Hey everyone! I'm alive.

So, several reviews have been believing the next thing to happen is the War of Underworld arc. After all, Quinella has been defeated like in the original canon. Well, problem is, we still have a few loose ends to tackle. But I do assure you that WoU is still gonna happen. It is the final arc of Alicization after all.

Aside from that, I do want to thank everyone who has read/reviewed/faved this story. We really have come quite a ways and I am very thankful to all of you.

Now, for the disclaimer: Reki Kawahara is the author/creator of Sword Art Online and its content. All rights belong to him and those associated.

Now then,

LINK START!

Chapter 36:

The Next Step

It was silent all around her. A deep silence, the kind of which she dreaded. Everything felt so soft around her, wrapped in whatever she rested in. Had she passed on to the next life? Was she among the goddesses? As she groaned, Alice Zuberg slowly opened her eyes.

What she saw confused her at first. There was a ceiling, with walls of a blue color. There was light coming in from a window to her left. Where was she? How did she get here? Tilting her head, she spotted the door to the right. Looking further, she saw a pair of beds. There were people resting in them, as far as she could tell, but who they were she could not see. She strained to turn all the way over and saw the one closest to her had chestnut hair splayed out underneath her. Recognizing Asuna, Alice began to remember more.

She remembered the pain she felt from the Sword Golem's attack, the desperation to take the forbidden art with Eugeo so she would not lose him. Then she remembered Eugeo. Despite being more alert, she found no strength to rise. She tried to look around the mysterious room, until at last her eyes rested on his flaxen hair to her left on another bed, and she sighed with relief. Now she just needed to contend with where they were and why.

It was then the door to the room opened, and in shot a blur of pale blue that floated over to Eugeo. "Pina, come back here!" whispered the familiar girl entering. Rushing in, Silica chided softly, "You're going to wake everyone up." Pina squawked quietly but was looking at Silica like she was challenging her. It caused Alice to chuckle, and the sound made Silica freeze.

Once the girl spotted her, she spoke hoarsely, "It's good to see you Silica." Nothing was said right away, which did worry Alice a bit. Pina looked back at her partner with a cocked head. Until Silica looked on with wide eyes, hands over her mouth. "It's okay," Alice assured. "You don't need to—" But she was interrupted by Silica rushing to the hall.

"Everyone, Alice is awake" she called. Heavy footsteps were heard until Silica jumped out of the way as a man with periwinkle hair barged in. Alice recognized Eldrie, but this also made her worried. Were they prisoners? Had Silica not known the Integrity Knights viewed her and her friends as the enemy?

Then, Eldrie bemoaned, "Lady Alice, thank the goddesses you are alive. When the Commander brought you down from the top floor, I feared we had lost you. Seeing you awake fills me with relief beyond reckoning."

"Eldrie, quiet your voice," Alice chided. "My friends need rest." Then she asked, "What has happened? I barely remember much of the battle against the Pontifex."

Before Eldrie could answer, Bercouli stepped in and assured, "You better hold off on the explanations until we've got the others awake. But long story short, the battle is over. For now."

"For now?" Alice questioned. Had they failed to kill Quinella in the end?

Eldrie then addressed, "Commander, might I speak with Lady Alice privately?"

"Hey, no way!" Silica refuted. "Alice isn't yours. She's already promised to Eugeo." With that reminder, Alice glanced down to her hand to see her ring still in place.

But then Eldrie retorted, "I wish to speak with her and make sense of everything that has happened. Why she raised her blade against the church, why she sided with the traitor and heretic, and why she felt obligated to abandon our order. These I must have answered."

"Oh damn," Bercouli said with a heavy sigh. "You won't be satisfied until you hear it from the horse's mouth." Seeming to sag, he relented, "Alright. A few minutes. But let the others rest, alright."

"But Sir Bercouli," Silica tried to argue, "he'll just—"

"Little one, come with me for now," the eldest knight suggested. And he guided Silica and Pina out.

Unfettered, Eldrie brought a chair beside Alice's bed and sat facing her, upright and poised. "The Commander told me that the Pontifex had conducted something… terrible," he spoke, his voice faltering a little. "That she had… well, committed a grave sin."

