[Asuka Empire, Emerald Coast]
[Meru Zena's POV]
The Emerald Coast was one of the more serene locations in Asuka Empire, large rock shelves that sat well over thirty meters above the golden beaches below, overlooking the blue sea beyond. Lush, green fields decorated the tops, and at night-time, the skybox truly came to life.
Stars lit the blackness of space in a canvass seen in desktop wallpapers, a moon hung bright in the skies with redwood lanterns atop each cliff tip, creating a small chain of lights at the seafront. It was very popular with couples.
"Well, tomorrow's the big day, nervous?" I blinked out of my daydream, turning my head to my only companion for the night.
She sat on the ground, one knee bent with both hands wrapped around it to keep her steady as she looked at me with sharp, emerald eyes. Her outfit was befitting a shinobi, dark violet garbs with an assortment of shuriken for the belt and a katana slung over one shoulder, her light-green hair tied into a high-ponytail with a butterfly hairpin. She was the definition of 'cool beauty'.
She was also my sister. Merida.
I gave a half-hearted shrug. "I guess..." But my answer wasn't enough, feeling her fingers reach over and flick the left side of my head, making me wince.
"Don't give me that; come on, you've be hyped about this game for weeks on end with me, and you'll be with all our friends to boot for the big day!" Merida, ever the optimist, tried to rouse my morale from the dirt, I just stared at my crossed legs.
"...but you won't be there..." Her condition's what kept her from playing, Mom and Dad forbade it, even after the three had argued and fretted over it. A brain tumour posed too much of a danger. "...it's not fair, you can play Asuka and other games, why not this too?" Call me bratty, but it didn't make sense to me.
"Hey," I felt her back against mine, the back of her head lightly bopping off mine. "It's just until the hospital does some tests with the game's release. I'll be right there before you know it... Sword Art Online... we barely made it to floor 10,"
"Yeah..." It was impossible, most of the best players had either given up or were wiped out. Only a handful even caught a glimpse of the 10th floor boss. Lucky...
"But this time, we're gonna aim for the top," Her left hand rose to point towards the stars, head leaning onto my shoulder. "All of us, let's fight day and night and aim for the Ruby Palace,"
"That would take years, the game's meant to be like small campaigns and stuff for each floor to boot," I reminded her, but Merida laughed, shaking her head as her hand found its way to my right, squeezing it tightly. It felt so warm...
"Kazuki, sometime's you got to roll the dice," I groaned, feeling my cheeks cringe as she let out a hysterical laugh. "I'm serious! You always look at things so glumly, instead, try to look at this as proof you are strong. That it's your head that got you to the top of Aincrad, not some stats on a screen, how else do you think I'm able to kick your sorry butt all the time here?"
"Because you're addicted to this game?" Another flick to the back of my head shut me up.
"Smartass, buuuut, it's because, yes, stats and loot are what can help you reach new heights, but it doesn't matter if you can't use your head. Strategies, hidden quests, what all the numbers and percentages mean, even the world around you can be your biggest asset. It's all just about thinking that everything around you as cards, what's the best ones to use and when,"
That seemed really confusing, making me grumble in annoyance at why she had to be so wordy with her answers. But, Merida wasn't wrong, equipment was only one part of what made a player, if you understood the game, then it helped in the long run.
"I guess... I kinda get it," I replied, squeezing her hand back. "Then... let's do it, we'll first get past floor 10,"
"Hah, that's right, onward and upward!" She declared, now I too was smiling again, savouring the way we sat under the stars.
/Timeless - Arc V Till The End\
"No matter how much time we have left, I'll never forsake a moment with you."
[To Be Continued...]
[Author's Notes]
This little preview before the chapter goes up later tomorrow, hope it was a good little tease for what's to come! I really hope you'll enjoy what's to come, I appreciate the support as always; I'll see you all in the next chapter, Players!