Scarlet still remembered when she was still an ordinary fire Elementalist. She was close to Kazuto as her father maintained good relations with the wolf clan.
She also remembered Kazuto often comes along with a cheerful and fun kid. His name was Ren, and he was a year younger than her. Every time the two visited her at her mansion, Scarlet never felt lonely.
She who thought that her parents had never loved her was comforted by both of them. Scarlet always looked forward to their visit. They read together, enjoy tea together, and other fun things.
Ren even often gave her souvenirs from the outside world whenever he came to visit. Sometimes it was a unique moon cake from the eastern region, sometimes it was a porcelain doll from western. Those souvenirs were so precious that Scarlet kept all of them inside a special wardrobe.
Scarlet was born as the only child, so she considered Ren as her own younger brother. Her love as a sister towards Ren increased with time. She hoped they could stay that way even if they came from different nations.
Ren also loved her like a brother who loves his older sister. That was why Ren could often feel how Scarlet felt. If Scarlet sad, he would sad too. If Scarlet was happy, Ren would also be happy as if he was the one who experienced the joyous occasion.
The bond of them getting stronger through the year. Sadly, Ren was assigned by the clan leader to become Tora's assistant when he was seventeen. Since then, Ren didn't come to her house as his master didn't allow him to go.
Scarlet did not know who Tora was at that time. She also did not know the tragic past between Tora and Kazuto. Even though she had become a knight, she did not know the suffering Ren would experience once he became Tora's assistant.
Even after she got to know the real character of Tora, Scarlet also couldn't do much to help him. The affairs of Tora, Ren, and Kazuto were the clan's problems. Scarlet had no right to interfere in the clan's intrigue because she was an outsider.
Although Tora was not an altruistic person, at least he could treat his subordinates fairly. At least was as Scarlet was hoping. As far as she knew, Tora's hatred was only shown to Kazuto.
Scarlet thought Ren would be fine as he was a third party.
But who would have thought...
The boy died at the hands of Tora?
That child wasn't even twenty yet! She planned to make a surprise party to celebrate his twentieth birthday!
But Tora, this evil man dared kill the boy behind her back. Scarlet was so raging inside and she felt the urge to get revenge.
Scarlet let a wave of tremendous anger that she had never felt before controlled her body.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!"
Scarlet smirked at the scream. It was satisfying to hear that man's painful cried. It was so melodious in her ears.
Unknown to her a foreign force at the center of her astral dimension made a reaction. The force was getting bigger until it envelops her body. Not long after that the red flame that burned one of Tora's hands turned yellow and then turned dark blue.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!" Tora screams even more terrible when he felt pain that was many times more hurt than before.
He sweats a lot and his face became pale as white. His eyes were no longer solid black. They became greyish-black as he started losing his consciousness.
Tora was in agony making his eyes rolled above till you could see no eyeballs there.
Everyone who looked at the horrific scene couldn't move as they were too frightened facing the true power of the red knight.
On the other side, Edward who never saw his fiancée like this gulped nervously. This was the first time he felt scared of the girl. But she must be stopped so Edward encouraged himself to approach her.
"Scar, stop it. You made a scene."
"…" For a second there was no response, but Scarlet calmed down when she felt a hand patted her shoulder gently.
Scarlet put out the fire from the man's arm who was currently trying to regulate his breathing. Scarlet glanced at the students and mentors who were staring at them with frightened looks.
Scarlet heaved a heavy sigh. What to do now? The two of the Elementalist knight' real identity had been revealed. Not only that, but she made a bad impression.
Now they would surely spread rumors that the Elementalist Knight was bad knights.
When Scarlet was thinking a solution, a sweet enchanting melody was played. In that instance, everybody stopped moving.
The strangest part was all of the Elementalist expression looked in a daze. What happened?
Scarlet and Edward looked at each other confused by the conditions around them. Time does not stop and their friends were still moving. It's just that their movements were very odd.
Even Tora who supposed to be in pain just a second ago could stand up straight and walk stiffly. Not only the students but even the mentors also in the same state.
That sound of the music must be the ones that controlled them. Guessed Scarlet in her heart.
But who? Who plays music?
Before Scarlet could find the answer, her right hand felt bound by something cold and she was gently pulled away.
Scarlet looked at her wrist which was wrapped by...
An ice bracelet?