"She did," Alice told him up front.

"But I cannot believe it!" Eldrie refuted. "She has been our ruler and guide all this time. Surely her actions were justified."

Finding strength due to her resolve, she lifted herself up to a sitting position and argued, "Nine years ago, she decided two little girls were to be brought to the Central Cathedral under pretenses of violating the Taboo Index, only to groom them into pawns she would subjugate with a horrid ritual. She dug into their minds, pilfered their memories, until she finally threatened to steal two dear friends of theirs if they did not submit themselves to her will. She tortured one of them, who offered herself in exchange for her friend's being left alone, making her suffer without remorse. She planted an art in the other to enable her to control the girl whenever she felt like it, awaiting when it would take her over like a parasite. She took this girl's promised husband, lavishing him with honeyed words, more out of spite than actual love. And even worse, she stole the memories of more than 30 people just to make a creature whose sole purpose was to cut down anyone that stood opposed.

"So I ask you, Eldrie, can all these vile acts be justified, let alone pardoned?" she asked pointedly. "Can you say, without even a morsel of doubt, that what she did was for the good of Underworld?"

The Integrity Knight fell silent, unable to voice such opposition. His head dipped down in shame, but there was still a hint of pride in his face. Something Alice knew would never go away.

Slowly laying down again, Alice continued, "I have suffered for nine years because of that vile woman. I watched my best friend cry herself to sleep night after night, praying that the person she wanted to see most would take her back. I had to watch her become a puppet, forgetting even me, while not being able to do anything. I watched that wretched woman take the person I was sworn to before the goddesses, molding him into someone who would cut me down without a second thought because it would give him purpose. I will never forgive her. Never."

Silence fell over them as Alice's words sunk in. Her anger began to ebb away, but that primal desire to see Quinella burn was still there in her heart. It would be with her until she could see all the suffering be undone. When her friends and she would go back home, leave this life behind, and live out their lives as they should have been. She would gladly hang up her sword and spend her days by Eugeo's side until the world fell.

Eldrie, still reeling from her heated words, inquired, "But why, Lady Alice? Why would you oppose the Pontifex, the Axiom Church, when they are what keeps the Underworld safe from discord and uprisings? That protects them from the threat of the Dark Territory?"

"You truly are a fool," Alice muttered. Then she explained, "She never cared about us. The people of Underworld were nothing to her. She had told us, up there, that she would convert the memories of half the people into more sword beasts. She thought of them as nothing more than resources to use and expend. It didn't matter what happened to them, only what she got out of it in the end."

"But… that can't be…" Eldrie said in disbelief.

Alice said nothing more. There was nothing else to be said. Eldrie would have to accept the truth on his own. No matter how much it hurt. If she had been an Integrity Knight like him, she figured she also would find it hard to believe the order she served was nothing more than a throwaway method to serve Quinella's whim. She would probably be more prone to cut down the person who would spout such nonsense.

Then they heard groaning from the others, signaling that her friends were coming around like she had. As they did, Bercouli came back in. He set a hand on Eldrie's shoulders as he seemed to speak a silent command to him. The periwinkle knight then rose and departed from the room, but not before giving one last glance to Alice.

Once he was gone, Bercouli mentioned, "There's someone who's here to see you all." And on cue, in came Heathcliff, or rather Kayaba, in his robe.

Once the others started registering where they were, he addressed, "Glad to see you all are awake. I have important news to share with you."

Explanations took a bit of time, where the sun was now cresting closer to the End Mountains. Kayaba helped recount how they had fought against Quinella using the Remove Core Protection art to fuse themselves into two swords that Kirito fought with to end Quinella. It was what followed that bode ill for them all.

"I hate to admit this, but Quinella is not dead," Kayaba reported. "While she had been stabbed fatally, she used her power to try and send her soul to the realm of the goddesses. Thankfully and unfortunately, Prime Senator Chudelkin interfered. And his interference caused the two to be sent someplace much closer. Thus they remain in this world, stubbornly refusing in their pursuit for absolute power."

"Commander, where could they have gone?" Asuna inquired. "Surely not Alfheim."

