The next day
"This is the place. Looks like the intel was spot on." Sortiliena drops off her horse and eyes the nearby forest "Sure you want me to fight alongside you? I wouldn't want to embarrass you while no one else is here."
I scoff and tap a recharged Falchion. "Many women have tried besting me, only one succeeded. So probability is not on your side. Let's get rid of these beasts, and then take our time gathering information."
"You're worried about Medina, aren't you?"
I nod. "Not physically, she has her skills and the wayfarers, but mentally…"
"What happened the other day?"
"As far as I know, I'm the last person she spoke to. I was worried since she hasn't been herself that entire day, but what really threw me off was a question she asked. If I had to choose between my feelings and what's important, what would I choose?"
Sortiliena turns away and we walk into the forest. "You choose importance, didn't you?"
"You say it as if you know me well."
"No, I just know enough to make a conclusion. For example, I know you didn't prefer me as your partner, but not because of my skills, but because your adopted apprentices are probably enjoying a nice conversation of our budding romance. If you were to choose, you'd pick Tiese over Ronie, and that's because you secretly favor Tiese. I think it's her in general, not anything specific, that draws you to her."
Oddly enough, she's not far off on my preference for Tiese, but it's totally due to her looks. She just reminds me of Nijika, that's all. As for the other thing. "Budding romance… Nah, your sword is bigger than mine." Sortiliena looks at me and bursts out laughing. I try to maintain my composure, but her laugh is infectious.
"That is the worst rejection I've ever heard."
"That was horrible, I must admit. Hmm, maybe I should take you out once. Give them something to really talk about."
Sortiliena nods. "It's a date then. But back on the main topic. Now that some time has passed, let's revisit an old topic. What do you think about Medina and the wayfarers? About how she overwrites the feelings of those people with her 'touch.'"
"Hmm… Like I previously said, I'm not against her doing so. It saved us big time at Rulid. I understand Alice's position, but I support the use of wayfarers whenever possible, even if we can take care of things ourselves. But...without a doubt, the wayfarers were saved. We need manpower to save the world now...and for what is to come."
"For what is to come? What do you mean?"
"...One day, Liena, the Eastern Gate will open, and the Human Realm will fight the Dark Territory. The Integrity Knights know of this from Kirito and I, so Bercouli is focusing on the ACTF's goal now while building up a large enough force for the future. I can tell you this, as things stand now, the enemy would win. Sure, things could change, but something tells me the Dark Territory will be more than prepared to destroy us, especially once they learn the Pontifex is dead. Not even my power could weigh the scale in our favor."
"Sure you don't have any secret power inside of you?"
I shake my head. "No, my Incarnation that allows me to summon the Sacred Arts anywhere despite Sacred Power conditions is limited by my physical stamina. And now I realize my ability to summon arts without saying a word is not all too special, Eydis and Alice proved me wrong yesterday, Eydis just let me think it was still an amazing feat after three hundred years. My Perfect Weapon Control is the far extent of my power, but I rather not use it since my sword's great power comes from the seven stones. I haven't even used its Memory Release power either. And if I do have any other power… I've never used it before."
"Well, if we can't depend on power, we'll need numbers. That's not going well. At least the wayfarers can defend themselves, taking out much needed time for training. I think we both agree that forcing them to fight is not the best option, but maybe if we got them to help us of their own will, even if Medina leads them still… Sorry, I was just rambling."
I shake my head. "No, you have a good idea. I mean, if Kirito put a mordicum of faith in you, I would be foolish to ignore it. And your counsel has been good so far."
Sortiliena smirks and faces me. "Oh, so you do listen to me? I just thought you did whatever I said to shut me up."
"And if only it worked…"
"Hello, Liena."
"Hello, Jaymes."
I swear I have my own Linel and Fizel. I wave to Ronie and Tiese as we approach them at the rendezvous point. "Any luck?"
"No, no one knows a thing."
"Same for us," Sortiliena says. "Well, we did our best. Let's head back."
Ronie nods and then faces me. "So is that all? Nothing special you want to share with your concerned students?"
Tiese nods. "We were worried about you two the entire time."
The lies these two tell. I turn to Sortiliena winking and then facing ahead. "No, nothing happened. Just planned a date, that's all."
Sortiliena nods. "Apparently Jaymes wants to take me to the most expensive restaurant in North Centoria."
"Really? I told you Tiese! You said it would never happen."
"I-I just thought he'd finally choose Eydis, that's all." Yeah… I rather not think about Eydis like that for a while. The other night is still fresh in my mind.
Alice
"Sheyta, if you could wait a moment, please."
Integrity Knight Sheyta Synthesis Twelve nods as she sheathes her rapier. The pair had just finished eliminating a Clamp and the beasts around it. "Very well. What is it?"
Alice takes a breath. "I want to ask you about something you said earlier."
"About the Pontifex?"
"Yes. Do you still believe in the Pontifex, Sheyta?"
"It's not that. The commander told me what Lady Pontifex was doing. I didn't see it myself so I can't say for sure, but I trust the commander. I just can't see the Pontifex as pure evil, that's all."
"Why is that?"
Sheytal looks down at her rapier, the Black Lily Sword. "The Pontifex took lillies from the Dark Territory to make this sword for me. And to me, this sword is an irreplaceable companion."
