Centoria, days later...
"Oh dear, Ms. Orthinanos, I never said I was talking about you, did I?"
"But if you thought I was, perhaps I struck a chord with something I said?"
"You've gathered your little gaggle of geese, but a defect's still a defect."
"If you think you'll convince the Axiom Church to accept you, you're dreaming-Ah!" Two cold, crystalline spears each linger against the necks of the noble swordsman and his archer friend, enough to not leave a mark but threaten them with the fact their lives could have been severed at that very moment quite easily. I step between them, eyeing a furious Medina first then the frightened nobles.
"Hey, if you've got time for all this talk, why don't you get back to work?"
The swordsman swallows everything but his noble pride. "You nearly assaulted us, you commoner! Do you not know the Imperial Law?"
"That's hilarious. What would the acting Pontifex say if she heard you threatened her right-hand man? Now scram." I disintegrate the spears and watch the men walk away in anger. Sighing, I brush my hair back. "Wow, there really are nobles like that in the ACTF. I guess all nobles are jerks, especially the highborn ones. Present company excluded, of course."
"You're right. I'm not like them at all. Not my family, nor my upbringing."
"Medina, did you bring these wayfarers," Alice asks as she looks around Medina's secluded camp. She moved farther away from the main site of the ACTF on the academy grounds with Bercouli's permission, so she nearly has an entire section dedicated to herself and her wayfarers. "I thought they were staying down south."
"They said they wanted to come, so I decided to bring them here to help us.
"YOU decided? Not them?"
"Yes, it was my decision."
"I see…" Alice looks to argue further, but one look from her "big sister' tells her to quell it. "Just be sure not to ask too much of them."
"Need them, we will," I tell Medina. "Bercouli just gave us our next assignment. Trouble in the north with children going missing. If there's a Clamp involved or not, I want to investigate this anyway. Bring as many wayfarers as we may need, give the others orders to patrol the south or something. Make them useful." Medina nods and leaves to gather her followers. Now to address the other troublesome woman. "Alice, you… Oh, she's gone."
Eydis nods as she stares at the departing girl in golden armor. "I sent her to get Sortiliena and your apprentices. You sure about bringing them?"
"Yeah. Alice and I are the only ones who can cut the Clamps, but the more help with the beasts, the better. Maybe even the wayfarers can help with culling the flowers. Cardinal said she'll handle Kirito, so there's nothing for them to do here. And...despite Cardinal's warning, I believe they need to know the truth to help in our mission."
Eydis folds her arms and looks up to me as we walk away from Medina's camp. "You're sure about that? You haven't told Medina."
"Oh, I'm not sure about anything, but they're close to Kirito and Eugeo, so maybe they won't freak out."
"Hmm... Well, as planned, we'll head up to Rulid Village. That will take us through Zakkaria, the most populated town in the north. It's a two to three days trip to the far north, so if we make good time, we could be in the area of the Sustnel Mountains by tonight."
"If we don't come into trouble, as we surely will."
"Then we make do… I'm just worried about Alice. This will be the first time in years she's been home, but she's not the girl who left there. Yet I think this would be good for her to see her sister at least. If only Kirito and Eugeo could facilitate the meeting."
"Guess I'll have to do my best."
Norlangarth, Cordea Plains
After dealing with some Clamp Cluster business that took the majority of the late morning and afternoon (which was dealt with by splitting everyone into two groups, and helped by the fact the wayfarers can damage the Clamps), we regroup outside a village in the northern region of the Cordea Plains.
"You sure about this 'two to three days', Eydis?"
Eydis glares at me in offense. "Well, in my defense, I could be there in a day by dragon. And if it is such a bother, why not do that fast travel spell?"
"I can't use it to get to a place I've never been to. And there's like 20 people here, I'm not even sure I could manage it."
"Hey, you!" We cease our discussion as a man runs up to us in quite the fright. He collapses right in front of me and points to the west. "I went to gather water at the river, but a monster appeared. You should stay away!"
"A beast," Alice questions. "But there should be a sentry on patrol around here."
