Mystic Knight Online: Worlds to Sow
Chapter 14: Tilling for Summer
June 28, 2025 - Nishitokyo, SAO Survivor's School
A polite knock on the door alerted Aina to the arrival of the person who was the subject of the conversation she had been having with Remus Lupin and Ryotaro Tsuboi.
"Come in, Mister Potter," she said.
That she had a subtle ward on the door to alert her of his arrival had nothing to do with her knowing the identity of who was outside, of course. And she would deny such if asked, not that she expected it to fool anyone in the know about her abilities. Which meant that only her fellow staff members, the students whose progress in their magical studies was formally her responsibility regardless of whether she was supervising it or not, and those who weren't of those two groups but knew about magic were aware of them.
Which, among the students, were thankfully few. Though she kicked herself when she gave the files of the students who made up the guild Steel Phoenix another look and found the passphrased annotations that they did know about magic. How she missed that detail the first time was a question she asked herself, though given that she had dozens of files to look over to see which non-magical associates of those students within her area of responsibility has become aware of magic, she could see how it happened.
She had expected the passphrases to follow standard ministry protocols, not the ones that were of them being read into it by the Shiba Clan. Well, associates of the Shiba Clan, but that was splitting hairs when one got down to it. Lord Takeru Shiba had taken responsibility of briefing them, even if it was via others he could call on, so the passphrases reflected that the Shibas took care of the matter.
"Pardon the intrusion." Came Harry Potter's voice as he opened the door and walked in. "Good afternoon, Sakimura-sensei, Tsuboi-sensei, Lupin-sensei," he said in greeting to them.
"And a good afternoon to you, Mister Potter," Aina said. She pointed at a seat next to Tsuboi and Lupin. "Please, take a seat, and we will get this meeting started."
"Understood, Sakimura-sensei," Harry said before walking to the available seat. "By the way, if we are going to require a practical demonstration of what I am being tutored on, I did not bring the tools to do so and they are being kept in the care of my guardian, Sirius Black."
"Duly noted and do not worry about talking around the existence of magic, Mister Potter, I have a ward set up that will obfuscate our discussion if someone happens to overhear anything as they pass by the door. Or are listening in with an ear to it, for that matter."
Harry nodded. "I wonder what I felt when I walked in," he mused. "Not as blatant as the privacy fields developed by Argo in SAO, or the different method Kayaba managed using what he could glean from the system, but I did notice it." He got a thoughtful look on his face. "Didn't notice it when she did so when she tried to spring a surprise on Keiko and I, maybe something to do with her using… ah, never mind."
Aina blinked at what he said. "You… felt it?" She asked. "I would like to ask how. I know a few of my peers speculated that the awareness of things that those who went through SAO had- and still have to some degree from my own observations- would carry over, but this is the first confirmation I know of. Both Mister Tsuboi and Mister Lupin watched me put the ward up, so their awareness of it is understandable."
She watched as the student seemed to consider what he would say. "I have an idea," he admitted. "Ever since we got out of SAO, we've been aware of a lot of things we otherwise wouldn't be. Then again, we have had to pay attention to everything around us to a much greater degree in SAO if we wanted to ensure we got back to the Safe Zones. Well, for those of us who wandered out of them, that is. So, when we're paying attention, we tend to notice more than we otherwise would. And those of us who went out regularly tend to pay attention to our surroundings even now for obvious reasons."
"That makes some sense, Mister Potter," Aina replied before shooting him a knowing look. "And yet, I do believe that it isn't everything. If you don't want to explain right now, that's fine, but I will be making enquiries."
Harry nodded. "That's fair," he said.
"Now then" she said. "We won't be requiring you to be casting spells, your not having your wand on you was expected. Here would not have been a proper place to demonstrate your proficiency at any rate, and I would have made arrangements if that were the case. By the way, where have you been conducting your lessons, especially if practical demonstrations were needed?"
"It was at the Shiba Compound," Harry replied to Aina's shock. "My family has been… allied, so to speak, with the Shiba Clan for a few decades. At the very least, it was a working relationship that was close enough for representatives from the Shiba Clan to be invited to my parent's wedding."
"And Mrs. Sakimura, those reasons are not just his to divulge," Ryotaro said in a firm tone. "I don't know if he was asked not to, but this is a matter between the Potter Family and the Shiba Clan as a whole."
"Understood, Mister Tsuboi," Aina said. She had heard the warning undertone in his voice, but the fact that it was between the two families was enough reason for her to not question further. Matters between families tended to be private, and asking Mister Potter to divulge it without ensuring that it was okay with the Shiba Clan without a good reason could be seen as a major breach of etiquette.
