"Oh course you'd want to come to a street fair," I say to Philia as we enter the Market Square. In the area, a limited-time street fair is in progress, and being the treasure hunter vets we are, Philia coerced me into coming with her to hunt for a good bargain for something rare. Sure, we have other things to do (like finding an Antivenom Crystal to bypass the fog) but hey, I'm all for using our leisure. Besides, it has been...half a year since I've spent time with Philia and just Philia. I do owe her lots, since she was excluded (her words, not the official reason) from the Jotunheim quest, I left her in ALO when I went to GGO, and I have partied with Sinon here when we're not in a large group, so in her mind, I haven't upheld my promise I made to her in SAO when we were hunting Laughing Coffin for us to be officially partners. She isn't lying, but I do pride myself on my promises, so for the last three days, Philia and I have been one unit.

"Hehe! Come on, we can't let these deals pass us up! Who knows what treasure we'll find." Like a parent escorting his energetic kid, I watch Philia whiz from stall to stall, her eyes bright as stars. I can barely keep up with her and her excitement, so I just move at my own pace while keeping her in sight. A lot of people are here, so it seems the other players are just as interested about the fair as Philia is.

After about 30 minutes of window-shopping, I hear my name called out. Turning around, I see Asuna and Kirito together standing a few feet away from a stall of many oddities. Waving to them, I gesture to Philia and we head over to the couple. "Hey guys, what are you two doing here?"

Asuna holds up a crimson gem. "Searching for bargains and nice things, and then we found this gem. It has a quest associated with it."

Philia eyes the gem. "It's so pretty. How much was it?"

"A lot of zeroes," Kirito chuckles. "Anyway, since you two are here, how about you join us? This Miser's Stone is part of a quest in an area called Miser's Forest, where the stone originated. It's a late game grind spot according to MMO Today. We're about to head there."

I turn to Philia, since she holds my fate currently. I really do want to go… "Hmm… Well, I scoured up some collectibles myself at the fair, thanks to someone's pocket, but I still want to check things out. I can tell Jaymes wants to go, he might die if I say no."

"You know me well."

"So go on ahead, I'll give you a break. But we're still on for later, okay?"

I fist-bump her. "I wouldn't dare miss out on food."

Asuna giggles. "All right, then let's check this place out."

Asuna stretches her arms out as the three of us walk through the forest. "Ah, nothing like a long walk on a day like this, right?"

Kirito agrees. "Nothing in the world! In fact, I think we may have just invented a new type of hiking. Quest hiking... Quiking!"

I sigh. "Leave it to you to come up with something so dumb."

"Um… Sure." Asuna turns away from us, then suddenly stops. "Huh, this may be my imagination, but… I think we're walking in circles."

I look around. "You think so?"

"Actuall, I was just getting that sense myself," Kirito laughs to himself. "You know what, this does kinda remind me of the Forest of Wandering from back in SAO. Remember? Directions didn't mean anything because all the areas were connected randomly. You could spend hours there. The weird thing is, I don't remember anything about it...changing? It never became the Miser's Forest or anything."

"Forest of Wandering, huh? I hated that sub-dungeon. Could have played some music to help navigate through the woods, but no, let's make players buy an expensive map. Couldn't leave it with a Teleportation Crystal either. And, of course, someone had to fight a boss there in the snow."

While I stare Kirito down in remembrance of the second Christmas in SAO, Asuna continues to stare at the trees. "Now that we've entered the forest, I don't know if we can even go back to town without advancing the quest."

Kirito chuckles nervously. "Oh, I'm sure it'll be fine. Even with us boys' rotten luck, I'm sure we can wander out in a couple of days."

"Days?"

"That's not as reassuring as you may think it is."

"Hyah!" Echoing through the forest is that shout followed by the sounds of combat and a monstrous roar. Spurred by our natural instinct to fight, we draw our swords and follow the sounds. We rush as quickly as we can until we get to a large wolf-like monster around an unseen person. Another player here? Might it be that Genesis guy?