"Didn't the northern emperor send his soldiers to guard the northern towns at the request of the ACTF," Sortiliena asks. "I know my family was asked to spare a few."
"Is that so… You think the sentry could have been defeated by a beast?"
"Sentry? You mean THAT stuck up guy? I haven't seen him for days. I'd never trust a guy like him again anyway. If he'd only done his job, my sister wouldn't have been mauled by a monster. Now she's hurt and can't walk."
Alice grows even more irate. "There's no way he'd ignore orders and not do his job. What could have happened?"
"A-Are you calling me a liar?"
"No, I'm not saying that. It's just…"
"You look like swordsmen, but you're just the same as him. You'll never help us."
I hold my hand up and face Sortiliena and Eydis. "Eydis, you, Medina are with me, we'll search for the sentry. Liena, you, the pages, and Alice find the beast he speaks of. Medina, divide the wayfarers between search parties, helping with the monster, and guarding our supplies. And you, sir, direct me to where the beast was spotted, then go warn your village about the river."
"But…"
"Trust her," Medina says, speaking about Alice. "Alice is an incredible fighter, worth 1,000 sentries like the one you knew. So is Eydis. So please trust us. And tell the villagers not to leave town till they arrive. Okay?"
"...Alright. I'm trusting you guys. You'd better take care of that monster." The man gives me the information I ask for and departs for his village. No rest for the weary swordsmen and swordswomen.
"I'm sorry, Alice," I hear Medina say to the Integrity Knight. "I spoke without asking but I know you can defeat the beast."
"Of course. You made the right decision. Protecting the human realm is my duty as any Integrity Knight." Medina and Alice split after that, in which I feel myself being pushed forward. I turn around to see the culprit is Eydis. Does she… Fine.
"Alice," I call once I come beside her. "You okay?"
"About the sentry that villager spoke of, he may have been missing these last few days because he was a victim. So while we go hunt the beast, please do your best to track down the sentry as well. He wouldn't abandon his duty for no reason. Something must have happened."
"Yeah...probably. He wouldn't have left unless he was plotting something."
"What do you mean?"
"Just a feeling. Anyway, you heard what Medina said. Once you're done, report to the village."
Eydis groans as she cleans her blade in the grass. "Well, at least that fight's finished. Stupid Many-Horned Fiends. Sounds like someone I know named them that. What do you say, Medina?"
"It does sound like something either Kirito or Jaymes would call them." Medina sheathes her blade and turns to her wayfarers. "Thanks, everyone."
"We'd do anything for our savior!"
"You say that now, but you were so scared!"
As the wayfarers quip amongst themselves, I continue to scan the area. Our missing sentry is not anywhere in sight. This is what I hate, meaningless fetch quests and search quests. I can do without them, but I must remind myself this is not a VR game. In more than one way this is a real simulation of life. To Eydis, Alice, Medina, and the denizens of the Human Empire and the Dark Territory, they're real beings and given they possess human souls, they are not far from the truth. A missing sentry is a real source of trouble, not a programmed quest without any real consequence. I guess, in some regard, Asuna was right to question the integrity of this project.
"Jaymes, about the missing sentry."
I catch on to what Eydis might've said. "Yeah, he is not here. There are no Clamps around here either. But there must-"
"Aaah! Somebody, help!" That cry came just east of us, in the direction of what seems to be a nobleman's estate, one that Sortiliena mentioned when telling me of her academy's extracurricular activities with Kirito, Eugeo, and at one point, Medina. We run as fast as we can, soon seeing the familiar trails of light that comes from a Clamp dancing in the air. A moment later, we come across the Clamp, the beast protecting it, and a man a few meters away. He sees us and points at the beast. "H-Help meeeee!"
"Sentry, check. Clamp that should have been dealt with when we took out the cluster, check. Beast with no beauty, check."
Eydis sighs as she unsheathes her sword. "Ah, I guess we have to save him."
"Right! Everyone, take your positions! We must save our fellow man!"
"Yeeeeeaaaaaahhhhhhh!"
