October 19th, 2024 (Floor 28: Wolf's Den)
"I still can't believe they're making such a big deal out of this," Kirito complained. I glanced out the window, where the wolves were currently circling the house and keeping out a large crowd of info brokers and swordsmen, all trying to get Kirito to talk about his dual wielding skill.
"Hey, I thought it was just going to be our little secret but no, somehow had to go blab it," Lis said with a grin as she walked over, a large box of daggers in her arms. She placed the box on the coffee and I moved over on the couch to make room for her but it was unnecessary, since she seemed perfectly content to fall onto my lap.
"Comfy there?" I asked as she started taking daggers out and examining them one by one.
"Yep. Gotta problem?" she asked with a wink. I wasn't about to be beaten and so, when Kirito had his head turned back to the window, I snaked an arm around Lis's waist and pulled her closer.
"Not one," I whispered in her ear. I loosened my hold and grinned at the younger girl's blush. She scowled at me, swatting my hand away, but I knew she didn't mean it.
"Asuna?" Kirito said suddenly, still staring at the window. Lis and I both looked over to see Asuna running towards the house. The crowds parted around her and she raced up to the door, not even bothering to knock as she slammed the door open and shut, gasping for air.
"We've got a huge problem!" she said. I shifted Lis off of my lap and onto the couch, getting to my feet.
"Did you run all the way over here? That's not a short trip, Asu-"
"Heathcliff wants to see all of us. The Hunters are summoned to Grandzam," she said quickly. I narrowed my eyes.
"So he's playing it that way... Gear up, everyone. We're leaving in ten." I sent a quick message in our guild-chat, letting everyone know what was happening. Blake and Heidan were wandering the Wolf Plains on a very specific not date. Taka was fetching groceries for the house. Silica was on the first floor, visiting Sasha and giving her more money to keep the church afloat. Maisie was at the house but, knowing her, she was probably asleep. It was one of our few actual days off and it looked like it'd be over prematurely.
(Floor 55: Grandzam)
I didn't like Grandzam. It was trying way to hard to be stately and impressive, much like the guild who called it home. The Hunters walked through in full regalia, each of us decked out in our trademark barunum gear and cloaks bearing the insignia of the Hunters: a silver bow held aloft above a moon on a dark blue field. The wolves and Pina were armored as well and our group left ghostly images behind us as we were escorted to Heathcliff's main office by a trio of Knights of the Blood Oath members.
"Riva. It's been a long while since I've had a chance to talk to you outside of strategy meetings," Heathcliff greeted, friendly enough. I remained on guard and Nymer trotted in front of me, standing between the two of us.
"Yes. The last time we spoke was probably... at the Hunters' training session last May."
"That sounds right. It's admirable work you do with the lower level players. Even some of my guildsmen have attended your training, though usually before they joined of course."
"Of course."
"I'm sure many players across Aincrad owe their lives to your training." Heathcliff was searching and I wasn't sure what for. I shrugged, keeping it neutral.
"The Hunters are merely doing their part to keep the players trapped here as safe and prepared as possible. All players owe a responsibility to the welfare of other players. Whether that means assisting in the clearing of floors whenever possible or training players in our free time, we'll gladly help."
"Yes... The health and welfare of the civilian players is important, but as is the welfare of the clearing guilds that work to free us all from this death game." Ah... So that was it. "The Knights of the Blood Oath are called the top guild, as you know, but our numbers are never more than barely sufficient. Which forces me to ask the question: why are you attempting to poach one of our best players?"
"With all due respect, Heathcliff, I did not ask Asuna to leave your guild. I don't quite think the term poach applies either, given the fact that I had no hand in her asking to leave the Knights."
"Oh? Then can you explain why she was not returned to us after the battle against the Gleam Eyes?" Heathcliff asked sharply.
"Asuna is not a piece of property to be returned or stolen from you. She, like you said, is one of the best players in the assault team. Perhaps it was your own objectification of her that made her want to leave." Heathcliff's eyes flashed dangerously and I continued. "Asuna joined us after the battle to ensure that all of the Army players were safely returned to their guild base on the first floor. After that, she returned to the Hunter's guild home to ensure that we were safe as well. One of us nearly died in that fight and Asuna was a Hunter long before she was Knight."
"She is no longer a Hunter, however. Her duty and respect is not owed to you but to me and the rest of the Knights of the Blood Oath. We cannot simply allow our second in command to walk away so easily. If you want her, you will need to take her from us. If you can defeat me in combat, you'll be free to take Asuna with you. However, if you lose, you must join the Knights of the Blood Oath."
He was positively insane. My eyes narrowed and I scoffed.
"I'm not going to take Asuna from you because she is not mine to take just as she is not yours to keep, Heath. I am not dueling you, just as no Hunter will duel you. I may not be able to force your hand in releasing Asuna from your guild but you can trust that I will protect her from it if I must."
I looked to Asuna.
"The Hunters of Artemis offer you their protection and permission to come and go as you please from the Wolf's Den. We remember pack." I returned my eyes to Heathcliff, who looked positively murderous, and I gave a shallow bow. "I'll see you at the next strategy meeting, Heathcliff."
