The views and ideas discussed are not representative of the author's viewpoints on such topics.
Floor 22
Coral Outskirts
The Guild Master's guidance lights our path.
Many fear the darkness, because of what may lurk in the shadows. The unknown drives countless to dismay and hatred. A bitterness which only escalates by malice, either via respectable motives or for personal achievement, to despicable acts. An abyssal maze without an exit. One can live alongside the twilight or attempt fighting in vain against it before becoming consumed entirely by tyrannical isolation. This unrelenting dusk was the consequence of those who glanced into the barren yellow eyes of Latro. Especially of a girl dressed entirely in green who raspily knocked upon the wooden front door.
Past the vast coniferous forests and beside an immense lake, sat a log cabin. While others existed just like it, none could compare with their view: the sparkling lake beneath glistening in the lethargic morning Sun, mountains huddling together around grand grey support columns for protection against the ocean of green, and a modestly sized hamlet sunbathing under gentle warm winds. Other players dreamt endlessly to stay in such a place, to get away from the hardships of their current situation, only to be reminded of the horror they lived in once they walked past the cabin.
The morning Sun marched higher into the blue sky. Cotton-like clouds blindly followed the guiding light. Shadows shortened, retreating into the undergrowth. A dirt path led to the cabin from within the thick forest. It was quite the detour. Purposely confusing? Perhaps. The Justice Division was never known for keeping their motives or reasoning to the point. Where many thought they stood when beside the Division would rapidly find themselves a part of a mystery wrapped within a bleak blanket of a heartless enigma. Now, a player named 'Lux' risked glaring into the endless riddles without knowing the grisy consequences.
"H-hello," Lux nervously began, struggling not to look into Latro's hollow eyes, "I'm here to meet 'Chieftain', is he in?"
Latro did not respond. He remained entirely still like a waxwork, lifelike yet lacking a soul behind his endless stares. Even as gusts came and went with regular intervals, his loose grey cloak and placid blond hair remained perfectly still.
"I-I can come back later if he is not in."
Still silence. She got no reply. No voice confirming or denying anything, no hand gesture, not even a hint. Only the yellow eyes beckoning blankly back at her.
"Ah Lux, not a moment too soon."
A voice from within the cottage. It came closer with each word. From behind Latro, stood a man entirely dressed in black. His clothing blended all together, their boundaries lost in darkness. His voice cut through the muffled air that clogged up the area like a meat cleaver through fresh flesh. Every alarm bell rang inside Lux's mind. She shouldn't be standing here. She should be far away. She should not look back. Only her chains to Laughing Coffin kept her standing here.
Latro turned to face the man, pointing at Lux with his left thumb callously before vanishing into the cottage, leaving the two at the door.
"I must apologise, Latro is not one for talking." Chieftain spoke attentively, his hollow brown eyes pursuing Latro back inside. "I sincerely hope he did not keep you waiting long."
"No, n-not long at all!"
"Excellent. Now, we have business to discuss. Make yourself at home as our guest of honour."
Lux entered the cottage cautiously, as Chieftain thrusted the door shut behind in one swing. She was now a 'guest of honour', whatever that meant when spoken by the Justice Division, especially by Chieftain. It could have been anywhere from a welcome visitor being gifted small treasures, to an inmate in a new confinement meant to extract every last piece of information. Lux optimistically hoped it was the former.
The inside of the single story cottage was split between several rooms, the largest being a hybrid between a lounge and a dining room. Two magenta sofas faced each other over a large circular mat decorated in red, green and white stripes. To their right was the balcony with a view over the lake. To their left, the front door, blending into the walnut brown wall.
"Please… Have a seat," Chieftain gestured towards a sofa beside a low lying wooden table. She did as ordered.
The sofa was surprisingly comfortable. Cushions huddled beneath her, giving their restrained support. Each arm at the edges were of a suitable height to rest an arm on. It all moulded around her. In another room, Lux could hear a woman's voice humming a lullaby of oppressed innocence. A soothing voice with a hint of sharpness. Acute enough to slice the most daring of heroes into pitiful wrecks, drowning in their own guilt, yet soft enough to lure a hero to their imminent demise with lust. While in a different room, opposite side to the mesmerising singing, metal clanged harshly against brick and stone alike in a repeating cycle. The same beats came in a predictable fashion, and left ears crying, trying to escape the noise.
Chieftain sat opposite of Lux, on a sofa nearly identical to the one she sat on. His eyes glared intensely at Latro, freezing him in place. Latro simply stared into space, arms crossed, like a child with a temper. He could not escape Chieftain's eyes, they shackled Latro to the sofa.
