"Uh… Ghhh…" I open my eyes, slowly adjusting to the dark surroundings I find myself in. I already dictate that whatever happened upon my arrival brought me here, wherever here is. It does not seem whatever force brought me to this place is malevolent. I mean, rather than being in a prison cell, I'm laying upon a comfy bed in a tent. But a stranger falling from the sky, I wouldn't be surprised if I'm being watched.

"So you've awakened." I turn my head to the voice and rise up to face it. Seated nearby is a woman of small stature with curly brown hair and inquisitive eyes of the same color. She wears a purple robe and matching hat and carries a long staff in her right hand. She looks like a strict librarian or headmaster, yet, once again, I sense no ill intent. "Guess the gods of Rath are trying to fix their troubles."

Rath? Assuming she did not mean "wrath"... How does she know about Rath? Nevermind that, I have more pressing questions. "Where am I?"

"North Centoria, on the grounds of the Swordcraft Academy. Now it's my turn, who are you?"

"My name… My name is Jaymes." I hesitate a moment, thinking of another question. Well, I guess the next one should address how she knows where I am from. "How do you know of Rath?"

She scoffs. "You're hardly the first fool I met in the last month to be from another world, and far from the first non-resident of the Underworld."

"So you know of Kirito… Well, that simplifies things. Where is he?"

"He's here as well, but before I allow you to see him, I must understand you first. It is only fair I tell you about me and the current situation of the Human Empire. Is that fine with you, Lord of Knights?"

I frown. So she knows of my legend from my first time in Centoria, back when the Human Empire was in its infancy. I also do need to know of the current events in this world, and Kirito is nearby, possibly with Alice. It's no trouble to listen to a briefing. "Very well, go ahead."

"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Cardinal, and in essence, I am the Cardinal System, or, at least, the secondary system."

"The checks and balances part of the system."

"You're knowledgeable, just as Kirito was."

I shrug. "Let's just say I have had multiple run-ins with the system itself, this year especially. But you're the first time I have seen it take a form."

"Kirito also said the same."

"But why specify that you're just the secondary system? What about the primary system?"

"That belongs, or should I more specifically say, is the former leader of the Axiom Church. The Pontifex known as Administrator, Quinella."

Quinella? That name sounds familiar. "I was here right before the Axiom Church was established. That would have been 280 years ago… I remember hearing tales of a gifted young girl by that name. They're the same person, correct?"

"Indeed."

"So she's responsible for… Quinella has administrative privileges, doesn't she? So she has ruled this world since my departure… Wait, you said 'former leader'? Where is she now?"

Cardinal sighs. "Kirito, along with his friend Eugeo, were arrested a few weeks ago by the Church for breaking the Taboo Index. After their escape and meeting with me, they scaled the Central Cathedral, faced Integrity Knight after Integrity Knight, and in the end, Kirito killed Administrator… Or so we thought. It is better to show you." Cardinal stands up and gestures for me to follow her. I rise off the bed and exit the tent with her. Shading my eyes from the sun, Cardinal directs my gaze to the south and far up. There's the Central Cathedral and...what the hell?

"Someone got overzealous with their gardening? Looks like the tower is a giant tree. Yet… Why do I feel that it's worse than what I think?"

"That tree surrounding the upper floors of the Central Cathedral is Administrator's doing. Her immense will and terrifying attachment to life is burned into the tree itself. Even though Kirito struck her body, so long as her will remains, the Administrator lives on in this world. I cannot fathom how or why she created that tree, however."

"Hmm… That light near the center… That must be her. I can assume there's no way up to the top, right?"

"Correct. Not even if we flew up there. We tried swords and arts too. Nothing works. So for the last few weeks, we've been here, maintaining any panic and trying to figure out how to tackle it. We've only given it a name, Cathedral Cedar, set headquarters here at the academy, and tried assembling a force."

I look around the academy grounds, seeing lots of people and tents. "Cardinal, you must know that the Dark Territory will soon come and what will happen afterwards. How are the human forces? Did Quinella keep it up?"

"The work you did to build a military is long gone. Administrator took down anything that could oppose her in the Taboo Index. The four empires' forces are nothing more than guards, sellswords, and the nobility. Practically useless against the Dark Territory. Not even the Pontifex's plan to use golems made of human souls and her own force, the Integrity Knights, would have been enough. So far, we're still scrambling to build a force to handle this while training others for what's to come… As acting Pontifex, I'm doing my best to assess our options, yet we only have fourteen of the thirty-one knights active and I cannot spare them all at once. So...now that you know all I can tell you, may I beseech the Lord of Knights for his assistance?"

I cup my chin in thought. "I have no reason to say no, and my time here is dependent on the situation. I'd like to meet the knights as well to see what we're working with. But first, Kirito. Take me to him, and while we're at it, tell me of these Integrity Knights…"


"Alice, I have a visitor for Kirito." Cardinal and I wait outside the tent we walked to. Moments later, a blonde-haired girl in gold armor no older than I walks out the tent, her uncovered blue eye spotting Cardinal first then me. So this is Alice, huh? The Alice I am to bring home...well, this task is easier than I thought.

"Cardinal, is this the man who fell from the sky? The one Eydis brought?"

"Yes, he is."

I step forward and hold my hand out. "My name is Jaymes. I am a friend of Kirito's from the other world. If it is no bother, I would very much like to see how he is."

"...Very well. If Cardinal trusts you, I see no reason to be against it." She steps aside and allows me entry. I step into the tent alone, immediately spotting my best friend in the center of the room situated in a wheelchair. I walk over to him, concerned for his lack of response. With his Fluctlight damaged, he's nothing more than a vegetable. Alive, but soulless. I take a look at the pair of sheathed swords held in his left arm. I reach for the icy-blue colored one with a rose-shaped hilt, but as I remove it from Kirito's grasp, he responds to it slightly. So he's not totally out of it, but only able to respond to basic stimuli.

