Prologue
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There was a story, a legend, perhaps a myth, among the fishermen who lived on the western side of the continent. It was a story, told from father to son, and from son to his son. It was a story so old that many believe it came from the bygone era. An era before the gods decent to Genkai, before the Age of Heroes. In the Age of Chaos.
The story, depending on where you asked them, has many alterations that make each of them different from one another. Yet at the same time, still have the same core, the same premise, that makes them the same.
The story goes like this,
There was once a fisherman who lives happily with his wife. They were not rich, but also not poor either. they are not from famous families nor are they descended from kings/heroes, as their families only come from normal fishing families with no notable record. Yet they are all happy, so long as they have each other for that is their only hope.
… But no one wants to hear the story of a normal fishing couple.
It was just like any normal day when the wife suddenly fell ill. After the village doctor checked on her condition, he told him that it was a serious illness. A disease that cannot be treated and its symptoms can only be alleviated with special drugs. It was an expensive medicine, something that a normal fisherman hardly can afford.
So the fisherman prepares to sail with his boat. Unfortunately, it was not the fishing season, so he need to sail farther, sailing deeper toward the deep sea where monsters lay claim on that area. The villager tries to stop him, telling him how dangerous it is to sail to that region. Not to mention that there was a sign that tell them that tonight there will be a violent storm coming in their direction. Such a violent storm will be a death sentence to any who dares to challenge it.
But he doesn't care, he's only concern is how to get money to save his wife.
And so, he set sail. And as many feared, the fisherman was quickly caught in the storm. Utilizing everything he knows, he tries to navigate out of the storm. But all he did was for naught as no matter what he tries, non can stand the fury of the sea. Soon, his boat was broken and the violent wave quickly swept him, away from the land and farther toward the uncharted region.
"Is this my end? Forgive me my love," was his last thought before darkness consume his mind.
Yet it will be not his end. For this story will never exist if he dies, after all, who's going to tell this story if he dies?
When he wakes up, he finds himself stranded on the beach of an unknown island with his boat broken. Though he later wonders if it's not an island but a whole new continent. But that's for later, now he needs to find out where he is and find his way to go home. So he starts to look around.
Thought it was not long before he meet the inhabitants of this island. Fairy. Yes, fairy. A being as beautiful as the elves –not like the fisherman ever met one and he only heard it from the trader that came to his village– with long ears and translucent wings that helped them fly. They are all tall as humans, but he also sees some who are as big as the palm of a hand.
They capture him and quickly interrogate him. Who is he? Where did he come from? and what is a human doing in this forest? These are some questions they asked him.
Berate with these questions, the fisherman tells the truth, he tells them about his situation in truth without any lies.
The fairy that captures him decides to bring him to their capital city where the queen will decide his fate. With the help of the fairy, he flies to their capital city, crossing a great distance in just a matter of hours.
When he sees the city, it takes him a full minute to comprehend what he saw. It was a beautiful city, but what make it more impressive is location of the city. It was at the foot of a giant tree. The tree was so massive that its body pierces the sky and into the clouds.
When he asked them about it, the fairy answered,
"Yggdrasil. It means World Tree. And that is Alne. The capital of our kingdom," they said.
It was an apt name in his mind, to name a tree as big and as massive as this one a World Tree.
Soon he was led to one of its buildings. 'It must be their castle,' he thought as he walked through the hallway made of white marble. At the end of the hallway is a massive twin door, its surface fully decorated with an engraving depicting some ancient tale that he doesn't understand nor recognize. 'Is it perhaps their history?' he thought.
The massive door opens, revealing a great hall. It was magnificent, his limited words can't fully describe how beautiful and majestic this place is.
Though his mind focuses on the people in the hall. In front of him, on the other end of this hall stand ten faeries each wearing a different color. Nine of them gathered together in small groups, standing before the step that lead to the elevated ground where a single fairy stood there.
He doesn't know who they are, but he knows they are all important figures.
