Chapter XII: "Why Not Both?"
December 14th, 2032
Alice welcomed the cool wind that tugged at her hair, as the blue dragon took her away from Icarus' Lament. Looking back, she could see the flames still consuming the doomed airship, falling down into the Cloud Sea. Kayaba's poisonous "gift" would soon be no more.
And good riddance to it, she thought sourly, watching Lament fall. Watching the Chrome Disaster retreat from it, accompanied by a Forest Elf ship… and the Dark Elf airship that she half-expected to dog her heels even then. If I never set foot on such a ship again, it will be too soon.
"Are you all right, Alice? That was a lot closer than I expected, even with Kayaba's hand at work. I knew this entire mission was a bad idea."
She looked away from the remains of the battlefield, to meet her rescuer's gaze. Eugeo had his dragon's reins firmly in hand, guiding Aohana on a course back toward Centoria; firmly enough, apparently, to risk looking back at her. The look in his eyes troubled her for some reason. He was clearly concerned for her, yet something seemed… off. Not that I've ever understood him. Now is little different.
"I'm fine, Sir Eugeo," Alice said aloud, shaking her head. "Overheated, perhaps. Kayaba has a very twisted sense of humor, providing us with such a 'gift'. Small wonder Lyusula and Kales'Oh both seem to want him dead, if this is how his deals work."
Eugeo frowned, craning his neck to look back at the burning hulk. "Do you think he was trying to kill an Integrity Knight? If I hadn't gotten there in time, that fire might've overwhelmed even you. If not, you'd have fallen into the Cloud Sea along with the ship, and not even we can survive that."
"If you hadn't arrived, I was going to commandeer one of the Swordmaster ships," she said tartly, not willing to let the slight against her capabilities pass without comment. "And no," she added, "I don't think he was trying to kill whoever used it. Not exactly. I think the man just has an extremely twisted flair for the dramatic. He treats everything as a game, or perhaps a story."
Though she'd have preferred to have flown on Amayori, even Aohana was a relief after days stuck aboard Lament. Feeling the wind in her hair, seeing the Skywall protecting the Tenth Island approach with her own eyes—knowing she could pass right through, instead of having to take the long way home—felt good. Lament had felt soulless, and was clearly the product of its creator's twisted mind.
Everything about that ship was designed to make a battle dramatic, not decisive, Alice mused. Portals spawning monsters, an "overload" that conveniently took so much time to charge, bursting into flames of its own accord late in the battle…. Without the gimmicks, I could've destroyed all three ships. With them, the Chrome Disaster might well have taken it alone, had the captain been clever enough to understand his own ship.
As it was, a much smaller ship had done entirely too much damage. And that was before a Swordmaster had made the insane choice to leap from it to Lament.
That man. Again. Once might've been coincidence. Twice, hardly.
"Sir Eugeo," she began, as Aohana slipped smoothly through the Tenth Island's Skywall. "That Swordmaster. Kirito. Who is he?"
Alice didn't miss the way Eugeo's shoulders tensed. Nor, when he glanced back at her, the icy fury in his normally placid blue eyes. "Kirito," he repeated, in a low, uncharacteristic growl. "That man…." He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself; if she was any judge, he didn't quite succeed. "He's a Lost Child of Vector. Six years ago, he committed a grave crime, and was banished from Aincrad. The World Gate he'd used was found and sealed not long after. That should have been the end of it."
She wondered what that "crime" was, to make the usually cool and collected Eugeo so furious. "You recognized him. He recognized you. Why?" Not just recognized, either—while Kirito had acted strangely toward her, the Swordmaster had reacted to Eugeo with berserk rage. Clearly, there was more to it than just him being a Lost Child.
Eugeo was slow to answer, seeming to consider his words carefully. Finally, as Aohana's wings carried them past the Tenth Island's Skywall Tower, toward the Air Gate that would take them deeper into the Archipelago, he let out a harsh sigh. "I was one of those who banished him. He was only a child, but he was vicious. After what he did, banishing was too good for him…. It should have been enough. I should've known he would be one of those to take advantage of Kayaba's scheme to try and return."
That wasn't the full story. She could feel it. How could a child have been such a threat, without even the Swordmaster spell? …And he didn't answer my question. Not really.
Sighing, Alice put that aside for the time being. Eugeo had always been one of the odder Integrity Knights; perhaps she was reading too much into it. Her unease around him certainly meant she wasn't the most objective, where he was concerned. Though one thing did stand out to her.
"If this Kirito committed such a terrible crime," she said slowly, as the Air Gate's kaleidoscopic light began to engulf them, "why have we not been ordered to deal with him directly? From what you said, we took Diavel over far less."
"Probably because we didn't know he was here, before today," Eugeo said grimly, fixing his attention on guiding Aohana through the turbulent currents of the Gate. "We'd better make a full report when we return. The Administrator will want to hear about this."
Agreed. …And I think I'll talk to Uncle Bercouli myself. Something doesn't feel right.
Alice hadn't mentioned that Kirito had seemingly expected her to recognize his old name, "Kazuto". Nor would she, she decided, until she'd had a chance to speak privately with her surrogate uncle. Even Integrity Knights, she knew, could hold grudges, and she didn't want answers tainted by one.
She glanced over her shoulder, at the sky no longer visible behind them. We'll meet again, Kirito. I will have my answers, if I have to tear them from you myself. Who are you?
"What the hell took ya so damn long, Beater?! An' you guys, 'Legends'! Ya know we almost got killed 'cause you were all so damn late?!"
Around a dozen Swordmasters stood on Liberator's deck. Most of the raid group that had been gathered aboard was still belowdecks, either staying out of the way or helping repair the damage inflicted in the battle with Icarus' Lament. That meant there were few to get in the way of what Kizmel could already tell was the beginning of a repeat of Illfang's aftermath. That, she supposed, could be good or bad.
For her part, she hoped the meeting would be brief. She and Asuna both needed to have words of their own with Kirito, after his actions at the end of the battle. Nearly as important, she found standing aboard a ship built entirely of steel made her intensely uncomfortable. One slip, and the cold iron burns would be most unpleasant. She suspected it would affect her even in the transitory world.
"The Beater boasted he'd get ahead of everybody else, an' the Braves keep playin' at bein' heroes, but when the real party started, where were ya, huh?! Y'all just talk?!"
This man is most tiresome. Nor does it help that I can barely understand what he's saying.
A quick glance at her companions revealed Asuna gritting her teeth, plainly waiting for just the right moment to jump into Kibaou's angry tirade. Kizmel thought it was honestly a sign of her friend and squire's impressive self-control that she hadn't already exploded. The elf girl had noticed some time before that the musketeer deeply hated being talked down to.
Kirito… he was still, and silent, wearing an expression of arrogant disinterest. Kizmel could feel, in the phantom heartbeat in her chest, that he was nowhere near as calm or detached as he appeared. Though she suspected the fury bubbling beneath the surface had very little to do with the situation at hand. Whatever had happened aboard Lament had clearly touched a nerve.
"Much as I disagree with Guildmaster Kibaou on strategy," Lind said, when the cactus-haired man paused for breath, "he certainly has a point here." Though he was quieter than Kibaou, the lift of his chin and the gaze he swept over both Moondancer's crew and the Legend Braves had an arrogance of its own. "Diavel showed us we needed unity to succeed. Though the raid group he formed has fragmented, I thought we all still pursued a common goal. Was I wrong?"
Kizmel heard Asuna's gauntlets creak, but before she could say anything someone else would regret, the Braves' Orlando stepped forward and bowed; behind him, the other Braves lowered their heads. "My deepest apologies, guildmasters," he said. "The quest to obtain our ship took longer than we expected, but that's no excuse. I assure you, we'll do better in the future."
His words were smooth. His delivery, not quite so much. Between that, his rather portly figure, and his armor's ill fit, Kizmel couldn't help a sour thought that he and his fellow Braves came across as pretenders more than true knights. Though their dealings with Kales'Oh may be coloring my opinion. Some.
It seemed to be enough to mollify Lind and Kibaou, though, who made a show of accepting the apology. Which, of course, led to them turning their ire on the other latecomers.
Before either could say a word, though, Kirito snorted. "Don't even start," he said, rolling his eyes. "You want backup? Ask for it. We didn't even know the raid was planned for today. And don't tell me you couldn't get in touch, you know the Rat could've found us. You're lucky she did anyway, or we wouldn't have gotten here before you all got blown out of the sky."
"Man's got a point," Agil said sourly. He'd been hanging off to one side with his own little group, but now he stepped in closer, folding his arms. "Hell, you didn't even tell the raid this was gonna be a raid. You got everybody aboard with the promise of a 'scouting run', and the first we knew different was when you blew the top off the Skywall Tower. You might not want to make that a habit, if you want another raid group at all."
"Got that right." Asuna, unable to contain herself, threw back her hood, planted one hand on the hilt of her rapier, and scowled at the two guildmasters. "You said Diavel-san showed we need unity? Then act like it yourselves. I don't know what happened today, except that it almost got all of you killed before we even knew a thing was going on."
That, at least, got the two of them to give each other uneasy looks, before pointedly looking away from each other. It would've been comical, if their rivalry weren't so obviously dangerous to everyone around them. As it was, it very nearly distracted Kizmel from movement by the hatch leading to Liberator's bridge, as someone tried to unobtrusively escape the discussion.
She wasn't the only one who noticed, and the Beater's cold voice rang out again. "Stop right there, Coper," Kirito called, turning his haughty stare on Liberator's captain. Stalking toward him, Kirito continued, "I don't know if those two put you up to this, and frankly I don't care. You agreed to it either way, and you stole EXP, Cor, and who knows what else from the Swordmasters who otherwise would've fought in the raid."
