Bit of a long one today. I hope that will make up for several shorter chapters in a row. Enjoy! See you at the bottom.

Chapter 27

I want to remember

"What!? But he hasn't done anything wrong!"

"Elite Disciple Kimiko, please do not raise your voice." Ms Azurica looked at her with a sharp glance before returning it to me. "The Integrity Knight hasn't explained why he's come to take Light."

Kirito wasn't paying attention, just thinking to himself. I swung my legs around to sit up and reached towards Kimiko, putting a hand on her shoulder. I wanted her to know it would be alright, even if I couldn't say it. I picked up a cloth from the beside cabinet and tried to wipe my blood from her face.

Kimiko took it from me. "I'm okay…it's just so unfair."

"Elite Disciple Light, I need you to come with me now." Ms Azurica insisted. I stood up, Kimiko preparing to catch me if needed. I managed to fake the strength in my legs, standing strong despite my legs feeling like jelly. I followed Ms Azurica outside, Kimiko right behind me. Kirito was staying behind despite the thousands of questions I had for him.

We walked through the corridors in silence, getting looks from the other trainees. I sucked in a breath as I saw someone in a dark green uniform. From a glance, he looked similar to Lord Grant, the main difference being his light brown hair which was a stark contrast to Lord Grant's scarlet hair. He was stood talking with another student, the blonde boy from the blacksmith. He gave Ms Azurica a small bow before looking my way. In a single moment, by the way he stood to that serious look with a small glint of joy behind it, he was Lord Grant's cousin, Golgorosso. The one he wanted me to beat.

A promise that I'm breaking…

By going to the Central Cathedral, I realised I was breaking promises to so many people. To Lord Grant, for not fighting his cousin. To Luna, for not winning my fight. Even to Eldrie, that kind stranger, for not being there to fight him in the Four Empire Unification Tournament. All in pursuit of the possibility of regaining a past that I didn't even know if it was worth remembering.

It began to crush my heart…

Ms Azurica stopped next to a door to the gardens. "Good luck." She said simply before stepping aside.

"Wait!" A familiar, tearful cry came from behind me. I turned to see Luna walking towards us, dragging the Night Shadow Blade behind her. She was tired, her hands red from carrying the sword. I knew it was too heavy for her. It must've been torture bringing it all this way. "Light…I haven't given you your gift yet…" She panted as she stopped in front of me, bending over to catch her breath.

As soon as she stood up straight though, she passed me a long, thin package. I looked at it, trying to think of what it could be. It almost looked like a sword blade. I unwrapped the thin packaging to find a beautiful sheath and two leather straps attached to the top and bottom at the back. It was a dark purple, a few shades darker than the Night Shadow Blade with a silver crest in the middle of a diamond and a pair of wings holding the crystal aloft, and gold trimmings on the point and entrance of the sheath.

Luna slid the Night Shadow Blade into the sheath, the two smallest petals that made up the crossguard hugging the entrance. Though there was a slit that went halfway down the left side of the sheath. Almost like she knew the question I would ask, Luna placed the sheath against my back and placed the top strap over my right shoulder. I drew the two straps together, wearing the sword on my back.

"Whenever you sheathed your sword during training, it almost looked painful for you, like you were remembering something. Kimiko helped design a sheath that you can draw a sword from your back with." Luna forced a smile. I couldn't thank her using words, so I hugged her. She started crying into my jacket. "I don't want you to go…"

I didn't want to leave her either. Someone I helped grow and mature, someone I loved.

Ms Azurica pulled her away. "Primary Trainee Luna, please don't make the Integrity Knight wait any longer."

I let her go and looked up at Kimiko. I gave her a small smile. I wanted to say that I'd see her again…but I honestly didn't know if I would. She seemed to understand though. "I'll see you up there."

I nodded. I wanted to believe that. That she would win the Four Empire Unification Tournament and I would see her again, and this time without the risk of losing her memories. I wanted that more than anything right now…

I took a deep breath before walking out to the gardens, feeling my heart being torn in half as I left them all behind.

To my surprise, there stood a massive dragon, easily three times the side of me. It had the scales of the evening sky, and steel the colour of the sea. It looked at me with the look of a predator observing its prey, making sure to show me its razor sharp teeth.

I approached it, slowing my approach when I was a few steps away. I reached out a hand to show I was calm. I figured it was like a dog. If you showed no fear or malice, the creature would show none to you. Indeed, it moved its head towards me allowing my hand to feel the smooth snout.

"There's not many Hoshigami would let lay a hand on him."

I jumped as I heard the kind voice. The dragon recoiled a little as its master approached. I turned to the Integrity Knight who looked…nothing like the image I had conjured up in my head. He was tall, blue hair that was pushed back. He had eyes that told a tale of years of experience, yet were kind. The weird part was his kimono, matching as his hair in shade. It didn't match any image of a knight that I could imagine, even a samurai. At his side was a thick sword slid into a simple leather sheath.

