The campfire crackled, casting long, dancing shadows against the jagged rocks of the Hinomoto border. Leina, the exiled heiress and nomad warrior, sat alone, sharpening her blade. The weight of the Queen’s Blade tournament felt heavier than the steel in her hand. Suddenly, the rustle of leaves wasn't caused by the wind.
Risty emerged from the treeline, her signature mace resting casually on her shoulder. She didn’t look like a thief tonight; she looked like a woman who had seen too many battles and won even fewer peace offerings. Queen's Blade: Rurou no Senshi Specials
As the embers faded, they fell into a watchful sleep, knowing that by sunrise, they would be warriors again. But for now, they were simply travelers sharing a dream of a road that never ended. The campfire crackled, casting long, dancing shadows against
Leina managed a small smile, sheathing her sword. For one night, the tournament was a world away. There were no gods watching, no sisters hunting her down, and no throne to claim. There was only the fire, the wilderness, and the strange, unbreakable bond of two wanderers who had nothing left but their names and their blades. Suddenly, the rustle of leaves wasn't caused by the wind
"I'm not playing," Leina replied, not looking up. "I'm surviving."
Risty leaned back, staring up at the moon. "Maybe I’m just waiting to see if you actually become the Queen you claim you don't want to be. Or maybe," she grinned, a rare, genuine flash of teeth, "I just like watching you trip over your own boots."