Kibaou snorted loudly, fists balled, and started toward Kirito. "Like you're one to talk—"
"In case you've forgotten," Kizmel interrupted, pinning him with a sharp look, "the very airship you're using is the product of the same 'unfair advantage' of which you accuse Kirito. Hypocrisy does not become you, Guildmaster. And you," she went on, turning her attention to Coper. "Captain. Today is the second time this ship has attracted the attention of the Integrity Knights—yes, we have reason to believe this was indeed Sir Diavel's 'sin'—and in so doing you not only deprived others of needed resources, you set in motion events you could not control. If you intend to continue as a leader, I suggest you learn caution."
Coper ducked his head, clearly chagrined. "I, ah, will do my best. And thank you, all of you. I—we, really—are in your debt. If you and the Braves hadn't shown up, we'd all be dead now."
"Yes, you would." Asuna's free hand clenched, and Kizmel didn't need the crystal-forged bond to see the shadows in her eyes. "I don't know if you've seen anyone die here, Captain. We have. You won't really understand until you've seen it for yourself—and you may never forgive yourself."
Silence fell at that, and many of the Swordmasters on deck exchanged uneasy glances. Kizmel wondered, then, how many of them had witnessed death in the transitory world. Thousands had died already, yet her own friends had avoided confronting it directly until Isuke had perished at Wolkenfelder Castle.
The silence was broken by Kirito tapping his foot on the deck. "For now, you can do what you want. My crew and I have other things to do, like finding a way to make up for missing out on the boss fight. The bonus from taking down Lament wasn't quite up to what the Taurus bosses gave out in the beta, after all."
"So where ya goin', then?" Kibaou mustered a sneer. "Gonna hog the EXP from breaking the Skywall?"
Kirito only shook his head, turning back to where Moondancer hovered along Liberator's flank. "You can see for yourselves if there even is any EXP from that. The glory of taking down the Skywall doesn't matter to me. I'm all about getting ahead, remember? We've going to wrap up the sidequests we were doing when this fiasco interrupted us."
"What kind of sidequests?" Lind asked sharply, as Kirito gathered himself to jump. "Starting a guild of your own?" He pointed first at Asuna, then at Kizmel. "Don't think we haven't noticed your girls are a matched set now. Not to mention the whiskers. And we heard about the scuffle with the Fuuma. Iga Ninja, was it? If you're going to be co-opting the Rat and competing for leadership—"
"'His girls'?" Asuna muttered under her breath, eyes narrowing dangerously. "Watch it, Don Quixote…."
Kizmel felt a headache coming on. "You didn't understand a single point we just made, did you?" she mused, resisting the urge to massage her temples. "Guildmasters, we bear the armor of the Pagoda Knights. If you don't recognize that name, you are paying too little attention to the world around you. That will kill you. And Guildmaster Orlando?"
The Braves' leader blinked, and pointed to himself. "Me?"
Definitely not a real knight. She managed, somehow, not to imitate Asuna's eye-roll. "This advice is for all of you, but the Legend Braves need it the most. Contact Argo, and ask her what happened to the Fuumaningun. You—all of you—are still treating Kayaba's trap as a game. If you keep doing so, you will die, and any hope of escaping this world will die with you."
She hoped it got through to them. Coper was playing with fire simply by commanding Liberator, but the Integrity Knights were unpredictable. She knew the Legend Braves were risking everything in their dealings with the Forest Elves. But they still believe this to be a game, and those not of the Swordmasters merely dolls following a predictable script. They would never believe the truth. Not yet.
Kizmel had hopes—often, she thought, fears—that her friends would be more flexible. They had felt the magic that underlay the world they knew as Sword Art Online. More than that, Kirito had a history with her world, whether he truly believed it yet or not.
Kirito was the first to leap back aboard Moondancer. Kizmel eagerly followed, grateful to be away from Liberator's mass of cold iron; she'd come to realize half her incipient headache was from the ship's core crystal grating against her sixth sense. Asuna spared a moment to shake her head at the Swordmasters gathered aboard, before jumping away herself.
As the youth in black headed for the pilothouse, Knight and Squire exchanged a Look. With one group of idiots safely left behind, it was time to question their own.
Who was that Integrity Knight in blue, and why does Kirito hate him so?
Kirito was grateful to get away from the Swordmasters aboard Liberator, and back to the pilothouse of his own ship. When he'd assumed the facade that got him labeled as the "Beater" the first time, he'd been half using it to distract himself from how shaken he was by Alice's appearance. This time, the irritation he'd thrown at the raiders had been all too real, between their antics and what else he'd just been through.
No, he thought, settling into the pilot's chair and gripping the wheel with white-knuckled hands, "irritation" doesn't quite say it. Those idiots nearly got all of us killed.
He was angry. Angrier than he'd been in at least six years. Venting at Coper, Lind, and Kibaou had been cathartic, but more than anything else, Kirito wanted to get away from other people. He couldn't handle them, not after what had happened aboard the burning Lament. And not when he knew he wasn't going to be allowed to just close in on himself until the anger burned out.
The girls gave him a couple minutes, at least. Long enough for Kizmel to bring up the engines and spread the wing-sails, so they could get away from Liberator. Long enough for Asuna to run some checks on her console, probably making sure Moondancer hadn't strained herself too badly in the battle.
It was Asuna who did finally break the silence, as Moondancer pulled away and began soaring back toward Niian. "Where are we going, Kirito-kun?" she asked, voice flat, amber eyes hard. "If we're not heading to finish dropping the Skywall?"
"Anywhere but here," Kirito said honestly. Then, feeling the disapproving looks coming at him from both flanks, he sighed. "I thought we'd drop by Master Ganryu. The quest log says the next step on his quest is to go see him again, and we did technically fulfill the condition he set. Considering how hard he is to find, I'm betting we'll get pretty good EXP on top of the Extra Skill."
Though exactly what the point of the test had been, he still wasn't sure. With Wolkenfelder Castle having disappeared, he only hoped the information they'd gained still counted.
"That does sound wise," Kizmel agreed, after a moment's thought. "Especially as I don't believe any of us are in any particular condition to fight at the moment. You most of all, Kirito." Violet eyes were narrow, when he glanced back at her, narrow and uncompromising. If she hadn't been busy constantly adjusting the wing-sails, he was sure her arms would've been folded sternly. "As foolish as it was, I don't believe I need ask why you boarded a flaming airship. You've done as much for me—though I wasn't likely to kill you."
"We do need to know one thing, though," Asuna said, smoothly picking up the elf girl's train of thought. When Kirito looked to her, he was met with an icy glare and exactly the folded-arms posture he'd imagined from Kizmel. "Who was that other Integrity Knight, how do you know him, and why do you hate his guts?"
"Technically, that's three things."
His flippant response earned him a kick in the shin from the Squire and a slap to the back of the head from the Knight, causing Moondancer's course to wobble when his hands jolted on the wheel. He didn't protest, though. If even the refined Kizmel was hitting him, he knew he'd really screwed up.
It was enough to cut through even his fury, and when he'd stabilized the ship, Kirito slumped back in his chair with a sigh. "His name is Eugeo," he said, the name alone fanning the flames of his temper. "He calls himself Eugeo Synthesis Thirty-Two now, but six years ago, he was just Eugeo. A kid living in Rulid Village."
"Someone else you knew, as a Lost Child of Vector," Kizmel said, with a slow nod. "A friend, like Alice?"
He bristled, but fought back the knee-jerk reaction. Taking a deep breath, trying to calm himself, he said, "More or less. The three of us did everything together, all the years I spent visiting Rulid in my dreams. Everything… including checking out the cave with the World Gate."
"So the Integrity Knights took him, too? No," Asuna contradicted herself, shaking her head, "then you wouldn't be so angry. He was one of the villagers who did nothing, while Alice was taken away."
Kirito nodded, quick and choppy. With everything that had happened, in Rulid and back in Japan, he'd tried to put the memory out of his mind, forget it all. With Alice, and then Eugeo, appearing before him, it was all coming back, sharp as if it had just happened yesterday. The Integrity Knight in crimson armor, tying up Alice and hauling her away on his dragon like she was a hunted animal. Some of the villagers berating him, Alice's father blaming him for it all and telling him never to return.
Eugeo and the others just standing there, letting the knight take her away without a fight, then telling me I did all this…!
A gauntleted hand nudged his left shoulder; firm, but more gentle than the last blow. Looking over, he found Kizmel watching him, gaze softer than it had been. "He would've been about ten years old, yes? I understand you blaming the villagers, Kirito, but I don't see anything this Eugeo could've done."
"Eugeo was one of the ones blaming me, too," Kirito pointed out sharply, remembering the look in the blonde boy's eyes that day. "You don't know what he said—!" He cut himself off, realizing he was coming out of his chair, and forced himself to sit back down. "I know," he said heavily, when he'd collected himself. "We were all just kids. And if I'm going to be honest, it wouldn't have happened if I'd never been there."
They were back over Niian proper by that point, and he paused his explanation to swing Moondancer around toward the Minos Mountains, in the northwest. The last thing he needed was to fly them into a skyrift while he was busy simmering with rage. Getting them all killed then wouldn't help solve the mystery, defeat Eugeo, or rescue Alice.
"While your anger might not be reasonable," Asuna said, leaning back in her chair, one hand rubbing her chin, "it's not like Eugeo's was, either." When he glanced at her, she gave him a gentle smile. "You didn't have any control over that either, Kirito-kun. Remember that."
"Indeed," Kizmel agreed. Reaching over to lightly pat him on the shoulder, she added, "I understand you can't simply let go of your anger, not so quickly. But I believe you should try to remember that the fault for what happened six years ago lies with neither of you, and today he is as much a pawn of the Axiom Church as Alice."