'... important figures … is that mean they are all nobles of this kingdom!' the fisherman thought in panic. He never meet the lord from his home and now he was going to meet the nobles and Queen of another kingdom!
"Human!" He jolts awake from his musing when he heard the commanding sound of someone calling at him. He look nervously at the source of the voice and see that it was coming from the fairy with fiery-red hair and wearing red armor. "What are you waiting for? Step forward!" His tone and his demeanor are like a great general.
He slowly stepped forward, each step full of restlessness and stiffness. As he walk closer, he could hear them talking to each other.
"Aw~ look at him," said the green fairy who wear a green dress with a humorous tone, "Did you really need to scare him like that?" She asked the red general.
The red general huff, "We don't have time for him to just stands around like an idiot."
"Nya, no need to be harsh. I'm sure he just gets overwhelmed after what just happened to him, nya," said the yellow fairy with cat ears and tail.
"We need to solve this situation as soon as possible! And I'm a busy person."
"Right," she hides a portion of her lower face with a fan. "I'm sure you're~"
"You–!"
"Oh! A fight! Let me join as well!" Said the one dress in black. Her long black hair sways with just a slight move of her head and she carries a spear in her hand.
"And why on earth do you want to do that?" Ask the purple hair fairy that stands next to her.
"Because this is boring~," she drags, "and that looks fun!"
"... why you even here …" he said with a sigh.
"Niko forces me to attend these meetings."
The fisherman doesn't know what to do as he watched some of them start arguing with each other.
"All of you, that's enough!" The commanding voice was reverb throughout the hall and all voices ceased to exist.
The fisherman raises his head, so he can look at the speaker. There standing on the elevated ground was a woman in a long white dress that flow to the floor beneath her. With long ears, long strawberry-blond hair that reaches to her hips, and a beautiful face and wings not like the other fairy on her back, the fisherman knew that she was the Queen.
"We have a guest here. Let's not embarrass ourselves any further," She said as she walked down the stairs.
The other fairy backs down and stops talking, they give a slight bow and part away.
"Now," she turns her focus to the fisherman, "Who are you?"
"I– I– M–my name," The fisherman awkwardly bow and tried to speak but his mouth keeps failing him as he was too nervous.
He heard a tinkling giggle. For a moment he thought it was coming from the other as they mock him for the fact that he can't even speak properly. But when he rise his head, he soon finds out that it came from the queen itself.
"Forgive me, I don't mean to laugh," she smiled sweetly and reassuringly at him. "You don't have to worry. None of us will harm you, as we just want to understand. So you can speak freely to us."
The fisherman can only nod, not trusting his mouth to do its job. For a moment, he curse himself for letting his heart beat wildly when he see her smile. After that, he takes a few deep breaths to calm himself before finally starting to tell his story. The Queen and her entourage occasionally ask questions and the fisherman try to answer as best as possible with his limited knowledge. After he tells them everything he knows including the situation of his wife –which he unintentionally cried while telling them–, He quietly waited as they talk among themself. When they finally reach some conclusion they focus back on him.
The queen smiled gently at him, "Don't worry, we will send you home and I will see if we can help your wife."
The fisherman broke into tears and fell to his knee. He says "thank you," over and over again while grabbing the hem of her dress. It was not a proper antique, he know that, but he was so happy, and if she is not comfortable with it, she was not showing it. Instead, she gives the man a gentle pat and tries to calm him.
After that, the fairy does as they promise. They send the fisherman with their ship that easily sails through the storm. They give him a Golden Apple, a fruit that he had never seen nor heard about it. But they assure him that it will help his wife and he believes them. When he returned he quickly run back home and do what the fairy asked. He gives the entire apple to his wife, living nothing but its seed.
The moment she finishes it, her body cover in golden light and her body is healthy again. He then planted the seed in the ground and watched in awe as it quickly grew into a tree.
At that very moment, he swore to the gods, that he would repay the kindness of the fairies if he met them again and if he could not meet again in this life, then he would make sure his descendants would return this favor.
