It is said multiple factions used to occupy the continent of Lethandiel. Thousands of years ago. Before 'Ciel' was reborn as a Shadebeast.
It is also said the concept of 'Queen' started not with tales of terror but defeat.
The academic records from Summer spanned three generations of Shadequeens, each with unique characteristics.
First, the Shadequeens of elements. Mostly annihilated, due to not how weak they were, but how strong the other tribes were at the time.
But with the Queen of Fire and Queen of Void, the tide was completely turned over, and annihilation came over the arrogant, unsuspecting tribes.
Those two remained the 'leader figures' of Shadebeasts. Not the strongest due to the Shadebeasts' evolutions, but definitely ones with the most cautious of temperament.
At least they were the ones that 'evaluate', not attack at the first sight of humans.
'...that all changed with the end of Second Generation.'
Ciel's hand clenched into a tight fist.
The woman exuded no hostility. Ciel's blurred sight barely caught it, as she tilted her head in a faint curiosity.
Besides the scheming Third Generation, there emerged only one Queen that bore as much patience as the 'leaders' of Shadebeasts.
Her hand found her pocket, where the crystal used to be. The
'...the Queen of Hunt.' Her brows fell, drawing the connection between them. 'The one that drove Quia and the elves out of their home.'
And the last Queen spawned from the Second Generation.
The cold pressure found itself back to Ciel's eyes again. Her vision warped. The darkness spat out the light it swallowed. The land shook and rejoined again.
The silhouette before her soon followed, disappearing into the fading vision.
Yet the whisper ghosting at Ciel's ear was undeniably-
"Sister…"
Longing.
[ You have witnessed the first sight of your Sister. ]
[ Features, 'Queen's Hymn' was partially unlocked. ]
[ Queen's Hymn: 11% ]
—------
"Oi… Ciel?"
A familiar voice anchored Ciel's senses. The cooling water ran at her feet first, followed by the wind caressing her skin, as opposed to the stilled, hollow void from before.
Ciel blinked, her throat tightening to kill every hushed breath, to hide she was 'surprised'.
She was back here. That's all that mattered.
"Ciel?"
"Mm…" Ciel nodded dazedly. "How long have I been zoned out for?"
The expected answer came from Quia, who gave her a weird look. "Not even a quarter of a second. You respond the moment I call you shortie again."
"..."
Ciel shook her head after a pause. "I'm not offended."
A sharp glint crossed Quia's smiling eyes. "I was not asking."
A sigh soon touched Ciel's lips. An awkward silence loomed over the duo, with Ciel's gaze flickering back to the moon.
There were no more visions. To Ciel's luck.
Ciel's attention, upon turning to Quia, was of a quiet and sincere plea.
"How old are you exactly, Miss Quia?"
Quia's face scrunched up.
"I was asking out of curiosity." Ciel's gaze grew distant. "Miss Quia was a natural beauty either way. No need to feel insecure."
Quia froze. Then, her shoulders raised high, nose blowing out a prideful sniff.
"Insecure? No way, I'm just about seventy years old!" She puffed out her full chest. "You're welcome to be surprised!"
"No, I won't."
The audacity. An angry edge sharpened Quia's gaze to Ciel, who sunk back into her thoughts.
So, Quia was born long before the years the Queen of Hunt drove out the elves from their homeland.
Long before Quia had to witness the gruesome events. And long before Ciel tore down the elven fighters into pieces.
"I just feel relieved." Ciel smiled. She hated herself for feeling that way.
Before Quia caught Ciel's awkwardness, Ciel switched topics. With the Queen of Hunt's appearance, along with the crystal's connection to her-
"We will go hunt some shadebeasts now."
The mimics and the shadebeasts. Ciel was sure they were acting according to the Queen of Hunt's will.
Were they looking for her? Ciel didn't know, but she had a feeling the exam won't end easily with the last mimic's death.
The worst case would be a Queen's descendance, intercepted by Summer no less.
"Already?" Quia raised a brow. "Why shadebeasts? And don't we need to conserve some more mana?"
"You've seen the crystal I ate from before, right?"
She raised her hand with the tree sigil. "My magic can purify shadebeast cells. The more we hunt, the more crystals we have and the more mana we have in advance, paired with benefits."
"But I've hunted those bastards from before." The elf stretched herself, accentuating her curve. "The crystals wouldn't drop that frequently even if we kill them."
Quia's body then fell back to the river. Splash, and water smack onto Ciel's cheek, small wet patches drenching her white blouse in the process.
"Should we not relax more?" Quia chuckled apologetically. "I can tell. You seem more like the type forced into this kind of exam, so take this moment of respite when you can."
Ciel's lips gaped. Then pursed with a hint of strength.
The cell of the shaded hunt formed when shadebeasts' resentment proved to be strong enough, much easier to come by for unintelligent canine types like shadehounds.
And much easier to come by for Ciel, a betrayer that would incite hatred for every shadebeasts.
"They will." Ciel cut off Quia, her soft tone embedded with a mechanical edge. "I have a spell to harvest better from the shadebeast. If you wash your wounds, let's move now."
Ciel stood up, leaving behind the chilling comfort of the river.
"Grr…" Quia, despite grumbling, eventually walked ashore, clenching her clothes with unsoaked fingers. "I didn't even get to see you naked like me…"
The elf's true sentiment slipped from her loose tongue, followed soon by Ciel's absent-minded mutter, whose heightened senses prickled with distant danger.
"There's always next time."
Quia's shoulders jumped, her hands stuck midway into the sleeves of her shirt.
She then exclaimed with a sound, excited response.
"I look forward to it!"
Ciel frowned, watching as Quia squirmed and wiggled into her clothes awkwardly.
'Did I… say something wrong?'