Moving on the road full of snow, three persons, Kaz, the doctor and his apprentice, a young girl. The thick snow made them moved slowly, however, it was fortunate that they could still walk on its surface. Around them, the forest was quiet, the snow surrounded the trees and their branches. The three of them did not see any animals, although they could easily understand the reason behind. With this cold, they would rather stayed in their home next to the fireplace, with their families, or hanging out with their friends in the tavern, together with some delicious meals and good wines. One other good thing, the wind did not blow so they moved easier and did not feel the cold from the air.

"How does your village look like?"

Walking, Kaz asked the doctor. Sometimes, he used his fire sword to melt down the snow to help them get through when they were stuck their feet.

"It is not different much than yours. However, if your village is known as having the rich wood resource, we have the condition to grow herbs. There are many valuable herbs that can only grow in cold weather and fortunately, we have them. On the other hand, the village is down the mountain so the weather is warmer, which we can grow some vegetables. But only when it is warm and not in this cold. And I'm proud that my village can produce some very good wines, although I know that you don't like them."

The doctor introduced his village to the Cait Sith man, with his eyes dreamt about the wines of his village and his face headed up to the sky. Thanks for that, he did not see he was stepping on a flat rock that made him slip if Kaz was not there to pull him up.

"Sorry, haha, and thank you."

The doctor laughed and apologized, and Kaz did nothing but smiled to his optimistic.

"Kaz, can I ask if…" – Suddenly, the young girl looked at Kaz with her shy eyes. She seemed trouble but finally, she spoke out her words. – "… Is it true that you and Kioku… like… you know…"

"Like what?"

Kaz looked at her but it made her more blushing.

"Are you two… a couple?"

"Yes, we are."

Even though he knew that it would make the girl sad, but he would rather say it out than kept it from her. It was not the first time a girl asked him that question. It had been nearly six months so far. At first, he was afraid of getting close to Kioku, the girl who had the same appearance as the girl he liked back in his world. But thanks to Tsubaki's encouragement and Kioku's care for him, he finally accepted her feelings and it had been a month since they became a couple. He was happy, very happy that he did not want to lose her, never again.

"Is it true that we only have three months of warm in a year?"

Kaz tried to change the topic. He looked at the doctor.

"Yes, at your village. But at mine, we have about five or six months. It starts at May and end at November, sometimes the winter comes sooner at October."

At least, the calendar was still the same.

"So will it affect the herbs? You said that your herbs only grow in cold weather, right?"

Kaz decided to learn more about this world. The more, the better. It had been six months but he still had not figured out the concept of this world. What he had learned was this world based on the Yggdrasil, the world of tree in Norse Mythology. He was told that every lands in this world, Jotunheim, Vanaheim, Alfheim, Nidarvellir, Svartalfheim, Muspelheim and Vanaheim was big flat lands that surrounded Midgard, and the thing between them was a big ocean, which was believed to be the home of the vicious and poisonous monster, Jormungand, a giant serpent that was told it could form a circle around Midgard. And in the middle of Midgard was the world of tree, Yggdrail. On top of it, through the clouds was the homeland of the gods, Asgard. Below the tree of world was the land of the death, Helheim. Even though Kaz knew the Earth, his old world, was not flat, he could not imagine the whole picture of this world, so he gave up and would take a look closer in the future. Back to the group, the doctor heard Kaz's question and answered:

"Yes, but we can also grow herbs in warm weather, as well as some vegetables and fruits. However, they aren't good as you compare with ones coming from the mainland."

"And do you trade supply with people from Midgard?"

"Of course, we have a trade route from the harbor, to my village and to yours. Whatever the case, Jotunheim is not a good place to live because of its harsh weather. Your village is the place where we can reach so far. Although if you go to the harbor, make sure you don't disturb their citizens."

"Why?"

Kaz felt curious, because he had not been there before. For other reason, everyone had the same attitude when they mentioned the harbor.

"Because it is the Dwarves that stay here. They don't like human but our foods and wines are better than theirs. And they produce tools for us so it's a win-win."

The young girl stopped being sad, and explained. It made Kaz relieved.

"Hm… It is right that Dwarves don't like humans, but also the gods."

Kaz said. He read the Norse Mythology before, not all of them but at least, he still remembered some of the stories. However, stories were still stories and he wanted to see them with his own eyes.

"Speaking of gods, we have a Valkyrie who is stationing at our village. Be manner with her."

"Valkyrie, the messengers of the gods, aren't they?"

"I know it would be impolite to say but thanks to her, no bandits can come and harass us. Each Valkyries has her own protected land and isn't allowed to help the other without the gods of that land's permission. For example, in this land we have Skadi and Njord but…"

"But…?"

Kaz wondered why the doctor stopped in the middle like that. It seemed there was something he was not comfort with it.

