July 5, 2023. Floor 20.

Haru Hayai:

I lay on the shingle-tiled roof of the clock-tower in the town of Jarasu, staring up at the night sky. The busy streets of the frontline town had a euphoric feel to it, bringing me away from the lonely days in the fields I've grown accustomed to. The soft summer breeze was refreshing against my skin, what wasn't covered by armor, anyway. I inhaled slowly and let out loud sighs, listening to the traffic of players below me.

I had been keeping up with the floors rather well, although I haven't stepped foot inside of a dungeon since January. I spend most of my days farming level twenty five mobs, a few levels lower than mine. An easy way to rack experience, crap drops, and Col. Most of the other players are all out fighting field bosses or killing themselves in the dungeons, so my fields are always quiet.

I stare at my left hand, around my ring finger was the Apothecary's Will. The ring itself was stunning, a thin silver wrapped around my finger, a shining ruby cross placed neatly in the center. The stats were astonishing, and I had considered selling it many times. However, I already have more Col than I know what to do with, so I might as well keep it. The ring was named appropriately, giving me a twenty percent health boost when solo, and a thirty percent boost when in a party. The ring's health boost also gives my party members the same gift, making it almost necessary to be in a party with someone. Which makes me long for my brothers even more.

The ring also drastically changed my health regeneration skill, giving me a strong one hundred and fifty hit points every ten seconds. Of course, ten seconds could be the difference between life and death, but my vitality level was at a decent number, so I didn't have too much to worry about.

I felt the wind pick up, causing my coat to softly flap in the breeze. I lean forward, bringing myself to my feet in a crouching position. I stand up and carefully walk down the tiled roof. As I come closer to the edge, I stare out at the town. Neatly lit with faint flickers of yellow and orange and crowded with hundreds of players, I felt relieved to see the activity. Knowing that there are others around makes getting through the day much easier. I miss the company I once had, and my current days are centered around myself, which isn't very fun, seeing as how when I'm alone my mind goes wild with guilt and self-hatred. I manage to push these thoughts out, even though I fully understand that they're true.

I stretch my arms, arch my back and lean forward. I spread my arms out like wings, with my palms facing the town ahead of me. I give small hop, and plunge downward towards the buildings below me.

The clock tower was easily twenty stories high, if not more. Though the fall has no chance of killing me due to my exceptionally high endurance and agility. If any injuries occur, it'll be on purpose. I close my eyes and relish in the warm breeze hitting my face and hands as I dive through the air.

I open my eyes to see a wide, red tiled roof below me. I position myself so that when I land, I'll be able to easily roll, softening the impact a great amount.

When I hit the roof, I land on the tips of my toes, bend my knees, and throw my upper body forward, somersaulting on the rough shingles. Less than pleasant, but I ignore the chills they cause. I dash across the roof, throwing my arms behind me, as you'd see ninjas do in old cartoons. I leap over various alleys and gaps, giving myself an invigorating exercise. I scale various walls, performing wall-runs and showy flips, even though no one is looking in my direction. Even if they were, I doubt they could see me through the nighttime shadows.

I'm only a couple hundred meters away from my destination of the inn, when I spot a vaguely familiar girl at one of the shops across the street from my position wearing heavy armor with golden blonde hair, but she's turned away from me so I'm unable to see her face. Still, my eyes widen in excitement, and I feel my heart skip a beat. I smile broadly, leaping down from the roof I'm on. I navigate through the small crowd of NPCs and players and approach the girl I once met from behind. I go to put my hand on her shoulder, but she turns around and begins talking to another player. I quickly lower my hand and stare off into the crowd. Glancing back, I'm able to deduce the fact that this girl is not Lucy, but just another survivor.

I turn around and begin to walk back to my rooftop when a pair of hands grasp my shoulder firmly. I lurch back and stare at my unknown visitors. They easily tower over me, which is surprising due to my long and lanky body type, I stand an appropriate 5'9, though these men seem to be at least a foot taller. They stare at me with bleak eyes, their faces seemed to be perfectly shaped, with brick-like chins and cheeks. They wore thick white and cyan robes, two colors that I instantly regretted seeing. Oh, I thought, this should be good.

They glared down at me and in unison said, "Haru 'Bullet' Hayai?" their voices were strong and filled with too much testosterone.

I stared back, unamused, "Yeah? What do you want?"

The one on the right pulled out a sheet of crumpled paper from his jacket pocket and began to read, "By order of the guild of Cygnus," Formal! "You are currently under the custody and supervision of Knight Banto," he pointed at himself, "And Guardsman Keiga," he pointed at his friend, "Until Father Maxis of Cygnus has given the order of your release." He crumpled the paper and shoved it in his coat. "Please, come with us."

The one named Banto had short, fiery red hair and deep blue eyes. He was relatively young for his size, probably in his late teens. Not much older than me. Keiga had dark brown hair and topaz colored eyes. It's possibly that he had them changed in-game, but for some reason I doubt it. They looked a lot alike, besides their different hair and eye colors. They were almost the same exact height, with the same facial features and everything. Keiga had a longs-axe.

