Ancient Forest, ALfheim Online (Domain: Sylphs) June 13th, 2024

The only thing that permeated the air was a vacant silence as all present bore witness to the spectacle.

The Sylph dressed in default gear who had abruptly barged her way into their predicament had just obliterated one of the Salamanders, in such a swift and sudden move that it easily appeared effortless.

As Asuna pointed her blade to the second lancer, the red-armored fairy panickedly raised his weapon in preparation, clearly shaken by her display only a few seconds earlier.

Asuna's grin parted her lips as she assumed a stance and took off, her blade in hand as she dashed across the grass at breakneck speed, her steps placing herself directly in front of the Salamander before he could even react properly.

"N-N-NO WAI-"

All he could manage was a terrified stammer before Asuna's sword sliced into him, running his avatar through tenfold and reducing him to nothing but a glowing flame on the ground in a mere couple of seconds.

Leafa and Recon could only gape with slacked jaws at the sight, completely speechless as Asuna lowered her blade and casually walked up to the leader of the Salamanders with a confident smirk, as if it was perfectly in her nature to easily defeat players far more experienced than herself in the blink of an eye.

"Well? You next up on the plate?" Asuna grinned, the Salamander leader eyeing her anxiously, slowly backing up into the air in response and raising his arms in surrender with a sigh.

"I think I'll pass. I'd rather not grind my ass another ten hours leveling to make up for dying. 'Sides, you guys are screwed either way if you stick around any longer. If a Dark Knight tags along, then they'd do a better job than I ever could." The Salamander groaned, before taking off and vanishing into the sky with a burst of wind, leaving the three players alone.

Asuna then turned to the flickering red embers hovering over the grass with a curious cock of the head, remembering them appearing right after she killed the last two Salamanders.

"What are those flames?"

Leafa then stepped forward, lowering her sword as she answered. "Those are called Remain Lights. Be careful though, the players you killed are still there. They can hear you, see you, just can't budge until they get their avatars respawned or revived."

With those words of warning, Asuna raised her sword to the flames in preparation, but was stopped once Leafa put a hand on her shoulder.

"Hey, don't bother. They'll respawn back in their hometown in Salamander territory and besides, we gotta book it ASAP."

This prompted a raise of an eyebrow from Asuna. "Huh? What's wrong?"

Leafa and Recon shared a concerned glance as they faced Asuna, nervous expressions on their faces as Recon took off, leaving Leafs to tend to Asuna. "We'll explain in more detail on the way, but what you do need to know is that if we don't leave, we'll be swarmed by a bunch of high-level mobs. Right now, let's just get flying already!"

As she said this, Leafa then allowed a set of wings to materialize from her back, very similar in appearance to Asuna's. The new player's eyes widened as she saw Leafa rise into the air as she sheathed her sword, neither hand holding a controller.

"Hang on, you can fly without the controller?" Asuna asked, gesturing with her hand to summon the device.

Leafa turned to her with a curious rise of her brow before smirking. "So you really are a new player after all… Yeah, there's a trick to it, why don't I show it to you real quick? My thanks for the help earlier!"

"Huh. Sure thing." Asuna smiled as Leafa clapped her hands together in affirmation.

"Alright then, turn around, and get rid of that controller." Leafa then returned to the ground and walked up to Asuna, who did as she was told.

The blonde-haired Sylph then pressed a palm against a bare spot on Asuna's back, right between her shoulder blades. "Feel where I'm touching? Imagine virtual bones and muscles making up your wings right there and flex them."

"Virtual bones… hmm…" Asuna muttered, trying to pinpoint exactly what Leafa was talking about, flexing her back muscles methodically until eventually her shimmering wings began to vibrate in response to her movements. Feeling this, Asuna's eyes widened.

"That it?"

"Yep! That's the way! Keep it going, just a bit stronger!" Leafa cheered, prompting Asuna to nod as she flexed her wings harder.

"And… Liftoff!"

"WHA-!"

With a sudden push of Leafa's hand, Asuna was in the air.

"A-Ah! Woahoh~!"

Without the control provided by the device earlier, Asuna wobbled as she struggled to keep her balance int he air, thrashing her arms about as she tried to keep upright.

Amidst her confusion, Yui darted out of her pocket and flew up to her mother's face. "Mommy! Are you alright?"

"Y-yeah… just give me a moment…" Asuna laughed nervously, her body flinching before steadying and finding a center of gravity, her back lining up straight as her movements calmed down amidst deep breaths.

Moments later, Leafa rose from the canopy to join Asuna, Recon moving beside her to check up on Asuna as well, his head turning to survey the horizon, clearly on edge. "You got it down?"

"Yeah, I think so… Just a little tough getting the hang of it." Asuna replied shakily, as Leafa nodded with a hum of satisfaction, only for Yui to suddenly perk up, turning her head towards the north with wide eyes. It didn't take long for Asuna to notice Yui's sudden shift in attitude and turned her way.

