Alright, gonna level with everyone. I did what I could to mitigate this chapter with a scene most of you probably saw coming. But there is still going to be a warning on this chapter for implicit content. Reader discretion is advised.

That being said, thank you all very much for continuing to read and enjoy my work. As always, Reki Kawahara is the author and creator of SAO, not me. Now then,

LINK START!

Chapter 6:

Broken World

A couple of days after his exchange with Tiese, Eugeo was studying in his dorm with Kirito as a storm battered the windows. The heavy rain and strong winds were intimidating enough, not to mention the occasional thunderclap and lightning flash. Back in Rulid, these kinds of storms would stop everyone from doing work and force them all to stay in their homes until it passed. The buildings in Centoria were built differently, so there wasn't worry of the storms being so strong as to destroy the Life of them and allow the occupants to suffer through a storm like back home. Despite that, there was a sense of unease among the two Elite Disciples.

The primary reason for it was that their pages had yet to report. It was well into the afternoon, and neither Tiese nor Ronie had come by to report on their duties as pages. Kirito and Eugeo had last seen them yesterday after lessons, but never anything after. It made the flaxen-haired boy anxious.

"This isn't like those two to be late like this," Kirito commented, setting aside the book he had been reading. "They are always punctual for their daily chores. Where the heck are they?"

"You don't think this storm is holding them up, do you?" Eugeo brought up, looking out the window to the scary scene banging on their room.

"Doubt it," Kirito voiced. He then mentioned, "Even then, we would have been informed if everyone was staying in their rooms if this storm got so bad. They might be just cleaning the lobby if Lady Azurica caught them bringing water into the halls."

"I don't know Kirito," Eugeo spoke up worriedly. "I can't help shaking the feeling there is more to this storm than all of that." His friend smirked at him when he brought up his concern, which irritated him a bit. But then Kirito went to the window and opened it, letting water and wind rush in.

"I'm going to go to the page dorms to check on them," he told his partner after he retrieved his blade. "I'll be back in a flash." And before Eugeo could protest, he was out in the rain. Begrudgingly, Eugeo went to close the window behind his friend so the weather would remain outside.

"Honestly Kirito," he griped to himself. But seeing nothing for it, he went back to his studying and tried to memorize the different Sacred Arts they could use at their current level. Until he knew what was going on with his pages, there was nothing more he could do.

It had been maybe a half hour since Kirito left before Eugeo received a knock on his door. He let out a sigh of relief as he went to answer it.

"I was beginning to think something happened to y—" he began to say, but stopped when he saw who he was addressing. The person on the other side of the door was neither Ronie nor Tiese. It was another girl with dirty-blonde hair tied in two braids going down her back.

"Elite Disciple Eugeo?" the page inquired. When Eugeo confirmed it was he, the girl continued, "My name is Frenica. I need to speak with you about something urgent." At that, the boy invited her in. If Frenica came to see him, something was not right by any stretch.

Gesturing for her to sit, he asked, "What is it that you need to tell me?"

Frenica seemed to hesitate at first to speak on the matter, but she soon revealed, "I think something terrible has happened to Tiese and Ronie. The other day, my mentor, Elite Disciple Zizek, had asked me to do something… embarrassing. I told them about it, and they said they would speak with him. But that was hours ago. They haven't been back since. I'm worried something has happened to them." There was no question something happened to them. His anger rose from inside him once more at the mention of Humbert. He suppressed it for Frenica's sake as he went to retrieve his Blue Rose Sword.

He then instructed, "Stay here and wait for me. I'll be back shortly once I have resolved this." And he hurried out.

His rage bubbled up to a tipping point with every step he took getting to the First and Second Seat's dorm. And after he and Kirito had the decency to confront them about what Frenica had told their pages. He couldn't believe those men called themselves 'nobles'. Their behavior was more akin to the goblins they fought back at the End Mountains. In a way, those two were goblins themselves. Nothing more, nothing less. Although he thought this passionately, he had to rein in his anger and bitterness. They were still nobles and had authority over him as a commoner. That was one rule he had to remember as he went to face the two swordsmen. All he needed to do was find the girls, get them out, and make sure they were safe. That was his duty as Elite Disciple.

