North Centoria

"Not ready for bed, huh, Kirito?" Back in my tent at the capital, my team reported our findings on the Clamps. The running theory is that they're not individual flowers, but a network of buds off of interconnecting stems. My best visual representation for this hypothesis are grapes. The plan now is to find the source of the "stem" to eliminate the recurrence of the flowers. But for today, my team waits on news from the southern region on that topic. I heard that Eldrie, the thirty-first Integrity Knight and Alice's protege, has gone to the southern border of the Human Empire to investigate a matter there.

Meanwhile, I sit on my bed, tending to Kirito today to give Ronie and Tiese some time to train without worry for Kirito. I got nothing better to talk about to him other than what pops in my head, and for now, watching him "sleep" reminds me of SAO. "Hey, you remember that time you and Asuna took a nap under that tree on the 59th Floor? Well, when you called me, I guess it was just Asuna. It was the first time in a long time the both of you weren't arguing or trying to be better than the other. It...felt like how you two were at the beginning, and for me, that was...comforting. I shouldn't tell you this, I don't even know if you can hear me, but you really struck gold with her. She really...filled out over the last four years. But knowing you, how a girl looks is above you, else you'll really notice the girls we're around… But at least you managed to keep your relationship with Asuna."

I sigh and face his blank face, envisioning he's paying attention. "If you could tell me what to do, what would you say? That Rika's the one who completes me, or that I'm better off with someone like Momiji, whose lack of a connection to that part of my past is a blessing for me? In either case, what I need to do is to stop looking for her... for Koharu because she's gone, for good that I didn't save her twice now… You wouldn't say any of that. You have Asuna, the girl you fell in love with and brought back into this world. To you, the choice is quite clear. If only I could do the same as you and bring her back." As I painfully laugh to myself, my tent opens. It's Alice and Eydis, the former here for Kirito, the latter… I have no clue. Alice just nods as she walks over to Kirito and wheels him out of my tent, but Eydis lingers inside. She's in her underarmor, but I do my best to not stare at her again. "Everything okay, Eydis?"

"You treat Kirito like a brother, but you aren't related at all."

"No, we are not."

"Do you have a sibling?"

"No, but I have two people who are like sisters to me. Kirito has a little sister as well… Why bring this up?"

Eydis sighs and sits down beside me. "Sometimes… I have dreams of a little girl who looks like me. I can't see her face, can't hear her speak, but I can see her hair… After hearing what the Pontifex did to us, I wondered if what I see is truly what I think it to be. That...the Eydis I should be was a normal girl born in this world and had a little sister. Makes sense to me, it explains why I dote on Alice a lot."

I take her hand and softly grip it. "I'm sorry."

"No, it's not your fault. But… It makes me think that we knights are no different from the wayfarers. Besides Alice and Eldrie, everyone out there who knows us is dead. Without our one purpose, to serve and protect the realm, we would be lost and alone… I want to be with Alice forever, but something tells me that it will never be that case."

"I know you feel. To be alone, especially when you've been connected to another and all you have are the memories… I would never want that for anyone else. But hey," I tilt her head up to face mine and smile warmly, "as long as I'm here, you are not alone."

Eydis, her eyes wet with silent tears, tries to smile back. "Such a womanizer… How do you know what to say?"

"I had to learn, that's all."


Deusoldort Desert, Sothercrois, the next morning…

I kneel down in the sand as soon as my body touches the ground. "Oh, I think I'm going to be sick… How are you two fine?"

Eydis shrugs. "Well, we do ride dragons, so flying is not much trouble for us. Heck, even Medina is fine." I look to Medina, who looks back at me with disappointment. Am I the only one phased by the "fast travel" art? Then again, I haven't been in Alfheim Online since… Yuuki's death, but all this year, I've played games that really don't require flying. I don't recall being this nauseated when I came back to ALO for the Jotunheim quest though.

Once I am able to stand, the four of us walk into Sustaria Village again, drawn by the gathering happening in the middle of the town. Thinking it might be helpful in finding beasts in the region, we make way for the commotion.