"I am the Integrity Knight Commander, Bercouli Synthesis One. I assume you're Light." I nodded. "Not very talkative eh?" I can't exactly tell you that I can't speak. "Well, that's okay. I'll need to take your sword however." I nodded again, unbuckling the belt and handing him the blade. "Thanks. I'll just need to put you in this harness and we can head straight up."

My stomach dropped when I heard that. Of course we'll be flying…

Bercouli took a harness from his saddle. It kept my arms pinned to my side, not allowing me to struggle even if I wanted to. "I would let you go in saddle if I was allowed to, but the Pontifex would rather not take any chances." He gave me a smile that almost reassured me. "Don't worry. I'll make the ride as short as possible."

He walked around to the back of the dragon. I could hear him get onto the saddle. Soon, the sound of giant wings beating the air came from behind me. I took one last look at the window into the Sword Mastery Academy. Kimiko was looking at me with a small smile on her face. I tried to return it, to say farewell, but I was yanked into the air, and I became overwhelmed with fear creeping into my heart.

So instead, a single tear dropped from my cheek and evaporated into thin air.

We landed at a lower part of the tower. Bercouli had to walk me up several flights of stairs, through a large hall and up an elevator that used Wind Elements, operated by an expressionless girl, before we arrived on the eightieth floor. I was taken aback by the garden that existed up here, full of life and vibrant colours. I tried to take it all in before I was escorted through it. Further up the tower was a large bath that Bercouli seemed to regret walking through.

On the ninety-fifth floor was an open floor. I looked through the open wall, surprised at the size of the Human Empire.

"Impressive, isn't it?" Bercouli noticed my wonder. "The Pontifex wanted this part of the tower to see every part of the Human Empire." He looked a bit concerned at my silence. "You really can't speak can you?" I shook my head. "Hopefully the Pontifex will be able to heal that then."

I looked confused. But that was soon interrupted by a high pitched chortling. "Bold of you to assume she'll heal this thing One."

A small man in a jester uniform bounced down the stairs, letting out several irritating laughs with every step. He was about the height of my waist. He didn't look human, especially as his eyes were void of anything other than the small black pupil in the middle. Honestly, he looked like a child.

"I was under the impressive this kid wasn't here to be reprimanded Prime Senator Chudelkin." Bercouli looked annoyed at his presence. "More so that the Pontifex wanted to speak to him."

"SILENCE!" The jester's shrill voice rang throughout the floor, which was rather impressive considering there were no walls. "Who are you to question her Eminence!? You've done your duty One, leave the child with me."

Bercouli looked at him with a dark glare before patting me on the shoulder. "Good luck kid." He walked down the staircase, leaving me with this clown.

Chudelkin grabbed the chain on my harness and tugged me towards the staircase leading up. "You're lucky to be sharing the same space as our glorious Administrator. It's a privilege only a few people get, so you better bow to her low enough that your forehead touches the floor." His voice was irritating me so much I just wanted give him the condition I had so it would spare everyone's ears. "In fact, no! Do not touch the floor. Your head doesn't deserve to touch the floor she walks upon."

I barely even got to look at the floating white heads that lined the walls of one of the floors we passed from trying to block out his voice, but I managed to catch a glance of one. I looked back to have another look, but I was tugged rather sharply by Chudelkin.

There was only a few more steps until we reached an empty chamber with small circular platform on the floor. The jester directed me to stand on it. It began to raise up towards the ceiling, similar to the elevator that brought me up from the fiftieth to the eightieth, without the interest of the Wind Elements and speculating how it worked.

As we transferred from the ceiling of the ninety-ninth to the floor of the hundredth, I looked up to see a portion of a stunning mural. The picture of an angel in green dress with a sword, giving blessings to the world below her. I could see more as I ascended. Two more angels with blue and white dresses, one holding a bow and the other a thin sword, more akin to a rapier. I guessed theses were three of the goddesses. Judging by the colours, it was Stacia, Solus and Terraria.

One was missing…

I looked in the centre of the room to see a large bed where a young woman was sat. A veil of hair, the colour of a faded violet. She was wearing a delicate smile, with eyes silver like the moon. They were glinting with curiosity as she looked at me.

This had to be the Administrator.

"Welcome my child." Her voice was soft, but a chill ran down my spine as I heard it. On the surface, it was a voice I could trust, like a mother's, but underneath that, every instinct told me to run as far away as possible from this woman. "Chudelkin, you can leave us."

"B-but-"

"You can leave us." Her voice was more forceful this time, intensifying the chill.

Chudelkin let go of the chain, it falling to the ground with a dull clunk, and moved back onto the disk and descended into the floor.

