Before we begin, i would like to apologise for making you wait. My imagination seems to have struck a brick wall face on, and adding a few IRL issues with that, it took forever for me to write this. Hope you enjoy


We killed the boss, as we defeated the next one and the one after that. Gradually I came to realise, as we bore them down one by one to afterwards stand exhausted and victorious, that this world had changed us. We were children when we arrived, unscathed, unfamiliar with the violent world we had been trapped in. It was to be a game, a fake reality we could experience and visit to escape our regular day. Not a death game with minimum chance of survival. But mankind is known to adapt, and most important of all, to survive. And adapt we did, casting away our sympathy and gentle character for iron hard determination. Weapon in hand, we fought everything that stood in our path. That became our normal day, a daily routine that we all followed as in a trance. When we stepped our on the seventh floor and faced our first humanoid monsters, many were deterred at first, unwilling to bear down something close to an evil relative race. But as time passed, not one soul kept it's purity and refused to kill humanlike mobs. All of us pressed on, determined to fight our way free and reunite with the outside world. How much have we lost? Those thoughts haunt me sometime. How much humanity is left in us compared to those free from virtual shackles. Us who have slain so many? Even if we return to the world, will the world accept us who have paid for our progress with pain and blood? How can they understand what it feels like, being always alert of danger, always being ready for assaults and traps? It is a question with no possible answer, but we fight anyway. For our freedom and our souls.

I however, have faith we will prevail, and keep our compassion despite the difficulties that lies on the road we follow. My female companion is a living example of that. Though she was unnerved and hostile as our long fight began, she has now turned into a being made of strength and gentleness, using all that is within her power to help others. How I admire her and her determination and wish that I possessed her courage. My actions are considered by a few to be a beacon of hope, but they do not know the fear I constantly suppress and hide behind a cool façade. For us to prevail, we must never display our uneasiness and let our spirits down. If we fail to preserve our hope, all is lost.

Notes from an unknown author.


It was now early March and the clearing group had made progress. They had slain kobolts, battled minotaurs, crossed blades with humanoids, brought down a giant to its knees, crushed golems into rubble, burnt a treeant to ashes. They had beaten, struck, slashed, cut, kicked, punched and elbowed their way forward and was now currently clearing the 21th floor, though with some difficulty since it was a huge world filled with snow, ice and chills. Not used to these weather conditions, the assault had been slowed as players, not equipped with proper clothing, had been forced to succumb to the cold and seek shelter within the city walls. Though it had indeed snowed the week around Christmas, the temperature had never reached these freezing depths.

It had gone so far that one day, a beaten player that fled after battling a snowstorm, screamed in terror: "This is not a game! This is the ninth realm of hell itself!" And indeed, it seemed sometimes like that proclamation was true.

But it was now the merchants was really given their opportunity to shine. Skilled tailors, previously only sewing colourful garments and accessory that served only as a stylish add-on, now found themselves flooded with players wanting warm garments to protect them against the cold. Blacksmiths formed unions with tailors, and through the ingenious game system that seemed to constantly evolve, they began mass-producing armours and equipments that offered protections from both weapons and cold. A new armour type was born, one with a slight reduce in mobility but a necessity if progress was to be made. And so, players waited in line to receive the chance of buying their own ticket, all in order to enter the cold lands beyond the walls.

Making their way towards an nearby restaurant with the rising sun on their backs, Sand and Yuuna walked in a comfortable pace with their arms locked in a faint embrace. Yuuna clad in a supple leather armour with metallic scales latched on her shoulders and back, and Sand dressed in a similar armour, it's steel protection also fastened on his shoulders and back, but he had also equipped gauntlets having sheets of metal covering the outside of his arms from the elbow to the wrist. He wore no hood now, a firm order issued from Yuuna, who had actually smacked him on the forehead with a stick when he had protested.