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"Wow, that's a nice suit right there."
Hephaestus stop fixing her collar and turned toward the voice. Standing on the threshold of her study room is her fellow goddess who she considered a friend, even if sometimes she's a little troublesome.
"Hestia," she greets her. "What're you doing here?"
"Aren't you the one who makes me work here so I can pay my debt?"
That makes her raise an eye brown. 'Did she perhaps–'
"Anyway, what's the occasion? It rare for you to wear a suit," Hestia word cut her thought, while her hand made a circling motion to the suit she currently wears.
"Are you really don't know?"
"Know what?" Hestia tilts her head.
Hephaestus sighed, but then she patiently explain, "Did you forget? I told you there's going be a conference between Rakia and the Fairy Kingdom, Albion."
She was silent for a moment. "Oh … yeah. I remember." she slowly said.
"... no you don't," she said in a flat tone.
"Ehe he, sorry" she weakly laugh while scratching the back of her neck.
"Don't be. I'm not expecting you to even remember it."
"Hey!" She pouts and Hephaestus chuckle when she sees her expression. "Anyway, can you tell me what this is about Rakia and Albion?"
"Hmm," she hums, "tell me, Hestia, what do you know about the Fairy and their Kingdom."
"Aside from the books? Not much," She crosses her hand to the front and closes her eyes as she tried to remember what she know about them. "I know that they are the race that is loved by nature and many will claim that they are more proficient with magic than the elves. They are very secretive that not much know about their society except for the fact that they have a queen and kingdom on the other side of the sea."
And that was pretty much what Hestia know about these particular children. She knew that some of the other gods know much more about them. But they never tell what they know about them to the other, because they like to think having this secret makes them more mysterious. 'Ridiculous,' she thought.
"So what did they do to make Ares angry?"
Hephaestus taps her chin with his finger, thinking about how she gone explain it to her. "So, do you know about Poseidon Expeditions?"
"I heard, it's about his plan to sail around the world. Last I heard it was still going on. Why?"
"Well, one of his goals is to visit the Fairy Kingdom."
"B-but to do that he needs to cross the Sea of Death"
"Yup, according to Njord, it's a sea where the storms never stop and a place where many sea monsters call that place home."
"And he succeeds!"
"Based on the letter sent to me. He said, and I quoted, 'I crashed into their island and they are not happy when I touch their tree'."
Hestia chuckle from how carefree he is after a near-death experience –not like he can die, but still. "So what happens next?"
"Well, he says he's going to tell me more when he comes back so I don't really know what he's doing there. But what I know is that they start to open their border and make visits to the nearest city. And that's the start of their problem with Ares."
"Why would visiting a city make Ares angry?"
"Well, that's because the city their visit is Úlla." Seeing the confusion in Hestia's eyes she explains, "The City-State of Úlla is one of several tributary states of the Kingdom of Rakia, it's also known as a port city, a trade hub, where many foreign goods enter Rakia. When they know the Fairy wants to establish a relationship with them, they quickly change their allegiance."
"Why did they do that?"
"Well, I don't know the detail. But I think it because of the history of the city and the legend that surrounds it."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, they said, the city of Úlla is once just a small fishing village. It all changed when one of the fishermen sail through a storm in search of medicine for his wife. He ends up stranded on the fairy island where he meets the fairy queen. The queen sympathized with the fisherman's situation and give him a Golden Apple." Hestia's eyes grow wider the moment she heard the name. She didn't blame her for reacting that way, in fact, she himself was surprised to hear they had Golden Apples in Genkai. It's shame she never sees it. But if the rumors are true, then. "After that," she continues, "he returned to his village with the Golden Apple given to him by the queen. With the gift the queen gave him, he managed to heal his wife. The seeds of the Golden Apple are then planted in the middle of the village. It quickly grew into a tree that produced more Golden Apples. With that, the small village developed into a big city and was famous as a producer of Golden Apples, with many famous figures both kings and heroes coming to the city to get the magic fruit."
