~ Chapter 12 ~

[ Recover ]

The worst was finally over.

Many are those who often say that so many things could happen in a single moment that only those who had been there to see it through to the end could truly understand. Even with twenty-four hours in a single day, adrenaline and a healthy dose of disorder can truly skew one's experience of the world and their interaction with time itself, to the point that it can leave some reeling in shock.

In this instance, he finally knows what it's like. After all, to have realized that everything had taken up just an entire day—from the start of the chaos to the fighting in-between and then the juxtaposition of peace—was greatly disorienting. A great part of him assumed that such a thing on this scale would take days. Months, even.

And yet, as he gazed upon the rotting flesh of the Million-Eyed from a safe distance, unmoving after having its core destroyed, he knew that his mind wasn't just making some false reality to deceive him.

They'd succeeded. And now, they're alive to tell the tale.

It was hard to believe it, even with the evidence right there, on display for all to see. The Million-Eyed will go down in stories for generations to tell, he was sure, remembered by many as what could have brought about the end of the world. That it was thwarted at all would surely turn it into a fairy tale of sorts, and long live the one who slew it. And the goddesses knew, he wouldn't be it.

Staring at his hands, of which he once brandished the Blue Rose Sword against the hordes of monsters that should have killed him as was the very same weapon that struck down the abomination's core, Kirito was just… speechless. The worst was over, but all that was left was the sense of disbelief and confusion as to what was meant to happen now. He was restless. He felt like he should be doing something.

Fanatio wouldn't allow him. Said that he'd done his fair share of work, so he should take the time to rest up while the knight took up the gross job of carving open the beast's flesh and freeing the people. Many came out confused, disgusted, but no less relieved to be alive and well.

He wished he could have helped, but to his shame, he was pretty glad he didn't. He doubted he had the energy to move a muscle. And even now, everything just burnt. Physical exertion to the absolute extreme hadn't taken its toll earlier, what with the adrenaline in his veins. Only now, properly relaxed and allowed to feel again, he definitely could. No way he was going to do anything with his body screaming for rest.

'There's a lot of people,' the boy turned his gaze to the side, catching the relieved gaze of his best friend. Eugeo looked far less worn for wear, although with how his right hand seemed to tremble a bit, he'd played just as much as a role as he had. 'Somewhere close to four hundred.'

'Four hundred? ' He returned, eyes going wide. 'That's so many…'

'It really is. From what I heard, some are natives to Norlangarth while others were travelling merchants. There are even those that are just residents of other kingdoms. Guess they got caught up in this mess as well.'

That's insane… They went with a party of four people (excluding Fanatio's dragon and Selena) to fight the Million-Eyed. And now, they'll be travelling to Zakkaria with a number one hundred times the original.

A flash of flaxen hair in the distance eases some of that surprise. Eugeo's brothers were there, in the flesh and physically unharmed. They were being guided by Charlotte to someplace to rest up, grouped up with the rest of the children—those without their parents or families. The others stuck close to their parents or older relatives.

As he searched the sea of heads, all composed of young to the old, from soldiers and farmers to even traders, there was no doubting it. There were just so many here, the difference in their skin tones and clothing and accents enough to confirm to him that not everyone here are Norlangarth…eans?

That made him wonder just how the hell the Million-Eyed had managed to gather so many victims, and all without anyone being the wiser. He'd thought the Axiom Church would have been able to find it much sooner, but that it gave them just as much trouble spoke of the creature's cunning.

…That he called a worm, of all things, cunning speaks volumes of just how nonsensical this whole situation is.

Right now, they were crowding nearby Murasaki, who kept a watchful eye over every single person. Meanwhile, Fanatio continued his efforts in carving out the Million-Eyed's body to help the others out, with several few assisting her in the process. Some then guided the freed victims over to the crowd in front of Charlotte, keeping order and making a note of each person.

'If we need to march for someplace that can house all these people, Zakkaria's the closest from here,' Kirito said, getting a mental hum in return. 'Think it's big enough to accept everyone here? '

'That might be a little difficult. A city's space is only prepared to host its own residents and maybe an additional few. A sudden influx of people of this size might pose a problem for them,' an uneasy look washed over his expression, as he tried to make heads and tails of the logistics. 'Some might need to come with us to Rulid if they can't fit all the people. Or they might ask them to set up camp outside their walls. It wouldn't be dangerous, per se, and the town guards would protect them. Even so…'

'Well, let's not worry about that. Fanatio's an Integrity Knight. He'll figure out what to do later. Maybe he'll send in a request to the Axiom Church to ask for help. They'll know what to do.'

'Perhaps…'

Eugeo was too kind. He'd always known that. That's just the kind of person he is since he was little, and the fact that he was so worried over everyone's wellbeing only showed that, going so far as to ponder on ways that these people could be helped.

But there was nothing that they could realistically do in this situation. They were just a bunch of kids. Sure, they'd managed to pull off an astounding victory against a big ass monster, but that was the extent of their skills. This situation required more finesse and authority. Might as well leave that to the adults.

The muttering from the crowd slowly came to a halt. Kirito picked up on it immediately, noticing that Fanatio was moving towards his dragon, Charlotte nearby. The knight's armour was visible, even from this distance, proud silver steel that cemented his authority. "It seems that everyone have finally been accounted for. I thank you all for your patience. Are there any injured among yourselves?"

