Kirito, Central Cathedral, Centoria, 4 days later

"The Headless Horseman...that somehow fits. But we've never faced a knight like that to my knowledge." Kirito crosses his arms as Ronie serves him, Asuna, and Jaymes cups of tea on the 80th Floor. Once she's done, she steps back to depart, probably sensing she's unnecessarily present, but Kirito halts her. "You can stay, Ronie. Your account of events are important, after all."

Ronie nods and sits down beside her senior as Kirito faces Asuna and Jaymes. The second mission in Wesdarath was a bloody one at that, and one with more questions than answers. One of them is how someone committed murder without invoking the Seal of the Right Eye. Humbert is in custody for his crimes, yet Kirito doesn't believe he killed all those people. Some of them, like the Emerald Knight who lived, Humbert didn't know besides the Eugeo resemblance, and others did not look like Norlangarthians. Humbert himself almost died.

However, the other question is much more pressing. Jaymes and Asuna's account of the mission is that they investigated the region, looking for signs of the knight that attacked Medina. That lead to a meeting with a group of adventurers, who told them they've heard something about a valley with ancient ruins beyond the ravine. Following that trail, they came across the hunter Tahmul, who managed to explain some strange happenings in the aforementioned valley. They were eventually joined by Tiese's uncle and the injured Emerald Knight, and learning what the lord of Scolea had to say about the valley coincided with a sudden sensation of malice from the Forbidden Valley. Jaymes tried his best to get the trio to the source of power, but by the time they came to the shrine, the strange phenomenon was gone. Still alarmed, they made their way through the shrine, concerned for their companions, having to see the fallen bodies of the slain, the unconscious Ronie, and then the fallen girls and Integrity Knight.

Renly regained consciousness as they and the wayfarers began clean up and treat the people in the shrine. There he explained what they've been through since they split at the village. But he couldn't answer why he and the trainee knights were cut down.

But he could explain that this was not the first instance. The Emerald Knight suffered the same attack: Cut down, but the armor wasn't damaged.

When Fanatio heard that detail earlier today, Kirito recalls how grave her face was. Kirito didn't understand why, but there was Deusolbert's face as well. Ronie looked shaken, but futhermore, Jaymes (attending a meeting for the first time in six months) and Medina were silent. Even now, no one has explained what is on their mind.

The missing pieces remain with Ilia, Mia, and Tiese. Ilia is the only one who recovered, so she gave her report. She doesn't know much except that their attack was "a warning to your masters and false gods", then the voice ordered another to wound them. The final words phased Kirito as Medina repeated them at the council: "As the mothers and father wills it..."

"Two deadly attacks in Wesdarath. Now two suspects. This cannot be a coincidence anymore," Kirito says softly. He looks to Jaymes, who has barely touched his tea. "Joshua, what do you plan to do now?"

"I have no idea, Kazuto. I... I made that same mistake again, and almost paid for it again. If Renly wasn't there..."

Asuna reaches out and takes Jaymes' hand. "Mia and the girls are fine. Take it easy and don't think that way."

"I... Right. Well, Medina has wayfarers exploring the four empires en masse. We're investigating the tome, looking at patterns for these apostles. And, of course, the bastard who hurt my apprentice, and then..."

Ronie sets her cup down and stares at the brown liquid. "Jaymes...do you think..."

"Medina said it first. I still don't want to admit it, but...that's the only sword I know that can do it."

"What is it," Kirito asks. "Whose sword can pierce armor without damaging it... Wait." Fifteen floors higher, back when Kirito was fighting the Integrity Knights during his ascent to Administrator, he fought a knight who commanded the Umbral Arts exceptionally. He won, but what caught him off guard was that her sword passively passed through his, almost severing his arm. He hasn't fought her since, barely interacting with her on a normal basis, but now that he understands why Jaymes and Medina's minds are burdened. "Eydis?"

"...Yes."

"How's that possible?"

"I don't know. But it explains her extended disappearance. Yet...attacking people without just cause is against the Taboo Index, even for an Integrity Knight whose above it. I know Eydis well, she wouldn't..."

"For Humbert to do it too, I think..." Asuna puts her hand to her chin as she ponders what she's about to say. "Kirito, there are loopholes in the laws of this world, right? Like what happened to Ronie and Tiese?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Raois and Humbert exploited the Imperial Rules, using their higher standing. Somehow that made a loophole in the Taboo Index. But like Jaymes said, that's hard to circumvent around with attacking someone not attacking you."

"Lady Asuna might be onto something," Ronie interjects as she faces Jaymes. "I remember someone else killed without breaking their Seal of the Right Eye. It's safe to say they never had the seal at all, all things considered. Hersyrian, remember?"

"Hersyrian?"

"Yes. He killed the old couple who took care of him, others in the name of the Pontifex, Medina's wayfarers... But not once did the Taboo Index stop him because he never once adhered to it despite being born in the Underworld."