The fact that both girls had calmed down helped a lot. It was easier to get a hold on his own temper, focusing on the calmer heartbeats he felt alongside his own. And if they were right, maybe I could just put away the rage, Kirito thought, bringing Moondancer in low, skirting the forests at the foot of the Minos Mountains. Too bad they aren't.
"I wish it were that simple," he said, temper flaring again as he remembered the battle—if it could be called that—he'd fought with Eugeo. "But Eugeo isn't like Alice. He remembered me. And he hates me just as much as he did six years ago."
He didn't get an immediate response from either of them. Probably, he thought, they were using the time it took to throttle back, pull in the wing-sails, and lower the landing skids to digest it. He didn't mind; he was still digesting it all himself, and he had more context for it.
Moondancer had begun to settle when Asuna broke the silence. "You think he became an Integrity Knight voluntarily?" She shuddered. "But… why? If he remembers you, then he has to remember it was the Axiom Church that took his friend away… right?"
"I don't know," Kirito said frankly. With the airship powering down, safely on the ground, he was free to just slump in his chair at last. "Honestly, I don't know anything right now. Just that some people here recognize me, some don't, and… I don't even know what's real anymore." He paused, fingers clenching. "I do know he stomped me flat, with a sword the three of us found together when we were kids. A weapon out of local legends, said to have been wielded by a dragon-slaying hero. Apparently it has magic powers…. If he's my enemy, I need to be stronger. A lot stronger. Though at least now we know Moondancer stands a chance against airship bosses, so that's something—oof!"
His head was thumped from both sides this time. Shooting an aggrieved look at Kizmel, he was met with a disapproving stare. Pushing herself to her feet, the elf girl loomed over him. "That would our enemy, Kirito," she said, reaching down to grip his shoulder. "We're friends, as well as comrades in arms. If Eugeo is bearing such a misplaced grudge, he will be facing our wrath, as well."
"Got that right." Asuna stood, grabbed Kirito's other shoulder, and helped Kizmel yank him out of his chair. "And you, Kirito-kun, are not going to jump onto a burning airship all by yourself again! Is. That. Clear?"
As the Knight and Squire frogmarched him to the hatch, Kirito could only gulp and nod. These two are scarier than standing on a burning airship. How did I get myself into this…?
As far as Asuna was concerned, the discussion wasn't over, just deferred. Kirito had—again—done something reckless where Alice was concerned, and this time run into trouble that wasn't willing to just talk. She was prepared to give him a little time to come down from his fury, after learning just how personal his conflict with the Integrity Knight in blue was, but later she fully intended to make it very clear to him that he needed to get a grip.
Luckily, she had backup. Kizmel's years as a battle-hardened knight clearly left the elf girl as unhappy with their friend's impulsiveness as she was.
In the meantime, she agreed with going to see Master Ganryu again. She wasn't any happier with Coper, Lind, and Kibaou's antics than Kirito was, knowing all too well that levels and resources were the key to survival in SAO. The possibility of getting a new skill, too, was a nice bonus. Happy as she was with her rapier and pistol, it was honestly kind of exciting to think of learning something new.
Getting to Ganryu was more annoying than any of them expected. Though the field boss that guarded the direct route to his hermitage had stayed dead, stronger mobs had started spawning since their last visit. After already having fought a long air battle, cutting their way through air-breathing, homicidal carp left her more tired than ever.
Finally, they did come out into the caldera that held the old martial artist's home. The trio quickly stopped short, though, discovering they weren't the first visitors to arrive. There was an odd ringing of metal-on-metal, making Kizmel's ears twitch. On top of which…. "Argo?" Kirito blurted, seeing the info broker leaning against the rock wall by the cavern exit. The wannabe-ninja Koutaro stood like a shadow a few paces to the side, while Argo watched the hermitage itself. "What are you doing here?"
"Same thing you guys are, prolly," the Rat replied quietly, not even glancing at them. "Ya said Master Ganryu mentioned me, back when we hit Wolkenfelder, so I'm bettin' on finally clearin' his quest."
That made sense. It was clear that some things had carried over from the beta test, and Asuna remembered Ganryu had mentioned Argo by name. Weird, but no weirder than Kizmel's memories of Kirito-kun. Except…. "So, Argo," she said carefully, "why aren't you going to talk to him, then?"
"Kinda spooked, after last time I saw 'im," Argo admitted, with surprising candor. "'Sides. Would you guys wanna get in the middle o' that?"
Asuna followed the info broker's nod, and finally noticed what was going on at the hermitage itself. Or rather, just outside it. In a clear space by the garden, Master Ganryu had a katana in his hands, and the ringing of steel-on-steel they'd heard earlier was him sparring with a man in a Shinsengumi coat and a white mask. The whirlwind of blades was too fast for Asuna to really follow; all she could see was that neither of them used even a single Sword Skill.
That fit with what she'd seen of Tengu's fighting style, during the Illfang battle. Seeing an NPC match him was more surprising. What she'd seen of humanoid mobs and bosses had taught her they tended to focus on Sword Skills themselves, she presumed because of the limitations of AI. She'd expected Ganryu to be much the same, especially since he trained players in an Extra Skill. Instead, he seemed to have no trouble matching an obviously-trained player blow for blow.
"Huh." The quiet, surprised sound drew her attention to Kirito. Her friend had apparently been watching the match intently, and now he was frowning deeply. "Ganryu's the better swordsman. Even without Sword Skills. …That's really weird."
"Master Ganryu has had a very long time to practice," Kizmel pointed out, watching with equal intensity. "Though it's true, Tengu is quite skilled himself… ah. Not quite skilled enough."
Another blur of steel, and suddenly Ganryu's blade was under Tengu's chin, mere millimeters from the masked man's throat. They held the posture for a few seconds, before Tengu lowered his own katana. Then they stepped back, bowed, and exchanged a few words—too soft for Asuna to hear from so far away, and with Tengu's expression hidden, she couldn't even guess what it was about.
Ganryu sank down to the ground, sitting cross-legged, as if to meditate. Tengu sheathed his sword, bowed again, and headed toward the observers. Asuna found herself tensing at his approach; though he didn't disturb her nearly as much as he did Kirito, she still found his white mask, uncanny skill with a sword, and general demeanor unnerving.
When he reached them, though, he only inclined his head toward Argo. "You have my thanks, Grandmaster, for the ride. I believe I can make my own way back now."
"Always a pleasure, Master Tengu," Argo replied, affecting a Western-style bow in return. "But sometime ya gotta tell me how ya got back from the battle faster than Moondancer did. Not gonna lie, that was kinda spooky."
Tengu chuckled behind his mask. "Perhaps we can trade in kind someday, Grandmaster. I feel we may have much in common. That, however, is a discussion for another day. For now…." He turned toward Moondancer's crew—or rather, to the ship's captain. On reflex, Asuna's hand dropped to the hilt of her pistol; if the man noticed, he showed no sign. "Captain Kirito. You're here for the Martial Arts skill?"
"That's right," Kirito said warily, looking as if he wanted to reach for his own sword. "We started the quest a few days ago, but stuff got in the way of completing it. After what happened today, it didn't seem like a good idea to put it off any longer."
"Not after you faced another Integrity Knight."
Even Kizmel visibly tensed at that, and Asuna heard a sharp breath from Argo. How did he know that? Liberator shouldn't have been close enough for him to see that. I didn't see that until I jumped after Kirito-kun.
"A good idea," Tengu said calmly, as if several people weren't about to draw weapons from sheer nerves. "But know this, Captain: it won't be enough. Not against an Integrity Knight. It is a start, however. A start on the path you must take, if you want to survive. If you want to achieve your goals."
"What… what do you mean?" Kirito asked, voice a little hoarse. He looked like he wanted to back away, but something in the masked swordsman's manner held him in place. Not that Asuna faulted him; the dark eyes, blank mask, and sheer presence held her just as frozen. Even Kizmel seemed transfixed.
"If you continue on this path, you will never master any Earthly style," Tengu said bluntly, tapping the hilt of his katana. "Rely too much on the nature of this world, and you will never unlearn enough to master ordinary kenjutsu. But if your destiny lies here, you must. You must learn the rules of this world. How they work. What rules bind the Integrity Knights—and how you can break them."
"Break them?" Kizmel said sharply. "What do you mean?"
"'Swordmaster' is not merely a title, Dame Kizmel," he said, eyes turning her way for a moment. "No more than 'Integrity Knight'. As they have unnatural strengths, so do Swordmasters. And we have something they do not. Swordmasters are flexible. Malleable. Adaptable. The Integrity Knights' nature traps them, even as it empowers them. The Blue Knight more than most, perhaps."
"You've seen him?" Kirito demanded. His face was pale, but Tengu's last statement had broken the spell that held him in place. He raised a hand as if to grab Tengu by the collar, before visibly stopping himself short. "What do you know about him? He wasn't in the beta test, not that I ever heard, and I got as far as anyone. What do you know?!"
"Less than you, about who he is, I suspect," Tengu answered, seemingly unruffled by Kirito's intensity. "What I do know is that he sees his strength only as a means to an end. He is powerful, but not strong. He does not understand his power. You must, Kirito. Engrave this world's rules in your heart. Learn to fight better. Smarter. Unpredictable. Don't play at being a warrior. Be the Swordmaster." Folding his arms, hands tucked into his sleeves, he stared at Kirito. "If you can do that, the Blue Knight will fall to you. If you cannot, you will fall, and everything you seek will fall with you."
Bowing, the older man turned to enter the caves leading out of the caldera. Before he'd gone more than a couple of steps, though, Asuna couldn't contain herself any longer. "Who are you?" she demanded, stepping toward him. "How do you know so much?" Because Kirito-kun was a beta tester, and even he didn't know about Eugeo, and I don't think Argo did either, so how—?