Before long he arrived before the room. He banged hard on the door and demanded, "Elite Disciple Antinous and Zizek, I request an audience with you at once! Let me in!" No answer came for a moment, making Eugeo consider kicking the door in and charging into their room. But he was saved the trouble as he heard Raios invite him in rather cordially. With that settled, Eugeo opened the door and entered as instructed. Sitting on the couch like last time, dressed in their bathrobes, Raios and Humbert were treating themselves to what looked like very expensive wine. This looked far finer than the bottle Eugeo had gifted Golgorosso at graduation. It made him harden his gaze so as not to give any emotion away.

"Ah, Disciple Eugeo," Raios greeted with his airy voice. "You sounded so heated before. What could be the trouble now? Humbert and I have tried to quash the rumors floating about."

"Perhaps you have for a time," Eugeo replied, keeping a level voice despite his urgings to shout. "But I have received disturbing news from Second Seat Zizek's page. I was told mine and Kirito's pages had come by to address a recent incident involving Frenica."

"Poor Frenica is simply traumatized, Disciple Eugeo," Humbert replied without an ounce of regret, as if he was playing the victim. "I simply made a request for her to do during her duties today, and the poor girl rushed out in a panic as if I was a monster. I have done nothing to hurt her, you have my word."

"Be that as it may," Eugeo redirected, "our pages are missing. Have you seen them? And, where are they?"

"Such uncouth manners, Sir Eugeo," Raios responded, swirling the wine in his glass. "It is almost as if you are accusing us of having done something to pages under your care."

"You aren't answering my question, Elite Disciple Antinous," Eugeo retorted as calmly as he could. "I am here to find my page as well as Kirito's. Where are Tiese and Ronie?" The two men looked at each other, sharing a look that reminded Eugeo of serpents. Not to mention the room seemed to give off an aura of wickedness the kind he had never felt before.

"Do you know how exquisite this brand of wine is, Sir Eugeo?" Raios inquired. When the boy gave no answer, he elaborated, "This wine has been aging since the beginnings of Centoria, about 150 years. Truly it is one of the finest wines one would find in the world, making it extraordinarily valuable. The grapes it was made from grow in vineyards in the western province, which are best known for their fine flavor. No commoner or lower-ranked noble could ever dream of owning such a prize." Giving a glance that unsettled Eugeo, he added, "Though I wager Disciple Kirito's old mentor could possess such prestige, provided her family wasn't so disgraced."

He set his glass down and began to walk over to Eugeo, prattling on, "I have thought to perhaps visit the teacher of the page who equaled Lord Levantein in combat, not to mention who paved the way for said teacher to overthrow his honor." Before Eugeo could ask, he went on, "Lord Levantein was meant to be the pinnacle of swordsmen. His family had been revered by the nobility for generations. Then, in one duel, that prestige was lost. His grip slipped because of one commoner thinking he could get the best of him."

"That duel ended in a draw," Eugeo tried to rebuttal. "Surely Lord Levantein could have been satisfied with such a result."

Glowering briefly, Raios spoke, "That is where you are mistaken." Regaining his composure, he explained, "His family have always dominated other potential swordsmen for centuries, taking in their strength through their blades soaked in their enemies' blood. In that one duel, his sword was robbed of its chance to take in the power of a lowborn commoner, and thus lost its ability to fell even someone as unorthodox as Disciple Serlut." With a predatory smile, he whispered, "I wonder if his blade might revive itself if it bathed in the blood of the little urchin she has had the gall to take in." Eugeo's breath hitched at the mention of Silica. And Raios went on, "I know all about her adopted 'daughter', Disciple Eugeo. I saw her that night following the duel when Humbert and I were congratulating Kirito on his victory. Humbert even saw a divine dragon come down to grace our praise before being sullied by the street rat."