I looked over at the Administrator. She crossed one leg over the other, resting her hands on her knee. "You can come closer. There's no need to be afraid."

I couldn't help but laugh awkwardly. Everything about this woman said otherwise. She looked so innocent, yet I could feel the aura she gave off. It wasn't friendly in the slightest. More like…a nightmare in human form. "Forgive me, but if only for my own safety, I'll remain afraid."

Her eyebrows curled downwards, transforming her gentle smile into a cocky smirk. "Very well." She stood up and walked towards me. Her hands moved to the harness that kept me constricted, and I soon felt the restraints loosen. They fell to the ground and I could finally loosen the muscles that had started to tighten up in my arms. "You've been fighting for a long time. You can relax now."

The Administrator placed her hands underneath my arms. And…

Wait…what is going on…? Where am I…?

I was in a black void. Nothing was there. Not even the ground underneath my feet seemed to be there. I couldn't even tell which way was up. It was familiar, yet my mind couldn't draw the memory where it came from.

"You don't have to feel pain anymore Light…you can trust me…"

The voice seemed to penetrate my very soul. It was…beautiful…

"You don't have to remember anymore…"

That sounded…almost sweet. Maybe I actually wanted that. After all, remembering lead me to…hang on, where did it lead me…?

"Light, wake up."

A different voice echoed throughout the void. A much more distant voice, but more powerful than the other. I looked behind me to see a girl. She had dark blue eyes and blonde hair, dressed in a simple uniform. It was…no…it wasn't Kimiko. It was someone else, the perfect reflection.

"Come on, you have to wake up. You can't stay asleep forever."

Another voice joined hers.

This time it was a guy, with jet black hair that covered his left eye. Something deep in my heart told me that he wasn't really there…that it was impossible he was there. Yet I couldn't help but smile at seeing him again. I wanted to reach out to both of them, to hold them both and never let go.

I want to remember…

"Even me?"

I turned to see that girl...the one covered in blood. Her chest had a hole in the middle, yet no blood seeped out of the open wound.

Yes, even you… Even though when I look at you, I feel something trying to crush my heart. The pain I feel when I look at you is nothing compared to the agony at not being able to remember them. I looked back at the girl and boy.

A glitchy effect began to overtake the void, almost like it was collapsing around me. Though the collapse, I could see one more figure. A man with a crimson cloak, clad in dark steel armour. I couldn't see his face, as it was hidden behind a full face mask. He rolled the scythe he had in between his fingers.

"You don't get to take everything from me and get away completely freely."

I looked at him. Something told me what to say. "Even a thousand years in that void won't be enough to break me. You've already put me through far worse."

The void finally collapsed, darkness taking over the world.

I woke up suddenly, gasping for air. Underneath my head was a pillow. That bed was in the centre of the room was currently where I rested, my fingers gripping the silk sheets.

Two hands grabbed my shoulders, and above me were those two silver mirrors. "Translation software…memory blockade…" She gave me a curious smile. "You're from the real world." She pushed her hair behind her ear. "Though your red eye has me baffled. Someone has used the Code 871 in a way unintended by me, and you've managed to break it."

I wanted to ask what she meant, but my throat wouldn't let me still.

"Incredible. Absolutely incredible." She let out a small giggle. "I've deleted most of my emotional circuits, and yet this puzzle has me more curious than anything I've ever seen." A sense of dread began to overtake me as she stared down at me. I couldn't move. My muscles wouldn't obey me. "I'm going to have fun picking you apart Light."

Next chapter...will take place a few months later. Yeah, I'm doing a small time skip. With the next few months, there's no much that happens to Light that I can't just show later on.

He hasn't quite regained his memory. Think of it like he's unlocked the first seal on his memories. It isn't blocked anymore, he just doesn't remember...right now. But I don't want to get too ahead of myself. Just that he doesn't remember, but he hasn't unlocked all his memories...which is a good thing. If there was one thing I could change about previous chapters, it would be that every memory Light remembers, it would get more and more painful every time in his eye, leading to him finally breaking the Seal he's been placed under.

Reviews:

Some One: Thank you :)

blackbutterfly1313: I'm happy you enjoyed. The answer to the question is Kirito suspects Light is from the real world, but he doesn't know for certain. After all, Holly did contact Kirito to ask about Rath before Johnny Black attacked him. But who knows, maybe they'll meet again at some point...

I would insert a real world chapter here. After all, there is a small plot hole that I did open up in Chapter 5 that needs addressing about Infinity being able to create "save states" in Underworld, but I'll answer that at some point in the future. But I'd feel that I'd have to make some sort of drama in the real world, because there's not much I could have other than Kikuoka explain stuff to a character that already knows about Infinity.

Either way, I hope you enjoyed. As always, Stay Cool.