'Are these people really members of Laughing Coffin?' Lux mutely questioned. Chieftain, whom she had just met, was somewhat welcoming, externally at least, even if they had a knife behind his back. This was a coin flip from the reticent Latro of course. His eyes pierced far more than any knife could ever dream of. They had… Class? Was 'class' the right word? She was fully aware of what the Justice Division was capable of, the reactions of the other members of Laughing Coffin were sufficient enough. Each member rivalled the rest of the guild combined in bloodlust and capacity for brutal cruelty, yet none showed it while within this cottage. They acted… normal. 'Normal' outwardly, even with the subtle darkness strangling anyone too comfortable nearby them. While the rest of the guild squatted in safe zones among several dungeons, the Justice Division resided in prosperous luxury. Here they could gorge themselves on poached bounties and purged glory, while discussing who would become their next victims. Today was just another day in tainted paradise.
Lux attempted to expel these thoughts. They cluttered up her brain like a traffic jam. Dozens swerved and collided with each other in a circus of chaos and carnage. More thoughts kept adding onto its length. Begone! Away with you! Disappear!
Finally, some clarity. The stream of thoughts and memories began to flow once more. For how long, Lux did not know, but she knew every moment counted. Every moment before another cascade of overwhelming worry blocked the river of thought. She cleared her throat and began.
"So, my report for the last few days: things are getting quite heated on the thirty-fifth floor, I overheard that a raiding party's plan to overthrow a Laughing Coffin friendly guild: Bay's Logistics. They were talking by the inn near to Bay's Logistics' shop. Security was recently beefed up at Mishe as well, not too sure why though… Even if you are a 'green' player, you have to show your arms to prove you aren't Laughing Coffin to enter certain stores."
"How unexpected…" Chieftain pondered, legs crossed. "Such boldness is such a rare find outside a select few among the Frontlines, even more so directed towards Laughing Coffin. Still, it is no coincidence that they scheme now."
"The Army is incompetent and on the brink of civil war." Moirai interjected as she entered the room, placing a cup of Gyokuro green tea upon the table beside Chieftain, "Too many exist in their ranks within their current governing body. Revolts continue to plague the ALF, even with the new restructuring. Its leaders are powerless to what lies right in front of them."
Lux finally saw who was behind the mesmerising yet malevolent carol. Her beauty towered over the rest, standing head and shoulders above all around. With a deceitful smile, she seemingly ignored Lux. Not a single glance was thrown in her direction nor acknowledgement of Lux even existing. In fact, from her current angle, she could barely see the woman's green eyes. She could only see the woman's long black hair, left to flow down her neck like the calmest of rivers empty of anger and anguish, and a malachite green cloak decorated sparsely with golden crosses lining the sleeves. Lux turned back to Chieftain, attempting to mask her temporary curiosity.
"Excellent points Moirai." Chieftain tenderly raised the cup to his mouth, the fragrance drifting upwards in blooms, "And here, some choose to govern themselves, without the central support of the ALF. Though they should act soon, Kibaou's faction only grows stronger by the day, as does their corruption. With time, Thinker shall only reign as a decorative centrepiece. Under their new unofficial leader, the Army's grip over the lower floors will only strengthen and tighten outside the influence of the Frontline Guilds. Even with the size of the guild currently, they would not dare threaten the status quo. Messenger, did the ones involved in the conversation reveal who they are and when they'll strike?"
Lux cleared her throat, shuffling a little. "They didn't say a time from what I heard, just 'they'll never expect us on that day'. Though… I did catch guild name mentioned. They might be involved: the Liberation Squad."
Latro slightly turned his head in an instant. Freezing air gushed into the room, a chill ran up Lux's spine.
"A splinter faction of the Aincrad Liberation Force," Chieftain interjected, suddenly striking as soon as the guild's name left her lips. "Exactly what we need right now… While skilled, their ranks are loose enough to make the Army look like a well organised force. Predictable tactics yet not to be underestimated. They shall strike tomorrow, during the Valentine's Day Celebrations. Security at Bay's will be at its weakest, and the Liberation Force would still be too disorganised to mount any resistance to such a move on their lawn. So, when this group strikes, we will counterattack swiftly and decisively."
"You have a plan, Chief?" Moirai questioned, fully knowing the answer beforehand.
"Knowledge of the reduction of personnel on Valentine's Day for Bay's Logistics is only known by a select few: the inner circle of Laughing Coffin and the guys who run the supplies. The rest of the guild don't care where they get their stuff, as long as they can stab someone with it. So, either we have a detective to fight, or a betrayer to purge. Give me this evening to… Think about it. But, what matters is that we will put ourselves between the Squad and our cargo."