"Why won't anyone believe me? I'm telling the truth!"

"What's going on here," I say as I spot the person responsible for the commotion, a man whose Calling is to be a merchant by the looks of it. Whether it is by my own looks or someone willing to listen to him, he drops down at my feet.

"A-Ah, thank you. Hear me out. I'm a merchant, you see. And out on the road, I saw something you won't believe. A titan."

I'm sure I landed in a world of swords and arts, not a world surrounded by three walls and titans. "A titan?"

The man stands up. "I knew you wouldn't believe me! But what else can I call something as big as that?"

Medina sighs. "That was a damn waste of time."

"Agreed." Alice and Medina turn away, and I have half a mind to do so myself before the merchant grabs my shoulder.

"Don't go! I'm telling the truth! Come on! Why won't anyone believe me?"

"Alice, Jaymes," Eydis says, her face quite serious. "Hold for a moment. Merchant, if you are so certain in what you saw, then describe this titan in detail for me."

"S-Sure thing! It was gigantic, way bigger than any of us...and it carried a club the size of a man. It has these...like golden muscles all over its body, and a bunch of tattoos too."

Eydis sighs. "Alice, I think it's them."

Alice's belief changes instantly. "Impossible. Tell me exactly where you saw this titan."

"T-To the south."

Eydis nods. "Thank you." The Integrity Knights turn in a hurry, leaving me and Medina in a state of confusion. We catch up to them outside of town and I step in front of them both.

"Whoa, what's gotten into you both?"

"I have heard of creatures before that match that man's description," Alice explains, "when I was a knight-in-training, among the forces of darkness that threaten the realm."

I frown. "You mean...the Dark Territory?"

"Indeed," Eydis states. "It is one of a race of giants that dwell in the Dark Territory. But it should not be possible for a giant to enter the human realm. The closest path from the Dark Territory is the Southern Corridor, which is-"

Alice gasps. "Oh no!"

"Would you like to share with the rest of the class," Medina coarsely asks.

I know what troubles Alice. "Eldrie. The ACTF received reports of trouble from the Southern Corridor, and he went to investigate some time yesterday."

"So Eldrie could be fighting the giants now?"

"If he is, it would mean the Southern Corridor was breached."

I can't say for sure the possibility of a breach is off, it is the only logical explanation, but I do know this has nothing to do with the FInal Load Test. That breach will come from the east, when the wall falls. Hopefully I haven't been here long enough for that to occur. "That sounds pretty likely now, if what the merchant says is true."

"Distressingly so. Eldrie would never be felled by a giant, but I am still worried, as his mentor."

"So am I, as his mentor's big sis."

"Well, there's nothing else to do but find this giant."

"I agree. We should confirm the report, the head down to the Southern Corridor."


The next morning...

Our search for the giant proved to be fruitless, but we still have lots of ground to cover. We decided to make camp last night, which was just as peaceful except for one suspicious disturbance. I caught Medina walking out of camp and followed her to see her talking to a group of soldiers. I couldn't hear them nor did I linger long enough to be caught. I don't care in particular for what she was doing, but I wonder just who those people are.

"Good morning, Jaymes." Speak of the devil, Medina walks up to me as I chew on an apple for a light breakfast. Based on her look, she doesn't look suspicious of me, but even if she did, I used the Umbral Element to keep myself hidden for as long as possible.

"Morning, Medina."

"Is something the matter?"

Did my tone convey something? Oops. "No, I'm good. Just annoyed to be in a desert, that's all."

"Well pull yourself together, and quickly. We need to get closer to that giant today."

"Mhm." I turn in the southern direction, gesturing the canyons down there. "We should look to the south. Maybe the giant has not left the area the merchant reported."

Medina folds her arms and turns away. "I actually have a lead, if you would like to join me to investigate. I can't say we'll find anything like footprints there, but the information's good."