Though it was clear as day that no one was, there might be some sort of bodily discomfort that could be an underlying condition of something far more serious. However, when it was clear that no one made any sort of complaint, it was likely that everyone were healthy and alive. Doesn't mean that they wouldn't be getting examined once they arrive in the town, though.

After some time, Fanatio resumed speaking. "Now then. While I'm certain many of you are confused as to what will happen to you now, I must ask that you be patient and come with us to Zakkaria, which is northeast from here. It will at least be half a day's march, but we shall make stops every single hour or two to rest and recuperate before we continue," several people muttered in concern. "It is necessary, both for your safety and for me to find time to reach out to the Axiom Church to request assistance. I understand it isn't preferable, but for your sakes, please be patient with these arrangements—"

"—And you needn't worry about your safety. Myself and my companions shall be present to protect you, but these lands are typically safe from beasts. Even so, I will ask that you do not stray from our group too much. Do I make myself clear?"

No one complained. They all understood the necessity of this, which Kirito appreciated. For all that Fanatio was working hard to help them to the best of his abilities, it would be really good if they don't give him so much hassle.

Make this as smooth as this could go, which would make it much faster for all of them to get back home. He had very little doubt such was the hope on everyone's minds.

"Very well," he turned his gaze towards someone. It took him a moment to realize that it was him that Fanatio was staring at. "Boys. You two will ride with me."

"Us? Is that okay?"

"You two have exerted yourselves in the fight. You needn't push yourselves any more than you already have. Unless something of importance occurs, then it would be preferable if you save your energy now."

He exchanged glances with Eugeo. Neither were certain, but they decided that they may as well oblige. Not like there was much to do.

And so, he sat atop Murasaki behind Fanatio with Eugeo behind him in turn, staring ahead at the horizon and the long stretches of the earth beyond. The land untouched by the destruction of the Million-Eyed's rampage was vibrant green and beautiful, though everywhere around them was upturned. Turned brown from the sheer upheaval and destruction, hot red from where the blasts had touched.

With but one silent look over his shoulder, peering at the crowd staring at them, Murasaki let out a soft coo before it began moving forwards, signalling their march for Zakkaria.

'They're watching us.'

He wished he hadn't told Eugeo, if only because he'd suddenly become self-conscious and was looking nervously behind him at the crowd that followed after them. To the very back was Charlotte, who still proved herself ready to intercept any danger for how alert she looked.

'Likely watching you, for you seem so young yet possess a sword on your person, ' Selena responded. 'They are curious as to why you wield a weapon. And Fanatio did call upon you to join him upon Murasaki. Likely under the assumption that you had taken part in the combat. '

'Which isn't wrong.'

'But also hard to imagine. Not to bring insult upon the both of you, not after all your hard work. But this is simply the people's perception of you as a child, no older than eleven years, who should not seem like the kind of person to fight against anything. Silly, of course, but most people would assume an adult—or at least a young adult of sorts; someone tall and strong to wield a blade against such a dangerous monster. Not a child.'

The reason was pretty solid, now that he considered it. In fact, were he a civilian amongst their ranks, he would have questioned the child carrying a sword on his person. Had he truly fought against the monster? Was he truly capable of such a feat? He seemed so small, after all. It just seems impossible.

Oddly enough, he didn't seem all that offended. He hardly believed that he had actually cut that thing down himself. It felt like a dream.

But looking behind him to gaze upon the unmoving carcass of the Million-Eyed, which hours ago had been wreaking havoc across the Human Empire and is now slowly rotting away into the air…

'I'd believe it if it was Fanatio who killed that thing too.'

'And the people here automatically assume that Sir Fanatio had been the one to fell the beast. Pray you do not hold it against him or the people.'

Bah, that would just be ridiculous. They were terrified, exhausted and confused. He'd let them think whatever they wanted if it helped them feel at ease. He wasn't petty enough to sulk if he wasn't getting attention for what he'd achieved in the fight.

And it was probably a better idea for them to assume that it was Fanatio who cut the beast down. Integrity Knights are powerful, after all; the paragons of humanity. By process of elimination, he would be the one out of the four people that saved them to have killed the Million-Eyed. And that would give them a sense of reassurance, knowing that they were in safe hands.

And he certainly hoped he could let Fanatio do the fighting, if it ever came to it. The adrenaline was all but gone now, so the fatigue and the pain was really trying to knock him down. But he really wanted to be awake until they reach the town walls. They'd be much safer in there.

The travel had been just as long as Fanatio said, following a specific gravel road that stretched all the way to their destination. Two stops in total after five hours of travelling each with at least two hours of rest, mostly to regain themselves and send out some hunters to gather food. Others would collect water from the rivers, and several others made to procure firewood. Little work.

He and Eugeo never did anything beyond stand guard and watch out for any dangers in the vicinity. Some were confused as to why he had a sword on his person, especially with how short he was, but he opted to just leave them with their assumptions. Those could prove to make more sense than the truth itself.

Thankfully, the area was relatively peaceful, and there weren't anyone who'd reported of any dangers that they'd encountered along the way. He'd take that over a gigantic worm any day.

By the time they reached civilization, the light of Solus had begun to set, casting them beneath a sky of indigo and scarlet. Faint glimmers of stars gazed down upon them as they slowly revealed themselves while the winds picked up and sang from the distance, accompanying them every step of the way. The lack of beasts to chase them down might have been a result of all of them being scared off or killed in the earlier chaos, so the trip was as safe as it could be.

