Chapter 52.- Smoke and Mirrors

January/16th/2024

First Floor of Aincrad – Starting City – Aria Café

Alshep

I have never enjoyed debating or talking to people I don't know for that matter. We had debates from time to time at school but it was just something our teacher made us do somewhat often. It was odd though; never in my life did I hear anyone else talking about their debates in class. I guess my homeroom teacher just had a thing for those. She said it encouraged our critical thinking and made it so we had better and more informed opinions. In the end it was just shouting at other people in order to get your point across. That's debate in a nutshell, technically. Although I guess it does require finesse, but at the end of the day it's just trying to impose your opinion in other people. Sadly I've never been known for finesse.

"I asked you question," Lind presses.

"Because she is capable," I answer.

Lind rolls his eyes at me and then sits back down. He sighs out in annoyance and crosses his arms.

"Allow me to rephrase that question," he says.

"By all means," I answer, trying to get a hold of my tone.

"Why is she a red player?" he asks.

I turn my head just for a second to get a read on Aeri, she is staring the man right in the eye. The following will probably take everyone in the room by surprise but I'm pretty sure I will be able to turn the situation into our favor.

"She is a player killer," I answer.

I can almost immediately feel the mood of the room tense up.

"A…Al!" Aeri yelps.

"Yoh, what the hell?!" Klein exclaims, "You can't be for real…"

My response seems to have shaken up the samurai a little bit, given that he practically jumps up from his seat as he expresses his disapproval.

I can see Asuna giving me a lovely stare, that of disapproval with some heavy anger on the side. I guess at least she knows. However the other galore of faces in this rather small table is one I didn't actually expect.

Yulier simply nods right at me as if expecting a follow up on my statement, one I have planned but I certainly didn't expect this acceptance from the players that have been risking their lives in order to clear the game. On the other hand, Lind looks disappointed at Yulier's response. Nonetheless he wastes no time in opening his mouth.

"You see! I knew something was off about this guild!" he yells.

Klein nods, although he seems hesitant, no later than a second he shakes his head at us.

"Excuse me for my reaction, you can't really judge me for reacting like that though…" he says, "Player killers aren't exactly friendly to us clearers."

"She is not what you think though!" Asuna interjects, "She doesn't do that anymore, it was just that one time, right?"

Asuna turns to Aeri expecting an answer that I know in the bottom of my being to be a lie. This is probably the one time that I would beg Aeri to lie, I just hope she is not in the mood to tell her sins to a bunch of strangers.

"Yeah!" Aeri replies, "I was given no choice!"

Klein seems to relax at both Asuna's trust on Aeri and her own quick response on the matter. However he still feels somewhat weary of us as he is yet to sit down again and put his hand elsewhere other than the pummel of his sword.

"Ok, so she killed someone…" Klein mutters, "It was probably in self-defense, right?"

"Not necessarily," I reply.

"I knew it!" Lind says, "These people cannot be trusted!"

"Yeah man, I'm sorry but you just keep making this sound fishier by the second," Klein says.

Yulier leans a bit forward, her face screams intrigue. I'm playing this whole damned scenario too fast and loose. So far everyone seems eager to jump the gun, however they still seem like they want to listen to us. They want us to give them a reason to trust us.

"I believe you should explain this…situation a bit better," Yulier suggests.

The woman intertwines her fingers as she rests her elbows over the table. A more than serious attitude emanates from her and leaves me feeling like I'm walking through some thin ice. I take another glance at Aeri, there's probably just one other time where I can place her face looking as displeased as she looks right now. This has to be done; I just hope it turns out how I've been thinking it will.

"Almost a year ago we were attacked by a guild, they used to call themselves The White Snakes," I explain, "They killed two members of my guild and left us with no choice other than to defend ourselves."

"Bullshit!" Lind interrupts me, "If that were the case she wouldn't have a red cursor! She must have attacked first!"

"Sit down, Lind," Yulier orders with a firm tone, "Let the man explain what happened, this time wait for him to be done speaking."

"Yeah, let him explain!" Klein adds.

Lind once again finds the rug pulled from under his feet and sits back down as Yulier ordered him to.

