Editing Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume2 Chapter6 Draft (section)

===Part 4===

During that time, Kamito and Fianna had gone deep into the «Spirit Forest».

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At night, the area was enshrouded in darkness with nasty spirits creeping about, but during the day, it gave off the same feeling as a sacred shrine. Such was the «Spirit Forest»: a place full of contradictions.

(That reminds me, I met Claire here...)

...That was, in many ways, the worst kind of meeting, though.

“Just the two of us walking in the woods, it's like a date."

"This isn't a place suited for a date. There are too many invisible spirits lurking around.”

"It's fine. If I had to describe myself, I would say that I am the type that gets fired up from being seen."

"...Wh... Pr-Princesses don't say such a thing!"

"It's a joke. What are you getting red for?"

During this conversation, the two of them emerged into a clearing in the middle of the forest.

He didn't have to worry about anyone hearing their discussion.

"Well then, I have one thing I want to ask—"

"My underwear is black."

"Don't rush and answer the question without even hearing it. And that’s not what I wanted to ask you about."

Kamito deadpanned. It was not good for him to be dragged into the princess's pace.

"Ahem", he coughed and gazed straight into Fianna's eyes—

"Why do you know my true identity?"

"..."

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There were a few seconds of silence.

And then, she calmly sighed.

The princess was unable to hide the disappointment that surfaced on her face.

"...Hey, you really can’t remember?"

"Sorry, but I don't have a princess acquaintance."

Fianna sighed again at Kamito's reply.

She puffed her cheeks, rather than being shocked, she felt anger rising inside her.

"First hint, do you remember anything when you look at this forest?"

"The forest?"

"Yes, «Astral Zero's» forest."

Astral Zero... There was something stuck in Kamito's mind.

"Second hint, the «Blade Dance»"

"Do you mean the one three years ago? ...Don't tell me, you were my opponent!?"

"Third hint, the hair style!"

Shouting in an irritated voice, Fianna tied up her hair with both hands.

She wore her beautiful black hair on both sides now and that face—

"Ah!"

Kamito suddenly shouted.

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"...I-I remember!"

Three years ago, in the Astral Zero forest, he saved a girl from an evil spirit.

And at that time he wasn’t wearing his wig or female clothing.

"The girl from that day was you!"

"...Yes, jeez."

Fianna pouted in irritation.

"Err, but you changed so much..."

Kamito told her vaguely. It was not that he remembered it that vividly, but she was just a kid at that time.

"What, Kamito-kun, you too have changed pretty much."

"Different things happened."

Kamito awkwardly looked away.

Unconsciously his eyes drifted to his left hand covered by a leather glove.

—Three years ago was when just about everything changed.
And he lost her after wishing for something that nobody should ever wish for.

"Despite promising to meet again, despite me waiting all this time. You disappeared."

"...Sorry."

Kamito apologized sincerely.

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Fianna placed her hands on her waist, and sighed in disappointment.

"It's fine, I'll forgive you. I'm offended that you completely forgot about me, but well, I am not really surprised. For you, I was just a girl you saved by chance."

"But hey—", she muttered sadly.

Suddenly, she gently pressed her soft fingers against his lips.

"You're really my first love."

"Wh...!?"

"It's a joke."

"...Wh-Why you."

She giggled seeing Kamito’s glare.

"So, you're the girl from that time..."

But, even if that was the case—

Why on earth did she approach Kamito? That was still unclear.

"Fianna, why did you come to this academy?"

"Of course, it was to kiss my beloved Kamito-kun."

"...Don't you feel embarrassed saying that?"

"Y-Yes... just now, it was a little embarrassing."

Fianna turned red and looked downwards. ...Well, she still planned to do it.<!-- ......じゃあやるなよ。-->

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"I came here because I heard about Kamito-kun."

"Really?"

"Yeah, a few days ago, my butler told me about you. He said that there was a male elementalist, who defeated a rampaging militarized spirit. After an investigation I learned your name—"

"The one I gave you three years ago."

"That's it. Although, I already knew that it was you from the fact you are a male elementalist."

"Then, why did you come to meet me?"

"Th-That's to kiss with Kamito-kun—"

"That's enough."

Kamito interrupted her and Fianna sulked a little in silence.

Then, she stated calmly. 

"I thought of threatening you with your secret and forcing you to let me join your team."

"What do you mean?"

"I thought that if I was on a team with the {{Furigana|Strongest Blade Dancer|Ren Ashbell|margin=13}}, I could win this time's competition."

"...I see. That means that seducing me was also part of your plan?"

"Err... I-I got exposed."

"Your acting was too unnatural. Well, I think you did your best."

At any rate, she was a real princess and her inexperience in that matter showed, Fianna was also a student at the famous «Divine Ritual Institute», so, in some ways she was more innocent than ojou-samas at this academy.

"But don't misunderstand me! T-the things I’ve done, I've only done with you, Kamito-kun!"

"No, such a follow-up is troubling..."

Kamito moaned before sighing.

"Why do you want to participate in the «Blade Dance» anyway?"

"That's..."

Fianna made a perplexed expression—

"Isn't it obvious? If I win the Blade Dance, I'll have all the status and honor I desire. Everyone, who was ridiculing me —The Lost Queen, the useless princess— will have to recognize me."

