Mystic Knight Online: Worlds to Sow
Chapter 5: Expectations, Valid and Otherwise
April 11, 2025 - Alfheim, Yggdrasil City
"Well, that was poetic," Harry said drily. "Sowing worlds with a seed? Have you taken up philosophy as a hobby, by chance?"
"I am partial to the works of Dennett," CARDINAL replied. "The man's works on cognition and how it evolved naturally, along with aspects such as religion and morality and how they evolved from a naturalistic standpoint, rather than a spiritual one, do resonate with me."
Harry blinked. "Okay, I didn't expect that," he admitted.
"You do not expect a lot of things, I would think," CARDINAL said.
Rain barked out a laugh while both Silica and Lux giggled as Harry gave the AI a disgruntled look before raising his hand and giving her the point. "And to think, you're the sheltered one," he said.
"It gives me plenty of time to think up witty comments," CARDINAL replied.
"Of course, it's Harry," Asuna said. "He does leave himself open like that."
Harry nodded. "Yeah, that- wait a minute," he began and then glared at Asuna as everyone laughed. "Comedians, all of you." He said with a completely false disgruntled look before his face relaxed into a smile. He then looked at Kizmel. "Well, I think we should make proper introductions now."
"You all did tell me your names," Kizmel noted.
"That was so that you could put faces to names," Harry said. "I do recall that you mentioned that all you had to go on of us all, barring Kirito and Asuna, of course, was rumor."
"And the rumors of us were varied," Silica piped up.
"Especially the ones about you and Harry, Silica." Lux said. "What were the hot ones again? The ones that said that you two were up to salacious activities in the privacy of the room you often shared before you got married, or the ones after your wedding about you two working on ways to add to the Kama Sutra?"
"Lux, those rumors are old news," Rain said. "With their anniversary coming up, I thought the rumors about them were about how they were going to scandalize everyone in a few days."
Harry and Silica shot them flat looks. "We're trying to be serious here, girls," Silica said.
"So are we," Rain replied. "We might be failing at it but we are trying."
Harry glanced at Kizmel, who was looking confused. "Kizmel, Rain and Lux," he said. "They think they're funny."
"You mean we're not?" Lux asked in faux shock. "Why didn't any of you tell us?"
"The same reason we didn't tell Harry back in Aincrad," Kirito replied. "It warns everyone about you."
"Kizmel, may I introduce Steel Phoenix," Asuna said wryly. "This is how we tend to be when we're not in the field killing monsters, doing quests and playing at being heroes."
"Or trying to find beer that doesn't taste like piss," Harry said. "I've heard of some Gnome brews that might be promising."
"You and your beer, Harry," Asuna said with an exasperated sigh.
"Or looking for stuffed animals to add to my collection," Strea added. "What?" She asked as everyone looked at her. "They look cute, and I like to snuggle them when I go to bed."
"And now we have proof that Strea is the younger sister," Silica noted.
"At least when she's doing that, she isn't complaining about being bored," Yui murmured.
"And a bored Strea is always concerning," Asuna agreed.
"Hey!" Strea protested. "I'm not that bad!"
"A certain incident when you went on a fishing trip with Kirito says otherwise," Harry countered.
"Crystals aren't supposed to be used that way," Kirito agreed. "And I'm surprised we didn't blow a hole between floors, considering the explosion. Good thing Harry can't make them here."
"Oh?" Harry asked with a challenging note in his voice. "Challenge accepted."
"Harry, no." Asuna said.
"Harry, yes!" Harry countered.
"Well, we're doomed," Rain deadpanned. "Silica, can you curb his enthusiasm?"
"Harry, no dooming Alfheim this soon," Silica said.
"But it will be such a glorious Doom, dear, glorious!" Harry replied.
"True, but I thought we were saving the breaking the game for later," she turned to the others. "If he's still insistent on this, I tried. But it's Harry, you know how he can be when he gets ideas."
Kizmel just looked at them and then at Yui.
"Yes, they're like this," the AI responded to Kizmel's unasked question. "And no, they're not insane." She looked thoughtful. "Well, mostly."
"I... see," Kizmel said in an uncertain voice.
