Asuna, two days later

When word arrived at the Central Cathedral that Medina's task force has returned to the capital, an immediate session of the Unification Council was called. At the time, Asuna and Kirito were enjoying a private meal on the eightieth floor when Deusolbert informed them. But when they prepared to make their way to the council room, the archer told them that they were called up to the ninety-fifth. He told them nothing else.

"I wonder what this is about that we're excluded from the session," Kirito wonders as they take flying up the long staircase to the highest accessible level of the cathedral. Floors ninety-six onwards are prohibited these days to most of the cathedral, though Kirito and Asuna have no reason to go that high anyway. They can't use the system console on the hundredth floor to contact the real world during the maximum acceleration phase they and Jaymes are trapped within.

"You're not actually concerned about being excluded, are you," Asuna says, knowing her beloved boyfriend's attitude well. He sighs and chuckles.

"Normally, yes, but I do want to know what Medina found and all. But the one time I'm intrigued enough to attend… Well, this mysterious rendezvous to the top bothers me too. It must be more important." Asuna offers no replay as they come up on the ninety-fifth floor. She's just as weirded out as Kirito is by these events.

When they arrive on the Morning Star Lookout, the sun is hanging over the western horizon. Kirito sets his feet on the floor and lets Asuna drop out his arms. She looks around the lookout, seeing the staircase that leads to the upper floors, the the openings in the exterior that form the lookout, but there's not a figure in sight. Wait, no, her strong perception picks out an abnormal shadow against a nearby opening. It's darker than the light shadows, and based on its shape, it's human like them. Quick deduction from the top student of their school delivers a sound conclusion. "Joshua."

"Asuna. Kazuto." The swordsman in the red tunic steps out the shadows, but not totally away from his former position, nor does he lays eyes on his old friends. "Been a while, huh? Some months, right?"

Kirito nods. "I don't think we haven't seen each other this long since we went separate ways in SAO. But I've heard Medina asked for your assistance with the disturbance in Wesdarath. I assume she's addressing the Unification Council right now?"

"Correct. But...there are some things that don't concern the Underworlders, which is why I asked for a separate meeting with you two."

"Well, at least we aren't missing out on that." Asuna leans against the opposing arch, her eyes set on Jaymes. Usually there's the hint of mockery and amusement in his eyes, but that glimmer she's gotten used to since the day they met is rarely missing. The last time that happened, Asuna had lost her memories of Sword Art Online due to the Augma tampering with her brain earlier in the year in their world. He didn't even greet them as he usually does. There's two reasons for it, she has learned: he's serious or he's spooked.

She had no idea it would be both at once.

"First off, did Medina show you the book she and Ilia found?"

"No, she kept most of her previous findings to herself. I guess she trusts you above all, of course."

"What was it about?"

"A group of divine beasts called the Ancient Apostles. I've never heard of such a thing before, but Cardinal's library possessed an entire book dedicated to them. It makes sense that the library has the entire history of the Underworld, but...these beasts literally predate the Underworld. I don't mean just the Human Empire, I mean even the many decades before that was founded. Before Project Alicization… Before Rath."

Asuna is dumbfounded by Jaymes' explanation, and so is Kirito. "Wait, woah. What are you saying?"

"It sounds crazy, but that disturbance in the woods… That was Fatal Scythe."

"F-Fatal Scythe?" Asuna vividly remembers the reaper underneath the Town of Beginnings, but that was in SAO. That monster (and, to even greater extent, many of SAO's bosses) did not return when New Aincrad was ported to ALO or when SA:O went live back in January, although the first area boss of the latter was a Kobold like Illfang. But they returned in the AR game Ordinal Scale. But if what Joshua is saying is true…

"You're not saying what I think you are," Kirito cautiously asks.

"It's not the first time this year. I didn't tell anyone outside of Crimson Squad, including the members in our usual group, but in GGO right after the Ordinal Scale incident, Koharu's SAO data somehow appeared. And while we're at it, there was Ordinal Scale, and before that, Sword Art: Origin. You can count New Aincrad too. All four have two things in common: Sword Art Online's data and a connection to the Seed, the stripped-down version of the original Cardinal, which we are recently familiar with. Underworld seems to be affected the same way GGO was, but on a greater scale."

