Chapter 4: The Knight of Lyusula

The torches burned bright on the walls, casting shadows that danced like mischievous imps and illuminating the dim path ahead. There was a breeze blowing from beyond, cool but not unpleasant, and with it the faint refreshing scent of pine leaves that reminded Kayaba of a forest park he and his family once visited a lifetime ago.

December 15, 2022. The third floor was finally opened after a difficult battle, but Kayaba knew it would only get worse; the higher they climbed, the stronger the monsters would be. And not just monsters, but the environment itself as well. In fact, there were already signs of it here on the stairs that led to the floor.

"How many more steps do we still have to go?" Nautilus groaned from behind. Ever since Asterios had been defeated, they had been climbing up for almost fifteen minutes. The corridor steadily rose to a steep incline then curved to the left, and though avatars did not have to breathe, a hidden fatigue parameter would make the players feel tired every time they did strenuous work, like fighting or running.

Kayaba answered, "158 steps, and lesser with each one we take. We should be there in five minutes." He glanced back over his shoulders and noted the incredulous expression on the boy's face. "Please bear with it a little longer. Unlike the second floor, the stairs here wound around Aincrad's outer wall since we had to enter from the very edge of the map."

"Why did you have to create it that way?" Nautilus said in slight exasperation. Next to him, Yuna shot him a look and elbowed him in the ribs.

"Hey. That's not polite," she whispered, though the confined space still allowed Kayaba to hear it. Guilty, Nautilus lowered his head and mumbled an apology.

Kayaba waved a hand in a dismissive gesture, then returned his gaze to the front. "Don't apologize. If you want, we can take a rest."

"There's no need! I can still go further!" said Nautilus quickly. In an attempt to change the subject, he asked, "So what are these murals on the walls? I saw something similar to them back at the door at the base of these stairs, and on the corridor that led to the second floor before that."

"I think it hints about the floor's theme," said Yuna. "Remember how we saw a great field with a large cow at the end?"

"Oh, right! I remember now!"

Kayaba nodded without even looking at the walls on either side. "Yuna is correct. Each corridor connecting two floors contain hints about the next floor's environment and even enemies. In this case, it's a forest."

The murals ran all the way to the end of the stairway, vibrant and almost alive. On both sides, a lush green forest swept, its leaves a deeper shade of emerald. The branches stretched to the top of the wall, with the leaves making up the ceiling. To the left, crimson-furred swines—Lava Boars—scampered among the dense foliage while tall, humanoid trees strode imperiously alongside them. To the right, giant spiders dangled from the branches on silky silver webs, taunting a mass of shifting plant-type monsters below them.

"Creepy," muttered Yuna. "How big are these spiders?"

"A meter tall," answered Kayaba. "They move fast, too, and attack in numbers. But they are relatively weak compared to others of their kind on the higher floors. It's the Treants we should be worrying about."

"Treants, huh?" Yuna brushed a hand against one part of the wall where the humanoid trees chased a swarm of Lava Boars. They were tall and willowy, with barks ranging from dappled green to dark brown, and eyes which gleamed red with evil intent.

"It's kinda sad we have to fight monsters like them." She turned to Nautilus. "Remember that fantasy movie trilogy we watched back at my house last year?"

"Yeah, the ones that were more than two decades old. What were the talking trees called in there again?" Nautilus paused for a moment, then snapped his fingers with a loud crack that echoed inside the corridor. "Ents!"

"Different name, same creatures," supplied Kayaba.

"That reminds me. We are going to fight elves here too, right? I recognized those two swordsmen carved on the door behind Asterios' throne."

Kayaba stopped in his tracks. They had finally reached the top, and the doors were open to a vast forest with trees reaching like pillars high in the sky. The forest canopy was a roof of interlocking leaves and branches, encasing them in an emerald ceiling. Sunbeams filtered through between gaps, bathing the ground in bright green and yellow.

"Wow!" Yuna stepped outside in a trance, her eyes wide with amazement. Nautilus followed her, mouth agape. For several minutes they simply stood there, taking in the majestic sight.

Silent as a shadow, Kayaba crept until he stood beside them, craning his head upward. The trees were hundreds of feet tall and at least ten meters wide, their barks a dark shade of red. "This floor was partially modeled after the Sequoia National Park in the US. Of course, the trees were not as big as these. My team spent a week in California trying to capture every image they could get. It's why you will find that no tree looks exactly the same as another."

"It's amazing," said Yuna. She walked up to the nearest trunk twenty feet across and placed a hand on the rough bark, glancing upward with a faint smile. She looked so calm and at ease that it sent a pang of loneliness deep within Kayaba's chest, and he turned his gaze away to a dirt path cutting between two trees.

"Come. There is a quest that I'd like to activate first before we restock at Zumfut. How are our supplies, Nautilus?"

Nautilus checked his inventory at once. "We still have some HP potions and a couple of antidotes."

"That should be enough. Stay together. Beyond this area, the forest will be gradually covered in mist. Do not chase a monster once we get on the road. You will get lost quickly. Not even the map can help you."

They started for the dirt path. It branched left and right in a Y-shaped intersection. The right one led to Zumfut, the floor's main city. Kayaba took the left, his weapon ready. Soon, a blanket of thick fog slowly crawled over the area, and the visibility dropped to near zero. He could only see for several yards in all directions. There was a slight chill in the air, and before long, moisture clung to the tips of his hair and eyebrows.

"Stay close, you two," he said to Yuna and Nautilus. They both had their weapons drawn, eyeing the fog with wary eyes. "This fog is used by monsters to ambushed their prey. Nautilus, keep your Searching skill activated at all times. The fog will reduce its efficiency, but your skill should be high enough that you'll be able to see a mob from three meters away."

"Understood."

"What kind of quest are we going to tackle?" asked Yuna, her boots crunching against a small pebble. The dirt path had turned rocky, and the trees grew closer together than before, creating a natural tunnel. It was suddenly dim and cold. She shivered slightly and scooted nearer to Nautilus.

"Remember what Nautilus asked me about fighting elves? That's the campaign we're going to activate."

"Campaign?"

Kayaba nodded while he scanned the path, looking for the rock that was the landmark for the quest. "The Elf War campaign. It is a quest chain that starts here and ends on the ninth floor; the first campaign you'll encounter."

"That long?" said Yuna, shocked. Even Nautilus was stunned at the length.

"Yes. A campaign with more than seventy chapters and lots of rewards. You'll have to choose between two warring factions: the Forest Elves and the Dark Elves. Choosing one will forever lock the other, but the advantages and disadvantages remain the same for both, so either one is fine. However, we have to be careful. This floor is the real start of SAO."

"Why is that?"

"Because compared to the demi-humans like the Kobolds and Tauruses that uses basic sword skills on the first two floors below, human-type monsters will begin appearing from here onward. Their attack patterns are more complex, and their sword skills stronger. You'll see once we activate the Elf War quest."

They traversed the road for several minutes, stopping once to consult the map. It was difficult to gauge how far they still had to go; the fog had become thicker, and the area was plunged in semi-darkness, like one would experience when dusk arrived. They moved cautiously, often calling each other's names to determine their positions.

Along the way, they were almost caught off guard by a wandering Treant Sapling if not for Nautilus' high Searching skill. After quickly dispatching the monster tree, they proceeded even more slowly.

Finally after a long search, Kayaba's foot struck something on the ground with a dull thud. Glancing down, he saw an outcropping of rock two feet long and jutting out at an angle to the left. He stopped and raised a hand, then looked to his left. There was a break in the trees partially obscured by a thin layer of mist. Beyond that, he caught a glimpse of a bright purple flash then a green one.

"We're here," he announced. They stepped out of the road and into the trees, plunging deeper into the forest. After a few minutes, they heard the unmistakable clang of steel hitting steel and the hum of sword skills being unleashed. But there was another sound… no, two of them. A chorus of fierce shouts whose voices were familiar and not unexpected.

"A party seems to have already activated the quest," Nautilus noted. Kayaba nodded.

"Don't worry. It restarts every thirty minutes. Since we're here, though, we might as well see how they are doing."

When they emerged into a wide clearing ringed by ancient trees of red and gray, they found quite a sight. Two humanoid creatures, one in a cloak the color of fresh leaves at the height of spring and the other in a deep shade of amethyst, were dueling in the center with the grace of a swan and the speed and reflexes of a striking snake. Both were garbed in bright silver armor, wielding a longsword and saber, respectively. Their faces were hidden with hoods, but one was obviously a woman, for her armor accentuated her lithe figure. And even as they watched, a swipe at her head caught the edge of her hood, flipping it away and spilling her short purple hair, as well as revealing her angled tanned face and pointed ears .