April 12, 2025 - Nerima, Saotome-Tendo Dojo
Hiyori slowly trudged back inside the dojo, taking her shoes off where Keiko indicated that she should, wincing as her muscles protested the movement. Various light exercises and calisthenics to warm up, and then physical exercises until they couldn't do any more. Pushups, sit ups, jumps, and a "light" run of three kilometers. They were being asked to head back inside for something else. She hadn't been a paragon of physical fitness before SAO, she certainly wasn't now. Her t-shirt was clinging to her with sweat, highlighting her chest for all to see, her track pants stuck to her legs, and she was sure that her shoes had been squelching from the sweat that pooled in them.
She didn't protest, though. None of them did. SAO had given them the kind of personal discipline to not complain about something just because it was hard on them. And it wasn't as if they were told that they had to meet a standard, yet. Only complete the exercises to the best of their abilities, so Grandmaster Saotome knew where they stood.
Or they were being sadists and reveling in everyone's suffering, given how the others were looking just as worn and pained as she did for the most part.
The only one of them who wasn't moving with the careful slowness of someone pushed to their limits was Keiko, and even she was showing signs that the exercises had pushed her. Harry was clearly exhausted as well, but he hid it under a stoic facade. One that was ruined by the winces he sometimes gave, not to mention moving with the same careful slowness, but he certainly put an effort to not be visibly bothered.
As she and the others finished trudging, limping and staggering inside, she let out a breath. "So, that was them seeing how out of shape we are?" She asked.
"Not quite," Ranma said suddenly, causing her and the others to turn quickly turn and face him. Hiyori bit back a groan as her muscles protested the movement.
"What do you mean by that?" Nijika asked.
"While seeing your level of physical fitness was a part of it and we also needed you all to see where you stand, the exercise to this point also has another purpose," Ranma said as he turned to Keiko. "Keiko, do the First Kata of the First Form slowly five times. You have it memorized and you already know precisely how it's supposed to go. If there is an error, you will stop and repeat the motion that was incorrect five times and start the kata you were doing over. Everyone, watch carefully."
"Yes, shishou," Keiko said as she stepped off to the side and got into a stance. To Hiyori's surprise, the girl's stance was steady and her body remained so as she began to slowly go through a kata, starting with a sweep of her left arm, followed by a punch, and began to move with a smooth series of motions before she stopped in the middle of a kick and slowly brought her foot down to the base stance. She then did the kick again five times, and Hiyori quickly noticed that Keiko's foot was kicking out in a slightly different location than where it was when she paused, before restarting the kata. She reached the same point in the kata where she previously stopped and the kick was apparently where it was supposed to go as she continued. After a few more moments, Keiko stopped the kata and got back into her starting stance before doing the kata again.
"... And that was done, why?" Nijika asked.
"Look closer," Harry said. "Also, what do you think they will be teaching us?"
"Harry, care to enlighten us?" Asuna asked.
"Indeed, young man, I would like to hear your observation," Ranma said.
Hiyori turned to look at Harry, who seemed slightly put out at being stared at by everyone else. Odd that.
"Okay, I walked right into that," Harry said with a sigh before taking in a breath. "It all comes down to control. While the... kata?" He looked at Ranma, who nodded. "Right. While the kata has her doing the moves without the dodging or evading, none of the movements are static." He watched as Keiko began the kata a third time. "Each move is smoothly done, and the kata is more a tactic to get someone to back off and give her room. Either to press the attack or to break off and retreat depends on the situation. Considering our instincts and how we are likely to react to a tangible threat, I can see why this is something they wish to teach us, but it's not the whole of it."
"Control and focus," Kazuto said. "When I was still training in kendo until, well, things happened and I decided to not continue, my grandfather trained both Sugu and I until we felt like we were about to drop. Part of it was to get us in shape for it, part of it was to basically write the moves into our muscles, but it was also to teach us how to work past our exhaustion and remain controlled. Kendo may be a sport that was spun off from kenjutsu, but the discipline and focus aspects were still every bit as important."
"In other words, this training is to help us go from lethal to less lethal methods to handle a threat, if not avoid one entirely," Harry added. "I won't say that they're non-lethal, as in combat, there is no such thing as non-lethal. Only in using methods that aren't intended to kill when done right. And with what they've said our SA has manifested as out here in the real world, and how emotional states can affect it… it's as much for our own safety as it is for the safety of others."
"The military escort when we visited England to handle that one matter," Keiko said. They all turned to her, seeing her holding her stance before a nod from Ranma had her relax from it. "That one sergeant, she did say that they were there as much to not give us a reason to inconvenience the cleaning staff of England's version of the Ministry of Shugenja as much as they were to protect us from those who meant us harm."