"No, not Alfheim," Kayaba quickly dismissed. "The act wouldn't have been able to pass through the rift. No, where they ended up is in my domain."

"Aincrad?" Kirito guessed.

Nodding, Kayaba elaborated, "They had flown to the 100th floor, the Ruby Palace. There lay a creature that I had sealed for some time, hoping to find some way to be rid of it. But Quinella and Chudelkin's souls have found it and brought it to life. Thankfully, they cannot leave the Ruby Palace. But the being they have inhabited is the most dangerous and powerful force on Underworld, second only to the goddesses themselves. I thus have dubbed it, 'the Incarnation of the Radius.'"

The sound of the name sent a chill among the group. With a name like that, it wasn't hard to believe such a being housed power to rival the goddesses alone. No wonder Kayaba could only seal it away rather than outright destroy it.

"Despite this, allowing her to live would not be advisable," Kayaba reiterated. "So far, we have made it to the 80th floor. But we must hasten our efforts to prevent her from unleashing its full power. But even if we reach the Ruby Palace, our power alone won't be enough."

"What do you mean?" Eugeo asked.

But Kirito seemed to pick up on the notion, and deduced, "You want help from the fairies in Alfheim."

"Very astute Kirito," the man commended. Then he explained, "The fairies should provide both the numbers, mobility, and magic required to take down the Radius. But they will be hard pressed to help humans. At least, ones they are unfamiliar with." Rising to his feet, he proposed, "We will discuss this strategy at another time. For now, take some time to reconnect and recuperate. You have all been through a lot for our sakes." And he left the room.

Now left alone, the four friends looked at each other with worry. It seemed their fight was still far from over. Despite all they had endured, their battle to free themselves and Underworld was still underway. Yet, despite this knowledge, there was a bit of solace in the fact that now, all four of them were together. Not just in Aincrad, but here in this place. In this time.

"I don't know about all of you, but I don't feel like getting up," Kirito bemoaned, lying back in bed. No one could fault him, as he was the one to physically fight Quinella. And they all had to admit, they were still a little drained themselves.

"Let's save figuring out our next plan for tomorrow," Asuna suggested. "We'll need the new day to return fully."

"Yeah, I could do with more time to recover," Eugeo told them. Alice voiced likewise. And thus, the four resumed their rest.

The following day, the four got dressed and went out to the grounds. They didn't take their swords or armor with them, sticking to their simple clothing they usually wore underneath. Looking around, they saw many priests and nuns huddled together, hunched over with worry. The four noted this with concern. They knew everyone here had great reverence for Quinella, which made them worry about what their actions might have caused. Yet, they also knew the people had to move past that. Quinella's methods were wrong in every conceivable way. They just hoped everyone would realize that soon.

Walking down a path to the church walls, Eugeo brought up, "Hey, shouldn't we go visit Lisbeth and Liena? We haven't seen them for a while."

"Neither you nor Asuna have seen them for a good long while," Alice pointed out. "We should go see them and assure them you both are alright."

"Then you better follow us this time," Kirito piped up. But then realized something and mentioned, "Wait, we should check on Yui first. See how Cardinal is doing with her." Bringing that up seemed to cause Asuna to look downcast. This whole time, Yui had been in Cardinal's library to be restored after coming back from Alfheim. It had been a few days since then, but they had to at least check on her.

"We don't really know where Cardinal is," Alice reasoned. "Let's go check with Sortiliena and Lisbeth for now. When we get back, we can try to find Cardinal so we can see Yui." The four went with that plan, though Asuna was reluctant. She even looked back at the Central Cathedral as if hoping to see Cardinal so they could change their path. But Kirito helped draw her attention back to them so they could go find Sortiliena's home.

Leaving the church grounds and going to the noble's district, the group soon found Sortiliena's mansion. Once they went in, they went about looking for where Lisbeth might be in this place. The boys quickly recalled the general area where she might have been, leading the girls to an area away from the manse. There they found a small hut with a forge built into the side, with the telltale signs of smithing underway as they heard someone hammering away. It appeared to them Lisbeth had returned from Aincrad recently to work on another project.

