Asuna, two days later, Villind Plateaus, Wesdarath

The road to the village of Tiese's uncle is long and quiet for the task force set to investigate the second reported incident involving an Ancient Apostle. Having taken interest in the current and previous target, Asuna borrowed the text from Jaymes the previous day, learning nothing more than he already knew of the Reaper of the Woods and the Taboo Knight.

With knowledge that the Reaper was Fatal Scythe, they tried figuring out who the Taboo Knight could be, but that proved to be fruitless. When Jaymes first was told by Medina the Reaper predated the Underworld, naturally he'd think of prior data the Cardinal System could have used to develop this world, but considering he never encountered Fatal Scythe, he did not think of it as the culprit. Asuna has, but the story of the Reaper doesn't quite match her encounter with Fatal Scythe. For one, it wasn't a major boss of SAO, in the sense it had been avoided by the front lines, and would have continued that way hadn't Thinker been betrayed and trapped in the dungeon under the Black Iron Palace by Kibaou, leader and lieutenant respecitvely of the Aincrad Liberation Army. That might be the only common factor between both incarnations of Fatal Scythe, betrayal.

The Taboo Knight's story doesn't ring any bells to Asuna or Jaymes' past history, but she can't help but correlate the presence of the sword to the Arthurian legend. In that regard, it aligns with a quest the two of them, Kirito, and their friends went on in ALO last winter, ending with Kirito gaining the legendary sword Excalibur. Yet she doubts this is the source of the Taboo Knight's current presence in the Underworld. There's still that unanswered question from the Reaper mission of how it returned.

If it is what Kirito and Jaymes hypothesize, the fall of Administrator and possibly Vecta, why did it take nearly two years after the former's death? Also, the Reaper, the Taboo Knight, and the other Apostles are written as dead. The dead, under most circumstances, stay dead here, and the flora that resurrected entities before has not been spotted. Their Fluctlights shouldn't be spawning the way the Reaper did, even if the "soul" survived due to strong attachments.

Sighing, Asuna leans back on the cart and gazes at her allies. Tiese and Renly ride together at the head of the party, and the young couple converse to themselves. Ilia and Ronie ride their individual steeds behind them, then there's the two supply carts driven by wayfarers. Asuna sits beside one, yet he's not one for conversation but keeps his peace by humming to himself. Medina and Joshua form the backend of the party.

Asuna takes a quick peek at the two riders behind her, smiling as the Lycoris Knight and the Lord of Knights seem to have a casual conversation. To see him so happy... Oh, she's going to annoy Jaymes so much later on. But to not feel like a stalker, she looks ahead again and refocuses on the mission. "Tiese, how much farther are we from our destination?"

"Not far away, Lady Asuna. Maybe an hour or so."

"Very well, let's keep this pace."

"Who put you in charge?" Asuna turns to see Jaymes riding up to her side of the cart, raising his eyebrow at her. "I don't recognize your leadership today."

"Hmm. And you flirting back there is the sort of leadership this group needs?"

"I-I am not doing anything of the sort…"

Asuna chuckles and crosses her arms, satisfied with Jaymes' faltering mind. "Just kidding...well, not exactly. I haven't seen you that happy in years."

"Just real time or in addition to Underworld time?"

"I guess the latter, though in one sense, the former applies. In either case, it has been years since I've seen you comfortable to the degree you are with Lady Medina. Of course, it could be because she's a true redhead."

"The fact you remember that one conversation from the second floor… Which means you remember what happened before that."

"Of course, how can I forget you and Kirito throwing my clothes in a frenzy to find my sword, then the next morning, I'm told by one of the boys I'm not his type."

"Hmm… Nope, hasn't changed. Don't know what Kirito sees in you."

"Don't know what Koharu and Liz see in you."

"A shame we didn't let you marry Sugou."

"A shame we didn't let Itsuki fry your brain."

"...So, any further thoughts on this mission?"

"We are lacking in information, so we should stop by the village and--" Jaymes is cut off by a yell from the back of the party. Jaymes and Asuna immediately turn back to see Medina rolling on the ground to her feet, her sword drawn as soon as she stands. In front of her stands an armored being, their sword out. They attack Medina, only for her to parry the strike expertly. However, as Medina seeks to return the favor, the knight retreats as quickly as they appeared, just before Asuna and Jaymes make it to Medina's aid.

Joshua hops off his horse and rushes to Medina. "You okay?"

Medina rubs her left shoulder, but she nods to answer Jaymes. "I'm fine."

"Damn, they got away."

"I noticed we were being followed when you rode ahead. I tried playing casual while trying to detect where the watcher was, then...well, you see the result of it. But who was that guy?"