"Yui? What do you see?"

"I'm detecting a large swarm of mobs closing in on our position at high speed! Thirty hostiles closing in fast!" Yui exclaimed as Recon and Leafa's faces simultaneously paled, realizing exactly what was coming.

"It's the Valks! That's our cue! Hurry!" Recon yelled, as the three shot off through the sky, leaving in a burst of speed.

Asuna watched the Pooka dash off into the night, just as she felt a hand lightly smack her across her shoulder. Turning around, she saw Leafa, her own wings raring to go. "Come on! We'll head to Sylvaine but we gotta hurry! Try to keep pace, 'kay?"

With that, the golden-haired Sylph was gone in a loud burst of the sound barrier, the clouds in her wake blown away like leaves on a highway. Sucking in another long breath, Asuna summoned her strength into her wings and accelerated immediately, taking off in a blast of wind.

Asuna felt the immediate urge to squint her eyes as the sensation of air pushing against her face overwhelmed her. Raising an arm to block the draft from her immense speed, she grit her teeth and growled, catching a glimpse of the two other fairies pulling slightly ahead of her, wearily looking behind them and accelerating at a steady pace.

Raising a brow, Asuna turned behind her to snatch a look of her own at their pursuers, and sure enough, she saw them. A large swarm of humanoid fairies, clad head to toe in white armor, a black visor obscuring their faces. All armed to the teeth, they relentlessly chased the trio, edging closer and closer with each second.

"So these are-" Asuna called out loudly amidst the breeze as Recon nodded.

"Yep. Valkyries. We're in hot water now!"

"Once we make it to Sylvaine they should leave us alone! Keep up the pace, newbie!" Leafa exclaimed before picking up speed along with Recon.

"Mommy, you need to keep up! You won't last long with default gear against the Valkyries! It's just a few more miles, with your speed you won't have a problem!" Yui warned her mother, slipping back into her pocket as Asuna hummed in response, flexing her wings in an attempt to catch up.

"!"

However, her eyes suddenly bulged as she felt her intuition spike a chill down her spine, swerving to the side to narrowly dodge a swing of a sword, her wide eyes shifting to the side to catch the sight of one of the Valkyries slashing at her with its blade, furiously chasing her through the sky along with several more of the relentless swarm.

"Dammit!"

Bringing out her sword, Asuna flinched as she clashed blades with one of the Valkyries, then jabbed the weapon into the knight's chest, sending it spiraling down into the forest below, but did nothing to prevent the others from approaching her faster.

"Shit-!"

Dodging several more swipes, she attempted to fend some of the stragglers off before picking up more speed, but gasped as she felt a sharp sensation over her back, an arrow finding its mark.

"Archers?!"

"ACT 2! GO!"

Just as the swarm had nearly caught up to completely surround Asuna, she saw something that truly left her speechless.

A small figure with a long tail, appearing before her and facing the Valkyries head-on. In an instant, the spirit spun around, smashing its tail into the nearest Valkyrie, sending it reeling but not before Asuna noticed something.

She saw strange writing on the monster, plastered over its armor around where it was struck. More curious was the writing in question. Big bold letters spelling out a single word.

"Kaboom?"

A word that then burst into existence as the letters glowed bright.

*KABOOM*

The helpless Valkyrie then was lost in a terrific explosion, seemingly appearing out of nowhere. The force of the blast sent the other Valkyrie flying, spiraling in all directions while also propelling Asuna outwards away from the explosion, allowing her to gain considerable distance from the swarm.

Still speechless, Asuna gathered her thoughts as she watched her savior retreat, speeding past her and arriving at Recon's side, who was glowing with the same verdant aura as the spirit. With a nod, the spirit faded away from sight, the three now flying over the forest on their own, leaving the Valkyries behind in the dust.

If Asuna wasn't convinced by the appearance of the creature, the power it displayed, only able to be described as bizarre, was all that she needed to see to understand.

"You're… a Stand user…" Asuna gasped.

"Hm? So you've heard of people like me. That expedites things. Yeah, that was my Stand that saved you. It won't hold the Valks off for good, but at least we got a headstart!" Recon laughed, Asuna cracking a smile of her own.

"Yeah, thanks about that. So it's true then. Stand users still exist here in Alfheim! Is there anything you can tell me about them? I need to know!" Asuna hurriedly asked as they zoomed past the floating islands, wind causing their clothes and hair to dance amidst the breeze.

"Whoa, whoa, newbie! Slow down! You haven't even told us your name!" Leafa giggled, before turning her head around to face her fellow Sylph, whose lips formed an 'o' as she let out a weak giggle of embarrassment in response.

"A-ah… Right, right! Call me Asu- I-I mean Erika. Name's Erika!" Asuna stuttered out, nearly slipping out her real name, still unaccustomed to bearing a different name.