Going up to the door, Kirito banged on it to get Liz's attention. Right away, they heard her yell, "Yeah yeah, don't rush me. Give me a minute." A little later, she came out with a face twisted up in annoyance. "You'd think someone who fought so long would wait until—" But she stopped whatever she was saying when she saw Kirito, causing her face to shift into one of surprise. This changed further when she saw two people next to Alice, one in particular standing out to her.

"Hey Liz," Eugeo spoke cordially, "good to see you again."

Rather than return his greeting, Liz rushed over and stood before Asuna, her lip trembling as she saw the young swordswoman. "Asuna?" she asked, sounding terrified that this was an illusion.

Smiling gently, the auburn-haired girl returned, "It's good to see you again Liz. It's been too long."

Fighting back tears, Lisbeth said, "It sure has. Been nearly three years since I last saw ya. You couldn't even write a letter, could ya?" It was then Lisbeth was surprised when Asuna pulled her into a hug. She didn't react, stunned by this action from her old friend.

"I'm sorry for worrying you," Asuna told her softly.

After the moment passed, Liz finally looked to see Eugeo with them. "Glad to see you're still alive too," she regarded kindly. "I gotta admit, after hearing everything that happened in Aincrad, I was kinda worried you wouldn't come back."

"It was difficult, but I have my friends to thank for bringing me back," he said, though his smile didn't seem as genuine while sharing that news.

"Alice I can believe, since she's your intended now," Lisbeth returned. "As for the doofus in black, I'm not too sure."

"Gee, thanks," Kirito mumbled bitterly at her teasing remark.

"But anyways, Silica and Sortiliena should be getting back soon. You should stay for a bit so we can all catch up. There's a lot to talk about."

"It would be great to see Kirito's teacher," Asuna stated. "I've heard how she was from him, but I want to meet the woman that helped make him much better as a swordsman."

"On the contrary," came a new voice, "it was Kirito who helped me to improve my own style." They all looked in the direction of the manse to see Sortiliena, dressed in her casual attire, coming up to them with Silica, Pina, and two surprise guests. Tiese and Ronie seemed to be blown away when they saw their mentors among those gathered. Silica, on the other hand, just went up to them all before going to give a tight hug to Eugeo now that he was back, with Pina nuzzling his cheek affectionately.

"It's good to see you've returned at last," Sortiliena regarded the four, though her focus was on Kirito.

Returning her gaze, Kirito replied, "Wish I could say our battle is over, but we found out that's not the case." He and Eugeo then looked to their former pages, seeming confused on their expressions. Admittedly, they knew they hadn't been seen for months after being carted away by Eldrie, so it was no surprise the girls would reel. But being this stunned seemed odd to them. Did they not have faith they would return after all this time?

As Silica moved away from Eugeo, he went over to Tiese. "Are you alright? You look like you're seeing a ghost." Behind him, Asuna flinched at the mention of a ghost, making Lisbeth grin before a glare from the rapier wielder halted her entirely.

Finally, Tiese's face scrunched up before she just lunged into him, stunning Eugeo once more. "You're really here," she said, her voice muffled against Eugeo. "You came back. I… I'm so happy." Tentatively, Eugeo embraced her, unsure about how to return this gesture. Behind him, he heard Ronie express similar relief at Kirito being alive.

Alice looked on, perplexed at why this girl was behaving so emotionally. She knew Tiese was Eugeo's page before he got carted away with Kirito for violating the Taboo Index, but her reaction belied something more than a simple mentor-student relationship. The way she hugged him and just the immense relief gave away that Eugeo was more to the girl. Alice wasn't one to get jealous, but this behavior did worry her in a different way. Especially seeing Eugeo being flustered at her embracing him.

Wanting to save her intended, Alice came over and spoke, "Excuse me, Tiese Schtrinen." At her words, Tiese seemed to gather herself before realizing what she had done. She backed away, looking rather flushed, dipping her head out of embarrassment. Now that Eugeo was rescued, Alice addressed, "I don't believe we have properly met. My name is Alice. Alice Zhuberg."

