===== December 5, 2022 - Floor 1: Tolbana =====

Link and Zelda woke up early and feeling more refreshed and energized than they ever had before. Zelda's "Well Rested" effect was in place, albeit at a significantly higher level than before. Both players were Lv. 10, which meant that her stats should have been boosted by 20% if they slept for a full eight hours uninterrupted, and they hadn't slept that long yet her stats were boosted by an astounding 35 percent. When she voiced her concerns to Link, he opened up his Unique Skills menu and had her do the same.

"All right, let's see what we've got here... Well Rested, Adrenaline Rush, Soothing Pulse..."

"Soothing Pulse? What's that?"

"Oh, yeah... that one popped up the morning of the boss fight. It must have unlocked the night before."

"I see..." She peered over his shoulder and read the description of the Soothing Pulse skill. "So feeling your heartbeat helps me fall sleep faster, is that what it's saying?"

"Pretty much... and it's true. You couldn't sleep until you put your head against my back and your hand on my chest. I could feel you tossing and turning behind me."

Zelda blushed. "I thought you were asleep that whole time! Why didn't you say anything?"

"It wouldn't have made any difference," Link said with a small chuckle. "Let's see what else we've got here... oh, there are two new ones." He opened each new tooltip in turn:

Lovemaking

The ultimate physical expression of love and passion.

Increases effectiveness of all other Unique Skills.

Effectiveness: 25% of base value every 30 minutes.

Cast time: Channeled. Minimum 30 minutes.

Limitations: Can only be cast on player 'Zelda.'

Din's Kiss

The Goddess of Power's flaming passion and strength burn brightest on the battlefield.

STR, Max HP increased

Effectiveness: 30% plus 1% every five caster levels. Increases to 50%/2% if caster is boosted by 'Adrenaline Rush.'

Duration: 15 seconds per caster level.

Limitations: Can only be cast in combat. Can only be cast on player 'Zelda.'

Both players were now blushing nervously at the realization that their romance was what was actually making them stronger. "Even more things to add to the list of weird crap about this world..." Zelda fumed.

"Can't argue with that... anyway, open yours up now."

"Yeah, sure... I have Revitalizing Touch, Lovemaking, and... Nayru's Spirit?"

Nayru's Spirit

Echoes of the heart heal even the most grievous of wounds.

Completely restores and overflows target's HP.

Effectiveness: 2% extra HP gained per caster level.

Cast Time: 15 seconds minus 1 second per 10 caster levels.

Duration: 5 minutes.

Limitations: Can only be cast in combat.
Can only be cast on player 'Link.'
HP resets to base maximum after duration.
Can only be triggered by a severe shift in the caster's mental state.
Triggers 'Adrenaline Rush.'

"So in other words, if I see you get hurt and freak out, it heals you? What kind of garbage is that?"

"The same 'garbage' that makes you super-Saiyan strong just by sleeping next to me, I suppose."

"So I see... guess there's no point in worrying about it." She peeked out the curtains and saw the sun just peeking over the horizon. "Anyway, since we have some time before we have to get moving..."

"Again?"

"Yes, again... am I asking too much of my Hero?"

"No, I'm just surprised you want it so much..."

"Well, don't be. I love you, I want you, and I crave you..."

They made love for a considerable amount of time before finally getting dressed and leaving the inn.

As they stepped out into the town plaza, they attracted a considerable amount of attention as the heroes who had finally defeated the Floor Boss (ignoring the fact that it had taken a team effort of some thirty-odd other players, but such is how the rumor mill turned). Some were asking for autographs, some issued challenges for duels, some even came with proclamations of love which ranged from charming to amusing to downright creepy, but one thing seemed clear. Everyone in Aincrad knew who Link and Zelda were.

"I'm not entirely sure how I feel about all this," Link mused as they passed through the city gates.

"Well, a little fame and notoriety can't be too bad of a thing, right?"

"I suppose not, although I'm sure there are some radars I'd rather not end up on."

"What do you mean by that?"

Seeing as they were surrounded by people, Link switched to French so he and Zelda could continue speaking freely. {I've heard rumors that people are recruiting for a murder guild.}

{'Murder guild?' What do you mean?}

{I mean that people are gathering together for the sole purpose of killing other players.}

{My god... that's horrible!}

{I know, but unfortunately it seems player killing is within the boundaries of SAO.}

{But... why? Why would people do that?}

{I can think of two reasons off the top of my head. One, they don't take this 'death game' that seriously. Two, they're just genuinely sick and evil people.}

Zelda shuddered as Link continued speaking. {In any event, I'm not particularly concerned with why, just avoiding them if at all possible.}

A small crowd caught Link's eye, and he was dumbstruck at who was at the center of it. "Speaking of people I'd rather avoid..."

There on a tree stump sat a spiky-haired young man, bemoaning the loss of his hand and begging anyone who would listen to 'avenge' him. Fortunately, the truth about exactly why he lost his hand had also made it out of the dungeon, along with his new moniker:

Kibaou the Thief.