"So that's why," Hestia said with a nod now understanding the reason. "But I'm surprised, I don't know they have a Golden Apple Tree in their city." Her mind starts to wander, thinking about how she can get one so she can eat it romantically with Bell.
"Had," Hephaestus corrected her.
Her delusional bubble pops, "... What?"
"That tree has been stopped producing fruit a thousand years ago."
"What!? Why?"
"Don't know," she said with a shrug. "They said it happens after we descend, so many blame us for that."
"But that's absurd," Hestia protested.
"I know. But when Rakia comes in with Ares at the helm. Well, for the people who live there, it just reinforces the idea." There are a lot of people who don't like the existence of gods, like the elves for example. And while humans are generally more acceptable, there are still some that don't.
Hestia sighed, "And here I thought I can get a taste of it." Golden Apple was precious even in Tenkai as there are only a few gardens that have the golden apple tree. She remembers how Hera likes to flaunt her garden to the other gods.
"Don't worry, if the rumors are true. Then you probably still can have a chance to get one."
She perks up at that, "What do you mean?"
"Well, the rumors said that after the fairy enter the city. The tree is starting to bear fruit again," she said.
"So all of this, is because Ares wants the city –which has a golden apple tree– back after Albion takes it from him?"
"And more."
"What do you mean by more?"
"Well," Hephaestus walked to the table and pick a few papers detailing the current situation. she flips them a few times until she finds what she wants. "Ares claims that Albion had just declared war against his vassal state and his kingdom, Rakia, and they have taken Úlla and the surrounding area including a few villages that swear allegiance to them. He now demands the retuning of all the land they have taken including the city of Úlla and the surrounding villages, compensation for every loss and destruction they cause, and accepts the demand to surrender their kingdom."
"That … did Ares just hit his head or something!" Hestia can't believe what he just heard. He knows Ares like war but demands to surrender their entire kingdom!
"Yeah I agree, his demand was absurd, and sound like a madman."
"What about Albion? What are their responses?"
"Well," she looks down at the paper in his hands. "According to the official release from their government. Albion explicitly refuses all demands from the Kingdom of Rakia for, and I quote, 'Have no legal basis as its foundation nor have proof to claim their statement. The demand from the Kingdom of Rakia and the God Ares was soo absurd, unreasonable, and illogical that we, the representative of the Kingdom of Albion, is convinced that the message was faked for no sane ruler more so a god will make such outrageous demand,' end quote."
Hestia blinked once, twice, "Did they really say that?"
"Oh yes," Hephaestus smiled but Hestia cant see the joy in his face, "and also, you see that stack of papers over there?" she pointed at the mountain of paper on her desk.
"Yea, what about it," Hestia asked, though she feel a little scared to hear the answer.
"Well, That is the official response from the Kingdom of Albion," Hestia can't see the soul in Hephaestus's eyes when he turns toward her.
"Okay, you start to scare me."
"Oh, you should be. Because after reading all those documents, I'm convinced that whoever Albion asked to make those things is not a mortal being but a demon from the deep of hell. And I pray to anyone stupid enough to make enemies of these people who call themselves Lawyers, because, well … I pity their soul."
"Um, Hephaestus–"
"Anyway, what are you doing here?"
"Um, working …" Hestia sounded unsure after watching the change in her friend.
"Right… and here I thought you will take your chance for a day off."
"Can I?"
"Yes, didn't I already tell you? There is going to be a conference between Rakia and Albion to discuss their situation."
"And so you give me a day off."
"Yes. I mean if you want to, you can come in as well."
"Should I come? I mean what I'm supposed to do there?"
"Nothing. Honestly, the reason why they doing this here is that Ares wants the gods as their witnesses in the peace agreement," Hephaestus said. But even she knows there is another reason why Ares chose this city.