I turn my head to the side and ogleword strapped across his back, and Banto, a great at the one named Banto boredly, "Why?"

They look at each other, their eyebrows raised, then Banto turned back to me, "Father Maxis ordered it."

I let out a guffaw, "That's hilarious! He's going by 'Father' now?" I pretended to wipe a tear from my eye, "That's too good..."

The one named Keiga scowled at me, his deep, golden eyes gave him a sense of permanent annoyance. "Do not taunt Father Maxis," he used his fingers to imitate quotations, "'Bullet'."

I scratched the back of my head and chuckled, jokingly embarrassed, "I never really liked that name. Maxis sure did, I think it's a bit cheesy, don't you?"

Banto covered his face with his hand, "Just come with us kid, it won't take long."

Kid? This made me annoyed. I sighed, "Alright let's go..." I motioned for them to lead, and they walked ahead of me.

When we had been walking for a few meters, I slowed my pace and began to drift to the right. Before they could notice, I was scaling the nearest wall. I accidentally tapped a metal pipe with my foot, and they turned their attention towards me. "Hey!" they yelled in unison.

I smiled at them and gave them a flick of my hand, flinging myself across the rooftop.

They immediately gave chase, although if they're from Cygnus, there's no way in hell that they would ever catch up to me.

I vaulted over a ledge, dropping down to an alley below me. I landed with a dull thud, but kept moving. Out of the alley was a populated street, I found my way across and climbed onto another one story roof. Confident that I had evaded them, I began to ease my way to the inn.

I walked in to the packed lobby of the Ootori Inn and was immediately greeted by the sounds of excited players and the strong scent of tea. I grimaced at the smell, thinking of my brother and I sitting in an inn just like this, with the smell of tea in the air. I rushed to the counter, trying to evade the smell, gliding past the players and renting a room for the night.

I got to my room, a small yet comfortable area with one bed pressed against the left wall. Tapping the 'Off' option on the light switch, sitting down on the bed with a deep sigh. I had successfully evaded the Cygnus goons, but why would Maxis want to see me? We have no further business to speak of, so what could he want? To make sure I was still alive? Well he probably knows that by now, and why is he going by Father? He's by no means a priest, and Father sounds too... I don't know, fake.

I pushed the questions out of my mind, as I knew thinking of Cygnus would only open doors to older, unwanted memories. I opened my menu and equipped my clothes, stashing my armor in my inventory. I kept my ring on, however. Wearing it gave me a sense of false comfort, despite the way I acquired it.

I lay back on the bed, staring up at the dim ceiling. The room was illuminated by the faint blue light of the moon, and nostalgia came to my mind. I crawled up the bed, tucking myself in quickly. I pulled the covers over my eyes and thought about the girl I knew for one night. Where could she be? Is she still alive? I pray that she is. I hope she makes it to the real world. Maybe we've already passed one another. Maybe she's outside right now, walking the streets of Jarasu, alone and tired. I softly shook my head, forcing myself to think of something happier.

I thought of the night before I came to this world. I sat at the kitchen table of Gram and Gramps' house, helping Maru with his homework. Karu came rushing through the door, and announced that Sword Art Online was coming out the following day. Although we had all known this. As he had frequently told us about the game every chance he got.

He was so excited, I thought, I wonder how he felt when Kayaba announced that we were trapped...

Being under the blanket soon became stuffy and I pulled my head out for cooler air. I focused on the blue light, pushing my brothers out of my mind, and began to slowly slip into unconsciousness.

I see nothing but flashes of gray. It comes every few seconds. I'm taken aback by them, but I realize what they are, and I let them come.

Faces appear. First Maru, then Karu, then they stop. They're speaking somehow, but I can't understand what they're saying. Of course they'd appear. They're dead and my mind is forcing me to sit through these replays of memories to torture me, but at the same time, it's torturing itself.

A pond. I'm sitting on the grass ledge above a deep blue pond. A fishing pole in my hands, I cast out into the water. Someone's talking next to me, a young voice, I recognize his voice immediately, and begin a conversation with my younger brother. I can't make out any of the words we're saying, but I don't care. I'm just happy to remember a moment like this.

A dark room comes next, and I struggle in my unconscious state to push this thought out. But I fail, and the memory plays.

Faint flickers of various colors illuminate the living room, but a shadow of the chair in front of the TV blocks my vision. I know where I am, and I hate it. I despise every fiber of this room, every inch, and the disgusting 'adult' in this cursed room.

I'm laying on a small mat, sweating out a fever, covered by a thick wool blanket. Karu originally had positioned me so I could see the television, but the one in the chair moved himself as a form of punishment for me missing school. So I shut my eyes and try to sleep, knowing that he would get angry if I try to go to my room. I hear the swishes of the bottle as he sips from it. I pray that he drowns himself in it one day. I've always hoped this, since the day Maru was born. Her death changed him, Karu says. He tells me faint memories of how he used to be before she died, but I refuse to believe him. There's no way her death could morph him into this monster.