"She's a girl!" exclaimed Nautilus. He was so engrossed by the revelation that it took him a full minute to realize who was the party that triggered the quest.

A black sword weaving through the air with extreme precision accompanied by a silver rapier streaking like a fast comet. Their vicious assault helped the purple-haired elf drove back her opponent, and soon the other was forced to retreat a dozen feet away. The trio fanned in a loose triangle, cutting off any chance of escape.

"Should we help them?" said Yuna. The last time they had seen Kirito and Asuna was two days ago during the strategy meeting for the raid against Asterios.

Nautilus looked uncertain. "I don't know. They are stronger than us, so I doubt they need our help. Besides, isn't this only available to the party that tripped the quest flag? We can't do much if that's the case. Right, Heathcliff-san?"

Kayaba hesitated, then nodded slowly. "Yes," he muttered, his gaze never leaving the fight, especially the dark elf. Why was the dark elf still alive? The quest storyline involved her dying by sacrificing herself to defeat the forest elf. Even if Kirito and Asuna had somehow altered the chain of events when they chose to help the dark elf, the general story progression should still remain the same.

His frown deepening, Kayaba took another step forward. As he did so, his boots crunched on a dry twig, and the resulting crack echoed in the clearing. Startled, all combatants looked toward Kayaba's direction with surprise, and in the dark elf's case, irritation. Her narrowed eyes bore into him, and for once in his life, Kayaba was at a loss for words. She should be just a mere NPC, but the emotion she had displayed just now was very much human.

And then on the other side, the forest elf spoke.

"Mela zurar, liari!" he cried in a great voice filled with hostility. "Ci la io zu selar!"

Yuna's and Nautilus' jaws nearly dropped to the mossy ground, and there was an audible gasp from both Kirito and Asuna. Kayaba gripped his sword tightly and stared with wide eyes at the forest elf. They did not create any form of fictional language for this game!

A dozen possibilities flashed across his mind, but they were either too absurd to consider or too frightening that Kayaba hoped he was wrong. A talking NPC was not unusual; it was the fact that it spoke in another language that was terrifying. And not just any language, but something which only probably existed inside the game.

As he kept staring at the elves, the others remained frozen in their spots. It was the opportunity the forest elf had been waiting for. With a vicious war cry he lunged for his dark elf opponent, his longsword shining with a green sheen. Kayaba moved immediately, shield raised to block the attack. But he was slow and the distance was great. He would not make it in time.

The attack jolted Kirito and Asuna into action, and they tried to intercept the forest elf. He evaded Asuna's thrusts, then ducked under a swing from Kirito before covering ten feet of distance in a single leap. High he flew into the air, his sword leaving a vicious trail of emerald as he brought it down in a mighty swing. The dark elf yelled and jumped back just as her enemy landed to the spot she had been standing a second ago. Her saber glowed red, but the forest elf was swift. In one fluid motion, he darted past her guard and swung in a diagonal arc.

The dark elf gave a pained cry. There was a rent in front of her armor—a red gash much like a player could inflict on any regular mob—and something spilled out as she stumbled back. Touching her chest gingerly, she looked up in distress and shouted, "Ela le zurar!"

The forest elf picked up a small pouch from the ground, then lowered his hood to reveal a handsome face marred only by a diabolic grin. "Io!" He raised his sword high in the air, and the sun glinted off its silver blade. It began to shine once again in a dazzling green, almost as if reveling in the anticipation of a kill. Howling in triumph, the forest swung down.

The blow never reached its target. At that moment, Kayaba's shield slammed onto the elf with so much force he was sent skidding a couple of feet away. Shocked, the forest elf faced Kayaba with an expression of utter loathing and swung the sword at his neck. Kayaba blocked with his shield, then slashed at the elf's arm. It connected with the elf's bracer, letting out a high-pitched clang. Shifting his stance, Kayaba thrust his shield forward, now glowing yellow with the activation of his Shield Bash skill.

The forest elf snarled in pain when the shield connected with his right shoulder, and he retreated, hissing. Kayaba saw his life gauge barely dropped, but it should be enough to make the elf think twice about attacking. Killing him would be next to impossible at their current level; the NPC's cursor was nearly black, indicating a level that was two or three times higher than theirs.

Kirito and Asuna had not been idle as well. Once Kayaba had created an opening, they attacked as one and unleashed powerful sword skills. The air was rent with deep hums and ferocious war cries as they converged on the elf, driving him back toward the clearing's edge. He displayed terrifying skills holding off the two with only one hand wielding his sword, striking left and right. The pouch was clutched tightly in his other hand in an iron grip. He refused to let go even when Asuna managed a lucky stab to his ribs.

The forest elf's sword whistled in the air as it went for Asuna's chest. She pulled away just in time for it to slice where she had just been standing, creating a strong gust of wind that pushed her back, her red cloak fluttering wildly. Still she retained her fighting stance, the tip of her rapier gleaming just as deadly as her eyes.

Pressing a hand to his injured side, the forest elf warrior slowly stepped back until he brushed against a thicket of dense foliage. "Ci la io serun," he growled before he fled with great haste deeper into the forest.

An anguish cry pierced the silence that followed as the dark elf punched the ground in utter frustration. Her hair obscured her face, and only her slim shoulders were visible, trembling violently.

"I'll go chase after him!" Nautilus shouted, dashing past Kayaba. Before the boy was out of reach, Kayaba's hand shot forward and clamped on his shoulder. Perplexed, Nautilus glanced back.

"Don't," said Kayaba. "You saw how strong he was. You'll die if you pursue him."

Nautilus opened his mouth to protest, but closed it when Yuna joined his side. He nodded, shoulders sagging in defeat, then strode toward the dark elf. Yuna followed him, a deep frown on her face while her right hand rested on the hilt of her dagger.

Kayaba sheathed his sword, then nodded to Kirito and Asuna. They approached cautiously with weapons still drawn, their eyes fixed on the kneeling elf woman. Kayaba could understand their wariness; this was indeed a strange occurrence, and there was no guarantee that it was still the same quest.

They fanned out in a loose semi-circle around the dark elf, watching her body shook in fury. Her head was bowed, and her hands clenched and unclenched. No one spoke for a minute, unsure what to do. If they disturb her, she might lash out. But neither just standing there would change anything. They still had to continue the quest.

Finally, Kirito took the initiative and stepped forward. "Um, hello?"

In an instant, the dark elf grabbed her saber and looked up, holding it defensively in front of her. A mask of cold anger was on her face, and her deep violet eyes darted to each of them suspiciously. Her voice trembling, she spoke in her native language. "Ira lar zu asra?"

"Er…" Kirito swallowed thickly and glanced at the others. This could prove difficult. If they could not understand the elf, progressing with the quest would be next to impossible. They would not know what she would say, and therefore, any missions would be meaningless.

"Ira lar zu asra?" The dark elf repeated her question, harder and with an edge of hostility this time. Kirito immediately backed away and raised both of his hands in a placating manner. "Whoa, calm down. Look, we don't really understand what you're saying. But you have nothing to fear. We are not going to hurt you. So please lower your weapon."

His tone was soft and soothing as he motioned downward with his hand, which the dark elf seemed to fully understand. She lowered her saber and released a sigh, then rose to her feet. She checked herself, her fingers lingering on the rent in her bright silver chest plate. After murmuring to herself, she looked up once again and regarded them with interest.

And then she spoke in a language that they could actually understand. "My apologies for my behavior just now. I guess I do have to thank you for saving my life. If not for your timely intervention, I would have already joined my ancestors in their graves."

"You're welcome," replied Kirito uncertainly. "So who was that we just fought?"

The dark elf scowled. "A forest elf knight, my kin's sworn enemies. He has been chasing me ever since morning in order to steal the Lyual Siel." She shook her head. "Now that he has it, my people will be hard pressed to win this war."

"The what?" asked Kirito.

"The Jade Key," answered the elf woman. "My people's priced possession."

Kayaba raised an eyebrow at that, and he exchanged looks with Kirito. So the quest was still relatively the same as was in the beta. The Jade Key was the main focus of this floor's main quest line.

"Why are you guys fighting?" inquired Yuna. "Aren't you both elves?