Of course she does. If those are wayfarers, Medina seems to be using them to gain information. It is a smart move on her part, But first, I'll play a little game. "You know, your 'gut' got us to those Clamps the other day, and now this. I'm not Alice and I'm surely not Kirito, so I don't particularly care for how you got said information. But I'll let you know I know you're hiding something."

"You think… Well, I suppose you could say that. Ever since I was a child, I have had unusually sharp instincts. I somehow knew things like 'it'll rain tomorrow' or 'my favorite cat is at X'."

I sigh and walk with her. "Funny, your ancestor had similar instincts. Just as convenient. But… I'll take your word for it. Check on the others so we can head out." As Medina departs, I throw the apple core on the ground. I did not lie, her ancestor did have sharp instincts, but I did determine she wants to keep the wayfarers secret for now. As long as it proves useful, so will I.


And useful did it prove.

In the southern canyons, following Medina's lead, we come across what is most definitely a giant, wrapped in fur and chains, fighting one of the rock creatures Medina and I faced the other day. The dark-skinned brute beat the creature mercilessly with its club with impressive ease. Hiding a few meters away, I look at the Integrity Knights' faces for some confirmation that this is indeed the giant we're looking for.

Them stepping out of cover and approaching the giant is all the confirmation I need. The giant, once it notices Alice and Eydis, growls at them. "Finally...found new prey."

"It can talk," Medina whispers to me as we join the knights..

"It can talk… Hello, good giant! What is it that you want here in the human realm?"

"I am...Zacza… I have come here with my brothers to show the world my strength! I will defeat everything that stands in my way! Every beast and every lum!" Zacza attacks preemptively, forcing us to leap back.

I turn to Eydis. "Lum?"

"Their word for human."

"Ah." I draw my sword and glare at Zacza. "We're more than happy to play along with you." Zacza roars and charges forward, striking at me first. Raising my hand, I create a glass barrier that withstands several strikes from the spiked weapon, allowing the girls to spread out and flank the giant. Medina attacks first, but in that moment Zacza forgets me and swings at the ground, creating a veil of sand that blinds and chokes Medina. When she comes out of the cloud, she flying out and lands on her back.

In that moment Alice comes between Zacza and Medina before the giant can finish the job. As Alice holds the giant's attention, I project healing magic towards Medina while aiding Alice by bombarding Zacza's back and sides with fire arrows. Alice suddenly drops back, switching out with Eydis who swings down on Zacza. Zacza holds his club up to block, but to the surprise of Zacza and myself, Eydis' blade goes through the club and slices the giant's chest. It's not a deep wound, but enough to make Zacza retreat back and cease attacking for now.

"Wow."

"Eydis' Perfect Weapon Control allows her to call upon the shadows that forged her sword and cut through any weapon and armor," Alice explains. "Based on your expression, this must be the first you've seen of it."

"Yeah. She never uses it when we duel against each other as well."

"I see… Based on the fact he called us 'lum' and his size, he is definitely a giant. I do not understand, though. How did a denizen of the Dark Territory get here?"

"I have come here with my brothers to show the world my strength," the wounded giant repeats. "None can defeat us. We are the strongest...in the world!"

Eydis scoffs. "And where are your brothers? You're all alone. Are your brothers somewhere near us?"

Zacza looks at us in confusion. "I'm...alone? That can't be. I was with my elder brother! We're always together!"

"I think he's crazy," Medina says as she stands up on her sword. "How can he not tell he's alone?"

"Good point… What is your brother's name, Zacza?"

"His name is Ziczi! Ziczi, Ziczi, where are you? The bloody lums are here! Let's crush them, Ziczi! You're the stro-No. Wrong. I am the strongest! Not you, Ziczi! Me!" Zacza suddenly stops looking for his brother, his face stuck in a frown as he stares absently at the ground. "I remember… I sought to subjugate...even my brothers...to be the strongest… But that can't be… Together, we are the strongest... No… No, no! I am…"

"Something is off about him," Medina comments. "Told you he's crazy."