Tengu paused, half into the shadows of the cave. "Just an old fool," he said, voice suddenly weary. "An old man who once made a terrible mistake. This is my penance, Dame Asuna, nothing more." He turned to look back at Kirito. "Live, Swordmaster. Grow stronger. Fight another day."
Watching him finally disappear into the shadows, Asuna could only glance from the tunnel to Kirito, and then to Argo. Her friend in black was looking more than a little shell-shocked, while the Rat had a very thoughtful frown on her face. "'Kay…What just happened?"
Kizmel was perturbed, and not a little annoyed, by Tengu. There was something about the man that was decidedly not normal, even for a Swordmaster—at the least, given his knowledge, she was certain he was another Lost Child of Vector, but he was considerably more enigmatic than Kirito. Though he'd proven a strong ally in the battle with the Kobold Lord, he was far too mysterious for her comfort.
Perhaps worse, she thought, as her group finally made to approach the meditating Master Ganryu, he badly unsettled Kirito. As irritated as she was over her friend's recklessness aboard Lament, she deeply sympathized with him over the distress his encounter there had caused him. He needed rest and relaxation, badly, and being so disturbed by Tengu was not helping.
I fear Kirito is going to have another restless night. I'd best prepare for that.
For the moment, though, Kizmel put that out of her mind. They were here to talk to Master Ganryu, someone who unsettled Argo. On top of that, the Rat was accompanied by Koutaro, who still raised her hackles. The amateur ninja seemed to have learned a few things from his experiences, and Argo apparently had him on a tight leash, but Kizmel had not forgotten his role in the massacre of the Niian Dark Elf port.
But Koutaro hung back a few discreet paces, allowing her to focus on the old master. He looked little different from the last time she'd seen him, except now there was a bright yellow exclamation point hanging over his head; it took her a moment to realize it was another manifestation of the Mystic Scribing she'd begun to acquire, and made a mental note to ask Kirito what it meant, later.
Though obviously aware of their approach, he remained still, eyes closed and hands on his knees as he sat in a lotus. Only when the four of them came within a couple of meters did Master Ganryu finally open his eyes, and smile faintly. "Welcome back, young ones," he said, looking at each of them in turn. "I see a few things have changed since last we met. And a face I've not seen in some time. Argo the Swift, back at last! Ah," he added, smile widening to a grin, "I hear they call you the Rat, now. You may have failed my test that time, but it seems you turned it to your advantage anyway. Clever girl!"
There was, Kizmel had to admit, something satisfying about seeing Argo bashful for once, the information broker brushing the whiskers painted on her cheeks. "A rep has its uses, Master," she said, digging at the ground with one booted toe. "So, uh… you remember me?"
"Oh, of course. Not many people make it to my hermitage at all, young lady, much less girls with ambitions like yours." He sobered abruptly, the piercing look in his eyes reminding Kizmel the man was far, far older than he appeared. "Now, then. I gave all of you a test. Koutaro, I've already heard what became of the Fuuma, from Tengu. You failed."
The ninja jerked, eyes widening above his mask. "But—but we—!" He cut himself off abruptly, and suddenly knelt. "I… understand, Master Ganryu, that I do."
Kizmel nodded inwardly. Though the Fuumaningun had succeeded in obtaining information about the lost Wolkenritter, it was unsurprising that Ganryu would consider their conduct in the process a violation of the test's spirit. Especially as it had gotten one of their number killed, through sheer stupidity.
"Good." Ganryu's expression softened, ever so slightly. "Recognize your failures. Learn from them. Listen to Argo's teachings, and you may yet have another chance one day. As for you, Argo." He turned his attention to the Rat once more, face turning carefully neutral. "It's been months since I sent you off. Tell me what you learned."
Normally, that would've been followed instantly by a demand for payment. Kizmel found more amusement in Argo being caught in a situation where that was not the case. Yet at the same time, she couldn't help but wonder what was driving the other girl to it. Something about the situation was clearly personal to her, outside of her compulsive need to find any and every piece of information on which she could possibly make a profit.
There was no trace at all of the mercenary information dealer here. Argo knelt respectfully, head bowed, and said, "Master Ganryu. I have seen the lost Wolkenfelder Castle. Banished to another realm, it stands empty, yet comes when beckoned. All the same, it seemingly cannot remain in this world for long; why, I couldn't determine in the time I had there."
Kizmel exchanged a quick, wide-eyed glance with Kirito and Kizmel. When beckoned? By who, and how? …And I did not think Argo capable of speaking plain Japanese.
"Hm." Ganryu nodded thoughtfully. "And the Wolkenritter themselves?"
"Lost to a final battle with the Axiom Church," Argo replied, head still bowed. "I believe their last stand ended in the attackers and defenders killing each other, and what few survivors escaped through the World Gate. …The Wolkenritter are gone, Master Ganryu."
"Hm. Hm." The old master regarded her quietly for a time; Kizmel could see Argo's shoulders growing more tense by the moment. Then, finally, he smiled. "Gone, are they? Perhaps… for now. Very well, Argo the Rat—no, Grandmaster Argo, of the Fuumaningun." Unfolding himself from his meditative posture, he rose smoothly to his feet. Reaching into his gi, he withdrew a scroll, and held it out. "You have passed my test, Argo. Take the Martial Arts skill. Use it well, as the Rat and in your next endeavor."
Argo climbed back to her feet, and hesitantly took the scroll. "I accept it gratefully, Master Ganryu—eh?" Blinking, her usual dialect crept back in. "Um, 'next endeavor', Master?"
"Indeed. You have proven yourself, Argo, and I have a new task for you. Not a test, but a proper quest." Reaching again into his gi, he handed her another scroll. "For now, you are Grandmaster of the Fuuma. I charge you now with the restoration of the Wolkenritter. Make your guild into something greater. Bring back Wolkenfelder. Become the true heir to the Cloud Knights, and do your part to stop Quinella's power-mad schemes, before she destroys all of Aincrad."
Wide-eyed, Argo took the second scroll and tucked it under her cloak. "Er… understood, Master Ganryu." Taking a deep breath, she bowed again. "Thank you, Master. …I'll be going, then." Turning away, she caught the looks Kizmel and her companions were giving her, and mustered something close to her usual grin. "Long story, guys. Ya want the full details, call me later, an' ask me about the 'Faction and Alliance' system. I'll set a fair price, promise—after all, I couldn't have done this without ya!"
Watching the Rat go, a subdued Koutaro shadowing her, Kizmel wondered what was going on. Something very strange was afoot, clearly, and she resolved to discuss it with her friends later. She was beginning to realize a number of schemes were at play, in the transitory world, and she wasn't at all sure even the sorcerer Kayaba had anticipated them all.
How much is knowledge gleaned from the "beta test", and how much from clever Swordmasters frantically improvising? And how many are like Kirito…?
"Well, then!" Ganryu's cheerful interjection drew attention back to him, and Kizmel found him smiling again. "Argo looks to be going far, and she might just make something of those young Fuuma fools. I wonder whatever became of Pitohui and the Legend Braves… but I suppose there's time yet, for them to find what they seek. You three, now. You, I can tell have experienced much, just in the few days since I saw you last. Another core crystal awakening, hm?"
"You can tell?" Asuna blurted, eyes widening in surprise.
"There are signs, if you're attuned to see them. You spend a century or so honing your martial skills, you learn a few things even without magic, young musketeer. Or should I say, squire?" The old man looked her up and down; she visibly bristled, but Kizmel thought uncouth matters were far from his mind. "Interesting choice. I wonder… ah, but that's not really my business. And you, Swordmaster Kirito." He nodded at the gleaming black stone hanging from Kirito's neck, one eyebrow lifted pointedly. "You've made a good friend, if that was given freely. Cherish it. In this era, that's no small trinket."
Kirito flushed. "I… I will," he mumbled, looking away. "It… means a lot to me."
Kizmel couldn't help smiling, feeling the way his heart sped up. She already knew he appreciated her gift, of course, but she certainly didn't mind the reminder. Though I wonder… is there something more to the dark stars than I know? Oh, I knew I should've spent more time in the Royal Archives' section about the old magicks. More and more, it seems I'm stumbling into mystical waters my training in the Royal Guard never touched on.
"As for you, Dame Kizmel." Ganryu turned an appraising eye on her, seeming to assess something other than her figure or her equipment. "You've made interesting choices, for a Royal Guardsman. Do you know what you've walking into, taking on a Swordmaster as an apprentice, another as such a close friend, and binding yourself to them through a ship's core crystals?"
"No," Kizmel admitted. She raised her chin, meeting his gaze with all the pride of a Knight. "Do you?"
Kirito choked—probably, she thought wryly, worried she'd break "quest progression" or something—and Asuna gave her a Look that was really better reserved for Kirito's typical impulsiveness. Ganryu, though, only laughed. "Not in the least, Dame Kizmel," he said, shaking his head and shrugging. "I'm a master of the martial arts, not the mystical. I've learned a few things, but I'm no sorcerer. The only advice I can give you is to watch your step—and follow your heart."
"I fully intend to."
"Good. Now, then!" Ganryu clapped his hands. "Argo said she only got as far as she did with your help, so I assume you were with her at Wolkenfelder. My test to you was only to find trace of it, and your accomplishments otherwise could be considered tests beyond anything I might've imagined. You are all suited to learn my skill."
Kirito and Asuna both sagged in visible relief; Kizmel only kept herself from following suit out of her pride as a Knight. "Thank you, Master," Asuna said, after a moment to gather herself. "We'll use it well."
"Indeed we will," Kizmel agreed, as Ganryu held out a scroll like those he'd given Argo. "This is something I should've learned long ago, I suppose, but better late than never."
