Editing Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume5 Chapter6 (section)

===Part 2===

This was a story that had happened in the distant past. 

At that time, the continent was separated into several tiny countries. It was a time of war and turmoil. 

The main characters of the story were the sacred sword of legend and a young maiden. 

Areishia Idriss – this girl came from a nameless village by the border. 

The shepherd girl had a lovely face, and she was especially proud of her head of brilliant gold hair. 

She ought to have grown up normally, fallen in love normally, led a normal life, and found normal happiness.

However, the year she turned fourteen, an incident happened to this otherwise ordinary girl that led people to call her the Sacred Queen. 

One day, when she ascended the mountain to pick firewood, she happened upon a sword in the old ancestral hall. 

It was a sacred sword that no one in many centuries had been able to remove. 

The maiden reached out to lift the sword, completely unaware that a powerful spirit was sealed inside it. 

In that instant, a sword spirit emerged from the dazzling glow. 

"Who are you?"

The sword spirit's response to the girl's question was:

"I am your sword, milady. I will give myself wholly and completely to my elementalist – you."

The girl did not know why the sacred sword of legend would pick her, a mere ordinary shepherd girl, to make a contract with. However, she innocently accepted this contract. 

Truthfully, the girl felt only loneliness. 

On the other hand, the sword spirit had no feelings, and knew only to loyally serve its contracted master, the girl. 

She was not a typical spirit, but a spirit weapon crafted for use in the war during the Archeozoic Era. 

So I have no use for feelings – said the sword spirit coldly. 

However, because the girl had lived her whole life as an ordinary shepherd, she could not understand such deep philosophical matters. 

That sort of thing isn't important – 

The girl was simply happy at having found her first female friend. 

"What is your name?"

"My true name cannot be pronounced in your language. However, in spirit language, you may call me Terminus Est."

"This name sounds a little long... How about I just call you Est?"

"My name is not Est, it is Terminus Est."

"I'd rather not, it's quite hard to say. It's decided then, your name shall be Est."

The girl broke into a sudden smile, and reached out to pet Est on the head. 

"Mistress, please do not do that."

Est protested with a blank expression. 

This is the story of what happened after the chance encounter of the Sacred Queen and the legendary sacred sword. 

The matter of the contract between the unknown shepherd girl and the legendary sacred sword quickly spread throughout the entire country. 

That a young lady with no elementalist heritage could contract with a legendary-level spirit – such a thing was enough to turn the girl into a savior, into a supernatural sacred queen. 

As there were virtually no elementalists in that era, people had to endure the havoc wreaked by the revolting spirits.

And so, the girl began using the power provided by the sword spirit to bring peace to the world, by either appeasing – or defeating those spirits. 

The people lauded the girl's efforts, and gave her the name of Sacred Queen. 

Regardless of how exhausted or unhappy she was, the girl would always have a smile to encourage others. 

There were some who were jealous of her, who despised her, and even those who only associated with her for the fame and glory. 

Despite all this, the girl still fought on, sword in hand. 

"Mistress, why do you fight for these people?"

One day, the sword spirit asked the girl this question. 

Why fight – this was the first time the sword, by nature a spirit weapon, had felt any sort of curiosity towards such matters. 

"Because this is something only I can do; therefore I must fight."

"I cannot understand your meaning. But as I am your sword, I will do your bidding, mistress."

"Est... Don't say such upsetting things, you are after all my only friend."

"... Friend?"

"That's fine, let's eat. The bread I baked today smells delicious."

"Mistress, please allow me to repeat – I have no need to consume human foods."

"... It's really lonely eating by myself. Come on, eat with me, please?"

"... If this is my mistress's order, I will obey."

The sword spirit nodded expressionlessly. 

However, one could observe a little confusion on her face. 

In her heart sprouted a very tiny flicker of – something like an emotion. 

The bravery of the girl with the sacred sword slowly became known across the whole continent. 

At the same time, the terror of the most vicious demon king plunged the continent into strife and suffering. 

The countries united to send out armies to take down the demon king, but they all failed miserably. In the face of the spirit soldiers commanded by the demon king, the countries’ armies could only beat a quick retreat. 

In the end, the people had no choice but to pin their last hopes on a young lady. 

A mere girl of only fourteen years of age, a girl who had not even experienced the taste of love. 

"Est, I must fight... I must fight, for everyone who is suffering on this earth."

"Yes, mistress. I am your sword – I will do anything for you."

And so it was that the girl plunged herself wholeheartedly into the bloody battle. 

The sword spirit of what would later be known as the Demon Slayer Sacred Sword witnessed all this. 

She had no choice but to bear witness to the entire series of events – including the tragic conclusion about to unfold.