"Erika, huh? Nice to meet you! My name's Leafa!" She introduced herself, smiling warmly as she heard Asuna's name.

"Recon. Pleasure!" The Pooka flashed a grin with a salute of his fingers, right as Yui perked up, emerging from Asuna's pocket to rest atop her head.

"We've reached the edge of the forest! That should be the city right up ahead!" Yui exclaimed, pointing a finger ahead for Asuna's eyes to follow, before they widened at the spectacle before her.

Just past the edge of the Ancient Forest's lush green canopy was a slight depression in the land, rolling downwards into a small valley, where a large glowing city rested its roots. Massive spires towered over the streets, each connected by bridges encircling a single tower in the center.

Asuna recognized the city from her first moments in the game and she knew without a doubt in her mind.

"So this is Sylvaine…"

"Yep! It's pretty, isn't?" Leafa laughed as they entered the city's airspace, soaring high above the streets as green fairies went about their business below.

Approaching the central tower, standing quite a bit taller than the surrounding spires at a rough mile above the ground, Leafa then turned to Asuna, turning around and slowing her flight speed.

"Alright, I'm guessing you still need advice on how to land?" The blonde Sylph cocked her head with a knowing smirk, as Asuna nodded in response.

"Okay then, you start by straightening your body upright, slowly relaxing your wings until you reach the ground. Take it nice and easy!" Leafa encouraged, demonstrating by easing the exertion on her back muscles and straightening her stance until she eventually reached a cruising speed, moving down towards the ground as her feet aimed for the floor.

"Like this?" Asuna asked as she steadily straightened herself, trying to relax her wings as she soon achieved a slower speed, Leafa nodding before raising her arms.

"Good! Now, slowly release the tension in your wings and dial it down. When you reach the ground, try to catch the ground with your feet. Take a few steps to catch your balance!" Leafa called out as she did the same, breaking into a run once she reached the street before slowly regaining her composure to guide Asuna through her descent.

Asuna gritted her teeth as she neared the ground, her feet hitting the paved cobblestone, causing her body to jerk forward from the force.

"Ah-!"

Reaching out with her hands, Asuna caught herself before she could kiss the floor with a faceplant, silently thanking her lucky stars before rising to her feet and dusting herself off.

"A perfect landing, Mommy! Ten points!"

Yui chirped cheerfully as she fluttered out of Asuna's pocket, clapping her hands together to applaud. Asuna smiled at the little pixie's gesture, laughing animatedly as she rubbed the back of her neck in embarrassment.

"Hahaha… yeah, looks like I'm getting the hang of this."

"That's great!" Leafa added as she strode up to Asuna with Recon in tow behind her, trying to avoid the gazes of other Sylphs walking about the streets around them.

Asuna faced the pair with an awkward giggle before the blonde fairy continued with a satisfied nod.

"It takes a bit of practice, but once you get a handle on it, flight'll come as perfectly naturally as walking!" Leafa laughed, with Recon stepping forward.

"Hey, thanks for helping us back there… with the Salamanders. Don't think I've ever met any other player like you before." Recon sighed as he gave a smile of his own, crossing his arms as Leafa hummed with a nod.

"You got that right! I've got a lot of questions swimming around that I'd love to ask you, so why don't we get you a drink? Y'know, to thank you." Leafa asked, eyeing Asuna and expecting an answer.

Asuna cocked her head, returning Leafa's expectant glance with a curious raise of her brow, shifting her eyes from her hands to her eyes. Perhaps in reaction to Asuna's pause, Yui fluttered out of her pocket, flying up to her face and cupping a hand beside her ear.

"Mommy, we should take them up on their offer! This is our chance to learn more about this world and find a lead on how to save Daddy and Uncle!" Yui whispered, to which Asuna nodded with a hum.

"Sounds good! You buying?" Asuna smiled, leading Leafa to laugh in response.

"Well of course, silly! You're the new player after all-"

*ding*

Recon's eye traveled up as Leafa opened her menu to check her message feed with an unreadable expression on her face. Her eyes locked onto a particular notification, pausing for a silent moment as Asuna inched closer with curiosity.

"Are you-?"

However, Leafa quickly dismissed her menu and patted Asuna on the shoulder, smiling as she walked down the road.

"No, it's nothing important. Now come on! We're burning moonlight!"

Stand Showcase

Lv. ? Stand: Phonetic Force, Echoes: Act 2 - Sound cannot be seen, sound cannot be touched. Yet, what can be heard is more than enough to leave a mark, to move mountains.

Special: Onomatopoeia: Ability to write a sound effect on any surface, that when touched, creates an effect that associates with the word.

Enhancement: N/A

Damage: 250 (C)

Speed: 400 (B)

Durability: 350 (B)

Range: 20m (B)

Precision: 50% (C)

Rank: Unique (S)

Selling Price: N/A

Owner: Recon

The Four Leaf Clover (Sylvaine), ALfheim Online (Domain: Sylphs) June 13th, 2024

The Four Leaf Clover was a small and modest establishment, nestled along the northern district of the city of Sylvaine.