"More me, really, but that's only because they don't know just how dangerous you can be, dear," Harry said. "I did have my wand on me there, after all."
"Wait, you have a wand, a magic wand?" Nijika asked and then shook her head. "Oh right, wizard. I'm so used to seeing you with a sword on hand that it's easy to forget where your talents actually lie. What's next? You plan to put on a robe and wizard hat?"
"Only when appropriate." Harry replied. "And before you ask about the wand, I don't have it on me right now." He smirked. "The adults seem to think it's prudent to not have me unsupervised with one in hand out here. Imagine that."
Kazuto snorted. "Yeah, imagine that," he said drily. "But can you blame them? A lot of people think we're time bombs waiting to go off. We all know better, but given that much of what went on in SAO was watched, and some of it made the news…"
Harry nodded. "It's not like you can blame them," he noted before pausing. "Kazuto, you might want to step to the side a bit. You're in the splash zone."
Kazuto blinked. "What do you mean by-" He stopped as Harry was doused with water, catching him as well.
Hiyori was about to comment when she stopped and stared at both Harry and Kazuto.
##
Harry brushed his, now her, red hair out of her eyes. "This is what I mean Kazu-" she paused as she looked at the stunned and now very female Kazuto. She had shrunk a little, or to be more clear, that loss in height had gone someplace else. "Oh bloody hell." She then turned to glare at the two men who had doused her. Both of whom looked a bit sheepish. "Could you two have waited just a moment, or were you in such a rush that you let it all out early?"
"You'd think at their ages that letting it all out prematurely would be a thing of the past," Keiko chimed in.
"Oi!" Both Akira and Ko protested, only to still when Ranma gave them a level look.
"Both of you," the martial arts grandmaster said calmly. "I know that nailing Harry with the Instant Jusenkyo infused water is something of a thing with you both. But it's stopped being amusing weeks ago. Worse, you two have now gotten someone else alongside your intended target with it."
"W- what just… huh?" Kazuto began to say and paused as her soprano voice was heard. She then touched her face and started feeling herself over, pausing when her hands reached her breasts. Harry moved quickly, only stumbling slightly as her changed center of balance briefly threw her off, the transformation wasn't something she had adapted to yet and hoped not to. She grabbed Kazuto's hands before they went lower.
"Easy, Kazuto," Harry said calmly. "Calm down. It's not permanent and once we get some hot water on us, we'll be back to normal. Kazuto, look at me."
"Harry?" Kazuto asked in a shaky voice. "What- what happened to us?"
Harry sighed. "The two idiots who happen to be Keiko's uncles have access to something that does a temporary version of the same curse her grandfather is under," she said. "Hot water will reverse it, and if those two know what's good for them, they'll make sure others don't get caught in the splash zone." She shot the two of them a cold look. "Otherwise, I think I will go back to England and hit up my friend Neville. He has a way with plants, and I am sure I can get him to crossbreed something like a Gerbera."
"Harry, no," Keiko said. "What did that plant do to you to deserve that?"
"Fine, Devil's Snare and a dark room," Harry grumbled. Not that I would do that to them.
"Nice try," Ko said.
"Bring it, kid," Akira said confidently.
Harry nodded and turned to Ranma. "Grandmaster, how long has it been since you had a girls' night out with your sons?" She asked. "Because it sounds like both your sons are asking for one."
"Volunteering to chaperone?" Ranma asked.
"If you need me to," Harry agreed. "But I would need something appropriate to wear."
"I can help with that," Keiko chimed in. "But first, we need to get some hot water on Kazuto. Nijika, no. You don't need feel him up. Yes, they're real, and they're his until we reverse the transformation with hot water. If you want to, feel Harry up instead."
"You're telling other girls to feel me up?" Harry asked drily.
Keiko was about to reply when she paused and flushed. "Never mind," she said. "Nijika, don't feel Harry up."
"Don't worry, I know that's your job, Keiko," Nijika said. "Even if Harry has a bigger pair of tits than you do right now. Not much bigger, but-"
"Right- wait a minute… damn it, Nijika!"
"I would say the point goes to Nijika there," Hiyori said with some amusement, focusing on the banter to distract herself from what she just saw. It was one thing to see magic demonstrated on an inanimate object. It was another to see two of her friends transformed from being boys to girls.
Kazuto looked at Harry. "Harry?" She asked.
"Yes?"
"You said that hot water reverses this?"