"Don't. Be. Such. An. Idiot!" She had scolded him between the blows. "Why bother caring what others think of you? You. Will. Not. Wear. a hood from now on, and That. Is. Final." A hard smack had followed that statement and Sand had immediately agreed, realising then the idiocy of ever using a hood. When he got somewhat used to the awkward stares, he found it relieving not having to hide his features. And stares were much better than sticks.

The pair had grown closer over the months, slowly lowering their guard and allowing the other one to see that which awaited beyond. They were not officially a couple, they still fought and argued too much for that. But there was an intimacy between them, something special and unique that only they shared and enjoyed.

It had begun on the second level, at least that's how Sand saw it. When they sat there, tired after sharpening her skills with a blade, a connection began to sprout and spread it's long roots. They had continued meeting, both for training purpose and to simply be in the others presence and the small sprout had grown into a small plant, eager to grow stronger and taller. At one point, it became clear to both of them that their mastery with daggers was now equal and the training sessions was replaced by effective farming. Sand had then offered a friendly partnership where only he and Yuuna would be the only party members. With their agility and skill, they had began to outpace the other members of the initial party. Horian and at some point Agil, had now settled with a fighting style that fully relied on using their STR and VIT to defeat foes, rather than movability. Eilage and Aleryes had somehow become an unbelievable blend from two individuals into one. A single warrior with four arms wielding swords and shields in a magnificent teamwork. Thus, their party had become unbalanced when they all realised that their skills were too different to make an efficient pace that suited all members. Their methods were simply too different.

Now, Aleryes and Eilage had went and joined the Knights of the Blood that had been formed around floor ten. The leader Heathcliff, a tall and noble man, had personally invited them as the twelfth floor boss had been defeated. Horian had become a mixture between a solo player and a mercenary, joining parties who were looking for a skilled member to briefly fill their party. His prowess with two-handed weapons was well known and considered by some to be a complete tank. Agil was now managing his own merchant store and was having less time to go out in the field. How he still kept his level in pace with the clearing group, that remained a mystery.

It was him that Yuuna and Sand was planning to meet.

"Do you think he will have them ready?" Yuuna asked Sand as she gazed on the buildings on either side of the walkway. She had not taken the situation of them being stranded in the city very well, and she emphasized that by randomly walking over and launch a hard kick on a nearby building.

"What other reason would he be calling us for." Sand replied with a faint smile as a small system window popped up, indicating that the building was an Immortal Object. He was equally frustrated, being in this situation, but he endured it stoically. They had been forced to revisit the previous floor and that had left a bitter taste in his mouth, making it feel like they were walking back in their own tracks. But maybe now, maybe the trial was finally coming to an end. Maybe...

"Greetings" A male NPC welcomed them with a small bow as they entered the dining hall. Wearing something remotely similar to a tuxedo, it guided the pair to a free table where he produced a small notebook. "What can I get for you? The unique selections of beverages we offer are of top quality, I can assure you." Another bow. "We also have a wide stock of food and deserts, spanning from the ever so popular lemon sorbet to the rare and tender steak, expertly cooked by our master chef." You could sense some level of pride in his voice, despite it being a soulless being. Another small and subtle detail that made SAO so lifelike.

"I think I will order a glass of white wine" Yuuna had apparently grown rather fond of the dry taste, and never missed an opportunity to order one. Sand however had discovered and developed a liking to the various mead types one could order. It cost a few Col extra, but since it was a virtual liquid which didn't require years to mature, one could actually make small subtle changes in the taste, such as spiciness, sourness, types of honey mixed into the drink, adding a hint of citrus, mint, the time it took for the taste to linger in the mouth and so on. He had been experimenting for quite some time, and had now come to the part considering the type of wood the beverage had been stored in.

"I'll take a pepper mead that has matured in a birch barrel, with bee honey and some Creadence flower juice mixed in ." He chuckled as Yuuna shook her head and frowned slightly. But he knew she wouldn't complain about it today.

It was his treat.

Receiving the money, the male NPC issued yet another bow, walked over and through a door whereby it returned with their order.

