Editing Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume10 Chapter4 (section)

===Part 3===

Chew chew. Chew chew.

The young girl dressed as a priestess was enjoying the pancakes.

On top of her hair which resembled the color of shimmering water, two antennae of hair stood upright adorably.

This girl was the spirit who had helped Rinslet.

She was definitely a powerful spirit but one could not get that impression from her at all. In a certain sense, she was an even more carefree spirit than Est.

"Please eat as much as you'd like. I've got plenty of ingredients."

Rinslet smiled as she kept tossing the frying pan.

"Thank you. Your snacks are really tasty."

The spirit girl smiled as she handed the dish over to Rinslet.

Having two younger sisters, Rinslet was especially adept at taking care of young girls. However, since this girl was a spirit, she should be actually much older than Kamito and the rest.

Suddenly Kamito's eyes met with the girl spirit.

But she immediately averted eye contact.

She seemed to be quite wary of everyone apart from Rinslet, especially Kamito.

...Oh well, I guess it's because our first encounter happened in such a terrible manner.

"By the way, Princess Maiden of Ice."

The girl paused her hand that was holding a pancake and asked Rinslet.

"Why have you returned here?"

Rinslet placed the frying pan aside and instantly sat up properly.

"Miss Spirit, in truth, I have a request to make of you."

"A request?"

The girl spirit tilted her head slightly.

"Yes. Could you please show us the way through this underground maze?"

Rinslet explained their situation to the girl.

Hearing that&mdash;

"Of course. After all, I was able to enjoy these tasty pancakes."

With honey still smeared around her mouth, the girl nodded.

"Please accept my utmost gratitude."

Rinslet bowed her head very politely.

Although many high level spirits were quite hard to please, this girl acted like a forthright and obedient child.

"Speaking of where the leylines are the most concentrated in this abandoned city, it should be&mdash;the Lost Cathedral."

"...Lost Cathedral?"

"The oldest sacrificial altar in the abandoned city. It was mentioned in the research materials Milla gathered."

Fianna clapped her hands together and said.

"Right, it was the headquarters of the faction opposing the Elemental Lords during the Spirit War in the past&mdash;"

The girl spirit nodded with a meek expression.

"You're quite knowledgeable of this place's history... But didn't you say you lost your memory?"

Kamito asked.

"I have been imprisoned here for almost three years. It's been so boring all this time so I have spent the time reading the history carved on these walls of the maze."

The girl spirit displayed an expression of despair.

"Miss Spirit, regarding this matter..."

Rinslet began to speak slowly at this time.

"Regarding the seal placed upon you, perhaps there might be a way to lift it."

"...Really!?"

The girl spirit widened her crystal-clear eyes.

"Yes. Princess, Your Highness&mdash;"

Urged by Rinslet, Fianna stepped forward.

"My name is Fianna Ray Ordesia, the second princess of the Ordesia Empire. I wish to offer the best of my humble efforts to attempt releasing the seal that binds you."

Fianna announced her name and title to the high level spirit with proper etiquette.

"..."

The girl looked at Rinslet with a troubled expression.

This spirit was really shy.

"Don't worry. Her Highness the princess is my friend."

"Rinslet's friend...?"

"Yes."

"..."

The girl spirit stared straight at Fianna&mdash;

"...I understand. I believe you."

Finally, she nodded as if resolving herself to some decision.

"In that case, may I be privy to your true name?"

"My true name..."

The girl spirit hesitated in response to Fianna's inquiry.

Rinslet suddenly understood.

"The seal placed upon you is very likely one that has a fixed and specified target. If we don't know your true name, it is impossible to release the seal."

"..."

The girl spirit remained silent for a while&mdash;

"...She is Rinslet's friend, is that so?"

Then turned towards Rinslet again.

"Yes, that is correct."

"Then I shall inform you expressly. My name is Iseria&mdash;Iseria Seaward."

"...Iseria Seaward?"

Fianna's dusk-colored eyes widened.

Kamito and Ellis could not help but exchange glances.

Because, that name was&mdash;

&mdash;Throb.

Suddenly, Kamito felt his head hurt.

(...That pain again.)

&mdash;Throb. Throb. Throb. Throb.

(...What on earth is going on? As soon as I heard ''that name'', why&mdash;)

Gritting his teeth, Kamito tried to hide his pain.

Luckily, no one noticed his unusual behavior.

Everyone else's attention had been grabbed by the name the girl spoke.

"That is&mdash;"

Fianna swallowed.

"&mdash;''The name of the Water Elemental Lord'', right?"

"..."

Instantly, everyone fell into silence.

One of the Five Great Elemental Lords. The Water Elemental Lord&mdash;Iseria Seaward.

Her personification was generally regarded as a woman carrying a water pitcher.

Why would this girl spirit utter this name&mdash;

Her serious expression did not seem like she was joking.

"Indeed it is the name of the Water Elemental Lord. I found that out on the walls in this place."

The girl finally spoke amidst the tense atmosphere.

"&mdash;However, back when I first woke up in this abandoned city's underground, this was the only name I could remember."

The girl spirit bowed her head, a little disappointed.

Fianna responded with a "Oh, I get it now" expression:

"Perhaps you are kin to the water spirits?"

"Yes, that should be right, I feel solace whenever I am near water."

"The kin of water spirits have intimate ties to the Water Elemental Lord. It's not that surprising for the name Iseria Seaward to be present in your memories."

"Other than that, I have nothing that can identify myself. To someone who has absolutely nothing, this name is my cherished treasure."

The girl spirit nodded.

"&mdash;Hence, that is why I answered with the name of Iseria Seaward."

"...I see."

Rinslet gently placed her hand on the girl's shoulder.

"So, what else can you remember?"

Kamito asked after his headache finally subsided.

"All I know is the history depicted on these walls."

"...Hmm, this might be a bit tricky."

Fianna rested her chin on her hand as she worried.

"After all, you must recall your true name in order to release the seal."

"...I ...see."

Iseria slumped her shoulders in disappointment.

"Wait a minute, Your Highness the imperial princess."

As Rinslet glared at her, Fianna frantically waved her hands and clarified.

"H-However, I will surely do my best to help. If I do some research in the Divine Ritual Institute's Biblion, perhaps I may find methods for memory recovery. Although it might take some time, if you don't mind waiting until the current Blade Dance finishes&mdash;"

"Don't worry. I am already used to waiting... Thank you."

Iseria looked up and displayed a sincere smile.

Then she turned around and tugged Rinslet's sleeve.

"Very well, let's go. I will take you all to the Lost Cathedral."