"The Snakes had a green player that they hired infiltrate our guild. This player, who we thought to be a friend betrayed us," I say, "We were pushed to the edge, as I said, leaving us with no other choice than to defend ourselves. Aeri decided to take the first step in this action, and she attacked first. She killed the green player who betrayed us."

I make a brief pause to both collect my thoughts and get another read on the room. Aeri has decided to stare at her own lap as she finds herself unable to look at these people in the eye. Asuna on the other side is showing that sympathetic side of hers. I'm assuming the Knight of the Blood already knows this story from Aeri's point of view and if something is testament to that is the fact that she now places her hand over Aeri's shoulder, trying to give her some solace.

"Ok…" Klein mumbles, "I'm sorry for misjudging you."

"It's alright; I can't really blame you, now can I?" Aeri mutters.

"It's just that I've lost a few people to player killers too," Klein explains, "I'm sorry, I truly am."

"Desperate times call for desperate measures," Yulier comments, "If we take this story of yours as the truth it's hard to hold anything against her or your guild."

"That's IF we take your story as the truth," Lind remarks.

"I like it how the man with the most red players in his guild here is the one pointing fingers," Klein mutters.

"Oh, shut up you samurai wannabe!" Lind barks, "I do what's necessary to push the guild forwards, unlike you three! We live in a dog eat dog world, it baffles me how none of you have realized that yet!"

"We have, we just draw the conclusion that hurting others to get ahead is wrong!" Asuna intervenes.

"The DDA doesn't kill players!" Lind huffs.

"Yeah but you bastards steal and attack other players in order to get what you want!" Klein spits.

"Enough!" Yulier raises her voice, "I'll remind you once more, this is not the reason why we are here today. We'll have enough time to point fingers and scream at each other later!"

Again and as it should be the eldest from the group of people at this table takes action and manages to get everyone back at the task at hand. I can't help but to wander what kind of person she was back in the real world. If she was anyone's boss I bet she was one hell of a person to work with. Of course I mean that in the good way.

"I'm sorry…" Klein coughs and clears his through, "I think I heard of these White Snakes back in the day. Players that dressed all in white, they killed, kidnapped and mugged people all around different floors, right?"

"They sound an awful lot like those new players from the Laughing Coffin," Yulier mutters, "Ok, now that we have this issue about the girl being a red player out of the way let's discuss why we are really here."

"Yeah…sure, if you all don't mind having a killer working with us…" Lind comments.

"Oh bite me!" Aeri snaps, "I'm sick and tired of people like you giving me shit! You think you are all high and mighty for having a different color on your damn cursor."

"Heh, I like this girl," Klein mutters with a soft laugh.

Right after Klein's comment Asuna slams the table with her hands, seemingly mad at the Lind's attitude. She stands up and with a face scarier than that of Aeri's when she angry and starts speaking.

"I would like to see you show half the skill and guts to do what this "killer" as you call her has done!" Asuna miffs, "She was the reason we were able to clear floor forty eight!"

"What? I thought that floor was cleared by The Aincrad Liberation Force," Lind says.

Aeri crosses her arms and smiles smugly at the leader of the DDA.

"So that's what they are telling, huh?"

"Care to explain that, Yulier?" Lind demands.

"Some members of our guild thought it was a good idea to trick red players into clearing the floor for us, while offering a sketchy incentive in return." Yulier says, "Most of the guild voted against it; however a few individuals still carried out the nasty little plan on their own. Whoever participated on that scam is now in a jail cell, there is no need to worry or point more fingers. Asuna did report this red player in particular to be of substantial help, I can know assume that player is her."

Asuna grins with a wide, open smile and stares down the leader of the DDA.

"Now, let's just get down to the voting," Asuna suggests.

"Alright, I can agree with that," Klein says, "I think I've heard enough."

"All in favor of allowing Steel & Swords to join the frontlines say aye," Yulier says.

"Aye!" Klein huffs.

"Aye," Asuna follows.

"Aye," Yulier says.

Yulier turns her head towards Lind and shoots the poor man a smug grin. Lind sighs and raises his hand.

"Aye," he agrees.

"Alright, I believe there is nothing else to address for now," Yulier says satisfied and stands up, "The next clearer meeting will not take place anytime soon, I'll be sure to keep you posted."