Looking at the other girl, Tiese returned, "It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Tiese Schtrinen. I am Elite Disciple Eugeo's page. Or rather, I was, until…" She trailed off, though the conclusion was no mystery to anyone.

Smiling softly, the former Integrity Knight requested, "If you don't mind, might we talk for a bit? I have heard about you from Eugeo and wanted to learn as much as I can about his page and what she had been taught." She gave a side glance to Eugeo to hint at letting them be. He quickly caught on, nodding slightly. With that, Alice directed Tiese to a nearby veranda and had her sit across the table so they could talk.

"If I may, you are a noble aren't you, Miss Zuberg?" Tiese began asking. "As far as I know, only nobility ever possesses surnames. It's why Kirito and Eugeo don't have any."

Settling down in her seat, Alice answered, "You might call me a noble of some kind. Though in truth, I am merely the daughter of my village's chief. I never grew up in Centoria, but lived far north in Rulid Village."

"Then you came from the same village as Eugeo," Tiese said in realization. But then asked, "But why are you here? Were you sent to study at the Academy? Or perhaps train to be a sister of the church?"

Ensuring her ring was hidden, Alice returned, "My story is rather complicated. The circumstances are quite unique for someone like me. You see, I lived in Rulid Village for 11 years. But then I did something, and an Integrity Knight took me and a friend away for violating the Taboo Index." She saw Tiese gasp, but went on, "We violated the law stating no one was to cross the End Mountains into the Dark Territory. We only glanced at the land, but it was enough for the Integrity Knight to deem two young girls as criminals.

"Once brought here, expecting execution, we were instead told to train in the church. Perfecting our Sacred Arts and swordsmanship. Every night, we pined for our friends to come save us. But it was to no avail. We were never going to be returned home. Instead, the head of the Axiom Church was going to remake us into her perfect servants after we became proficient enough in our skills. It did not succeed at first, but the head threatened to arrest two boys from our village if we did not submit. My friend, Asuna, ended up surrendering so I might be spared."

Tiese's face had a gamut of emotions running across it, mostly shock and disbelief. Alice couldn't blame her, despite having lived it herself. Everyone grew up on the tale that the Axiom Church was just and led the people with guidance from the goddesses. Even hearing about the Synthesis Ritual would be eye-opening to someone like Tiese.

"I won't bore you with my story much longer," Alice told her. "I doubt you would find it believable."

To her surprise, Tiese snapped out of it and replied, "No! That's not it Lady Zuberg."

"Please, just call me Alice," the knight requested.

With permission given, Tiese resumed, "Alice, it is not that I don't believe you. It is more that I feel for your plight. Being torn from your home, given a task in the vain hope you would go back, only to be deceived and turned into a puppet. You are amazing to endure all of that. I don't think someone like me could go through all of that."

"While I appreciate the compliment, I did not endure those trials as you might think," Alice admitted, unabashedly. "In truth, I was broken by what I had to go through. I lost my dearest friend. I had no one to turn to for comfort. The world became unbearable. If I were ever to be alone again, I do not think I could continue as I am."

When Tiese spoke again, it was almost as if she was coming to a difficult conclusion. "And that's when Kirito and Eugeo came." The way she said Eugeo's name sounded like it was an ordeal just to say it. Perhaps because whatever she had thought of him before was being shattered. "Maybe that's why, when I made my…" Tiese whispered, but trailed off towards the end. New tears came to her face, which gave Alice her answer.

In truth, despite how little time she had been with him at the Swordcraft Academy, Tiese had developed a crush on her mentor. Alice figured that had been the case, but worried about confronting it. Tiese would be devastated to learn that Eugeo couldn't return her feelings and also had feelings for someone else. Why that was, Alice had no idea. But it tore at her heart to see this girl become so distraught.

"Tiese," Alice called, getting the girl's attention, "you should know Eugeo never means harm on those he considers his friends. That night when he saved you from those nobles, he did that knowing he might get in trouble. But it didn't matter to him. He went in that day, did what he did, because he wanted to save you. His feelings are genuine."