And honestly, he was a little too busy being amazed by the sheer size of the town before him, feeling more than a little daunted by what they stood before. 'Rulid's really got nothing on Zakkaria.'

The first thing he noticed was how it got darker, the shade cast upon them by the walls that daunted around the town staring them down as the ants they were in comparison to its grand size. They were dark grey, worn in places and grown dull in colour over the years they served to guard the people. It still stands, however—a testament to the people's architectural knowledge—towering almost half as tall as the Gigas Cedar, completely surrounding the town on all sides. It was an even rectangular in shape, its size more or less five times that of Rulid (and how insane is that? It might be a 'town' in name, but he most certainly would feel as if he'd stepped foot in a city!).

Sounds from the front alerted him of the numerous guards at the ready. They must have heard of the commotion and were trying to figure out what was going on, judging from the large number of people travelling here. Torches were set up in the perimeter, providing the area a glow of light that would serve trading caravans well at night, which they followed.

He felt himself go tense. With all of them grouped up like that, it looked as if they were preparing to fight back if things ever get dirty. Even if he logically knew such wouldn't be the case, it was doing nothing to help his nerves. Not after everything that happened.

'We just need to trust Fanatio. He'll know what to say to them.'

Fanatio brought them to a stop a Mel or so in front of the gate. Murasaki cooed softly as its rider dismounted it and stood at the fore of the group, looking every bit the regal knight that he is. With the cape and the shiny armour, he really does look the part.

There were sounds of movement from beyond the walls. It takes a moment, at least five minutes or so, before a smaller side door is swung open as a hardened guard walks towards them, flanked by two of his men. Must be their leading commander, for the scars upon his face leaves no room for the experience he accumulated, his hair greying and charcoal eyes sharp. Behind and to his sides, the two younger men were of brown hair, looking like brothers. All of them donned red armour, brown trousers and tanned shirts beneath their chestplates.

"Hail, guards of Zakkaria," Fanatio's voice, though it was not a shout, was enough to silence the soft muttering from the crowd behind him. It was firm and tempered. "I am Integrity Knight Fanatio Synthesis Two, of the Axiom Church."

"And I am Ozwalt, commander of Zakkaria's knights," he greeted with a bow, the other two mimicking the gesture. "We welcome you to Zakkaria. You must have made quite the trip, with quite the entourage. What might your business here be?"

"I am certain it hadn't escaped your notice, but you are aware of the black beast in the distance?"

"The massive worm. A harbinger of death and destruction, if it's anything to go by," Ozwalt nodded, looking somewhat nervous. "Might I know what that thing is, sir knight?"

"I myself am not completely certain of its origin. All that we could ascertain at the time was that it was moving in Zakkaria's direction," the mention of such has the three knights tensing. One of them even went pale in the face—completely understandable, considering just how massive that thing is. Had it arrived at its destination, Kirito doubted any of them could have possibly done a thing to slay it. Thousands would have died. "However, myself and my companions succeeded in exterminating it. The people here are victims of the beast, and we brought them here for their protection."

Surprise was apparent on their expressions. "Y-You killed it?" One of the younger knights asked, awed.

"We did. It had been a difficult battle, and much of the environment was destroyed in our struggles, but we eventually managed to locate a weak spot within its body and defeat it."

"Ahh… T-That is good news. Incredibly good news indeed," the relief on the chief's face was sincere. "Our town had been in chaos mere moments ago. We'd been preparing to evacuate the citizens. We doubted we could have been able to fell it. We are in your debt for killing it," he bowed once more. "I am certain the people of Zakkaria will be pleased to hear of such."

"Their gratitude isn't necessary. We are simply happy to prevent a greater tragedy from taking place. Even so, might we trouble you for accommodation for the time being? There are many here, so I will need time to organize messengers and transportation to send them home."

"Not at all! We'd be honoured to serve our saviours," with a louder voice, he yelled. "We welcome Sir Fanatio and his entourage into Zakkaria, as guests and our saviours! They will be treated with full respect and honour during their stay here for their service to our empire and to her people!"

The two knights behind him snapped quick salutes, reinvigorated, before rushing back into the town. It was a second later before the mighty gate was finally drawn up, creaking all the way and rumbling in a daunting manner that Kirito couldn't help but gawk as he watched it. And, judging by the amazed looks from the civilians behind him, so were they.

Well, at least they wouldn't be camping outside.

Zakkaria, though a great town in its own right, doesn't exactly have much taverns or inns to serve everyone. They tried to prepare rooms for families, the young and the elderly. The others, on the other hand, slept in the outdoors. Zakkaria's guards were quick into action, pitching up tents in an appropriately-sized land to the eastern side. Medics were quick to show up to treat any injured and run investigations over them, while cooks and servants showed up to begin preparing food, bedding and clothes for their group.

They were generous. Amazingly so. He felt a little bad that they had to trouble these people like this, but he still recognized how important this was to both parties; the victims because they do need the help, and the people of Zakkaria as a show of honouring their gratitude.

