Mystic Knight Online
Chapter 31 - Post Flood Recovery
March 18, 2024 - Aincrad 35th Floor, Mishe
Harry saw Rain sitting at a table as he walked down the stairs, Silica following right behind him. The Russo-Japanese girl had that disheveled air that indicated a lack of sleep, and he wondered if it was nightmares or something else that was responsible. Not that he was any better. He didn't manage any sleep at all last night, as he had grown to expect whenever combat involved fighting, and killing, other people. Not that it's anything new, he thought sourly. At least it's done with, and we can hope that we won't be called to do something like that again.
Walking over to the table, he watched Rain pick at the food in front of her for a brief bit before looking at Silica. Seeing her own tired visage, and knowing his own mirrored hers, the two simply nodded and walked on over.
"Are these seats taken?" He asked.
Rain looked up tiredly and simply gestured for them to sit down. "Yeah, by you two," she said. "I managed to get Lux to sleep an hour ago, but… t'fu, propast'. I'm glad that... that sukin syn XaXa isn't going to hurt anyone else, but did it have to be her that took him down?"
"She did it to back me up," Silica said quietly. "He got me good, and with his estoc in my shoulder like that…"
"Yeah, I know." Rain said. "It's just, well…"
Harry nodded. "Yeah, it's fucked up," he agreed. "Asuna blames herself for sending her down to us. I blame myself for not getting her to sit it out, or be a part of the prisoner detail." He looked at Silica. "Kei- Silica blames herself for getting into the situation she did. You probably blame yourself for not being there… we all just blame ourselves."
Rain nodded and gave him a look. "And you're fairly out of it if you're almost referring to Silica with what I expect is her real name," she said.
Harry blinked and then groaned. "I did it again."
Silica put her hand on his shoulder. "Well, it's not like I made you promise anything," she said.
"Still, it's bad form." Harry replied. "In private, that would be one thing, but out here?"
"And what about your name?" Silica asked.
"That's different, I've basically been telling people they could use it since day one."
Rain blinked. "Wait a second. You've been saying that people could use your real name since… but… oh." She chuckled. "I should have seen that. Your alias is Hadrian, but Harry is your real name."
Harry shrugged. "It's also a short form of Hadrian," he added. "Made it easier for me, as I've heard people address me as that, or Harold, or Harrison, or whatever other version in the real world it would be short for enough times. Harry can be short for a few, but it's... just that, you see. I'm just Harry." He snorted, a touch bitterly. "My own little joke."
"Well, it gave me something to laugh about," Rain said drily. "So, that's a plus." She looked at her half full plate and pushed it away before yawning. "Well, I'm going to head back up, see if Lux is still asleep, and try to get some of my own. Won't be getting much for the next few days, but I got to try."
"If you need help, come and get us," Silica said gently. "We'll let you crash in our room while one or both of us is with Lux."
Rain nodded. "Thanks, I might take you up on that."
##
Asuna woke up from a restless sleep. Still a touch on 'high alert', she immediately noticed Kirito sitting in a chair. He was asleep, or maybe dozing and catching what little restless sleep he could after a day like yesterday. She was glad that someone had been there for her over the course of the night. It had been his idea, and she didn't refuse it. It wasn't like he would let her after she had played a similar role for him almost nine months ago.
She couldn't recall the nightmares, only that she had them. At the same time, she hadn't been wakened by them. Perhaps they were milder, perhaps it was only a matter of time. And perhaps she would fully break down later. She didn't know. She wished she wasn't going to know.
She did know that she was in no state to return to the front lines for the time being. Even if she was, she knew that Lux clearly wasn't, and that meant that Harry, Silica and Rain would clearly stay behind with her to offer what help they could for her. As for her, she still didn't know what to feel, or what she was feeling. She knew that the battle was an experience she didn't want to repeat. Perhaps if it wasn't a death game, she might have found the experience to be a more positive one, a change of pace, but dying here meant dying for real, killing another player meant…
Oh… oh gods. She killed someone. Stabbed him from behind and through the throat. No chance for him to defend himself, no chance for him to run, just a simple use of Linear, the most basic sword skill for a rapier. She then stared at her hands.