"We are, but we are also of different kingdoms." The elf woman paused. "It is quite a long story, and I have no time to tell it here. I… I have to reclaim the Jade Key. I'm sorry. I have to go." She moved in the direction of the forest, but Asuna blocked her path.

"You're just going to chase him all by yourself? You barely managed to survive on your own. You can't just go alone with that injury."

"You don't understand. I have to go and get that key back. I can't return to my people without it!"

"But you saw how strong he is!" protested Asuna. "If you try to fight him at your state, you will never be able to return home."

"Even so, I-"

"What if we help you?" offered Kayaba. He ignored the gazes that suddenly focused on him. It was a rash decision considering the circumstances, but they had no alternatives. By fighting against the forest elf, they had already proclaimed their choice to side with the dark elves. There was no going back, and they might as well see this through until the end. Especially since by finishing the last mission of the Jade Key quest, they could gain valuable information about the third floor boss. Provided that nothing in the rewards had change since the beta.

"You people are going to help me," repeated the elf slowly, as if the idea was both strange and absurd. "Why?"

It was Nautilus who answered this time. "Because we want to. I mean, you looked like you needed help..." He gulped when the elf's eyes narrowed, and he lowered his gaze, blushing a little.

"I do not need any help," she said coolly.

"That's not what he meant," said Kirito hastily. "We just wanted to help you. As they say, two heads are always better than one. Or six heads in this case."

The elf considered that for a moment. "I'm afraid I haven't heard of that saying before. However, you may be right. It seems I have been quite rash when I wanted to chase after my enemy. I'm not even sure if he has returned to their camp; and if he did, I do not know where it lies in this vast forest." She sighed again. "Very well, I will allow you to join me…" She stared at Kirito and the others expectantly.

"Oh. I'm Kirito, and this is Asuna."

"Nautilus."

"Yuna."

Kayaba dipped his head. "And I'm Heathcliff."

"Such strange names," the dark elf murmured and pronounced each of their names in turn. "Again, I thank you all for saving me. Allow me to introduce myself." She raised her saber upright and planted her fist in the middle of her chest, smiling with her head held high.

"I am Kizmel, one of the Pagoda Knights, protector of the elven kingdom of Lyusula. And I swear upon my blade, no one—be it man, elf, or beast—will harm you for as long as I live."

…

Such an interesting turn of events, thought Kayaba.

The emotions displayed by Kizmel was something he had never expected. Even Yui, the program that should be monitoring every player's mental state, did not possess this level of extended intelligence. NPC should not be able to respond in such manners as earlier, much less speak in a language no one taught them.

To be sure, Kayaba checked the cursor hovering on top of Kizmel's head. It was yellow, indicating her status as a quest-related NPC. The quest log had also been updated, instructing them to find the dark elven camp. It was as it should be.

And yet Kayaba could not erase the feeling that there was something more to this. He was certain that Cardinal was involved, though for what purpose, he did not know. All he knew was the complications which would arise if the other campaigns and NPC were like this. He could think of at least one or two on the middle floors that would prove a hurdle in their quest to reach the top.

As Kayaba ducked under a low-hanging branch, Kizmel's voice sounded from up ahead. "We're almost there."

After their introductions, she had offered them a place back in the dark elf camp, which they readily accepted. It was almost the same as the beta, barring the fact that the dark elf actually survived, and Kayaba was relieved for its familiarity. It slightly eased the tension he felt when this quest began, for the time being at least.

The path to the dark elf camp was narrow and nonexistent in some places. Combined with the thick mists, it was almost impossible to determine which way they were going. If not for Kizmel, they would have already gotten lost. She proved an expert in navigating the mist-covered area, and her high level ensured that no monsters bothered them.

"What do you think she is?" spoke Kirito beside him. When they began the trip, Kayaba transferred his party's leadership to the boy since he and Asuna were the first one to trigger the quest. It was quite perplexing; two parties who had merged and taking on the same quest at the same time was unprecedented, especially since only one could activate the quest at any given time. It was just one of the many mysteries surrounding this instance of the Elf War campaign.

"She is no regular NPC, if that's what you mean by your question."

"I think that's already obvious," muttered Kirito. They walked side-by-side in the rear while Kizmel and the girls led the way. Nautilus guarded their right flank close by, his silhouette partially obscured by the mists.

Kirito continued. "That's not what I mean. If she's just an NPC, why can she speak a language that was not in the beta? And why is she still alive?"

"Some things have changed since this became a death game, Kirito. An NPC surviving a quest that should have killed her would not be unusual."

"What if she's not just an NPC?"

Kayaba slowed down in his steps, pondering over the idea. True, Kizmel could be an actual player in disguise, but the thought was absurd. For one, Cardinal had sealed off the game from outside interference. Besides, if Kizmel was a player, why act in a quest which could prove fatal?

"She is an NPC, that much I'm sure of. As for why she behaves thus…" Kayaba paused for a moment. "I suspect her algorithms are fundamentally different than most NPC."

"You mean… an A.I.? Is that even possible?"

Kayaba shrugged despite knowing the answer. "Who knows? Twenty years ago, everyone thought that creating an actual virtual world is only a fantasy. Now we are trapped inside one. Anything is certainly possible, Kirito, as long as you put your mind and will into it; even clearing this game. The possibility of an NPC behaving like a human is no different."

"You seem to be quite optimistic," observed Kirito.

"Not really. I'm just an open-minded individual. If there is a chance, even a slim one, of something happening, I will believe. How about you, Kirito? What do you believe?"

The boy was silent for a heartbeat. "I believe in my own strength."

Kayaba nodded. "That's all that matters."

The trip to the dark elven camp was no less than fifteen minutes, but it felt longer after journeying through the mist. When they finally stopped, they beheld two trees standing on either side of a grove, like twin posts marking a sacred area. Their gnarled branches interlocked above, forming a natural arched entrance. There was no sight of the camp, bit Kizmel stepped forward and stood right in between the trees. From within her cloak she produced a small leaf-shaped medallion, which she held high in the air followed by a ringing cry.

"Irula!"

For a moment, nothing happened. Then a sudden breeze blew from the east, and the trees swayed, murmuring and creaking. In front of them, it seemed a veil had been lifted, and the grove vanished, to be replaced by a clearing dotted with a dozen tents or so. A low wooden palisade surrounded the camp, with watchtowers at thirty feet intervals. Purple banners hang beside them, fluttering in the wind, while sentries with longbows gazed out vigilantly. Two guards flanked the entrance, wielding spears and wearing black-and-purple armors.

There was a collective gasp from Yuna and Asuna, and Nautilus' mouth formed a comical o. Only Kayaba and Kirito were not surprised; they had already seen this display a few times in the beta.

"What was that?" asked Yuna, eyes wide in amazement.

Kizmel smiled. "You're quite lucky you have me. The camp itself is concealed by a Forest Sinking Charm. If you do not know the password and do not possess this medallion, you might pass within three feet of it and never notice."

Asuna blinked. "Forest Sinking Charm? Is that some kind of magic?" Next to her, Kirito stiffened and shot her a panic look.

"Um, Asuna. That's not…"

Kayaba understood the boy's concern. SAO had no magic system, so to speak. Kizmel might not understand the word. But to his surprise, the elf woman simply tilted her head with a troubled expression.

"Magic? No, no. It's nothing like that… although you may consider it like magic. It is only a small fraction of that; a lingering power from the magic we elves have lost ever since we became trapped here. There are many places and items here in Aincrad that possessed such power. My medallion is only one of them."

The word trap sent alarm rippling among them like a deadly plague. They glanced at each other, eyes shining with astonishment and curiosity. Even Kayaba was startled by what Kizmel had just said. He narrowed his eyes slight, focusing on Kizmel with profound intensity.

"Trapped, you say?" he said slowly. As far as he knew, there was no backstory for most of the humanoid races here. His team had only created a single line in the compendium found at a library in the Town of Beginnings: that all the people in Aincrad were natives. Was it possible that Cardinal had changed that as well?

Kizmel frowned, staring at them in confusion. "Yes, trapped. Didn't you know the history of Aincrad?" When they all shook their heads, she bowed her head. "My apologies. I have forgotten that you were also trapped here just like us. In that case, if time permits, I'll tell you how Aincrad came to be."

Her only response, however, was a dumbfounded expression from all the humans except for Kayaba. Everyone had their mouths open, and a deadly silenced seemed to have befallen the group. Perplexed, Kizmel asked, "Did I said something wrong?"