He walked back over to the couch, plopped down beside his partner, and said in contemplation, "Though, since Lord Levantein has fallen from grace, perhaps I should seize the honor he lost? My sword, drinking up the blood of one that sullies a divine dragon meant only for the worthy. I might even bathe myself in dirty dragon's blood, tearing its wings off and punishing it as one should for the goddesses. I might even allow you and the trash that is Disciple Serlut to witness such a ritual, before I take her head as a trophy." If Eugeo's temper wasn't so out of control before, it threatened to spill now as the boy's hand shook holding his sword. Would Raios truly go so far and kill Silica, just so he could avenge Volo? And how did he know Sortiliena adopted her in the first place? She had made sure no one but the Serlut family was aware of the adoption.

The two rose from their couch again after that show, and invited Eugeo to follow. Said swordsman did so only so he could keep these monsters in sight. In their bedroom next door, Eugeo was stunned. There, tied up and gagged with horrified expressions, were Tiese and Ronie. When they saw Eugeo, they made efforts to cry out to him. But all they could manage were muffled screams and cries.

"Your pages were quite troublesome," Raios rambled further. "After poor Frenica left in hysterics, these two had the gall to accuse Humbert and I of disobeying the academy rules and Taboo Index. Absurd! We have done no such thing, after all."

Finding his voice, Eugeo argued, "And tying them up and hiding them in your bedchamber? How is this not a violation?! I should report to the Integrity Knights for this atrocity."

"The Knights will not help you, Disciple Eugeo," Humbert pointed out. "No one will. If you recall, in matters where the laws contest one another, the one with the highest priority wins out."

"And as this is a noble matter, judicial authority rules out any grievances we might have inflicted," Raios concluded. He and Humbert dropped their robes, revealing only bare chests and pants to be underneath. The girls were struggling more, giving out weak cries of defiance and desperation as they tried to undo their bindings. "These nobles have accused us of a horrid rumor that bears no truth," Raios explained, his voice rising as if in anticipation. "Therefore, we have the right to punish them for their transgressions." With deranged expressions, the two boys flung themselves onto the bed. The girls tried to get away, but they were stopped by the backboard and pillows. The boys hung over them like wild cats, growling with lust.

Having seen enough, Eugeo made to move, only to stop when Raios called out, "Stay where you are! Make one wrong move, and we shall see to it you are sent to the deepest darkest place the Axiom Church can offer a sinner like you. You will stand there and watch, powerless as all your people are." With that settled, he returned to the struggling Tiese while Humbert began to descend upon the terrified Ronie. Both girls didn't make it easy for the nobles to get to them, squirming and crying out with all they could. But the men were stronger and hungrier. They removed their gags as they moved to their uniforms, unbuttoning their shirts and gazing at their bodies like deranged beings.

Catching Eugeo's eyes, Tiese cried out, "Eugeo, save me! Please! Eugeo!" However, Eugeo was forced to kneel as he fought multiple things at once. He heard the girl's crying out for him, pleading with him to stop these madmen. But then their voices changed, and he heard Alice. He heard Asuna. Selka, Silica, Suguha, Lisbeth. He heard all their voices at once. Memories of some of the worst moments in his life flashed before him. The day Alice and Asuna were taken by the Integrity Knight and he and Kirito were powerless to stop them. The day Selka and Suguha were caught by goblins and he and Kirito struggled to rescue them. He even envisioned Silica's death with Raios mutilating Pina before he held up Sortiliena's head.

In that moment, his vision turned red. "No," he muttered softly. His right hand slowly reached for his sword. "No," he said, louder than before. Then, drawing his blade, he cried out, "NOOOOOO!" He charged at the two and swung his sword with all his might, the urge to kill strong in him. Raios, having heard him, was able to duck out of the way. But Humbert was too slow, and blade met flesh as his arm was cut above the elbow. Humbert gave a great wail of pain as blood spurted from the wound, staining the bed and parts of the girl's uniforms and faces. But Eugeo was not done yet.