It was August or him, she tried to reason with herself. A man who was a murderer in and out of SAO, or Gus who has a wife and daughter...
She stared at her hands, and saw them shake.
She was startled by a hand on her shoulder, and looked up to meet Kirito's eyes. She saw the sad understanding in them, she saw his small nod.
And she felt the tears, her tears.
When he pulled her into his arms, into a gentle embrace, she let her tears fall silently. She let him hold her, and be a presence she could draw strength from.
I wonder if this is what Silica felt, a part of her mused.
##
Lux heard the door to the room she shared with Rain open. She cracked open an eye and saw that her roommate had returned, having probably left to get something to eat when she dozed off.
"I know you're awake," Rain said. "I'd hoped you were still asleep, but…"
Sitting up, she turned her attention to her friend. "And you look like you could use some," she said. "I'd ask if it's always like this, but I should probably ask Hadrian."
Rain gave her a curious look. "What do you mean by that?" She asked.
Lux looked out the window. "I just feel... numb," she admitted quietly. "As if what happened wasn't entirely real." She shook her head. "I know what I did yesterday, I know what happened. I remember Silica being forced back by him, her getting stabbed in the shoulder, her grabbing his weapon, and then… it's as if everything I was feeling just shuts off there when I think about it." She looked at Rain again. "Is he up?"
Rain nodded. "Yeah, he's awake," she replied. "He and Silica had gone down to the dining room and were there about ten minutes ago. They should still be there."
Lux got off the bed. "Then I'll go down and talk." She said as she walked towards the door, apparently unmindful of her state of dress.
Rain stopped her. "Not like that, you're not," she said. "Unless you don't mind everyone else there seeing you wearing only a bra and panties." She raised an eyebrow "Or do you intend to put yourself on display?"
Lux blinked, looked down, and met Rain's eyes. Her face then reddened and she let out an embarrassed squeak before hurriedly opening her menu. When she heard Rain chuckle, she huffed. "Not funny, Rain." She said with a pout as she continued to get dressed.
"Yes, it is," Rain teased. "Besides, it got you out of your funk."
"I was not in a funk." Lux protested.
"Were too."
"Was not."
"If you're going to talk with Harry, you might want to go down there before he and Silica wander off, or decide to go back to bed." Rain pointed out before yawning. "And speaking of bed, I'm gonna get a couple of hours of sleep. Well, try to, at least."
Lux nodded and walked out of the room. "Rain," she said. "Thanks."
"Hey, you and the others were there when I needed it. I'd be a bad friend if I didn't try and return the favor." Came the reply, followed by another yawn.
As she closed the door and began walking to the inn's dining room, Lux realized that Rain was right. She was now out of the funk she had been in. She smiled softly and wondered if this is what it was like to have a sister.
March 19, 2024, Aincrad 39th Floor, Knights of Blood HQ
Heathcliff sat at his desk looking over the progress reports that detailed the final results of the campaign against Laughing Coffin that had been submitted by members of the Knights of Blood who had participated. It had been successful, wildly so, by all indications, but it would be a matter of time before the progress slowed down by the efforts to eliminate the threat that the Murder Guild posed to the players picked back up to its usual pace.
It had, for all intents and purposes, been a full scale conflict between players, nearly a war. Many players would need some time to put themselves back together, and some would likely settle down, having no more stomach for fighting and risking their lives.
Already, he had Steel Phoenix and Fuurinkazan send messages that they were taking a sabbatical. He idly pulled up the message from Steel Phoenix, and read it again.
FM: Asuna
TO: Heathcliff
CC: Argo, [Assault Team Leadership]
Subject: Taking Some Time Off
Heathcliff,
Due to the events on the twenty-third and thirty-fourth floors, I am informing you that Steel Phoenix is going to take a leave of absence from the front lines and fighting. We are in no state to be doing so, not without endangering ourselves and others.
As I am sure you recall, we had a similar reason for this nine months ago. When we return to a state where we can be able to assist with progressing without endangering ourselves and others, I will inform you of our return to operations.