That is because it was the furthest place from their territory. Normally doing something like this is not acceptable because the farther they are from their territory, the more isolated they are in case something happens to them. Sending a massive army will be a logistical nightmare and so they will force to only bring a small force. On the contrary, Ares's army was more close to the city compared to Albion and he will have a terrain advantage considering he has more knowledge about this place. It will be a show of force.
"Besides, Ganesha will be the one who controls the flow of the conference."
"Mmm, can I bring Bell there?"
"You can make him an escort if you want."
"Then maybe I should come," She declared excitedly. "It will be like a date."
"Right," she simply said, not wanting to comment on that. "I'm sure it will be a good experience for him to meet a foreign leader. I mean, this is probably the only time the fairy queen will show up in public. There are going to be a lot of gods and goddesses that want to see her."
"Their queen will come?"
"Yeah, I mean Rakian will also send their own leader so."
"Maybe I shouldn't bring Bell after all."
"Why? It will be a good experience for the kid."
"B-but, what if Bell falls for her!?"
"... Excuse me?"
"I mean, we're talking about The Fairy Queen here. What if she charms my sweet Bell!"
Hephaestus, for a moment, just stands there while staring at her friend, "You know what … I have to go. Enjoy your day off and don't get too much into your delusion."
"Ah! Hephaestus wait!"
She was halfway through the door when Hestia call her, "Yes?" She said half turning toward her.
"What's the name of the fairy queen?"
"Didn't I already tell you?" She asked only to receive a shaking head from her, "Well, her name is …"
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"Asuna."
She heard it. Someone is saying her name. It feel so weak, so distant, and she was so tired.
"Asuna."
Again she heard someone saying her name, no, it was calling her. And the voice, the voice seems familiar.
"Asuna."
It's Kirito, it's his voice. He sounds very desperate and anxious. There is only a few time he sounds like these and it means something bad is happening. So she puss, trying to awake from this weird state. When she finally open her eyes, she was greeted by his face. But it was not his normal face –his IRL face– but the face of his ALO avatar. Yet something feels very different.
"Thank goodness, I call you a few times but you're not waking up," Kirito said with a heavy sigh. "I-i thought I lost you."
She doesn't like to see him –the love of her life– with that kind of face. So she reaches up the side of his face. When her hand touches his cheek, he slightly twitches, before leaning to her touch. It's weird, she can feel her touch against her skin, she can feel the heat from his body, his soft breath. She push herself up to a sitting position, just realizing that she was lying on the ground. She feels stiff on her back and when he glances at her back, she sees the translucent wings. It was then she realized that this was the avatar she used when Suguo trap her body. The nightmarish memory of that time suddenly floods her mind. Her body becomes stiff and her breath became rough. She having a panic attack.
"Asuna," Kirito's soft and gentle voice brings her back to reality. She feels his hands on her shoulder, holding her steady. "It's okay," he softly said as he lean closer, their foreheads touching each other. "It's okay," he repeats, "You're safe."
It was just simple words but it was enough to make her calm. She reaches to his back and pulls him closer. He's doing the same, with his hands reaching to her back, accidentally brushing her wings. Now, still sitting on the ground, they are in a tight hug with their head nest on each other shoulders.
"Kirito," she softly begins, "what is going on?" She was sure that Kirito must realize the oddities around them.
"I don't know," he softly responds, "but I'm going to find it out."
"We are going to find it out," she responds, and even though she can't see his face, she knows he was smiling, "together."
"Together."
They know they need to find out the situation.
But … just for a moment little longer, they want to stay in this position.
Just a little, more longer.
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Author Note:
So … yeah. The idea was to make it somehow ALO is part of the Danmachi world rather than just throw it the new word. Like the story of Island of Fairies (Danmachi X LogHorizon) by Goldenbrook15 where the ALO players get affected by the flavor text or like the story of Paleblood (Danmachi X Bloodborne) by Arrixam that makes Yharnam is always there it just not many people know about it – for an obvious reason– or like somehow Chainhurst exists in this world.
So what do you guys think?
Leave some comments/reviews.
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