So it was that he was now seated on the ground in a tent, lit up by a single lantern hoisted up on the ceiling, giving the interior a soft amber glow. Two sleeping bags were provided; one for himself and another for Eugeo. He was dressed up in some fresh new garbs, his old clothes far too torn up and sullied to be worn again. In front of him were a few empty bowls, them being the only evidence that they'd just eaten stew prepared by a few cooks.

Now was the time for rest, and his body was deeply appreciating it, not willing to give up the opportunity to just relax. If things get hectic the next day, then might as well get all the rest he needs now, lest he suffer for it afterwards.

"Today sure was a hectic day," he turned his gaze to his side, black eyes meeting green eyes. "And here I thought I'd be living out a peaceful life. Apparently not."

"Goblins, a dragon, a big ass monster… Yeah, things got crazy. Now that things are calming down a fair bit, I'm really going to use that moment to cool down," Eugeo chuckled back in agreement. "Did you get to see your brothers just now?"

"I did. Euden and Eugene hadn't been hurt at all, and nothing seemed off about them."

"That's good," he grinned back. "What're they doing now?"

"They're currently asleep. Someone set them up a place in a nearby inn. Guess the walk must have tired them out—well, just about everyone, really."

"We did walk far, yeah. But the fact that we arrived here in the same day is a good thing. I doubt anyone would have been fine camping in the outdoors."

"I mean, we'd have Charlotte-san and Sir Fanatio to watch over us…"

"Pro'lly, but let's just not think about that. Not when we're already inside a town, warm, full-bellied and on comfy sleeping bags."

"Heh, of course," chuckled Eugeo. "And how about you? Are you okay?"

"Physically exhausted all the same, but with some rest, I'm feeling a little better," he choked back a yawn. "Although, I'm definitely going to sleep the night away into next century, I'd bet. Tired doesn't begin to describe me."

"Same here… Even if it was technically Selena who did all the work."

'I'd like to think not,' the dragoness in question retorted. 'Each one of us played a part in the Million-Eyed's defeat. Both you and I supported Kirito from a distance. Do not undermine your efforts.'

"From a distance? You mean 'up-close'! I mean, imagine my surprise when you practically ran straight at me while I was busy fighting all those things it spawned! Like, damn!"

"Selena said I needed to get close to you in order to freeze the monsters," the blond shrugged one shoulder back.

"Well, a little warning would have been nice…"

"Ironic, coming from the guy who practically ran in swinging," sweat-dropped his friend, before a curious look overtook his expression. "About that… how do you feel now? Do you feel stronger? You killed a lot of monsters, after all."

"You know that's not how things work," Kirito shook his head. "Killing something only raises your authority, not your body strength. And since I used the Blue Rose Sword, my «Object Control Authority» went up."

"By how much?" That prompted him to draw forth a 'Stacia Window. Eugeo moved beside him to stare at it—and the sheer second it took for his expression to make a quick one-eighty from curiosity to complete disbelief was almost amusing. "Eighty-seven?!"

"It was fifty after I killed Gabura," he said with a nonchalant hum, dispelling the projection with a wave of his hand. "I guess I levelled up a lot, considering how many spawns I killed. Plus, destroying the Million-Eyed's core must have contributed a lot of points there."

"Wow… That's insane," he muttered. "Do you think there are people who manage to reach that high of an authority level in their lifetime?"

"Integrity Knights, perhaps? Or some high-ranking fighters who've spent almost the entirety of their lifetimes fighting or killing others and monsters. By then, it might not be impossible to imagine that they'd have raised their «Object Control Authority» all the way in the hundreds."

"Yeesh… And to think you're on their level now…"

Huh. Now that he put it like that, that does sound pretty insane. And to think he's only eleven.

Most eleven-year-olds would be busy doing whatever calling they'd been given. Perhaps running across the forests and playing games, getting scolded by their parents and maybe develop a kid's crush. Not get into fights with monsters the likes of which seem more fitting in an author's storybook.

He could easily go back to that life. And perhaps, had Alice not been taken away, that would have been his life. The kind of life that he would have seen as boring but not at all life-threatening. The kind that he'd come to appreciate and accept with time, living it out to the fullest. He'd work the Gigas Cedar, find a woman to love, have a son or a daughter, watch them grow up as he nears his death bed, and move on.

That was a life that could have been his, but now… well, he'd doubted he'd be able to return to that once more. Never again.

"What happens now?"

Kirito hummed at first, not knowing how to answer that particular question. The obvious thing to say was that they waited for Fanatio to handle matters. The Axiom Church would likely send some of its knights to assist them, and everyone could go back home, including them.

But precisely because it was that obvious that he chose not to repeat that to him. What Eugeo sought to hear was of something else completely.

"I mean, people are going to be so confused as to why you've got such a high «Object Control Authority» in the first place. And sometime soon, you'd be able to fell the Gigas Cedar. And then… what comes next?"

"…We go to Centoria."

"Why?"

That was the hardest part. Explaining the matter to his best friend had been difficult from that single night, and though Eugeo had been patient with him all the way, it still ate up at him on the inside for keeping it from him for so long.

Eugeo deserved to know, that much was fact. They had fought together, after all, and there was a good chance that the two of them would have to go together—he hoped so, at least. Having his presence would mean so much.

Ultimately, though, he couldn't say it. Not yet. "I promise I'll tell you after we cut down the Gigas Cedar," he settled for those words instead. "It's… difficult."

