"I will admit, that is quite a story." Izana said, his face passive. Asuna and Kazuto, with some help from Yui, had finished telling them of their time in Aincrad and partially of Alfheim. Though it had been over an hour at least since they began listening, their audience was still quite engaged.
"So, do you believe us?" Asuna said quietly. "I know it sounds outlandish or unbelievable, but it's the truth."
"Oh, I believe you." Izana replied. "I believe that goes for all of us."
Asuna and Kazuto flinched, but they nodded back gratefully.
"So, onto the next order of business." Izana said. "What exactly must be done now regarding your being here for the foreseeable future."
"That is true, seeing as I can't think of anything that can take us home right now." Kazuto said. "So, what's the plan?"
"The plan is you stay here, in the palace." Izana said. "As guests of mine. You'll have access to most public areas of the palace, but for others you'll need a pass or identification. But, we'll deal with that when the time comes."
"Thank you." Asuna replied, breathing out in relief. Kazuto pulled her head to his shoulder, and nodded.
"Alright, for now I must ask you three to remain here, mainly for security's sake." Izana continued. "Some time later I'll have clothing sent to you, along with something to eat. Until then, stay here."
"Right." Kazuto said. "So, I guess for now we should rest?"
"Indeed." Zen said, earning a nod of approval from his brother. "We'll be back later. Remember, stay here."
As the group left the room, with Chief Garrack closing the door, Asuna fell back into Kazuto's embrace, with her arms around his shoulders.
"You okay?" he asked, gently cupping her cheek. She shook her head no, and moved closer to him, communicating without words.
She was scared. Kazuto had rarely seen her like this before, during their encounter with Kuradeel and...Sugou.
Kazuto shook his head and banished the thought of that monster from his mind, tightening his hold on Asuna. Yui soon slid in next to Asuna, and the three of them remained like that for quite a while.
Later, as the sun started to set, Kazuto looked up at the sound of the door opening. Chief Garrack entered, carrying a parcel with her.
"Prince Izana found you some things to wear." Garrack said. "I'll be back later with dinner."
"Thanks." Asuna murmured, as she reluctantly left Kazuto's embrace and picked up a modest yellow dress with a brown jacket. As she headed into the other room to change, Kazuto retrieved his own clothing, a set of trousers with a dark shirt. As Yui looked away, he switched out his clothes and set them aside.
Asuna then came back in, and sat next to Kazuto with a worried smile.
"Asuna?" Kazuto asked. "Can we talk later?"
"Sure." she replied. "But I'm fine, Kazuto."
"I know you're not fine, Asuna." Kazuto replied. "You look like you might pass out."
She looked away, and gave a sigh.
"I'm scared, Kirito." she confessed. "Scared that we won't get home. First it was SAO, then ALO, and now this...how long will it take for us to get back to our families? Our friends? I miss my dad, I miss my mom and brother, I miss Liz...I miss everyone and everything about home..."
Kazuto embraced her tightly and whispered into her ear.
"Me too, Asuna. I want to go home, too. But until we can, I promise that I'll keep you and Yui safe. And when we do get home, I'll show you all the time of your life and everything you missed. We may not have all the modern conveniences like electricity or internet, but Asuna..."
"You, Yui...you're all I need." he smiled at her, soothing her. "Can you promise me the same?"
"Of course, Kazuto. I promise...I love you so much." she replied, showing him for the second time that joyful, perfect smile of hers. Kazuto smiled back with as much love as he could muster, and pulled her close.
As he sealed their promise with a long-lasting kiss, Yui snuggled in between them. The three of them nodded to each other as one, and Asuna smiled again.
"Thank you, Kazuto." she said "I'll always be there for you."
"Me too, Asuna." he replied. "Me too..."
At that moment, the door opened again and First Prince Izana entered.
"I must admit, that was rather touching." he smirked.
"You heard everything?" Asuna blushed, embarrassed.
"Most of it." Izana replied. "Now, let's get you fed."
As the four of them walked into the Main Keep of the palace, Yui's eyes were full of wonder as she looked around.
"How big is this place?" she asked.
"I took many, many years to build this palace." Izana said. "Though technically it is not my own, but Zen's."
"You don't live here?" Asuna asked, surprised.
"I sojourn in the region of Wilant, to the north of here." Izana replied. "Though the northlands are quite cold and seemingly devoid, they are full of life if you know where to look."
"I suppose so." Kazuto replied as they entered a dining room, already set with four places. "Prince Izana? If you're the First Prince, where's your dad? I mean, if you don't mind me asking."
Izana paused, and sighed.
"Our father, Kain Wisteria, died when I was sixteen and Zen was seven." Izana said. "Our mother, Haruto, took the title of Queen, but my coronation is in the foreseeable future. And I don't mind your asking, Kazuto."
"Do you not miss him?" Asuna asked.
"I do, just not as much as I used to." Izana replied as they sat down. "Zen took it much harder than I did. Even though father was an enigma at times, Zen looked up to him."
"I see." Kazuto said. "Reminds me of my own parents."
"Why is that?" Izana asked.
"Before I went to Aincrad and met Asuna, my birth parents died in an accident when I was really young." Kazuto said. "Ever since then I lived with my Aunt, Uncle, and my cousin."
"My condolences." Izana replied. "Anyway, I was hoping to ask more questions about Aincrad, and this "real world" that you come from. I'd rather not brood on the subject of the deceased."
"Agreed." Asuna said as they began to be served. "Well, we're from the nation of Japan, on the planet Earth, but we're a lot more technologically advanced."
"How so?" Izana asked.
"Well, to compare this world to ours, I would say it's like the 1500's." Asuna said. "The age of swords and castles, that sort of thing. The date we entered Aincrad was 2024. So, we're basically five hundred years ahead of you back home."
"What can you tell me?" Izana raised an eyebrow.
"Well, that's a lot to tell." Asuna said. "I mean, just explaining the simplest or most common of things to us like electrical power or a cell phone would be tough. You know what lightning is, right?"
"Yes. " the First Prince replied.
"Well, electrical power is basically lightning, or the force behind it." Asuna said. "We use generators to make electricity which basically powers our entire society. Lights in homes, the devices we use, lots more." Asuna said.
"And the "Cell phone"?" Izana asked again.
"It's a method of communication." Kazuto said. "A small box that allows you to speak to someone even if they're miles away. It's commonplace back home."
"Fascinating." Izana smiled. "With all these wonders, what hasn't your world accomplished?"
"A lot." Asuna shrugged. "We're still developing new forms of energy, medicine, list goes on and on."
"I'd like to visit sometime." Izana said as he cut into his meal. "Though, that might be difficult seeing as we still don't know how to get you three home, let alone transport us to this nation of Japan."
"True." Kazuto said as he helped Yui cut her plate of meat. "But we'll deal with that when the time comes."
As they continued to eat and converse, Asuna finally felt herself beginning to relax.