Chapter 11

Tap tap tap. The rhythmic sound of the pestle pressing down into the mortar was the only sound in the room. It had taken a long time to get back here, but it was a necessary choice. Horunka Village held nothing further and so long as she was there he could not stay. Not after what he did to her. So, he did the only thing he had been good at doing for the past month since being trapped within SAO. He ran, and hid.

Tap tap tap. He was back in the familiar room he had rented for so long in the Town of Beginnings. The room where he was safe from everything outside. He removed the pestle and tipped the contents of the mortar into a glass bottle filled with clear liquid. After setting the mortar down he lifted the bottle and shook it gently to let the ground materials absorb into the liquid. Mixing was always so relaxing, and never ceased to calm the nerves.

Jayce stared into the liquid spinning inside the bottle. It swirled around the edges leaving a slight red tint. With the supply of Amberthorn he could make more of these potions and sell them to players. With that money he wouldn't have to leave this room. He could remain here for a very long time depending on the profits. With his current level and equipment there was a good chance that he could also fight the kobold camps alone and find more Amberthorn. He would never have to see Jemza again if he waited long enough. The shame and embarrassment he felt could be avoided forever.

"Rah!" The bottle sailed across the room shattering against the wall. Jayce clenched his fists and slammed them down on the table lowering his head. He breathed heavily unable to calm himself. Even Mixing wasn't enough to take his mind off of things. He opened his hands that were no longer covered in black leather gloves and he looked over his palms noticing them shake considerably. Only a few hours ago those hands attacked Jemza, throwing her against a wall and pinning her there.

His face sunk down until it fell into the palms of his hands. He shoulders shook as he wept into them. He could never ask her for forgiveness after what he did. No, it was better to remain alone in this town where he could avoid hurting anyone else. This was how things were meant to be for him. The loneliness was something he could deal with. Jemza was a beautiful woman who was plenty skilled to handle herself. She could find plenty of other people to party with. She was reliable, honest, and helpful. An asset to any group that was lucky enough to meet her.

Or take advantage of her. What if she met some other person late at night and asked for his help? Would he be trustworthy and help her innocently, or would he harm her? Now that she wasn't beside him would she be safe? He left her alone in Horunka Village before she could say anything. Chances are she was still there, but come the morning light there was no telling where she would go next. The next person she meets could be deserving of being beside her and stay by her side until this infernal game was beaten.

Jayce put a hand over his chest feeling it tighten. Was this a feeling of jealousy? If it was, then why was it worming its way into his mind right now? Jemza was better off away from him wasn't she? He was doing her a favor by cutting their ties early on. This way she would never be disappointed. Yet, if this was all for the better, then why was he feeling an immense amount of regret?

He pushed himself back away from the desk and stood. He fell atop the bed and forced his eyes closed trying to force sleep to come. No matter how hard he tried to forget, the moment his eyes closed he saw her face and how upset she looked when he ran. The best thing he could hope for now was that these thoughts would disappear eventually. For now, however, he would have to fight to fall asleep.

December 4th 2022

Jayce's eyes blinked a few times against the sunlight streaming through the window onto the bed. He was still in his leather armor and sword belted to his hip. The clock on the edge of his vision indicated it was already late into the morning. A series of banging sounds echoed in the room coming from the door. Instantly, his blood ran cold as he could only imagine who it was outside his door.

He slowly crawled off the bed and made his way to the door which continued to bang every so often. There was no possible way Jemza could have known that he stayed here. How could she have found him so easily? What would he even say to her once he opened to door and was face to face with her? With a shaking hand he reached out and pulled the handle letting the door swing inwardly.

"You…why is it always you?" It was a mixture of relief as well as frustration that came out in the tone of his voice.

"Oi! Morning Alchemist!" Auburn curls and a brown cloak whisked past him into his room without any further words. He stood shaking his head before shoving the door shut angrily.

"Don't call me that." He looked over his shoulder at the girl who nimbly hopped onto the bed and stretched her arms up high.

"No? I was quite sure that you are in fact an alchemist though." The last word came out higher pitched than the rest of the sentence. The mouth equally curled upward into a grin as she stared back at him.

"What do you want Argo? I'm sure you're a busy woman with little time to visit someone like me." Her smile never left her lips, even in the face of his growing irritation.

"Is it truly such a bother that I visit my friends from time to time?" It wasn't on purpose, but his lip twitched. This girl was one of the most frustrating people to talk to, and yet she was essential.

"I paid for information from you about a quest, nothing more. We aren't friends." Her head lowered to a point where the hood of her cloak shadowed her face leaving little visible except for her teeth still displayed widely. In the few times he'd seen Argo this was the first time she looked dangerous.

"Nyahaha! You hurt me Alchemist!" The aggressive look she had was gone as quickly as it had appeared. She threw herself back cackling and kicking her feet.

"I didn't contact you so why are you here? How did you even find me?" Jayce asked angrily now that his patience had worn thin. The laughing stopped and she kicked her feet once more bringing her body upright.