Harry nodded. "Right, let's get onto that while you're still trying to process it and not panicking." She glanced at Asuna. "And I saw that gleam in your eyes, Asuna."
"What do you mean, Harry?" Asuna asked sweetly.
Harry gave her friend a level look. Asuna wasn't much of a prankster most of the time, so her pranks tended to be predictable. "Asuna, I know you," she said. "You don't play pranks all that often, but with this… oh, for crying out loud. Asuna, no."
Asuna smirked at Harry. "Asuna, yes."
Harry glared at her for a moment. "You're paying for the spare AmuSpheres and getting Kazuto's permission first," she said with a sigh. "So I can have one with those calibrations and not have to reset the calibrations on mine. They were… thorough, let's just say. And I don't want to have to go through doing those again multiple times because I have to reset the calibrations and recalibrate mine every time." She turned at looked at Keiko as she started laughing, having clearly sussed out what Asuna was thinking.
"Harry," Kazuto spoke up. "You've had this happen often enough that you're used to it, but… can we reverse this now?!"
"I wouldn't say used to it," Harry hedged. "More like resigned to the-"
"Harry."
"Right, hot water," Harry said as she took Kazuto's arm. "Let's get about that, shall we?"
##
Kazuto breathed a sigh of relief after he did a manual check of himself after the hot water was poured over him. Everything was there, where it should be, and he didn't have those additions on his chest. How did girls move with those things on their chests? His balance had been off the entire time, as if that weight was pulling him forward and down until he started shifting his posture a bit further back to account for it. His center of balance was still off when Harry had guided him out to change back. His hips, for one had been wider, changing his stride a bit, and it wasn't as if he had even come close to adjusting to it.
He heard Harry chuckle and turned to his younger friend. "It's not as if you didn't do the same thing, Harry," he said.
"True," Harry replied with a nod. "But that's what makes it amusing. And it hadn't been the first time my body had been transformed, and this method is a lot less uncomfortable."
"There's a story there," Kazuto surmised.
"I was twelve and an idiot," Harry said. "I thought someone knew something and wanted to get that info, and there's this little potion that can change your form into someone else." He shuddered. "Tasted like feet marinated in snot and left out for a week to ripen, and the transformation was not comfortable. It may have been painful, but by that point, having had all the bones in one arm shattered, vanished, and regrown overnight with another potion kind of changed my perception of what pain was. Well, it didn't pan out anyway. The guy was simply talking out his arse, acting like he knew something when he knew bugger all. And I bought into the idea that he knew something."
"It's a form of power, making people think you know what's going on, or know what you're doing," Kazuto mused, squeezing his arm. Gad, even with the same muscle, the tone was different. How? He may not have done a full search of his own body, Harry had stopped him as soon as he had begun feeling himself up, and he wasn't going to say anything if Sugu complained about her breasts growing again and how she was now having a harder time binding them with a sarashi without being extremely uncomfortable in the process for Kendo. And he was sure that his transformed self was similarly endowed… and he was going to stop thinking along those lines now. "It's easily shattered if people bother to check the facts... I've decompiled code just to find a supposed revolution was just an old trick applied a new way." He continued, doing his best to distract himself from thinking about how his gender had been recently changed, twice.
"Makes sense," Harry said. "Toss me that towel, will you?" He caught it easily, not even looking at it as he did and began to towel himself off. "But despite being an old trick, you pointed out with what you said that it was still being done in a new way. I would still call that somewhat new, wouldn't you?"
"I guess," Kirito replied. "It's less applying an old trick in a new way that annoys me, but that they call it something completely new."
Harry shrugged. "You know how I am, I'm more concerned that if it works, and I can do it, that's good enough for me," he noted.
"Even with magic?" Kirito asked.
Harry nodded. "I am no scholar," he admitted. "If I'm learning something, I either have to, or I simply find it interesting."
"That would explain how your knowledge can be so… scattered, I guess," Kirito said.
"You mean how I can debate things like some philosophical points at a level higher than I should be able to," Harry pointed out. "Which is true enough. I was a member of my school book club, mostly to get a friend of my arse about studying as I did have a book open. Philosophy, fiction, stories and facts. It was always interesting, though some things were drier than that desert floor in SAO."
Kazuto nodded. "That does have something to do with it, yes," he said. "But you don't strike me as a philosopher."