I smirk at the wayfarers' enthusiasm. You'd think this is a raiding party, not a gang attack on this unfortunate moss-covered fiend. And speaking of it, as it charges towards us, I raise my hand and call upon the Crystal Element, throwing crystal spears at it to disrupt its course. Medina and the wayfarers follow up and cut down the beast, allowing Eydis to finish it off. Easy peasy, I take care of the Clamp to end our short and sweet battle. I must admit, ever since we gained the wayfarers, fights have been easier. Of course, we haven't faced anything stronger enough to give us much of a challenge since the giants four days ago.
"Whew, thanks for that," the sentry says as he shows up from wherever he was hiding. He's addressing us casually for someone who was saved by an Integrity Knight, so he must not realize Eydis is one. "Were you guys heading for your patrol? These new duties are such a huge pain. I mean, who cares if a villager or two gets gobbled up by a beast or whatever. Unlike us nobles, these people breed like rabbits! They can lose a couple, right?"
I had a feeling we were dealing with a noble. I haven't met many commoners in the ACTF, and the students of the academy have told me of a similar ratio of nobles to commoners at the school. And having grown up in a similar environment, where the richer students looked down upon the lesser students. It takes all my will not to lash out at the sentry.
Thankfully Eydis speaks first. "What did you say?"
"I'm a knight! Why the hell do I have to guard all these bumpkins out here?"
Eydis approaches the sentry. "There's something I'd like to ask you. A villager nearby was just telling us about you. You're meant to be guarding this place, but you haven't been seen for a few days. And despite the presence of sentries, his sister was crippled by a beast. My little sister believes that you have a good reason to be missing from your post, but what exactly have you been up to all this time?"
He scoffs. "Why should I tell you? You're planning to tattle to the ACTF brass? I've got no obligation to talk to you, girlie!"
Eydis sighs, looks at me, then back at the man. "Allow me to rephrase my question. There's no one else here, anyway. My name is Eydis Synthesis Ten. I am an Integrity Knight. Surely you don't intend to lie or refuse to answer an Integrity Knight? Because if so, I'll have to consider your punishment."
Oh, that drives the fear of god in him. "W-Wait a moment, merciful Knight! Just let me explain! I certainly wasn't neglecting my duties. To protect the Head Sentry's lands, I was always patrolling when I was on duty."
"Then why were so many beasts left to roam. You could have asked the ACTF for help."
"I… I didn't disobey any direct orders…"
"Is it because the villagers' lives meant nothing to you? They weren't worth saving?"
"M-Merciful Integrity Knight! Please...forgive me! I obeyed orders!"
Satisfied, Eydis steps away from the man to my side. "I won't punish you. I'll simply assign someone else to protect this area. You'll go back to the knight's base in the empire. That seems better suited to you… Jaymes, I'll go report to the village. Can you report to the head knight? I'm alarmed to find a sentry acting like this. I hope there aren't any others. We'll meet back at camp."
"Sure thing. Leave it to us two."
"Mhm… And Medina, I thank you and your companions for your help. I don't know how I feel about the entire thing, but it's as Jaymes says. Any help is better than none with our task. I hope Alice comes round to it eventually."
"Eydis…"
"Now then, I'll rendezvous with you later. Don't keep us girls waiting."
We watch Eydis leave, yet I have a feeling what just happened really hurt her. "You think she'll be okay?"
"I don't think it's Eydis who won't be okay. Clearly, she got pissed because of how Alice reacted earlier. Of course, she's not the only one...but then again, I wouldn't expect less of most nobles."
"Yeah… Well, let's wrap this up, Medina."
"'Medina'? Wait, that girl from the defective family? Ahahahaha! If it isn't Medina Orthinanos! What's a so-called 'noble' doing out here?" The sentry, after a verbal lashing from Eydis, still has the gals to belittle others?
Medina steels herself and faces the man. "How do you know who I am?"
The man chuckles. "it's been a while, little Medina. You've grown so much I hardly recognized you. Of course, there's no reason I should remember a defect's face anyway."
"You… You were at my father's funeral."
I unconsciously take a protective step in front of Medina. "You know her family?"