Rather than get upset or push him for details, his best friend simply accepted it with a nod. "Alright. I can tell it's pretty serious to you, so whenever you're ready to tell me, I'll wait for you until then," and then, with a little smile, he added: "Don't rush yourself, alright?"

"I wish I could. You have every right to know, and I should have told you from the very beginning, but… yeah. When I'm ready, I'll tell you," he looked away. "Thanks."

"Just so we're clear, I will be involved in whatever's bothering you right now, right?"

"That's the plan."

"Keep it that way. I don't feel very confident leaving you to go off to some distant place all on your own. You might lose your way."

"Then I guess I'll be relying on you for a lot longer, buddy. Don't fail me now, yeah?"

"Pfft, when have I ever?"

Giggling like the two children they are, it was a brief respite from all the sheer madness that they had to endure, that which left them feeling a lot lighter than they did previously. Even Kirito, with the worries of the promise he made and the fought he'd been a part of, was absolutely relaxed now, glad for his friend's presence.

'My, aren't you two close? ' Tittered Selena. 'Camaraderie with another soul… I admit that I'm somewhat envious. Though I wasn't unfriendly with my fellow Cardinal Dragons, we never had much time to communicate, considering how we oversee different empires. I… miss them. '

"Are they…" He struggled to say it, but Selena must have understood him either way.

'Yes. I… We were each slew. Cut down by… ah, never mind. That doesn't matter, ' he picked up on her hesitance, but chose not to comment about it. 'Either way, we have been dead for decades now.'

"And how come you're still around?"

'I said it, did I not? In my final breath, I was heartbroken. Grief turned into anger, and I must have cursed my murderer to my very end, ' she sounded disappointed in herself, and he wasn't sure what to say. 'That negativity of mine must have eventually formed the apparition that you fought, I'm not sure. It's the only theory I could come up with. I'm sorry. '

"Well, no use worrying about hypotheses at this point. You're here with us, and you helped us plenty of times," Kirito said. Eugeo grinned in agreement. "So thank you for that."

'Ah… O-Of course. '

"Actually…" Eugeo began, with a curious tone. "How likely do you think that your friends are also alive? Being kept sort-of-alive as curses?"

'That… might not be impossible, though I am unsure. It felt like I had fallen into a deep sleep, then woken up all of a sudden when my curse came to life. By then, I attached myself to Eugeo to assist you. '

Huh… It's not entirely out of the realm of possibility. Considering how Selena's soul managed to remain in this plane, the others' might, too.

And try as she might to stay grounded to reality, there was no missing the hopeful tone in her voice, masked by doubt that he manages to see through only because he noticed her initial pause. He certainly hoped that they are around. Would be nice for Selena to see her friends again.

Then again, even if they were, they'd have to find the last place they'd been—and those are in the other three empires. Kirito doubted they'd have the real opportunity to travel to the other empires at all. Perhaps someday when they're older, but in the near future? Not at all.

He turned his gaze to the tent flaps just in time to watch Charlotte come inside, donning a simple undyed dress that someone must have offered her while her clothes were taken away to be washed. The change in colour of her clothes was enough to throw him off for a moment, but for the very recognizable black hair that curls at the ends.

"Boys," she greeted. "And Lady Selena. I pray all of you are well?"

'We are, thank you. And yourself, Charlotte? '

"I am no worse for wear than the two of you."

"Sure you ain't?" Kirito said with a little grin. "You had to fight off waves after waves of monsters to keep the Million-Eyed busy. You and Fanatio both."

"Perhaps, though I can only imagine your challenges were no less easier than ours. You needn't recount your tale for me tonight," she said when he was about to do just that. "All of us are exhausted. The night should be our time to rest, and nothing else."

"Well, if you're sure."

"I am. And if you don't mind, I would be joining you two in your tent for the night. I was offered stay in the nearby inn, but I offered it to a family of three. The space would be wasted on a single person."

Kirito hummed. "Not much space, but I guess it'll be enough for the three of us."

"That's not—"

"Naw, naw. It's not any trouble for the both of us. Eugeo and I are small kids, after all! What's so hard about trying to compress us a little closer to one another? Pare down on space to give you enough sleeping space."

"That wouldn't be too bad," Eugeo made a sound of agreement. "Although, let us clean up first. We'd eaten dinner earlier."

"Leave that to me, boys. I will be quick."

"You don't… Okay, alright, you can. Thank you."

So it was that Kirito, once they'd settled down and gotten everything pushed aside, found himself lying on his back beside his best friend, Charlotte at least a hand's width or so to his right. She'd turned off the lantern hanging off the roof of the tent, casting them in a quiet darkness, the only glow of light coming from the outside.

And, against his expectations, he felt like he could actually fall asleep.

It felt so odd, as he'd been so stressed over the weeks regarding all that transpired, the peak being the night he'd killed Gabura in that forest. At least, he thought so, and then the Million-Eyed revealed itself and his heart was endlessly beating in his ears as they fought to slay it.

With that over with, he felt like all the stress he had earlier was now just… gone. At least, it felt that way, even if he was sure it was merely muted for the time being and might someday return to him when he least expects it.

His mind refused to care. And as drowsiness eventually overwhelmed him, his consciousness slipping away into the ether, sleep came all too easily.

4th day of the 11th Month – HEC, 372

Zakkaria

Three days had passed since the incident, and though they could have easily returned to Rulid on their own, Charlotte bade them wait for Fanatio to see matters concludes before they could make the trip back home.