"The Town of Beginnings is the place to be right now. It is merely coincidence that you happen to also be here. As for how I found you, it's like I said earlier…I enjoy visiting my friends." Her voice was amused, but the smile wasn't plastered over her face this time.

"There's somewhere around eight thousand players on this floor. I'm sure you have much more interesting friends you could be spending the day with." Jayce grabbed the chair near the desk and spun it around roughly until it was facing her.

"True, but they are busy right now. At least for a few hours longer." Argo responded, the painted whiskers on her cheeks twitching slightly.

"Hmm, well I have no intention of entertaining you for that long. I'm not interested in anything you have to offer right now, so please, leave." This feeling was nearly as bad as how it felt when he ran out on Jemza. Not that Argo and him were any closer to one another than Jemza, but she was still the only other person he had really spoken to. The Rat was simply someone he could trust when he needed information about the game. He paid, and she supplied. A simple arrangement, but effective. Now, he was trying to kick her aside out of frustration.

"We both know that's not true. You see, I'm not interested in selling right now." The girl rolled over until she was on her stomach resting her chin on her hands. Jayce looked around nervously feeling as if he were being watched. When he looked back at Argo her eyes were locked onto his.

"Then what is it?" He answered feeling more and more on edge the longer he stared into her eyes. It wasn't like with Jemza where her eyes added to her overall beauty. Argo's were like probes. They seemed to bore into him tearing anything she wanted free. Although she was a small, petite girl, there was more to Argo the Rat than her frame showed.

"I like you Alchemist. I want to know more about you." Perhaps Argo had spoken to Jemza last night? If she told Argo about his breakdown, then it would be something she could learn and therefor sell. She wasn't here to tell him she liked him romantically or anything even remotely close. No, she was here for her favorite thing in all of Aincrad. Information.

"It's rude to ask about someone's personal life Argo. I'm sure you know this." Once more her lips shifted upward into a smile.

"That's why I'm not asking. We're just two friends spending a lovely morning together." This wasn't right. Argo wrote the strategy guide for the entire floor. That alone had to have taken her days to accomplish. On top of that she also seemed to be involved in every facet of the player base of SAO. She wouldn't waste precious time like this. She was waiting for something.

"Something is about to happen here isn't it? What's going on Argo?" Jayce asked her, forgetting his irritation and now becoming more and more curious as to why she was here. One foot after the other she alternated lifting and lowering her legs on the bed as she tilted her head slightly.

"Are you asking for information from me Alchemist?" Her teeth became visible as he slowly fell into her web. It was too late to back out now so he gritted his teeth and continued.

"Yes, what's happening out there?" She stroked her chin with her dexterous fingers before snapping them once. She looked like she had just been hit by a stroke of genius.

"Aha! I've got it! As I said we're just two friends chatting away so I have no issues discussing things with you. The polite thing though would be to maybe throw me a crumb in return. A small, insignificant little morsel?" She pinched her thumb and index finger together, her eyes never leaving his.

"Dare I ask what morsel it is you are looking for?" She rolled once to her back and flung herself forward off the bed landing on her feet directly in front of him. Jayce swallowed as she reached out adjusting the hood of his cloak bringing her face closer to his.

"Who did you kill?" Her eyes seemed to flash once and her voice lowered from the nasally tone she usually had down to a deeper whisper. This close to Argo's face was the most intense pressure Jayce had felt. Not because of inappropriate thoughts for the girl staring into his eyes a few inches away, but because only now did he realize just how frightening Argo could be.

An hour later the girl hopped off the bed once more and began walking towards the door. She stopped just before reaching out for the handle and turned back towards him. Her smile had vanished about 45 minutes ago and never returned. Something else was on etched on her face, but Jayce wasn't quite sure how to define it. She gave a quick nod and waved her hand once.

"It won't be long now. Keep an eye on the portal in the square. When it opens, I suspect we won't speak to one another for some time. I will have a lot of work ahead of me." She said.

"Be careful." An odd phrase to say to her, but it was exactly what came out of his mouth. A simple goodbye would have sufficed, so why did he say something that indicated he was concerned with her safety?

"Always." She answered reaching out and grabbing the handle. She stopped and turned once more quickly. "Oh, and I've decided that this was between us. I won't tell anyone, regardless the cost. Coming from me, you should know how much that means."

"Right, thanks." He answered. She nodded once more and opened the door.

"Then goodbye Alchemist. I am very certain we will meet again."

"You're a beta tester…aren't you?" Argo stepped out into the hall of the inn and looked back over her shoulder. A small smile crossed her face.

"That my friend, is also something I will never sell." The door closed leaving him to smirk in response. He looked down at the system window opened to a menu he had never used until now. Up until a few minutes ago this window had been completely blank. He looked up at the name of the window and shook his head with a laugh.

"That girl really is a crook." He said closing the Friends tab where the sole name of Argo was listed.