The girl nodded, but then muttered, "But they aren't what I thought they were." Head bowed, Tiese admitted, "One of the days I cleaned his room, I asked Eugeo to consider taking me as his bride when he won the Four Empire Unification tournament and became an Integrity Knight. He had asked me to wait until then for his answer. I had hoped he might rescue me from a fate most low-ranking noblewoman like myself and Ronie would face. That I wouldn't be married off to someone who would use me like Lord Raios and Lord Humbert tried to do that night. But now, I see it was foolish to wish that on him when he was trying to get to you."

Alice raised her eyebrows at the mention of Tiese being married off, but it made sense. That was how nobles in Centoria operated. Even Asuna had been being groomed for that by her own family. And if Eugeo had done the tournament and become part of the church, he would have the ability to take Tiese as his bride had he not found Alice. After being gone for so long, her childhood friend was probably losing hope that she was even alive by then.

Rising to her feet, Alice went over and pulled Tiese up and embraced her, shocking the page. "Tiese, that won't happen," she assured. "You will choose your own husband. One you will love with all your heart. One that will want the best for you. I promise this to you, because I fight to make it so. To make it where our fates aren't decided by a society that has fallen from grace. But rather, by the people that make up our world. Eugeo is fighting for that world, as are Kirito and Asuna. Do not despair, for your fate is not sealed. It is up to you to decide."

Tiese didn't return the embrace, which Alice figured was because she was unsure what to do in that situation. She just hoped the young girl would take her words to heart and try to seek a fulfilling life for herself. If she could help with that, she knew it would allow Tiese to grow as a person and free her from what this society had done to people like her.

Once Alice separated from her, she suggested they rejoin the others. Tiese agreed, and they went back to the main group. As they approached, Alice spotted Ronie with a similarly defeated look that Eugeo's page had. Asuna probably talked with her about something regarding Kirito. But now reunited with Lisbeth, Silica, and Sortiliena, the group got down to brass tacks and explained the new situation they were going to be involved in.

After explaining their ascension of the Central Cathedral and Quinella, the group were in quite the shock. It was a lot to take in, especially with it uprooting all their beliefs about the Axiom Church. Though they quickly got over it, first the pages, then everyone else.

"Damn. Can't believe that old hag has just been using everyone," Liz commented bitterly. "I mean, converting half the population of Underworld into that… whatever. That isn't right. It's inhuman."

"I agree," Sortiliena came in after, holding Silica's hand when she noticed the girl seemed about to cry. "Not to mention you three were about to be used to help fuel such ambition."

Face downcast, Eugeo brought up, "What's worse, I was too weak to resist her. I turned my—"

"It wasn't your fault Eugeo," Tiese defended. "You said the Ponti—no, Quinella, had cast an art to take over Lady Alice. And you surrendered yourself to the art so she wouldn't be taken again. That was very noble."

"Even after all we did, she's still breathing," Kirito mentioned. "And worse, she's taken control of possibly the most dangerous monster in all of Aincrad. I know we have to fight her, but I don't know how the hell we're going to overpower her. I doubt even Perfect Weapon Control will be enough."

"Back up," Liz said to redirect the question, "what about that Alfheim place? That realm where Asuna was prisoner in. Don't they have some crazy stuff that could do the trick? I mean, you said Kayaba made the suggestion to seek help from them anyway."

"But would they even help us?" Ronie reminded. "I mean, the fairies there hate humans. Why would they bother to help us fight such a powerful foe?"

His face set and his brow furrowed, Kirito reasoned, "Because if they don't, neither of our realms will survive. Quinella no doubt is going to wage war against Alfheim once she's acquired the goddesses' power and decimated the Dark Territory. Unless it's something in her control, she will want it gone."

"Kirito's right," Asuna contributed. "She won't let Alfheim stand for long. With all that power, she'll wipe it from existence without a second thought. They have to realize that."

"Then that just leaves recruiting them to our side," Silica figured. "And since Kirito proved himself against one of their strongest, they should listen to him."

"Not to mention those Sylph and Cait Sith races owe him a bit too for saving their leaders," Liz added on the sly. "I bet they'll bend over backwards to lend us their aid."

