They had arrived at a large medieval city. Saito had introduced it to him as Tristania, the capital of Tristain Kingdom and where the Royal Palace was. It was just after lunch, the taverns and restaurants were cleaning tables and closing down, the people sluggishly walking back to work and the guards fresh. Even with that their carriage crossed the capital with no problem, Agnes presence seemed to be sufficient to guaranty access all the way to the palace. Kirito wondered exactly how influent and high ranked she was.

Since they had left the security and discretion of the wagon Kirito's Wings and Tiffania's burst had attracted many looks from the servants and guards. The palace corridors too still smelled of food and Kirito's stomach growled more than once getting him scandalized looks from Louise and giggles from the elf. Finally they arrived to a long and large throne room decorated in gold and blue tapestries and column. It was ostentatious but Kirito saw that the decorations were hiding small alcoves that housed highly trained and armed guards. Each of them aware that Kirito saw them and ready to battle.

Sitting on the smallest of three thrones was a young woman, no older than himself, dressed in a light blue gown and a purple cape. Assuming this was the princess of the kingdom Kirito was not surprised when all three of his travel companions kneeled to her and Tiffania, after a moment of hesitation, followed suit. Kirito did not owe allegiance to the royalty of this world, and even if he did he certainly would not kneel down in front of anyone.

As a way to show he was friendly but not under Tristanian's rule he simply curtsied by bowing his head and joining his hands in a fist-cup gesture. Kirito sensed several of the guards shift and knew his actions had been understood. Still, he wondered why they were now directing ire towards him in such an obvious and open way.

The princess started talking and Saito traduced in whispers. According to Saito this girl was Princess Henrietta, next in line for Tristain's Throne, she had sent Agnes, Louise and Saito to locate and bring Tiffania to her as people with healing magic, even more resurection magic, were precious. Kirito, knowing that healers would have been priceless in Aincrad, could not agree more with her and approuved her choice.

Henrietta proceeded by hearing Agnes report while eyeing me with curiosity then went on re-knighting Saito, which consisted in putting a cape on his shoulders and saying a few words. Apparently Saito's worth was enough to enter her services even without his runes. The princess wanted him to be her personal knight but after a vehement refusal from Louise where the little girl forgot all decorum and Kirito was forced to remind Saito to translate, it was decided that Saito was to be Louise's bodyguard.

After that small shouting match between pubescent girls, Princess Henrietta got her composure back warned Saito and Louise to be warry of their status as Void Mage being leacked, a warning that was extended to me as i was now Louise's official familiar. Then the princess welcomed Tiffania even as she revealed the elf was a distant relative of hers gotten out of wedlock and commanded Louise for another accomplished mission.

Then came Kirito's turn.

"She wants to know what you plan on doing." Translated Saito.

"I had time to think about it and have decided that, as i am lost in another world my first priority is to secure lodging and food. To that end i have accepted to act as Louise-san's Familiar. Now i wish to find a way back home."

Saito traduced, the princess nodded and spoke once more.

"She doesn't know where 'home' is but will provide you with anything you need to do so. She also asks for your qualifications as Louise's Familliar."

"I can read, write and calculate; through not in their language. I am also well versed in the use of the sword to the point that i was a well known warrior back home and am capable enough with a gun."

"What about your magic?" Added Saito

"Ah, yes." Kirito thought, remembering the foreign knowledge that was coursing into him each time he thought of it. "I can produce black fire balls of varying size and intensity, melt in shadows at night, produce a blinding light or in the contrary plunge my opponents in darkness and physically transform into monstrous beings that i have once slain so long as it was dealt with mostly by myself."

Saito was so shocked by what he was hearing that Kirito had to nudge him before he translated. Just like with Saito the room grew silent with shock. It was Louise who broke it, pointing her finger at him with accusations in her voice. Henrietta-hime calmed her down while Kirito turned to Saito for an explanation.

"She thinks you're lying"

"Why?"

"Elves can't do what you say you can."

"Well that does't prove anything."

"How so?"

"I'm not an elf!"

His outburst attracted the attention of the princess and Louise and both turned to Saito for explanation. Saito diligently did so and soon Kirito was explaining he was a Springan, one of the nine races of Faeries that inhabited Alfheim and wedged war to get access to the top of the World Tree to ascend to a higher race. Kirito had chosen to give Alfheim online's background rather than his real one from real life and Aincrad as he did not think their medieval culture would understand the concept of virtual reality and video games. Maybe Saito would as he was from earth but just one person over the thousands that inhabited this world was too little. At least they would understand this setting as it was also a magical medieval one close to their own.

Once Saito was done traducing the princess wished him a good luck in his attempt to find a way home and announced that Siesta, the maid, was now Kirito's personal servant. This made Louise blow another fuse and siesta smile a cheshire smile at Saito who had a bad feeling.

This quite comical scene was interrupted by a crystalline laugh and all turned to the source of the laugh to see Kirito holding his hand to hide a smile.

"My apologies, i couldn't resist. It is just that your all so youthful. Plus you remind me of myself some time ago."

"How so?" Asked Saito as he was the only one that understood him.

"I was once the center of the attentions of many girls too, through contrary to you, i had no trouble showing which in love with all my heart."

Saito became completely red faced and Kirito, assuming that he was embarrassed to have been seen through, carried on without realizing that Saito thought him a girl and therefore that he had just admitted being attracted to the same sex.

"I became good friends with them and married the one i loved, living happily ever after with her until i got sucked into another world entirely."

"I am sorry..." Said Saito

"Do not be. You are lot the one who summoned me nor are you the one choosing to match me to Louise."

Saito wanted to defend his crush but was interrupted by none other than Louise who had heard her name and wanted to understand what they were talking about. Once she managed to get Saito to spill she, siesta and Princess Henrietta became red faced.

..0.

It took them an afternoon to travel from the capital to Tristain's Academy of Magic in a carriage. Their arrival to the academy did not go unnoticed and soon a large crowd of first years and second years students came to welcome them. Kirito, too nervous to be under the intense glare of the male students took flight and landed on top of the roof of the highest tower and stayed there until the crowd dispersed.

In the mean time Tiffania was introduced as a new student. She was hiding her ears under a hat as to not frighten people, she too received glare from the male portion of the student body although those were directed a little under her face at her pronounced bust.

Many people were attempting to get the attention of Chevalier Saito de Hiraga while others were tirelessly questioning Louise, and even Siesta that they usually ignored, about the flying beauty that came with them. Louise, as impatient as always, nearly blasted them away with magic and the crowd dispersed. Siesta went to unpack their traveling gear while Saito, Louise and Tiffania went to see the Headmaster to explain the Princess' decisions and then show Tffania her new rooms.

At least that was what they had planned on until Kirito flew to them and hoarded the Headmaster's -drooling- attention along with Tiffania's impressive front. Louise had to once again snap to get him back on the topic at hand. The arrival of the both of them went well, at dinner Oswald the Old did an announcement that Kirito was from another world which explained her wings and pointed ears -a fact that ensued much whispers both because of the news that her ears were pointed and because Louise's familiar was from another world again.

After that Kirito discovered her new lodgings, a large room just under the roof top of the dormitory tower that he could access by a window and a door with a water bassin to wash and a large bed, a dresser, small table and chair, then he accompanied Louise to the dinning hall where he stood guard behind her, not paying attention to the looks and whispers pointed his way.