"There, look! That monster's got them cornered!"

Kirito chuckles. "Time to ride to the rescue! Hyaaaa!" The glory hog he is, Kirito strikes the monster from behind, knocking the canine away. With the monster temporarily dealt with, Kirito turns his head towards the victim. "You all right-AH!"

"Why wouldst thou dare interfere in this combat? Ah, a human! I should have known. What is your business here? If you have non, I suggest you run...quickly."

As Asuna and I catch up to Kirito, my jaw drops as I catch sight of the dark-skinned woman holding her sword at Kirito's nose. Violet hair matched by the same color of eyes, a face that belongs to both a warrior and a maiden, and the armored outfit that suggests her body is the same… It's been three years, but not once have I forgotten Kizmel, the Dark Elf NPC Koharu, Asuna, Kirito, and I befriend back in SAO as part of the lengthy Elf Quest.

"K-Kizmel?"

"How… How is this possible?"

"Is it really? Kizmel? What are you doing here?" Any answer possible is interrupted by more canines, seeing their friend defeated and a potential larger meal.

"Um, come, friend, 'tis best we work as comrades in arms, lest we be slain by this beast?"

I don't know how Kirito does it, but the use of Old English aside, Kizmel drops her aggression from us to the monster. "Very well, human."

Kirito nods happily as the battle ends. "That's the last of them."

As we humans sheathe our blades, Kizmel approaches us with a stern face. "I beg your forgiveness, human. I turned my blade on you in anger. Given the opportunity, I would show more gratitude, however, I am already delayed too long." She doesn't turn away from us to leave, just stands there to the point we're uncomfortable by her lack of actions.

"Seems like she's wanting a reply from us."

She does have a quest marker above her head, so she is our current target. Stepping forward, I take a page out of Kirito's playbook in my response. "Should ye need more aid, friend elf, we would be honored to render it."

It works. "It is strange to say, but this forest has gone mad."

"The entire forest?"

"Indeed. I cannot pretend to understand the malady. All I can be certain of is that something corrupts these woods. Long ago, we Dark Elves came to serve as guards for those whose work it was to gather up fallen trees. All seemed to be faring well, almost with ease, until one day, I returned from a scouting trip deep in the woods to find that some of my subordinates had vanished in my absence. In fear I scoured the wilderness for any sign, until...at last I came upon them in the west. Frozen. Lifeless in cold stone."

Asuna gasps. "They were turned to stone?"

"Rocks one and all. I tried every spell known to my people, yet stone they remain. There were rumors of a cure somewhere deep in the shadowed depths of the forest, so I gathered my blade and began my trek. Even though these woods are known to my people, I soon lost my way. My only salvation is the use of one ancient spell. An incantation of pathfinding that returns me to my came."

"You haven't found out why your companions turned to stone yet," Kirito questions. Kizmel doesn't answer. "Hmm, seems like she doesn't have an answer to that. Is she not an AI NPC?"

I fold my arms. "I find that hard to believe, but also not improbable. If she's answering to very specific phrases, she must be a normal one. But...it could be that the quest itself is limiting her interaction, not her programming."

"I must find a way to cure them," Kizmel states. "I must."

"Maybe… Maybe there's some hint around here? Something we missed?"

"What about the item," Asuna suggests.

"Oh! Nice call." Kirito takes hold of the Miser's Stone and presents it to Kizmel. "Hey, Kizmel, will you take a look at this?"

She gasps. "I have seen its like before. It must be from that place… But now that the forest itself has turned to my foe, its location has been clouded to me."

"That's probably where we should head next," Asuna comments.

Kirito nods. "Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. Hey, no worries, Kizmel. If we look together, I'm certain we'll find it." Kizmel doesn't respond, so Kirito repeats the statement differently, "Um, why don't we continue as traveling companions and seek this place together?"