Kirito crosses his arms. "But it doesn't seem to be accidental this time. If there's a book about these Ancient Apostles, it is meant to be part of the world's history, right?"

"Probably, but that's not really my concern. SAO data or not, the real problem is why they're coming back. Fatal Scythe, according to the book, was a terror to the people of the west until it fell in love with an archer, but because of it, she died and so did it. It came back and desired the presence of the markswoman, but for her to kill it. Took a lot of trial and error to figure that last part out. But that explains the disturbance, not the reason it returned. It was already dead, and has been for two hundred or so years."

"Because Administrator killed them, like the dragons?"

"According to Medina, they never encountered Quinella."

"So she missed the obvious threats to humanity. I want to be surprised, but did she avoid them, or did they avoid her?"

"I don't know, because in any case, they're all dead. Personally, I'm stumped as to what's going on. So Medina and I have decided to continue investigating."

"Seems like there's a lot neither of you know," Asuna comments, "but I guess we're in the same boat. I'm assuming you don't want our assistance."

'No, not yet, not until I know what we're dealing with. If it's just some monsters, Medina and I can handle it with our apprentices and the wayfarers. I don't want to involve the Council and the Order, the latter any more than I am with Ilia, Renly, and Tiese… What?"

Asuna narrows her eyes. "I think you just don't want to be around Kirito and I. Renly and Tiese?"

Jaymes shrugs. "Well, I… I mean… I do work better...without you two at times. Definitely best with a pair."

"Hmm? That's not something you say to your two long time friends, Joshua. How do you think we feel?"

Kirito shrugs. "I actually don't mind it. Give me some time to work on Unit Two."

Asuna sighs. "Whatever, you two are getting less fun to tease. But on a serious note, keep us informed, Joshua. This seems like a problem that might be beyond you."

"Yeah. I hate to admit it, but I almost died against Fatal Scythe. I couldn't hit it with my strongest move, and even if I did, I don't think it would have worked. I hope you aren't right for once, Asuna." Jaymes takes a breath and looks back to the sunset. "All that archer talk made me miss Shino… Oh well, I took too much of your time. We'll be in town for another day at Medina's Centoria residence, but I don't expect to return here. But I'll keep you updated once we return."

Kirito nods. "Hopefully...it's just a coincidence Fatal Scythe was there."

Asuna faces the sunset. Kazuto and Joshua rarely show worry, whether it is a guy thing to look brave or it is just how they are. In Joshua's case, either idea works due to his former partnership with Koharu; in Kirito's case, with Asuna. But this is one of the few times both show concern, and that worries Asuna. Like she thought earlier, the last time both visibly expressed this much was Asuna's amnesia. "I hope I'm wrong too."

Medina

Medina walks out the gates of the Central Cathedral just as Jaymes lands from high above. The way he gently and gracefully places his feet on the ground like a cat reveals he's been keeping up with the art the last few years. When they first meet, he only used flight in place of running, so he was still "grounded" in a sense; it wasn't until the War of Underworld that he took flight to higher altitudes. He explained that flight used to trouble him long ago, but "long ago" for him could be 300 years ago in her world or however long ago in his. But unlike Kirito, who uses Incarnation wings to fly, Jaymes commands the wind arts.

She often wonders who'd win in a duel between Kirito and Jaymes, yet Jaymes admits Asuna is their superior. "'Sure, Kirito and I are good, but put the three of us at equal level, Asuna will soundly defeat us.'" She heard the story from Ronie and Tiese of Asuna and their friend Koharu, who they identified (to a certain degree of correctness, Jaymes vaguely told her) as the Goddesses of Creation and the Moon, Stacia and Lunaria. He said that if Asuna wasn't held back, she would have beaten the dark worlders and the red army without issue. Kirito and Jaymes' feats, while incredible, do not come close to the introductory power Asuna established when she saved the empire's soldiers on her arrival.

