Chapter 9
December 7th, 2023
(A month later)
Winter had officially started. There was snow on almost every floor now, with the exception of the desert floors and floor 1, which remained a pleasant 27°c all year round. Unfortunately, this floor was none of the above, and blanketed in a thick layer of snow.
It was today that Remi finally caved to Raymon and Azura's incessant nagging to follow task set out for them from their fallen friend. Today, they would join the Knights of the Bloodoath. After much discussion at the tavern, almost everyone came to the conclusion that It'd be good for me to joined up as well, with the exception of Shiraki, who was against the idea to an unusual degree. It almost seemed personal. However, the others were probably right. Joining up with one of, if not the most powerful guild in Aincrad wouldn't be such a bad idea.
Ever since he moved in to the tavern, I'd been going out with Shiraki practically every time he was free, levelling up and exploring new areas. Even so, Shiraki would be busy sometimes, so I'd have nobody to go with. That's where the suggestion that I joined a guild came from. I was concerned at first, seeing as I'd joined three guilds and was there for the destruction of two of them. Last I heard, the majority Round Table met the same fate as the Wolves of Night and the Kookaburras, and the rest disbanded, so my experience with guilds hasn't been the best, though that last one was only a rumour. I had no confirmation whether or not it was true. Either way, I didn't really want to join another guild, so Raigen did. Last month, he decided to join up for two reasons. To see how they operate, and to encourage me to join the large guild for my safety. So, no wanting to let him down, I bit my tongue and agreed to try the guild life one last time.
"So," Raymon asked, "Can Enzu do any tricks?"
"No. I haven't really tried to teach her anything yet. I'm not even sure if she can learn like that. It'd be a good idea to try though. Wouldn't you say so, girl?"
Enzu landed on my shoulder and squawked, so I scratched her under her chin.
Whether I liked to admit it or not, the truth remained that Enzu wasn't a real pet, or even real at all. She was an AI. Little more than a collection of millions of lines of code stitched together to make a functional being. I wasn't sure how advanced the AI was – whether it'd even be capable of learning tricks, so I never tried. If she couldn't, I'd feel like stupid, and it would be just another reminder that the only thing that comforted me in this accursed place was only a sequence of ones and zeros. A thought that I desperately tried to avoid.
"So they're just gonna let us in? No questions asked? Simple as that?" Remi asked, rather sceptically.
"I don't see why they wouldn't," Azura answered.
"I'm not sure about me though," I added.
After trudging through ankle deep snow for what felt like an hour, we finally arrived at a stone structure. A stronghold the size of a small town. I couldn't even begin to imagine how much a guild hall of this size would have cost.
As we approached the front gate, the guard on duty hopped up and bashed his long, teardrop shaped shield into the ground below, anchoring it and blocking the only visible entrance to the fort. He was an older gentleman, maybe in his mid 40's, with a receding hairline. Either that was his hair IRL, or the randomization aspect of the avatar generation wasn't very kind to him.
"Halt!" he bellowed. "None shall... Oh. Just some more children. Look, kids, if you don't have a reason to be here-"
"And what the hell is that supposed to mean, fucknut?!" Remi snapped.
"Language," I protested.
"Just because we're younger than you, that somehow makes us less of a warrior that you?! Come on, then! I'll kick your ass right here and now!"
Azura placed her hand on Remi's shoulder, which ultimately made her calm down a little, though she was still fuming at the supposed insult that she made up in her head, so I changed the subject, hopefully contributing further to Azura's calming.
"Hi," I waved. "We'd like to join the Knights of the Bloodoath, please."
The knight, who was outfitted in thick, white, plate armour adorned with a red cross on the chest plate looked down at our group. He glanced around before letting out a slight giggle, but quickly covered his mouth, likely only to keep Remi calm.
"I mean," the knight looked directly at Azura, Raymon and Remi. "I sort of understand you three wanting to join...but you?" he looked down at me. "You're, what? 8? 8 and half?"
"I'm 12," I pouted. "I don't look that young."
"A child and a liar, huh?" he chuckled.
There was no point in arguing. He'd already made up his mind. Not that informing him that I was actually 12 would do much good anyway.
"What levels are you?" the knight sighed. Clearly he'd been in this type of situation several times already.
Each of us replied our respective levels, with Raymon being level 31, Azura being 30, Remi on level 33 and me on a measly level 28.
"Alright," the knight sighed. "You three can sign up."