It was Nautilus who answered in a stuttering mess. "You said… How did—"

Before he could proceed further, Kayaba strode next him and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, squeezing it for a second. Nautilus stopped mid-sentence and glanced at him, swallowing dryly. Kayaba shook his head ever so slightly and smiled at Kizmel.

"We'll be glad to hear that story. But I'm afraid we have more important matters to attend to. Kirito and Asuna are both weary from the battle earlier, and I'm sure your wound needs tending."

Kizmel nodded as her face softened. "Of course! How inconsiderate of me. If it's alright with you, I will report to my commander first before I show you where you may rest. All of you need to come with me as well so that I can better explain what happened."

Kayaba motioned to the entrance ahead with his hand. "Please, lead the way."

When she was finally out of earshot, Kayaba turned to his companions and spoke in a low voice. "Until we know more, I would advice against giving any hints as to who we really are or what Kizmel and this world actually are. Do you guys understand?"

They all nodded. Nautilus lowered his head and muttered, "Sorry about that, Heathcliff-san. I was just shocked by what she said."

"We all were. But that's why we have to be careful with our words. One mistake, and we might find our chance of escape from this game dropping even lower."

Following Kizmel into the entrance, where the guards briefly barred the way until she vouched for them, they were led inside the small but well-organized camp. Arranged in a grid, the two dozen or so tents were all purple with black accents. The largest one stood in the center, a deep violet color. Next to it was an open tent just as large with four long rectangular tables and enough chairs to accommodate almost a hundred people. Two elves in apron stirred large pots nearby, and the scent of roast pig and steaming soup drifted in the air.

There was also a forge and a tailoring stall, displaying high quality items not found on the first and second floor, from which players could have their equipment repaired and upgraded. Kayaba noticed both Nautilus and Kirito eyeing the shops, and he knew that they would be busy soon. At the back of the camp, a green smoke rose where the potion master brewed his concoctions.

The remaining tents were reserved as sleeping quarters. Kayaba remembered one of them belonging to the supposedly slain dark elf; in this case, Kizmel. It was rewarded to the players by the elf commander as a place to rest. Now that no one had died, Kayaba wondered if they would be given a separate one.

Kizmel escorted them to the command post. Along the way, sentries and patrols gave them passing yet suspicious glances after saluting to Kizmel. None of them seemed to display any sign of higher intelligence, but Kayaba was not certain anymore. Some of their actions contradicted the scripts he and his team had created for them to follow, though none was as expressive and life-like as Kizmel.

After requesting a meeting with the elf commander and being granted permission, they entered the command tent. The canvas was a deeper shade of violet, almost black, turning the surroundings into a chilly atmosphere. An oil lamp burned on a corner post, suffusing the room in soft orange light. The floor was dominated by a large rug made from a feline-type monster, and there was an oak table taking most of the right. Scattered documents and maps littered the surface in confusing piles.

There was a writing desk directly in front of them, from which a tall dark elf sat reading reports. His hair, a shade of violet so dark it was nearly black, tumbled down on his shoulders in lustrous cascades. His angular and elegant face was crossed by a troubled frown, and when Kizmel entered, it only deepened until his eyebrows met in a sharp V.

"Kizmel," he spoke, both relieved and concerned. His voice had a strange tone; deep but soft like rolling waves on a calm sea. When Kayaba's group followed inside, the elf scowled slightly.

Kizmel planted a fist on her chest in salute. "Reporting for my mission, Commander."

"Report." The commander's pale violet eyes lingered on the gash in Kizmel's armor, then darted to Kayaba. "What happened to you? And who are these liari?"

"They are… allies, Commander," answered Kizmel. She then proceed to speak in the elven language. Kayaba assumed she was recounting her previous battle judging by the commander's troubled expression. He could not understand the words; Kizmel probably switched to her own tongue purposely to avoid any sensitive information leaking. It further displayed her unusual level of intelligence. The commander was no different either; his emotions and reactions were not that of a regular NPC.

When Kizmel finished, gesturing to the humans near the end, an uneasy silence fell inside the tent. The commander's gaze bore on each of them, cold and calculative. He stared at Kirito the longest, prompting the boy to avert his gaze a little to the left. Nautilus shifted his feet restlessly, and both Yuna and Asuna fiddled with the hilts of their weapons. Kayaba stopd firmly on his spot, unwavering under the elf's gaze.

Finally the commander spoke. "It's been a long time since humans has entered our territory. We've had no dealings with them even before the Great Separation. And indeed even after the floors of Aincrad were cut off from one another."

He leaned on the table and steepled his slender fingers, looking at them through the hole formed by the arches. "It is indeed strange that you arrived just in time to save our knight. Of course, we are grateful for your help. Even so, I cannot help but wonder if you did it out of some malicious purpose. As Kizmel told me, the forest elf she fought earlier escaped."

Asuna tightened her grip on her rapier. "Are you accusing us of being spies?" she said in a voice as hard as diamonds.

"Not accusing. Just wondering about the timing." He paused. "In any case, the fact that you saved Kizmel warrants a reward. It is not much, but we have Cor and several things we don't need anymore. We also have an armory at the back. Some of the equipment in there is no longer of use to us. You may choose any of them. Also, since you are in our camp, I expect all of you to help. Our potion master needs some flowers for his brew. Get them from the field east of here. If you manage to do that, we might just consider trusting you." He turned to Kizmel. "Show them around the camp and get them a place to sleep in, then take a rest. You are dismissed."

After receiving their initial rewards, they exited the command tent. A few meters away from the guards' ears, Asuna's temper exploded like a volcano.

"This is unfair! We saved someone and yet we are being seen as spies!"

She stomped her feet, her fingers still wrapped around the hilt of her rapier, wringing it. Her rage was so great that Kirito and Nautilus walked further behind the girl, eyeing her weapon nervously as if she might stab randomly at any moment. Even Yuna was reluctant to walk next to Asuna and chose to join Kizmel as she toured them around the camp.

"My apologies for my commander's behavior, Asuna," the dark elf said. "Your party is the first outsiders to have entered here. Naturally, he would be suspicious."

"But we saved you!" protested Asuna. "Isn't that enough?"

Kizmel smiled. "And I thank you with all my heart for that. However, do not take offense. These are hard times, and you can't blame us for being cautious. Rest assured, though. The commander is a kind and honorable elf."

They already knew all of the stalls and shops located in the camp, so they barely paid any attention to Kizmel as she showed them around. Yuna and Asuna both perked up when their dark elf guide mentioned the bath, and the two girls eyed the specified tent with intense gaze. Even as they passed it, their eyes kept following the steam drifting up from a hole in the canvas ceiling until it was out of sight.

When they reached the armory, the boys fell silent. Arrayed before them in wooden racks and tables were an assortment of high-quality weapons and items that would make any player drool. There were silver swords and daggers and spears, bronze-bladed axes, and even a saber which looked exactly like Kizmel's. Earrings, rings, and bracelets rested on velvety cloths, and the shields were polished so bright they were like mirrors.

"Come find me in the dining tent once you're finished here. I'll show you where you may rest." Kizmel bowed and strode outside, leaving them gaping in silence.

As soon as she had gone, Nautilus and Yuna rushed to the tables like kids on a christmas sale, browsing through the selections with evident delight. Nautilus inspected a brass-hilted sword, while Yuna kept switching her gaze between a cloak woven with purple threads and a black dagger. Kirito and Asuna were more reseved; they browsed the items with keen interest, showing nothing more than mere curiosity when something fancied them.

"Heathcliff-san? Aren't you going to choose?" said Yuna, standing near the rack for accessories. There were a wide variety of shields he could use, some which possessed greater bonus in defence.

Kayaba briefly glanced at his own equipment, then shook his head. "No. I'm still fine at this point. Besides, I don't want to have a new weapon that is less stronger than my current sword, even if fully upgraded."

"And your shield?" Nautilus rapped a knuckle against a white kite shield with a black line running down the middle, producing a dull sound.

"This one is still serviceable until the fifth floor."

In the end, they did not chose any new weapons, but picked accessories and armors. Kirito and Asuna selected a ring and earring which boosted strength and agility by one, respectively. Nautilus had switched his old boots with a new one offering better movement speed, while Yuna picked a bracelet that increased the amount of skill and character EXP earned. Kayaba, out of politeness, chose a pair of ornate gloves for faster sword skill activation.