But to her, Jaymes still is beyond his friends in the sacred arts. His ability to fly and use the arts in the scarcity of resources for almost a full day in the Dark Territory back during the war settles it in her mind.

"Oh, Medina, you're done with the council."

"Yes, thankfully so. I decided to only tell what we knew and what we planned on doing. Fanatio could tell I was trying to hurry things up. We should have reported tomorrow, not as soon as we returned."

"Maybe I was a little foolish on that, but I did want to talk to Kirito and Asuna. This frees us to work on the next step of our investigation tomorrow before we leave. I gave Mia the freedom to experience Centoria, but I'm sure Ilia hates that I asked her to chaperone."

Medina shrugs as they cross to the main street leading away from the cathedral. "You'll never know what Ilia's expressing unless you know her. She's kinder than she leads you to believe, though." She eyes the many buildings lining their path as she and Jaymes fall into silence. She wants to rest, but she doesn't want to return to her Centorian residence. What she really wants to do is--

"Wanna grab dinner, Meddie?"

"Oh, well sure, I was just thinking--wait, who are you calling Meddie?"

Jaymes ignores that and holds his elbow out. "Good. Come." She looks down to her extended elbow, then apprehensively wraps her arms around it as if she's expecting him to yank it from her. He doesn't do anything of the sort, but immediately as she touches him, light glimmers around them. She closes her eyes to not be blinded, then opens them when the light fades. She looks to Jaymes to question what just occurred, but that question is stuck in her throat as she looks at the new attire he wears. A black suit, a white shirt, a crimson tie down the middle--and for once, his hair is adjusted properly--he's looking quite proper.

If he changed clothes, then she… Medina's eyes grow wide at the red dress covering her from her neckline to her knees, even covering her usually exposed chest completely. White heels hold her up, and as she explores her new outfit, she spots a white beady necklace and feels two unfamiliar earrings on her ears. The shape of them...flowers? Oh, lycoris, of course.

"I did what I envisioned you'd look like. How did I do?"

"What do I look like for what? An extravagant noble's party? You did well on that part." Medina raises her sight back up and smirks at Jaymes' red face. Seeing his shaken confidence in recent days has been an eye opener for Medina, and now it is in her control. She brings herself closer to the swordsman and places her head on his shoulder as they walk. "Well, this is extra forward of you, Jaymes. Asking me to dinner, dressing us up like this, what are you thinking?"

"It's just… You know, we haven't seen each other in a long time, so this is me making up for my absence, having you take my place on the Unification Council, and anything else you can think of."

"Hmm, I can think of plenty."

"Don't do it because I said it."

xxxxxxxxxxxx

Hours later, Asuna

Asuna narrows her eyes. "I think you just don't want to be around Kirito and I. Renly and Tiese?"

Jaymes shrugs. "Well, I… I mean… I do work better...without you two at times. Definitely best with a pair."

"Hmm? That's not something you say to your two long time friends, Joshua. How do you think we feel?"

Asuna sighs in frustration as she replays the earlier conversation with Jaymes and Kirito when they discussed the newest development in the Underworld. She's not sure what truly irritates her. It could be what he said, that he prefers to be away from Kirito and Asuna, but it could be the way he said it. Or maybe it is Kirito's answer, that he's fine with it to continue with his own plans. Or maybe it is with her compliance instead of arguing with them both.

Whatever the truth is, it sticks to her head like honey, and she tries to literally shake it off, causing her to bump her head against the reading Kirito's shoulder.

"Ow ow ow…"

"Asuna… What's wrong?"

Asuna rubs her forehead and raises her upper body from the bed. "Do you really agree with letting Jaymes go off on his own?"

"He'll be fine, Asuna. Medina will be there to have his back. He's survived--"

Of course he's giving the Kirito response. "Let me put this a different way. Kazuto, are you fine with Joshua going off on his own? I… I don't understand either of you."