The moment she took the scroll, a page of Mystic Scribing faded into existence before her. [Learn From The Master: Complete], it said. Under that, it listed a reward of Cor, an item called [Monk's Handwraps], and [Acquired Extra Skill: Martial Arts].
Finally, the page said, [Level Up! Lvl 14-Lvl 15].
"Well," Kizmel murmured, glancing over to see her companions had received similar notifications. "That should at least somewhat compensate for Captain Coper's rash actions. Somewhat."
"Good attitude, Dame Kizmel," Ganryu said approvingly. "That said…. I don't have an additional task for you, as I did for Argo. Clearly you're quite busy with your own affairs. I do, however, have a challenge."
He was looking directly at Kirito, as he spoke that last sentence, and the swordsman tensed all over again. "A challenge, Master Ganryu?" he repeated warily.
"Tengu told me a few things, about what's been happening in the wider world." Ganryu's gaze was piercing again, holding Kirito's gaze with a frightening intensity. "You seek to face an Integrity Knight. Or two, or more. You, young Swordmaster, need more than merely a basic understanding of my art, if you wish to defeat that. At least without an army or two." He grinned suddenly, wide and feral, and cracked his knuckles. "Spar with me, boy. Let me give you a taste of what you really need to know."
Exchanging a quick glance with Asuna, Kizmel and her friend and squire quickly took a step back. Then another. I'm sorry, Kirito, she thought, seeing the sudden panic on the youth's face, but this is a battle you must face alone, I fear. I've not seen an expression like that since I was a squire—
"Oh, no, you don't!" Ganryu turned that frightening grin on the two girls, and beckoned with one hand. "You're his friends. You'll be facing the same battles he will. None of you are leaving until I know you've got the basics beaten into you!"
…Help?
Moondancer slid to a slow, careful halt, a meter from the rocky side of the rogue island. "That's it," Kirito said, with a deep sigh, making one last minute turn of the wheel. "We should be safe enough here for the night." Letting his hands fall away, he slumped in his chair. "Unless Liberator comes calling or something, anyway. At least Argo's probably going to be too busy to bother us…."
"We'd better put the Mistmoon cloth up before we go to bed, just in case." Looking just as tired as he felt, Asuna dropped core crystal output to standby. "After today, I wouldn't trust myself not to throw any visitors overboard." Pushing herself to her feet, she plodded to the hatch. "I don't suppose you guys could give me a hand with the mooring lines?"
"But of course." Even Kizmel was clearly feeling the effects of the day; by the time she joined her squire at the hatch, she'd already unequipped her armor. "I believe this will be a team effort. If, of course, we don't wish to risk falling overboard from fatigue."
Wasn't that the truth. Following the girls out onto the deck, Kirito thought he was more tired than he'd ever been in SAO. His avatar might not have been capable of ordinary fatigue, but his mind certainly was. Even the day they'd fought Illfang hadn't been so long.
First, he reflected, taking one of the spear-tipped ropes that served Moondancer in place of a traditional ship's anchors, they'd put the finishing touches on their ship's new equipment. That alone had been a pain, between moving the deck gun from the wreck of Dark Star to Moondancer and fitting the balancers into the lower hull. Not to mention upgrading the pilothouse to go with.
Then Coper, Lind, and Kibaou had to be idiots. Using his lingering irritation as a source of strength, he slammed the mooring anchor home in the rogue island they'd nestled the ship against. Good thing completing Ganryu's quest got us good EXP. As it is, who knows how much Cor and loot we missed out on. Good grief. Probably the biggest lie I told when we brought down the first Skywall was that they were better than most of the beta testers.
Kirito had thought facing Alice and learning Eugeo had become an Integrity Knight would be the end of it. Sparring for over two hours with Master Ganryu, as the old martial artist gleefully took on him and the girls all at once, had brought new meaning to the word "exhausted". A VR avatar couldn't feel pain. It could still be disoriented by being thrown around for hours, and that tired the brain all by itself.
Asuna, clearly as tired as he felt, rammed her anchor in a couple meters forward of his. "Are you sure you're okay with things, Kizmel?" she asked, turning to the Knight. "Not going after the Legend Braves, I mean. They're working with the Forest Elves, after all, with the ship we fought…."
Oh, yeah. Them, too. Orlando and his crew had been surprisingly competent during the battle with Icarus' Lament, admittedly. That didn't change the fact that they were following the Forest Elf side of the Elf War quest. Which, Kirito thought, would've been just fine in the beta. In the full release, having made a personal connection with Kizmel, the idea of players taking the other side felt like a betrayal.
Not to mention stupid, after what happened to Isuke. Now I'm really glad I never sided with the Forest in the beta. They're scary people.
"I wouldn't exactly say 'okay'," Kizmel said thoughtfully, hefting the last anchor. "But I've seen enough of the Swordmasters at this point to know that the Braves likely wouldn't believe us, if we tried to warn them directly. Even the two of you scarcely accept my view of the world, and Kirito has reason to be open-minded. No, I fear at this point we can only hope the Braves find their own answers… hopefully not as tragically as the Fuuma."
She plunged the anchor into solid rock, and the ever-reassuring [Safe Haven] message promptly appeared in the air. Only then did Kirito relax. Slightly. With the ship and those aboard effectively invincible for the time being, he let himself stumble away from the railing and collapse on the deck, leaning against the gun mount.
For a few minutes, he just let himself lounge. The sun was setting, scattering orange light over the Skywall—though sometime while Moondancer's crew had been occupied with Ganryu, the other raiders had brought down the wall blocking off the Third Island, it still remained beyond. Later, Kirito would care about the huge task still ahead; in the meantime, he wasn't above enjoying how it looked at sunset.
At some point, the girls moved over to the railing, and at length Asuna broke the silence. "So… what's our next move, guys? We got the deck gun, we powered up the ship, and the way is clear." She glanced over her shoulder, one eyebrow raised. "It's about time to hit the Third Island. Got any beta info for us, Kirito-kun?"
He managed a tired shrug. "In the beta, the first thing I would've done would be to meet Kizmel. That sequence kind of broke our first night here."
"And I, for one, am grateful for it," Kizmel said, turning a smile their way. "The thought of having had to wait another month to meet you doesn't appeal to me." She let that hang in the air, smile turning mischievous at Kirito's blush. "That being said, I would still request we make for the Dark Elf camp on Sandoria before anything else." Her smile turned bittersweet, and she looked back toward the sunset. "Tilnel must be so alone right now…."
Asuna made a soft sound of agreement, sidling closer to the elf girl to slip a comforting arm around her. Kirito could only nod, unseen, and wish he had the social skills to be of some help. As far as he knew, Tilnel hadn't existed during the beta, but then Kizmel hadn't survived her initial appearance, either. Add in the detail of Kizmel's brother-in-law…. There was a lot to the Elf War quest that he knew nothing about, this time. Assuming it is just a quest. So help me, every day it feels more like Kizmel's view of this world might be more true than ours.
Because there was Alice, who might've just been a coincidence, or designed from his therapy sessions, and then there was Eugeo, who recognized him. Kirito had said a lot during those sessions, but he'd never once said a word about Eugeo. He'd been too angry, between that and what had happened to him in the waking world at the same time. He'd been no more willing to talk about Eugeo than he would've been about his grandfather. Though he supposed it might have somehow been picked up during the Full Dive part of his therapy, it seemed like a stretch.
I have to beat him, somehow. He hasn't lost his memory, but he's helping the Axiom Church keep a hold on Alice. We're going to fight again, and I need to be stronger. Strong enough not to be thrown around like a toy.
Tengu had told him he could do it. And while Kirito appreciated the advice, mostly, it also just added to his turmoil and exhaustion, because something was not right about Tengu. Kizmel, Alice, Eugeo—they all could've been strange AI, dreamed up by a chatbot fed all his old therapy sessions. Tengu was a fellow player, but he knew way too much.
Maybe he's a dev, Kirito thought, with a sudden chill. A writer or programmer who got stuck when Kayaba locked us in. Or… maybe even working with Kayaba. Like a twisted helping hand or something. But how many game developers know their way around a sword like that…?
"Kirito-kun? What's wrong?"
"You do seem unusually pensive, even for you, my friend. Do the day's troubles bother you so much?"
Broken abruptly from his reverie, Kirito quickly shook his head. Using the gun mount to lever himself to his feet, he forced himself to be as casual as possible, not willing to admit how close to the mark Kizmel was. "No, no, it's nothing. I was just…."
The two girls turned to face him, and he trailed off, completely forgetting what he was talking about. For an endless moment, he could only take in the sight of the two them, leaning against Moondancer's railing. Wearing near-matching Pagoda Knight uniforms, bathed in the orange light of the sunset in the sky and reflecting off the Skywall, the two looked nearly sisters. Had Asuna's ears tapered to a point, had her skin been darker, she would've looked as if she'd been born in Lyusula herself, not Japan.
The sunset made chestnut and violet hair shine. Kirito was struck by a sudden desire to see what they looked like by the light of Aincrad's twin moons and unfamiliar stars. By the dying light of the sun, they were brilliant enough.
Seeing them silhouetted that way, and the genuine concern in violet and amber eyes, Kirito swallowed hard. How did I end up here, with a sight like this? …I can't ruin the mood with my problems. Just for tonight… I want everything to be fine.
"…I was just wondering which of you I'd rather marry," he said finally, grasping for the first change of subject he could think of.
An instant later, seeing Kizmel's eyes widen in surprise, and Asuna's follow suit—before starting to settle into an all-too-familiar glare—he realized exactly what he'd just said. Wait, no, wrong dialogue choice! Bad end! Reload from last save point!