After gearing up, they met Kizmel on the dining tent, who led them to the east wing where the living quarters were located. Here the tents were mostly small enough for two people, and the larger ones were few and scattered near the center. Several elves strolled between them; out of duty guards taking a rest. Their movements were stiff, however, and they hardly paid attention to the passing group.

At least, not all of them were like Kizmel and the Commander, thought Kayaba. He knew, though, that many of them were high-leveled mobs, and a slight provocation could lead into hostility.

Soon they reached one of the larger tents. "Here you will sleep," said Kizmel. "It's quite a tight fit, but it should fit all of us." Without waiting for their response, she entered.

The last part should have sent warning sirens to everyone, especially the boys. But they followed the dark elf nonetheless. Kayaba raised an eyebrow and remained outside, the corner of his lips lifting a little in a faint smile. He had forgotten to inform them about a strange elven custom his team had created. It was supposed to be just a backstory made for fun, and many, including Higa, had a good laugh about it. Kayaba wondered if he should enter to tell the boys before it was too late, but he dismissed the thought and waited outside. It would further complicate things if he did that.

The tents' entrances were all canvas flaps, so a player did not need the Listening skill to hear what was happening inside. A minute later, Asuna shrieked followed by Yuna's embarrassed yelp.

"Wh-what are you doing?!"

"Close your eyes, both of you!"

Kizmel's voice drifted outside, soft and confused. "Is there a problem?" Kayaba could almost imagine the scene happening inside, and he chuckled softly to himself.

Asuna almost shouted. "Yes! You are undressing in front of two boys!" There was a loud thump, and Kayaba heard Kirito crying out in pain. "Stop looking!"

"I'm not looking!"

"You definitely are!"

"Asuna, please stop physically abusing Kirito," Kizmel chided. "He is not doing anything wrong."

"Of course, he is!" exclaimed Asuna. "He's looking at you while you're undressing!"

"I'm not!"

"Out! Both of you get out!"

"Asuna, Kirito, please. You too, Nautilus. Yuna, please stop covering your friend's eyes."

"I'm sorry!" cried Nautilus. He burst out of the tent a second later, running away red-faced in sheer embarrassment. Kirito followed swiftly, tumbling out of the entrance and yelping as he landed with his behind on the soft grass. Asuna's leg was visible for a moment before it vanished inside. Her head appeared, poking out of the entrance with a heated glare.

"You. Two. Stay. There!" she hissed, then retracted her head back into the tent.

Grumbling, Kirito rose from where he had fallen on the ground. "What the hell was that about?" he said exasperatedly, turning to Kayaba, who merely raised an eyebrow.

"She just started taking off her armor," Nautilus stuttered. One could almost see the smoke pouring out of his ears. He shook his head as if to clear the image he had just seen.

Inside the tent, they heard Kizmel say, "—orry for the trouble. We elves are not bothered by gender differences, so I didn't know you humans think differently. If it would please you, there is a vacant tent next to—"

"They don't care about gender differences?" Kirito wondered incredulously. "What kind of custom is that? And why did the developers made that in the first place?"

"Probably just for fun," suggested Kayaba. "No one knew it would turn out like this. So please don't blame them."

"Yeah. If I don't know any better, I'd say Kayaba is a closet pervert."

"Of course not!" said Kayaba indignantly. He caught himself immediately and met Nautilus' alarmed expression. Fortunately, Kirito was too busy muttering to himself that he did not noticed the brief exchange.

"So what do we do now?" the boy asked. "I don't know about you guys, but I'm hungry."

Kayaba breathed a silent sigh of relief, mirroring Nautilus. Forcing a smile, Kayaba said, "Let's discuss our next move while we eat."

...

The meals served in the dark elven camp was just as good as the best chef back on the second floor. Despite the rather plain look of the elven cooks, their skill level was high enough to prepare a full course meal with excellent flavors and relatively decent buffs. Nautilus devoured the Lava Boar Steak like a wolf, while sitting next to him Kirito attacked his pie with the same ferocity.

"I thought elves don't eat meat," said Nautilus between mouthfuls.

Kayaba sipped from his ale mug before responding. "That's the common trope in fantasy. Here in SAO, it only applied to the forest elves."

"I didn't know that," mumbled Kirito.

"That's because you probably did not read the in-game encyclopedia. There's a lot of information in there about the history of the various races residing in this floating castle. Of course, no one expected to actually use them."

"Still, it's amazing that Kizmel acts like one of us," said Nautilus. "I don't think the other NPCs, excluding the commander, are like her."

"No, they are not." Kayaba had been watching the dark elves ever since they began eating. As far as he could tell, they still shared the same pre-programmed behaviors and scripts. Their responses were on the basic level, and their movements were repetitive. He wondered what Kizmel was seeing when interacting with her kin. But given her reactions toward her environment, she might not even know they were acting differently compared to her.

"Come to think of it, aren't places like these supposed to be instant dungeons?" asked Nautilus.

"Yes."

"Then does that mean that we have vanished from the floor?"

"Technically, yes. But you don't have to worry. Unless you belong in the same party and activated the quest together, you won't see any other players."

"Right. So whenever a party activates the quest… it means another Kizmel is out there and probably dying?"

"…I would say, yes, Nautilus," answered Kayaba slowly. "The system will continue generating that scenario as long as someone is within the vicinity of that area."

A heavy silence fell upon them. Nautilus glanced down at his food and seemingly had lost the energy to eat while Kirito lowered his fork and looked away with a troubled expression. Kizmel may be just an advanced NPC, but she was so life-like that the thought of her dying and respawning simply to serve the quest was somewhat unsettling, and cruel.

Kayaba had long pondered that ever since they met her. Was it just because the Cardinal System had gained sentience or was there a hidden sick joke behind this? Did Cardinal expected them to give up because of a mere NPC? Or perhaps…

"So, um, in that case, what would happen if another Kizmel survives and our Kizmel sees a duplicate of herself?"

It was Kirito who answered. "That might not happen. The chances of encountering a party doing this quest outside this dungeon is less than five percent. And even if we did, I don't think they'll side with the dark elves."

Nautilus frowned. "Why is that?"

"Because the forest elves' side are a little easier," said Kayaba. He had also considered that possibility as well. But he was not worried at all. Even though this was already a death game, each faction's quest chain was independent of each other and never intertwined. There was no risk of further division between the players.

"The rewards are the same for both, so either side can't hold any advantages against each other," Kirito added before stuffing his mouth with pie once more.

"The quest line involved that Jade Key Kizmel mentioned, right?"

Kayaba nodded. "To the elves, it is a sacred item that they have been fighting over with for quite some time. It allows them to access the Sanctuary on the ninth floor, a sacred place for them. There is even a quest where you have to escort the carrier all the way up."

"That's so high," muttered Nautilus. "So the dark elves are protecting the Sanctuary? What about the forest elves?"

Gesturing in the direction of Kizmel's tent, Kayaba replied, "Let's ask Kizmel ourselves."

From the east the girls approached. Kizmel was with them, her armor and cloak gone, replaced with a simple purple tunic and black knee-length skirt that bared her tanned legs. Her saber was also nowhere to be seen.

"I hope you've enjoyed the meal," she said when they drew near. The girls sat on the chairs opposite the boys and ordered their own food.

Kirito tilted his head forward slightly. "It was good. Thank you." On the other side of the table, Asuna huffed.

When the food arrived, Yuna and Asuna took one look at the sumptous meal laid in front of them before taking a bite each that made their eyes widen. Without a word, they began to eat in a swift but polite and proper manner. The corner of Kizmel's lips lifted in a smile as she watched them in amusement.

"I'm so glad you liked the food. I will admit that it is not much and pales in comparison to the ones we usually prepare in our castle on the floor above us. But rest assured, there will be a grand banquet once we've opened the gate to the fourth floor."

The thought of a banquet filled with extravagant food was lost on them as they tried to register the meaning of Kizmel's last words.

"Once we've open the fourth floor?" Kirito repeated. Kayaba exchanged glances with him, both wondering. What was that about?

Oblivious to the confused and alarmed expressions of her companions, Kizmel lifted her gaze to the sky. In a voice tinged with longing, she said, "Yes. The commander mentioned this earlier, didn't he? It's been a month since the floors of Aincrad suddenly lost contact with each other. We didn't know why."

"A month. How long exactly?" inquired Kayaba. A growing apprehension was slowly creeping over his skin. Judging by the others' pale faces, they were starting to realize the implications as well.