He held his sword before the terrified Humbert, speaking with a low growl, "I won't let you. I won't let it happen again. I will… I will…" With a fierce expression, he shouted, "I will protect them all!" He rushed Humbert again and swung, but the noble was able to get away. The man landed on the ground, gazing up at Eugeo with utter horror etched on his face.

"No, no please," he begged. "You can't! You can't do this!"

"I can't!" Eugeo shouted back, all pity and empathy absent from his words. "What about Frenica when you abused her? What about Tiese and Ronie? It's all the same to you mongrels. No matter who it is, you will hold your power over them like they owe you. Like they are honored to give everything to you." Standing over him, Eugeo continued, "What have you done that deserves this? What have you accomplished to make these innocent girls suffer for you? Nothing. You are a pig, wallowing in your own crap while being fattened up. Well it's time for slaughter." He raised his blade, point facing down, as Humbert pleaded to be spared. "This is for everyone you have made suffer," Eugeo condemned. "This is for Tiese, for Silica." And with a great cry, he proclaimed, "FOR ALICE!"

But before he could bring his sword down, something hit him hard in the back of the head, causing him to slump to the side. As the spots faded away, Eugeo saw Raios pull back his arm while his own sword hung by his side in its sheath. After he was knocked down, Humbert scrambled back to the bed and undid one of Ronie's bindings to cauterize his stump and stop the bleeding. But Raios was unconcerned with his companion's state. He was looking at Eugeo like someone gave him the most amazing present in all of Underworld.

He laughed maniacally, remarking, "You have violated the Taboo Index. You poor fool. You have doomed yourself." Drawing his sword, he proclaimed, "In matters like these, nobles such as I must enact justice upon criminals like you." He raised his sword above his head, and declared, "Now I, Raios Antinous, sentence the criminal known as Eugeo, to DEATH!" Eugeo, seeing his fate coming, shut his eyes in preparation.

Kirito, Asuna,… Alice, he prayed, I'm sorry. I broke our oath. I must say farewell now. May you all live much better lives than my own. With that, he braced for the end.

But such a fate was halted as a sword of black steel rang out as it stopped the blow meant to end his life. Kirito braced against Raios, teeth grit in effort as he fought the noble's overwhelming power. His appearance shocked Raios at first, until his deranged smile returned. He backed away and laughed once more.

"Not one, but two criminals for my blade to enjoy?" he questioned jovially. He then shouted, "Simply divine. The goddess Stacia must be looking down from on high and giving me this divine mission. Oh, glory to the goddesses, for I shall cleanse the land of these sinners here and now."

But Kirito returned, "The goddesses favor you? A man who desecrates their creations with his filth? No, you are greatly mistaken Lord Raios. Rather the goddesses have exposed your sin on this day."

"Blasphemy! Hold your tongue so you might be spared damnation," Raios commanded.

"Your words and actions are not virtuous," Kirito retorted calmly. "You're not even human in your actions. You are no different from the goblins of the Dark Territory." Pointing his sword at the noble, he concluded, "And as a swordsman of the Human Empire, it is my job to exterminate all beings from such dark lands forever. Just like I did alongside Eugeo two years ago."

Face distorting into one of rage from the accusation, Raios yelled, "I will not grace the church with your bodies. I will burn your remains until you are nothing but ash."

"That would be a service to me," Kirito retorted, smirking. Then he readied his blade, and challenged, "Have at you, Raios."

Spurred by the challenge, Raios went to use the Avalanche skill like Volo did in his last duel. But Kirito was unconcerned as his sword glowed blue for the Horizontal Square. The two met in the middle, and sparks flew from the first two clashes. On the third clash, they locked. Raios summoned all his will and arrogance to overtake this commoner. But Kirito was smiling, infuriating him further. He poured more power, more hatred, everything into his sword. But the glow on his blade was fading, slowly ebbing away.