It was… suffice to say, it was inaccurate to say that it was completely peaceful. Though things were over, the noble overseeing Zakkaria was still working alongside Fanatio to reach out to the Axiom Church to arrange transportation to come pick up their people. He might then be summoned by the pontifex to give a more detailed report on the incident.

In the meantime, the people of Zakkaria were so hospitable. No resources had been spared in keeping all of them warm and fed. Simple comfort the likes of which would be hard to get in the wilderness were now offered to them so generously by the residents.

Good deeds will always be met with equal compensation. That meant that the victims of the Million-Eyed pitched in to help wherever they can, be it with moving items, helping out in the farms and more. It was such a sign of unity and ease of cooperation that he appreciated a lot.

And he would have joined, were it not for the fact that he was sort of useless in pretty much most stuff outside of fighting and tree-cutting (and with Zakkaria being the closest town to Rulid, regular trading caravans often bring wood of fine quality here, whereas Zakkaria would supply his village with processed metals and medicine which could not be produced within the village).

So it was that he and Eugeo just often spent their time with the latter's brothers, checking in with them every now and then. The two boys were thankfully alright, and they'd even made friends with the other young kids around here, which is good. At least they're not stressed.

That has been the way things have been for these past three days. Not much to do around town outside of seeing the sights. Since Fanatio barred him and Eugeo from doing any physical work, it was all he could do to try and stave off his boredom any way he could.

Honestly, he was kind of hoping that they could just go back to Rulid by now. Things like this would take time, he knew, but the faster they get back, the faster he could stop Sulinea from likely imploding. Who knows what that girl will do once they return?

And there were all the other kids in the church. He wasn't sure what Sister Azalia would say, but she'd be happy to see him again. Selka might be, too, even if he wasn't sure he'd be ready to look her in the eyes again. Sulinea was predictable, Uncle Orick would be glad to have his sons back even if he wouldn't show it, and…

"Tomorrow is our likely date of departure."

"Uh deh, bwah?"

Blinking out of his aimless staring, he turned around and was faced with the visage of silver steel. Even if he couldn't make out his features, he could sense amusement in his tone, approaching the boy who sat on a barrel overlooking Eugeo being dragged around by his brothers and playing pretend as knights and monsters (waving sticks around and not actual swords). Their exuberant laughter filled the air like the toll of bells.

"We are?" He asked.

"Indeed. The Axiom Church has responded in kind, and are sending twenty caravans here—five for each empire—and every five will be overseen by a single Integrity Knight. It would be necessary for the people's protection, as you would understand."

Such a gesture was way more than he'd expected, which he technically should have considering just how many people there were. And he knew that such would put the people's hearts at ease. "Really? That's… Thanks. I'm sure the people would feel much safer that way."

"But of course. Our duty is to the people. Their safety is paramount. The wilderness, as we've seen, is rife with dangerous creatures the likes of which we may not be so familiar with, so any measures taken to mitigate the danger to their lives is necessary."

True that. After having witnessed the Million-Eyed, he doubted he'd ever feel safe walking outside of the village walls ever again. Goddesses know just what lie beneath the surface, or out in the skies.

"Even so, let's not allow paranoia to cloud our minds. I am certain that this will be a one-time occurrence," Fanatio said. "Monsters like these are exceptionally rare. In fact, there'd never been records of an absurdly large monster such as this spotted in the Human Empire."

"Makes you wonder if it's what the people in the Dark Territory have to face on a daily basis…"

"Unlikely, though it would be…" He paused, as if searching for his words. "It would be incredibly unfortunate."

Some surprise filled Kirito at hearing the genuine sympathy in the knight's tone. That it was possible for a knight to feel such for the enemy was unexpected, but Kirito opted not to scorn him for that. In fact, wasn't he feeling the exact same? If anything, he was relieved. It meant that he was compassionate. He appreciated that more than anything else.

"Well," Kirito began, steering the conversation in a different route. "All I'm hoping for is a moment of peace. I'm not sure I'm all too excited to hop back into the action."

"Agreed. This was certainly far and above what my usual duties entail," Fanatio commented with a sigh. "Patrolling the empires seems not so tiresome as I often think them to be, now."

"But hey, think about it like this. Now, your fellow knights will be a lot more impressed that you had a hand in killing such a massive beast. They'll be singing praise of you for days to come."

Exasperation and amusement blended into a sharp scoff as Fanatio shook his head. "I pray such would not be the case."

Kirito chuckled along. A part of him marvelled at how conversational he was being with an Integrity Knight, of all people. And the fact that Fanatio didn't seem at all like the stiff and no-nonsense knight image that he'd come to believe his whole life. Right now, it just feels like he was talking to another person without a care.

Perhaps the battle had done much to strengthen their bonds. In that case, he wasn't sure what to feel, considering that he'd somehow ended up befriending an Integrity Knight, but there could be worse, he supposed.

"…Actually, Sir Fanatio," he began, chewing on his inner cheek. "I… think I owe you an apology."

"An apology?" He asked, sounding surprised. "What for? I can't recall a moment you'd slighted me in the slightest."

"It was when you were trying to stop me from running to Eugeo's and Charlotte's help. I said a lot of things I shouldn't have said to you. I'm sorry. I… was a little prejudiced, I admit."

