Editing Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume2 Chapter8 Draft (section)

===Part 2===

It was for this reason that while being expected to inherit the position of the Queen candidate after Rubia Elstein left, Fianna Ray Ordesia the second princess resigned from that position and was banished from the royal family.

That was '''because she lost her power'''.

"A princess maiden, who lost the ability to control spirits, doesn't have the qualifications to be a Queen worth serving the Elemental Lord."

Fianna lowered her gaze as she muttered those words self-deprecatingly.

"..."

An elementalist that couldn't use her contrcted spirit was —literally— no longer an elementalist.

And the situation, where one suddenly became unable to use it, wasn't something that unusual.

For example, there were cases where her body may be soiled<!--穢される-->, or the covenant made during the contract was broken— even outside of such occasions, there were situations where one became unable to exchange feelings with her spirit due to some sort of emotional trauma.

In short, the link with the spirit was greatly dependent on the elementalist's state of mind.

Fianna didn’t talk further about the incident that caused it.

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Kamito wasn’t about to dig deeper.

(But if it happened four years ago—)

A terrible misfortune befell Ordesia Empire at that time.

It was the year that Calamity Queen's, Rubia Elstein's, mutiny occurred.

And Fianna was a princess maiden at the same «Divine Ritual Institute» as the renegade.

She experienced that incident, which caused an emotional trauma that made her lose her power.

A coincidence— he didn't think so.

"I'm sorry about hiding it. But, I thought I would tell you about it someday, but if anyone found out that I was unable to exchange feelings with my spirit, I would become unable to stay in this academy."

"But, how did you pass the examination? If I'm not mistaken, there must be a practical one."

Unlike everyone else and because of Greyworth's authority Kamito passed without going through one, but originally, there was a strict practical examination in the academy. Just being elementalist was not enough to pass it. 

"I hid several pieces of spirit crystals in my sleeves, and released them in sequence, so it looked like I was using a spirit. Since I had achievements from the time as a Queen candidate of the «Divine Ritual Institute», they were easily deceived."

"You used valuable spirit crystals for such a dishonest entry in the academy?"

"The invigilator would never think there would be a person doing such a thing."

"How stupid, even if you were admitted like that, isn't it obvious that you'd be instantly exposed. Why did you even come to this academy?

"That's—"

Fianna glanced at Kamito.

Her goal was to join the team with the {{Furigana|Strongest Blade Dancer|Ren Ashbell|margin=13}} and be victorious in the competition.

However, he would be troubled if Claire was told that... Very troubled.

Thereupon, Fianna smirked in a way that only Kamito understood.

"That's to kiss Kamito-kun—"

"That's not it. Hey, Claire, stop taking out your whip."

Fianna saw Claire's raised eyebrow and giggled.

"It's a joke. My goal is to be victorious in the Blade dance and have my «wish» granted and regain my lost spirit contract."

"Everyone is the same in aiming for the victory at the Blade Dance. However, why did you think of joining our team? It might be weird for me to say this, but our team has the lowest rank."

"..."

At that, Fianna placed a finger on her lips and pondered.

"...That's right. That’s why I thought that you guys would accept me."

It was slightly different from Fianna's usual impish tone.

"What do you mean?"

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"After all, you have a male elementalist and you are the sister of the Calamity Queen. So, it wouldn’t be out of place if the Lost Queen, who is no longer an elementalist, joined in, wouldn’t you agree?"

Despite her joking tone, she looked lonely and wore an expression of self-deprecation.

The reason Fianna came to the academy and approached Kamito.

To be victorious in the Blade Dance, she would ensnare the person, who was once the {{Furigana|Strongest Blade Dancer|Ren Ashbell|margin=13}}— or so she claimed.

However, the true reason —unexpectedly— might be more like this.

Being lonely, being a fibber, the impish princess '''just wanted friends'''—

"Well then, I've confessed my secret but—"

“Ahem” Fianna coughed before asking.

"What am I going to do now? The team wouldn't need an elementalist who can't use her contracted spirit, right?"

The princess stared at Kamito and Claire with a lonely expression.

Despite the joking manner in which the question was asked, the look in her eyes made it obvious how insecure she was.

And then, Claire noticed something. Princesses’ fingers were trembling slightly.

Before long—

"It doesn't matter."

Kamito sighed.

"Fianna, you protected us by risking your life. You're our comrade."

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"...!"

Her eyes widened in astonishment.

"Hey, is that alright?"

Kamito turned towards Claire—

"That's fine."

Claire nodded as she looked at Fianna's chest. This action made the princess pale.