With realization, Kirito spoke, "I see it now. There was never any power in your technique. There's no heart, no will behind it. What you use is hot air, which does nothing against someone like me. You were never a match, and you are just a waste of space." Before Raios could reply in outrage, Kirito shoved his blade up. And with a great cry, he finished the four-hit combo attack, slicing clean through both Raios's arms with cold indifference.

Blood sprayed out profusely while Raios cried out in pain. He collapsed to the ground in a heap as he wailed. As he did, Kirito moved to help Eugeo up, and the two cut the bindings on Tiese and Ronie. They then undid their own jackets and covered the girls to shelter them. Both girls hugged close to their mentors while both boys held them close, all of them listening to the First Seat wail in anguish.

The man looked to Humbert, who had his stump tied up. "Humbert give me your rope!" he demanded. "Save me."

"I can't," Humbert argued. "If I do that, I will violate the Taboo Index by taking my Life away."

"I am more important Humbert," Raios chastised, "now stop this bleeding." But Humbert shied away, holding his stump close to himself. The boys kept their pages from seeing the sight before them, but one had pity for their enemy. Requesting Eugeo to watch over his page, Kirito went over to Raios and knelt next to him.

"Keep away from me," he ordered. "Keep away!"

"Shut up and let me help you," Kirito barked back. He then had his hands hover over the arm stumps and recited, "System Call. Generate Luminous Element." But just as the balls of light formed, he was kicked aside as Humbert ran past them, screaming about murderers. With that, the lights were gone before they could do anything.

Raios looked on in shock. This commoner had tried to help him, and his own kind left him to die. "What manner of trickery is this?" he said, straining with effort as his Life continued to ebb away beneath him. "I am… Lord Raios… Anti… nous… I… am…" And he said no more. Kirito used a Stacia Window for a quick check, and found his Life was gone and a timer was showing how long it had been since he died. He looked back to Eugeo and shook his head. The two decided to take their pages to their dorm and settle accounts. As the boys left with the girls beside them, no one noticed the floating head that appeared above them. Said object disappeared shortly after they left the room.

Once back in their dorm and having Frenica return to the page's dorm, Kirito asked, "Tiese, Ronie, can you tell us why you two confronted Raios and Humbert like you did?"

"Hang on Kirito," Eugeo interjected. "Why don't you explain how you got to their room so quickly. I thought you had gone to check on the page dormitory."

"I did, but you can thank our little friend for giving me the heads up," Kirito told them. "Silica was going over to bring some sweets she made with Liena's help. When she asked around, someone told her they were going to talk with Raios and Humbert. I came up once she learned this, and the rest is history." Eugeo had to hand it to Silica to always be someplace and lend aid to the two of them. They were certainly fortunate she came when she did.

That was when Ronie piped up and asked, "What do we do now?"

Her question was followed by Tiese mentioning while still crying, "You both went in there to save us. This is our fault."

Wanting to get ahead of this, Eugeo told them, "This isn't your fault, remember? Liena told us that only those who commit the actions bear the blame. Kirito and I both acted how we thought we should. Whatever comes, we have to accept the consequences."

Looking at him, Tiese protested, "But it was because we went to Disciples Antinous and Zizek that you two were forced to draw your swords against them. We caused this because we tried to return the favor you two did for us. Now you will be branded criminals because of us."

At that, Kirito assured, "We probably would have done something like that even if that wasn't you two. Raios and Humbert had it coming for a long while. We just ended up being the ones doing them in. Whatever comes next, we're not worried."

"But they'll execute you!" Ronie reminded him strongly. "You took away another person's Life. And even if you guys aren't killed, they might send you to Aincrad. And no one comes back from that prison." Kirito went over to Ronie and helped to ease her pain as best as he could. Meanwhile, Tiese threw herself at Eugeo's feet.