"We'll take solace that we weren't caught totally off guard," Asuna says as she looks back to the halted group, the trainees, wayfarers, and Integrity Knight looking back. "There's nothing we can do now except keep our guard up. As you were saying, Jaymes, we should keep moving to the village. Tiese's uncle should give us more details."

He nods. "Now that's an order I agree with."

Scloea Village, Villind Plateaus, Wesdarath, Ilia

Once they got to the village, the group split up. Tiese went on ahead to her uncle's place to explain the situation privately, so Jaymes, Medina, and Asuna decided to investigate the surroundings of the village. Ronie, Mia, and Ilia were left behind with Renly, so they decided to relax as they wait on Tiese's return.

"Hey there," Renly (who wears his lime-green uniform in place of his armor to not gain attention) greets a shopkeeper. "I'd like a black tea. What about you girls?"

"Silal water for me, please."

"I'll like to try this black tea."

"Green tea for me."

"Sure thing. I'll get it to you soon."

Renly nods. "Thank you." He steps back and leads the girls to a table made for four. "Well, nothing to do but sit and wait."

Ronie places her head in the palms of her hands and looks at Renly expectantly. Ilia knows that face from last night and many nights prior. Usually, Tiese or Ilia are the victims of it, but it is rare they're alone with the other half of the relationship. Add in Mia, who knows nothing and wants to learn everything, Renly is trapped. No wonder Jaymes whispered "Good luck" to the twenty-seventh knight before the party split ways. "Oh, Sir Renly, we have lots to talk about."

"We do?"

"Mhm. I don't think we talk enough as is, you being my best friend's mentor and boyfriend. I have to make sure you're worthy of her, you see?"

"Oh, well, maybe not. Have I done something wrong?"

Ilia sighs and stops Ronie from causing further misunderstandings. "Don't listen to her, Sir Renly. She's just toying with you because her own life is stagnant."

"St-Stagnant?"

"You're in love with a hopeless case. The Swordsman Delegate and the Swordswoman Sub-Delegate are one, so you should give it up."

"Oh, so that's your story," Mia says as their tea is served at their table. The Dark Knight trainee takes her cup of black tea and sips slowly. "Oh, that's delicious."

Ronie glares at Mia. "Well, what about you? For the past three days, you've been attached to Jaymes. Don't you know--"

"I am my master and emperor's humble servant for the last six months. I do love him, but it is out of respect, not romance. Like a sibling love... Although I wouldn't mind if I managed to win my master's affections, but my heart belongs to another. Say, Ilia, are you sure there isn't a beau in your life?"

"No. I do not have an interest in love. My only interests are to become an Integrity Knight and to serve Lady Medina in the meantime."

"Boring."

"How is that any different from you, Mia?"

"Because teasing my master makes servitude fun. It's so easy. You should do it too, I know Lady Medina has something she's easily embarrassed about, hehe."

"I don't think either of you trainees should be messing with your masters," Renly says.

Ronie leers at him. "Says the one in love with his junior."

Renly sighs and stands up"...You have a point. But may I--"

"AHHHH, IT'S HIM!"

"Ohmygossssssh! It's the Emerald Knight!" Several village girls swoop around Renly out of nowhere, and the already timid warrior is confused by the sudden attention. Ilia wonders how they know of his status as a knight when he hasn't been here before or even in armor. And though she doesn't know his alternate title, she's sure it isn't "Emerald Knight" despite his green clothing.

"Sir Emerald Knight! Please look my way!"

"Aaaah! Emerald Knight! Please drop by my house!"

"What? Huh?"

Ronie stands up and Ilia senses a dark aura surrounding her friend. "Sir Renly, do you know these ladies?"

"N-No! Absolutely not!" Renly searches around and gasps as he begins to jump in place. "Tiese, over here!" Renly breaks through his newfound fanbase and runs to Tiese.

"Aaah, where are you going, Sir Knight?"

"Please come back, Sir Dreamboat!"

"No wait! Sir Kniiiight!"

Ilia, Mia, and Ronie watch as Renly grabs Tiese and runs from the village girls, the three of them finding varying levels of amusement from it. "Well, what do you know? That Sir Renly is a 'chick magnet' as Master Jaymes would say."

"And here I was, thinking he was perfect for Tiese."

"It's just some misunderstanding, Ronie. Don't warp your perceptions."

After catching up to Renly, the girls found him without Tiese. Renly explains that he was unable to explain the situation before Tiese ran off and he lost track of her. Concerned for her friend, Ronie suggested they ask around and search for Tiese before Jaymes, Asuna, and Medina return.