He sipped a mouthful of his tea, gently placing the cup down with a distinctive chime.
"Very well," Morai bowed slightly, swiftly seizing the cup, "I shall rally Garm and begin preparations at once."
With that, she glided out of the room, to a white door. Thuds of metal upon metal still continued like a broken record played by an elderly man stuck in the past, refusing to understand and accept the present. The gifts of new insights, raining upon deaf ears.
This left Chieftain, Latro and Lux in a burdensome silence. None conversed. None tempted the others to debate. None broke the stillness. Chieftain simply thrived off the stillness, retaining the same steadfast composure as before the conversation, as if nothing had happened. Latro kept as quiet as he always was, his fingers twitching and curling spontaneously. This left Lux, awkwardly shuffling minusculely from side to side. Her job was done. She had told the Justice Division everything she knew. Yet she couldn't raise her voice. The lull suffocated Lux. No words could escape her mouth. So, she waited, her eyes wandering from corner to corner of the room.
Finally, Chieftain sliced through the stagnant air with ease and flick of his left wrist.
"You may leave."
Lux flinched. A bitter wind blew vigorously for the briefest of moments, vanishing as rapidly as it began.
"T-thank you!" She leapt to her feet, marginally bowing her head.
"No, thank you for your continuing cooperation. I sincerely hope your enduring loyalty persists for as long as Laughing Coffin exists. More so than those that proceeded before you."
She exited the building, the door tenderly shutting with a distinctive click. Finally, Lux was free. The warmth of the all seeing Sun, the soothing sound of wind blowing through leaves and fields of grass tenderly, the distant muffled voices from the little village by the harmonious lake. Together they greeted her affectionately, whispering tales of relaxation and rejection of responsibility. Yet, Chieftain's final words clung onto her like rusted chains. Words she could not escape. For as long as Laughing Coffin existed, she was their prisoner shackled to enforced oath. Lux had to bide her time until liberation's white light shone brightly and guided her to better times. Whenever that day arrives.
Dusk
Even as the hours ticked by, minutes grinding slowly towards a new day, deep sleep still did not present itself to Chieftain. No matter what he attempted, dreams refused open their grand white gates in defiance. His eyes remained shut, pursuing the darkness he thrived in. A strange yet, to Chieftain, calming place. Somewhere the mind wanders to unknown destinations, mysterious to all. The pitch black dancing in bountiful colours as thoughts forge a new world. Here, he could plan and craft his own destiny. However, the past always forced its way into the limelight. Not what achievements he constructed in sand and blood before Aincrad, but what actions he took while rising through the floors. Those memories paraded without pause once the time for rest came.
It was two months ago. There was no regret. He chose the right path. Accepting the opportunity to become who he always wanted to be was right. Staying with her was wrong. Yet, why did the memories return? Did they raise their fatigued heads simply to spite the present? Was nostalgia forging a path fabricated upon delusions beyond the reach of reason?
Chieftain awoke as his thoughts settled into a vast calm ocean. No ripples spread upon its surface nor did waves lap at lifeless coasts. Everything was simply discomfortingly placid, frozen in time and ignorant of the past once more. Artificial peace at last. A temporary truce between the present and past, until the darkness returns.
He needed some fresh air.
Cottage Balcony
A Few Minutes Later
Stars once again returned to dance in the grand ball upon the darkest of nights. The moon did not conduct the symphony this night, it remained missing from the skies above. Instead, a chaotic orchestra of distant lights flickered from horizon to horizon. Some pointed to patterns telling stories while others gazed upon the night's untamed majesty. Those who were not star gazing were asleep or conducting last minute jobs. The machine that fed the frontline with bountiful resources and recruits, slept once the shops shut their doors to business. Even in the emptiest of floors, like on the twenty second floor, its effects could be felt.
None travelled either. The paths were empty of people wandering to goals as countless as the stars, only the odd small monster trekked among the trees and fields. Leaves and grass rustled in the occasional breath of wind drifting through. Here, tranquillity was as endless as the night sky: seemingly eternal until the day begins anew.
Only one witnessed the night's ageing, contemplating the grandeur his view. Upon a wooden balcony, leaning upon a handrail, Latro simply watched the world go by. His mind still ran amuck, fighting against the need for sleep. Questions roared as memories resurfaced to unleash their immortal fury.
"Can't sleep, Latro?" A voice from behind. It was Chieftain, glass in hand and still dressed in the deepest of blacks.
Latro remained silent, even as he turned his head in Chieftain's direction.