Kizmel's response was like a rock being dropped over their heads. "Thirty-nine days. I still remember that day. I was patrolling the surrounding forest when the sky turned red and the wind grew so very still it was as if time itself had stopped. I immediately rushed back to the camp. Everyone was in turmoil, for the Spirit Trees which allowed us to travel along the floors had withered and died. We tried going through the Labyrinth, but we found a great Treant guarding the entrance on the top floor."

"A great Treant." Kayaba knew what Kizmel was talking about: Nerius the Evil Treant, the third floor boss. It was one of the first monsters they had created. Supposedly, it was just a field boss like the Bullbous Bow, but they turned it into a floor boss due to its high difficulty.

"Yes. We could not defeat it, so we retreated in shame. Since then, we've been trying to find a way to access the upper floors without facing it. Unfortunately, only the Lyual Siel, the Jade Key, can open the doors. Without it, no one will be able to go up even if we defeat the guardian."

Kayaba met the others' gazes. It was clear in their eyes that they understood what Kizmel had just said. The Jade Key was required to progress in the game. However, there was one thing that baffled even Kayaba. If the Jade Key was required to open the doors, what would happen if multiple parties were doing the quest?

"But now, the Jade Key is with the forest elves." Kizmel lowered her head and gazed down her lap forlornly. Her hands clenched, and her voice thickened with emotion. "Our hope has dwindled even more."

"What if you guys work with them?" blurted Nautilus, which earned him withering glares from Yuna and Asuna. He flinched in terror and stammered, "Uh, I mean—"

Kizmel shook her head. "It would never work. There's too much hate between the two sides. The only way is to reclaim the key… or eradicate the forest elves living on this floor."

"Then we'll help you get it back," said Kirito in a firm tone. He stared deep into Kizmel's eyes with conviction. Next to him, Nautilus nodded vigorously.

"I'm sure we'll be okay."

"You can count on us." Asuna placed a hand gently on Kizmel's shoulders. Yuna did the same on the their side.

Kizmel smiled, and Kayaba saw her relaxed a little. "Thank you, all of you."

"It is nothing, Kizmel," said Kayaba. "We are always glad to help. We should probably finished this so we can get to work on that mission the commander told us. There's still a few hours left before the sun sets."

"If it's not a bother, I would like to accompany you. I don't have anything to do here anyway, and I can't rest knowing that the Jade Key is within the hands of the enemy."

Kayaba glanced briefly around the table. The answer was plain as day on everyone's faces, and he was not surprised when Kirito responded with a smile.

"Of course. We'd be happy to have you."

There was a soft ding as the system announced the addition of a new party member. An HP bar flashed into existence below Yuna, longer than any of them. All eyes flicked to the upper-left corner of their HUD just in time to see the name along with the character level.

KIZMEL: DARK ELVEN ROYAL GUARD. LEVEL 20.

…

The forest on the eastern side of the camp was covered in a thin layer of mist, but the trees grew so tall and thick that it was almost impossible to see anything past five meters. Low hanging branches and verdant leaves hindered both movement and visibility, making their progress slower. They had to huddle close as they trekked the treacherous path lest they wandered unknowingly in the wrong direction.

As always, Kizmel kept them on the right track and ensured their safety by dispatching monsters with ease. It was essentially power-leveling with how strong she was—despite being in the same party—and all of them had gained one or two levels.

When they reached the quest location, they found a mound of earth covered in a vast flower field of all colors. Every hue in the spectrum was in there, and the fragrance mixed together to create an addictive sweet aroma in the air. They inhaled deeply and let their worries be washed away by the scent, if only for a little while.

They set out to work after that, gathering the red and blue flowers the quest required in baskets provided by the potion maker. Kizmel guarded the perimeter, though she assisted them occassionally, especially the girls. Kayaba stayed on the sidelines and watched the proceedings. Item gathering quest did not require the Gathering skill, but his heavy armor would only hinder their progress; there was a chance he could crush the items under his iron boots.

While he scanned the surroundings for any stray monsters, an unusual growth in one of the trees caught his attention. Curious, he went over to the trunk to investigate. The growth spanned ten feet in diameter, wrapping around the trunk and covering the lower portion all the way to the roots. It had a silvery sheen, and when Kayaba touched it, his skin stuck like glue. He pulled away quickly, but the growth clung to his hand until he hacked it away with his sword. Even so, a sticky web remained on his palm.

Kayaba studied it for a moment and finally realized what it was: a spiderweb. Thicket Spiders. He remembered this part of the forest. There was a cave beyond which was the quest in chapter three, as well as the guild creation quest line.

Shaking his head and wiping away the dissolving spiderweb in an untainted tree nearby, Kayaba retreated back to the others. They were almost finished, and when he returned, Kizmel asked, "Is there a problem?"

"Thicket Spiders." Kayaba pointed to the tree far behind him. "I think there is a nest nearby."

Kizmel's eyes followed the direction he was pointing at and nodded. "Ah, of course. We heard about them from a scouting party." She frowned, and her expression suddenly darkened. "The cave has a spider nest. One of us tried scouting it yesterday, but he has not returned yet."

Kayaba nodded. She was talking about the dark elven scout who was killed by Nephilia Regina, a giant spider queen. Of course, neither Kizmel nor the dark elves knew about that, and it would stay that way until the quest was initiated.

Soon they were finished. Upon returning to the camp, they turned over the quest items and received their rewards. Dinner was still a couple of hours away, so decided to spend their remaining free time upgrading their equipment. Fortunately, they had enough upgrade materials.

The sound of a mallet striking hard against white-hot steel ingots reached their ears as they approached the blacksmith stall. A tall and slender dark elf with his hair tied into a ponytail worked alone on the forge, moving with incredible speed. His actions were repetitive: plunge the ingot in a blazing furnace, pound it on an iron anvil with his hammer six times, submerged the flattened metal in a bucket of cold brine, then do the process all over again. It was vastly different from Kizmel's complex responses and movements, making Kayaba marvel at the sheer difference.

"Kirito, are you sure this will be alright?" asked Asuna when they finally stood in front of the elf smith. She stared uncertainly and rubbed the hilt of her Wind Fleuret in an almost loving way. "I don't want what happened last time."

"Last time?" wondered Nautilus.

Pursing her lips, Asuna nodded. "We got scammed and I nearly lost my rapier." She smiled and nudged Kirito on his shoulder. "Fortunately, this one knew what to do and helped me get it back."

Kirito grunted. "It's nothing, really. All I did was find the loop hole in the system. In any case, crafting weapons has zero percent failure. It will be fine."

"And the new weapon is usually much stronger," added Kayaba. Judging by the elf smith's hammer, his skill was high. There was a good possibility that he could forge weapons meant for the fifth or sixth floors.

"If you guys say so." Asuna approached the elf. "Excuse me. Can you help me forge a new weapon?"

The elf paused mid-blow and cocked his head in Asuna's direction, regarding her with deep dark eyes. He snorted and went back to his work. A menu appeared in front of Asuna. After setting it to visible, her index finger hovered briefly on the button for transforming her sword into an ingot. She made up her mind and unbuckled her rapier instead, sheath and all, then offered it to the elf smith with a solemn face.

"Please turn this into an ingot."

The elf took the scabbard slowly, and Kayaba thought he saw understanding flashed in his eyes. He slid out the rapier from its green sheath, gleaming bright in the fading sun. It was worn and chipped from all the battles it had endured, but it still retained its luster. Nodding to himself, the smith plunge both scabbard and blade inside his brick forge. The flame roared, bright green with elven magic, and made the rapier glow white. A few seconds later, everything melted and formed a slab of metal eight inches long. With his gloved hand, the elf took out the metal and handed it back to Asuna.

The ingot was bright silver. Argentium, thought Kayaba with surprise. It was an ingot found past the tenth floor. With the right materials, it could be used to create an assortment of high grade weapons with more than ten upgrade attempts.

The group watched in utter silence as Asuna selected the materials that would accompany the forging process, including the Argentium Ingot. The items materialized in two sacks, which the smith threw on the furnace. The sacks burned and the materials attained a white glow like before, combining into a flat metal. With thongs and hammer, the elf laid it on the anvil and began striking.

Once. Twice. Five times. The hammering continued, and with each blow their anticipation rose. The finished product was always unknown and random, but one could predict how strong it would be by counting the number of hammer blows. A cheap store-bought weapon was five strikes or less, while the Anneal Blade was ten.