"Ah yes. I knew the former head of the Orthinanos family quite well. A pathetic man who made a mistake unbecoming of a noble, and died of it!"
"That's not true! Father died because of all of you!" Medina suddenly drops back and hangs her head. "My...father…" Her guilt of her father's death must have risen, and it shows as she drops to her knees. The girl wayfarer we met in the desert rushes up to her in concern while I kneel.
Meanwhile, the sentry scoffs in disgust. "Why is this defect traveling with an Integrity Knight in the first place? I simply can't fathom it."
The girl looks up to the sentry. "Please don't treat our savior that way!"
"What? This brat? You're calling this DEFECT your 'savior?'"
Some of the male wayfarers steps up. "I'm sorry, but if you keep speaking that way about our savior."
"We won't just stand idly by!"
"Ah, so you're that group of Lost Children of Vecta I've heard rumors about. That defect is awfully bold to call herself a leader, even of other defects like you-Arrrgh!" The man freezes up as a flaming arrow lingers just a hair away from his face. But it's not the arrow that seems to frighten him, but my own eyes.
"If you say one more word, there is no Imperial Law or anything in the Taboo Index that will save you from burning alive from the inside out." I never make it through with my threat as I feel Medina's gloved hand in mine. She rises and, after a slight jump, nods at me. Taking a deep breath, I call off the arrow and step away from her and the wayfarers to cool off.
"Say whatever you please about me, but I won't have you speak that way about them."
"O-Of course an Orthinanos would find people like these since nobles won't join them. And then you have that demon over there who dares threatens a noble! I don't know how you've tricked them, but no one would freely follow a defect!"
"Freely..."
I intervene from the distance. "Medina, wayfarers, let's leave this jackass alone. The others are waiting." Medina nods and comes along, the girl taking her hand and the other wayfarers following behind. I give the man another threatening glare before I turn my back on him.
We decide to make camp on the road since it had gotten late. Medina suggested letting the wayfarers take watch, but I offered to take the first watch myself and let the wayfarers handle the rest. There was no opposition save for Alice, who offered to join me on watch. I didn't decline her.
"Here." I hand her a bowl as I take a seat beside her. "I managed to convince Liena to let me and you have some leftovers later. I must admit, Ronie and Tiese are gonna make a man happy one day with their cooking."
"Seems they already have."
"Hmm, true… Are you okay, Alice?"
"Huh?"
"it's just...you seem a little down...and this is the first time I've seen you without your armor. Wait, that came out wrong...but it's true."
Alice's cheeks burn and she turns away. "You're seen Eydis many times in her clothes, what is so shocking about me?"
I chuckle lightly. "Well… You're...more reserved than Eydis if you haven't noticed."
"Hmph… I'm fine. It's nothing. But I heard an odd rumor in the village of a strange girl appearing nearby."
"Strange? Like, a stranger?"
"In such a small village, the people tend to know every person who lives there."
"So if they don't know this girl, then she must have come from elsewhere." I doubt my prediction, but could it be Asuna has finally entered the Underworld? It doesn't seem we're dealing with a Lost Child.
"Right. I think we should look for her. Um...they also told me an old legend. 150 years ago, a witch came to this empire and stole away all the 'good children.'"
"Is that what the legend said? About the northern empire?"
"Yes. But they seem to see it as a fairy tale. They don't know if it's true. There's more to the tale. The witch was struck down by a holy sword of the empire. The children returned, but with their good hearts stolen, and they were like dolls."
"Kidnapping is forbidden by the Taboo Index, isn't it? I don't see that happening here."
Alice nods. "Even so, you cannot entirely eliminate the possibility."
"Fair enough."
Things might look peachy for our heroes, but trouble brews in the north, both externally and internally.
If you've played the game, you probably know what I speak of regarding what's coming up for internal trouble. And you probably sided with either Alice or Medina (forget how scripted Kirito is) on that argument. Personally, I sided with Medina, but after writing the upcoming chapters, I realize Alice did have a point. Just at the time I was playing... I didn't see it.
The next arc of this story begins... See you guys next week in the next one!