"You know Sand." Yuuna remarked as she accepted the outstretched glass from the NPC. "You should maybe try raising your Alchemy skill, seeing how much fuss you make with your drinks. It would be great if we could save some col from buying healing potions all the time." Sand hummed at that and took a sip of his mug, eyes closed. The flavour was good, but it still lacked the perfect combination he was looking for.

"I guess I could give it a try.. " He lingered on the reply, letting a small grin spread on his lips. "..IF you help me get the materials I need." Her suggestion was a sound one and worth a shot, but he was not willing to spend large quantities on buying the ingredients from NPCs or merchants.

She aimed a half-hearted kick under the table and spun her own glass in small circles, making the liquid inside whirling around the sides.

"Ooh, we meet again." A familiar voice proclaimed as a tall and muscular figure eased himself down at their table.

"Agil!" Yuuna greeted happily while Sand rose and offered a handshake while he smacked the man on his back. "Hey Agil, how goes the store?"

Agil took the hand and shook it firmly. "Couldn't be better, I say! I have not bought a house to call my own just yet, but I still make a good profit by occupying a table in the merchant district and dealing with some other sellers. Which now brings me to the reason behind our little meeting." He grinned and swiped his index finger down, opening his inventory. "These things were not easy to acquire, I tell you that. But since I owe you one for saving my ass back during the 17th floor boss fight, it's all on me."

The 17th boss had been a terrible pain in the ass. The F-squad had been rejoined for the occasion, but their normal tactics had not been very effective whith the 17th boss being a giant cobra, over 20 metres long. It's scaly skin had made it difficult to injure it since it covered it's whole body except for the softer skin on it's long torso. But to get there, one would have to face the insanely fast head which constantly retracted before shooting forward with lightning speed and knocking players senseless. In a last desperate attempt to raise the fighting spirit in the raid group, Agil had rushed forward and tried to intercept it's charge with his axe, making it temporarily dazed and vulnerable for attacks. But he was not fast enough, and had it not been for Yuuna who dragged him out of there while Sand distracted it, his life would've ended with that heroic manoeuvre.

Agil scrolled a while before apparently finding what he was looking for and materialized the two respective items on the table.

Before them, on the hard oak surface, lay two thick coats, both white as snow but differing slightly in appearance. Yuuna and Sand eyed the pieces, looked at each other, a silent question being spoken, but then they both smiled and nodded. Choices made, they took their respective garment, stood up and tried it on. Sand was now clad in a sleek cloak, made out of several layers of cloth with warm fluffy isolation between. Thin silvery embroideries traced the shoulder paddings and back, shooting out in various places from the small securely fastened, dimly polished metal plates that protected his shoulder blades and chest. Yuuna on the other hand, was now wearing a beautiful white cape which seemed to bend around her body. No plate metal was visible, but instead thin chainmail rings were sown into the fabric itself, making it glitter slightly in the light. With her ruby hair flowing out and down behind her back, she looked almost royal. Both pieces were completed with hoods that had thick grey animal fur as isolation and they both lacked any openings where a person could put their arms into. But that was only good since the agile pairs movements would've been slowed down considerably.

"Agil-san, these are amazing" Yuuna managed to say as she marvelled over the soft fabric that she was stroking with her hand. "They must've cost a fortune" Sand absently nodded in agreement as his mind wandered for a split second, dazed by the comfortable garment.

"N-.. Not really. I got them pretty cheap from the tailor, but he made me promise to sell his wares in my own store so I guess he will walk away quite rich from this." Agil seemed at unease by the gratitude he received from both Yuuna as well as Sand.

"Either way: Thank you" Sand responded and tried unsheathing his dagger. The Ebony Dirk slid out effortlessly from it's sheath, making an almost happy sounding hiss. Sand put his blade through a few basic routines and monitored how the coat followed his movements. The equipment did not hinder the movement in any way, and that brought an even bigger smile to his face.

"Y-.. Yeah. Sure, no problem.. So you guys are heading out now?"

