The sun seemed to be high in the sky, Shirou couldn't help his discomfort showing. "Damn," he muttered. The heat was warm and gentle but to Shirou it was an oven trying to bake him alive. It was a wonder to Shirou how Arturia was able to walk just fine even with wearing that dress and armor piece.

Maybe it was the strength, or perhaps some heat resistance skill that Shirou was never able to find, but he certainly wished he had it.

It hadn't been that long since Arturia had told him the story of how she obtained Excalibur, or rather a simple run down that she didn't feel the need to explain the details. Shirou was fine with that, already she had given enough and he was thankful for that information alone.

There was so many questions he wanted her to answer, so many that he thought to be too intrusive and impolite to ask. Her personal life was her own and as her simple blacksmith that checks her equipment he was barely someone to be privy to the details.

But this wasn't an emotion that could be reasoned with. This was an instinctual need, a desire, to know more about this enigmatic girl in front of him. How did she find Caliburn when other more zealous players lurked across Aincrad. Why was she given right to pull Caliburn from stone? Why was she given Excalibur and Avalon after the loss of the original blade. Where did she come from, what was her life before SAO like, the language she spoke.

These were just questions that he had no claim to.

The walk continued for a little bit more and they entered a forest with a dirt path that led up a hill. The ground felt well-worn and he could tell that quite a few people had traveled up it's track, most probably to beat the quest up ahead. But they looked old, the system slowly but surely removing them from the otherwise perfect ground. It must have been quite some time before the last pair had tried to conquer this quest.

"We are here," Arturia said plainly as she pushed some bushes aside. Shirou was amazed to find himself standing in front of a large wooden house.

It reminded him of old European designed lodges, tree logs cut straight from the forest were lined up as support struts and fixed into position. The walls of a lighter shade as simple window panes were evenly distributed throughout the house.

Yet it was obvious to Shirou that this was handmade by one person, a person of undeniable skill. That person was surely the old man that was cutting wood outside the house.

It was also obvious that he an NPC.

Arturia walked up to him with Shirou behind as he watched her. She stepped up next to the old man and immediately a stray piece of wood from when the old man's axe smacked against a log. She reached down and picked it up, the NPC having not notice the thing dropping.

"Care to hand it over?" The NPC asked. That was certainly strange for an NPC, usually a harassment notice would appear if they were disturbing him. He must be the quest giver and this was an event specific to him.

Quietly Arturia handed the log over to the old man, who though had the wrinkles and grey hair of a man past his prime, was rippled in muscles and a hard looking gaze. "Are you one of them swordsmen that run around these parts?" The old man said. He cupped his chin, as though he was in thought and Shirou was wondering about how detailed this quest was.

"Listen here, there's something that has been bothering me nowadays. I big ghastly problem I'm sure that you would understand. Up in those hills, in the mountainside, do you see it?" The NPC pointed up, just past the roof of his house to a barely visible cliffside. On it was the unmistakable entrance of a cave, one that Shirou noted was usually out of access for players. "This land here used to have many immigrants coming to make a living, many great swordsmen too, but calamity struck us. Monster's own that cave and it's them that came down and destroyed our budding town."

Shirou felt something in him shift. He felt saddened by the news surely he did, but Shirou understood that those monsters weren't real and that the old man was merely speaking out of programming. But despite himself he couldn't help the anger swell in him.

"I stayed though and for a while they didn't seem to want to cause any harm. However they've suddenly started attacking again, though in less numbers. I ask of you can you deal with them? There is plenty of loot there for you to use, assuredly from their previous raids. It's no skin off my back either way. I'm a tough old man," Of that Shirou had no doubt.

Arturia had been silent as she listened before finally speaking, "Why must there be two people for this quest?" Now that Shirou thought about it, that was certainly strange for the NPC to not mention the number requirement even if it was stated on the quest information.

The NPC was blank and Shirou wondered if that question was outside its understanding, then the old man opened his mouth and said, "Those caves can be dangerous for one soul." The answer was cryptic, Shirou didn't like that.

Arturia glanced at the box by her side, her eyes narrowed at the words [ YES/NO] option.

"Emiya Shirou," Arturia asked, "What is your sword skill level?"

