
Kaito didn't seem to notice that Lizred had just called him an idiot as he turned to face her.
"By the way, Liz. Summer's almost here—aren't you hot wearing that robe over your uniform?"
"Good grief…… of all the things to ask."
Lizred wasn't wearing her uniform jacket, but over her shirt, she wore the robe that had become her trademark. Even to Ren’s eyes, it looked incredibly hot. Given Lizred's confident attitude, Ren assumed it was a special magic tool that could regulate temperature, but...
"I can still endure it. It's not a problem."
(……Guess not.)
It was all sheer force of will. While the robe did have properties that affected magical power, it apparently didn't have the cooling effect Ren had imagined.
"Regardless, it’s actually been quite a while since I've had a chance to talk calmly with you, Upperclassman Ashton."
"Actually?"
"Don't you think so? Not so much time has passed that it feels like forever, but it’s a delicate sensation where it’s hard to say it was just the other day."
"Now that you mention it, maybe so."
"……Still, I can recall the events of that night as if they happened yesterday."
What came to mind were the events in Windea and the life-or-death struggle against Priest Orphide. Lizred had cast the high-level fire magic, Dragon's Breath, twice in an attempt to live up to her comrades' efforts.
She had been pushed to her limits in a battle where her life was literally on the line, and just as she was about to run out of strength after casting consecutive high-level spells——that moment arrived.
Ren had suddenly stepped forward to face Orphide, an opponent that the seven of them together had barely managed to hold back.
"And yet, you’re just too much like your usual self at the academy, Upperclassman Ashton."
Lizred laughed and shrugged her shoulders. She only knew this senior from his appearance at the academy. She had heard rumors about the Lion Sanctum and such, but without seeing him fight firsthand, it didn't feel real.
She stared at him intently. As she felt the gap between the boy before her and the warrior from that night, he spoke with a perfectly normal voice, saying something entirely mundane: "Is something wrong?"
"It’s nothing. Nothing at all."
Lizred let out a deep sigh and forced the conversation to an end.
"Well then. Let's both do our best for the sake of summer break."
Leaving those words behind, she departed.
Summer break. As Ren ruminated on Lizred's words, he asked Kaito, who was currently basking in the sunlight with a look of contentment.
"Do you have any plans for the summer, Upperclassman Leonard?"
As he asked, Ren already thought he knew what the answer would be. However, the words that came back were not what he had expected...
"Yeah! We're going to Crushera! Actually, I think a lot of students from our school are going this year. This year's Night of Prayers is some kind of centennial milestone."
"Eh…… really?"
"What's with that look, Ashton? Did I say something weird?"
Kaito tilted his head while wiping away sweat, making Ren realize he had reacted strangely. He had several thoughts regarding the name of the city, Crushera.
"No, nothing like that. It's just, I thought the Seven Great Archduke Families would be busy with the Demon King Cult lately……"
"Well, yeah…… it’s right after the Windea incident, and I was considering going to Nemu’s manor for work like we planned, but..."
That was the exact answer Ren had envisioned. It had become more difficult lately to recall the details of The Legend of the Seven Heroes, partly because Ren had only completed the second game once.
However, he had organized his thoughts on the matter several times. In his memories, he didn't recall Vane and the others participating in a festival during this period. They were supposed to have been fighting a Priest of the Demon King Cult in the Altia Territory, which bordered the frontier.
"But you know, that's partly thanks to you, Ashton."
"Eh? Did I do something for you, Upperclassman Leonard?"
"You've been cooperating with His Highness the Third Prince to investigate the Demon King Cult and take pre-emptive strikes. My father mentioned that thanks to that, we’ve been able to move more flexibly."
(——I see.)
During the Orphide incident, Leomel's military forces had been active across the country. That had prevented suspicious movements in different areas and led to a reduction in the Demon King Cult's overall strength.
……That's why it's Crushera instead of the Altia Territory.
……I'm pretty sure that was an important city you were supposed to visit in the third game.
……I think it was mentioned in the second game that there were likely many places to explore there.
There was no doubt it was an important city, but calling it just that didn't do it justice. In Leomel's long history, it had served as a stronghold protecting the borders. Since the disappearance of the Demon King's Army, its scenic beauty had attracted people, and it had spread its name both domestically and abroad as a hub for trade. Boasting a long history, it was a land where ancient temples also stood side-by-side.
Once Ren had digested that information, he continued.
"You know about the Night of Prayers too, right, Upperclassman?"
"A little. Only that it was originally called the Post-War Festival."
"Don't worry. I'm pretty much in the same boat!"
"Wait, really…… I was hoping you’d explain it to me……"
Just as Ren muttered that and Kaito laughed, Mirei appeared, dressed in her professional suit, as they were walking near the library. Catching sight of her, Ren called out in a voice louder than usual. "Mirei-san."
"Nya?"
Once she noticed them, Ren walked over to Mirei with Kaito.
"Is the morning exam over, nya?"
"Yes. And I was hoping you could tell me something."
"Mm-hmm. Leave it to Mirei——wait, is that Lord Leonard next to you, nya?"
"It's been a while. I believe I greeted you at the castle party with Count Archeise."
"That's right, nya. Well, I've seen Lord Leonard groaning in the library a few times myself, nya."
"Haha…… I went out of my way to give a formal greeting for once, so please spare me from that……"
After the two exchanged brief greetings, Ren spoke.
"I wanted to know about the Night of Prayers."
"Nya? I felt like you would already know about that, Ren-dono."
"I only know the basics. For instance, that it used to be called the Post-War Festival."
"In that case," Mirei said, her cat ears twitching. "The reason the Night of Prayers was called the Post-War Festival goes back to the era of the Seven Heroes, nya. The name was changed because of how the festival came to be celebrated——"
The day established as the Post-War Festival is said to be the day the war on the Elfen Continent concluded. In this continent where the great powers stood together, related treaties were signed in various places. This gave the people across the continent, including the land where the Medil Dukedom once stood, a premonition of a new era.
On the night the treaties were signed, the end of the war was celebrated throughout Leomel. Among those places, it is said that in Crushera, a night where prayers were offered every year was established under the name of the Post-War Festival. It was because the most beautiful starry nights occurred there, and the Lion King offered prayers to the stars.
"Since then, Crushera has also come to be called the Land Where the Stars Sing, nya."
It was an ancient city located in southern Leomel and a summer resort that attracted many people. It was a city that blended historical atmosphere with modern architecture. A vast lake, as beautiful and clear as the sea, lay at the center of the city. The giant bridge spanning it was the city's symbol.
"Summer break is coming up, so why don't you go there yourself, Ren-dono, nya?"
"For the Night of Prayers?"
Mirei nodded with a "nya," but she wasn't recommending it solely for the reason Ren had mentioned.
"Going for sightseeing isn't bad either, nya. Aside from that, what I want to say is something else——"