Just let me Rest.

With a swift thrust, Ramona lodged the sceptre back inside the altar; the stone around it cracked but didn't break, showing just how sturdy it was despite being halfway shattered.

Exhaling a cloud of thin smoke, she turned to Valentine, who was lying on the floor half-conscious.

His eyes barely stayed open throughout the ceremony as his eye bags grew and darkened even further.

Stepping over his body, she crouched down next to his face, poking him with a finger like a dead animal on the side of the road.

"I'm surprised you didn't fall asleep yet, though; it seems you're already reaching your limit."

She sounded genuinely surprised, but unlike him, she had no signs of being tired; it was as if she had gotten energized instead.

Valentine slowly blinked with his heavy eyes, turning his face toward Ramona and snickering.

"Don't touch me..."

"How sensitive."

Sighing to herself, she stood up and walked off to somewhere, disappearing behind the newly formed shadows.

Valentine waited alone for a minute or two before also trying to push himself weakly, his hands fumbling behind his back and struggling to hold up his own weight.

Now I remember why I never went to church after finishing school...

Sitting still for hours and listening to endless prayers of a religion he never knew, in a language he had yet to learn, and with traditions completely unfamiliar to him was a nightmare, maybe worse than getting swallowed by the shadow anglerfish and almost dying inside of its belly.

His legs felt numb as well, since over half of the time he had to kneel and lower his head while Ramona placed her scepter on him.

Overall, it was such a strange and bizarre experience that he'd had enough of it for a couple of lifetimes.

At least it wasn't as useless as I imagined.

Raising his palm to his face, Valentine focused on his skin for a moment. It blurred in his eyes before turning into a flurry of white sparks.

Those sparks replaced his skin, but only visually.

He didn't feel any connection to them, only a shell made of lingering sparks that replaced his human form for a brief moment.

As fresh wind washed across his face, his eyes flickered, the sparks around him dispersing and disappearing as if they had never been there.

I guess I don't need to learn how to control it.

Noah called it the vision of someone blessed; it seemed that now, thanks to finishing his ceremony, he could consciously turn it on and off, which in itself is way more useful than before. Just looking at people covered in sparks already hurt his eyes, but to live with this until he dies? That's a hard pass.

He might as well go blind before that happens, wasting his new power and becoming a useless cripple.

Valentine tried to stand up once again, but because he had no strength left, he could only slip on his palm and fall on his side, grunting and cursing, which became quite a routine for him.

While he was lying on the floor, rolling, crawling, and trying to move on his numb feet, the distinct sound of heavy footsteps came from behind him, making him turn on his back and greet a familiar, annoying face.

His inky, navy hair swayed above his shoulders while his scarlet gaze seemed clearer and softer.

With a sour look, he snickered.

"What are you doing here? Didn't you already finish your job of guiding me here?"

The knight smiled awkwardly at his sudden outburst, though it didn't seem to surprise him.

"Well... I am indeed finished with it."

Noah remarked with a chuckle as he looked around and sat down on the steps toward the altar. His heavy armour was gone, but the sword remained hanging at his waist over his casual clothes: a long white sweater, pitch-black jeans, and... slippers?

It was strange to see him wearing something like this and carrying a whole sword along with him, but who was he to judge? Knights have their own priorities.

Valentine's eyes suddenly widened in pale horror.

Wait, No, No, No, NO!

"Does this mean you're?!"

He didn't dare to jinx it, swallowing his scream and turning it into an internal monologue of how his life would be ruined if he stayed by Noah's side.

Noah looked Val over, noticing a change in his physique. His smile grew.

"I was just watching the ceremony in my spare time; it's quite rare to be allowed to witness, let alone participate in it."

Phew~

Valentine sighed in relief, almost thinking that the knight would stay with him for way longer than he thought.

He didn't want to imagine seeing his face every single day, as the innocent look he gave him could not hide what he'd done to him the evening they met.

Ugh, I still have chills... not that I couldn't beat the crap out of him.

Spreading out his legs comfortably on the stone steps, Noah stole a glance at Valentine's eyes before turning to the ceiling where the sun was peeking from the corner, lighting up the previously dark chapel with warm colors of lime and lemon.

"It seems you finally understood why I brought you here."

"I'm assuming it was for you to watch me suffer?"

"Hm..."

Noah let out a distant hum, taking in the fresh morning air pouring from outside.

Why aren't you denying it?

Valentine watched him think of an answer for a moment, gritting his teeth as the knight's smile returned to his face and was sent his way.

"Was it really that bad?"

He asked while leaning back, placing his hands over his head.

"You'll need to get used to ceremonies and prayers since you entered the world of Ignis, willingly or not. You earned that power, and I have to help you control it."

...Ignis?

Valentine sent him a dubious glare.

"You?"

The knight's eyes widened briefly as he feigned a cough and corrected himself.

"We have to help you, the Sky Rose Knights and veterans like Miss Ramona or Scarlet Dusk."

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...Ah... And I have no Idea who those guys are. That's cool, great even.

Despite his thoughts, he was a little happy about having someone to rely on. The knights were not something he expected to see in his life; he'd only ever heard about them from his history teachers.

They were known throughout history for their chivalrous lifestyle and loyalty toward their kings, living by their side and protecting the country from any invaders.

Maybe I could join them.