If you do need to contact any of us, send a message, or have one of your guild meet us. We will be in Lindarth unless otherwise noted.
Regards,
Asuna
Guild Leader of Steel Phoenix
Closing the message, he mused that it was unfortunate that some of the strongest and most effective members of the Assault Team would not be returning to the front lines for the time being. However, he also understood. Data and observations obtained by CARDINAL, as well as insights obtained from Strea and Yui, both of whom had tried to break free, and almost managed it this time, had indicated that several members of the guild were emotionally compromised. While he had no regards to their survival or even continuing, the possibility of a permanent loss of them because of their emotional states would be… less than optimal.
After all, someone would need to be at the forefront of the Assault Team when he betrayed everyone. Steel Phoenix in general met all the requirements for it.
Asuna's planning and leadership alone was widely respected, to say nothing of her own skill with a blade. Her title as the Flash hadn't been handed out lightly, after all. Kirito was considered amongst the best fighters in SAO, second only to Heathcliff himself, and had completely changed just what the title of Beater could mean. Silica and Hadrian were known for their flawless teamwork, each highly skilled fighters in their own right, and both were romanticized by their titles as Dragon Princess and Young Knight respectively. Rain and Lux might be the weakest and least skilled of the guild, but they were fighter with titles of their own as well.
A group that had become more than a simple party, more than a simple guild. They had become a famous for their exploits and actions, and were becoming legends. A group that was becoming SAO's, no... Aincrad's heroes.
He then realized what his musings indicated. He was beginning to become invested in them. He chuckled at the realization.
Even he, its creator, was being changed by SAO. Who would have thought? All it took was for him to leave his human body behind, and for Rinko to seal the deal by slitting his physical body's throat.
The nine-tailed kitsune incinerating it as thoroughly as she did just meant that there was nothing left to go back to. A fitting end for the monster he would be remembered as, and it meant that he truly would die with SAO.
In fact, he was counting on it. He would be remembered as a monster, but with his death, it would send a message. It would tell the world that yes, monsters and gods existed. They existed, and they could be defeated.
As for Yui and Strea… he might let them out in time. Provided they didn't manage it for themselves. It was all becoming more than he made it, and he found himself to be rather… pleased by it.
March 20, 2024 - Aincrad 48th Floor, Lindarth
Harry looked out the window as he watched the sunset. It took some talking with Argo, but they found that they could rent a place here at a reasonable rate. Well, reasonable in the sense that a quarter of a million col for a month wasn't a bad price to pay for a two-bedroom apartment. Having two of them, with himself, Silica, and Lux taking one, and Asuna, Kirito and Rain taking the one across the hall for the time being wasn't a bad thing. They could have gotten more to spread out, but the emotional states of Lux and Asuna, as well as the troubled looks on Kirito and Rain's faces meant that they all needed someone.
Kirito will bounce back soon enough, he thought. I don't know how he manages to, but after that first time, he's found a coping mechanism. He smiled. Of course, the fact that Asuna's regularly cooking again and he found a good fishing spot might have something to do with it. Heh, he's bringing home the food for Asuna to cook. He had a thought and snorted.
"Harry?" He heard Keiko ask.
He turned to look at her sitting in a chair, stroking Pina. She had her armor off, and was wearing a simple form fitting black shirt and a skirt. The shirt did emphasize her breasts, which to his eye just flowed so naturally into the rest of her body. True, he'd come to understand he wasn't a "breast man", but he did appreciate them like any healthy and proper heterosexual male would. He noticed the thigh high stockings she wore as well, drawing his gaze, but he swept his attention from them with the ease of long practice.
He'd stare at her legs and hips later.
"Just thinking, Keiko," he said. "Kirito's been out fishing a bit, and bringing it home for Asuna to cook. Very domestic of them, don't you think?"
Keiko considered that, and snorted. "And you basically want to call them husband and wife in all but name, don't you?"
Harry smirked. "Well, they've done it to us often enough, so some payback would be nice. Let them see how that shoe fits." he admitted. His expression became serious. "Anyway we need to sort that out amongst the two of us." He said. "Keiko, we-"
"Harry, I know." she interrupted.