He frantically looked for a [Load] button, even as Asuna sucked in a breath to yell at him—and then Kizmel smirked, cleared her throat, and said, "Why not both?"
Asuna choked. Kirito wasn't much better off, reduced to sputtering. "W-what?!"
The elf girl leaned back against the railing, still smirking, and clapped a hand on the musketeer's shoulder. "It wouldn't be unheard of, in Lyusula," she said casually. "Especially in time of war, and with so few children born to us compared to humans. No one in our kingdom would so much as bat an eye. Oh, perhaps a few eyebrows might be raised by him being human, but that's not unheard of among our people, either…."
Frozen, Kirito could only stare at her, as his off-the-cuff distraction spiraled out of control. Any second, he expected Asuna to simply chuck him overboard, and his eyes darted to her instead, trying to gauge how long he had left to live.
"That's crazy!" Asuna finally blurted, blinking rapidly—and then paused, in the middle of a motion that might've been to flee or to pitch Kirito over the side. "But then… it would make my parents really mad…." Which seemed to be a good thing, from her tone, but before he could really wonder about it she was quickly shaking her head. "What am I saying?! Kizmel, Kirito-kun, you're both crazy!"
"Oh?" Kizmel chuckled, low and throaty. "It's true, it would require Her Majesty's permission, but I hardly think it would be that difficult, in light of—"
He couldn't take it anymore. Turning in a flutter of leather coat, Kirito fled into the pilothouse, before his Sanity points took any more damage.
After Kirito ran away, Asuna busied herself helping Kizmel stretch the Mistmoon cloak over Moondancer's deck. Unwilling to face him so soon, she took her time about it; she was even grateful when they hit a snag getting it over the deck gun. To her relief, Kizmel said no more about the prior topic, even if a smirk did seem to be lingering on the elf girl's lips.
By the time they did finally go belowdecks, the sun had completely set, and the ship was bathed in the silvery light of Aincrad's twin moons. It was more than enough to see by, even in Moondancer's cramped cabin. Enough to see Kirito already tucked into his cot, seemingly sound asleep.
Gently sitting on the edge of her own cot, Asuna peered carefully at the swordsman. To all appearances, he really was asleep, despite being at least as shocked as her by Kizmel's little joke. At first that surprised her; a moment's reflection reminded her, though, that his day had been even more stressful than hers.
The battle was bad enough, she thought, bringing up her menu to switch to her nightgown while Kizmel—still new to "Mystic Scribing"—fumbled through the same process. Not as bad as Illfang, but bad. Master Ganryu putting us all through a couple hours of training on top of that… if I'd known that was coming, I would've insisted on waiting a day.
I didn't have to fight a friend with a mutual grudge. I can't imagine what Kirito-kun is going through, with those two. Questioning how this can even be happening can't help.
Pagoda Knight armor replaced with the cool, comfortable silk of her borrowed Dark Elf nightgown, Asuna slipped under her blankets, and turned to consider her companion—her friend, one of the first two people she'd really met in SAO. Sprawled inelegantly in his cot, it was almost strange to see him without the tension he usually had when awake, seeming always a moment away from drawing his sword. His face, so often intense—when he wasn't showing his goofy gamer side—was peaceful, despite the embarrassment of their last waking encounter.
I don't really know much about him, do I? Asuna mused, watching his chest rise and fall in a regular, relaxed pattern. Feeling the phantom beat in her chest of a heart calmer than it had been most of the day. It's been a month, but all I really know about Kirito-kun is his connection with this world. As if he's part of Aincrad itself. Does he have anything in the real world… in Japan… bothering him, too?
She knew she did. Even after a month trapped in SAO, she still woke from nightmares about coming out of the game, to find her mother waiting to scold her. To tell her how she'd ruined her future with her act of rebellion—and how her mother was going to make sure Asuna didn't act out again. How the arrangement she'd been threatening Asuna with for the last couple of years was going to go through, whether Asuna wanted it or not.
There was a reason she was so torn by Kirito's dumb comment—whether he meant it or not; Asuna suspected he'd been trying to deflect and botched it miserably—and the shocking joke Kizmel had made in response. Marriage was a very sore subject for her. The issue had never truly been forced, but the pressure had been increasing by the month, and her mother had darkly hinted an ultimatum was coming soon.
On the one hand, marriage was an idea that scared her, and having Kirito bring it up like that had pushed her buttons spectacularly. On the other hand, Kizmel's joke had short-circuited the whole thing, presenting an option that would have absolutely infuriated her mother, and even shocked her father to his core.
I'm tired, Asuna thought, turning from Kirito to look out the porthole by her cot. I'm tired of being the good little girl. That's why I'm here. If I leave too soon, they'll try to force me back on the rails. …Kirito-kun would never do that. I don't know much about him, but I can tell he hates when people are used that way. That's what the Axiom Church does.
Marriage was an insane idea. But she liked the bond she'd forged, with Kizmel and with Kirito. Lying there in a cramped cot in a tiny airship cabin, Asuna felt more at home than she had in her own house in years. And, deep down, she couldn't bring herself to completely discard Kizmel's crazy suggestion. If nothing else, she thought, surprising herself with a small grin, I can always claim to Mother that we went through with it. That would buy me enough time to run away!
She turned again, intending to say as much to Kizmel, only to be brought up short by the sight waiting for her: Kizmel, changed into her own nightgown, very carefully lifting Kirito's blankets.
Not the first time the elf girl had done it. Last time, Asuna had let it go without comment, unsure of what to think. This time, she couldn't help a hoarse whisper. "Kizmel, what are you doing?"
Kizmel glanced her way, a sad smile on her face. "You know as well as I that Kirito will be having nightmares tonight," she murmured, slowly and carefully slipping into Kirito's cot. It was probably a sign of just how exhausted he really was that he didn't even twitch. "I can't send you home, but I can be here for you. Both of you. …You and I are all he has, in a world he once thought a second home. This is the least I can do for a friend."
Asuna opened her mouth to reply, before slowly closing it. "All he has, huh…?" Sighing, she nodded, and made no more comment as Kizmel settled in against Kirito. It wasn't a method she would've tried, but then Kizmel wasn't human. If this was how Dark Elves comforted friends, and it worked for Kirito, Asuna wasn't going to argue.
…I'm glad I met them, she thought, closing her eyes. Mother would hate this… that makes it all worth it….
December 15th, 2032
Sunrise scattered its light strangely through the pilothouse, filtered as it was through the semi-magical glasswood. Barely visible from their height, in the far distance, it glittered off the rolling white of the Cloud Sea, making for a dawn not quite like anything seen on Earth.
Normally, Kirito would never even have seen a sunrise. With a gamer's sleeping habits, even on school days he preferred to get up as late as possible. In Aincrad, with the game now his life, he'd had to adjust; and while he still had a preference for the night over the day—a sunny day was a sunny day, whereas Aincrad's twin moons and strange constellations made for a captivating night sky—he had to admit the Archipelago's dawn was striking.
As Asuna and Kizmel busied themselves stowing the Mistmoon cloth and anchors, Kirito settled into the pilot's chair and gently laid his hands on the wheel. He was a lot calmer than he'd expected, after the previous day's events. The rage from encountering Eugeo as an Integrity Knight had subsided, and even the nightmares hadn't been too bad. Waking up in the morning to discover Kizmel in his cot again had given him a bit of a start, but when even Asuna had only smiled enigmatically at the sight, he'd decided not to protest.
If his face had been bright red throughout breakfast, at least neither of the girls had teased him about it. And if Kizmel's presence had kept the nightmares at bay, he certainly wasn't going to complain.
I'm just glad they both seem to have forgotten my stupid line from last night. Note to self: engage brain before mouth.
If either Knight or Squire had remembered it, well, it looked like Asuna had forgiven it. From the snatches Kirito could hear from the deck, Kizmel was giving the musketeer instruction in what was expected of a squire in the Pagoda Knights. Given that they were going to be heading for a Dark Elf camp, he supposed it made sense. For his part, he figured it was about time to check his messages.
He had two. Squinting to read the projected characters against the dawn light, he found the first one was from Agil. [Thanks for saving our bacon yesterday,] the axeman had written. [I think we need to talk, when you've got the time. No rush; whatever quest you've got going, it already saved us all once. Do what you gotta do, and forget those guild idiots. Hope to see you around for more of the clearing this time, though!]
At least someone understood what was really up. Kirito felt a guilty relief that not everyone in the raid group had bought the "Beater" act—and even guiltier that Agil had no idea what was really driving him.
[Oi, Kii-bou,] Argo's message began. [I bet you've got a million questions. Meet me in Koriki when you've got the time. Standard rates, and a discount if you've got info to trade!]
Never a good sign when Argo was soliciting a client. But then, something weird was definitely going on with her, so Kirito was inclined to go along with it. If nothing else, he really wanted to know what was up with her being given a special quest to recreate an NPC faction. It sounded kind of similar to what he and Asuna had gotten into with the Elf War quest, and if the Rat had any tips, he wanted them. Preferably before something blew up in their faces, like what had happened to Isuke.
He didn't have much time to think about that, though, before Asuna and Kizmel finished exterior preparations and came back in. "Everything's shipshape outside, Kirito-kun," Asuna announced, sliding into her chair. "All set out there. Give me a second to rev the core crystals, and we're good to go."
"Indeed." Gracefully assuming her own position, Kizmel nudged the throttle forward and twitched the wing-sails, confirming everything had recovered from the minor damage sustained in the previous day's battle. "Everything seems to be in order here…. I can't wait to see my sister again, and introduce the two of you." She turned a bright smile on the two Swordmasters. "At least, I assume today's itinerary remains the same?"