"… How should I say? Like… we are told to put our faith and belief, trust and hope when we were young. Even in the hardest time, we should pray for them and hope our pray can reach their ears, if we pray enough, they will listen to us and send help. But after what had happened to that village for a long time, hardly say I could keep believe in them. However, they are still there and we are just mortals, so I can say I should not show my disbelief to them."

"I can understand. I saw a lot of people fighting on behalf of gods, like they said. But at the end, it was just for their own greed and ego. However, I do not tell everyone to stop their own faith. Everyone always needs something to believe in, something to keep them from despair, and something to hope for a better future."

Together, they kept walking and chatting, sharing their own stories or stories they knew. It could be anything, from how the old people set home to this place, or discussing the shape of the world, or just some gossips. The silent nature, the peaceful atmosphere and friends had fun together, it was not a bad day, after all, until…

"Hold on."

Suddenly, Kaz stopped them. He smelt something. At first, he thought he was wrong but the closer they were to the doctor's village, the smell kept getting worst. Kaz asked the doctor and the younger if they smelt something, but they did not. Kaz wondered if he was wrong so he asked if they could follow the smell. However, when he pointed the smell direction, the doctor realized Kaz was pointing to his village. Apparently, he thought Kaz was acting weirdly, but since he did not doubt this young man, he decided to follow Kaz's actions. When they were close to the village, the doctor and the young girl could smell the stink. It was like something was starting rotten, as the heavy aroma kept getting worse.

Feeling unsafe, Kaz asked them to follow him to the higher ground, where they could see the village with a wide point of view. The doctor led him there willingly. When they stayed behind a big rock and had trees cover their sides, Kaz drew his pistol, and the gun transformed to its sniper rifle's form, in the surprised eyes of the doctor and his apprentice. Looking through the scope, Kaz lost his words.

What he saw was terrible. He saw people was working on the fields, harvesting plants but below them was dead bodies, not one, but many and uncountable, buried under the dirt. When Kaz gave the rifle to the doctor and told her to look through the scope, the doctor, from a person who wondered what the thing he was handling was, to a person who was terrified to what he was looking at.

"I saw a woman wearing brown shining armor, is she the Valkyrie?"

"Y-Yes. It is she. Oh for Odin's sake, why?"

The doctor could not believe what was happening. It was clear that the Valkyrie and her men, forcing the villagers to work on the fields. If anyone resisted, they killed them in cold blood, no matter who they were, elders, men, women, or children.

"Something's coming."

Kaz's ears started ringing. He heard something was coming to their position. Raising the doctor up, Kaz decided they should run away instead of staying here. Suddenly, he saw a shadow flied above them. He realized they were compromised and the best option he had here was to run away. The worst kept coming when he heard a lot of footsteps. The young girl suddenly felt down and Kaz grabbed her quickly. As if it was not enough, Kaz heard something big was coming. Stick close to the other two, Kaz intended to do his best to protect them. He drew his fire sword while running. Whatever the thing it was, it kept getting closer no matter how fast they tried to run. And later, a big thing appeared from the forest, pushing anything out of its way. Kaz then slashed his fire sword and created a big fire, running and burning anything on its way to the big thing. Unfortunately, the fire did not thing to that thing, and before Kaz could react, that thing hit him in front, pushing him from tree to tree, and even a big rock could not stop it. The last sound Kaz could here was his bone got broken one by one.

"Wake him up"

The bucket of cold water splashed to Kaz's face, waking him up. After a few second, he gained back his conscious, just to realize he was chained up from both arms. His kneels touched the ground while his upper body was naked. When the cold passed away, he could feel the pain from his back.

"Where did you find this sword?"

In front of Kaz was a voice of woman, who was wearing a brown shining armor, in other words, it was the Valkyrie who was protecting this village. She was welding his ice sword, or should he say, Skadi's sword. Surrounding them was the Valkyrie's men and the villagers. The doctor was beaten badly while the young girl was nowhere to find.

"Are you the one who killed Master Njord and Master Skadi?"

The woman kept asking.

"Yeah, I did."

Having nothing to hide, Kaz answered. It would change nothing if he lied.

"So Lord Odin was right." – The Valkyrie stopped. – "I was told to investigate the death of Master Njord and Master Skadi, he said anyone who kept Master Skadi's sword was the culprit. I didn't think it was you, a Cait Sith male."

"So what're you gonna do? Kill me?"

"Of course I will. I was told to kill you brutally, tearing your skin while you are still alive. But… since you took care of that bitch Skadi. I think I can grant you a quick death, as my gratitude to you."

"You sound like you hate her. What's the deal?"

"Of course, she married Njord, the one I kept dreaming to be my husband one day. Thank to that bitch, he had to leave his beautiful sea, just to stay here in the cold and boring mountain." – The Valkyrie said, then she pointed her sword to his neck. – "Any last words?"