But it was a far-fetched thought, not worth considering even for a moment.

What he also knew about knights was that they were all about honour and glory, their lives were full of discipline and with little to no private life, Valentine was surprised by seeing Noah in casual clothes but that was it, there could have always been more to it that he didn't know so even on the edge of falling asleep, he stayed on guard for any trickery prepared to use him in any way.

Noah looked at Valentine with a curious look, as if waiting for the boy to say something, but seeing him in thought with such a serious face only brought an even brighter smile to his face.

People sure do love smiling here, huh.

"Aren't you going to ask me who the Sky Rose Knight's and Crimson Dusk are?"

"No thanks."

The answer was immediate as Valentine waved him off and rubbed his drowsy eyes, his voice escaping mid-sigh.

"I've got enough to worry about already; I don't need to know about others' problems..." He yawned, tears piling up at the corners of his eyes. "I can't even think about anything anymore... How do you even manage to stay up for so long? Are knights really human?"

A soft chuckle came from him, sounding like a flock of jays flying off into the distance.

"Of course we are; everyone has to take a breather from their work once in a while. Why do you think I'm not wearing my armour?" He patted his chest casually. "Since the ceremony is over, we have a week of rest before the Sky Rose Knights set out on their next mission, which means that until then, I can do anything I want here."

He flashed Val a smug grin before continuing.

"Aren't you glad I'm by your side? A knight who knows anything you might need—!"

"You don't have any friends or something?"

Noah's smile froze along with his prideful expression, his face turning a single shade brighter to match his deep eyes.

"I..."

"YOU DON'T?"

Valentine screamed over his answer with joy, his loud tone made the knight jump in surprise and snap towards him in panic.

"Of course I do! You met them as well!" He narrowed his gaze. "Wait... don't tell me you forgot it too?!"

Valentine's grin shattered into pieces, his excitement dying down in his throat.

"You're such an asshole..." He snickered before trying to push himself up again, but failing and bumping his head against the floor a second later, a yelp leaving him.

A hand appeared within his view, outstretched before his eyes with its fingers extended toward him.

The owner of it... Well, it was obvious who it belonged to.

Damn it.

The knight's arm was pushed to the side as the area was filled with grunts and moans of an old, dying animal with a sore throat. Noah took his hand back and looked away out of pity, only listening as Valentine slowly made his way up the steps and sloppily sat at his side, not too close or too far.

He briefly looked around the empty chapel, which seemed emptier with the lack of shadows littering the entire floor.

It seemed ancient, abandoned, and unkempt, but who cares? Not him. And definitely not Ramona.

Believing stereotypes like this, what am I? A boomer?

"What are you thinking so hard about?"

Noah asked from the side, not sparing him a glance.

Valentine bit his lip weakly, trying to ignore him.

But the strange sensation was coming back, the feeling of... desire to share it with him.

Hesitantly, he glanced at the knight, his voice quiet but audible.

"Am I really going to have to live here from now on?"

He turned his head to the knight, but this time, Noah didn't seem to have an answer to his question, instead choosing to ask one of his own.

"Well, do people really have a choice in that matter?"

"...What are you talking about?"

Noah closed his eyes, taking a long breath and exhaling.

"If everyone could choose where they had to live, what would be the point of having a home?"

"There is no place perfect for anyone, and that's why they want to go higher and live greater, but would it really be their true place to live in?"

"You could have come from the countryside and climbed your way to the top, going to kingdoms and living lavish lifestyles that are hundreds of times more comfortable than you've ever had. Yet it still wouldn't be a place you want to stay in, because... you can never truly feel...at peace."

He turned toward Valentine, opening his ruby eyes that glistened like two perfect gems over the finest jewelry.

"Of course, this chapel might not be the flashiest there is, but it's still a place of great importance."

"Maybe when you finally remember what you've lost, you will realise the true value of what you're given."

Slowly standing up from the steps, he looked up and noticed Ramona walking toward them, holding a folded piece of cloth and a pillow on top of it. Her footsteps completely silent.

"I might have bored him to sleep." Noah scratched the side of his cheek with an apologetic look as Ramona walked up toward Valentine and threw the cloth over his limp body, sliding the pillow under his head as well.

She turned toward Noah with a pleased expression, waving her hand.

"Oh, don't worry; looking at his attitude, I'm sure he's going to fall asleep many more times to your tasteless monologues."

"I doubt that... As you heard, the knights are going to set out in a week; I don't think that's enough for him to grow fond of me to hear it without attempting to flee."

Ramona stepped away from the sleeping boy, gazing at Noah closely before replying.

"For someone who's trying to give life lessons, you don't seem very bright, do you?"

"What—"

"Now go off you. I can't have you loitering around here without her permission."

She sent him a sharp look.

"I only let you stay because of your reputation. What would that wretch do if she knew you came to visit this place?"

The boy seemed to want to say something, but before he could, a quiet melody manifested around them like a lullaby, pushing his body with unseen force and closing the door right behind him with a silent clap.

As it became quiet, only the sound of rough breathing came from Valentine, sprawled over the steps toward the altar.

Ramona slowly turned toward him, taking careful steps toward the altar.

She sat where Noah had been seconds ago, taking a slow breath.

"You better be asleep, because when you wake up, we're going to have some work to do."