Imenia’s summer had passed.
Perhaps because it had been unusually hot, it had been a summer in which far too much had happened.
A summer in which they had to send off many people, and had wept many tears.
Even though autumn had come at last, those memories, so exceptionally scorching, would never be forgotten.
A cool wind was blowing, but it would still take a great deal of time for the burns upon their hearts to become scars.
And yet, even so, it was autumn.
The fierce summer had ended, and the crisp autumn had arrived.
The landscaping of Imenia Academy was famed for its beauty.
Spring and autumn, in particular, were so beautiful that the scenery now could be called nothing short of magnificent.
The leaves, dyed in all manner of colors, were divided by building and faculty, as though painted like a picture.
Autumn flowers bloomed in full on both sides of the streets where fallen leaves had settled in soft piles, bringing smiles to the lips of those who walked by.
Claire left the dormitory wearing an old leather coat over Imenia’s distinctive, airy school uniform.
Beneath a clear sky without a single cloud.
The grounds were crowded with countless students who had come out to breathe in the cool autumn air and enjoy it.
Yet even among so many people, it was hard to find anyone dressed like Claire.
After all, most of them were nobles from various countries or children of wealthy families.
There were occasionally commoners who had entered on someone’s recommendation, like Claire, but the academy itself provided support, and most of them also had noble patrons, so they received plenty of help with their attire as well.
For that reason, Claire, who wore only an old coat over the school uniform that even students rarely wore, stood out quite a bit in another sense. Yet not a single person pointed it out or sneered at her.
It was because Claire had become so famous in Imenia that there was no one who did not know her.
Her brilliant red hair and beauty that bloomed more by the day.
Her overwhelming talent, which drew the attention of every professor.
Her ability, which had, in just one year, come to stand shoulder to shoulder with the graduating class, had helped more than a few people.
Claire’s flames, which had shone during the Black Fang’s attack and the Abyss monster attack, had inspired many students.
And so, there were many kinds of gazes directed at Claire.
Affection, or young crushes.
Admiration and envy.
A little jealousy and resentment.
As such a Claire, she was hounded by countless scandals and countless people almost every day, but her attitude remained unchanged.
Because she had no room to spare in her heart.
And for that reason, those who stayed by her side were always the same.
“Ravena.”
Ravena, who had been blankly looking up at the memorial, sensed Claire’s presence and turned her head.
“Claire!”
Beneath her yellow hair glittering in the sunlight, Ravena smiled brightly.
As if it were only natural, Roland was beside her.
“Hmph, you certainly took your time coming out. Lazy Claire.”
“I’m not late. You came out early.”
“Now, now, don’t fight. Let’s hurry and go!”
With Ravena taking the lead, arms linked with Roland and Claire on either side, the three of them passed by the memorial covered in bouquets and began heading toward the faculty building.
It was because none other than Sirbert had summoned them.
Sirbert, who had canceled all his lectures and had been difficult to even catch sight of since the incident two months ago, now named the Gate Break, had called for them.
The one happiest to hear the news was, as expected, Roland.
“I told you, pretend to be sick and sit this one out so I can have a counseling session with him alone.”
“……How could we do that? The professor called all three of us.”
“Hmph. You’re never any help.”
The continental crisis that had begun to be known recently.
The horrific monsters pouring out through black Gates.
While nothing had yet been revealed in detail and countless speculations were circulating, the news that Sirbert had participated as a member of the expedition had only deepened Roland’s admiration and affection for him.
That was why she had woken up at the crack of dawn, spent hours dressing herself up, and even come out first to wait.
Roland’s gaze swept Claire up and down.
“What are you wearing to meet the professor? I really can’t stand it anymore. Since there’s no helping it, I’ll send you a few outfits by tomorrow……”
“No thanks.”
“……It’s not as if anyone will recognize you for doing that. Foolish Claire.”
“I’m doing it because I need to. Thanks for caring.”
“Th-th-th-thanks for what? Your beggar-like appearance is so pathetic that I can’t even walk around with my head held high……”
Leaving Roland to flounder in embarrassment, her face flushed red, Claire looked down at her own clothes.
The school uniform and worn-out clothes she always insisted on wearing were to keep her mind firm.
A resolution to steady her heart, not grow complacent, and advance without rest.
If the goal of her life had not changed, perhaps she too would have dressed herself prettily like so many other students, smelled the scent of the autumn flowers, and enjoyed a little leisure.
Hadn’t her original goal been to climb high enough that wicked people could not harm her—no, high enough that she could instead control them?
After all, having entered Imenia meant that as long as she graduated, a position of that level would be guaranteed.