Yuuna nodded and took Sands arm who answered. "This waiting is killing us so yeah, we're going outside the walls for now. We'll probably not return for a while, seeing that there's a nearby village where we can rest. Well bye, and thanks again!" Not able to suppress their eagerness any longer, the pair swiftly bade farewell to Agil and sprinted out, racing to the front gate.

Two shades of white moved swiftly over the chilly landscape, flying over the packed snow where one would hardly leave a footprint. For an onlooker, it would've been very difficult to keep track of them as they swiftly ran away from the warm city and into the freezing climate. The white coats covered them from top to toe, concealing their coloured armours underneath and rendering them almost invisible in the white surroundings. When they had previously ventured out, the pair had quickly realised that this weather was not something you could tackle with willpower alone. There seemed to be a slow DOT-debuff working out here, a freezing paralyze status that made a players movements increasingly sluggish, working similarly as a slow poison would. That was before they had acquired the coats however, and now they were at last ready to go out and face this floor. Sand and Yuuna did not speak during the time they ran, but it was not necessary since they knew each other so well. The duo knew that the feeling of freedom that came to them was mutual, and large smiles occasionally flashed from under the hoods. There were no mobs in sight, strangely enough, and so they pressed on, eager to find a challenge.

Suddenly, there was only one white shadow on the field. Yuuna halted abruptly and spun around, weapon in hand. Her eyes shot towards the place where his footprints seemed to have vanished. She carefully walked back towards the spot. "Sand?" she whispered as her eyes darted around in search for her partner. There had not been a sound, not the slightest whisper had escaped as he vanished into this air. Nothing seemed to be missing, no unusual set of tracks or trace was to be seen no matter how much she scanned the perimeter.

Is it a trap? Yuuna could not see any holes in the ground, only her own and Sand's. But where could he..?

"BOOH!" Appearing right in front of her was Sand, leaping out of the snow with hands outstretched towards her face. Yuuna shrieked and leaped back as her right hand holding her weapon automatically shot out and made an awkward strike. Sand, prepared for a reaction like this, caught her arm in mid-swing before his whole body began to shake in short spasms. Yuuna thought first that he had been hurt, but then small chuckles reached her ears, chuckles which soon evolved into hearty laughter. Yuuna swiftly interrupted him with a merciless punch in his midsection.

"What the hell is wrong with you?! I could've injured you!" She shouted as he lay before her, curled and gasping for breath. Sand's smile did not however diminish the slightest.

"H-.. Heh-... You could've-.. but you didn't." He managed to get back up on his feet and gave her a smile filled with mischief and a faked innocence. "It was definitely worth it, anyways." Despite her best efforts, Yuuna could not stay angry on him for very long.

"Mou, Sand-kun.. It's not fair with you having almost mastered the hiding skill this early in the game" She pouted, turned around and crouch down in the snow. If it hadn't been for her red hair, she would've been hard to make out even at this range.

Sand thought he might have pushed his prank too far. Maybe he should apologise? "Yuuna, I... HMMPFHH!" He could not finish the intended sentence as his face was suddenly filled with cold snow and he was back on the ground. Yuuna clapped her hands together and rubbed the remaining snow off her gloves.

"There! Much better" She nodded happily as Sand spat out a mouthful and took his turn to shoot an angry glare before his features softened.

"Guess I deserved that..." He muttered and spat out another chunk of snow. "Yes you did" Yuuna agreed as she helped him up. "Well, at least we know now that the coats are functional as camouflage." Sand added, tucked his long hair back and pulled up his hood.

"For you maybe." Yuuna replied. "You should've told me back on the second floor about the tree. I could've gained maybe a hundred skillpoints from it before my level was too high!" It had been a small thorn in her side ever since she learned about Sand's abnormal skill-level in Hiding. She had tried to develop her own, hoping to catch up with him. Despite her efforts, he was still about 200 points above her.

"Well I didn't trust you then, and you didn't trust me so.." Sand shrugged and looked away.

"Hmpf!" Was all he got back as they resumed their sprint.

They hadn't covered a lot of distance before Sand halted and tugged Yuuna on her sleeve, making her almost fall over.