Link made a point to look away, while Zelda unsheathed her sword and stared Kibaou directly in the eye as they walked past. If he didn't recognize her by her dress, he certainly recognized the menacing blade she carried, for he jumped down and fled into the forest. "Looks like he remembered the promise I made to him."

"Promise?"

"That if he ever came at my partner again, I'd cut off more than just a hand."

"Ah... yes, I do remember that," Link said with a slight chuckle.

"You sound as if you disapprove?"

"No, not at all. In fact, I commend your restraint. Were I in your place, I might have just killed him."

"You don't mean that."

"I mean, I can't say for sure. You at least knew he wasn't actually trying to harm me, just steal something from me. Who's to say I'd have had the same judgment? You're by far the wiser of the two of us."

"Is that why you listen to me?"

"Of course... what kind of question is that?"

Zelda put her sword away and clung to his near arm. "Well... I've always wondered why you always listen to my ideas, without ever questioning them."

"Because they're good ideas."

"How do you know?"

"Because I trust you."

"Really?"

"Yup. Unflinchingly and unquestioningly."

"Wow... thank you. That means a lot to me."

"You're welcome." He stopped walking just long enough to kiss her on the forehead, sending her into a brief yet uncontrollable fit of glee. "Of course, I also trust you not to make me regret that trust."

Zelda backed away. "Are you saying that I'm not allowed to make mistakes?"

Link shook his head. "No, that's not what I meant. Mistakes are one thing, and we're all guilty of them. Bad decisions and choices are another."

"Oh... okay. I think I understand that. And I trust you to protect me and keep me safe, but that doesn't mean deliberately putting yourself in danger. Bravery isn't the same as bravado, courage isn't the same as cockiness."

"You're right about that... that seems like a fair request. I won't go around blindly throwing myself into danger if I can avoid it."

"Good." She reached up and gave him a peck on the cheek as they continued walking. Eventually they came upon the floor dungeon. With Illfang, the floor boss and its previous occupant, having been dispatched, there was nothing between them and Floor 2.

===== Floor 2: Necluda Grasslands =====

The players emerged from the tower on a massive plain that stretched as far as the eye could see. They spotted a few structures and ruins out in the distance, but what they were was anyone's guess. One thing Zelda noticed right away was a lack of roads, which meant they'd have no choice but to travel through potentially hostile fields. Figuring any monsters they encountered wouldn't be too high in level for them to take on, they struck out under the same mantra they had adopted on Floor 1: slay any monsters and assist any players they came across.

As it turned out, there were plenty of both to go around.

The monsters ended up being challenging enough for the pair to contend with, not to mention what the average solo player must have felt like. Thus what looked like a three-hour trek to the nearest stable turned into about five hours worth of walking, hunting and fighting. They stopped for a brief rest and a quick meal before striking out after the Floor Bosses. If the beta information was still to be relied on, escaping the second floor meant slaughtering a group of Hinoxes that roamed the field, rather than hunkering down in a dungeon. Each one held a key to one of four locks on the tower leading to the third floor. They were in luck, as they were able to circle the field and slay a Red, Blue and Black Hinox with relative ease. They had to wait for nightfall to find the last one, a skeletal monster called a Stalnox. Once it fell and they had the final key in their possession, they unlocked the tower so that players could continue to pass through, bedding down for the rest of the night at a nearby stable.

===== Floor 3: Necluda Province =====

The following morning, they were in the middle of ordering breakfast when another person approached their table. "Excuse me, might I have a word?"

Link looked up at the source of the voice. It came from a tall, muscular woman who Link judged to be about his own height, possibly slightly taller. She had snow white hair with a single braid hanging down over her right shoulder with red beads at the end, and red markings on her face. Her weapon was an ornate spear and her armor was light blue cloth reinforced with iron plates (what they could see under the cloak she wore, at least). Link didn't spot a cursor over her head, which meant she could only be another NPC. Sensing no immediate threat, he asked for another chair and motioned for her to sit between himself and Zelda.

"Thank you," she said in a grave tone. "My name is Paya, and I have traveled from my village to find you."

"Find who, exactly?" Zelda asked with more than a slight hint of skepticism.

"The green warrior and the princess knight."

"And you automatically think that's us... why?" Link asked, completely dismissing the fact that he and Zelda were wearing distinctive armor, not to mention his tunic was a standout shade of emerald green. Zelda chided him, then asked how they could be of help.

"An hour's ride from here, there is a farm that supplies the three settlements in this province: Hateno Town in the south, Kakariko Village in the west, and Necluda City in the east. The supply routes have been plagued by monsters, bandits and thieves as of late. I was sent to find help to escort the supplies. My elder told me I could find a green warrior and a princess knight here at this stable." She raised her hand to flag down a waitress, and Zelda got a brief glance at her armor underneath the cloak. "The convoys-"

"You need convoy security, I take it? We'll help you," Zelda said.