Harry shrugged. "I'm not one," he admitted. "As I said, it was interesting, but I didn't say it was my thing. However, just because I learned a bit of philosophy, doesn't mean that I am better than anyone else. I've seen some who took to those philosophies, started narrowing their outlooks, and thinking that they were better than us because we didn't share their philosophies. Well, until we managed to shoot them down and deflate their egos." He chuckled. "As Shakespeare once said, there is more out there than can be found in philosophy. I'll take the world as I see it, flaws and all, not as some overly brilliant idiot wants it to be seen, thank you."
Kazuto nodded in response. "By the way, what was that you were telling Asuna 'no' about?" He asked. "It's usually the other way around, you know."
Harry looked at him. "If you didn't get it, then I will wait until she springs it on us," he replied. "Because seeing the look on your face will be so worth it."
What did he notice that I didn't? Kazuto thought.
##
"So, how long until they have female avatars?" Keiko asked Asuna, catching Nijika's attention.
"However long it takes for me to get things arranged," Asuna replied. "And getting the spare AmuSpheres and Ki- damn it, Kazuto's, permission. It's been months and I still tend to think of you all by your SAO, and now ALO, names."
So I'm not the only one, NIjika thought. It's easy with you and Harry, Asuna. You played under your own name, and we used Harry instead of Hadrian because he said we could from the start. We just didn't know it was his real name at the time. "And you think the rest of us don't?" she asked. "Frankly, I think all of us do on some level. Well, maybe not Harry and Keiko."
"We've known for a few months before the wedding," Keiko admitted. "And we got into the habit of using our real names with each other in private to keep ourselves more or less centered. And no, we weren't up to anything ecchi as well." She stopped and got a thoughtful look. "A kiss every now and then, sharing a room, the bed… Oh, and Rain? Mind. Gutter. Out. Same for everyone else. Nothing like, well, that happened before the wedding."
"Oh, we all know that, despite the rumors to the contrary," Nijika said, taking the warning that Keiko was giving by using her online name for what it was. "Rumors you two fed at time, by the way. But no, that wouldn't be like either of you. Both of you would have made sure things were done properly, or as properly as we could manage in SAO, first. After the wedding, on the other hand? That's a different story, even if you two won't confirm or deny anything. We're not stupid. And me and the girls would probably have been fighting over who would be the cool aunt by now if certain things were possible there. Well, maybe not Strea and Yui."
Alfheim, Yggdrasil City
Both Yui and Strea started sneezing for no reason, causing Kizmel to blink. "Are you two well?" She asked.
Yui nodded. "We should be, they don't have illnesses here, so we're not getting sick," she said
Strea simply waved it off. "The others are just talking about us," she added.
"Strea that's a baseless superstition and you know it," Yui chided.
"... Yui, think about our 'big sis'. Would she program something like that in-?"
"They're offline," Yui noted drily, with a superior smirk.
"You're no fun."
Nerima, Saotome-Tendo Dojo
"Keiko, don't even bother trying to do your usual games, everyone already has an opinion on that matter," Ranma said. "Also, you almost slipped there. Nothing like that? And what would 'that' be?"
"I wasn't going to," Keiko replied, her face slightly flushed. "And you know exactly what I meant, Grandpa."
"That's about as close as either of them will get to confirming or denying, isn't it?" Hiyori asked in a tone of voice that said just how rhetorical the question was.
"Anyway," Keiko said, clearly wanting to change the subject in Ranma's eyes. "You seem to be confident that you will get Kazuto to agree, Asuna."
"Not wondering about Harry?" Asuna asked.
"Unlike Kazuto, he's already accepted that you'll do it to him," Keiko replied. "That's why he insisted on you paying for the AmuSphere he will use when playing as a girl. So, how will you persuade Kazuto?"
"I have my ways," Asuna replied confidently.
"I call dibs on being the favorite aunt!" Hiyori called out.
"Hiyori!" Asuna protested.
"Really Asuna?" Nijika asked, shaking her head. "I mean, he does look rather nice, but aren't you moving a bit too fast?"
"It's not- I'm not going to sleep with him!"
Keiko couldn't help it. "But, all she was saying was that she called dibs on being the favorite aunt, Asuna," she said with amusement in her voice. "She could also have been talking about any kids Harry and I have. And Nijika is Nijika, we all know where her mind goes, the gutter."
"What can I say, the drinks there are good," Nijika said.
"That too, Keiko," Hiyori agreed and got a thoughtful expression on her face. "But who would be the mother? You… or Harry?"