"But...there are four of us?" I questioned. "Did you miscount?"
"I know how many of you there are. I was talking to your friends."
"But-"
"Look, kid. Don't take this the wrong way, but you're just too weak. We only accept players who are level 30 or higher anyway. But it's not the end of the world." He crouched down to my level and gave a forced smile. "How about you just leave everything to the higher level players, huh?"
"Saxon," a voice echoed from the watch tower. "I think you should let the little lady at least show you what she's got."
From out of the watch tower emerged a tall man with a neat head of hair. Immediately recognizing him, I rushed over and hugged him.
"Uncle Raigen!" I exclaimed.
"Hey, kiddo," he smiled.
"I don't think I'll ever get used to seeing you in that uniform, old man," Raymon chuckled.
He was right. Seeing Raigen in anything other than his regular samurai-like armour was certainly a strange experience, but the KoB plate didn't look bad on him. It made him look more professional.
"Raigen," the knight turned to him. "I understand that you may know this girl well, but you know as well as I do that the rules state that in order to join the Knights of the Bloodoath, a player must be-"
"Level 30 or above. I, and everyone else in Aincrad is well aware. It's sort of the KoB's whole selling point – only having high levelled players and all. That and the whole roleplay thing, but level isn't everything. I think you should at least see what the girl can do before sending her away."
"Raigen. Is that rebellion I hear in your voice?"
From out the front gate, a young woman, about the same age as Shiraki walked out. Her appearance was like something out of a story book. Eyes as blue as the sky, shimmering with the glow of the bright sun. Smooth, chestnut-brown hair flowing freely below her shoulders. Lips as red as the freshest strawberries. Her presence was commanding yet graceful, exuding an aura of confidence and authority that made it clear she was someone of great importance.
"Vice Commander Rizea?!" Raigen froze.
A part of me locked up as well hearing the name. Rizea. As in Needlepoint Rizea. I'd only ever heard the name a few times, but it was clear that she was someone who demanded great respect. People claimed that she was the fastest player in all of SAO, investing almost all of her stats into AGI, and yet still being strong enough to win fights. There was even a rumour going around a few months ago that she beat Shiraki in a dual, but he claimed that it was a complete lie.
"I- No, not at all. I was simply-" Raigen stammered.
"Pity," she sighed. "You're always so obedient. I was hoping this could have been interesting." She immediately turned her back and starts walking off.
"Actually!" Raigen called out.
She stopped in her tracks. I caught a small glance of a grin on her face, right before she pivoted on her feet to face us.
"Yes?" she questioned.
"I understand that she doesn't meet the level requirement, but I can vouch for her. Osaka's been training really hard for the past month to join, so, would it be possible to make an exception? Just this once?" Raigen pleaded.
I wasn't entirely sure what Raigen why Raigen was so insistent. Though I had levelled up 8 levels, my skill wasn't anywhere near on the level he was making it out to be. I'd learned a few things from Shiraki, but I wasn't really confident with using any of what I'd learned outside of training, let alone in front of strangers.
"Well," Rizea flicked her hair over her ear, "We'll have to put her skills to the test first. I assume you're referring to the little girl?"
Without missing a beat, the young woman walked over to me and crouched at my level, gracing my nose with the sent of her rose-like perfume.
"Osaka, was it?" she asked in a calming, delicate voice, very different than her previous tone.
"Y-Yes, miss!"
"I've heard about you. Judging by that monster on your shoulder, you must be the beast tamer I heard about earlier this year. It seems Raigen speaks very highly of you, and as a trusted member of the Knights of the Bloodoath, and a high-ranking officer, his word means a lot around here. Even so, tell me, what could you offer to these forces?"
"Well, I can, um..."
I was stumped. There I was, standing in front of an Aincrad legend, and I had no idea what to say. I didn't possess any extreme combat abilities, and the only way a select few people had even heard of me was because of Enzu. I wasn't strong, or confident. Then I remember what Shiraki said, and the words started flowing.
"I am fast! Yeah! And agile!"
"So, you're fast, huh?" her eyebrow raised. "How fast? As I'm sure you know, I'm pretty fast myself too."
"I'm really fast! I get up and just go zoom!" I swiped my arms in a straight motion to emphasize just how fast I could move.
"Wow. Very impressive," she chuckled, continuing to play into my childlike response. "But what about in battle? You're rather small to be a warrior. How do you hold up in combat?"