As they asked around, they learned more about this "Emerald Knight". Renly was mistaken (possibly due to his clothing) for a Wesdarath noble who goes around training and being a playboy. In Ilia's mind, Renly was once too fearful to fight, so there's no way he's brave enough to string women around. Furthermore, Renly's name is not Sir Istalk, and he doesn't have pale blonde hair or blue eyes.

Eventually, they learned that Tiese was spotted with another young man, who looked vaguely like Renly with different hair and eyes. Ronie looks to the village exit nearby and sighs. "She's gotta be nearby."

Ilia narrows her sights and spots movement down the road. She sees a streak of red...and a touch of emerald. "Ronie, over there."

"Hmm… Oh yeah, that's definitely Tiese. Looks like she's with some armored guy."

Mia gasps. "The Emerald Knight! Let's go see how dreamy this guy really is! C'mon, Sir Renly!" Mia tugs Renly along hurriedly while Ronie and Ilia follow along. When they get close, they can hear the conversation between Tiese and the knight.

"Let go of me, please!"

"Let go? Was it not you who greeted me?"

Suddenly taking charge, Renly breaks free of Mia's hold and approaches the pair. "Tiese!"

Tiese looks at Renly and the girls, looking half-relieved. "Ah! Renly, sir!" She breaks free and runs behind Renly.

As for the Integrity Knight, he maintains his protective demeanor. "What's going on here?"

"I, um...mistook this person for someone I knew and called out to him, but...that's impossible."

"You thought you knew him? How?"

Ronie suddenly gasps and looks at Renly. "He looks vaguely like you, but with pale blonde hair and blue eyes." She turns back to the Emerald Knight as he faces the group, causing her jaw to drop. "No way... Eugeo?"

"Eugeo… Ah." Ilia recalls Eugeo, Fourth Disciple at the academy, Tiese's senior, Medina and Kirito's friend, and the latter's and Integrity Knight Alice Synthesis Thirty's fellow accomplice in the (righteous) deaths of two noble boys at the academy and the Pontifex's first death. He died himself in the final fight against the Pontifex. She knows from their academy days that Tiese harbored strong feelings for her senior and took his arrest and death quite badly. She thought her friend has recovered from it all and moved on when she began her relationship with Sir Renly, but now that a resemblance has been brought to her attention, Ronie is right. Put them side by side, Renly and Eugeo would look similar, and their personalities are similar. They're not headstrong as the Swordsman Delegate or the Dark Emperor, but they're not ones to stand down to protect who they care for. And to her knowledge, Renly has stood up twice when Tiese (and Ronie) was in danger, once here in Wesdarath against the Western Dragon, another during the war.

The Emerald Knight scoffs at the sight of Renly. "Pah. What was your name, lout? Renly? Are you perhaps a noble. like myself?"

"No, I'm not."

"Ugh, how vexing. I'm rather irked that I've been mistaken for lowborn scum."

"How dare you," Tiese says in offense. "You're not half the man Renly is!"

"Hmph. You have the gall to speak to me that way? Are you unaware of the consequence for insulting one beyond your station?"

Mia grits her teeth and gestures to Renly. "Are you unaware of who he is? He's an In--" Mia's cut off by the raise of Renly's hand and side glare. Whether Mia understands or not, she gets the message to not expose Renly's station as a member of the Integrity Knights. Instead, he steps forward and bows to Sir Istalk. "I apologize for her comments, Lord istalk. Please forgive her."

"Forgive her? Well, let me think…" Istalk analyzes Renly and draws his sword. "You seem to be a swordsman, Renly. Perhaps we can settle this over a clash of blades."

"You mean like a duel?"

"If you somehow manage to defeat me, I suppose I can overlook her loose tongue."

"Sir Renly, don't," Ronie pleads as Renly walks back to the girls.

"I can't back down now. He clearly has it in for Tiese. If it's a duel in front of everyone, then we can leave if I win. But if I lose… You've said it yourself, Ronie. I have to prove myself to you, right?"

"But--"

"If something happens, first you girls get away from here, then find your masters. Ilia, you're in charge of making sure that happens. Understood?" That was not a comment from Renly, a boy their age who is their companion for the mission, but an order from Renly Synthesis Twenty-Seven, who ranks over all of them, Mia included. Ilia silently nods her affirmation of his orders, and watches as he faces Tiese, handing her his winged-blades and taking her sword.

"Renly…"

"It's okay. Trust me."

"Why the whispering," Istalk inquires. "Are you a coward or not?"

Renly turns around with a fierce frown and holds Tiese's sword upward. "I'm not. I'll accept your challenge."

Istalk smirks. "Very well, then! Let us commence our duel!"