Kirito closes and puts the book down on his chest. Closing his eyes, he takes a moment and quietly ponders under Asuna's gaze. "...We all know what happens if we die here. So no, I'm not happy letting him go alone, but it is his choice--"

"Choice? When has that mattered to us? Whether it was you, me, him, or anyone else, we handled everything together in the last four years. One's burdens is everyone's burden--"

"This is different, Asuna."

"How so?"

"Because, for two of those last four, or nearly six for him if you add his time here, he was alone. And before you contest it, I am a former solo player and as close to a shut-in one can be without being called on. You used to be alone before we met in SAO in real life, and he has too. We know what it is like to be truly alone despite having people around you. And he said so as much to me when he came to save me. He didn't know that I could hear his voice, but I did. So… Don't take it the wrong way. He doesn't want our help because he's putting us aside, but he's found others to rely on. He's not alone anymore...or should I say, because I think it is the same when he's with Crimson Squad, but he's not alone anymore because we're not around."

Asuna frowns. "We? As in...me and you?"

"Mhm. We came out of SAO with the person we called partner and love, he didn't come out with the person he swore to protect. Of course, things have changed in our world too. Maybe he won't be alone anymore."

"But…" Asuna sighs and lays back down. She's trying to understand, but...maybe long ago, she could have, but so much has changed since November 6th, 2022 that it seems so foreign. Yet, even if she did understand what Kirito's saying, she doesn't have to accept it. "Even so… I want to help him. He would and has done the same for us. I'll talk to him tomorrow."

"What if he doesn't accept you? It is you, after all."

Asuna turns to Kirito and smirks. "Oh, he'll accept it if it's just me."

Kirito sighs and picks up his book again. "I don't understand the relationship between you two. Never have, never will."

xxxxxxxxx

Jaymes, around the same time

After Medina and I returned to her estate after dinner, we went our separate ways. By now I'm sure she's sleeping, and I haven't encountered Mia or Ilia in the Centorian Orthinanos home, residing in the Cordea Plains just outside the northern walls. Originally, this used to be the home of a noble family close to the Norlangarthian Royal Family, but due to their loyalties, they were ousted out. Medina, Eydis, and I handled the Norlangarth family during the rebellion of the four empires, and from my perspective, we dealt the most punishment.

But that's not the reason I'm still up so late. I've probably spent two or three hours reading about the Ancient Apostles, trying to figure out our next move. The last time I've studied material to this degree would be the first semester exams, and I'm so tired of it. But with so much information on my mind, I can't fall asleep. Not a simple task when you got monsters stronger than two gods popping up. Even harder to process all this when I just told the two people who could actually help to buzz off.

I stand on the balcony, gazing out to the moonlight. The night is still except for the chirping of nature of the plains and forest and the rushing of a nearby river. Medina chose a fine estate to occupy for herself, though her family still occupies Uetra Valley just a day's travel northwest of here. There's a deep depression of the earth just south of here in the center of the region, a village to the northwest on a cliff, and a farm somewhere west. More people travel the roads nowadays, as compared to when I arrived here at the start of the Clamp Crisis. The monster population is well-managed by the regional forces. Peace and tranquility...something that feels far-fetched for me.

I don't know if it is my DNA or something I picked up since SAO, but the idea of sitting down and doing absolutely nothing, the idea of a peaceful, free life, sounds foreign. That wouldn't work for me in the real world, I'm the heir to a corporate business. Here, I could have chosen that for 200 years, to live those immortal years as I wanted. I could be a wandering adventurer, a fisherman by a river or the sea at the southern edge of Sothercrois, a farmer up in Rulid Village to the north, anything I wanted. Instead, I became a delegate of the Unification Council and the backseat ruler of the Dark Territory. I even had one opportunity presented to me, one which, a year and three months later, I still haven't accepted or denied myself. I spoke with my brain back then, but my heart is still unsure.