"I welcome it. Now that I think about it, the forest began to change the moment that I set eyes on a jewel like that. Like as not there is a connection there. That jewel and this tragedy must be linked. With any luck, we will find this place again. Where once I laid eyes on that diamond." Turning away from the forest to us, Kizmel places a fist on her breastplate. "Apologies, friends, allow me a proper introduction. I am Kizmel, Sword of the Royal Guard."

"A pleasure. I am Kirito."

"And I am Asuna."

"I am Jaymes."

She nods. "Well met. Come, let us depart!"

"Is this the place you spoke of, Kizmel," Kirito asks.

She nods. "Yes. I found this altar when first we came into thd forest. And in that emptiness, there was once a jewel fixed."

"Probably the same one we got in town."

Asuna looks at the jewel in Kirito's hand. "Could it be as simple as putting it back there?"

"Worth a shot. Hold on one sec." Kirito walks up to the altar and inserts the stone. He looks around, sighing as he faces us. "I don't think anything's changing? This is definitely where it comes from though."

I hear rustling in the trees, and I reach for my sword. "I don't think we're wanted here."

Kizmel nods as she grabs her sword. "A foul creature descends on this place. Ready your weapons." As Kirito and Asuna prepare themselves, a large, grey-wood, red-eye tree. "One of the ancient demon-trees."

Kirito chuckles. "Of course there's a fight first. That thing won't know what hit it!" We take the fight to the ancient demon-tree. After a few minutes, it looks like we're about to route the walking, fighting plant. Or, at least, until the tree roars and unleashes a move that almost catches Asuna off guard.

"Whoa," Asuna leaps back and readjusts herself. "I've never seen that strike before! Some kind of special attack? Ah! Kirito, look out!"

"Huh?"

"Strike… Now!" Kizmel runs around and takes the strike meant for Kirito, collapsing on the ground. I call out to her, past concerns swelling up to the now. Angry, I activate a sword skill and charge the stupid tree, slashing its remaining health in one hit.

As the tree vanishes, I rush up to the others, the Dark Elf weak in Kirito's arms. But even worst is the tanning of her skin spreading rapidly from her wound. No, that's not some random skin disease. "Is she…"

"My body...is becoming… Ngh!"

"Kizmel!"

"Be careful... My friends…" Kizmel's face is literally set in stone as the disease fully envelopes her. Unable to do anything, Kirito softly sets her on the ground.

"She… She turned to stone. No… What do we do without her?"

Kirito curses himself. "Dammit! I should have been more careful. I should-What the?" A flash of light washes over the woods, leaving behind a beautiful woman at the altar. Blond hair, blue eyes, a flowing green dress, and a smile as warm as the sun. Seeing her name, the Sunrise Spirit, I'm mesmerized as she glances at us.

"Wanderers, I thank you. It has been too long sincd I have been where I belong."

"I think this is part of the quest," Asuna says.

I use a Capture Crystal to retain a photo of this moment. "Oh, Klein's gonna be pissed when I show him this picture."

"Ages ago, this place was taken by demons and dark spirits. Where there was once nature and peace, chaos now reigned. A young sage appeared in our midst, determined to free us and drive away that devilish threat that began it all. Three spirits united to form a barrier against the most wicked of beasts. Together, we sealed away its strength. Until the jewel was secreted away from this place, weakening that defense which we had held steady for so very long."

Asuna faces us. "You think it was that merchant?"

"There's a good chance."

"It is thanks to you, wanderers, that I have been returned to this place. However, the other two spirits remain lost in this world, stolen from their rightful home. These jewels said to house the souls of those departed have always been valued by mortals. So it is with spirits, wicked and innocent alike.

"You two didn't see any other jewels, right?"

"No, just the one."

"So a monster took the others?"

"I think so."

"I beg of you. Seek out the remaining Miser's Stones. Return them here. That devilish treant must be sealed away again, lest it tear the forest down in its fury. I can do little in my current state. I am merely too weak. I can grant you this aid, though." The Sunrise Spirit kisses her finger and points at us. A small ball of light flies forward until it becomes an orange crystal hovering between us.

Asuna takes it. "What is it?"