As Asuna looked around her, she could tell this wasn't exactly the nicest place around Alfheim to get a drink, but the comfy atmosphere and welcoming air served more than well enough to ensure patrons were having a good night. The staff were understandably, NPCs. A green-haired man in a suit stood behind the bar, wiping a glass with a rag, bringing to Asuna's mind the scene at Agil's Dicey Café.

The NPC waitress walked up to their table with a smile, setting down three mugs of ale and a place of snacks, smiling before walking off with the empty tray. Yui wasted no time and fluttered down to the plate, grabbing a tiny cracker and nibbling on it, humming with delight as her mother giggled in amusement.

Recon took a grape and popped it in his mouth, just as Leafa took a large sip from her mug and slammed it down with a satisfied breath.

"Alright, so should I go first? Alright, so how the hell did you cut that guy up just like that? You're fresh out of character customization! You some kind of swordmaster in the real world?" Leafa asked, as Asuna awkwardly scratched behind her ear.

"Haha… You could say… this isn't exactly my first venture into games like this, y'know?" Asuna laughed, as Recon raised an eyebrow.

"I guess that's fair. You played other VR games besides this one?" The Stand user asked curiously.

"Yeah, I have. Though… didn't expect to run into PK groups like that so early in. Is that kind of thing the norm around here?" Asuna asked, recalling the Salamanders they fought earlier. In response, Leafa nodded with a more downcast expression.

"In a way. I think you're aware that every player's part of one of nine different races. For example, you and I are Sylphs, while Recon over here's a Pooka. Those players we fought were Salamanders. Now, each race has its own territory and stake in beating the raid quest at Yggdrasil, so we have nine factions with mob mentality and several reasons to antagonize one another. As for organized player-hunting squads, I guess that's new. I'm guessing they're gunning for the Grand Quest soon." Leafa sighed, Asuna listening closely.

"The Salamanders and Sylphs in particular have a pretty heated rivalry since their territories neighbor each other's, which was why that group was after us the other night. Good thing you showed up to save our asses." Leafa added, as Asuna perked up.

"I've been wondering about that. From what I've seen, Stand users should have no issue against normal players. What stopped you, Recon?" Asuna asked, turning to the Pooka.

"Oh, right. You don't know yet. You remember those Valkyries that appeared right after we met? The white fairies?" Recon replied, reaching for a piece of cheese as Asuna nodded.

Popping the snack in his mouth, he nodded back with a hum. "Every time a Stand is brought out in this game, it raises a bounty meter. The higher it goes, the more loot people get for killing you. This gets a lot of unwanted attention on your end, and if that's not enough, it also attracts the Valkyries, who go straight for you and everyone in the area."

Asuna scratched her chin in contemplation. "I see… To balance out the unfair advantage, the game creates additional obstacles and difficulty for the Stand users."

"Right. In a way, it doesn't remove their ability to use them, just tips the scales to be a bit more equal for everyone, you feel?" Leafa nodded, as Asuna frowned, remembering something else.

"That Salamander… he mentioned a Dark Knight. Do you know anything about that?" Asuna asked, as Leafa and Recon shared a glance before meeting Asuna's glance.

"If you bring out your Stand too many times, there's a small chance a boss enemy called an Einherjar will appear. We call 'em Dark Knights because of their armor and helmets. They fight just as well, if not better than some of the best players here, and they'd tear you apart in no time flat if you saw one. And you know the craziest bit?" Recon noted, much to Asuna's intrigue, who leaned in closer with a nod to Recon's question.

"What?"

"Some people have even said they've seen them bring out Stands of their own!"

Asuna's breath caught for a brief second as she heard this. It was enough for her to learn that this game had a system in place to account for Stand users, but hearing about a boss using a Stand of their own was simply something that she couldn't believe with her own ears. What was going on? Were these Knights real players or did the devs find a way to recreate Stands artificially?

"T-that's… how?!"

"No one really knows for sure, but that's all the more reason to respect the game's etiquette on Stands. If you don't want to find yourself on the Knights' bad side, you shouldn't use a Stand. Still, hasn't stopped some of the more ballsy Stand users from testing their chops against the Dark Knights. You'd think people like that would have beaten the Grand Quest by now." Leafa mused, taking another sip from her mug.

"About the Grand Quest… that's at the World Tree, am I right? Can you tell me more?" Asuna asked, Leafa's eyes shifting up with a small grin.

"I see, so you already know that much. That's correct. The Grand Quest of ALfheim Online is essentially, to be the first to make it to the top of Yggdrasil the World Tree. It's said that at the top lives Oberon, the Fairy King and the first race to reach him is blessed with an amazing reward. I've heard people say that the winning race gets control of the Valkyries, or that they get completely ignored by them and the Black Knights. I've also heard that the winners are transformed into a special race called the Alfs who can fly for an unlimited amount of time. Wouldn't that be amazing…" Leafa sighed before Asuna interrupted.

