Mildea Plains, Wesdarath

Medina continues to be silent as we enter the Wesdarath region on horseback. Since it's just us two, I thought she'd eventually open up to conversation, yet her downing mood persists. I may have a right to say something, but for once I decide to let her handle her own demons. As long as she can help me, I'll let her be.

We arrive at the Mildea Lighthouse around noon, making good time on our mission. I drop to the ground and walk over to the lone man looking at crates and barrels. "Sir, is something the matter?"

"Yes," he says as he turns to us. "Water pollution killed off all the fish, which is pretty damn inconvenient. The sentries won't do anything about it, since they say their job is to watch."

"Well, we're with the ACTF, and I am certain I know the source of this issue. Tell me, have you seen a weird plant appear somewhere close to the water?"

"Now that you mention it… I saw something like that on an island a bit far from here, to the northwest."

"Perfect. We'll be done in a jiffy." I walk back to my horse and out over the land. North of the lighthouse, the land slopes down to the sea. There are a few visible islands, but I cannot visualize the purple streaks that mark the presence of a Clamp. "Cool, let's go check out that island for our Clamp.

"Very well," Medina says almost nonchalantly as we ride off, yet a bit of her current mood seeps into her voice.

I wish I wasn't concerned, but old instincts are hard to keep down. "You okay, Medina?"

She nods, if only to brush past the subject. "I'm fine. I will execute my duty as a member of the ACTF. Nonetheless, I am defective, and the task force would be no worse off without me."

I swear to the god of my world I must be cursed to deal with Kurehas forever. "What do you mean by that? You're a HUGE help and...well, everyone in our group loves having you with us."

"If you truly think so, then why… Apologies. Let's keep moving."


We're forced to fly across the islands, and once we come to the correct one, we eliminate the Clamp and the monsters that come with it. The fisherman was happy to know the problem was solved, so with our task in Wesdarath (for now), Medina and I ride back to Centoria. "I hope we get a few days' rest out of this. Bercouli must be mad to send us back out after we just returned… Medina?"

"Y-Yeah… Sorry, I was lost in thought for a moment."

"You okay?"

"Yeah, it's nothing."

I don't know what I did back home, but I swear Momiji is here to haunt me in a new form. Clearly there's something wrong, and I believe I know what it is, so why can't she just tell me. And I did promise to explain it once we got back. "Medina… Let's talk about what Kirito did."

She shakes her head. "You don't have to say anything for him. And no, I don't want to hear the first-hand account either."

"But shouldn't we talk about it?"

"It wasn't exactly something that needed to be discussed with students, correct? I didn't have the right to that information. Maybe someday I'll earn it."

I sigh. "You know that's not why we didn't say anything…"

"So you don't need to do me any favors, or let me in on any privileged information. I'll keep working hard in the ACTF until I'm important enough to know those things."

I bite my lip in frustration, but decide to let things be her way. "Okay. I understand, Medina. But know this…"

"We should hurry back." Medina once again speeds off, leaving me to rub my forehead. What have I done in life to be forced to deal with difficult women? Doesn't Kazuto deserve this more than me? I got enough on my plate with Rika being a confusing person, Asuna and Suguha expecting me to help Kazuto, I don't need a repeat of GGO and Momiji...and now I wonder how Momiji is doing. I spoke to her last night, right after I talked to Asuna...


"It was just a moment at the time," Kureha says as she stares out the apartment window towards the night-time Glocken. "Nothing came out of it, and we agreed to stay friends. I say it's for the best."

I nod. "Yeah. Although you haven't made it easy."

"Hey, I'm cute, so why not flaunt what I have? Anyway, Sinon is right, but what is truly weighing your mind is not me and Rika, but your past and present. You know what I mean… The big question."

I sigh and face the window. "The girl who lives or the one who is dead…maybe we should forget what we decided between us. Much easier to live with."

Kureha chuckles and stands up. "Yes, but you don't get an easy life, but the choice of champions. Now you're interrupting my sleep time. I have girls' time with Nijika and Sanya tomorrow."

"Sanya? When did you two become friends...and why do I fear that?"

"Hehe, whenever there's an opportunity to bad-mouth you, I like being there...


Medina

"Good work today, Medina. Thanks for having my back."

Medina nods as Jaymes leads their horses back to the stablehand at the gate. "Jaymes?"

"Hm?"

"...Never mind."

"Medina, if you got something to say, just say it. Nothing has stopped you before."

"Sorry."

He turns around, a had on his waist. "I'm not mad at you, Medina, I'm just concerned now. What is wrong, Medina?"

She shakes her head. "I'm so sorry."

"Why are you apologizing to me? I swear, your quirkiness is all over the place today."

She looks up at him and glares. "Hold on! Just how am I supposed to act, then?"

"This is much better," he points out.

"Y-You think this is normal? Your RUDENESS knows no bounds!"