"It's called the Sunrise Crystal. Forged as a tool of desperation, a devicd to weaken the Devilish Treant and lift curses from the woods."

Curses, huh? I look down at Kizmel. "So, could we use it on those petrified?"

The Sunrise Spirit is silent, making me think I worded my question beyond its answering capability, but then she looks up. "Hold it towards the sky and speak in truth the name of one who has been cursed. The stone will free them from their bondage."

"Seriously? Sweet!"

"We can bring Kizmel back!"

I sigh. "Thanks, Sunrise Spirit. We'll do what we can about the stones."

"I ask of you a great boon to save this forest and seal the Treant once again. Please… It is our only wish." With that, the spirit vanishes.

We freed Kizmel, but the spirit didn't tell us it was a one-time use of the crystal. After Kizmel got up and about, she took us to her camp. My memories of the various Dark Elf camps in Aincrad are a little hazy, but I bet they were just as luxurious. But I do remember one camp had a bath, and that still remains to this day.

Kizmel departs to speak with her superiors, leaving Asuna and us boys to our own devices. "Now, then, let's get down to some bath business… Oh…"

Kirito raises an eyebrow as Asuna turns red. "What's wrong? It's a bath. You should be estatic!"

"Well, it's just… I just remembered… The bath in the camp back in SAO was… It was mixed, wasn't it?"

I nod. "Sure was."

"Ah, now that you mention it, I remember Jaymes and I pulling guard duty outside."

"Well, yeah! Even male NPCs could go in and…"

I sigh. "You two can go… Oh, don't give me that look, Asuna. Yes, back then, we were just friends for what was a few weeks, but you two are dating now. Hell, if you cared so much about what we see, the past three summers wouldn't have happened."

Asuna's head is red like her heart. "I… I guess…"

"Besides," I turn away and relax my face. "I want be alone...and it's not fair to make Kirito wait alone for two people."

Her face regains color as she catches on to my meaning. Sighing, she grabs Kirito's hand and leads him towards the bath, saying how they'll sit back to back and whatnot. If Lisbeth was here, she might be more than happy to share a bath. As I sit on a barrel, I chuckle on that thought, how we somehow broke out of our nervousness towards each other much, much quicker than Kirito and Asuna. Then again, our friendship was as intimate as a boy and girl could get without crossing the boundary; we just had to do that. I can say I kinda crossed it with Koharu, for it was at that bath in SAO that we did the same as the couple now, the only time we saw each other was to wash the other's back.

Today's events take over my mind, and with it, the memories of early SAO.

When the Elf Quest started on the third floor, Kirito, Asuna, Koharu, and I decided to party up for the entirety of the questline. It's the unspoken beginning of why we three are usually together so often on quests, as we attribute it to the events of the first floor, not the seven floors we scaled completing the questline and fighting on the front. Of course, we weren't together as four the entire time, just whenever we actively followed along the quest (which is why they didn't meet Lisbeth and Silica on the fourth and eighth floors) but it is memories the three of us retain alone. Not even Klein and Agil completed the quest, but even if they did, the ending us four got was a special case that I kept a tight lip when Argo pressed me about it.

I never saw her so desperate that she promised her entire wallet for information ever again.

"Of all things, of all memories of SAO, I never thought Kizmel would return. Koharu would have loved being here...so much would be different if she was."

"Hey, Jaymes." I look up to see Kirito and Asuna walking out. I didn't realize time passed so quickly. They look refreshed and happy. I hope my leniency and desire to be alone is...not to that kind of benefit for them.

"Enjoy the bath?"

Asuna nods hesitantly. "Yes… Don't speak a word of this to Lisbeth. You know her."

I nod. "Keeping your girlfriend out of the know?"

"She's my best friend but...you know her well."

"Anyway," Kirito chuckles, "your turn. We'll explore the camp and all. See ya."