I turn around to see Alice and Cardinal standing behind me. I face the former, having a few questions of my own. "Has he been like this the entire time?"

"Yes, he has ever since the aftermath of our battle with Administrator."

Right after he made contact with Rath during the attack and the power surge that followed. Cardinal says that it has been a few weeks since then in this world, but back in my world, it has been a few minutes. "Hmm… The swords. I know Kirito enough to know the black scabbard is his, but this blue one, did it belong to him as well?"

Alice shakes her head. "It belonged to a friend of his, Eugeo. He...fell in the battle against Administrator."

I nod and glance back at Kirito, patting him on the shoulder and kneeling. "Great. Here you are, out like a light and leaving me a mess to fix. I got enough problems on my own… You know, Asuna and the others are worried sick about you. I don't know when Asuna will arrive, but she'll be here. Until then, I'll help Cardinal with the current crisis, then find a way to fix you." I take a deep breath and stand up, eyeing Alice again. "Alice...may I call you that instead of either of your full names?"

Alice gasps. "Yes, but… You know...of Alice Zuberg?"

"I do, but that's a matter I wish to not talk about. Plus saying "Alice Synthesis Thirty" is a mouthful. So, Alice, for the time being, when you're off duty, I ask you to watch over Kirito for a while longer. At least until I can think of a way to bring his sense of self back."

"I can do that, Jaymes."

"Thank you very much. Cardinal, I'll like to get started as soon as possible."

She smirks. "As it so happens, we had news come earlier today. A magical beast is reported to appear in the Warmia Greenbelt region of the Sothercrois Empire, just outside the capital. I managed to convince Commander Bercouli to allow you to accompany the Integrity Knight he assigned the task to."

I look at Alice. "Is it you?"

"No, I believe it is Eydis, the tenth Integrity Knight."

"Oh, well, I assume she wants to leave as soon as possible. Guess I should get prepared." I look down at my simple clothing, a far fetch from the true attire of the Mage Knight account. "System Call. Equipment Switch. Armor Default. Sword Equip." Light surrounds my body as my shirt becomes a red, black, and yellow armored tunic. Around my neck and back falls a long red cape, and attached to my leather belt is my golden-hilted sword. My black pants and leather boots stay in place. Yes, I based my attire and weapon on Marth, a popular character from one of my favorite game series, Fire Emblem. Stretching out my gauntlets, I sigh happily as I look at the awestruck women. "Well, now I'm ready. Where's Eydis?"

Cardinal clears her throat. "At the front gate of the academy, she should be waiting for you." I nod and, after bidding Alice farewell, follow Cardinal out the knight's tent back outside. As we walk outside, I catch a few stares from the people of Centoria. I guess I do stand out, my tunic is not that of an Integrity Knight but it's like I'm a noble. To some degree, I do possess the power and skill of a noble, possibly enough to call myself an emperor. I never met Administrator, but if I consider that she was the highest power in this land, I might be the only one at her strength. Before that, only the four god accounts matched mine. If and when we do meet, I'll test that idea.

"Ah, here we are. Eydis Synthesis Ten." Cardinal calls over to the lone girl at the front gate. Her armor and cape are grey and black, not as flashy as Alice's, but I bet it's just as protective. My eyes rise to her face, a pale-colored one with eyes so red it makes me jealous mine isn't right now. Long, light brown hair falls down her head in a large ponytail, a black bow sits at the top. Like Alice, she's around my age, but from what I know of Integrity Knights from Cardinal, Eydis is much, much older than me chronologically. She's the tenth knight, after all.

"Acting Pontifex," Eydis says with a salute. She then drops it as she looks at me, then gasps. "Is this the one who fell on me from the sky?"

I nervously chuckle. "Sorry about that. I didn't mean it. My name is Jaymes."

Eydis eyes my hand and takes it begrudgingly. "Eydis Synthesis Ten. You may call me Eydis. For now, I accept your apology. It wouldn't do good if our first mission together is in animosity. For some reason, Cardinal believes you're of great skill, but if anything, you're probably just like that Kirito."

"Oh, you know Kirito too? I just saw him in Alice's tent and...huh?" I sense the air around us changes drastically from calm to threatening. The source, the Integrity Knight right in front of me. She glares at me, but I don't recall doing anything wrong right now.

"You...were in Alice's tent?" Eydis reaches for her waist and draws the sword strapped to her waist. It is a black-bladed katana and its destination is me.

"Eydis," Cardinal says, though from a distance. "I took him there to see Kirito, and Alice welcomed him in. No need to hurt the boy...if you could."

Eydis glares at me with the point of her katana at my chin. She looks down to my hands, both with flaming arrows pointing at her torso. She looks back up to me in surprise. "How? You didn't recite a word?"

"That's how strong I am with Sacred Arts. I don't need to say 'System Call. Generate Thermal Element. Arrow Shape. Fly Straight.' I just think it in my head. Of course, it's not an instantaneous effect with stronger, more complicated arts. Still have to charge and form my desire. But more importantly, can you lower your sword?"

"...Hmmph." Eydis lowers her katana and sheathes it. Sighing, I cast away the art and silently thank Cardinal for the help. Facing Eydis' back, she continues to glare at me with her arms folded. "I'll trust you wouldn't breathe the same air as Alice. She's my little sister, a goddess from heaven, and you're...less than dirt. Remember that, Jaymes. Now let's go." My defiant nature is suppressed by my desire to hunt the magical beast in the southern empire, so I agree and follow Eydis to a waiting carriage.

Just what in the hell did I get myself into?