"Please forgive me Disciple Eugeo," she spoke tearfully. "I surrender myself to whatever punishment you deem worthy for me."

At that, Eugeo pulled her up by her shoulders and barked, "Stop that Tiese! That's enough, from both of you." Calming down, he told her, "What's done is done. There is no point dwelling on what's to come of it. Right now, you are our priority. We are going to make sure you two recover from this and move on."

Kirito went to a nearby cabinet, suggesting, "It would be a bad idea to have you go back to the dorms after that harrowing event. So you'll sleep here in the common quarters tonight. We'll set up the sleeping arrangements and vouch our case to Lady Azurica tomorrow."

Both girls shot to their feet, and Tiese argued, "No, you can't. Ronie and I will—"

"This isn't up for debate," Kirito said to stop her. "You both need us right now. We're not letting those two scar girls who have no business suffering through that." And without another word he started preparing the couches so they could sleep in the dorm. Eugeo was a little reserved about the matter after everything, yet he knew the girls were still traumatized and needed people who could support and comfort them. Once everything was set up, the two went to their own rooms to rest and give the girls privacy.

It didn't take long before the boys were dragged out for punishment. The next morning, they were ordered to follow Imperial soldiers as they were escorted to the holding cells in the academy. According to the soldiers, an Integrity Knight would come by later that day to pick them up for their sentence in violating the Taboo Index. Both boys were resigned to such a fate due to not denying what they did the night prior was still wrong in the general application. Of course, their pages pleaded to defend them for their actions, but their words fell on deaf ears.

So they lay on the beds in the holding room, waiting to be dragged off to meet the Integrity Knight meant to sentence them. Eugeo had already surrendered to the possible notion that they may not live through this. Kirito was less pessimistic, but he was realistic in that they were going to be punished somehow on the matter. Neither spoke the whole time, waiting in poignant silence for their fate to be delivered to them.

Around noon that day, the door was finally opened. Two soldiers flanked Lady Azurica as she met the boys. They approached and were about to speak when she held up her hand to silence them.

"I will not ask for your reasons or for your account into what happened last night," she told them. "Your sentence has been decided and will be carried out by the Integrity Knights." It was the inevitable outcome, but the boys still couldn't help being disheartened by the news. "That being said," Azurica continued, "I want to make it clear how I feel. And I must say I could not be happier for the two students who have walked into this academy." As the boys looked on in surprise, she explained, "Kirito, Eugeo, the two of you have possessed something no one ever had here in this place. I saw it when you dueled Volo Levantein and understood what it was from last night. All I have to say is I hope the goddesses are not only merciful, but that they allow your gifts and wishes to come to pass. This world will be for the better with people like you living in it." She was then forced to step back as the soldiers took the boys away to where they would meet the Integrity Knight.

They met the knight in the courtyards, next to a mighty dragon that rested on the grounds. The boys were amazed at its sheer size, especially since the only dragon they had seen was Pina all this time. But the knight was even more impressive. Garbed in periwinkle armor with a purple cape, and having hair slicked to the side and periwinkle in color. When he turned to face them, Eugeo thought he looked familiar somehow.

But that was all they could think before the knight addressed, "I am Eldrie Synthesis Thirty-One. I am here to deal judgement to the two that have violated the Taboo Index."

Giving a swordsman's salute, Kirito returned, "I am Elite Disciple Kirito, Sir Knight."

Following his example, Eugeo introduced, "I am Elite Disciple Eugeo."

Eldrie regarded the two briefly, then reported, "You two are charged with violating the Taboo Index, in which it is written not to take any Life from a fellow human outside of sanctioned duels, and only to a certain extent. As such, I will bring you to the church where you will be judged and executed." The boys let their hearts sink to the very depths of the earth. They knew it had been coming, but once more it didn't deafen the blow of such words. With that, Eldrie went to work tying up the boys and attaching them to his dragon. Much in the same way Chief Gasfut did to Alice and Asuna eight years ago.