"Well then," she continued. "We should begin the meeting."
Three hours later, Harry left the school grounds and wanted nothing more than to head back to the apartment and take a brief nap. What had initially seemed to be what he had expected, a meeting about his progress, quickly turned into a rather detailed covering of where he was in terms of his studies when Sakimura-sensei learned that he had caught up in most subjects. The only hangup (as expected) had been potions.
Where his practical skills were currently lacking. His theoretical skills were at least theoretically (ha ha, was the sarcastic thought that came to mind there) where they should be, but Remus was right. He needed someone properly qualified to teach him.
Sakimura-sensei informed them that she would find out who was properly qualified, and willing to tutor him. Once she knew, she would send a shikigami to both tutors to inform them unless they found someone themselves. And if they did, to please inform her.
"Merlin, she is thorough in her questioning," Remus said with a shake of his head.
"I didn't think we covered as much as we did," Ryotaro agreed.
"Not as much related to Potions," Harry noted. "But we already expected that. Well, nothing to do about that until Sakimura-sensei gets back to us or we find a solution on our own."
"Or-" Remus began before Harry cut him off.
"Remus, we don't have the contacts here," Harry said. "Yes, we could ask the Shibas to help us in finding one, but I wouldn't want to impose on them."
"That would have been option two," Remus said. "And didn't I mention you could call me Moony when I'm not teaching you?"
"Not that I can recall, and I likely wouldn't," Harry said. "I know that the Japanese have fewer issues with your little lupine issue that turns up every month, mostly because arrangements were made for you to spend that time with those Okuri-inu. Which is probably a lot more helpful than what you've often had to deal with."
"We're sane enough to not classify them along the lines of what the Shibas have often had to fight." Ryotaro said with a head shake.
"And when SAO's Fool, also known as The Bro, is right about sanity— don't argue Klein, you're as insane as the rest of us," Harry pointed out as Ryotaro opened his mouth to protest. "And don't go and flood Japan's market for ham, I've seen you and Ikegami-san go at it, you know it's accurate. Not that it is anything close to what he and Umemori-san get like."
The Bro gave Harry a smirk. "It's not like you guys didn't notice it was an act there anyway."
"Well, that and the fact that you weren't acting like an idiot more than a few times," Harry noted.
"Yeah, that's- hey!" Klein began before he realized the sass behind Harry's comment. "What do you mean by that?"
"Oh, you know what I mean," Harry replied. "And point to me."
Remus just shook his head in amusement.
"So, now that we're done, going to spend some time in ALO with the Missus?" Ryotaro asked.
"Well, ye-" Harry's reply was interrupted by his stomach growling. "I'm going to get something to eat first, then spend some time in ALO. Asuna hinted that she heard of an event coming up, and told me she would tell me either tomorrow, or if I got online and asked her there today. She seemed somewhat amused by it." He shrugged. "If it's a Miss ALO Competition, and I use 'Miss' quite loosely here, that would fit her sense of humor."
"Ah, a Drag Competition," Ryotaro said with a nod. "I know you won't exactly protest, given who Silica is related to and Remus telling me that you've been introduced to that aspect of her family."
"So did Kazuto," Harry noted with a shrug. "Once. Nearly broke his mind, and Keiko's uncles had to apologize to him for catching him in the splash. They make sure no one would get caught up in it when they douse me. Well, for now. There are two who I owe a revenge prank on who will be subjected to it, and they will almost certainly get me in the splash. And before you ask, Remus taught them at Hogwarts. They were often solemnly up to no good."
"Ah, so those two will be coming as well." Remus noted. "Are you sure that is wise?"
Harry smirked. "Mrs. Weasley is all for it, just so you know," he said. "She was, shall we say, amused by the idea."
Alfheim Online - Yggdrasil City
Asuna had to admit, there were times where she felt that ALO was almost dull and boring in many ways. Not the setting, though. ALO's setting was bright, vibrant, and magical in ways that SAO could never have been. But ALO lacked several qualities that SAO had that she sorely missed.
Akihiko Kayaba, for all his sins, had gone to immense lengths to use his genius to make SAO a world that one felt like they were living in, rather than merely playing as characters on a stage. A world where one had to accept that it was reality, for all that they had to remember it was also a game and the attendant rules of such a setting.
SAO for good or ill, felt alive for those who had been trapped in it for two years. ALO lacked that quality. And yet, that was a good thing.
They didn't have to be on constant alert once they left a safe area. They didn't have to live with the constant fear that one mistake, the mobs getting lucky, or just them stumbling into a more dangerous than usual situation would prove fatal. They didn't have to live with the uncomfortable fact that the clock was ticking, for all that they did their best to not think about it.