"Fianna, you are my comrade. A member of the breastless alliance."

"Don't put me together with you! I have more than you, Claire!"

"Wh-What was that!"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Gogogogogo*... Claire's red hair started rising menacingly, but at that moment.

"...!?"

The ground suddenly shook.

From the crumbling ceiling, large fragments of rubble started dropping down.

"...An earthquake again!?"

"Don't tell me... {{Furigana|the strategic-class militarized spirit|Jormungandr|margin=13}} is already about to wake up?"  

"It seems so. However, as long as Jio Inzagi hasn't found the «true shrine», he shouldn't be able to completely undo the seal."

"Well then, if we could get there first—"

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Claire stopped in mid-sentence and gasped in surprised.

"The seal specification materials that were stolen from the academy— the location of the true shrine might be recorded there."

"I see! So that was his goal from the beginning—"

"No, the information is encoded. Deciphering it should take time."

Joining the conversation Ellis managed to raise half her body from the ground.

It seemed that the earthquake woke her up.

"Ellis, can you already move?"

Kamito called out to her.

"No, I can't walk yet. It's shameful, but my legs are still paralyzed by the poison."

Ellis slapped her unmoving knees as she bit her lips, seemingly vexed.

"I also have not recovered to the point where I am able to fight."

This was said by Rinslet, who was leaning against the wall.

“Fianna, can you dance the ritual Kagura after having lost your power?”

"Yes, it wouldn’t be as effective as when I took part in the «Divine Ritual Ceremony», but I can slightly enhance the resealing.<!--ええ、«神儀院»にいたころのようにはいかないけれど、再封印を強化することくらいはできるわ。--> Obviously, I wouldn't accept a quest that I can't even do."

Fianna nodded and softly placed her hand on her chin.

"Although, first we have to find the hidden true shrine and seize it." 

"Do we have to search the whole mine...?"

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This place was abandoned several decades ago. The tunnels weren't being maintained, and on top of that, there was the danger that the ceiling will cave in even after a small earthquake like the one from a while ago. 

"Besides, we might encounter that guy again."

Everyone became silent at Claire's utterance.

The male elementalist, who used a countless number of spirits.

Even if all the members of their team, who boasted top class ability, formed a group, they would be no match for him.

(He knows about Restia...)

Kamito instinctively grasped his left hand, which was still covered by his leather glove.

(Who on earth is he?)

"That boy, it was as though he was the real Demon King..."

"Uh, he was driven away by Fianna's surprise attack, but I don't think that could have defeated him."

Ellis nodded with a meek expression at Rinslet's murmuring.

At that moment.

"Kamito, I know the location of the true shrine."

A sound came from the sword leaning against the wall.

"Est?"

Kamito touched Est's handle, and cancelled the elemental waffe status.

The Demon Slayer turned into particles of light before transforming into a lovely girl.

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"Are you sure?"

"Yes, Kamito, in the olden days, more distant than when this place became a mine— several hundred years ago, this very mountain was the high ranking shrine that was used to deify spirits. I visited it several times before I was sealed in a sword."

That’s right, originally Est was a top-ranking spirit, who was sealed several hundred years ago. It wouldn’t be strange for her to be deified by everyone on the sacred mountain. 

"Can you guide us there?"

"Of course."

"Remarkable, Est."

"Yes, Kamito. Then, please stroke Est's head."

"Ahh."

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<nowiki>*</nowiki>Suri suri*. *Nade nade*.

"Hn, it feels good, Kamito."

Est closed her eyes partly like a cat, who was being petted under the chin.

"..."

Those two—

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Hyooooooo...!*

The girls stared at them frostily.

"Wh-What..."

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"I've been thinking about it for a while now, but Kamito, don't you think you're too soft on Est?"

"I-I don't think so"

He instinctively stepped back at the girls' glares.

At that moment.

"..."

The ground shook again. ...This time, it was even stronger than before.

"We had better hurry."

"Ah—"

Kamito nodded before stopping suddenly and turning around.

Ellis shook her head when she realized what he was thinking about.

"We're alright. While, you were unconscious, I released Simorgh and sent it to the academy. The Knights should be rushing our aid at dawn."

"Ellis..."

"Go, Kazehaya Kamito. We failed in our quest. I'll entrust the rest to you guys."

"It seems I am unable to fight, so I will stay behind to treat them."

"..."

The boy tightly clenched his fist—

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"...I understand. I'll come back as soon as possible."

"Let's go Kamito, Fianna."

Claire raised Flame Tongue over her head, and blew away the mountain of rubble blocking the path.