"Jaymes?" I turn my head from the moon to the voice behind me. I almost respond, but my eyes are faster to react than my tongue. Maybe it is my affinity for red (yeah that's totally it), but I have to force myself to not stare at Medina as she approaches me. That top she wears exposes much of her torso and shoulders, and her legs are exposed completely. Any other man, Real Worlder or Underworlder (Taboo Index be damned, as it has been before) would be entranced by the redhead. How anyone used to look at the beautiful girl and call her defective with a straight face is beyond me, there's not a single defect from her head to her toe.

Now when she speaks, that's a different story, but bear with me on that.

Taking a deep, mind resetting breath, I look at Medina again. The moonlight makes things worse (or better), reminding me of the time previous to our reunion at the fort in the west where we spent a night alone two years prior. Back then, we reaffirmed our friendship and vowed never to betray one another as we did. I don't know how much of that vow I've held up since then, but I do strive to uphold it, even now in my 19 year old mind, or 21 year old mind if we're counting Underworld time. "What brings you here? Couldn't sleep?"

"I could ask the same of you, but I see you've been hard at work. Think of anything?"

"No. Worse, I told Asuna and Kirito to stay out of it for now. That was a mistake."

"You can let go of your pride and ask them for help."

Pride? Is that what it is, to tell my best friends to let me handle it alone? In our entire history since we first formed a party, except for the time when Kirito departed the front lines and joined the Moonlit Black Cats, my time from the front lines after Koharu's 'death', and Death Gun incident last year, the three of us never tackled anything major without the other two. And when one of us were indisposed (Asuna after SAO when Sugou trapped her, me during Itsuki's betrayal in GGO, and Kirito just hours/years ago when his Fluctlight was compromised) two of us would go and try to help. That's been the status quo for the three of us for so long that to betray it confuses me. Is it pride? Or is it something else?

Whatever it is, I believe Medina is right. "I might have to go sulk to Asuna now. Don't come along, it's a horrible sight."

Medina smiles and faces the darkness. "Sounds entertaining." Silence ensues, and we just stare out to the outside world together. It's a comforting silence, but there's so much I want to speak to her about, and I sense the same in her. Our talks during dinner kept to our antics in the six or so months since my last appearance in the empire, but it obviously skirted around the subject of Eydis. Knowing she's been distant from Medina for a long while and hasn't been seen in a few weeks does concern me, but I'm sure she's fine in that regard.

As far as I know, there isn't an issue between me and Eydis. When I last saw her six months ago, I left her on good terms. I even asked her to join me in the Dark Territory, as that would be a big help to me, but she decided to stay in the empire. That's all I can think that could cause her some slight anger at me, but there's no reason she should have actively worsened her relationship with Medina, if that's the case.

But I can't think about that for now. Eydis is eight times my age chronologically, she is a powerful Integrity Knight, arguably one of the strongest with her mastery of the Sacred Arts, especially the Umbral Element, and her invincible Dark Slash Sword. And who knows, maybe we'll run into her during our investigation.

Without any other reports, my only plan thus far is to do as we did for the Clamp Crisis, investigate each kingdom extensively. Since there has been one occurrence of an Ancient Apostle in Wesdarath, I believe it best to follow that trail while consulting the text. I should get Medina's opinion on the matter while it's on my mind. "Hey, Medina, what do you--"

What happens next catches me off guard, and for the moment, I consider myself the luckiest man in Norlangarth. Medina steps up to me, places a finger on my lips, and leans her entire body against me. "No more talking about that today. Just...be in the moment, and don't leave."

"Okay. And don't worry, I'll never let you go." Word it like that, there's no way I could protest, but I made one fatal error after saying my response. I looked down at Medina, and without a second thought, got drawn in her leaf-green eyes and her half-moonlit face.

And with no hesitation I meet her lips halfway.

Right then and there, I wish this wouldn't have become the last night before everything that could go wrong happened. I would have cherished this peace with Medina greater than I did...and probably dropped everything for that foreign idea of a peaceful, free, unburdened life. The choice I should have made a year and three months ago.

A choice that'd haunt me for days to come.