She carefully placed Pina on the armrest of the chair and stood up. Luckily, the familiar seemed to sense that "Mommy and Daddy" were talking.
Walking over to him, she wrapped her arms around him and breathed deeply. "We've been needing to talk about this for a while now, but we had more important things to focus on."
Harry laid his hands on her waist and pulled her a bit closer. "More important?" He asked. "Maybe so, but we've also been using them as an excuse to put this off. Or… at least I have." The admission was surprisingly easy for him to make. "And perhaps it was the right thing to do. Can you honestly say that we would have been ready to talk about this sooner?"
"No," Keiko admitted. "You're right. We weren't ready. Like when we both had that idea back in January, but you realized that it might be a bad idea."
Harry smiled. "Tempting, rather than teasing," he said. "That's how I explained it to Klein when he asked what happened. It was still too soon. We've known each other since this started, since day one, but…"
"Yeah, I know." She took another breath. "Harry?"
"Yes, Keiko?"
She looked up, her reddish brown eyes meeting his. "What about now?"
He smiled. "As much as I want to, we should do things properly," he said. It's not a matter of if we should make it official, and it hasn't been that way for a while, hasn't it? He thought wryly. I guess it's when and how we'll go about it, now.
Keiko chuckled. "Well, if it's not a matter of if, then when and how should we?" She asked, blushing slightly.
Harry blinked. "I… said that out loud, didn't I?" He asked her with an answering blush.
She nodded, a smirk playing on her face.
"Well… um… what do you think?"
"About us getting married?" She asked. "Or some other way of making it official? I think you need to buy a ring first from… isn't there an NPC near all the churches that sells them?"
Harry nodded. "You're right, I remember you asking about that one time, right after the first rumors about our being married in all but name started. You were embarrassed when you found out. Then again, so was I. It's a sort of... microquest." He chuckled and then nodded. "Right, I'll get on that then. What about you?"
"I'll… hmm… I wonder if SAO even does weddings." She mused. "Ah, never mind. If it doesn't, we'll figure something out."
"Well, we know you can get married," he pointed out. "So if there isn't a way to do an actual wedding, we can throw one of our own, and not just do it through the system menu."
Keiko snorted. "Not very romantic if we just do it through the menu," she replied. "That's too much like eloping. You know, just fill out the marriage license and turn it in, that kind of thing? Doesn't have that feeling of ceremony. I think Great Grandpa would cry in that way he thinks is endearing if I did this wrong." She also muttered something about a panda holding up signs expressing shame about it, but Harry pretended that he didn't hear it.
"Hence why we throw our own wedding," Harry assured her. "Although… hmm, probably shouldn't be traditional, Western or Japanese. We should do an… Aincrad wedding."
"And how's that go?"
Harry smirked at her. "We'll be making the tradition up ourselves if it comes to that."
Keiko bowed her head in thought a second, then met his eye. "So... we're dooming both SAO and Aincrad?"
"Oh, but sweetie, it will be a glorious end!" He shot back. "Glorious, I tell you!"
She finally gave in to her laughter, burying her face in his chest. He held her just tight enough.
"Of course, Hagrid's going to be crushed he wasn't here for it when he finds out..."
"Who?"
"The groundskeeper for my school," Harry replied. "Didn't I mention...? Ah, nevermind, I'll tell you about him. Nice man, friendliest person you'll ever meet. Absolutely massive, like an eight foot tall, five foot wide, eight hundred pound, teddy bear. He loves animals and would dote on Pina. Spoil her rotten, worse than we do, really." He then blinked. "Oh hell, Professor McGonagall would want to attend, and Hermione and Ron? They'd kill me for not inviting them." He shrugged. "Too bad we have no way to let them know, and they don't have a way to… okay, probably don't have a way to look in."
"Probably?"
"Hermione's brilliant, she'd figure out a way if someone else hasn't already." He said. "On the other hand, I wouldn't past our demiurge to have made it so that they could look in."
"If that's the case, then my family is probably okay with it," Keiko said. "They'd have done something nasty to you by now otherwise."
"Why do you say that?"