Link was shocked. "Zelda, what are y-"

"We're helping," Zelda growled with a glare. "Paya, what do you need us to do?"

"Can you shoot a bow?"

Link and Zelda gasped in surprise. "I can, but he can't."

"Then I'll need you to learn before nightfall. That's when the next convoy leaves." A quest dialog opened up for each player:

Archery Training

Paya needs your help escorting a convoy of supplies around Necluda Province, but first you'll have to prove you can handle a bow.

Report to Bowmaster Cado at Lon Lon Farm for training.

Accept / Deny

Both players tapped 'Accept,' and Paya got up to leave. "We leave the farm at sundown," she informed them, tossing a couple coins on the table to pay for their meal. After she walked away, Link eyed Zelda suspiciously. "Remember what I said about bad decisions?"

"Yeah..."

"What made you think that trusting that woman like that was such a good idea?"

She moved into the now empty seat next to him and grabbed the Sheikah Slate from his belt. "When she raised her hand to get the waitress' attention, I happened to get a glance at her armor. Her breastplate had a symbol just like this!"

"No shit!"

"I shit you not! That's how I knew we could trust her!"

For Link, that was good enough. He gave Zelda a lingering kiss on the forehead. "In case I haven't told you lately, you're a fucking genius."

The two rode out to the southwest to Lon Lon Farm and reported to Cado as per their instructions. "So, you're gonna be helping Lady Paya guard the supply convoys? Thanks a lot!"

Their quest step completed and they were each rewarded with a Traveler's Bow. Cado launched right into the archery lessons. Link and Zelda each equipped their bows and aimed at their practice targets. A circle appeared in their fields of vision when they drew back the bowstrings, constantly growing and shrinking randomly. They learned that the circle was the field of aim, and that the arrow would strike randomly in the circle when released. Keeping a calm head and steady hand made the circle more rhythmic and predictable, while erratic nerves would cause the circle to grow and shrink at different rates or move off center. They spent a full day practicing, remembering Paya's edict that they leave at sundown.

Paya arrived as the last of the wagons was being loaded and lined up, with an additional squad of guards to ride on the wagons themselves. She, Link and Zelda were riding on horseback with both their bows and melee weapons at their disposal. Their objective was simple: keep any and all enemies away from the six wagons in the convoy. They were dropping one wagon off in Hateno. They would then ride northeast to Necluda to drop off three wagons, and finish the journey at Kakariko with the remaining two.

As Link helped her mount up, Zelda had another idea. "Why don't you ride counterclockwise around the convoy? That way your bow arm will be facing out, and you won't be pulling back across your body unnecessarily."

Link mounted up and pivoted to both the right and the left, and he did find that facing to his right felt easier and more natural. Doing so also kept him from aiming at the convoy itself. "What about you? You're right-handed too. Unless you're suggesting we both ride in the same direction?"

"No, I'm gonna ride clockwise. To be honest, I feel way too nervous about shooting arrows from horseback, so I'm gonna try to use my sword instead."

"You sure about that?"

"Yeah. I just feel more confident with my sword. I'll leave the ranged enemies to you and take care of anything that gets too close."

"Sounds like a good plan to me."

As the sun went down, Paya took up her own mount and bade the convoy follow. Since there were no roads to follow, they were able to chart a path straight to Hateno Village. Not even five minutes away from the ranch, however, the need for additional security became apparent. Flying Keese and mounted Bokoblins started attacking the convoy, and although they weren't particularly strong, what they lacked in power they made up for in numbers. Link and Zelda's strategy worked well enough; he used his bow to take down the airborne enemies, while she switched between bow and sword to take out the mobs on the ground.

They arrived at the town of Hateno with the convoy intact and long enough to get fresh horses for the wagons and all three guards. Continuing their journey toward Necluda City shortly before midnight, the enemies they encountered were slightly stronger and more numerous, and included the never-before-seen Lizalfos, but they were nothing Link, Zelda and Paya couldn't handle by working together. Again the convoy safely reached its destination, stopping just long enough to refresh and resupply for their last leg to Kakariko Village.

"Hey Link, got a question for you," Zelda said.

"Go for it."

"Why do you think we're taking two wagons to Kakariko last? From a difficulty standpoint, three are harder to guard, right? So maybe this last stop will be a little bit easier, do you think?"

Link shrugged. "I honestly have no idea. Maybe we'll find out when we get there."

Significantly smaller and thus much better protected, the convoy resumed its journey around 2:00 AM. The enemies were significantly stronger, in vastly increased numbers, and introduced Moblins to the field. Still, all went well for the most part... until they reached the gates of Kakariko Village.

Blocking their way was a green-skinned giant, mounted on an armored horned boar. It carried a hammer in one hand, a shield in the other, and a bow on its back. On the ground surrounding it were a dozen smaller green critters carrying shields. It let out a massive roar, and five health bars and a red cursor appeared over its head, along with the monster's name:

King Bulblin.