Yes, ALO was much better in that regard, but it still wasn't the same. Oh, it was fun in ways that SAO never could be due to what Kayaba did, but it lacked a quality that SAO had.
It wasn't the food or drink. Harry's grousing about how most of the beer tasted notwithstanding, they tasted fine. And the fact that the wines, beers and spirits couldn't get one drunk in ALO was also a good thing in her mind. She had done enough foolish and reckless things while sober as it was, and she didn't want to find out if the effects of drunkenness carried over out of the game, thank you very much.
It wasn't even the accommodations they used when they logged out. ALO was designed with players being able to enter and leave as they pleased in mind. Something along the lines of what SAO often provided, such as fully furnished and comfortable rooms, let alone baths and bathhouses, were far more expensive than would be the case with SAO.
In other words, luxuries. Sometimes desirable, even used by them from time to time, but unneeded nonetheless.
Strea, Yui and Kizmel had lodgings that had such luxuries. And until a solution that would allow them to effectively log out of the game, the AIs lived in ALO, so their desiring more creature comforts was understandable. Everyone else was happy enough to simply have a place to bunk their player avatars down, even if the accommodations were basic and fairly spartan in comparison to what they had used in SAO.
"And Harry's on," Silica said interrupting the Undine's musings. "Probably took some time to get something to eat, especially as it seems the meeting with Sakimura-sensei went longer than expected."
Asuna turned to the Cait Sith. "We did expect that he would be delayed for a few hours," she noted.
Silica nodded. "True, but it's been nearly four hours, so that meeting must have been involved." She idly poked her chin. "Or the delay is because Klein hit on Sakimua-sensei and he had to keep Klein from being chased into traffic. Or keep her from beating him black and blue."
Asuna raised an eyebrow. "In an official setting?" She asked. "That wouldn't be like him. Now, if it was in an unofficial setting, I wouldn't be surprised unless she made it clear that she isn't interested. For all that he can act like an idiotic ass, Klein understands and respects boundaries."
"And we know it's an act," Silica replied. "Well, most of the time anyway. Other times, it's not and he's actually being an idiot."
"True," Asuna acknowledged. "But it's not like any of us weren't as well. Some more often than others."
"And most times it wasn't because we were drunk, just bored."
"Though none of us are as bad as a bored Strea."
Silica nodded. "True." She giggled. "Remember the look on Harry's face when they came back from that one time Kirito took him and her fishing?"
"The one where he looked like he couldn't decide whether he should be shell-shocked or impressed?"
"Yes, that one," Silica confirmed. "He told me before we went to bed that night that he didn't know how it happened. But it would have fit right in with where he had been going to school before SAO. Kids and what they study there can lead to some interesting effects, on themselves and others, when tempers flare or someone messes up. And there were times when no one could figure out how what happened actually happened."
"It definitely kept the skills of our teachers, not to mention the nurse who managed our infirmary, sharp." Harry's voice chimed in from behind Asuna. "We tended to do things in our ignorance that should have otherwise been difficult or impossible to achieve by what they sometimes said, simply because we didn't know any better to know that we shouldn't have been capable of it."
Asuna glanced at him as he took a seat. "So achievements in ignorance, then?" She asked.
Harry nodded. "Of course," he replied. "And it's not like we haven't seen such ourselves."
"Or the results," Asuna said with a snort. "I did have to pick you and Kirito up from jail from one of those times."
"Well you know what they say, a friend will bail you out of jail, but a good friend will be right there in the cell with you saying that what was done was stupid, but worth it," Harry said with a shrug. "And wrangling that dragon to fly it into the Knights of Blood's headquarters was very worth it. And before you ladies say anything, you know full well that you two, and probably Rain and Lux as well, would have been there with Kirito, Klein, and I if you had the chance and weren't distracted with your own little party."
"Well, Rain would have been with you idiots if she had a chance, at least." Asuna admitted. "Of course, whether it was because she was trying to drink Klein under the table and tagged along because she was as drunk as you three were or not is up to debate."
"Asuna, we would have been there with them, and probably just as drunk as them," Silica said. "It just would have been from different drinks than what they were drinking, beer isn't our thing after all. Though that one beer Harry found here was pretty good, I'll admit."
"Or you would have tagged along to pull our arses out of danger," Harry added. "As well as lecture us on how stupid we were being."
"That's… a fair point," Asuna replied. "And that dragon was rather testy with you and Kirito when we all went there later if I recall. Didn't help it, especially since you pulled a new technique out of your ass and then used your Unique Skill to allow you, Silica, and Lux to introduce that overgrown lizard to the experience of being in a blender. Anyway, aside from that, how did the meeting go?"