"Tell me, what did you do with the villagers?"

"Still have time to worry about others? Very well. Recently, a Valkyrie, who is a friend of mine, asked me to supply her some medicines that made from the herbs here. Because the number is too much so I have to do the quickest way to plant and harvest them, as Odin's instruction. By using the human's body as fertilizer, I can harvest the herbs as double. I have protected them for too long, so what is wrong if I ask them to give their worthless lives for me? Besides, they don't live as immortal lives like us, they return to the dirt at the end, don't they?"

"…"

Kaz was keeping quiet, he was angry, but he knew he could not do anything. He had no weapons, and he was chained up, he was wounded badly and even if he had a chance to fight, he was still losing.

"Still, it is really rare to see a Cait Sith male. Don't worry, I will treat your head nicely."

She laughed maniacally, before raising her sword. Kaz thought, his life was about to end here. There was nothing he could do. He had no choice but to accept death. He felt sorry to Kioku, the girl who gave him love. When the sword was about to touch his head, suddenly, it stopped. Kaz heard the Valkyrie was grunting. He looked up and saw the sword was stopping in the middle of the air while the Valkyrie tried to slash it. Not only have that, he felt abnormal warmed around his body. Then, a light green light shone up, and behind Kaz was a woman who was wearing a green dress. Her eyes were totally green and differentiate to human.

"I do not allow you to harm this person."

As she said, a strong blew strongly, pushing the Valkyrie and her men on the ground. Next, the columns that used to chain Kaz was pulled down. Although Kaz was not totally free, but at least he could move his arms and released himself.

"My name is Cyfis, I control the wind of this world. It is my honor and pleasure to meet and serve you, the god from the other world."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"What are you morons waiting for? Kill him."

As Kaz was uncomprehend, the Valkyrie ordered her men to charge up but the wind goddess pushed them away, threw them to the fire or the walls. However, it was not enough to kill all of them. Kaz then summoned his three swords and the wind goddess gave him his gun.

"Is that what you got?" – Kaz took a deep breath, trying to hold himself.

"My deepest apologize. I only know to create wind and control their flows. I haven't used them to fight in a fight before."

"Then let me give you a tip. Pull them all up to the sky, and let them fall."

Following Kaz's words, the wind goddess pulled the Valkyrie's men up to the sky, they were unable to run away. When they were in a height that was enough for Kaz, he nodded and Cyfis released them, making them drop from the sky like flies. When they touched the ground, they either died instantly, or breathed a few last breath before the villagers finished them. When the Valkyrie tried to attack him, Cyfis pushed her on the ground. Kaz then pointed his gun to her head.

"You think that little stick can kill me?"

BANG

When Kaz pulled the trigger, the bullet killed her instantly. Blood bled from her head, spreading around her head.

"Where are the rest of them?"

Trying to walk, Kaz summoned his swords while Cyfis brought him his gun. He thanked her and walked to the big house, where Cyfis told him. The doctor, who was among the survival tried to hold him. He knew that Kaz was not in a condition that he could fight in a direct fight, even if he had the help from a god. However, Kaz realized except him, no one could see Cyfis.

"The wind doesn't have a solid appearance. That is why mortals cannot see me."

Cyfis explained to Kaz and he got it. Whatever the case, he went to the big house. When the villagers opened the big door, the scene stunned them. A lot of young girls was being raped by the Valkyrie's men. The young girl who was the doctor's apprentice was not an exception. Saying no more, Kaz ordered his sword to kill all of them, before he lost his conscious again.

Back to the modern world, passing through the crowded streets, a young beautiful girl with long brownish chestnut hair, wearing a white coat was running to a big hospital. Despite the rush, her face seemed happy. When she went up to the higher floor, she walked to the corridor as the hospital did not allow to run. Looking around, she could see the doctors and the nurses were taking of the patients, as usual.

"Ah Asuna-san, you came."

"Good afternoon, Aki-san."

In front of the young girl was a pretty woman with braided long hair and she was wearing a white uniform, as a nurse. They were having fun to see each other. After that, they walked together and gossiped until they reached a large door. Opened the door, the nurse led the Asuna to a big room where there was a lot of machine and in the middle of the room was a rectangle machine. Inside the machine was a young man whose body had a lot of scars and most of them were fading away. He did not have his right arm and so did his right eye.

"It seems Kacchan is getting better."

The young girl smiled but then, she looked worry and touched the glass that blocked them.

"If he knows you visit him once in a week, he will really happy."

"He is in a coma so I doubt he can hear it. Although it isn't the first time someone I care in a coma, I believe Kacchan will wake up soon, just like Kirito-kun."

"Do you think he is traveling in another world? Like your "Kirito-kun"?"

"I don't know but if he is, I guess that is because someone needs him there. When he's done, he will come back for sure."