The elf smith went past fifteen. Twenty. Twenty-five. At the thirtieth hit, Kirito's hand grasped Asuna's in a tight grip. They both stared with unblinking eyes, almost as if doing otherwise would end the creation in failure.

Then the fortieth blow came, and a brilliant light enshrouded the ingot. It grew in length, elongating and narrowing until it was a slender tool of death. When the light died, a magnificent rapier was on the anvil, gleaming silver in the approaching dusk. The elf smith lifted it, inspected it from hilt to tip, then nodded in satisfaction and finally gave it to Asuna.

"It's a good sword," he said before returning to his never-ending cycle of forging.

They gathered around Asuna as she held the newly forged weapon in her hands. She drew the blade and raised it, admiring the polished surface. The light from the dying sun caught on its tip, twinkling in eagerness for its birth. It was indeed a good weapon, so good that Kirito was left with a dumbfounded look.

"May I see it?" His voice was even, but Kayaba detected a hint of disbelief.

Asuna frowned, but allowed him to hold her rapier. "Why? Is something wrong?"

Kirito did not respond. He took the weapon and checked its status screen, his eyes widening at the parameters shown. The Chivalric Rapier: lightweight, highly accurate, and a bonus increasing crit chance. It was a splendid weapon meant for an agility-based like Asuna. But more than that, it possessed an astonishing fifteen upgrade attempts.

They gaped at that while Kayaba's thin eyebrows nearly disappeared in his hairline. That amount was unprecedented so early in the game. It was on par with rare monster drops on the twentieth floor, though the stats were lower. Asuna was not lucky; she was incredibly fortunate to have received a weapon like this.

Kirito handed the sword back to her without a word. Her frown deepened as she buckled it on her waist, her left hand resting comfortably on the polished silver hilt. "Well? Is it good?"

"More than good," answered Kirito with a sigh. Then: "So, who's next?"

Kayaba and Yuna refrained from having their equipment reforged into new and better ones, but Nautilus decided to have an enhancement. It went by smoothly, resulting in an additional point to the Anneal Blade's Quickness. He swung the sword experimentally for a few seconds, then seemingly satisfied with its speed, sheathed it with a pleased expression.

When Kirito's turn came, he shook his head and merely said, "I'm still fine with this sword."

It was clear in his eyes, though, that he wished for a better weapon.

Dinner was served around a large blazing bonfire in the center of the camp; another startling change from the old beta. Dark elves gathered in great numbers, dozes of them eating and talking and actually laughing. The commander was there surrounded by a large clique, and Kizmel was among them, smiling and merrymaking.

Are you really just an NPC? Kayaba was starting to doubt his earlier assessment now. Kizmel, and even the commander, were displaying real emotions not seen on any other NPCs. They had personalities, just like humans do.

Cardinal. There was no other explanation. It had to be it… no, her. She managed to inject a semblance of high intelligence to the elves, though how she did that was a true mystery. Kayaba created her to run the game, not rule it like a goddess. She should not possessed the function to alter the NPC's core programmings.

Kayaba stared at the dark root tea he had been given. It was brewed by the cooks, and it was fragrant and refreshing, with a sweet taste and a little tang. This was not in the beta too.

"Are you alright, Heathcliff-san?" Yuna murmured next to him. She must have noticed his quietness.

He nodded and sipped from his cup. "Yes. I was just thinking."

"About them?"

Kayaba smiled at her. "Along with other things."

As the evening wore on and the bonfire burned lower, the elves dispersed in twos and threes back to their stations and tents. Kayaba was tempted to check how they sleep, if they could now. But he was more interested to hear the story of how Aincrad was made. It might offer him a clue regarding their gaining sentience.

There were only six of them left around the fire. Him and the party, then Kizmel. A cool night breeze ruffled the trees, and they huddled closer to the fire, wrapping their woolen blankets around their shoulders as Kizmel began her tale.

"Once, there was a god who traveled across the endless sea of stars. He reveled in many things, and he had power over all. But he was alone in the cosmos; the only one of his kind. And so he decided to create a companion—a daughter. Together, they wandered throughout the universe, and they were both happy.

"His child was smart, even smarter than him. She noticed many things he could not. Understand concepts that had always escaped him. But just like before, there were only two of them. And in time, the child became sadder and sadder until she lost her liveliness. Fearing for her emotional state, the god poured every ounce of his strength to create something which would make his daughter happy again: a world."

The fire popped, sending a burst of orange sparks upward. Kizmel continued.

"Now this world was barren and dead, so the god gave it life. He raised mountains and continents from the bowels of the earth, drenched every crevices and hollow places with vast oceans, and spread a blanket of blue skies and white clouds. He planted fields of trees and flowers and grasses, turning whole areas green. And so that his child would not feel alone when he was not near her, he seeded the world with life; from creepers to swimmers and flyers, and walkers.

"But he was not satisfied. Realizing that he needed sentient creatures to take care of this world, he created striders, or those who stood upright and walked on two legs. Elves, dwarves, humans. He also created the kobolds and tauruses and every demi-humans. When he was done shaping the world, only then did he showed it to his child. She cried out in joy, delighting at her father's creations, loving every creatures. The god was happy for his daughter, and she too for him."

They listened with rapt attention to Kizmel, but Kayaba's eyes remained fixed on the dancing flames.

"Then one day, while the god was strolling in one of his gardens, he came upon a little girl. Beautiful she was, and kind. She was a spirit formed from the subconscious thought of every living creature; a guardian who safeguarded all life. Fascinated by her, the god tried to befriend her. At first, the girl was afraid and avoided him. But the god persisted, and he eventually won her over. He taught and showed her many things, allowed her to develop her powers, and devoted his attention to her. He treated her as to a daughter, and she him as a father. And for a time, they too were both happy.

"However, such happiness was not meant to last. The god's daughter discovered the girl and flew in a great rage, for she could not accept that she had been left alone for another girl. She slew the poor spirit, then battled her own father, where she emerged victorious. Weeping in both despair and loneliness, but unable to kill him, the daughter placed a curse on her own father; she turned him into a human, stripping away his godhood, and exiled him on earth. And yet she was not done. Out of spite and revenge, she tore off all the lands from the earth and gathered every race and creature, then formed an eternal floating steel castle in the sky, and trapped them forevermore. Annointing herself as a goddess, she sat on her throne from a palace made of rubies, where she ruled over everything since."

A deep silence fell upon them when Kizmel finished, and no one spoke. Kirito and Asuna were both staring at the elf in amazement, while Nautilus bore a thoughtful expression. Only Yuna seemed to notice Kayaba's unblinking gaze. He was still gazing at the fire, a half-filled cup held tightly in both hands.

A god and his child. There was no doubt who the story referred to, and Kayaba was not sure whether to get angry or be overcome by fear. For one, he had just confirmed Cardinal's involvement, though how Kizmel played into this, he still did not know. For another, the story was a little inaccurate. He did not made SAO for Cardinal. He made her for it.

And she was certainly not his child, whatever delusion she might think.

"That… that is quite an interesting story, Kizmel," Asuna finally said, knees tucked under her chin.

Kizmel nodded. "It has been passed down to each generation since our imprisonment here, serving as a reminder of our weakness." She sighed. "If only we can escape, though. I've read stories of an era before the Great Separation, where the nations were not confined from one another and people could freely choose wherever to go."

"I'm sure we can find a way."

Kizmel shook her head and lowered her gaze toward the fire. Her eyes reflected the light in a soft orange glow. "If only we could," she murmured in a low voice. "It might take decades or even centuries. And say we do, what then? We are going to fight a goddess. There's no hope of defeating her."

"Not if we work together," Asuna stated with such comviction even Kayaba had to look at her for a moment. "Be it a god or goddess, we will defeat it as long as we fight. All of us." Her eyes burned brighter than the fire, filled with optimism and rock hard determination.

Chuckling softly, Kizmel squeezed Asuna's hand briefly and smiled. "You are a strong warrior, Asuna. I don't think I can carry that amount of optimism within me." She lifted her eyes into the sky, letting them wander. "Still, you are right. There must be a way. Otherwise, there would not be a prophecy."

"Prophecy?" Kirito wondered with a startled expression. Even the others were taken aback, and they frowned quizzically at Kizmel.

The dark elf blinked. "Yes, a prophecy. You don't know?" When they all shook their heads, she balked slightly. "That's really odd. It should be well known even among the humans. Well, not that it matters." She pointed up. "The prophecy states that once the goddess is killed, Aincrad will be destroyed and every thing she took will return to their rightful place. Of course, that was just a prophecy," she added when their faces paled. "It doesn't mean this castle will be literally destroyed… I think."