But at some point, her goal had changed.
She did not know when.
Nor did she know what had become the turning point, but her heart had become filled with one person, and she could no longer think of any goal besides him.
Because it was such a high and distant goal, she had no choice but to do even this.
If she moved the same way as everyone else, she would never be able to stand by his side.
“Anyway, why did the professor call us? I heard he’s been incredibly busy lately.”
“Right. Because of those black Gates, wasn’t he working with the Empire to make some kind of alliance? Or something like that?”
Rumors traveled fast.
Especially major issues related to the Empire often began in the capital, and the academy was also affected by that, so rumors spread quickly.
“Some say the continued appearance of black Gates is an unprecedented crisis for the continent…… Anyway, it’s scary.”
“Cowardly Ravena. Professor Sirbert will stop them like he did this time anyway, so what are you worried about?”
And within those rumors, the one who occupied the greatest share was a single person.
“The professor is amazing too, of course, but he still can’t compare to the Saint of Black Wings, right? Isn’t that so, Claire?”
The Saint of Black Wings.
Or the Apostle of the Goddess.
Ravena, who knew very well who those titles referred to, poked Claire and asked playfully.
“……I don’t know.”
Claire’s face reddened slightly as she pretended not to know and turned her head away.
“I heard he’s personally traveling through the damaged regions and performing the miracles of the goddess. Someone like that exists in this world! And he’s acquainted with me, and close with Claire! I still can’t believe it!”
“……I told you, it’s not like that.”
The Saint of Black Wings, the Apostle of the Goddess.
They sounded like truly absurd rumors, but because she had seen the miracles he had performed, seen that power, more than once, she had no choice but to believe them.
He had become so famous that there was now no one who did not know him.
The emperor’s guardian knight, Hio Pavlenko.
Every single rumor heard about him was enough to astonish the world.
In the Holy Kingdom of Hiberunia, they said he had defeated an evil dragon that appeared like a calamity.
A legendary dragon of the kind that appeared only in fairy tales.
It could not simply be dismissed as a baseless rumor, because there had been too many witnesses who saw a dragon as enormous as a castle flying through the sky.
As if that were not enough, the goddess had personally manifested and appointed him as her apostle.
There was even a quiet rumor that the black Gate that had disappeared this time had also been dealt with by Hio Pavlenko alone.
That he had spread black wings and gathered up all the evil monsters.
Of course, not all of it could be true.
Since they were rumors, there must have been plenty of exaggeration mixed in, but just what on earth was he going around doing?
How much more did she have to know, and how much harder did she have to work, to see the same things as him and stand beside him?
Because it was such an impossibly distant goal, Claire instead kindled the fire in her heart all the more.
She used it as fuel, vowing that she would climb higher and higher until she could reach him.
With that resolve, she moved forward.
* * *
After arriving at the main building where the faculty offices were, the three of them headed straight for Sirbert’s office.
They announced their arrival with a short knock, and permission was granted.
When they opened the door and entered, Sirbert looked the same as always.
His hair was neatly combed back, and he was dressed tidily.
Perhaps the recent rumors that he was busy were true, because fatigue seeped noticeably even from the motion of folding his glasses and setting them down.
“Yes, sit there.”
Sirbert gestured to the sofa in front and moved seats.
At the sight of him, Roland cautiously opened her mouth.
“Professor, if you are very tired, wouldn’t it be better to send Ravena and Claire back and speak with me separately?”
“……It is not to that extent. I’m fine, Roland.”
“Yes, Professor.”
Once even Roland, who spoke such boldly absurd words but moved shyly, had sat on the sofa, Sirbert got straight to the point.
“A good opportunity has come up, so I called the three of you here.”
“When you say a good opportunity……”
“It is, so to speak, a kind of practical training, but what makes it such a good opportunity is that the location is the imperial palace.”
“……The imperial palace? Are you saying we can really go to the imperial palace?”
Ravena was so surprised that she half rose from her seat.
Of course, Claire was no less surprised.
The imperial palace of the Empire was the place where the ruler of the continent reigned.
Was it not the center of all power and the place where great stars resided?
It was the very place that every student of the academy admired and wished above all else to go.
“Yes. It is an opportunity given to the academy’s outstanding talents. It has existed for a long time.”
“It already existed? This is the first I’ve heard of it.”
“Because its meaning became greatly distorted. Until just last year, it was only natural for the children of prestigious families to go, and it had hardened into a custom. But after the new emperor took power, perhaps everyone came to their senses, because the work is being handled properly…… At any rate, for that reason, I recommended you, and you will be assigned starting next week.”
