Editing Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume14 Chapter9 (section)

===Part 5===

Kamito was sprinting along a street, wet from the rain.

Every time he heard footsteps of approaching guards, he hid discreetly and observed the situation.

(...Fianna, where are you?)

He could not imagine her walking along the main road. However, if she were to take the criss-crossing alleys, the guards familiar with the terrain would quickly catch her too.

Perhaps she was headed to an area densely packed with noble residences to seek sanctuary. However, with all the anti-Arneus nobles arrested, would other nobles extend a helping hand to her in good faith, given how isolated she was at the palace to begin with?

&mdash;Suddenly, Kamito thought of something.

(&mdash;I remember it was mentioned that there are secret passages known only to royals.)

Perhaps she might use one of those.

(...If that's the case, there's nothing we can do.)

Naturally, it would be best if Fianna could escape to safety on her own&mdash;

At that moment...

&mdash;to... Kamito... -kun... Where, are, you...?

(...!?)

Suddenly, he heard a garbled voice in his mind.

Rather than Ellis' wind spirit, it was sounding directly in his head.

"Fianna, where are you!?"

Kamito stopped walking and could not help but yell.

However, there were no signs of Fianna in the surroundings.

(...Spirit magic for projecting thoughts?)

Kamito closed his eyes and focused his mind to listen to the voice in his head.

Assuming it was that sort of spirit magic, then this voice was unidirectional only. Kamito's voice could not transmit back.

&mdash;Kamito-kn... I am... in the shrine's... north corridor&mdash;

(...North corridor?)

Right now, Kamito was at the south side where the main entrance was located. He was on the opposite side.

(...I guess it'll be faster to cut through the palace directly?)

Located at the center of the imperial capital, Nefescal Palace should have a large number of knights guarding it securely.

(The risk would be way too big...)

Kamito gritted his teeth. Although it was the shortest route, he would be getting his priorities wrong if he failed to pass through. The only choice was to pass through the labyrinthine nobles district and circle over to the north side.

Having made his decision, he was about to start running when...

&mdash;...A-Ahh... Ahhhhhhhh&mdash;

"...!?"

Suddenly, he felt a wave of intense noise in his mind.

(...What's happening!?)

Kamito could not help but hold his temples and groan. At the same time, Fianna's earlier intermittent thoughts seemed to be cut off. He could no longer hear her.

(...It sounded something like a scream.)

...Had she encountered something, or perhaps&mdash;

"...!"

Kamito gritted his teeth hard and gripped the Demon Slayer tightly.

Then he looked at Nefescal Palace's massive outer gate.

There was no time to hesitate.

"...Looks like I have make a ruckus after all."