"In the Underworld" is quite the distinction. Kirito and his friends are not limited by the Taboo Index, which is one of the reasons the Pontifex once called him an "irregular unit". But everyone in the Underworld, even the dark worlders, are bound to it except for a few anomalies, Hersyrian included. The others usually break through the Seal of the Right Eye through some reality-altering event.

Jaymes sighs and covers his face. "She's not bound to the Index, I forgot she broke her seal. But Humbert had no knowledge of the seal, right Ronie?"

"Yes."

"Yet he killed knowing the Index. Interrogations haven't given us a clue as to how he did it, he doesn't know himself. Eydis wouldn't hurt anyone, especially people she knows, without reason. So we're still at square one."

"Plus the 'As the mothers and father wills it' phrase, what does that mean?"

Kirito puts his brain to the test. "Multiple mothers... Oh, right, the goddesses. So that makes 'father' a god. Vecta."

Asuna sighs. "Vecta, Stacia, Solus, Terraria. Possibly Lunaria... And someone who doesn't adhere to the Index... What did we get ourselves into?"

xxxxxxxxx

Ilia

Ilia marches through the halls of the 22nd floor of the Central Cathedral, her eyes glued to the ground. After leaving the medical ward for a final check-in, she was determined to be fit for duty once again, at least physically. Mentally...well, how could anyone be mentally well after all that happened? Forget Ronie and Tiese having to relive past trauma, the entire battle against the Taboo Knight almost killed them, and then they were so kindly spared by their hidden enemy as a message. The one who directly attacked them is suspected to be the Knight of the Abyss herself.

Ilia doesn't know how to feel, or to be more clear, she doesn't have a single word for it. There's confusion, anger, grief, guilt... She just wants to figure it all out. If only she could talk to her lady, maybe Medina can help her. Ilia's heart is too frozen to comprehend emotions on this scale. If only...

"Ilia." Ilia looks up, seeing the subject of her mind standing just outside her shared dormitory with Ronie and Tiese. Swallowing nervously, her green eyes avert back down away from Medina.

"Lady Medina."

"...What ails you, Ilia?"

"I... It's not my place to worry you in the middle of already troubling--"

Ilia pauses as a gloved hand holds her shoulder and she looks up. The normally fierce flames of Medina's blue irises now possess the serenity of a moonlit lake. "Ilia, what is it that troubles you?"

"I... I feel guilty."

"Because?"

"Because... I remember when Ronie and Tiese, back at the academy, decided they were going to help our friends who were Raios and Humbert's pages. They were well aware of the risks to themselves and to Eugeo and Kirito, yet I... I didn't want to make more trouble for you than you already had. So I did nothing, and because of it... And I thought nothing of it until the other day and saw their pain." Ilia feels something wet trickle down her cheek, and reaches up to touch it. Is that a tear? "Why am I crying? I'm not hurt, but I'm crying. Lady Medina, what is wrong with me?"

"It's okay, Ilia, there's nothing wrong with you." Ilia stiffens as Medina's arms envelopes her, her head brought to Medina's left shoulder. If she thought her emotions were strange, this warmth... Is this what it's like to be hugged by someone who cares for you? Her parents never showed this level of affection for her, not that they dislike their youngest child. They were proud of her when she was admitted and placed high in the academy, then when she became a trainee. Her brother and sister have been the same. No, it's not their fault, she's been the distant one. She's never thought of anyone or anything that didn't lead directly to her end goal. But ever since the Reaper mission, when she deduced the archer's feelings, something has changed in her culminating into her crying in her master's arms.

"All right, that's enough. Tomorrow, you go back to training here at the cathedral."

"T-Training?"

"Mhm. You, Ronie, and Tiese need something more to focus on and, well, it seems we got no reason to keep you on the apostles for now. Besides, you're still far from becoming an Integrity Knight. What sort of mentor would I be if I failed to ensure you're training correctly?"

Ilia wipes her face and takes a step back away from Medina. "Right... Thank you, Lady Medina. For hearing me out and all."

"Anytime... Oh, and Ilia. Next time you want to do the right thing, whether it is the right thing or something you believe is right, do it. Worry about the trouble it'd cause me or anyone else later. It's better to be wrong in your position than to do nothing and regret it later on."

Ilia nods and looks to Medina's right, where Sir Renly and Tiese appear to be walking together towards the girls' dorm. Medina waves farewell to Ilia and in greeting to Tiese before recessing with Renly. Tiese joins up with Ilia as they watch their seniors walk away from them, but Ilia can sense something off about her friend. "Tiese, you okay?"

"...Yes. Just...tired from the mission and all. It was quite the ordeal, wasn't it, seeing Humbert and everything after."

"I concur."

Tiese's red eyes avert to the ground as her fingers nervously coil around each other. "Ilia... No, I would rather ask both you and Ronie at the same time, but I need some advice. Can I ask you for your help, if it's not a bother?"

"Of course. We're friends, right?"