"And I'm guessing there's a reason nobody's beaten it before."

"You guessed it. Sounds simple enough, but it's not easy in the slightest. For starters, thanks to the flight time limit, it's pretty much impossible to fly all the way to the branches from the outside, not even Sylphs could make that ascent. That leaves everyone with one way to the top: the dungeon inside." Leafa explained with a nod, using her hands to gesture out her words as visual reference.

"And the difficulty?"Asuna frowned, her finger sliding along the rim of her mug as Recon spoke up.

"The dungeon is swarming with Valkyries, numbering in hundreds of thousands. Even if someone were to try gunning for the top while the others kept raising aggro, the sheer numbers would overwhelm any army no matter the size of the raid party. Bringing out a Stand would only put a bigger target on your back and have you thrown to the wolves. Putting it bluntly, it's virtually unbeatable as it is. If you're aiming for a shot you'd have to gather enough Ancient-tier gear for a whole army, and who knows how long it'll take-"

"I don't have time to-" Asuna started, her voice rising considerably as she slammed a fist against the table.

Silence suddenly took hold in the wake of her outburst as Leafa and Recon looked up in surprise. Frozen on both their faces were expressions of shock, Asuna taking a moment to breathe and gather her bearings after cutting herself off.

"Mommy…" Yui muttered softly as she stroked her mother's cheek, responding to her distress as Asuna let out a sigh.

"Sorry… It's just… I need to reach the top of the World Tree as soon as I can." Asuna breathed out, her expression heavy and her eyes hardened.

"O-okay… What's so important there that's got you this worked up?" Leafa asked, only for Asuna to shake her head.

"I'm sorry, but I can't explain. But… I'm looking for some people. People… I love with all my heart. I'd do anything to see them again, no matter what it takes."

Leafa could only stare in silence at Asuna's somber confession, taking a moment to study her face further. Her eyes reflected her own in the mellow light of the tavern, bearing a melancholic sorrow and longing within them. Leafa couldn't help but feel drawn to that, the grief and overwhelming emptiness that longed to be made whole again.

Leafa didn't have to say anything but she could easily tell. She perfectly understood Asuna at that moment, and she could only sit there and stare.

"Leafa…" Recon started before Asuna sighed again and rose to her feet.

"I'm sorry for dumping this all on you two. If this quest really is as hard as you say, I'll find a way to get past it. You don't have to get dragged into this mess. Thanks for all the tips, though. I really appreciate it." Asuna declared, before turning for the door to leave.

"H-hey, are you really planning to go to the World Tree all by yourself? It's a long way from here and there'll be a lot of high-level mobs in your way…" Leafa stammered out as Recon eyed her worriedly.

"I'll… find a way. Wouldn't be my first dance with the impossible." Asuna replied, a slight jesting tone in her voice as she had her hand on the door.

"Wait."

Catching her attention before she could exit the building, Leafa stood up from her chair as Asuna turned around to face the blonde fairy, who was walking up to her with a determined stride.

"I-I'll take you there. To the World Tree. If you want, I could keep showing you the ropes on this game on the way. Gods know you'll need it for the Grand Quest. Those Valkyries don't mess around." Leafa declared, grasping her sleeve with confidence in her eyes and resolve Asuna hadn't seen since her darkest and most glorious days in Aincrad.

It was a sight like this that struck a familiar chord with her, not just the sight of a person out of their element finding the strength within them to move forward, but the memory of a certain someone who taught her how to truly come into her own. Without a doubt, she saw the same fire within Leafa.

"Count me in too."

"Recon?"

Surely enough, both Sylph girls turned to the table as Recon stood himself, summoning his own determination as he made his declaration.

"Three hands on deck'll be better than two, wouldn't you say? Also, Leafa's got a knack for getting into trouble, so I really want to tag along. We'll have each other's backs that way." Recon announced as Leafa summoned a smile onto her face.

"Right, so I guess that settles it! Recon, rest up at one of the inns, we'll meet you tomorrow. How's about we get together here at 3PM tomorrow?" Leafa asked as Recon and Asuna nodded.

"Sounds like a plan! Thanks for everything, you two!" Asuna laughed, a grateful smile on her face as Leafa hummed in satisfaction, the two Sylphs tapping the logout button and disappearing, bound to wake up in the real world.

ALO Races:

Pookas: The Song Weavers. Pioneers of music and the arts, the Pookas possess the highest affinity with Runic Magic and are the only race who are capable of storing spells for later use and carving runes directly without Spellcasting. A casual race with low stats across the board, but skilled players are able to compensate with advanced tech and utility unique to the race. For artists who wish to weaponize their talents or wild cards seeking a more unorthodox approach to ALfheim Online.