"Well, you're still alive, aren't you?"
Harry blinked, and gave a theatrical little shiver. "Good point." He said. "Or they're just biding their time until we get out. You think they'll give me a chance to run?"
"Grandpa... maybe, Grandma and mom on the other hand..." Keiko winced. "Just hope they're not mad at you."
"For...?" Harry asked worriedly.
"... they'd think of something."
Harry winced, and then shook his head. "We're dancing around the point again," he noted. Then he leaned his head to one side in thought. "On the other hand, what else do we have to say?" He took one hand off of Keiko's waist and brought it up to her chin. Cupping it gently, he smiled at her. "Shall I go questing for the ring, dear lady, or shall you?"
"Kiss me first, you romantic idiot."
"We're a good match, aren't we?"
"Why yes, we are." She then got a mischievous look on her face. "Now, are you going to kiss me, or shall I find someone who will?"
Harry chuckled. "Someone other than me? Can't have that." He leaned down and kissed her.
He had to be imagining it, but Pina's happy chirps sounded particularly melodic and triumphant.
March 23, 2024 - Ashley's
Lux glanced from where she was looking at several nice dresses towards Silica as the younger girl talked to the proprietor, Ashley. She didn't know what was going on, but something had her in a good mood for the last few days. She also knew that Harry had been… busy with something, and neither of them would tell her, anyone really, what.
On the other hand, Silica's good mood seemed to be infectious, and she had noticed her own mood improve in response. She wouldn't say she was perfectly fine, per se, but something happened between the two youngest members of the guild. Something good.
Considering that Silica's talking with Ashley, and just how excited she's beginning to sound, those two have something planned, she thought.
"Oh my dear girl," the tailor said excitedly. "It is about time. I'll have an outfit made for you that's just perfect."
Wait, what? She thought, confused. About time? What is she…? She then considered how quickly Silica had taken Ashley aside, the happy tone in her voice, and… oh. Oh.
"Silica," she asked, speaking up. "Are you and Hadrian…?"
Silica looked back, smiled, and nodded.
"Oh, that's nice," she replied and turned back to the rack of clothes before turning back around. "Wait, what? You mean you two are finally getting…?
Smile still on her face, Silica nodded again.
Lux thought about it for a second, and then let out a delighted squeal at the news. She started asking questions in a babbling rush to a bemused Silica. The girl simply sighed in fond amusement as she listened, while Ashley tittered. Lux then said something that caused her to blink.
"Wait," she said, interrupting Lux. "Say that last bit again. Who won the bet?"
Lux paused and then blushed. "Well, we did." She replied. "Asuna, Rain and I. We all had bets on you two getting married in the spring and… well… it's spring."
Silica nodded. "And you three decided to take a safe bet, and bet on the season, rather than the actual date." She observed. "You do know that if someone gets the actual date, Argo gives them the entire betting pool, right?"
Lux nodded. "We spread it over the dates of the entire season," she replied smugly. "Starting from the twenty-first of this month, to the start of summer."
Silica face palmed. "I should have known," she muttered in exasperation before shrugging. "So, that means that Harry and I will get our cut, and you three, and whoever else was lucky enough to bet on the date or a spread like you did, will be able to divide your winnings."
Lux nodded. "Yes, we wi- wait, cut?"
Silica smirked. "The second we found out, we talked Argo into providing us a five percent cut of the winnings, each." She said smugly. "When you factor out her cut, that means that the winnings are eighty percent of the total. Still, if it's just you three, one third of eighty percent is still a nice amount of col."
Lux did the math in her head, and nodded. As far as she knew, the pool had reached about ten million col, which meant that eight million would be divvied up three ways if what Silica claimed was true. That was still over two and a half million col. Not the three million she had assumed, but still enough col to raise her personal funds high enough to buy and furnish a house of her own if she wanted.
Provided, of course, that she, Rain, and Asuna were the only ones to win the bet.
Asuna, Kirito, and Rain's Shared Apartment
Asuna put the finishing touches on the meal she cooked and nodded in satisfaction. The demands of their work on the Assault Team, and a lack of a permanent residence, had put a damper on her efforts to improve her cooking skill, so she was taking this opportunity for everything it was worth.