Kirito opened his mouth to confirm it, but a chime from Asuna's console cut him off. He glanced at it in surprise, then quickly out the starboard window. Just rising into view was a familiar dark hull, engines running at full on a direct course for the Third Island. That's Moonshadow. What's going on?
Asuna quickly snapped on the ship-to-ship, and a familiar voice rumbled over it. "Pardon my lack of pleasantries, Moondancer, but this is an emergency. The Forest Elves are launching an air attack on the Lyusulan camp on Sandoria, and I can't catch them all myself. Can you assist?"
Kizmel inhaled sharply. "My sister—!"
Kirito was already spinning the wheel to starboard, letting the new balancers push Moondancer clear of the rogue island even before Kizmel fed power to the engines. "You're sure it's not Durendal, Captain Emlas?" he said, gaze darting around the sky.
"If you mean the scout ship Kales'Oh gave your people, no," the Dark Elf captain replied grimly. "I see no sign of humans, and in any case there are three ships. I very much doubt they would've provided Swordmasters so many, even in a ploy."
Kizmel shoved the throttle forward and set the wing-sails to catch the prevailing wind. "Three ships," she said through gritted teeth. "I didn't think they had so many on Niian. I doubt they have more… this is most likely an act of desperation. They're trying to destroy our camp before we can reach it."
"Can they?" Asuna asked sharply. "They used the Fuuma to take out the port on Niian."
"Our camp on Sandoria is above-ground, unfortunately. In a foot battle, I would put odds on our men. Two scouts and a light cruiser can bombard the camp with ease." Emlas' voice was tight with tension. "My Moonshadow can take the cruiser, now that we've finally finished repairs. Can you take the scouts?"
"We will," Kirito promised. Spinning the wheel back to port now that they were clear of the rogue, he brought Moondancer alongside the larger Lyusulan ship. "Just point the way."
"You have my gratitude… Captain."
Kirito did his best to focus on maintaining formation with Moonshadow. This would only be his second proper airship battle, after all—and concentrating on the helm distracted him from the disquieting speed of Kizmel's heart. He was used to her being the calmest of them, and in that moment she was anything but.
The two airships flew through the dawn sky, and he swore to himself they would save Kizmel's sister. After everything, he refused to let her down.
It didn't take long before three distinctly artificial shapes came into view. They'd been flying low, as close to the Cloud Sea as they could get without being devoured; now, closing in on Sandoria, they had to climb, arcing up in a curve that would bring them along the Third Island's coast. As Emlas had said, two of them were obviously scouts like Durendal, as well as a single light cruiser.
Emerald light abruptly lanced out from Moonshadow's bow. It missed the Forest Elf ships, but they obviously noticed it; the two scouts put on a burst of speed, while the cruiser broke away from the formation and soared into a steeper climb. Which made sense, Kirito thought. The scouts would be more than enough to bombard a camp, while the cruiser was much better suited to take on the attacker.
I wish we had another cruiser. No way I'd ask Coper for help, though, even if he was willing….
"We've got the cruiser," Emlas called, as Moonshadow's bow dropped. "Get those scouts, Moondancer!"
"Lá," Kirito replied, and only realized when Asuna shot him a surprised look that he'd spoken his assent in Sindarin. Dismissing that for the moment, he nudged Moondancer into a descending arc to intercept the scout ships. "We're on them. Asuna?"
She was already out of her chair and heading for the deck. "I'm on it!"
Last time, we ran from you, he thought, attention narrowing to the chase. This time, we're the hunters!
The scouts were faster and nimbler than the cruiser. Moondancer had an edge in raw engine power, and intercepting from above gave her an advantage in energy. Even as the pair of scouts tried to increase their own climb, Moondancer gained on them, and Kizmel's deft hand on the wing-sails allowed a tighter turn. If they were lucky, Kirito thought, they might even get in a good broadside hit.
From somewhere above and aft, there was a boom as Moonshadow and the Forest Elf cruiser exchanged fire. He ignored it, trusting Emlas and his crew, and focused on giving Asuna a good angle. The chase pulled up and around, even with Sandoria's shore, and for a split second Moondancer's bow was level with one of the scouts.
Asuna had been waiting. Twin green lances spat out from the deck gun, tattering the fringe of one scout's port wing-sail. Not a direct hit, not enough to take the ship out of the fight, but enough to get its attention, and make it just a little slower on the wing. The scout promptly tilted and returned fire from a chase cannon; not nearly as powerful as its deck gun, the bolt hit Moondancer's hull at an oblique angle and bounced.
Kirito could've sworn he felt a searing sensation at the impact. Ignoring it, he cranked the wheel harder to port, trying to turn inside the scout's radius. There's only so far we can go over Sandoria right now, he thought, dredging up his memories of the beta. There was that wyvern nest a little ways inland, I remember them eating a ship about this size. And they'll be heading for the Dark Elf camp. If they reach it, we've lost.
"The other scout is breaking away," Kizmel said tersely, even as Asuna fired again, this time blasting her target's pilothouse roof clean off. "It looks like they're continuing their mission."
Damn! "We can only attack one at a time anyway," he said, forcing calm into his voice, knowing she could feel his true tension. "We'll just have to finish the first one quick. Asuna!"
"Just get me a good angle," the musketeer replied coolly, rotating the deck gun to track the scout as best she could. "I've almost got—Kirito-kun, it's coming around!"
"I see it!" The scout had suddenly pulled into a steep climb to port, sacrificing momentum for a hard turn. It stalled at the top of the arc, slaloming in the air—bringing its own deck gun to bear. Swearing under his breath, Kirito turned Moondancer to present the narrowest target he could, while Kizmel yanked in the wing-sails. Asuna hauled her gun around, trying to lead the scout as it came down.
Two Wood-element guns fired as one. In the blinding green light, Kirito couldn't even tell which struck home, if either, for two precious, endless seconds. The belated boom didn't really tell him much, either, seeming to be in front of him and around him at the same time.
Then his vision cleared, and he saw the scout's bow and stern spinning away, no longer connected amidships. Asuna had hit it dead-center, and a gun that could blow the stuffing out of a Wild Hunt cruiser at the right angle had blasted the scout clean in half.
He tried not to think of his increasing suspicions about the nature of the world around him. Whether they were magical or just incredibly-advanced AI, there was a good chance the scout had only been crewed by NPCs, anyway. They've been attacking us first. Right now, we need to save Kizmel's sister!
Taking a second to flash Asuna a thumbs-up through the viewport, Kirito glanced over at Kizmel. "Where's the other scout?"
"That way," the elf girl replied tightly, pointing to the southern edge of Sandoria. "It disappeared into the mist. Kirito, we must hurry!"
Most of Sandoria was dominated by forests. The middle of the southern coast, if Kirito remembered correctly, was specifically known as the Forest of Wavering Mists. Normally, it would've held the start of Kizmel's quest; even in the changed retail version of SAO, he saw thick fog shrouding the entire area. Neither his Searching nor the boost from Moondancer's glasswood windows let him see very far into it.
"The area is protected by a forest-sinking charm," Kizmel told him, as if reading his mind. "More obvious than the charm hiding the outpost over Niian, but also much more effective. Forest Elves can navigate it well enough to find our camp, if they know it's there." She swallowed. "I don't know if humans can find their way at all."
Pausing only long enough to make sure the ship was stable, Kirito stood. "Take the wheel, then," he said firmly. "Get us to your sister, Kizmel. We will save her."
A grateful smile flickering across her tense face, Kizmel took his place. It was awkward, keeping one hand on the wheel while reaching across to her usual post to nudge throttle and wing-sails, but she managed. In seconds, Moondancer was racing just above the treetops, diving into the fog. "Thank you," she whispered. "…What are you going to do, Kirito?"
Checking his Anneal Blade and grapnel—noting with a grimace that the latter was in bad shape, after his clash with Eugeo—he headed for the deck. "Make sure we don't have any surprises, like after Asuna shot down that Wild Hunt cruiser," he said.
Kirito drew his sword, and stepped out into the deepening fog. At least one thing is normal. At this speed, we should've been in and out of the mist in a couple of seconds. I don't think we're in regular Aincrad anymore… if we ever were….
The Commander's tent vanished in green fire, scattering its guards in the explosion. Tilnel ran from it, trying to ignore the screams—the guards were only marionettes, and the knowledge that if intuition hadn't set her fleeing moments earlier she'd have died, instead, would've paralyzed her if she'd dwelt on it. She couldn't afford that, not if she wanted to live to see another day.
Not if I want to see Kizmel and Valak again. Sister, Husband, where are you?!
Tilnel wasn't a fighter. Dodging around the men-at-arms racing around the camp, abruptly turning away from her intended course when another cannon blast struck the ground, she couldn't help but think bitterly that this wasn't her place. She was an herbalist, not a knight, or even a man-at-arms. What was she supposed to do when the camp was being bombarded?
A third bolt crashed down, emerald lightning engulfing two swordsmen and half the dining tent. Tilnel swallowed hard, but ran on past; there was nothing she could do for the dead, and little for the wounded in the middle of an attack. She raced on for her own tent, where her medicine was, and prayed that somehow the Knights could do something.
Kizmel and Valak could've. I'm sure of it. But nothing had been heard of them, or Moonshadow, in over a month. The Commander, she knew, had written them off as lost when Kayaba sprang his trap and the Administrator strengthened the Skywalls. Tilnel wasn't willing to give up on them so easily—they'd been chosen for their mission for a reason—yet even she couldn't deny it was unlikely they'd reappear so conveniently.
Unlikely, but not impossible, she told herself, even as yet another cannon bolt struck the camp's wall. Something had taken down the Skywall the previous day, and if one of the ships seen since—and the one trying to destroy the camp at that very moment—belonged to Kales'Oh, the steel cruiser certainly didn't. The Forest Elves didn't control the skies. Moonshadow might yet return in time.