"No," I say, familiar with the breakdown of Fluctlights, "his perception of reality is being challenged."

"We brothers...are strongest… I ALONE...am strONGEST… BRBRBRBRO BROTHERS… ALONE… STSTSTRO STRONGEST… OF ALL… OFALL BRBROTHBROBTHBROTHERS I ALONE II BROTBROBROTHERS AALONE AL OFALOFLOFLOFLEFLE-" His Fluctlight collapsing, Zacza drops down dead in front of us. An unfortunate fate, but in our favor nonetheless.

"What...did we just witness," Alice inquires.

"The collapse of his Fluctlight...his soul."

Eydis raises an eyebrow. "His soul...collapsed? How is that even possible?"

"It can happen when faced with an overwhelming degree of mental stress or when forced to reconcile an impossible contradiction with your own worldview. It is what happened to one of the noble boys that Tiese and Ronie were assaulted by, based on their recollection of the tale."

"How so?"

"Medina knows this best probably, being of noble blood herself, but the Taboo Index is not an all or nothing set of rules. If there's a loophole to be found, there is one. The nobles worked around that with rank and law. Ronie and Tiese, being lower nobles, were subject to the whims of the higher ranking boys, which does not break the Taboo Index. But even there comes points in which the Index is law. The one that died was hurt by Kirito, but his death was because he couldn't dictate breaking the Taboo Index's rule to not harm another's life without justification or saving his own life. Complete Fluctlight collapse."

"So why did it happen to Zacza?"

"If I had to guess, he couldn't comprehend whether he was stronger alone or with his brothers. They do contradict each other."

Medina sighs and glances at the body. "Even for him...what a horrible way to go."

"Of course, his previous conviction had to be strong for the opposite to break him down this way. Someone else with a weaker resolve would be fine."

"So, in your example, that boy valued his life above all. Not even the Taboo Index could shatter that belief, which caused the meltdown. Whatever the case, it works in our favor. He may have had a soul like anyone in the human realm, but he's still an enemy."

"He has brothers too," Alice reminds us. "As much as it pains me to admit it, we have to assume the Southern Corridor was breached and Zacza's brothers are here in the human realm as well."

"Which makes our next objective Eldrie and the Southern Corridor," Eydis points out.

"Right, but first, we'll take a break. It's still morning and we still have sunlight. We'll catch up to Eldrie soon enough. We'll do all we can to protect the human realm."

Medina lowers her head. "Protect...the human realm…"

"Something wrong?"

"Just the opposite. This is the perfect chance for me to make a name for myself."


"Jaymes! Jaymes!"

I slowly open my eyes then my entire body is awakened all at once after a metal boot pounds on my stomach. "Ow! Eydis, what the hell!"

The tenth Integrity Knight looks down at me without remorse and extends her arm. "Get up, Medina is gone!"

That changes my mood completely. "Huh? Why?"

"I don't know. One moment, I'm trying to keep my sis in good spirits, then when I turn around, Medina and all her belongings are gone. Can't believe she snuck past us both."

I sigh. "Dammit, Medina. Any idea where she could have gone?"

"The Southern Corridor," Alice says as she approaches us. "Her goal is the restoration of her family name, correct? What better way to gain positive notoriety than defeating a threat to the realm alone...or not alone."

"What do you mean," Alice questions, "we're all here."

I know I decided to keep Medina's secret just that, but with so much at stake now, there's no room for secrets. "We're not the only men and women with swords strapped to us, are we?"

"The wayfarers?"

"Bingo, Eydis. She has worked with them before. The footprints, she found that out from the wayfarers last night. The Clamps may have been found in a smiliar manner."

"When did she have that much time to round up that many supporters?"

"Doesn't matter, but she's using the wayfarer who revere her as 'my savior'. Might be some power she has, useful as it is. If she's with them, she could eliminate the giants...and truth be told, we could always use more numbers. But the only way we can get more information about it is from Medina herself, and to do that, we must follow her to the Southern Corridor."