"Then it sounds like a plan," Eugeo concluded. "We can borrow a dragon from one of the Integrity Knights and fly off for Alfheim." But as he got up from his seat, Kirito came over and barred his way.

"Not this time Eugeo," he spoke. "I think it's best if only two people from our world go back there. We also need to clear those floors in Aincrad and get to the Ruby Palace. I think you and Alice should stay here while Asuna and I go to Alfheim."

Shooting to her feet, Alice protested, "What?! Kirito, we just fought through three worlds to reunite. Now you want us to split up again?"

"Hey whoa, I know how it sounds," Kirito tried to assuage. "But listen, we have the experience from all those battles to help on both fronts. I can meet with Leafa and Sinon to get a head start on recruiting the fairies to fight with us. And with Asuna, it'll probably go smoother since she was brought there by Sugou. But not many people here know what Aincrad is like aside from Bercouli, Sheyta, and Renly. They've only cleared about 5 floors since we left. We can't waste any more time getting to Quinella."

"Then we should do one or the other, not both," Alice argued. "We are not being separated again. I refuse to go along with this plan."

"Alice, be reasonable," Asuna tried to explain. "The humans here haven't all fought as much as those stuck in Aincrad. And all the Dungeon Masters are too strong for most fighters. Lives are still lost up there. We need to shore up our forces. The fairies can help while you all take part to minimize casualties."

Rounding on her, Alice spat, "And you'll go back so readily? Did you forget you were a prisoner there, forced to become that sick bastard's bride? Are you going to force Kirito and Yui to go through your absence again going back there?"

In the back of her mind, Alice thought she was being childish. But she didn't want to part from her friends again. The oath rang out in her head, one she had fought fiercely for all this time. How could two of her friends discard it so readily?

Before anyone could try and calm her, Alice stormed off in a fit of rage. Eugeo tried to stop her, but she rounded on him and caused him to withdraw from the attempt. In the end, she took off, furious.

She ended up back on the church grounds while still fuming from earlier. How could her friends suggest splitting up? They had finally overcome everything to reunite. They were no longer prisoners, no longer slaves, no longer puppets to be configured to one's desires. This would be their last fight and they could go home to Rulid. Back to a life they had pledged themselves to for over a decade. Why would they want to ignore all of that? What good would come of it?

In her furious walking, she ran into someone. Enraged, she snapped, "Out of my way!" Only to freeze when she saw who she had yelled at.

Bercouli looked down at the girl with a troubled look, humming to himself. "Well, this certainly isn't like you Little Miss," he spoke in contemplation. "And I would have thought you would have stayed with your friends after getting them back."

"Uncle," Alice let out, breathless.

Sitting down on the grass beside the path they were on, he suggested, "Why don't you sit with me and explain what troubles you."

She did, and Alice told him about earlier at Sortiliena's place. She got a bit emotional mentioning how Kirito and even Asuna wanted to split up to handle these tasks, voicing that they should either go to Alfheim or help in Aincrad as a quartet.

"We had just done all we had to reunite the four of us," she ranted. "Why would they just disregard all we had fought for? They are just… just…" She didn't finish, grunting in anger.

Bercouli listened patiently as she got her anger taken care of. He said not a word during her whole tale, only rubbing his chin as he listened. He gave no words of affirmation or denial, merely being an observer.

Her anger ebbing away, Alice brought up, "I want to be done with this Uncle. All this fighting, all this strife, I'm sick of it. I want to go home. I want to see my sister, to marry Eugeo properly, to live a life not plagued by swords, monsters, and gods. Why is it so hard for my friends to see that?"

She slumped forward, her frustration spent. She really had to wonder why her friends could not see that, despite this new battle, they had done all they needed to do? Once Quinella was finished, it would be the end for them. Fighting would be nothing more than a distant memory.

Seeing she was done, Bercouli posed the question, "Have you maybe considered what the kid was thinking about when he came up with that plan?" When Alice looked up at him, he asked, "You've known that boy far longer than I ever have. So tell me, would he really suggest something if he didn't foresee what it could mean for you all?"