"R-Right..."

xxxxxxxxxxx

Mia, Obsidia Castle, Obsidia

When she woke up, she recognized the dark decor of the center of the Dark Territory's power immediately. How long has it been, a week or a little more, since she's been in her homeland? Even worse, her body felt like it was hugged by a giant, so moving is a big pain.

She finds solace in the fact she's alive, but in that happiness, she has mixed opinions about the man sitting in proximity to her bedside. For one, it isn't her master, which saddens her, but it isn't someone she wouldn't mind seeing. His blue hair covers her face as he stares out the window, but once she accidently sighs, he jumps in his seat and turns her way. Surprised, he smiles as he gets up and walks to her side. "Finally. I was getting worried."

"Arthurio. What are you doing here?"

"His Majesty ordered me to watch over you until you woke up. Said that since he couldn't be here, we're the next best thing you'd want to see or something. Not that I'd need such an order, we've known each other for years now, right?"

Mia nods and raises an eyebrow as she slides up and puts her back against the headboard. "Wait, who is 'we?'"

"Brunhild'll be back. She kept watch over your health, in case those imperials didn't do a good job. Now before you ask your other question, the emperor is back on the other side of the Eastern Gate. For now, you're on leave."

That...hurts to hear. Mia drops her head, wondering why Jaymes would say such a thing. She figured she was in his way, but after receiving Loveblight, she thought she could prove herself to himself that she can stand at his side like Medina. "Seems I was nothing but a hassle to him."

Arthurio shakes his head. "I think you misinterpret his actions. I suggested he should say it himself, but...he was deathly worried about you when I saw him. I don't think I ever saw such a face on him. It wasn't until Brunhild said you'd be fine that he calmed down."

"Really?"

"Yeah... I mean, I was worried too, but I don't think I would have compared to someone who sees you like his younger sister."

"Sister." Mia likes the sound of it. It is an appropriate description of their relationship (at least ninety-five percent of it, at least). She doesn't see him as a potential lover, he has no eye for her obviously, but ever since they met, he's watched over her like Lipia once used to, and she's followed along in his shadow as she did Lipia. Yet, unlike her sister, she isn't following to be just like him, but because she knows that's her purpose.

And speaking of being beside someone... "Arthurio, I missed you, you know."

"I did too."

"Did you now? No girls to keep you company?"

"Ah, well... It's hard to do that when the reason you do it is in another land and you're worried for her." While Mia looks at him in confusion, Arthurio scratches his head and stands up just when the door opens. The Dark Knights turn to see their dark mage friend enter with a tray of food that she almost drops in surprise of seeing Mia awake.

"M-Mia! You're up!"

"Hi, Brunhild."

"Arthurio? You're leaving?"

Arthurio shakes his head and returns to his seat. "No, I...just felt my legs going asleep or something."

"Uh huh." The white-haired girl saunters over to a seat to Mia's right and sets the tray on the nearby nightstand. "How are you?"

"I'm fine. I wish Master Jaymes was here, but... No, I'm happy to see both of you. It's been a while, hasn't it?"

Brunhild smiles as she grabs a spoon, scoops some of the mushy food from the bowl, and "Yeah. Now tell us stories of the Human Empire? What's it like, what did you do, what's with the new bow?"

Mia chuckles as she looks at her two friends and sighs. Yeah, she misses not being with her master and her new friends, but the friends she has here, she was longing for them more. Besides, she believes she'd be back at Jaymes' side very soon. "All right. But feed me first, it's a long story and all."

xxxxxxxxxx

???, Lodend Mountains, Norlangarth

"Such a quaint village. Reminds me of home... Is this where she originated from, the one you cared for? And one of the invaders, he came from here too, right?"

"Yes."

"Hmm... You took so much care of her for seven years, and how does she repay you? Abandonment, leaving you and this world without much of a goodbye, right? The boy, he stole not only her heart but her soul from you and your world for another, a world you can never see her again, with no guarantee she'll return."

"I..."

"You know, two of those girls you cut down...one of them was a darkworlder, and if I recall correctly, she was with the emperor along with the Orthinanos girl and her apprentice. Those two friends of yours have spent lots of time together since his return. I wonder if he has looked for you... I wonder if he lied to you."

"Jaymes, he... They care for each other, but they don't..."

"You don't seem sure yourself. I don't blame you. People like him, like her, like your beloved Alice, they're all liars. Thieves. Cheaters. And you know what we'll do to them, Knight of the Abyss?"

"What?"

"In time, they'll know what it's like to lose," a masculine voice says from behind. "To have everything they built and desired ripped from them. They may fight. They may struggle. But they have no one to protect them. Not a liar who called herself a goddess, or a false emperor who became a death angel. Not the fabled priestess of light who was born in this village. And the king and queen who fell from the stars, and the emperor draped in crimson, they may dread what comes, they may run from it or fight it, but fate will arrive...or shall I say that we, the first children, have returned..."