"What are you...?"

"Shhhh! Did you see that?" Sand hissed and Yuuna was instantly wary when she heard the edge in his voice. She eased her hand down close to her weapon, ready to draw it at a moments notice. "See what?" She couldn't make out anything in the snowy wasteland.

Sand's hand had shot in under his cloak and drawn forth the blade that rested inside. "I saw something move over by that tree, at the base." He motioned for her to take his hand, and then activated his Hiding, Yuuna only seconds behind. With their hands firmly locked together to enable visuals of each other, the pair crept towards the spot Sand had motioned for. As they got closer, Yuuna noticed that the snow surrounding the tree had been disturbed. It seemed that someone or something had first shuffled the snow away and then struggled to cover the tracks. No movement could be seen in the area, but that did nothing to soothe their tensed muscles. Too long had they fought, too many traps had they experienced and too many fights had they won for them to lower their guard now. Their bodies still being like coiled springs, Sand and Yuuna closed in on the tree.

In Sword Art Online, things who looked suspicious were always being so for a reason. Therefore they did not doubt for a second that this was just a random appearance, but something else. A quest start? A marking by a new kind of mob perhaps? They could not tell.

Sand drew his dagger and turned his back towards the tree, watching the perimeter as Yuuna bent down and carefully dug with hands in the snow. After a while, Yuuna spoke up.

"Uhh, Sand. You might want to see this.." Her voice came tentatively into his ears. Not sure what to make of her reaction, Sand backed closer to the tree and bent down beside her, blade still poised in position. "What is it?" He carefully glanced down to her hands and froze in place.

Carefully held in Yuuna's soft hands was a large ornate egg the size of an oval football, enriched with gems and clad with beautiful golden leaves. All thoughts of defence now blown away by awe, Sand fell down on his knees beside her. "What-.. is that? He dared to ask.

"I have no idea" Yuuna whispered and stroked the the eggs surface. As she did, a system message appeared above it and the pair gave out a unified gasp of surprise at the now named: Golden Rabbit's Egg. A window popped up: Open Egg? Yes / No. Yuuna pressed yes.

With a small boom and a colourful explosion, the egg cracked in half. The top piece bent back, sliding along an invisible hinge and revealed the contents within. "Is that..?" Yuuna almost lost the courage to ask as she saw something she had not seen for four months. "I believe it is" Sand was now grinning widely as he viewed the contents. He took an item from the egg and held it up. "Yuuna, say aaah" Normally, she would've hit him in the head for making such a cliché act, but surprisingly enough she did not react. She opened her mouth and Sand put the piece into her mouth.

Yuuna's eyes popped wide open, staring into a void unknown and unexplored by man. "Chocolate!" She moaned with delight as she chewed the candy. She even leaned her head back so much that her hood fell off and her beautiful hair was freed. Sand took out another piece and tasted. "Delicious.." Nothing could've described the taste more accurate. The chocolate melted in their mouths, virtually making their tongues swirl with ecstatic pleasure. Later on, they discovered that this was part of an event that only occurred in march each year. On this particular floor, small rabbits would spawn, though incredibly infrequent, and hide their eggs in the forest. Seeing that this was not going to happen any time soon, Sand and Yuuna began a frantic search for similar burial sights that went on for over two days. They found two more piles of snow, and two more golden eggs with the priceless reward within were extracted.

But for now, they didn't care. This was their first piece of chocolate in what felt like a decade and they would be damned if they weren't enjoying it to the fullest.

"Oh my god.." Sand suddenly spoke out, tearing his partner out of her dull state of mind. "Do you realise what this means?" Yuuna looked confused and shook her head, making her red hair swirl through the air. Sand stroked her chin and took her hand with his, his eyes looking softly into hers.

"Happy Easter Yuuna"


Happy Easter everybody! :D
I don't know how much time i will have during the holidays to work on my next episode so it may take a while, but rest assured i will think of new plots constantly so when i get the time to sit by the computer, it will not be in vain.

Until next time, best regards to all of you :)