Through her menu she sends me a friend request. The floating screen appears before me and without hesitation I press the circle to accept her friend request. Klein stands up as well and stretches his arms up.

"I guess it doesn't hurt to keep everyone on the loop," he says and also sends me a friend request, "I'm sure we'll see more of each other in the future."

With a warm smile he leaves the small café, his heavy armor clanking as he walks. I accept his request and Lind stands up.

"I have no need for that, if I ever do need you in my friends list it will be when it actually matters," he says.

"Likewise," I smile.

"Heh, whatever," he huffs.

The man from the DDA leaves the place leaving us with Yulier and Asuna still at the table. Yulier breathes out heavily, a sign of tiredness for sure. However it feels rather heavy, as if it were convoluted with more than a healthy serving of annoyance.

"I will never understand the DDA," she sighs.

"They are an odd bunch, but definitely useful," Asuna comments.

"Useful…" Yulier ponders, "One would think that in a situation where we would benefit the most out of working together we would've created one guild to clear floors. However we find ourselves divided. Isn't it just…strange?"

"Would you really be ok, working with someone like that?" Aeri asks.

"I wouldn't exactly love it, but…" she says, "I just find it weird. You have the KoB, DDA, Fuurinkazan and the Aincrad Liberation Force…why are we all separated? We are working towards the same goals after all…aren't we?"

"The one difference here is our methods, and it also happens in human history, all across the ages. Ideologies and ways of life clash, generating differences. I think it's no different here," Asuna comments, "We are fighting a war after all, even if some decide to better allocate their time in hindering our progress or hurting one another, we do our best to save everyone."

"I guess you are right," Yulier agrees.

Asuna slowly rises from her seat and places her hand over the pummel of her sword.

"I'm needed elsewhere," she says, "It's a good thing we got this sorted out."

"I'll see you later Asuna," Aeri mumbles.

"You two take care," the knight says with a smile.

"We'll try our best," I answer.

Asuna walks away from the table and pushes the door of the café in order to make her exit. I lean over a little resting my weight under my arms. Yulier still looks deep in thought, she raises a good point, but Asuna does the same.

"I think you are both right," I comment.

"Huh?" Yulier exclaims.

"The points you two raise are equally right or at least I think so," I explain.

"Care to elaborate on that?"

"Our history as human beings has always and will forever be plagued with conflict. A time in the human history where we really have been free of it is rare, if not nonexistent," I say, "I think that's why Utopias in books, movies and comics seem so rare to us. You know as if something about them was…off. I'm not saying we need this conflict, but…wouldn't it be weird if there was just one guild clearing this game?"

"You are not wrong," she says and leaves her seat, "I think I just wish there was a simpler…more peaceful way to get this sorted out. I'll stop bothering you; I also have other matters to attend to."

The woman starts making her way to the exit but stops a few feet from the door. She turns her head to me and smiles.

"I look forward to seeing your guild in the frontlines," she says.

"We'll be there," I reply.

I breathe in slowly and then push the air out through my nose. I feel satisfied and fulfilled with whatever was the point of this meeting. I quickly tap my fingers over the table and then raise my hand towards the NPC taking care of the place.

"Hey could your bri-"

My head is swiftly turned a few degrees as Aeri slaps me across the face.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!" Aeri says as she takes a hold of my shirt's collar.

"What?"

"Don't just put me out there like that!" she cries, "Why the hell would you do that? Why did you have to tell them about what happened?!"

Aeri is upset, to the point that she is softly sobbing. It's not a pleasant memory for sure but I guess she is still not completely over it. Not like I am, but I guess she is in a far more sensitive spot than I am right now.

"I'm sorry," I mutter.

"You just…don't do that…" she weeps and rests her head on my shoulder.

I wrap my arms around her and pat her back gently. I keep forgetting there is still a girl who lost her boyfriend under this seasoned golden armor of hers. She is still hurting and she's been merely finding ways to avoid facing what happened that day.

"I'm sorry," I say again.


Seventeenth Floor of Aincrad – Steel & Swords Guild House – City of Barrowdell

"Al…"

I can see them, their faces and that last look of panic burned into their expressions as I killed them. It's haunting me; I can't get it out of my head.

"Al,"

It's all I see when I try to sleep, their god dammed faces.

"Al!"

