Editing Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume15 Chapter9 (section)

===Part 2===

The strongest flames in the human realm&mdash;Laevateinn's conflagration was approaching Claire.

Isolated by the walls of flame surrounding her, there was no way to escape.

And dying in this world entailed the death of the soul in the real world.

"...!"

It was impossible to resist using spirit magic or Scarlet's flames. Claire hastily extended her hands and chanted the incantation.

"O true flame carved upon the ancient bloodline, dwell in my hand to ''devour flames''!"

The flames of termination, more intense than blazing crimson flames, clashed violently against Laevateinn's godslaying blaze.

"...Guh... Urgh...!"

...However, she could not block it.

The endless and overwhelming flames were slowly devouring Claire's own flames.

&mdash;Until the day you admit to your true feelings, the flames of Elstein will never acknowledge you.

Rubia's words replayed in her mind.

(...W-What, my true feelings...!)

Was she overlooking what she truly felt?

(Why am I pursuing power...?)

While scorched by the heat from the blazing flames, Claire engaged in introspection.

Her initial goal was to take part in the Blade Dance so that she could meet her sister again.

To this end, she had attempted to obtain power beyond her control and failed.

The one who persuaded her at the time and taught her to fight in a team was ''him''.

(Purely pursuing power will only repeat the same mistakes...)

Claire realized in alarm and bit her lip.

(But what should I do&mdash;?)

The true feelings she was avoiding. Only by understanding them&mdash;

"Do you think flames of this level can stop my fury and my lamentation!?"

Rubia's flames surged and howled. There was no way for Claire to endure further&mdash;!

&mdash;At that very moment.

At her feet, Scarlet meowed and ran forward to protect Claire.

"Scarlet! No, even if you're a flame spirit, that Laevateinn's godslaying flames will&mdash;"

&mdash;Please liberate me, master.

(...Huh?)

Claire heard a girl's calm voice in her mind.

...A voice she had no recollection of. However, it felt extremely familiar for some reason&mdash;

Claire looked down at Scarlet at her feet.

"Scarlet... Is that you?"

Scarlet meowed again and expelled intense flames.

Rubia's howling flames were forced back slightly.

During the Blade Dance, Claire had seen Scarlet's true form. If she could liberate her, perhaps it might be possible to oppose these flames. However&mdash;

"...How do I liberate you!?"

&mdash;Please liberate your genuine feelings, master.

"...My genuine feelings?"

Claire was confused.

Even at another's urging, she still did not know what to do.

(Also, what the heck is with genuine feelings...!?)

The flames surged with greater intensity. Claire's power was not going to hold.

The True Flame of Elstein&mdash;End of Vermilion&mdash;was not only consuming her divine power mercilessly but also her stamina and mental strength...

"...Ah, urgh...!"

Her body felt very heavy. Her forehead was sweating profusely while her consciousness gradually grew hazy. She might lose consciousness before the flames burned her. Perhaps that was a sliver of kindness afforded to her from her sister. That was what she thought.

However, at that moment, what surfaced in her mind was Kamito's face.

(...No way, how can I die in a place like this!?)

Scolding her weak self, she mustered the last of her strength.

Claire closed her eyes and focused on her own heart.

Hoping to stand by Kamito's side&mdash;This wish was real.

However, why would she wish for that...?

An inferiority complex due to her weakness&mdash;No.

Because she was worried about Kamito&mdash;That was not totally correct.

(Kamito, I...)

Throb. Her heart pulsated.

&mdash;Please be more honest, master.

...Right, even though it is clear in my heart.

However, these feelings, she had always kept them hidden using all sorts of ways.

Even though she had admitted them long ago, she was still afraid to voice them.

She was afraid of becoming honest.

(Like that, I am hiding my genuine feelings, deceiving my own heart...)

The contracted spirit was an existence tightly connected to the depths of an elementalist's heart. No matter how much experience as an elementalist was accumulated, no matter how powerful the divine power possessed&mdash;

With her heart under such conditions, how could the contracted spirit possibly respond to her?

(...I-I know, I'll just have to admit it!)

Amid blazing flames&mdash;

"I-I&mdash;"

Claire took a breath forcefully.


"I, love, Kamitoooooooooooooo!"


Blushing to her ears, she yelled loudly.

Indeed, Claire Rouge loved Kazehaya Kamito.

Hence, that was why she wished to obtain power allowing her to stand by Kamito's side.

These were Claire's genuine feelings, not covered up, not an excuse.

&mdash;You finally became honest, master.

"...!?"

A violent surge of flames enveloped Scarlet's entire body&mdash;

Then what appeared was&mdash;

A young girl with long fluttering hair of flames.

Her burning eyes were redder than rubies. The flames wrapped around her limbs howled nonstop.

"Scarlet...?"

Claire whispered in shock.


"The Scarlet Valkyrie&mdash;Ortlinde&mdash;has descended upon the world in response to the call for my true name."


The girl with crimson hair extended her hand at the approaching flames.

The flames around the girl's entire body instantly surged violently.

"In response to my master's command, I hereby present my true power. Crimson flames of the lion&mdash;!"

The instant Ortlinde called out...

The crimson blaze surging from her entire body&mdash;

Engulfed Rubia and Laevateinn.