Shirou cupped his chin but nodded after a moment of thought, "I have agility up past halfway and my sword skill is pretty average. I'm quick at blocking though." Shirou had been on enough raids and quests to be able to gauge his own abilities, though with how everything was becoming ominous Shirou wasn't sure if he was capable of keeping up with Arturia on this one.

Shirou tightened his fist. That didn't matter, if he couldn't keep up then he'll find another way around that problem.

Arturia seemed deep in thought before nodding and clicking the [ YES ] option. "Be safe then," the old man said, "you'll need it, most likely." He went back to chopping logs and Arturia turned to Shirou.

"I am not certain about the exact validity of the information given," Arturia said after a moment, "It would certainly be strange if the difficulty of the quest was merely an abundance of monsters to fight."

Shirou nodded his head, "It would be best to assume that there is more going on, I guess," Shirou said, "Though this is the first time I heard about quests giving false information."

"It is rare," Arturia admitted, "However I have heard of many instances where this is true. I am unsure why, however if I were to make an assumption, I would imagine it is to better imitate a real situation." Shirou didn't have an answer for that and Arturia seemed confused at his silence.

"Emiya Shirou there is no guarantee that I may be able to protect you during the length of the quest. I think it is best if you remain close by to me at all times." Shirou choked in shock at those words.

He stared at Saber long and hard, surprise shining in his eyes as he stared at the resolute green eyes. "Wha-? What do you mean by that?" Shirou's mind stalled. He knew, in his heart and body that Arturia was stronger than he was, that she was more skilled with that blade than he was. But the thought of her, a girl wrapped in that small body, defending him was absurd to him. Even if he could not match her strength, he could handle his own well enough to stay out of her way.

Arturia tilted her head and placed her hand against her chest as she stared at him with wide, naive eyes. "I am the one who had asked that you accompany me on this quest and my skill in battle is as well higher than yours. It is only natural that I would be responsible for your safety."

Shirou grimaced. He had no illusions about being a hero who was meant to keep the girl safe, nor was he so suicidal to base away his explanations for not wanting to be protected by her because of the simple fact she was a girl. Neither was he born in a time where he could casually say 'You're a girl and you shouldn't be fighting!' especially so in Aincrad where everyone had an obligation to know how to fight. But still-

"You're a girl, I can't possibly have a girl protecting me!" The words left his mouth before he could stop it. Truly, he felt like an idiot. His ears flamed red and the thought of saying such an absurd thing and further accentuated by Arturia glaring at him.

"My gender has nothing to do with my ability as a swordsman," Arturia sounded heavily offended. Shirou realised that he had said something very wrong. Her eyes seemed to break even through the dead of silence and Shirou realised that the old NPC had disappeared near the chopping block. It seemed even the system was running away in fright.

"And I'm not saying it does, however, I will not allow myself to be protected by you!" Shirou was firm in this belief, "I have no problem with you as a girl with a blade, however, I will not allow you to take damage on my behalf! I can defend myself."

Arturia seemed to have smothered her anger a bit, though he could tell she still hadn't completely forgotten his use of her gender as an excuse. Shirou felt like kicking himself, surely he did. That was certainly not something to be made lightly of. By saying something like that he had disrespected Arturia's skill and ability. So he wondered why he was being so-

I'm the hero who is supposed to be protecting someone.

He shook those thoughts aside. "I did not mean that I would protect you in such a manner," Arturia said, "Of course I mean nothing to take away your own ability as a swordsman. However, as I have called you to follow me to this quest, it is only natural for me to worry about your safety." Arturia said calmly.

Shirou frowned. Of course, Arturia was only worried for him. But yet he could rub off the feeling of overprotectiveness he had with Arturia. It was true he felt discomfort at using a girl to stay safe, but he felt more so that the girl was Arturia. He felt utter revulsion at the thought of her getting hurt. But at the same time, he didn't want to take her skills lightly, for clearly she had been offended.

He was being contradictory. He knew he was. It seemed he had always been contradictory.

"I'm fine with that, however, I will fight beside you not behind you!" Shirou said as he crossed his arms. "That's just how it will be. I will not budge from that."

Arturia tilted her head, seemingly surprised by his declaration. She seemed to smile a little in satisfaction, and just like that Shirou felt his past grievances vanish. "I have no qualms with that," Arturia said.

Shirou bowed his head and nodded. He didn't trust his face right now.

"Shirou, your face is red are you having a fever?" Ah...damn.

Ah god, Shirou why?! XD