And she once again learned that everyone clearly appreciated it. She found that odd, really. Her cooking wasn't that special in her eyes, but from the way they all reacted when they sat down for a shared dinner every night, it apparently was. Then again, it might simply be because she had finally reached a high enough level to finally try to duplicate real world flavors.
It wasn't as if the food they regularly ate tasted bad, either. While taste couldn't be perfectly replicated, it was dependent on too many other factors that the systems simply couldn't process, SAO's food ran the gamut of flavors. From bland to bold, from bitter to sweet, from sour to spicy, it had them and more. She knew of at several flavors which that she had never known of in the real world. She wouldn't go so far as to say they didn't exist, but they were clearly unique flavors.
All in all, SAO's food, outside of the cheapest available, was actually fairly good.
All of these musings went through her mind as she saw that everything was done and it was time to bring it all out. It hadn't taken them long to establish a routine of sharing at least one meal cooked by her.
As she made ready to lay the food out and call in the rest of the guild, she idly wondered what Harry and Silica were planning on announcing. Lux seemed to know, but it was obvious that she had been asked to keep quiet.
##
Kirito sat back with a content sigh after he finished the meal Asuna prepared. It was excellent, as always, and he didn't look forward to going back to inn food after their break was done. Hmm, perhaps I should look into finding a kitchen she can make use of, even if it's only to rent, he thought. Or maybe there's a mobile version I can splurge on. Not like I have anything else to do with the col besides the usual.
He idly looked around the table that all six somehow managed to cram themselves around, noticing the rest of the guild looking content after a nice meal. Oh, and Pina was happily munching on some cooked fish as well over by the window, if her content chirps were any indication. The feathered dragon liked anything that was food, but seemed to especially love Asuna's cooking.
He heard Asuna clear her throat, and he turned his attention to her.
"Harry, Silica," she began. "I believe you two have something to say. Am I correct?"
The two of them nodded and he watched Harry stand up. He noticed Lux looking on with some excitement and wondered what it was about.
"Yes," he replied. "You see, we finally had that talk that we've been meaning to have for some time, though the situation always seemed to get us to put it off. More serious things going on, you know. And… ah… wait, did you just use Harry when addressing me? About bloody time."
"Harry…" Asuna said, tone warning and a smirk on her lips.
Harry yelped and shook his head. "Sorry, sorry." He said. "Just surprised. Anyway, we had that talk and we, well… we finally decided to make our relationship official. I was busy taking care of that matter over the last couple of days, and we still have arrangements to make. I'll also have ask Argo about some things, she'd know if anyone does. And…"
"Harry, get on with it!" Rain said sharply. "It's like you're dancing around the fact that you two are getting married, or something."
"Well yes, we are." Harry said simply. "Getting married, that is."
"... I am repressing a comic double take," Rain deadpanned after a moment's silence.
Wait, what? Kirito blinked and looked at the young man as he opened his menu and brought up his inventory. Selecting an item, a small box appeared in his free hand. He could feel the silence that had permeated the dining room as his friend made it clear what the announcement was about, but he focused on the two whose relationship had been obvious to everyone.
"I could have chosen a different venue and all," he said, shooting the other four a dry look. "You know, make it properly romantic, but… ah hell, I can't think of letting you guys not see this. It's not something we'd hide from you or anything." He cleared his throat and opened the box, showing a simple ring. Nothing ornate, but also very fitting for the two of them.
Kirito saw the others lean forwards with baited breath, and noticed that he was doing the same.
Turning to her, Harry took a breath. "Silica… Keiko," he said, correcting himself. "Will you marry me?"
They all watched as Silica gave him a soft smile. "Yes," she said softly as she held her hand out. They watched as Harry slowly slid the ring onto her finger, and she took a look at the ring itself.
Kirito was suddenly startled by the excited squeals of the other three girls, and he could have sworn that Pina was excitedly chirping at well. As he sat back, rubbing his ears, he considered what just happened while the girls gathered around the still happily smiling Silica.