He smirks and points to her. "And that's how I prefer it. Fine, sorry. It's just, you've been acting weird ever since we got back this morning. You acting all depressed is not you, okay? That's all."

She drops her gaze. "And what IS like me? Jaymes, what am I to--"

"Jaymes, Medina, welcome back!" Eydis suddenly appears, with Alice in tow. The senior knight nearly rams into Jaymes as her happy tone switches instantly. "What took you so long!"

"Nothing, we were just out longer than expected."

"Hmph!"

Alice shakes her head at her more animated friend and faces me. "The Knight Commander has a matter he would like us to investigate. Please come. You as well, Medina."

Jaymes groans. "I'm going to shove Falchion up his… Fine. We'll be there."

As Alice steps away, Eydis grabs his arm and begins to pull on him. "C'mon, c'mon, c'mon! The quicker we get done with this, the quicker we can go eat!"

"Hey, don't rip my arm off!"

"Is there always someone by the invader's side? Someone whose counsel and whose sword he values above all?" Medina looks at the interaction between Jaymes and Eydis, and once Hersyrian's words replay in her head, she sees exactly what he means. Ever since she's known them, Eydis and Jaymes have been thick as thieves. Whenever she's not doting on Alice, Eydis can be found training with Jaymes, conversing with Jaymes, and, as currently planned, eating with him. When plans are made, he seems to value hers a lot, and when there's a task to be done, she's there. Eydis… She's Jaymes' partner.

"Eydis, Jaymes, I'm not feeling well, so forgive my absence from the meeting."

Eydis stops tugging on Jaymes and faces Medina. "Really? Very well, I can brief you later on."

"If you weren't feeling well, you could have said that earlier," Jaymes says. "I would have let you rest and asked Eydis to join me."

There it is. "It's nothing major. Just a headache."


Jaymes

As I watch Medina walk away, I feel as if she's deflecting her true feelings for a headache. Sighing, I turn to Eydis. "Give me a minute?"

She nods. "Go on. I'll wait for you."

Happy Eydis understands, I chase after Medina. She's halfway down the street before she hears me call her name and pauses, allowing me to catch up. "What is it?"

"I'm not Kirito, I'm not that dense to know you're 'just not feeling well'. And even if that's true, if you have something, just say it."

She sighs. "Well, there is one thing. I want you to answer my question."

"Which is?"

"If you had to choose between your own feelings and what's important to you, which would you choose?"

I ponder on it. Usually, what I feel lines up with what I believe is important either exactly or to some degree, but have they ever opposed each other… Yes. In Sword Art, many times my feelings and what I feel is important have differed. What was important was the safety of Koharu above all else, yet my feelings knew I couldn't draw her away from the front lines. I couldn't fight back against the PKer on the twentieth floor if it meant she, Sanya, and Liten lived, even though I felt I could take him. And when I finally lost her, despite all I was feeling, I knew it was important I beat SAO for her. Not many times in future games did those two dispute each other, but if I had to choose… "What's important to me is always my choice."

"Why is that?"

"Because someone important once told me to protect others, no matter how I've felt. So I've done that. Besides, that's why I'm here. Kirito is important to me. I owe him and the one he loves more than I could ever repay. And many times… I've put emotions behind my actions, and done things I may not have done if…"

"Her, the one important to you?"

I nod. "Yes. I've taken lives, almost did it to someone I consider a friend. I never want to delve into that side of me ever again, but if I must do so to protect what's important to me, I will. So the best way to do that is to keep everyone around me safe."

"How heroic of you," Medina sarcastically comments. "It's embarrassing to listen to, and… I can hardly stand it."

I scoff. "I agree, but you're the one who asked."

"You can't possibly protect 'everyone' and why do you even believe you can?"

"You confuse me for a black swordsman. I know I directly can't protect everyone and I will never try to. I learned that with Ronie and Tiese, that the best way to protect them is to make sure they can protect themselves. An old lesson I've long forgotten. In that way, indirectly, I can save everyone."

"My word… You sound like some hero from a children's picture book, Jaymes."

"Coming from you, that sounds insulting. Does that answer your question, Medina?"

"Yes, it does. I've decided to protect what's important to me too."

I nod. "Good. Just don't push yourself over the edge doing so, else I'll have to come grab you."

"There's that meddlin again. I thought you said you were better than Kirito."

"I believe I said I'm just a little different, not that I am not a meddler. I just know when to meddle."

"...I can't stand you. Don't keep Eydis waiting, or you may lose an arm."

I nod and begin to turn away. "I'll make sure Eydis briefs you later. Hopefully it is nothing we have to leave immediately for, and if so… I believe I owe you a spar? I wonder how nine generations of Orthinanos skill have developed."

"...My headache is getting worse just talking to you. I'm going now."

"Alright then. See you later, Medina."

"...Farewell, Jaymes."