Magic Affinity: Runic

Perks:

- Spell Storage compensates for low Mana

- Song Magic strengthens Spellcasting

- Rune Carving allows for preparation and immediate, silent usage of Spells

Weaknesses:

- Below or average in almost all stats

Attack: D

Magic: B

Mana: D

Speed: C

Vitality: D

Stealth: C

Luck: D

Flight: C

Kirigaya Residence, Kawagoe, Saitama, June 13th, 2024

The girl stirred in her bed, her eyes blinking open through the glass visor of her headset.

As her vision cleared, the first thing she saw was the large poster plastered on her ceiling. A portrait she had fashioned from a screenshot in ALO, a simple picture of her character flying across the sky, surrounded by soaring birds white as the clouds that surrounded them. The image of the blonde fairy with her long hair and bright emerald eyes was a sight she'd always wake up to, whether from a dream or returning from the virtual world.

She raised a hand to lift the Amusphere from her head, parting black hair as she set it aside on her bed. She said nothing as her mind raced, running like an engine on overdrive.

Suguha Kirigaya was no stranger to the virtual world, that much had only been true for a little less than a year. To think that only a few months before that she had hated that world for stealing someone she loved dearly, a cruel reality that had nothing to give her but grief.

However, every time she woke to that poster, she remembered why she stayed, why she dove in and took a chance.

"Why did you go?"

"What were you looking for?"

"What kind of place is it that drew you in so much?"

"Is this… how I can finally understand you?"

Suguha raised her hand to the ceiling, her thoughts swimming through her mind, churning like currents in the sea. Sighing as she placed that hand over her eye, the girl groaned as she lifted herself from her lying position on the bed, sitting against the mattress as she thought to herself, remembering her odd encounter with that new player.

"Erika… Aren't you quite the oddball…" She muttered under her breath, pushing her door open as she made her way to the bathroom, preparing to take a shower as she often did after her gaming sessions.

As she walked down the hall, Suguha's gaze shifted to her side, facing a door to another room.

Her heart was hit with a pang of sadness as she continued to stare at the door, as it had been every day ever since that fateful moment two years ago, the day its occupant had left this house and was not to return for an indefinite amount of time.

Sighing in defeat, Suguha took wary steps towards the door, pushing it open with a slight nudge and stared inside. Walking over to the light switch, she flicked it on as its interior was revealed under the light.

The room was left completely untouched ever since its last dusting, the bed unsullied with smooth, unwrinkled sheets and pillows, unused for many, many months. The PC at the work desk was also untouched, silent as it laid dormant without its regular user. Stacks of books and game boxes were neatly arranged on the shelves, waiting for a chance to be removed from them when the time came.

Suguha stared into the room, her grief surging within her as she went by yet another day filled with regrets and longing for none other than her brother.

"Cousin." She corrected herself mentally, which did nothing to dampen the gloomy feeling in her heart.

On that day, the day Kazuto had dove into Sword Art Online, that was the last time she had ever seen him awake.

For two long grueling years, she had to live knowing her brother was facing death in the eye and there was a chance she would never see him again. However, that only added onto dark thoughts on her conscience. For the latter half of their childhood, she and Kazuto had long drifted apart, spending less and less time with one another until they had grown a hair's length away from being strangers under the same roof.

She loved him dearly, that much she knew to be true. However, she spent every day after his departure swallowed by regrets.

Regret that she couldn't stop him from leaving her behind.

Regret that she never took the chance to reconnect with him until it was too late.

Regret that she had allowed them both to drift apart to begin with.

Eventually, she took a leap to abandon that regret. As a new window for the world of VR gaming opened, she was invited to take that chance and see for herself the world she hated, the world that took her brother away from her.

If there was anything she didn't regret, it was taking that shot.

Alfheim was a wondrous world, a place she felt lighter than a feather, unchained from the burdens that were leashing her heart. While many praised her swordsmanship owing to her kendo expertise, what she truly treasured more than anything in the game was the sensation of flight.

A freedom unlike anything she ever felt before. Free from her worries, her pain, her regrets. In the sky among the clouds, her worries were far below her, her sadness nowhere near her.

Now all of a sudden, she was faced with a bizarre soul, a girl whose sadness for a brief moment reflected her own. She didn't have to ask who she was talking about, nor did it matter.

All it took was a look in her eyes and Suguha understood. She shared that pain, that longing. That undying desire to reunite with someone she loved dearly, no matter what it took.

She had thought it impossible to wake Kazuto by herself, that it was completely out of her hands. She resented her weakness, her inability to change the way things were.

And yet here was someone willing to step up and make it happen, because her grief was only outmatched by her sheer resolve.