"Aside from my… chemistry subject, due to not having someone qualified to tutor and supervise me on the practical side of it, it's going rather well. And Sakimura-sensei is looking into finding a tutor."
"I have an idea of who can help in mind, if she is willing," Silica said. "Well, that and having the… ah… proper certifications, that is."
Asuna saw Harry pause a moment before looking at Silica. "Why does that not reassure me as much as it should?" He asked.
"How so?" Asuna asked.
"For some reason, I feel a great deal of embarrassment in store for me if Silica's idea is who I fear it is and she is the one that I end up having to turn to," Harry replied.
Asuna raised an eyebrow.
"She would definitely insist that he get in touch with his feminine side," Silica said with a grin. "My uncle has some stories about that from when he was learning from Auntie Shampoo and her."
"And Ko being so good at doing makeup makes so much sense now," Harry said in a deadpan voice. He then shrugged. "Well, if that's how it goes, that's how it goes. I believe I will live."
"Whether your dignity will survive, though, is another matter," Silica replied.
"Speaking of dignity, what did you want to bring up, Asuna?" Harry asked. "You seemed a bit too amused when you said that you wanted to do a meeting if at all practical. Is it a 'Miss Alfheim' contest or something? Given that Ashley has set up here and Aincrad's Best Tailor would go for the free advertising, even if the ones showing off the dresses are male, that was the first thing that came to my mind."
Asuna shook her head. "No, though it will involve making use of Ashley's services," she said. "I heard from my brother that there is an event coming up that encourages players to dress up. Rather fancily at that. And that it involves some things, like dancing, hobnobbing with various players, apparent NPCs who are actually GMs playing a role, actual NPCs, fancy dining, and so on. In fact, I have found out that some NPCs have turned up in Arun to… ah… specifically train players in some things in preparation for it."
"Okay, and what does this mean for us?" Harry asked suspiciously.
"It means that I can civilize you barbarians, mainly," Asuna said. "Or at least attempt to."
"Now, now, Asuna, we're civilized," Harry said. "Why, I remember to bathe every week now. No more dirt, mud, or dung stuck to me."
"And I have stopped trying to use fish entrails to divine my next course of action," Silica said with a grin. "Granted, I am working on trying to understand why I should go to a supermarket to buy my food rather than forage or hunt for it, but I will understand why in time, I'm sure."
"Well, except for getting food for Pina," Harry noted. "They seem to be constantly out of dragon food and snacks."
On hearing her name, the feathered dragon looked at Harry and chirped.
"We'll get you something to snack on later, you flying feather duster," Harry assured.
"Or she'll just steal something from your plate," Silica added.
"That is definitely a possibility, or we can hand her off to Yui, who will happily give her snacks." Harry noted.
"Are you two done?" Asuna asked. Seriously, these two, she thought with some exasperation.
"For now," Silica said.
"Good," Asuna acknowledged. "Anyway, while it shouldn't be something that's overly combat related, it would be something different. And while combat is fun, or at least good stress relief, I think we can stand to do something different every now and then."
"That, and it's an excuse to get us all dressed up, isn't it?" Silica asked.
"And you aren't imagining how each of you would look while wearing what this game could pass as formal wear?" Asuna asked.
"You have to admit, dear, she's not wrong," Harry said. "And now I see why you said we will be making use of Ashley's services. They would be costly, but you have to admit that we will look good for the event. We all know that Ashley does good work."
"True," Silica agreed. "And I wonder, what's the speculation for the actual gender of Aincrad's Best Tailor right now."
"I learned from Sachi that Liz knows due to being Ashley's cousin," Asuna said. "I asked our favorite blacksmith and she confirmed it. And no, she's not letting anyone know."
"Of course she isn't," Harry said. "Liz would find the speculation to be just as amusing as Ashley probably does. Probably requests to those who do figure it out to not spread the word for the same reason."
"Think Argo figured it out yet?" Silica asked.
"Would Argo even tell us, considering that she would also find the speculation funny?" Asuna asked.
"If she figured it out, Ashley would have definitely made sure that Argo wouldn't spread the word," Harry said. "And she would find it amusing. Besides, it was more something we did to pass the time. It's not like we care about knowing."
"No, we don't really care," Silica said before looking at Asuna. "So, Ashley for the outfits?"
"Yes," Asuna replied. "And I will find someone to get us up to speed with the dancing part." She then looked at both Harry and Silica. "And knowing you two, you will milk this for all it's worth once you get a handle on a few dances."