"It's fine. You were upset, and tensions ran high. I wouldn't blame you for anything you said," he shook his head. "Though, if you do not mind my asking, you mentioned 'prejudiced'. What do you mean?"

Alice. "It's unfair of me to say."

"Is it? Whatever the issue may be, that does not mean you are unallowed to be upset. One is entitled to their feelings, no matter what it may be. To take that away is only a dictator's work. So please, do not think it wrong to feel what you do feel."

Even if it was a bad emotion, he appreciated his kind words. "Thank you. But I still think I shouldn't have painted you with the same brush as I did the other knight. You didn't deserve it."

"The other knight?"

Kirito nodded without facing him. His eyes were fixed on Eugeo, playing the role of a monster now after his brothers and their newly-made friends managed to wear him down enough to have him join them. As it was, he wasn't forcing himself to extreme means, even if a part of Kirito worried for him.

No. He shook off that concern. Eugeo would know his limits better than anyone else. And no one were forcing him to do too much, either assuming that he was still tired from the fight or knowing of his arm's injury. Whatever it was, he'd be okay.

"It's a long story. Are you sure you want to listen to it now?"

"Hmm. Well, I have duties to see to, but I have time to spare. I'm certain the nobles won't be in a panic with me absent," that got him to smile, even if it didn't reach his eyes. "I would be honoured to listen to you, Kirito. Please."

"…Alright."

It doesn't take too long to recount the story. So far, he can only remember having told Charlotte this, which would make Fanatio the second person he'd ever confided in about this. A real surprise, if there was ever one.

Fanatio's face is hidden behind his helmet. Doesn't help that he keeps silent all the while, too. The boy finishes his tale with a sigh. The pain wasn't as bad as before, but at least it's there. A reminder that he hadn't forgotten Alice, nor forgotten the guilt he felt that day.

"I…" Fanatio was the first to break the silence. "I didn't know. I'm so sorry."

"It wasn't your fault," was Kirito's immediate answer, smiling ruefully at the knight. "Even if it was, what I could possibly do? Stories always paint the picture of a man taking revenge, but killing another person is taboo. And I… I don't blame him. Deusolbert was only doing his duty. Nothing more."

"Even so, it must have been so difficult," iron creaked as his hands balled. "To watch your friend be taken away… I dread to imagine what that might have been like. Though the fact that you tried to strike him does not surprise me. You do seem like the kind of person for action."

"Not sure if you're complimenting me or not, but yeah, I guess I am," he snorted. "Still, I should have thought better than that. If I did hit him, I would have been charged with assault, and then I'd have to be killed alongside Alice. And then Eugeo would be left alone. I…" He bit back a curse. "Goddesses, I was a damned idiot."

"Then it was good that you didn't succeed, then, though what happened to your friend was less than fortunate," Fanatio paused for a moment, then resumed speaking. "For what it's worth, I am sorry for what happened to your friend."

"I'm… not over it, but it's like I said. Deusolbert was doing his duty. As much as I hate him, I know it's petty, and I'll acknowledge the fact that he keeps us, the common people, safe on a daily basis."

Fanatio's posture shifted, almost as if he was taken aback. "You are a lot more mature than I'd given you credit for."

"Well, it's already happened, didn't it? No amount of complaining will bring her back, so all I can realistically do is make sure that mistake doesn't repeat itself," obsidian eyes were firm, determination coursing through him as he stared forwards. "No matter what, I won't allow it."

Someone cried out in surprise when Eugeo suddenly lifted both Euden and Eugene onto his shoulders. His right arm strained, but he pushed on, roaring loudly as he charged towards the pretending knights. Everyone scattered in giggles and screams, all while the twins whooped and cheered.

This very moment has to be protected, no matter what. And to do that, he has to make sure no one has to suffer like Alice had. It would be a promise he'll keep, if he hoped to make sure families get to stay together forever. That seemed like an ideal worth fighting for.

"I understand you far better now. Who you are, why you chose to fight, the reason for your initial hostility. And know now that I bear no grudge towards you. And though you are adamant on deflecting my words, I will say this once more," Kirito turned his head to face the knight, and was surprised when he pressed his hand against his chestplate, in what could have been described as a salute. "You have my gratitude for your assistance, Kirito, in rescuing all of these people. This effort was made successful thanks in part due to your cooperation, as well as your companions. As a knight of this empire, it was an honour to have fought alongside you."

"And I want to thank you, too. For saving us. Saving my friend's family, and everyone too. Even now, you're still working to return everyone to their families. They… Maybe no one's said anything to you, so I'll say it in their stead; thank you, Sir Fanatio."

They were quiet for a moment afterwards, staring out at the scene of playing children. Eventually, Fanatio bade him farewell to return to his duties. Kirito wasn't left unbothered, either, for he was eventually roped into joining the rest of the children, bravely waving a long stick in the air and proclaiming the monster's (Eugeo's) defeat. Kiddish cheers erupted.

At least these guys don't have to lose each other. Great mercies, and ones he would take no matter what. Here's hoping this peace stays for as long as possible.

5th day of the 11th Month – HEC, 372

Zakkaria

It was time.

Neither he nor Eugeo felt like they should have known that, but for the sounds of people leaving their tents and moving in a direction with a collective pace, it was an indication that something was up. And, with hindsight of the situation thanks to what Fanatio had told him yesterday, there was only one conclusion as to what was going on.