Suguha sympathized with her, was inspired by her. She wouldn't acknowledge it herself, but she was willing to ride or die with her if only to ensure that Erika's resolve would see her through to her distant goal. Even if it was out of her reach, even if she thought it was impossible, perhaps with the same kind of hope and determination, she would be finally reunited with Kazuto.

"I'll see you again soon. I swear it… Big Brother…"

Player Profile

The Speed Demon, Leafa – A kendo champion, Suguha's prowess with a sword translates into a truly demonic level of skill in both virtual and physical worlds. However, what truly empowers her is her love for her family and friends.

Real Name: Suguha Kirigaya

Born: April 19th, 2009

Stand Name: N/A

Favored Armament: Katana

Favorite Character: Totoro

Sobu Middle School, Kawagoe, Saitama, June 14, 2024

The ambience of the empty air filled her ears as she walked down the hallway, completely alone.

As it was nearly summer break, there weren't many people around the school grounds, but she was an exception among others. Those taking exams for high school were coming and going this morning, and while she had to deal with those as well, Suguha had her responsibilities to the kendo club to tend to.

Slinging her bokken bag over her shoulder, she walked to her locker after a long morning in kendo practice. Having practiced the blade from a young age at the behest of her late grandfather, Suguha was a prodigy amongst her peers and many in the club had hopes for her to make the nationals as a professional once she graduated.

Suguha mused that her skill had caught many off-guard in ALO. The VRMMO placed emphasis in the combat being reliant on the player's own capabilities in real life, which was why her form and technique far surpassed many of the usual players she encountered in the world of fairies. She didn't exactly ask for all the attention from her skills, but it was nice meeting friends in a new place like Alfheim.

Of course, when it came to the point that people were asking her to join their parties and bossing her around, that was when she began getting a little more annoyed. She didn't exactly blame them for playing with passion, she loved ALfheim Online as much as the next gamer, but damn, some of them took it way too seriously.

Suguha turned the lock and opened her locker, gathering her bag, her things and prepared to leave for the day. However, her mind still swirled with thoughts from the night before, of the strange girl she had befriended.

Erika was unlike any other player she'd ever met, and if she was being honest, she couldn't help but see a piece of herself in her. A piece of her that she couldn't deny within her even if she tried to ignore it like she had before. She often thought of kendo and ALO as ways to cope with that, to shut out her hollow feeling of loss and regret. However, there it was staring back at her in the face, reflected in Erika.

"You alright?"

Suguha turned to her side as she shut her locker closed, meeting the eyes of her close friend. Much like his other self, his stature was a few good inches below her own height, giving him a rather diminutive demeanor. His hair, while still the same bright shade of platinum blonde, was instead combed down neatly, matching his more reserved and unassuming aura.

Nobody would have even suspected that Koichi Hirose was the boy who invited her to play ALO and was the wielder of Echoes, one of the wildest and most bizarre spirits she could have ever imagined.

"Hey, Koichi. You done with exams for the day?"

Koichi laughed nervously as he gave an awkward smile. "Haha… yeah. Don't think I did too well, though. You know how it is. Maybe we should have gotten back on that study group plan we had, you think so?"

Suguha sighed and shut the lock before walking off to the exit. "I know, I know. It's just… I got all the kendo club stuff going on, you got your music classes. Things are just getting a little hectic. I can always make time, you know. If you're up for it…"

She muttered the words out as Koichi followed her, picking up on her statement before groaning. "It's alright, it's fine. It'll just complicate things, and I wouldn't want to get you into my disasters."

Suguha's eyebrow raised in curiosity at his words, her head turning to face him. "I swear, you're really pulling out on a lot of plans lately. The study group, you were the one that dipped out. Lunch on Friday, that was a bust. You not showing to watch my matches in practice. Koichi, is something the matter?"

Koichi turned to his friend, her face suddenly a margin more serious. She was prying and he could tell easily. In hindsight, he should have expected this. After all, Suguha Kirigaya was not one to let sleeping dogs lie. If there was something that needed to be said, she wasn't letting any hesitation linger.

With a defeated sigh, he folded.

"It's… Yukako."

Suguha blinked.

Once.

Twice.

Then she let out an exasperated groan.

"Ah, so it's Yuka. Of course it's Yuka. Who else could it have been other than Yuka?" She began to mutter, Koichi dropping a sweat as he listened.

"C'mon Sugu… she's not too bad. You know better than anyone, right?" Koichi said, Suguha directing an eye his way before staring up at the sky.

"I mean, of course! Known the girl all through kindergarten onward, slept over more times than I can count, then she suddenly gets this massive obsession over you. I mean, yeah, I'm happy that she's happy, but she needs to chill the hell out sometimes. That intensity's doing her no favors, and it feels like everything I'm telling her is going in one ear and out the other, for gods' sakes…" Suguha mumbled, her expression lightening in memory of older days.

"She means well, I know. But I don't know what to say to her sometimes… I don't want her to get mad at anyone, not when I'm who she's got her eyes on…" Koichi thought out loud before Suguha responded by poking his side lightly with her bokken.