Alice tried to argue she did, but the words failed to come to her. In all her life, Kirito was not so spontaneous as to figure out a plan without at least considering every angle. Even during their fight with the Gleam Eyes, he tried to avoid pulling out his Dual-Wielding skill so they could evacuate the soldiers. He only went through with it when he saw they were in no shape to hold that Dungeon Master off. There were even times before then where Kirito did things with others in mind. Kirito may have been many things, but selfish was not one of them.

Grunting as he adjusted his seating position, Bercouli elaborated, "I think you give him far too little credit. You both had fought through a lot of hardship to come back together. Hell, the kid had to do more work just to get here if I'm not mistaken. Joining a garrison, attending an academy, that's definitely not something to sneeze at. And all of that was to find you two. In truth, I think suggesting splitting up is his way of finding a solution that will make sure this separation doesn't take as long as the first."

"It's not that I give him too little credit Uncle," Alice lightly debated. "It's just… I feel he doesn't have the same focus as the rest of us. That we just want to go home."

Raising an eyebrow at this, the lead Integrity Knight questioned, "And you don't think he doesn't have that yearning to go home? That fighting through so many worlds, crossing swords with so many adversaries, hasn't once made him think about the life he's been fighting for." Alice gave no response to this, so Bercouli went on, "I haven't crossed swords with the kid yet. But it's clear from how he fights that his biggest motivation is you three. The boy, Asuna, and you as well. All three of you give him a reason to swing his sword. So that he no longer needs to when the dust settles."

He then rose to his feet, resting a hand on his hip as he looked down at Alice. "Don't forget that the four of you made that oath in the sacred tongue," he reminded. "Keep that close, so you four can overcome what lies ahead." And he went on his way.

Alice reflected a bit more on what she had been told. As she did, a truth came to her.

Even if they stopped fighting now, they had more challenges that would draw them in sooner or later. Besides Quinella, there was still the threat of invasion by the Dark Territory, which included the arrival of Stacia and the other goddesses in the vessels they had chosen, such as Asuna. Stopping now would risk those factors destroying whatever semblance of life they would try to create for themselves.

In her thoughts, her friends arrived to find her sitting in the grass on the church grounds. As she looked at them, she couldn't help but berate herself a little. She had been reminding everyone about their oath, yet now she was neglecting it herself. While she felt foolish, she was glad to have been humbled a bit by all of this.

She got to her feet once they approached her, and spoke, "I have had time to reflect. And I want to apologize for my rudeness. You had it right Kirito. We—"

"Don't worry about it," Kirito said, interrupting her. "I know how much us being together means after all we've been through. But we can't afford to have all four of us help either in Aincrad or Alfheim if we have a better chance going to both places. I was just considering what pairs would work best. And maybe Eugeo and I…"

"Kirito, what you proposed is fine," Eugeo assured. "To be honest, it will be best if Alice and I went to Aincrad. We won't be alone up there, and we know how to work with the others in those dungeons. You and Asuna can work better with Leafa and Sinon in Alfheim."

Smiling, Alice added, "I agree. And we will reunite once both goals have been achieved."

Eying Alice a bit, Asuna wondered, "When did you change your mind all of a sudden? You were completely against splitting up earlier."

"I mentioned I had reflected a moment ago," Alice reminded snootingly. This caused Asuna's eye to twitch in annoyance, but Kirito intervened before this went anywhere.

"Whatever the case, we better talk to Kayaba about it," he proposed. "And we should also see how Yui is faring with what Cardinal has done to restore her." The four agreed, and everyone but Kirito started to head for the cathedral. The others stopped when they noticed one of their members was trailing before seeing him thrust his fist out in front of him. Eugeo took the cue and went over to join his fist with the black swordsman. The girls caught on right after, putting their own fists together with theirs.

"We were born in the same year," Kirito started.

"And we'll be together until our last," Eugeo carried on.

"No matter our fates or the paths we walk," Asuna added.

"We will no doubt reunite," Alice finished.

As their oath was renewed, the four could envision saying these same words many years ago, before everything occurred and dragged them to so many different places. And the feeling of unity from that oath was restored among them. Throwing their hands in the air to complete the recitation, the four resumed their trek. To their next adventure.