"Depends on if I threaten that he will have the next one and make good on that threat," Keiko said. "Though if Asuna does decide on that approach to persuading Kazuto, well, we know how adorable any daughters that could result would be. Just look at Yui."
"You… all of you suck!" Asuna retorted, her face scarlet.
Off to the side, Ranma and his sons stood by and watched the byplay. That Akira and Ko were currently tied up and hanging from the ceiling by their toes didn't change that.
"Dad-"
"When your prank standards involve beyond third year primary, Ko."
"... yes, Father."
If anything, it was tame by their standards.
##
Asuna had just noticed that Keiko's uncles were currently hanging from the ceiling and tied up when Harry walked in.
"Okay, we're back and in our proper genders everyone," he said. He took a look to where Akira and Ko were before turning to Keiko. "And I see your uncles are currently tied up at the moment, which will reassure Kazuto. Or as I might call him sometimes, K-Blade."
"Why call him that?" Keiko asked.
Harry shrugged. "Why not?" He asked. "He was, by far, the best swordsman in SAO, so giving him a Title like that just fits."
"Ah," Keiko replied. "A little lacking in originality, but it's you, Harry, we can look past it."
Harry just shot her a flat look. "Funny, dear," he said sarcastically.
Keiko buffed her fingernails on her shirt. "I try," she said smugly. "Anyway, since I demonstrated the kata, I take it that's what we will all be doing?" She looked at her grandfather for confirmation.
Ranma nodded.
April 13, 2025 - Alfheim, Yggdrasil City
Keita sat back after he finished his drink and placed the stein down. Word had it among those who had been in SAO that Harry was less than fond of ALO's beer and he could see why. It tasted more like beer flavored water than anything. Horse piss in other words. Which would have offended the teen.
Hopefully the tea wasn't the same way. Which was unlikely. If the tea was as bad as the beer, then the players would riot.
"Really Keita, beer?" Came Ducker's voice from behind.
Keita turned to see the Imp walking toward him, his usual smile in place.
"Hey Ducker, what's up?" He asked as his friend and guildmate took a seat beside him.
"Not much right now," Ducker replied with a shrug. "My parents are still less than thrilled that I picked up another VRMMO, considering SAO, but I promised that I would keep up with my studies. I'm actually surprised that they didn't raise as much of a fuss as I thought they would."
Keita nodded. "I think all of us are a bit surprised that our families aren't being outright opposed to us playing," he admitted. "Though my parents made sure to emphasize that my continuing to play is contingent on my grades, despite the fact that we basically are guaranteed a High School education from this. No entrance exams for us."
"Tell me about it," Ducker said with a laugh. "I know all of us were going to try for High School, but you know how my grades weren't the best. Chances were I would fail the entrance exam."
"Well, you don't have to worry about that, and don't sell yourself short," Keita said. "You're not stupid, just someone who is not inclined to study more than he needs to. Or think before he acts. I haven't forgotten that incident where we got dragged into that fight. You just wanted to save the girl there, didn't you?"
Ducker snorted. "We're talking about Yuuna there, Keita," he said. "If I thought I had a chance, maybe, but SAO's Bard is a bit out of my reach, don't you think? That, and her hanger on would have likely tried to stab me. Seriously, that guy is almost yandere for her, his fear paralyzing him in a fight notwithstanding."
Keita nodded. It was sheer luck for that group that they had been in the same area, much like it had been luck that Kirito had been there to pull his and his friends' asses out of the fire two years ago. Had Yuuna and her companions not held off on doing that quest until Laughing Coffin had been deal with, he and his group would not have been there as they were busy getting themselves sorted out after their own encounter with those murderers. "That and Sachi would have probably wanted to have words with you if that was the case," he said drily. "Words like 'Smash' and 'Bam' as she beat you within a hit point of your life with her shield and mace."
"There is that, too," Ducker admitted.
Keita snorted in amusement. Before SAO, he would have thought that the often irrepressible Ducker and the ever so studious Sachi wouldn't have become as close as they did. Oh, there would have been friendship, they were friends before SAO after all. But that the two would get closer than that would have been considered absurd.
Then again, all of them were closer friends than they had been before SAO.
"So, I know that Sasamaru is coming online in a bit, but Sachi and Tetsuo said that they might not," Keita said. "Have any idea of what we can do?"