As Eldrie did a final check of their bindings, they heard what sounded like Sortiliena call out, "Sir Knight, please wait!" The knight looked back to see not only Sortiliena, but Lisbeth, Silica, Tiese, and Ronie all rushing up to them. The pages were dragging the Blue Rose Sword and Kirito's black sword, being helped by the blacksmith and former thief. Once she had reached them, Sortiliena gave a salute and addressed, "Sir Knight, with your permission, we would request to speak with these boys and return their swords to them before you take them."

Eldrie appeared miffed for a moment before acquiescing to her request. "You have a couple minutes. I will also hold onto the swords as we do not allow criminals to bear their arms." He took the swords from the girls and allowed them to advance. Because each boy was on the opposite side of the dragon, they split up to meet with each. Sortiliena, Lisbeth, and Ronie went to Kirito while Tiese and Silica went to Eugeo.

"Eugeo, you'll be alright. Won't you?" Silica asked.

Giving a sad smile, Eugeo fibbed, "I'll be fine. And so will you. Liena will take good care of you and will make you a wonderful fighter. You'll be the best noble in all of Centoria."

But the girl shook her head, crying, before stating, "I don't care about being a noble. I just want you and Kirito to be here with us. You two, Lisbeth, Sortiliena, you are all the family I have. I don't want to lose any more of you."

"You won't lose us Silica," Eugeo told her. "We'll see you again one day. Until then, make sure you do your best." The little girl nodded, then backed away to give Tiese her time with him.

"I'm so sorry Eugeo," she said as she sobbed.

"I told you not to apologize for something you didn't do," Eugeo reminded her. "I'll be okay. I promise."

Wiping the tears from her eyes, Tiese pledged, "I'll graduate at the top of my class and win the Four Empire Unification Tournament. I'll become an Integrity Knight, then come find you and rescue you. I promise."

"I'll be waiting," he replied.

On the other side, Lisbeth spoke with Kirito first. "Listen Kirito," she said apprehensively, "I just wanted to say. I, um…"

"It'll be okay Liz," Kirito assured her. "Thank you for fulfilling my request and making my sword."

"Look, I don't care about the sword right now," she sternly replied. "I just don't want you to die. What you did was the right thing, and it's not fair. It should be those nobles in chains, not you. Not Eugeo."

"I know," Kirito responded. "That's just how this works."

"And you're okay with that?" she challenged.

"Not in a million years," he claimed.

With that said, Lisbeth prompted, "Then change this world. Make it one that doesn't allow this kind of injustice. Understand?" Kirito nodded, and then looked to Sortiliena and Ronie as they came up.

"I wish I could chide you for being so reckless, but I would be hypocritical in this instance," Sortiliena addressed. "I only wish there was something I could do to clear your names. Especially after what Tiese and Ronie told me." Kirito knew she meant well, but that there was nothing to be done. She then instructed, "Kirito, make sure you survive. No matter what happens."

"No promises, but I'll do my best," Kirito answered. Then it was Ronie's turn.

She held up a bag that he recognized from the Jumping Deer, the place he got those pies for Ronie and Tiese before. "For your trip," she said, her voice threatening to break. "You better eat it before it spoils."

"Thank you Ronie," Kirito returned.

Ronie was about to say something else when Eldrie informed, "It is time. Stand back." And the five were forced to retreat. Kirito held onto the bag of sweets as the dragon flapped its mighty wings and began to ascend. Then he and Eugeo were raised with it before going towards the mighty tower in the center of the city. The two boys watched as the three youngest girls followed them as far as they could go before becoming nothing more than dots in the distance. And with that, their lives were soon to be decided behind the walls of the Axiom Church.

In a dungeon cell, Kirito and Eugeo lay on rough beds with their right arms chained to the wall. It had to be getting close to dusk, as the minimal light entering their cell was turning orange. They hadn't seen the Integrity Knight that brought them here since being imprisoned, or much of anyone else really. The cells were mostly empty, with only a single guard in the center of them all down the corridor. The wait was beginning to make Kirito antsy. He sat up after an indeterminable amount of time and began to fiddle with his chains.