I sit up quickly as I find myself out of breath. I heave uncontrollably as I start feeling my body drenched in cold sweat. Elina looks at me; she's worried, that much is clear as she approaches me from her side of the bed. On her knees she takes hold of my head and holds it close to her chest as I'm still struggling to regulate my own breathing.

"You were dreaming again," she says softly, "It's ok, I'm here now."

My trembling arms slowly embrace her and I can't help but pull myself closer to her. I manage to make my breathing purely nasal but ultimately that only makes it sound like I'm struggling even more to slow it down.

"You've been having a lot of nightmares lately…" she murmurs.

"I'm sorry," I answer.

"You don't have to apologize," she says, "I just wish I could do something."

I feel her hand slide down over my arm and take hold of my own. She squeezes it tightly and softly rubs her thumb over it.

"You are helping enough as it is," I say, "Just stay here with me…"

She can't do much and even if I keep telling her she can help me that would be a lie. After all I'm not planning on telling her about what I've been doing with Esra and Aeri anytime soon.

"Hey, what if you tell me, what the nightmare was about?" she suggests.

Lying to her has sadly become a regular thing, it tears me up inside.

"I don't remember," I answer quickly.

"Come on, you must remember something," she insists.

I've done a lot of bad things in my time here. I've been an asshole, I've put people in risk, but nothing makes me feel nearly as bad as lying to Elina. She is the one person who completely trusts me, the one person who trusts me blindly. My girlfriend, probably the one person I care the most about before myself and I'm lying to her. The only way I could feel like a shittier person would be if Esra's assumptions about me and Aeri were true.

"I just keep thinking about the past," I mutter, "The things I've done wrong, the things I could fix…the future just seems dark and blurry. I'm scared."

I try to concentrate on her breathing, her chest slowly taking in air and letting it out. Her warmth, I try to put my mind into it, how safe it makes me feel.

"We are all scared," she says, "Everyone undergoing training has said so. Fighting bosses shouldn't be taken lightly, it's normal for you to feel scared."

After her words I take a minute or two to collect my thoughts, to try and figure out what I'm going to say next. I'm unable to reach a conclusion and I just stay silent for more than a minute. In the silence of our room and the fact that my ear is practically pressed against her chest I can hear her heartbeat speed up a little.

"Remember what you promised me?" she says shyly, "Like back at the beginning?"

"Of course I do," I answer.

"What was it?" she teases.

"You know, what I said," I mutter, avoiding her objective.

She let's go off me for a second and I'm finally able to look at her. I'm able to see her rosy cheeks thanks to the moonlight slipping in to our room. Her eyes purely fixated on mine as she is anxiously waiting for my answer.

"Come on," she giggles.

I chuckle a bit and clear my throat.

"I promised you, you would see the end of this game," I say softly.

She nods with a rather big smile and leans in to kiss me. I hold her close and kiss her back, honestly feeling a bit embarrassed that she managed to force me into it but I enjoy it nonetheless. She backs away and then rests her head next to mine.

"See, it's ok silly, maybe you are just worrying a lot," she says, "With the news from the clearers and all the work and stress you've been putting yourself under, you must be under a lot of pressure."

And I keep lying.

"It must be that…yeah," I mumble.

What makes me feel even worse is that I have a feeling that she knows. I have the feeling right in the back of my head that she knows that I'm lying to her.


Crysina here! I'm so sorry!

I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

Lies, lies, lies! This is something I've been wanting to explore for a while with my characters. Trust me I know most of my fic revolves around character interactions and such but I've never really delved into the nasty stuff about relationships, which I will really explore further down the line.

I know what you are thinking. "This chapter is too short!" Well I hear you say that and I'm here to actually say that the original version was shorter, and after all as I said, I'm trying to pace myself with plot points for this penultimate arc. Nevertheless I hope you enjoyed it given I advance quite a few things even if it really doesn't seem like so.

Again I'm ever so sorry about the mishap earlier this day, it will not happen! I give my thanks to a friend of mine who helped me rewrite this whole chapter by saying I was a dumbass and constantly badgering over Skype.

As always, if you like what you read, leave a review! Or also if you don't like what you read you should also leave a review! I'll see you all next week!

Next Chapter: "Lies Among Friends"