Editing Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume10 Chapter9 (section)

===Part 2===

"Claire..."

Faced with Claire who was dressed in a ritual outfit colored like darkness, Fianna stood rooted to one spot in shock.

With her red hair untied, Claire resembled her older sister greatly.

The only difference lay in the characteristic of the Elstein sisters, the crystal-clear eyes of ruby.

Claire's eyes were completely empty without any light at all.

"...Who are you?"

Claire asked again. Her expression was as cold as ice.

"Did you forget me?"

Feeling a shock that frightened her, Fianna spoke up.

...It went without saying, her mind already understood. Claire most likely had her memories wiped by Rubia Elstein's magic.

However, Fianna felt a stinging pain in her heart.

Back during her days at the Divine Ritual Institute, the only people Fianna could call friends were her junior Reicha Alminas who would later become the Fire Queen and her senior Rubia.

After Fianna lost the power of the spirit contract and became the Lost Queen, everyone either mocked her secretly or treated her with caution.

However, on their first meeting&mdash;Claire had treated Fianna as an equal.

Even with circumstances imposed upon her as the Calamity Queen's younger sister, Claire still moved forward with resolute will.

Claire's steadfast figure, pursuing her own Wish relentlessly, seemed extraordinarily dazzling from Fianna's perspective.

Fianna gazed into Claire's empty stares and spoke:

"I am Fianna Ray Ordesia&mdash;Your teammate."

"...Teammate?"

Claire inclined her head in puzzlement.

"Yes. Your comrade."

"Com... rade..."

She muttered with a sluggish voice... But soon after, she shook her head.

"&mdash;Liar. I have always been alone. I have no comrades."

"Claire..."

Fianna clenched her fist tightly before her chest.

...She really has forgotten.

Not only Fianna but also Ellis and Rinslet, even Kamito as well&mdash;

"Meow..."

At their feet, Scarlet cried mournfully.

"Claire, have you even forgotten your own contracted spirit?"

"...Contracted spirit?"

"Scarlet. You've been saved by her countless times."

"Scarlet..."

Confusion appeared on Claire's face for the first time.

Watching her, Fianna felt a little hopeful.

(...She still hasn't lost her memories completely!)

"Scarlet... That name... I know it..."

"Yes, it's the name of your contracted spirit!"

"&mdash;let... Scarlet... Ooh..."

Claire held her hand against her head and groaned.

At this moment, the wall of fire blocking Fianna's advance began to flicker and waver as if being blown by wind.

In that instant, Fianna ran towards the altar.

"...Don't come over!"

Claire released crimson flames from her hand.

"...!"

Fianna hastily laid herself flat against the floor.

The flames swept over Fianna's head, forming an intense pillar of fire behind her.

"...I am the Darkness Queen. &mdash;The princess maiden who serves the Demon King."

Claire's red hair fluttered like flames.

From atop the altar, she gazed down coldly at Fianna.

"...Ooh, to think she could still command flames even though she has clearly lost Scarlet already."

The power of spirit magic originated from one's own contracted spirit. Commanding flames of this level when she had already lost her contracted spirit was supposed to be impossible.

(...So these are the flames of Elstein.)

Before these flames, even the flame spirit Scarlet had to be wary of them.

Because the flames of Elstein were ''flames that incinerated other flames''.

"...Retreat. Or else I will turn you into charcoal."

Lifting up the skirt hem of her ritual attire, Claire slowly began to walk.

"...Where are you planning to go?"

"By the side of the Demon King I am supposed to serve&mdash;"

"...! I won't let you go. Definitely."

Fianna glared at Claire and stood up.

"&mdash;Then if you are going to hinder me, disappear!"

Claire produced flames once more&mdash;

The flames were serious this time. A direct hit would mean death.

"Claire, I don't mind your frankness&mdash;"

In that instant, Fianna took out a spirit crystal from her bosom and threw it out.

Immediately, a bright flash filled the great hall.

"...!"

With Claire's aim disrupted, the flames spread and began burning the surroundings.

With her eyes covered, Fianna instantly rushed up the steps to the altar.

&mdash;This was Fianna's gamble.

(Claire can't possibly have lost her memories completely.)

Even though she was swallowed by darkness, the fire in her heart still gave off smoke.

Claire still remembered Scarlet's name. Furthermore&mdash;

(The primordial flames had gone off mark on purpose.)

Supposing Claire was really completely devoured by darkness, that could not possibly happen.

(It's too early to despair!)

As the spirit crystal's effects ran out, the flash dissipated.

There were still six or seven steps left&mdash;the altar was farther than imagined. Perhaps Fianna had misjudged the distance visually.

However, stopping was not an option. Surrounding by spreading flames, Fianna sprinted.

"...Stop&mdash;Stop!"

Wavering, Claire released especially large flames.

Fianna found herself surrounded by flames completely without any escape&mdash;!

"...!"

Fianna ran as she closed her eyes. Just as she prepared herself for death, something red flashed before her.

&mdash;Scarlet.

Opening her jaws to swallow the ''flames that incinerated other flames'', she then disappeared.

"...Eh?"

In that instant, Claire's eyes truly opened for the first time.

Fianna did not stop running. Understanding Scarlet's intentions, she charged.

"Why, why won't you stop!?"

"Because I believe in you!"

(...Four more steps... Three...&mdash;)

Fianna released divine power from her entire body and passed through the burning flames.

So hot. So hot. So hot. The billowing heat wave almost made her lose consciousness.

Mustering the last of her strength, Fianna reached out towards Claire who stood there stupefied.

"Wake up! Kamito-kun is waiting for you&mdash;"

"&mdash;Kamito?"

Hearing the name, Claire's expression froze.

(I made it&mdash;)

Fianna smiled with relief&mdash;

And grabbed Claire's right hand.

Then&mdash;

"By the name of the Ordesia imperial family! Your flames, your soul&mdash;Hereby returned!"

The spirit seal carved on Fianna's right hand disappeared and the crimson crest was emblazoned on Claire's hand.

"...Ah... Guu...!"

Claire began to cry out in pain.

(...I'll leave the rest to you, Scarlet!)