Alice looks down at her own sword. "It is true the Pontifex bestowed incredible treasures on us, but…"
"Lady Pontifex once said to me, 'This sword is the incarnation of the curse written in your soul. Your curse, the killer impulse born of a fluctuation in variable hereditary trait values. Cut all you like. At the end of that bloody road you'll find the key...or not.' It was very like her. Cruel and and cold, but with the faintest trace of kindness. I've lived my life pondering the meaning of those words. Good intentions or not, I know there are things the Pontifex gave me. I think, if the Pontifex was resurrected, there's something I'd like to ask her. Why did she say those things to me? After the crimes I committed, why did she let me sleep just as I wished to?"
"Alice, this Osmanthus Sword will now be yours."
"Thank you. I am honored. But why grant this blade to me, Lady Pontifex?"
"It was made from the world's oldest olive tree, a plant said to be imperishable."
"An imperishable tree… Meaning no one could cut it down?"
"Yes, if you trust the stories. So, Alice, do you think you can trust this blade?"
Empty words, simply giving her knightly puppets weapons of the highest priority, Alice believes. The Pontifex felt nothing for them or for anything. Yet Sheyta believes otherwise. "If the Pontifex were to reappear, is there any chance you would take her side?"
"I don't know. I have no way to know now what I'd really want if that happened. I'm sure it's the same for all the Integrity Knights too, not just me. For now, though, my allegiance is to the ACTF, and I obey the Commander. I'm going to the Western Ravine now. You can head on back now… Are you concerned about Eydis, Alice?"
Sheyta cut right through the core of the conversation. Alice has hidden it well, but ever since their disagreement in Norlangarth and the Seal of the Right Eye appearing for a moment on Eydis, she's worried for his elder. Being with Jaymes will eventually bring them against the Pontifex, and if Eydis can't overcome her will… "I am."
Despite my original plan to leave for Wesdarath after two days, the group agreed that it was better to wait than to search for Medina blind. Another few days passed before anything substantial came up, and thankfully it involved Wesdarath.
Fanatio approaches the meeting table and delivers her news. "I've received reports of unusual events in Wesdarath in addition to the beasts. There's reports of lightning strikes."
"Lightning, Fanatio?" Eydis scoffs. "Aww, is the pretty lady scared of little flashes in the sky?"
Fanatio frowns at Eydis while addressing us. "Apparently they're not ordinary lightning strikes. Countless strikes occure repeatedly within a single area, making passage impossible."
"So it's just continuous lightning," Ronie asks. "That's definitely some unusual weather."
I shake my head. "That's not even weather, but more like a natural disaster. Has anything like this happened before?"
"It's the first time I've heard of anything like it," Bercouli says.
"The part that it's confined to a single place is interesting too," Tiese says. "Natural disaster doesn't feel like a correct fit for it either."
"Where are they occuring in Wesdarath?"
"The lightning is preventing entrance into the Western Ravine."
"That's in the End Mountains, the westernmost part of Wesdarath, then."
"Sheyta." Alice looks at Bercouli, her face filled with worry. "The last time I worked with her, she told me she was going to the ravine."
"Five." Eydis turns to me, her previous jesting with Fanatio replaced by her serious attitude. "Medina, beasts and Clamps, Hersyrian, hooded man, and now Sheyta. Three of those directly correlate based on prior experience. Eldrie was in the same place as the Sothercrois Clamp Core, Deusolbert with Norlangarth's… The lightning can't be natural to any degree either."
I follow her deduction. "Giants, royal kidnappings...the Wesdarath Clamp Core must be responsible for the lightning. But how?" I turn to Bercouli. "I'll take my team and investigate this. As much as I would like to find Medina, this takes priority. I bet we might run into her."
"Wait, we're coming too!" Fizel and Linel appear from out of thin air and look over the table at me.
"Please bring us with you!"
"Haven't you two had enough yet," Deusolbert scolds.
Fizel laughs. "We won't mess up this time, and we won't move a hair out of line, okay? So Jaymes, pleeeeeeeease?"
"Pleeeeeeeease? Do you not trust us?"
I look to the big red softie known as Deusolbert, who looks relentive. Oh great… "Fine, you two can come. But you are in Eydis's charge, okay?"
"Huh?"
"Woohoo! Thank you!"
"It's our chance to redeem ourselves."
"Uh huh." I ward off Eydis' nasty look and turn to the commander. "Anything else?"
"Actually, if you're taking more members... Renly. Take him with you."
Another Integrity Knight? Cool with--"Wait, Renly's a he?"
Alice looks to the commander. "Are you sure, Commander? Renly is...himself."
Eydis nods. "Yeah, why bring him? We'd do better bring that annoyance with a whip over there than Sir Scaredy."
"Which is why I want him with you. Jaymes, maybe you can...help him."
I sigh. "All right, more manpower is fine with me. Where is he?"
"Heh, that's for you to go and find out." Oh, I have a bad feeling this trip is going to be the near-death of me...
Not going to lie, I thought Renly was a girl who just looked boyish, plus he has a similar hairstyle to Shino. So I was a little shocked Renly is a he.
Anyway, as of last weekend, the story is completely written. Still making modifications, but the end is complete. Did write a little of the War of Underworld story, which I am ready to start.