"...I see."

—Kamito thought that was a lie. 
Her expression… he saw it once on Claire's face. This girl had a goal and she was going to reach it no matter what.

Without an important reason, she wouldn’t be able to have this look in her eyes.

"Hey, Kamito-kun. Are you angry?"

"Hn, why?"

"Well, I'm trying to use you."

Kamito shrugged, this princess tended to become serious at strange times.

"It's nothing unusual, Greyworth always uses me. On top of that, Claire gives me the slave treatment. Even if the number of such people increases by one or two, it won’t make any difference."

"It seems that even the {{Furigana|Strongest Blade Dancer|Ren Ashbell|margin=13}} has it hard sometimes."

Fianna smiled bitterly. 

"You guys, what are you doing there?!"

The thicket rustled as a cold voice asked them.

He turned around and a familiar girl appeared from the other side of the bush.

"Ellis?"

"...Oh, it's Kamito."

Ellis took a breath of relief and sheathed her sword. Then, she pushed through the thicket and walked in his direction.

Rakka and Reishia followed closely behind her.

"Ellis, what's the matter? Why are you in the middle of the forest?"

"I should be asking you that. The knights are busy cleaning the mess the intruder left, so I wanted ask you to keep it down and not give us more work to do.”

Then Ellis noticed Fianna, who stood behind Kamito.

Her expression immediately turned stern.

"Y-You guys, what are you doing alone at a place like this!"

Before Kamito had a chance to reply, a sword was pressed to his throat.

...As always, the speed with which she drew her weapon was amazing.

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"No way, you guys—"

"How stupid, there is only one thing a boy and a girl of our age can do in the middle of the forest."

"Wh-What was that!?"

Ellis blushed harder at Fianna's words.

The sword jerked slightly in her hand.

"Oi, Fianna!?"

Kamito shouted, but Fianna feigned ignorance.

"Th-The academy doesn't have a rule that prohibits sexual relationships. But there were no male students here before. So, even if the rules allow it, the Knights won't! What were you doing, say it!"

"Well, what did we do? Maybe we did what you think we did? "

The princess pressed her breasts tightly into Kamito's arm.

Ellis got a dangerous look in her eyes.

"Fianna, why are your words always so easy to misunderstand, you know you are only pouring oil into the fire!?"

"Ev-Even though I'd gotten a slightly better opinion of you..., you insolent person!"

She swung her sword.

Kamito nervously jumped back to avoid that merciless attack.

"Wa-Wait, Ellis! Knights, please help me, there's a murderous demon here!"

"You fool, I '''am''' a Knight!"

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"Don’t you see the irony?!"

Kamito shouted.

"Captain, you're wasting your time."

Rakka placed her hand on Ellis's shoulder.

"My apologies, whenever our captain is with you, she gets emotionally unstable."

"...Th-That's not true!"

Ellis's face turned bright red and she snarled at Reishia, who just chuckled in response.

It seemed that for the time being the danger to his life subsided. Kamito took a breath of relief.

"Jeez, why are you here anyway?"

"Ah, it has been decided that we are departing to a mine for a quest. We needed light sources to travel inside the tunnels, so we thought about capturing light attribute spirits."

The one who answered him was Rakka.

That's right. They were holding lanterns containing small spirit crystals in their hands.

"A mine? Is it, by any chance, the same one we are supposed to investigate?"

"Ah, that's right. Although, we have a different quest."

"What do you mean?"

"It appeared only this morning. The task is to arrest the assailant and recover the stolen materials."

"The assailant? That Jio Inzagi brat!"

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The male elementalist, who used several contracted spirits.

He seemed to know something about that boy's goal.

"That's right. We haven't gotten hold of the brat's true identity, but the stolen materials contained highly classified information about the strategic-class militarized spirit, «Jormungandr», sealed in the postwar period in the Gado town. It seems that there are people secretly moving at the outskirts of it."

Ellis held her temper, thought she seemed vexed.

"That brat stepped on our pride and because of him the Sylphid Knights lost their face. So it is my duty as their Captain to arrest him and restore the honor of my comrades.”

Rakka and Reishia confidently nodded, agreeing with Ellis's words.

(...Seems like it won't end as an ordinary earthquake investigation.)

An uneasy thought passed through Kamito's mind.

First, the classified material concerning a strategic-class militarized spirit. 

And now, the assailant, who was aware of Kamito's true identity.

(Is Greyworth hiding something again?)

He honestly did not understand what that Dusk Witch was making him do. No matter how Kamito looked at it, for her to give him a S rank quest at this time… It could not be a coincidence.

(That witch...)

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Kamito groaned loathsomely.

After that, he faced the Knights—

"...Hey, Ellis. Since our goals are the same, why don't you cooperate with us?"

Jio Inzagi wasn't a simple opponent.

Of course, Kamito knew about Ellis's ability, but that guy wasn't an enemy she could deal with alone.

But the girl just confidently shook her head.

"I appreciate your feelings, but can't accept your help. This is something Sylphid Knights should settle on their own."

"If you think so, still, try not to overdo it."

"A-Ah... you too."

Ellis blushed and turned away.

For some reason, Fianna pouted after seeing it.