I glance at the chair at the sound of his voice. He calls to me, ordering me to get another bottle from the fridge. I tiredly bring myself out of my cot and walk towards the kitchen. I notice that we're out of what he's asking for, so I bring him a can of something foul instead. When he sees what I have in my hand, I explain that we're out of what he likes, and that he has to go pick up some more.

His glasses flash the colors of the TV and a long shadow comes from his left side. He swats my right cheek, hard. I recoil back, grasping my face with my hand. He mentions something about my attitude, and I can smell the alcohol on his breath. I frown at him and walk away, refusing to listen to his drunken rambling.

He calls out to me with a strict tone, ordering me to come back. I ignore him and head for the door to our bedroom. I lock myself inside, hearing his amplified footsteps come down the hall. I race to the closet and shut the rolling door. Burying my head in my knees, I push out the sound of his fist banging on the bedroom door. Soon, I hear the door bust open with a loud thud, and his footsteps get closer and closer. He opens the bedroom closet, glaring down at me through his thick glasses.

I shoot up, sitting up straight in bed and sweating as though I had been in a sauna. I notice that my blankets are horribly disfigured, and my pillow lays on the floor a few feet away from me. I regain my composure and open my menu, checking the time.

"Only ten thirty..." I mumble to myself, "I've been asleep for an hour..."

I give up on the idea of sleep, knowing from experience that it will no longer come. Most nights have been like this, although I rarely dream of my father. Most of the time, my mind replays the moments when my brothers died, taunting me, and I wake up either screaming or crying hysterically.

I get up, fix the bed, and head out the door into the now, almost empty, lobby of the inn. I turn in the key to my room and head outside, where I'm greeted by the warm air of Jarasu and the conversations of the players that are still awake.

I decide to head to my training fields just out of Jarasu, Might as well, I think, sighing.

I shove my hands in my pockets and walk down the dimly lit cobblestone street. I whistle softly to myself and equip all of my necessary equipment for farming mobs, as I head out of the town.

July 6, 2023. Floor 20.

As I walk back towards the only entrance of Jarasu from my training fields, I notice two familiar faces standing in the middle of the walkway. They flash me large smiles, waving as though we're good friends.

I groan loudly, "Jeez, I thought I got rid of you guys."

Banto laughs, "For some time. We searched the whole town for you," he gives me an annoyed frown, "It was really quite a hassle. But when we concluded that you were no longer in Jarasu, we decided to wait at the only entrance into the town."

"What if I had used the teleporter?"

Banto gives me a sly grin, "We would have known."

Keiga spoke up, "What were you doing in the fields, Haru-sama? It's a bit early to start training, don't you think?" his voice was bright, as though he were excited to find me.

I scratched my head and faced the ground, "I didn't get much sleep last night," I sigh, "And don't call me sama, it's weird."

"Let's get you to Father Maxis," Banto said, "Then we can decide on what to call you," he winked and they both laughed.

I groaned again, expressing my exasperation, "At least tell me what he wants first."

Banto shrugged, "We don't know, we were only told to find you and deliver you to Maxis."

Keiga chimed in, shaking his head, "If only you had come with us at the beginning, this would be over with by now."

I frowned, sighing. "Fine..." I let my words drag, "Lead the way, goons," I motioned towards the town.

Banto walked in front of me, while Keiga strayed a few feet behind. If they had done that from the start, I probably wouldn't have escaped.

Ahead of me, Banto spoke, "Cygnus has changed quite a bit since you left, Bullet-sama," Again with the sama... "They were quite unorganized during the first few floors. Today, we're one of the best front line guilds in the game."

That's a little hard to believe... "How so?" I asked, still, I was interested in his reasoning.

"Well, to start off," he began, "Today, we're divided into three different classes. Each class is its own group, such as the Knights and Guardsmen. Guardsmen are protectors of the leaders, like Father Maxis or Atlas-sama. Knights are the leaders during boss battles, or dungeon clearings."

Keiga chimed in, "The third class is the Soldiers," he said, "The lowest ranked of the three. They're the ones who follow the knights into battle."

I pondered this for a moment and turned to face Keiga, "So every high ranked member must have a Guardsman along side them?" Keiga nodded. I scoffed, "That must be annoying."

He frowned at me, but didn't respond.

We climbed the stairs to the teleporter of the town, which was a wide, circular stone surface elevated on a platform. When we reached the platform, the two men said in unison, "Teleport, fifteenth floor, Town of Kerning." A blue flame engulfed us, and soon I could no longer see Jarasu.

Notes:

Nothing much here, besides the reference to Kerning. In Maplestory, Kerning City is the town of theives.

Ootori inn was a reference to Kyouya Ootori, (I hope I'm spelling his name right) from Ouran Highschool Host Club.