"Deuces." I head into the cave, switching out of my clothes as I enter the steamy water. It feels just as I remember, though, not that ALO's hot springs or the hot tubs of GGO don't compare. It's just the memories coupled with the bath, that's all. "Of course, the only was this goes sideways is if Kizmel comes in."

"You call me?" I jump in surprise and cover myself (as pointless as that is, an enabled ethics code hides genitalia and such code can only be broken in private spaces) as I hear Kizmel wade through the water. When did she get in? Did the steam hide me well enough? "Oh, it's you, Jaymes."

"Y-Y-Yeah…" I keep my back to her. This is not happening again, is it? Sure, fifteen-year-old me was...well, I was fifteen and there was a naked, wet woman there. Course I was a mix of confusion and excitement, heck I might've had a little crush on the Dark Elf. But I'm four years older and maybe more mature, so her being her now is making me confused, subconsciously excited, and in moral peril, much like I was with Lisbeth last weekend.

"Well, since we're both here… Let's wash each other's back." I cannot protest before a brush is pressed against my backside. Sighing, I give in to Kizmel's request, now that it'll be rude to back out of it.

"Okay."

"At the same time, we can have a talk about things. I'm grateful the three of you were here today, not just for aiding me but saving me as well. But, I must ask, why go out your way for a stranger?"

Funny enough, Kizmel asked a similar question back in Sword Art Online when we saved her. "Well…you reminded me of an old friend of mine from long ago."

"Is that so? What was she like?"

"She was a great warrior. Friendly, helpful...she was everything I wasn't. You would've liked her."

"I believe you're right." Kizmel removes the brush from my back and hands it to me over the shoulder. Once I hear her move through the water, I slowly turn around and begin washing her back. "Did you love her?"

"...At one point, she was my reason for living. So yeah, I did."

"How...did she pass?"

I don't know how Kizmel deducted that, nor do I know how to answer it for this version of Kizmel who has no memory of Koharu. But the truth comes out anyway. "She… I wasn't fast enough. Another person murdered her, and I could do nothing to save her. So...ever since, I dedicated myself to not let another suffer as Koharu did."

"Koharu," Kizmel says perfectly the first time. "A beautiful name... Kirito, Asuna, they're bonded close to you. You have other dear friends?"

"Yes."

"Not easy to protect them, isn't it. You want to keep them safe, but they want to do the same. I know nothing about love of the romantic kind, but I suspect it's even harder."

I chuckle. "Yeah. Yeah, it is. You must be worried about your friends too."

Kizmel nods. "They are my friends as well. I was their superior. I should have...it fell to me to protect them and I… I trusted them. I knew that the forest was safe in their care. Not once did they shrink from the duty they served. And I was gone. When they needed me most I was wandering the woods… I will return them to normal, I swear it."

I lower the brush and walk in front of Kizmel, momentarily forgetting where we are and how much clothing we don't have on. "We're not much different then. I'll do anything for my friends...and that's why I want to help you."

Kizmel looks away from my eyes with a smile. "I appreciate it...but what happened to your human standards? You were unable to look at me face to face earlier."

"Huh… Oh..."

After saying farewell to Kizmel, Asuna, Kirito, and I walk away from the camp back to the forest's entrance. "Well, todat was certainly a blast from the past, wasn't it?"

Kirito nods. "Yeah. I didn't realize how much I missed Kizmel until we found her again."

"It feels a little...different, this time. I want to help her save her friends. Not for the quest...for her."

"We got her back. Though… It's more different than we think."

I feel Kirito and Asuna's eyes on my back. I stop ahead of them, gazing up at the night sky. Kirito is right...it is more different than we realize. Not just a different quest with Kizmel in a different game, a different life, but...we're missing a pillar of our time back then. "...It's February, isn't it? Her birthday is in a few weeks… I think I'll go back to her grave again."

"This time we'll go with you," Asuna says. "Koharu was our friend too. We owe her so much." I look down to a smiling Asuna and a nodding Kirito. Letting my bottled emotions of today out, I spring forth and hold them close as I let tears fall.

"...Thank you...both of you...for everything."