"Why do you think that?" Harry asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes, Asuna, why would you think that?" Silica also asked.
Asuna gave them a flat stare. "Because the limitations on your relationship you two are under, both imposed from outside and your own distrust of the GMs to not be watching in here is something I know is frustrating to both of you in some ways. I know you two."
"It really annoys me that I can't contest that," Harry remarked with some annoyance.
"And no, that is not a confirmation," Silica said. "Nor is this a denial. Just as you know us, we know you. Stop trying to live vicariously through us."
Asuna gave them an affronted look that was obviously false. "So the two of you are not looking forward to learn a way to make everyone wonder what you get up to in privacy due to how you are willing to act in public?" She asked, archly.
"Now, now, Asuna-" Harry began.
"- Don't go putting words into our mouths." Silica finished.
All three of them shared a laugh.
June 29, 2025 - Arun
Harry picked himself up and reached down to help Silica to her feet. This was the fifth time one or both of them ended up on the floor due to tripping. Either over their own feet, or tripping each other by accident. And that didn't include the number of stumbles when one of them lost their balance, or the times they stepped on each other's feet.
Frankly, he was happy that it was only five times. Strea had it happen more often, her greater height over her Salamander partner for this being a prime contributor, and Harry had been mildly surprised to see Kagemune here to learn how to dance. Rain had found herself stepping on the feet of her partner, a Spriggain, fairly often. And Lux had it happen a few times as well.
At the same time, he wasn't surprised that neither Asuna nor Kirito had any such thing happen to them once. Asuna, for the simple fact that she probably already knew how to dance, with her natural grace making up for any deficiencies. And Kirito was more certain with his footing than any of them. Which was a godsend when you began learning any dance more complicated and energetic than a basic waltz.
Which didn't make it any less galling for any of them. In battle, all of them were so certain with their footwork, able to move and glide over the ground instinctively and without issue. So why did dancing take all of that and make a mockery of it?
Actually, he knew why. They weren't used to moving like this, and it was throwing their own awareness of their footing off. That was at least one of the reasons why.
Yui had paired with a younger player, but aside from the basic waltz, the two of them were more than content to just watch everyone else's pratfalls. And laughing or giggling at them with other younger players present, the brat.
"So, again?" Harry asked.
"Yes," Silica replied. The emphatic way she said it hinted that she was just as annoyed at the regular tripping as he was. "We're tripping later and later each time, so we'll eventually get it right. At least we aren't stepping on each other the way Strea is with her partner."
"Kagemune seems to be taking it well, though." Harry noted.
"It's not like pain is a real issue here," Silica replied. "Mostly discomfort, and not feeling anything when you know you should is really uncomfortable."
"Point," Harry acknowledged. He then got back in place and extended a hand. "Well, enough of that, dear. Shall we?"
Silica took his hand. "We shall, my good sir," she replied.
"There's something missing from it all," Harry said as he took a seat. While the sensation of physical exhaustion was far from a concern in ALO, unlike how it had been in SAO, he still felt tired after the effort put into learning the various dances "We have the footing down, the movements, all of that, but there is still something missing."
Silica looked at him. "I would ask how so, but I already know what you mean," she replied. "It's as if we're not doing it properly, even though we have the movements locked in."
"If we get told that we simply aren't putting any heart into it, I am going to be annoyed," Harry grumbled. "We're learning how to dance, it's not like we're-" Something caught his eye. "Wait a tick, Silica, look to the right." He saw Silica turn her head out of the corner of his eye, but kept the majority of his attention on what he had noticed.
It was a man and woman, a Salamander and an Undine, both certainly older than Silica and him. And despite how player avatars tended to mask one's age unless the player is clearly young in ALO, he would assume that the two were at least a couple of decades older than him and his wife.
But it wasn't the two that was what caught his attention, it was what they were doing. They were dancing one of the dances the two had just learned. And by the surety of their movements, they were well practiced at it. He also noticed the slight variations to their movements as well, as if they were going slightly off at specific points, or simply being less stiff as they moved.
It could be them either adding a personal spin to it or simply being well practiced at the dance to be relaxed and smooth in their movements, if not both, really.
"You think we'll be able to dance like that?" Silica asked.
"We do have the movements down, but the old sayings about practice should hold true," Harry replied. "Of course, we will have to practice and I doubt that there will be enough time for us to get as good at it as they seem to be. It should be good enough, though."
Silica stood up. "Well then, shall we go at it again, good sir?" She asked, giving him a smile.
Harry got to his feet and looked at her. "Why, My Lady, I do believe we shall." He said.