Editing Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume7 Chapter9 (section)

===Part 4===

--From afar, the faint noise of weapons in action could be heard.

(Kamito-kun and the rest are fighting...)

Chained and restrained, Fianna bit her lip hard.

With the power of the spirit contract sealed away, she was nothing but a weak and powerless girl.

Simply an imprisoned princess waiting to be rescued by her prince.

(I hate this...!)

As she struggled desperately, the metal restraints dug deeper into her wrists.

If she simply shattered her own magic stone, she should be able to spare her teammates from trouble. But with her wrists restrained currently, she could not even do that.

(No, but even if I can return to their side, I am still--)

Perhaps she would end up burdening them instead of helping. Such worries seethed in her mind.

At this moment, suddenly -- the rigid impact of boots resounded within the cave.

"...Who is it?"

Fianna asked towards the darkness.

It could not be Sjora. The witch should still be busy intercepting Kamito and the rest.

Suddenly, a small flame was lit in the darkness.

Illuminated by that flickering light was a scarlet mask.

"...Ren Ashbell!?"

Fianna stared with wide-eyed amazement as the masked girl approached silently.

"What do you intend--"

"Don't move. Unless you want your wrists to become charcoal."

Whispering softly, she then touched the handcuffs with her fiery hand.

The shackles which sealed away the power of spirit contracts easily melted and fell to the ground.

"Why... do this...?"

"You are a key part of my ''plan''. I cannot let the witch have you."

Leaving those words behind, the masked girl prepared to turn around and leave.

However.

"Wait... Hold on and wait, Ren Ashbell!"

Stumbling around, Fianna grabbed her hand desperately.

--I can't let her leave just like that.

It was imperative to ask what she intended to do to Kamito.

Fianna stared at the scarlet mask whose gaze bore down coldly upon her.

"Sjora Kahn said that Kamito-kun is the Demon King's successor and that Claire and I are the Darkness Queen candidates?"

"..."

"What are your intentions for Kamito-kun?"

"The witch spoke too much huh--"

A whisper of annoyance escaped from the dark side of the mask.

"Don't screw around... Kamito-kun is not a tool for you people to use!"

"Kazehaya Kamito is my trump card. --For the impending war."

"What on earth...?"

"You are currently unqualified to be privy to the matter. Lost Queen."

In the next instant, Fianna found herself suspended in midair.

Still grabbing onto Ren Ashbell's arm, Fianna was thrown onto the hard stone surface of the ground.

"...Guh, ah...!"

Intense pain erupted as if all her bones had shattered. Nevertheless, Fianna still did not let go of her arm.

"Hoh?"

"...I won't let you leave... Until you explain fully about Kamito-kun!"

Her voice trembled. Fianna could feel her heart beating intensely from the frighteningly oppressive presence emanating from Ren Ashbell.

Even so, she still resolved to never let go of that arm no matter what.

"You haven't changed at all from back then."

"...Eh?"

Ren Ashbell's voice changed.

--No longer completely indifferent, slight annoyance had crept into her voice.

"Nonsensical words from the powerless only serve to disgust others."

Pulled by the arm's frightening strength, Fianna was slammed hard against the ground repeatedly.

However, despite her fading consciousness, Fianna still did not let go.

"I understand... In the past, you also failed to protect certain things."

"...What?"

"Unable to protect something precious, you fell into despair!"

Fianna screamed as she panted.

--Four years ago. That particular day when the great shrine of the Fire Elemental Lord had been plunged into flames of conflagration.

Fianna had been powerless to stop that particular person she revered and held dear.

Struck down with mental trauma from the fear, Fianna even became disqualified from being an elementalist.

"Indeed. Powerless one, you were unable to protect anything--!"

Intensely burning flames erupted from Ren Ashbell's arm.

The surging wave of hot wind blew Fianna away forcibly, sending her flying into a wall of rock.

"Yah... Ah...!"

"--Back then, I must have warned you. ''Do not appear before me ever again''."

"What...?"

Barely hanging onto her consciousness, Fianna suddenly realized.

The scene from that particular day was vividly replayed in her mind.

'Fianna Ray Ordesia -- Do not appear before me ever again.'

Fianna also remembered how the traitorous Queen had made her declaration amidst burning flames of conflagration.

"Impossible... You! Could you actually be her!?"

"--Just like four years ago. You cannot stop me."

From the inner side of the crimson mask, blazing eyes akin to burning flames stared right through Fianna.

These were ruby-red eyes identical to those of Claire Rouge.

Then this girl's true identity must be--

"...I am finding more and more reasons I can't let you leave."

Fianna stood up with staggering steps.

"Claire... She came here precisely for the sake of meeting you!"

"..."

Silence. However--

Even though it was impossible to see her expression behind the mask, Fianna could still notice her overwhelming imposing presence waver.

Pressing down on the throbbing pain of her arm, Fianna stepped forward, one step at a time.

"I am no longer the same as four years ago. Because--"

I now have comrades fighting courageously alongside me. I now have reasons I cannot back down no matter what.

If I retreat now, I will probably return to being that Lost Queen, most likely.

"I have no wish to repeat my regrets from back then."

Fianna sternly stood before Ren Ashbell.

"Nonsensical. Well then, I shall make you remember again. The flames that brought you to despair on that day."

The wind quivered, bringing a wave of heat. Rumbling and swirling flames were generated in her hand.

This was Claire's specialty of flame type spirit magic -- Fireball.

However, its size and temperature completely dwarfed Claire's level.

"...!?"

Fianna's entire body broke out in cold sweat.

Her legs became immobile. However, she could not retreat. Absolutely unacceptable.

"Regret your powerlessness, Lost Queen!"

Crimson flames with the ability to incinerate everything were released.

Fianna closed her eyes as she recalled the image of that girl in her mind.

--Three years ago, the image of the Strongest Blade Dancer who gave her courage when she had lost everything.

These flames could not be blocked using defensive magic. Even a knight spirit's armor would probably melt in their heat.

Even so, she had no choice left but to try her luck -- Let's take a gamble.

"Thou shalt be my sword, thou shalt be my shield, with unlimited towering light, purify and exorcise those belonging to darkness--!"

As if trying to block the incoming flames, Fianna stretched out her arms and recited the words for summoning.

Amidst the darkness enshrouding the great hall, a flash of light beyond comparison burst forth.

The exploding barrier of light scattered the flames and momentarily pushed back Ren Ashbell's body.

"Success, finally...?"

Unbelievable -- With such an expression, Fianna panted as she whispered.

Gripped in her hands was a beautiful rapier that gave off dazzling light.

Fianna had already made substantial progress in training her elemental waffe's release.

The incident four years ago was what caused her to become the Lost Queen.

In the depths of her heart, it was a traumatic scar that seemed as if it had been smoked by scorching flames.

Now, having completely resolved herself, Fianna was finally able to unleash the true power of her contracted spirit.

"As a princess maiden of the Divine Ritual Institute, you have manifested your elemental waffe huh--"

Ren Ashbell's voice was filled with amazement and admiration.

"--I see. I shall take back what I just said... Guh!?"

Suddenly, she collapsed on her knees as she pressed one hand against her heart.

"...Eh?"

"...Time's up, I see. This contemptible body."

Panting painfully, she stood up and made her way towards the depths of the darkness--

"W-Wait up!"

Fianna instantly tried to pursue but was blocked by the intense flames burning before her.

She only halted her steps for but an instant. --Nevertheless, as soon as the flames vanished, Ren Ashbell's figure was gone.

"...My senior. Why do you..."

Just as Fianna stood there in shock, murmuring.

She could hear acute noises of battle coming from afar.


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