"Give it a rest Kirito," Eugeo moaned as his friend worked. "We're not getting out of here. And even if we could escape, where would we go? We would be found by an Integrity Knight someday."

"I just don't understand why they have to make us wait this long," Kirito griped to his friend. "If they are going to kill us, why wait?"

"To make sure there are witnesses to show what happens to criminals like us," Eugeo pointed out. "Gathering enough people for a public execution takes time because of everyone's Callings." Kirito gave no response as he went back to working on his bindings, much to Eugeo's dismay. The two knew there was nothing to be done, the problem was what to do until it was the end.

That was when they heard them: voices arguing. One was the Knight that brought them, while the other was a woman.

"Please milady, there is no need for you to soil your hands with riffraff like them," the one called Eldrie protested. "The Pontifex has given me the authority to see to their sentence."

"The Central Capital is my domain to watch over, Eldrie," the woman scorned. "I have returned from my errand, and thus I resume my position in overseeing these criminals and their punishment."

"But surely you could leave this matter to one such as I," Eldrie tried to reason. "It would be with great honor that I—"

"This matter is for me to decide, not you," the other interrupted. "Now bring them here and make sure to force their heads down so I might give a clean strike to avoid too much bloodshed." That seemed to be the end of the argument. Not long after, Eldrie Synthesis Thirty-One came over to the boys' cell and opened it. He undid their current bindings and fastened new ones that bound their arms behind their backs. After that he guided them towards another chamber devoid of anything aside from stone and torches. Eldrie brought them to the center before forcing them to their knees and instructing them to keep their heads down.

Following that came another individual in armor entering the room behind them. Said individual ordered, "Leave us." And Eldrie departed begrudgingly. The figure walked up behind the boys, then addressed, "You have violated the Taboo Index and taken the Life of another human. A noble by the name of Raios Antinous. You have also struck a fellow noble and severed their arm. These allegations are severe and deserve nothing less than your deaths. Do you deny these claims?"

To Eugeo's surprise, Kirito responded, "We acted only in the interest of our pages. Two girls, Tiese Schtrinten and Ronie Arabel, were about to be raped by the very nobles you say we killed. Is it right to punish people who acted out of defense for someone else?"

"You rationalize death as if it was self-defense?" the figure chided coldly. "You think Life is so simple a thing that the loss of it can be justified by such actions?"

"The laws are meant to protect the people," Eugeo tried to argue, his head still bowed. "But there was nothing in the law that could protect those girls. Would you rather have seen them suffer because there is nothing to stop it?" No rebuttal came from the person in the room with them. Said individual drew their sword in preparation for what was to come.

"State your names so I might carve it into my sword," the figure ordered.

In answer, Kirito told them, "I am Kirito, Swordsman of Rulid Village."

"And I am Eugeo, Swordsman of Rulid Village." Both boys awaited anything that would indicate their fate, resigning themselves to the worst. But what happened next defied all expectations.

The figure, somehow surprised by this revelation, repeated in an audible whisper, "Kirito? Eugeo?" Their steps were rapid as the figure came in front. From their view, the two could see golden-armored boots as well as the hem of a blue dress. Then a golden sword point appeared in their vision before moving to rest under Kirito's chin. He felt his chest be lifted, and his breath caught at the sight before him. The sword then moved to Eugeo, trembling under him and threatening to cut him, before drawing his eyes up. And his entire reality came crashing down on him.

Standing before them, adorned in golden armor much like the other Knight, with blonde hair tied in a braid going down her back with a white ribbon tying it off and a white headband in front, and blue eyes that were gushing with tears over trembling lips, was someone they had not expected to see since she disappeared eight years ago.

"It is you," came the cracking voice of Alice Zhuberg. "You came. Kirito. Eugeo."