"You need to learn to stick up for yourself, dude. Why do you think she keeps stringing you along to hang out with her alone? I know I wouldn't want Sigurd to keep hogging me all to himself and his party. She won't fold to anyone other than you, you know that. Hell, it even feels like she'll eventually stop listening to me one of these days. That girl's a ticking time bomb, I tell you…" Suguha chuckled, Koichi sighing in response.

"I'll try. Maybe the next time I see her. Sugu… I just don't want our friendship to end over this. You know how intense Yukako's been lately." Koichi resolved as Suguha cocked her head.

"I'm not gonna just dip out on you, y'know? You're a cool guy, Koichi. If Yuka suddenly doesn't want me around anymore, then that's her problem. She'll just have to keep living with me." Suguha grinned, giving Koichi a playful pat on his shoulder.

"Yeah… thanks Sugu. By the way… we still going to Alne this afternoon?" Koichi asked, Suguha clicking her tongue in response.

"Yeah. Erika'll be waiting on us. The sooner we get moving the easier the trip'll be." Suguha nodded, sure of herself in her voice and tone, which was not unnoticed by the shorter boy, who stopped in place.

Turning with a perplexed face, Suguha faced her friend.

"Koichi?"

"Sugu… just curious. What made you step up to take her there in the first place?" Recon asked, his face turning a little more serious.

Suguha dwelled on that question, running it through her mind several times as she tried to find an answer. She had her answer, but she wasn't entirely sure about where her heart stood. She had no real personal incentive to help Erika, there wasn't even a rational motivation she could give herself.

And yet…

Erika showed Suguha her grief. Grief like her own. And yet, her resolve shone brighter, an ironclad will to overcome her grief and wrest back the one she loved even if it meant defying the impossible.

It was a sign, a clear and blatant reminder of what she was missing. Whether she was aware of it or not…

"Because she helped me hope again."

She had no greater reason than that.

Up Next: The Journey Begins!

Well, this took a little longer than I thought. Apologies. Working on another project over the summer so I hope you can bear with me. I'll try to update as soon as I can and hopefully I can post in less than each month. I'll be honest with you guys, the parts I'm really hyped to tackle are GGO and Mother's Rosario and I hope you all can bear with me here. As you can see, I did change a few things about. Yukako's here! I'm planning to include her some more here, and I hope you like it! Also, I changed Leafa's character arc a little bit here since Kirito is absent from her life at this moment. If it's a step in the right or wrong direction, I'd really like you to tell me, I'd really appreciate it. I wonder what you think about the whole system I set here for the Stand users of ALO. There's a reason I did it this way, and I'll get to that when it matters. As for the Dark Knights, yeah I'm excited to handle that. This next chapter's gonna be a doozy. Also on a side note, finally got around to playing Metal Gear Rising and oh my lord it is everything I could ever want and more. If you haven't given it a shot past the memes then please do it's just sheer adrenaline nonstop.

So I guess that about wraps it up for now. Please leave your thoughts in a review, I don't mind hearing anything that's on your mind, it's what keeps me going and excited to keep posting. Drop a follow if you want to keep updated on my story, and I'll see you guys in the next one. Deuces.

J the Rider: Billy will be missed. I loved his roles in anime, especially Josuke. May he rest in peace. I totally agree that Asuna's Undine avatar looks better, but if you ask me it gives Leafa and Recon more incentive to trust her and tag along with her, plus it gets everything moving a bit smoother, having her spawn near the Sylph territory to meet up with the duo in a way that feels less forced. As for Sugou, yes you make a good point. It's extremely clear that his ego and slimy personality establish his arrogance and evil to make his cowardice more apparent when he's in a corner, but keep in mind, this story isn't entirely the same, and if I were to define my version of Sugou, it would be something similar. He puts on a front of confidence and consideration, but it hides the fact that he's a mad scientist who has no empathy whatsoever for the people he has in his grasp. Sharing similarities to Kayaba and his duality, but very different at the same time. Also, him being a pervert doesn't nearly work as it did in the original when I have the role of captive and rescuer reversed here, with Asuna being the one to save Kirito and Josuke from Sugou. Thanks for leaving your thoughts, man. I really appreciate it.

Tplogin: I've actually contemplated giving her a Stand before, but ultimately scrapped that idea when I decided to have her be the main character of Fairy Dance. My two main ideas for it were a toss up between light manipulation and an equalizer-type ability (one that removes external advantages and disadvantages)

ScruffinMcguffin: Glad to know you enjoyed it!

Aurum79: The true MC of DiU it is! Jokes aside, yeah. I'm building this entire story based around that central idea, of virtual worlds where Stand users are out in the open and no longer a secret. It's a cool idea and I hope you'll like how I expand upon it in the next arcs. I really like writing this story and I'm always glad to hear from you!