Fixing themselves proper and putting on their boots, with Kirito opting to leave the Blue Rose Sword for the time being, the two boys exited their tent and followed everyone else—the victims, people of the town, the guards—to the entrance. Anticipation guided them all.

Already, he could see Fanatio and Charlotte side-by-side, Murasaki behind its rider and watching the incoming shapes coming towards them from a distance. A cloud of smoke trailed after the twenty caravans rushing forwards on the gravel road, a row of four with the others behind their leading caravans, with four dragons high up in the sky following after them at a comfortable pace.

Everyone seemed awed, some even whooping in clear joy and relief. Kirito felt none of that, gulping a little when he realized that five Integrity Knights would be in the same place at the same time. Such an occasion might not even be that often, and to witness such left him feeling a little intimidated.

Ah well. They're here to help all of them, so he'd have to be on his best behaviour.

It took the caravans at least ten minutes before they finally reached the outer gates, each one manned by two knights—or soldiers that, though not ranked as highly as the Integrity Knights, are part of the army that would see to the empires' defense in the case of battle. Hopefully, that wouldn't be happening at all.

"I am Integrity Knight Fanatio Synthesis Two," the knight snapped a salute. "I thank each and every one of you for responding to my distress call and assisting with the efforts to return these people home."

All soldiers released a collective shout of pride, enough to shake him by the sheer volume of it all. Two soldiers per caravan, which meant that eighty soldiers were here in total. Not exactly a large squad in terms of a battle, but it was still a pretty large number either way.

Dragons descended from the sky at that exact moment, kicking up strong winds that caught several villagers by surprise. Dust were swept away as they touched ground, each one of differing colours and sizes, similar to their own riders. Murasaki looked thrilled to see some of the dragons, cooing at them, and receiving replies from its fellow dragons.

The ravenette gulped. One clad in green with a spear, another in bluish-purple with a sword that was far too large and heavy. One donned flat grey armour with what seemed to be a rapier, while the last was in bulky crimson, who stood out for his use of a bow. Each and every one of them exerted powerful auras, and he sure was glad they were here to help and not anything nefarious.

"Everyone," the knight said, nodding his head. "Thank you for your arrival. It is much appreciated."

"It is of no trouble. And I beg you forgive us if we took long in coming here, Sir Fanatio," the one in green said, saluting. "Nergius Synthesis Sixteen, reporting for duty."

"Entokia Synthesis Eighteen, reporting for duty," the large one in the bluish-purple armour greeted, sounding oddly jovial.

"Scheta Synthesis Twelve," the one in grey. Her voice was feminine, that much was clear, as straight to the point as she was.

Kirito's gaze moved towards the final one, whose relative size made him almost dwarf the others, save for the sword-wielder for how big he was too. With his armour and cape as red as blood, faced his superior (perhaps Fanatio is their superior, for how high-ranking his number is?), and then nodded slowly. He let his voice rise to speak.

And just as quickly did the boy feel his blood go cold.

"Deusolbert Synthesis Seven. Reporting for duty."

Author's Notes:

Uh-oh. Looks like an old face has shown up again. That's problematic, ain't it?

Going off on a tangent, this is something most people already understand, but still deserves mentioning that Underworld isn't a videogame. A concept that differentiates Underworld from other game worlds is the fact that the idea of levels and videogame stats just doesn't exist. This would be pretty obvious for anyone who's read the light novel or even watched the anime, but it's a point that deserves some explanation regarding how characters in the world grow as they age and win battles against foes.

In a basic videogame premise, killing an enemy would earn a person Exp., which contributes to growth in a level. That also grows one's stats, like HP and whatnot. So really, if Underworld was a game world, a person's «Life» and other stats would go up. But it doesn't.

Rather, «Life» will naturally increase as a person ages, reach a maximum point, then decrease in the elderly stage. Killing something will instead contribute growth to one of two perimeters, depending on what was used to kill the creature:

«Object Control Authority»: A value that determines whether a person may wield a tool, weapon or armour. The authority must match the item's «Priority».

«System Control Authority»: A value that determines what kinds of «Sacred Arts» a person may cast, as well as its chances of success. The higher the value, the more complicated the spell that can be casted. Can also be raised by practising multiple times.

Now, several sources like the videogame Alicization: Lycoris mention how the «Object Control Authority» can be raised by training, whereas the wiki explains that there is a need to kill monsters to raise the authority. A human killing an entity from the Dark Empire, and vice versa, will yield greater gains.

So, what's the real summary behind all this shiz? To put it simply, it's this; though Kirito and Eugeo have killed a lot of monsters, they don't become stronger by any obvious means. The only things they gain is a higher «Object Control Authority» and experience—the latter of which will then contribute to their ability to master techniques and whatnot.

The nuances behind the world's machinations can be pretty hard to work with, considering how this has the groundworks of what might be a videogame. But it's not. It's a real world that uses certain elements from existing games, but works with its own rules that the people of Underworld intricately live with, in comparison to people trapped in 'Sword Art Online' and using the game's system as players. These people exist in this world as its residents. What is the real world to them is just the same as our real world is to us. Killing a big animal doesn't make us automatically stronger. We need to exercise and build muscle if we ever want to take on a bear. Then we become smarter, and learn new ways to fight better. Same logic applies in the Underworld.