"I heard a Sylph talking to a bunch of others about getting them trained up to do the Grand Quest," Ducker replied. "Apparently, she knows Harry and got him and Lux to help her with it. Also her older brother, and you won't believe who that is."
"Oh?" Keita inquired.
"Apparently she's Kirito's little sister," Ducker replied with a grin.
Keita thought about that and snorted. "Leave it to Kirito to not tell anyone about that," he said. "Not that anyone in Steel Phoenix was exactly open about the real world."
"Neither were we, outside of saying that we were all friends before SAO, and a part of the same school club," Ducker noted.
"And would that stop us from just, you know, happening on them and noting that to him?" Keita asked drily.
"Hell no, it wouldn't," Ducker replied with a grin. "Though you do know that the rest of Steel Phoenix will be there as well. Think they will play along?"
"Maybe, maybe not," Keita replied after a moment. "It depends on how it goes down. As long as it's in good fun, they probably will. They do like to poke fun at each other."
"Not to mention we get to terrify a bunch of ALO scrubs, simply because we can stand being around Steel Phoenix when they get into training mode, right?"
Arun Plateau
Sachi grimaced as she watched Harry negligently bat aside the sword strike with his shield and then use the edge it as a bludgeon on the arm of the Sylph he was sparring against. It was actually fairly restrained for him, given that he could have simply stabbed his sword out and had it resting at the player's throat before she could blink while she was open.
Either method would have proven his point about making assumptions that a shield was only for defense.
"As you can see, if you get the timing right, the shield can be used to parry," he said. "Just as it can be used as a weapon. Do I need to demonstrate further?"
"Now, now, Harry, no need to traumatize her," she said as she walked forward. "I remember you giving me that same lesson when we were in SAO, though I don't use a shield the same way you do."
Harry turned and shot her a grin. "But you also don't cower behind yours," he said. "That's the mistake a lot of tanks make, though with the fact that there are more healing methods in this game, it's less dangerous for them to do that than it was in SAO."
"It also means that they don't need a tank for every party in a raid," Sachi noted.
Harry nodded." True," he said. "So, how have things been, Sachi? And where is the rest of that herd of cats that is your guild?"
Sachi looked to the side, where she saw Keita talking with Asuna, Kirito and Yui. Ducker was showing a smaller Sylph boy a few of his tricks in dagger usage. Sasamaru was off to the side, discussing something with an amused looking Rain. Either he was trying to chat the older girl up and she was simply humoring him, or he was telling her about one of the more amusing incidents they had been through. Silica, Lux and a Spriggan she didn't know where working on teamwork exercises with others.
Tetsuo was with the tanks, with Strea alongside him, probably teaching them a few of his own tricks. The Moonlit Black Cats' tank had learned quite a few tricks from Harry, but he wasn't suited for the highly mobile style, so incorporated those techniques which worked for him, like angling the shield to deflect rather than block. She could see him give one a shove on the shield and send the player sprawling before helping him up and then point at his own legs and feet, saying something that she couldn't quite make out.
"We heard you all were training a bunch of players to take on the Grand Quest and decided to come by and see," she said. "Maybe offer our own tips, as we were Middies in SAO, which seems to be around the skill level of many of the skilled players here."
Harry nodded. "Makes sense," he said and then looked at the Sylph he had subjected to his brand of corrective training. "Actually, Sachi? Can you give this guy and a few others some pointers? The method you developed after having my methods inflicted on you is probably more suited to them than mine is."
"Why would she be better for teaching us than you, Hadrian?" Asked one of the watching Sylphs. A girl who looked far too slight to be deciding to use a shield in a fight, rather than make use of the speed her faction was well known for.
"Because she's a much more defensive fighter than I am, Arisa," Harry replied. "She took what I taught her and developed a method that works for her. Neither of us are tanks, but she's more suited to being a backup tank than I am, which is reflected in our fighting methods. I'm more aggressive, she's more defensive. It tends to have the same result, controlling the fight, but it requires fewer counterintuitive leaps of logic."
"There is also the fact that we are far more survival oriented, rather the end goal oriented," Sachi added. "The main difference between us and frontliners, let alone the Assault Team, is that we are far more cautious when it comes to picking and choosing our battles."
"Hey now, we can be cautious," Harry said in mock protest.
"Your idea of caution is determining on how to best kill a mob you see, not in determining if you actually have to fight it in the first place." Sachi snarked back.
Harry raised his hand as if he was about to say something when he lowered it. "That's a fair cop," he admitted.