"I shall take that silence has confirmation." Chieftain stood beside Latro, resting a hand upon the handrail. A creak echoed briefly before the quietness of the night returned in earnest. "It is about the Liberation Squad, isn't it?"
In a flash, Latro summoned a blue virtual keyboard. His fingers became a blur, constructing expressions and opinions alike. Then, Chieftain got a personal message.
'Who else than the group who had connections to the day that made who I am today?'
Chieftain could only sigh and pause. The day was fast approaching. The day where the truth would be revealed. No more half-truths or falsified norms. It was only a matter of time after all, even if the truth was harsh and bitter, it had be sung to the world.
A bell chimed distantly.
"Whoever the leader is, we will question him using our usual methods, but only after our job is done. Just keep a close eye and keep notes. Another of the Squad's members may spill some information vital in uncovering the identities of those behind it all."
Again, Latro did not respond initially.
'And what of the side project? That continuing to provide results?'
"The side project has continued, yes. Unfortunately, not much progress has been made recently. I can only apologise. Recent developments and dealings have hampered my search. More patience is required."
Latro only shook his head slightly, refusing eye contact. He merely gazed upon the view presented like an oil painting covering an art gallery's wall. A white butterfly fluttered past in mindless loops as the forest came alive. Golden lights flickered between grand green leaves, always drifting in irregular patterns. Even upon the edges of the lake, the glow radiated strongly. Both Latro and Chieftain glanced at the forest's new heart. While a common sight from their cottage, it never failed to impress the coldest of souls.
Then, he began to type once more, this time slower.
'We are running out of time.
The frontlines continue to press forward, even with our hampering.
Even if we make strides tomorrow, we are still no where near in discovering what happened that day.
And that's if one loose end doesn't become our nooses…
But, as always, I have trust. Trust in you and the rest of JD.
Without you, I wouldn't be standing here…
Standing here with my vow.'
"Yes, your vow of silence… Once we have found the one that gave that information which caused the tragedy all those months ago, and brought your wrath upon them, the vow can then be broken. That was our deal, make sure to uphold it."
'And make sure to uphold your side of the bargain as well.'
Chieftain smiled, one very much unlike the ones he grew a few hours ago. Instead of a bitter air suffocating everyone around him, a warm wind blew softly.
Yet, just before Chieftain spoke once more, another message appeared from Latro. This time a question.
'Why are you up at this hour as well? Troubled dreams?'
Chieftain refused eye contact, instead he glanced briefly between his arms and the scenery laid out before the two of them. The dam of suppressed memories remained vigilant despite the cracks formed at its base. They can be repaired with time. For the time being, he could briefly open the gates and allow a trickle of remembrance to pass through.
"Decisions made in the recent past return stronger with each night," Chieftain stated, his voice empty of emotion. "Nothing to concern you with however. They will pass into forgotten history, as all memories eventually do."
'Instead, you could talk to her. I'm sure she's still alive, leading the guild like before.'
"Indeed… I'm sure the red-haired devil continues to prowl the lower floors and her quest remains the same since day one. Some day, we shall face each other once more. I shall leave that for the day it happens."
Latro marginally nodded, easily missed with a momentary glance.
"Get some rest." Chieftain rested a hand on Latro's left shoulder, taking in a deep breath. "We all need to be at top form for the operation, especially yourself."
Latro nodded, his smile warmer than a summer's day in the Sahara, before returning back inside the cottage. Now, Chieftain stood where Latro was only moments ago. Even now, his presence lingered like a phantom that stared right into the soul. Chieftain didn't care for that, he only strove for results and a promise. A promise he made nearly eleven months ago, remaining just as strong now as back when it was first made:
"Whoever led Latro down this path. He'll pay alright… For everything."
Author's Notes:
Kept you waiting, huh? Yeah, this chapter has been a long time in development due to a lot of reasons. Too many to put here while keeping this AN on the shorter side. I can only apologise, progress will continue at rate unknown. You'll know when my schedule frees up a little. But, I digress, thank you for all of the positive feedback on the first chapter! Without them, the continuation of this fanfiction would not be possible. I can only hope this chapter lives up to the same expectations as the first.
Although, no action scenes just yet, I originally wanted to cover some stuff in the current and the next chapter in one singular chapter, but then it became too big for one chapter (personally). So, it has been split. Hence the amount of talking here. But, here we are.
Finally, I also plan to possibly include a canon character here and there, ones which I hope fit into the story I am attempting to write. Please say which you think who you think may or may not fit into this fic! (and if how I'm presenting them so far is fine or not.)
I'm a part of the SAO fanfiction server, feel free to join to discuss with fellow authors and readers alike! Link (remove spaces): discord .gg /HTauXae2gd