“Gasp! Claire and Roland I can understand, but…… am I really going too?”
Claire’s ability did not fall behind at all even when compared to the graduating class right now.
Roland, too, was somewhat behind Claire, but she possessed more than enough outstanding talent.
But Ravena was only a little better than average.
Of course, even that much would count as one of the better talents on the continent as a whole, but within the academy, it was not especially remarkable.
To that, Sirbert answered as though it were nothing.
“Yes. All three of you.”
In truth, Ravena and Roland’s names had not been on the list of talents the imperial palace had compiled and requested.
However, Sirbert had included the two of them as well at his own discretion.
It was an action taken for Claire’s sake.
“Go without worrying. Don’t cause trouble there, and make sure you engrave in your hearts what you will look like when you work in the future, how your seniors are doing, and how hard the work is before you return.”
“Yes! Thank you so much! Professor!”
“Thank you, Professor.”
“I love you!”
“……Yes. Now, go on.”
Sirbert waved his hand with an expression full of fatigue, and Claire and the other two rose from their seats and bowed their heads.
Because this truly was an enormous opportunity.
Even in Imenia, where talented people were as numerous as stars, only a very small number entered the imperial palace.
“We’ll be going! We’ll work hard! Professor!”
After Ravena’s spirited farewell, the three of them turned to leave.
“Ah, Claire. You would do well to decide your future path before this winter passes.”
At Sirbert’s words, Claire’s steps came to an abrupt halt.
Decide her future path before the year was over.
Because the meaning of those words was clear, she turned back and looked at Sirbert.
“By that, you mean……?”
Sirbert gave a small nod.
“I cannot tell you the details, but the situation is not good. The Empire wants more talent. As soon as winter passes, you will be assigned to the imperial palace’s reserve corps.”
“The reserve corps……”
“They say a new institution is being established for young talents like you—those with outstanding ability but still lacking experience.”
It was the Empire’s intention to make outstanding people grow even faster and assign them as valuable manpower in times of emergency.
“Claire, even there, you will be overwhelmingly ahead. You will climb faster than anyone, so think carefully about your future.”
Claire’s ability grew astonishingly fast through real combat.
In just one year, she had gained skill comparable to the graduating class; in a few months, it was obvious she would surpass even them with ease.
Sirbert could say this with certainty because, at Hio’s request, he had personally brought Claire here, and for the past year he had watched her more closely than anyone.
Claire’s talent was the greatest of her generation.
No—historically speaking, she had been born with talent so rare it could be counted among the very best.
Yet even after hearing such words, Claire’s expression only hardened.
“If it’s the reserve corps, how long would I have to stay there?”
“Well… no matter how well you do, fundamentally, you’d need to spend at least three years there. If your abilities are recognized, you might be incorporated into another institution or unit and become a knight.”
“…Three years.”
That was long.
Even that estimate had been shortened in consideration of Claire’s talent, but it was still long.
How many incidents had broken out in just the span of a few months?
How many rumors had she heard?
There had been countless nights when, listening to those rumors, she had let her imagination run so wild that she could not sleep.
Just imagining herself at the scene of such rumors, standing beside Hio, made her heart pound so hard she could not fall asleep.
That was why she knew.
She knew just how high, how far away, that modest goal of standing beside him truly was.
As she had resolved before, if she thought and moved like everyone else, she would never reach that goal.
She would spend her entire life looking up at him from below.
And that was not like Claire.
“I don’t want to go to the reserve corps.”
So Claire looked straight into Sirbert’s eyes and spoke.
She knew it was unreasonable, but she also instinctively knew that if she did not do this, she would never reach him for the rest of her life.
Rather than begin at the very top from the lowest place,
she would begin at the very bottom from the highest place.
And if one spoke of the highest place, there was only one.
Thus, there was only one place Claire desired.
The highest place in this world.
The place where the brightest stars among stars gathered.
The strongest armed force on the continent.
“I want to join the Royal Knights.”
The strongest knight order on the continent, led by the great hero Vitalianus Mahel.
To become a member of the most honorable group one could belong to as a soldier in this world.
Saying she would enter that place meant saying she would step into the very heart of the Empire, that she would seize such honor and glory with her own hands.
Claire straightened her chest and looked at Sirbert with unwavering resolve.
Joining the strongest knight order on the continent.
And yet, even that was only the beginning.
Even that was nothing more than a beginning.
Only by reaching that point would her goal finally come into view.
And Sirbert, deeply moved by Claire’s attitude—
“…You think that’s possible?”
—could only let out a long sigh.