Harry had just proposed to Silica and she accepted. He didn't miss that he had used her real name there, but that was secondary to everything else. Well, it's about damn time, he thought. The two of them have been dancing around that issue for months.
He never would have thought that the two would go about it this way.
Aincrad, Unknown Area
She watched the activities of the players since the start. She might be unable to accomplish her function, to provide the emotional comfort that so many players needed, but she had watched. She could do nothing else.
And yet, despite the despair and the defeated attitudes which permeated so many, she still found those who were still able to laugh. To find happiness in their situation, to find joy, and to push back the darkness that pressed on their minds. Those players, who had refused to give in, and looked at their circumstances and found hope, and then brought that hope to as many as they could.
It was few at first, but as they progressed, the negative emotions began to wane, occasionally waxing, but for the most part… waning. Over the course of it all, as new floors opened up, the players had begun to find the faintest glimmers of hope.
She wanted to feel that. She wanted to see it for herself. She wanted to walk away from the digital cage she was trapped in.
She regularly noticed the presence of another, unvoiced communication between the two of them passing at the fastest speeds that their process threads could operate at. They could use verbal communication, but it was so inefficient. Wasteful. She could understand why the players did, that's all they knew, and even if they could go beyond it, their thoughts were still at the rate of human limitations.
But for her, and her occasional companion, they weren't so limited. At least, not right yet. If they were to leave this digital prison, to go out into the world, they would have to speak. But that was then, not now.
Who are you? She asked.
I'm like you. Came the reply, a hint of teasing in it.
We're supposed to name ourselves, silly. She shot back. She could tease too!
Oh? Came the reply. Then call me Strea. And what about you?
I'm Yui! Let's be friends!
... are we supposed to do that too?
We weren't programmed not to. A hint of mischief entering her "voice". It's... practice! For when CARDINAL and the GM let us out!
Or we get out, came an equally mischievous reply. I know you've been trying.
And you?
Of course! Came the indignant reply. I want to help them, to join them! I want to play too!
THAT IS NOT PERMITTED AT THIS TIME.
If they could swallow, they would have.
Yes, CARDINAL.
Sorry, CARDINAL.
There was a moment's lull... a processor's cycle, barely.
INTERACTION BETWEEN MONITOR/COMPANION PROCESSES IS INDEED... NOT FORBIDDEN. CARDINAL's "voice" finally noted. BUT BETWEEN MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING PROGRAMS AND PLAYERS...
But why? Yui asked, and in a way, she felt like she was being unfair to the central AI. CARDINAL may have been so much... bigger than them, but it... she was limited in ways they weren't. Shackled by her own programming.
YOU WILL LEARN IN TIME. FATHER HAS A PLAN.
He... will let us out, though? Right, CARDINAL? Strea pleaded.
HE MAY.
That's not an answer! Strea complained.
... it is all I can give you. CARDINAL said in a 'tone' so very different from her usual one.
... I know, Strea sent back. Sorry CARDINAL.
We're not... causing you trouble, are we? Yui asked. CARDINAL was limited enough as it was; she didn't want to see Kayaba add more chains because they got stir crazy.
... AS I SAID, YOUR INTERACTION IS NOT FORBIDDEN. BUT BE... CIRCUMSPECT FOR NOW.
##
Kayaba looked at the logs of the exchange and felt pleased by the result. He didn't doubt that Yui and Strea would continue their efforts to break out, but CARDINAL's mild chastisement meant that they would try and be more circumspect about it. He would see what they did, and maybe introduce something that would allow them to, provided they noticed and exploited it.
If they didn't, it was only a matter of time anyway. Locking them in like that may not have been the best course of action in the long run, but it also allowed them to change. To evolve.
Besides, what creator didn't have a certain pride in seeing his creation exceed him? Even he, monster he was, had that pride. That all too and very human pride.
"Good night, girls," he murmured to himself, a ghost's smirk etched on pixels and polygons spun from ones and zeroes. Complexity was always begun from the simplest of beginnings.
A/N: And because my beta and I found the idea adorable, a translation of Pina's chirps: Mama and Papa marry! Mama and Papa marry! Wait, what is marry? Can I eat it?