She tried not to acknowledge the part of her that did fear the worst. The part that had felt something wrong, hours after the trap was sprung.
"Tilnel!"
She stopped short, just before she would've been struck by a shot from the strafing scout's chasers. Shielding her face against the glare and debris, she turned to see Commander Savrak limping her way. Half his face was scorched, the other half covered in soot, but he, too, had escaped his headquarters' destruction. "Sir! You're wounded!"
"Never mind that!" he snapped, gesturing sharply with his sword. "This is no place for you, Herbalist! Get out before that scout comes back! If this keeps up, the camp is lost, and someone needs to report what happened—"
The same instinct that had propelled her from the Commander's tent brought Tilnel's head around, just in time to see the Kalessian scout coming around for another pass. Such a small ship, she thought, in the endless moments it took to settle its course. Moonshadow would've destroyed it easily. Yet against a camp with no artillery of its own, the scout might as well have been invincible.
The scout's deck gun was glowing, ready to unleash another bolt of magic fire. Tilnel tried to run, knowing it was already too late, that even if she dodged this one, she couldn't run forever—
A dark shape swooped in, directly above her. At the same time, green light flashed—at the Kalessian ship. Striking the scout straight on the bow, the newcomer's cannon tore through the ship, blasting it to pieces. Tilnel couldn't help a cry, shielding her face against the splinters that rained down on the camp; she cried out again, reflexively, as one of those splinters pierced her leg. Though there was no pain, she knew the injury was far from minor.
Yet the Forest Elf attack had been thwarted, somehow. Even as she collapsed to one knee, clutching her thigh, Tilnel knew she was safe. She'd have time to heal her wound, with the nature of the transitory world's bodies. All she needed to do was get to her tent, and it would be all right. Then she'd treat the other wounded, and find out what had happened.
Commander Savrak heaved a sigh of relief, looking up at the strange airship. "Well," he said heavily, "I have no idea who they are, but it seems we owe someone a debt. Come, Herbalist," he added, reaching for her hand, "let's tend to your injury. Best not to have our best healer out—"
Another bright flash. This time, a Sword Skill. Commander Savrak only had time for a brief shout of surprise as a heavy blow flung him away, sending him tumbling into the burning remains of the dining tent.
The Forest Elf who'd struck him limped closer. Burnt, with the transitory world's strange red patterns etched like blood over half his chest, he brandished a two-handed sword and glared down at her with one eye, the other covered in red. "You've made a pact… with dark forces," the Forest Elf growled out. "You've… killed many of us, this past month. But I will not die… uselessly."
Tilnel tried to scramble back. Her wounded leg wouldn't let her, reducing her to an awkward shuffle.
"Lyusulan dogs," the Forest Elf hissed, raising his sword over his head. "At least I die… taking another of you… with me—!"
An odd whistling noise, as something swung down from the airship above. A snap, like a broken cable. Then it was the Forest Elf's turn to be knocked off his feet, by a dark shape with a gleaming sword. Tilnel's rescuer hit the ground in a tumble, uttered an expletive she vaguely recognized as from a human tongue, and rolled to his feet. "Oh no you don't!" he snarled, sword swinging up over his shoulder. "Raaahhh!"
The Forest Elf, caught in a tumble himself, had no time to react. The dark stranger hurtled across the gap between them, low to the ground, and slashed his slim blade down the man's chest. The Forest Elf screamed, high and shrill—and fell slack. "Cold… iron…." he coughed out. "Lyusulan fools… you'll regret… this pact…."
Slumping, he abruptly shattered in a thousand azure pieces. Tilnel could only watch in horrified fixation. She'd heard from others how death occurred in the transitory world, but this was the first time she'd seen it for herself. There was something deeply disturbing about it. Impersonal. As if the Forest Elf had never even existed.
Then her rescuer straightened from the crouch his skill had left him in. Sweeping his sword briefly, up to the left and down to the right, as if flicking blood off it, he sheathed it and turned to face her.
A human, Tilnel realized with a start. Young, too—though she had trouble judging the ages of humans, short as their lives were. Clad in leather as black as his hair and eyes, long coat flowing in the wind, he cut an impressive figure. The ship that had brought him was settling to the ground behind him, only making the scene more dramatic A human, here, with such skill with a blade. He's no Integrity Knight. Which must mean….
Commander Savrak pushed himself to his feet, and picked up his saber. "A Swordmaster," he rasped, moving to stand protectively in front of her. "A human. Like Kayaba. Stay back!" He began to pull his blade back, a bright blue-white glow gathering around it. "Your kind has no more business here than—"
"Wait!" Tilnel blurted. "Commander, look closer. Isn't that…?"
There was a ring on the Swordmaster's right hand. Even from a distance, she recognized Lyusula's crossed scimitar and horn emblem on it. A sigil ring. Why does a Swordmaster have a Sigil of Lyusula? And—that gem. He has a dark star. Unless he stole those….
The Swordmaster raised his hands, empty. "I come in peace," he said—and Tilnel and Savrak both started in surprise, for he spoke in accented but clear Sindarin. "I am Kirito, a friend. Captain Emlas sent us. Though we were going to head here anyway. Um…." He peered at the two Dark Elves. Or rather, she realized, at her. "You look just like her…. You're Tilnel, right?"
Just like her? Tilnel heart rose, even as Savrak began to cautiously lower his saber. "Yes, I am," she said, not yet daring to hope, nor able to stop herself. "Does that mean you know…?"
"Sister!"
In an instant, the Swordmaster was forgotten. Fighting the wound in her leg, Tilnel forced herself up, arms opening to catch the Dark Elf that leapt from the airship and rushed her. Strong arms wrapped around her back, and relief flooded her as she held her sister tight. "Kizmel… you're here… you're alive…."
"I could say the same of you, Tilnel." Her twin's fingers combed through her hair; tears fell onto Tilnel's shoulder. "When Captain Emlas told us the camp was being attacked, I feared the worst. Especially since…."
Relief turned to ice at Kizmel's tone. No. Please, no. Pulling back, just far enough to look her sister in the eye, Tilnel whispered, "Valak…?"
The body felt no pain, in the transitory world. The heart was something else, and a spear of agony struck hers as Kizmel shook her head. "I'm sorry," her sister whispered. "I'm so, so sorry. We were attacked, that first day. After Moonshadow crashed, we sought out the Key, and found it, but the Forest Elves found us, too." Kizmel took a deep, shuddering breath. "I… was the only Knight who…."
Clutching her sister tight, Tilnel buried her face in her twin's shoulder, and cried. To have her sister back, after so much silence and fear, only to learn her husband had not come with….
Tilnel didn't know how long she held Kizmel, crying. Only when her sister gently pulled back, just a little, did she come back to the world at all. "I'm sorry, Sister," Kizmel whispered again. "But your wound… we need to tend it. I can't lose you, too."
Blinking against her tears, Tilnel finally saw the strange bar denoting her transitory body's health was dangerously short, her leg wound having seemingly worsened. She also didn't care. Almost. Valak… wouldn't want me to follow him. Not yet. Not when… when I am all Kizmel has.
Sniffling, she pulled herself back, accepting Savrak's help. Only then, as Kizmel stepped back, did she remember the Swordmaster, and notice another figure who'd come down from the airship.
Chestnut hair. Brown eyes. A rapier, and a pistol. Clearly a Swordmaster, and just as clearly wearing the armor of a squire of the Pagoda Knights. "Kizmel," she said slowly, looking over the strange humans. "Who are they?"
Kizmel grabbed the two humans by the shoulder, pulling them close to her, an act of physical affection that left Tilnel and Savrak both yet more surprised. "This is Kirito, privateer and captain of Moondancer," Kizmel said, with obvious pride. "And this is Asuna, my squire and apprentice Pagoda Knight. Without their aid, I, too, would've died the night Valak fell.
"They are my precious friends."
Author's Note:
Insert standard excuses here. Those who follow Monochrome Duet know my life has, as usual been crazy.
Have to admit, the chapter didn't advance the overall plot as much as I would have liked, but I think the pacing is at least a bit better than I've managed lately. A bit over 15K words is more concise than I've managed in ages. And even if the plot didn't get as much advancement as I hoped, I would like to think it at least did a decent job of wrapping up the Second Island arc's loose ends and introducing a few interesting questions. Not to mention bringing in Tilnel, finally! Not quite the last major character to be introduced, but she does more or less fill out the core cast.
For the record, I have about a third to maybe half of the next chapter plotted out—I've done a great deal of brainstorming since Chapter XI came out, but unfortunately most of it was for the Fourth Island and beyond. I do have the general theme of this arc figured out—I want to tie the various plot threads together better in general, and more specifically get back to showing other players in action—and I will be starting Chapter XIII soon. Just don't be too surprised if Duet's next chapter appears first. (I haven't started that one yet, but I have all but the specifics of individual battle scenes plotted out for it. Once I get down to it, I expect it to flow pretty smoothly.)
Quick note on the name of Eugeo's dragon: going by my rough Japanese, it should translate as "Blue Flower"; if someone with better Japanese finds I am incorrect, I will gladly rectify it.
Hm… I think that about covers things? Let me know if this was at all worth the wait, comrades. Oh, and expect a little something else from me on the Sixth. Not for Rebellion or Duet, but the first entry in an SAO side project I've been working on for awhile. Couldn't manage a Duet update for its anniversary—again—but as this will mark twenty years of fanfic writing for me, I wanted to recognize it with something. …I totally didn't plan on the Kirito/Kizmel vibes in that one, but whatever. I doubt anyone will complain.
Anyway. Tell me if this was good, bad, or die in a fire. I hope you all enjoy it, and I'll see you in my next update… whatever said update may be. -Solid