I turned and left, glaring at the KBO who was guarding the door until he opened it for me. The Hunters were right behind me and we walked out just as calmly as we walked in, leaving ghosts behind us.
It would probably take Asuna a few days to escape from Heathcliff but she'd make it out. I had faith.
"I'll stop by the shop soon. I figured out a trick that makes it a little easier to handle corundium."
"Corundium? You mean people actually use that for gear? It's so... gross."
"It's a really heavy metal but there are a few tanks on the front lines who use it," I acknowledged. "They're still alive and kicking. Or at least they were on the 73rd floor."
"Alright. Make sure Asuna comes by when she can. I haven't seen her in a while!" Lis said with a pout. I promised I would and Lis leaned forward, turning her head slightly with an expectant look on her face. I rolled my eyes and obligingly kissed her on the cheek. Before she could lean away, though, I took her face in my hands and gently turned her head, pulling her in for a deeper kiss. I pulled away with a smirk and, as usual, Lis was red hot.
Sputtering angrily, she slapped me in the face and started walking down the path, grumbling and gesturing wildly to herself all the way. I grinned, watching her go until she was out of sight.
"And I thought it was dangerous to fall in love here," Blake commented wryly. I jumped immediately, scratching the back of my head. Before I let myself get too embarrassed, I pointed a finger at her.
"What about you? Don't think you and Heidan have been so subtle with your late night cuddle sessions," I exclaimed, crossing my arms victoriously. Blake reddened immediately and she opened her mouth, just to close it again and storm away angrily.
Kirito walked into the room, exiting the kitchen with a smile on his face and I targeted him as well, just to be safe. Who knows what he heard...
"And you! All those solo trips you've been taking away from the guild; they match very conveniently with the list of times Asuna's been gone from the Knights! You know Heathcliff has been keeping track? Because he's sent me a whole list of grievances."
"Wh-What are you talking about?" Kirito stammered. I scowled.
"It's not just me!"
"Okay... I'm heading out," Kirito announced, throwing a hand up as a goodbye as he headed for the door. I narrowed my eyes at him but let him go.
"I swear if I get another message from Heathcliff telling me to return his second in command, I'm going to have a stroke," I grumbled to myself.
October 24th, 2024 (Floor 28: Wolf's Den)
I needed a moment to realize what was being said to me. Just in case I heard wrong, I had it said to me again. I pinched the bridge of my nose.
"It figures. It absolutely figures. Of course, Kirito. Take as much time away from the front as you want. After that fight with the Gleam Eyes, I was considering keeping the Hunters out of the fight until the boss fight anyway. We need to rest up and get our heads screwed on right for everything that's coming up.
"Of course, that doesn't mean I'm sparing you two at all," I grinned savagely, looking at the two players in front of me who were suddenly engaged. Heathcliff was going to have an aneurysm when he found out his second in command needed time off to celebrate her nuptials.
"What does that mean?" Asuna asked warily. I rolled my eyes.
"Obviously it means that we've got to throw a massive party, bigger and better than Silica's birthday. It means that the girls are kidnapping you and hosting the best bachelorette party Aincrad's ever seen. Duh."
"Th-That's really not necessary," Asuna stammered, blushing and waving her hands in protest. I wasn't going to budge, though. If she was putting me through this, I was shoving her into it as well.
"And you!" I said, turning to Kirito. "I'm telling Klein. Immediately. He's taking you out for dinner or a strip club or something. I don't care. I'm telling you for Asuna's sake, though: you can look, you can't touch, got it?"
Kirito blushed even brighter than Lis. It was sort of cute in a vengeful, malicious way.
"Also," I began as an afterthought. "You two are letting me make the rings. No comments, questions, or concerns are allowed. Now get out of here, lovebirds. I'll message you when things are ready and send the wolves out for you if you don't come willingly!"
I didn't follow through with my threats in the end. The celebration was small- just the guild and Lis- but I knew that it was what Kirito and Asuna wanted. It would have only made the two uncomfortable if I had followed through and there was no real reason to cause them any more trouble. They'd have plenty of that in the future if Heathcliff didn't let Asuna go.
At the end of our little party, we let the two go to floor 22 where a little cabin in the woods was waiting for them. It would leave them totally broke, but the guild had put some money towards it as a wedding present. Lis and I had made the rings out of the same barunum that went into the Hunter's gear. That way, even if Asuna was never officially a Hunter, she'd always have part of us with her.
"Why aren't you a Hunter yet?" I murmured to Lis that night as we climbed into bed. She started sleeping at the Wolf's Den after the fight against the Gleam Eyes. She hadn't exactly told me why, but I knew she was afraid of me not coming home to her. I understood, of course, and no one had questioned it when suddenly my forge was filled with strange equipment and materials. I was surprised that she hadn't tried moving the smith shop's official location to the Den yet.
"Because I don't want to go through the hell you call training," she chuckled back, cuddling against me.
"You know, not all training has to be hard," I started, lining her up for a joke. I was dumbfounded when Lis rolled over to face me, her eyes dancing.
"Sign me up, coach."
Updated 22:18, 1.27.2022