Editing Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume19 Chapter11 (section)

===Part 5===

Amid all-incinerating fire, ''she'' saw fragments of lost memories.

How long ago was it when that young little girl had arrived at the shrine for the first time to seek an audience&mdash;?

In front of her, whose sanity was corroded by Otherworldly Darkness, about to succumb to impulses of hatred and destruction&mdash;

The girl had arrived as Queen.

"&mdash;Today onwards, I shall serve at your side."

So nervous that she was trembling, the princess maiden knelt before the altar, introducing herself with the name of Rubia.

The girl's face was more beautiful than any princess maiden ''she'' had seen before.

...But that was all.

As Queen, she would serve for a mere few years then leave.

This girl was nothing more than one of those princess maidens.

&mdash;That was what ''she'' thought at the time.

"T-Today, I have learned a new dance to offer to you, Elemental Lord!"

"I saw some beautiful flowers blooming in the Divine Ritual Institute's courtyard and picked some to bring along."

"I wrote a story for you, Elemental Lord. Would you like to listen?"

"I received a letter from my younger sister, Elemental Lord. May I read it out?"

Perhaps being young and naive, she was fearless.

Unlike the Queens before, the girl did not focus single-mindedly on pleasing her.

That girl's attitude made her feel confused, agitated, and a little intrigued.

&mdash;What was up with this human?

&mdash;Why does she not fear the revered Elemental Lords?

One day, the girl came before the shrine and said.

"U-Uh, today I have a favor to ask of you, Elemental Lord."

&mdash;Permission granted to ask.

She replied solemnly,

The petitions of Queens were mostly concerned with bringing prosperity to the human realm.

She thought the girl's request would fall along those lines too.

However&mdash;

"&mdash;Uh, Elemental Lord, umm..."

&mdash;What is it? Be quick. My patience has limits.

She had a flame surge from the altar in a threatening manner.

"I-I am  sorry! U-Umm, ''I would like us to become friends''!"

That was what the girl had said.

Had the elders of the Divine Ritual Institute heard this, they probably would have fainted on the spot.

&mdash;What?

Her angry voice echoed throughout the entire shrine.

The girl jumped in fright, her shoulder trembling in fear.

Nevertheless, she looked up with great fortitude&mdash;

"I-I have been very lonely ever since I separated with my sister. Lately, it has been hard for me to see my juniors in the Divine Ritual Institute such as Fianna and Reicha. Uh, and so&mdash;"

The girl explained awkwardly.

Of course, ''her'' wrath was implacable.

&mdash;A mere human princess maiden dares to call herself my friend, such insolence against an Elemental Lord such as I!

"Uwah, p-please forgive me!"

When ''she'' vented her angry flames on the altar, the girl fled in panic.

...Perhaps she was scolded severely by the elders of the Divine Ritual Institute after that.

The girl never brought up anything similar again.

This was ''her'' final memory as an Elemental Lord with sanity.

A small flame lit up in the darkness.