Quoting Shiraki I stated "I use my size to my advantage, and speed to confuse my opponents."
"Interesting. I would like to see it in action. Would you be ok with a quick duel between you and Saxon?"
Her question was unexpected and sudden. So much so that I instinctively took a step back. A duel? I'd never actually fought another player before. I'd never even though about it. I'd never had a reason to.
"Vice Commander?" Saxon questioned, rather perplexed and confused by her statement."
"It'll be a simple duel to 20% HP, so don't worry about dying. The system will protect you from that. I don't expect you to win, so don't feel like that's your goal. He's 8 levels above you. I just want to see your skills."
Raigen opened his mouth to protest, but Rizea held up her hand to shush him.
"Raigen," Rizea turned to him once more. "Please take our other new recruits to the barracks, and send Tenson and Apples out to guard the gate."
"Right away. Come on, you three." He walked off, followed by Remi, Azura and Raymon.
"O-Ok," I blurted out. "I'll do it."
"I..." Saxon sighed. "Very well. I am a knight, after all. It would be dishonourable to decline a duel. I shall duel this...child."
After we both agreed, I was escorted through the gates and into a large, circular arena with a sand floor and seats surrounding the exterior. A few knights called out to each other as they saw Saxon and I getting into out positions. Before I could even register what I'd just agreed to, the cobblestone stands were full of other knights.
"Are you ready?" asked Rizea.
I gazed into the sky and took a deep breath, quickly shielding my eyes from the sting of the sun. I looked back down at myself. My legs were trembling. My hands were clenched shut, stabbing myself with my nails. If the ability to sweat was in SAO, my hands would no doubt be clammy. A far larger crowd than before had gathered to watch the duel, their murmurs and chuckles filling the air. Nobody believed in me. Not that I blamed them. I too had very little faith in myself, but I still had to try.
"Y-You stay out of the way on this one, Enzu. I don't want you getting hurt again," I said, barely able to keep my voice steady.
My hawk flew off my shoulder and began circling above, giving me the slightest sense of comfort.
"Ok. That should do. I'm ready now. I think." I said, trying to sound confident, though my words betrayed my doubt.
One problem with training with Shiraki was that when I was with him, I felt practically invincible. I knew that if anything went wrong, or it looked like I was about to lose, he'd always step in and help. I became reliant on him. I know I'd have never been able to win half of the battles I had if not for him, so when I was alone, the hopelessness was greatly amplified.
I repeated his words in my head, desperately trying to calm my nerves. "Don't think of a player any differently than you would a monster." "Predict that patters." "Use your speed to your advantage." "Never back down from a fight."
Once more, I took a deep breath, finally ready. I navigated through my menu and down to the duel menu. My eyes skimmed across the menu at the names. First Strike, Stop Short and Death Match,. Each had their own winning conditions. First Strike matches ended when I player landed the first clean blow. Light scratches and blocked attacks wouldn't cut it. Stop Short was an ordinary fight between players, but it would end when one players HP drops to red. The final duel option was Death Match. As stated, the duel was a fight to the death, and unlike the other two options, which would end after a two minute timeframe and award victory to the player with the most HP in none of the other requirements were met, a Death Match would only end when a players HP hit zero. I clicked the Stop Short option and selected Saxon as my opponent from the nearby players list. The moment he accepted, a floating countdown in the sky appeared before us, counting down from sixty to indicate time for preparation.
I stood motionless, looking directly into Saxon's emerald green eyes. There was something off about them. They seemed...hollow. As if there wasn't even a human behind them. It was unsettling. It was more than just focus. It was determination, similar to the look I saw in Shiraki's eyes, but more...lifeless.
Very quickly, the timer hit zero and Rizea shouted "Begin!"
As soon as she said that, Saxon went for a dash attack. I instantly leaped back to dodge it and he lunged forward, trying to slash at me with a broad horizontal swipe. He missed by mere inches. He was really fast. Much faster than I had imagined. Before I could react, he tried to get me with another horizontal swipe, and I barely managed to get out of the way.
He is quick! His attack pattern is unpredictable!
"You can dodge. Interesting. But what about close combat?" he called.
Before I could reply, he lunged again. I managed to duck just in time. When I did, I could see his footwork and saw the tiniest of openings. I went for a leg sweep. It wasn't an advanced move, but I figured it might at least give me a moment to catch my breath. As my leg connected with his, I saw him stumble, but it wasn't enough to knock him off balance completely. He quickly regained his footing and swung his sword down at me.
I rolled to the side to avoid the blow and got to my feet. As I stood, I realized I had only one shot to win this. If I could somehow get behind him and catch him off guard, I might be able to knock him down long enough to land a few hits. I decided to go for it.
I sprinted toward him, and just as he went to attack, I jumped to the side and rolled behind him. As he turned to face me, I jumped up and swung my fist at his face. I had never fought another player, and I could feel the adrenaline pumping through my veins.
My punch connected, and I saw him stumble back, clearly surprised. I took the opportunity to get in a few more hits, aiming for his weak spots. He tried to block me, but I was too fast. I landed a few more blows before he finally managed to catch my arm and throw me to the ground. I hit the ground hard, but I quickly got back to my feet.
Saxon looked at me, clearly impressed.
"Not bad, kid. But this duel is over," he said, raising his sword.
I braced myself for the final blow, but it never came. Instead, Rizea stepped between us, holding up her hand.
"That's enough, Saxon!" Rizea yelled. "I've seen enough.
I looked at her, panting and wounded, but still standing. Saxon immediately followed her instructions and cancelled the duel from his menu.
"Osaka, you've proven yourself today. You have potential, and with proper training, you could become a valuable member of the Knights of the Bloodoath. Welcome to the guild," she said.
I could barely believe it. I didn't feel like I'd done very well, but yet I still felt as if I'd won in my own way. I smiled, feeling a sense of accomplishment and pride. I had finally found a place where I belonged.
Overjoyed, I leaped up and wrapped my arms around Rizea, but every knight in the arena drew their weapons. I immediately let go, taking a few steps back.
"Lower your weapons, fools! She's a child!" Rizea growled.
The knights all obey, but quickly draw them again as a figure runs into the arena.
"Osaka!" he called. "There you are!"
I turned around to face Shiraki, who's face immediately went sour the moment he spotted Rizea.
"How the hell did he get in?! Tenson and Apples were meant to be guarding the damn gate!" Rizea exclaimed, furious.
The two of them stared at each other with an intense gaze, with Rizea looking down on Shiraki, standing about two or three inches taller than him. You could have cut the tension with a knife by this point. It was clear that there was something between them.
"...Rizea," he muttered.
"Shiraki," she replied.
The two of them seemed to despise the very mention of the others name. This was more than a simple dislike of each other. They hated each other, but why?
"Hey, Shiraki," I said casually.
"I was worried when I didn't see you in your room. Finding you here, it seems that I was right to worry."
"You know this...fiend?" scoffed.
"I mean, I know him, but I don't know what a fiend is. Is it like a friend? Cause yeah. We're friends."
Ignoring my question, Rizea continued staring daggers at Shiraki. "Back for more, swordsman? Couldn't handle getting beaten by a girl, so now you're back for another shot?" she chuckled. "It is understandable. You were brutally humiliated. It's just a pity that nobody was around to see it."
Shiraki's fingers twitched as he clearly debated drawing his weapon. "Anytime. Anywhere, but not in front of the girl."
"You care an awful lot about her. There a reason for that? Waiting for the right time to sacrifice her?" Rizea asked.
She was right. I'd noticed it too. He cared an unusual amount for someone who'd only met me a short time ago.
"She... She's only a kid," he muttered, cutting himself off from his original statement. "She doesn't need to get involved in our rivalry. I just wanted to know where she went and to make sure she was ok. And it would seem, despite my best attempts of trying to sway her away, she ended up getting involved with you KoB pricks anyway. Whatever. Just try and keep her safe, alright? I know you guys don't exactly have the best track record when it comes to keeping your troops alive."
"Like you're one to talk about keeping people alive," she protested.
"At least she's taking my advice."
"And what good advice could you have possibly given this girl?"
"Never back down from a fight."
With a swish of his coat, he turned around and walked back out the same way he came.
"Damn vigilante," she scoffed. "Sorry about that. He can be unbearable sometimes. Well, all the time. Anyway, you've proven yourself. Let's get you ready for your first mission. I want to see how you do in the field before you become an official member."
It would appear that he did in fact lose a duel to her, but was there more to their hatred? Both of them said things that I didn't understand. What did she mean by 'sacrifice'? What did he mean by the KoB not having a good track record for keeping troops alive? Should I ask?