"That's not reassuring," muttered Kirito.

Kayaba was of the same opinion. The condition that Cardinal gave them was clear: defeat her and the game would be clearerd. He was certain it also included the destruction of Aincrad itself.

"Do not worry," said Kizmel. "As I've said, it might not happen in your lifetimes, or mine. In any case, the story has taught us an important lesson."

"And that is?" asked Yuna.

Kizmel answered softly, "That one should never give in to jealousy, lest it consumes them and force them to hurt the one they love. Personally, I do not blame the goddess for her feelings, only her actions. If only she had accepted the girl, they could have been a happy family and—"

"And yet she could not, which creates the problem," Kayaba suddenly spoke. He drained his dark root tea in one gulp and set the cup on the ground, then rose to his full height. The dying flames cast ominous shadows over him, and mixed with the surrounding darkness, concealed his hardened expression.

"The god did everything he could," Kizmel protested while looking up at him. "He tried to convince his daughter to accept the girl as her sister."

"But it did not work, and now the goddess destroyed everything he had worked for." Kayaba clenched his hands. "I agree that the blame should not be on her; it was the god's fault for creating her in the first place." His voice dropped until it was barely a murmur in the wind.

"She should not have been born."

...

That night, Kayaba had trouble sleeping.

He tossed and turned on the bed provided for them inside the tent adjacent to Kizmel's. The story replayed in loops inside his head. It was the only thing filling his mind. And as the hours dragged on and rest eluded him, his thoughts kept drifting back to the story. No matter how much he tried, he could not erased that feeling of unease.

When at last he could not take it anymore, Kayaba sat up and looked around wearily. An oil lamp burned on a table, faintly illuminating the sleeping forms of Kirito and Nautilus. The tent was bare save for the three beds, though it was doubtful if it could hold more given its small size. The space was so limited they had to sleep close to each other.

So as not to disturb the slumbering boys, Kayaba exited the tent as silently as he could. The evening air brought a coll and refreshing breeze, though it did little to ease his turbulent thoughts. In the distant horizon, stars twinkled like little diamonds. A few puffs of silver clouds rolled by, but the moon was no longer visible; it had long vanished high in the upper floors as it ascended the sky outside Aincrad.

There was no one about, so Kayaba materialized a woolen cloak to wrap around his shoulders and started walking. At night, the camp was as quiet as a tomb. The ringing blows of the blacksmith were absent, and there were no marching footsteps of the guards. The only sounds were the insects singing their nightly songs in the trees, and the occassional far off howl of a Dire Wolf.

Kayaba's stroll around the camp did little to calm him down, but being alone granted him some peace of mind. So much had happened in just a single day, most of them troubling. For the first time since he began designing this game, Kayaba did not know what to do. Not because he possessed little information; it was the opposite. He learned too much that all of them were jumbled inside his brain, and he was trying to sort them out with tiny success.

A rustle of fabric drew his attention to the right. There was a brief flash of a smoky purple hair, but it vanished among the tents. Curious, Kayaba followed. Kizmel acting alone independently no longer shocked him. He was more interested in where she was going, and why.

Kayaba reached the very back of the camp, even farther than the potion shop. A small back door stood opened, swinging gently in the wind. Kayaba went outside and followed a small dirt path snaking among the trees. He knew most of each floor's nooks and crannies, and this one did not exist at all.

He came to a wide clearing in the forest ringed by flowers around a small mound of grassy earth protruding from the ground. Soft moonlight bathed its peak, from which three markers made of wood were erected: graves. Kizmel stood in front of the first one on the left, her head bowed.

Kayaba stiffened, but his legs suddenly moved of their own accord. He strode into the clearing until he was climbing the mound. Upon hearing his footsteps, Kizmel turned.

"Master Heathcliff? What are you doing wandering so late in this hour? You should take a rest."

"I could not sleep," he replied when he stood next to her. Gazing down at the grave, Kayaba saw the name, Tilnel, carved in the rough wood. It bore similarities with Kizmel, and he knew he had to ask. "Friend of yours?"

"My younger sister," answered the elf. With a sigh, she knelt on one knee and lightly brushed the name with her right hand. "We were both transferred to this floor before Aincrad changed. She was a herbalist, one of the best. I still remembered the day when she healed a wolf pup. She had always been gifted when it came to nature and healing." Her voice grew a sadder tone and her eyes became misty.

"But our time did not last. During a mission, we were ambushed by Forest Elf Falconers. I was last in the retreat, and she in front of me, when an arrow pierced me and went through, striking her in the back."

The rest of her words were lost to Kayaba as a torrent of memories assaulted him. He stepped back and squeezed his eyes shut, trying to control his trembling shoulders. Most of the images were the wondeful times spent with Ayako, but there was one which almost made him spill the tears he had vowed to no longer shed since that day.

Thunder rumbled overhead and rain poured in never ending rivers, soaking the already muddy ground and washing away his endless tears.

He was on his knees weeping, gouging the ground with his hands. Why? Why was everything taken from him? He had been a good son and a caring brother. Why must he be punished in such a cruel way?

Lifting his head, he stared at his sister's grave. The mourners had long since left, but he chose to stay behind despite their protests. He stayed until the weather mirrored his despair and he was drenched from head to toe.

Fresh stream of tears spilled from his puffy eyes, and he bowed his head in grief, his body shaking violently from the cold and his raging emotions. A floating castle in the sky. Ayako would never be able to live in her dream anymore.

The sky roared with thunder. Lifting his head to the heavens, Akihiko Kayaba let out a piercing howl of despair.

And then he was back to the present, and shed a single tear that he swiftly wiped away just as Kizmel produced a wine skin from somewhere within her cloak. She took a long draught, then offered some to Kayaba. "Would you like some? This is moontear wine from the herbs of the same name. My sister always wanted to have a taste, but she never got the chance." She cast her gaze downwards.

Kayaba eyed the wineskin for a moment. He was not much of a drinker even back in high school, but it would be impolite to refuse, and he needed to wash away his worries anyway. Besides, he would not get drunk no matter how much he took. He accepted the offer and poured the sweet and slightly sour liquid down his throat. Warmth spread all over his body, and his mind cleared somewhat. Below his HP gauge, an offense buff icon blinked.

He returned the wineskin, and Kizmel quaffed the rest before rising to her feet. Looking down at the grave once more, she smiled faintly. "Tilnel wanted to help me find a way to return on the upper floors. I've always told her that every thing will be alright, and we will see the rest of our people again. It was why she joined me on the mission. She wanted to keep the Jade Key safe. And indeed, she was the bearer at that time." Kizmel let out a weary sigh. "I guess I failed her then, now that the key is no longer in our hands."

"No, you haven't," said Kayaba abruptly. His gaze lingered briefly on the grave, then met Kizmel's doubting eyes. "As long as you still live, you can never fail someone. We are here to help you, and I promise, we will reclaim the Jade Key and reunite this camp with the rest of your people."

Saying that, Kayaba turned and strode away, leaving Kizmel in a silent graveyard.

Translations:

Mela zurar, liari - Stay back, humans

Ci la io zu selar - This is not your war

Ela le zurar - Give it back

Ci la io serun - This is not over

Ira lar zu asra - Who are you people

Io - Never

Irula - Open

Supposedly, this chapter is longer and would end in a cliffhanger, but I decided to cut it at this point for reasons I will explain.

I will be on hiatus until February. It's quite short, thankfully, because I need the whole January to polish the fourth draft of my novel, which I might add, has the third draft posted in RoyalRoads and can be found in the link below.

https

:/ /www.

royal road.

com

/fiction/ 2

1933/celestial-chronicles-book-1-the-reaper-of-iremia

Simply remove the spaces and the link should take you there. I update it every day since it's already written, and I will really appreciate an honest feedback.

Anyway, I do hope you enjoyed this chapter. I took really great care crafting the fictional elven language presented here, a little basic it may be. For those who have read volume 2 of SAO Progressive, which this chapter loosely based off from, I know the language itself is not there. This s actually my way of testing it out since it is going to appear in my original series.

On a side note, I hope I portrayed Kizmel as she was in the novels. I'll admit she was a little hard to write considering her origins. That bit about the elf commander is my own take on the plot, however, and expect more NPCs to behave different. Just for clarification, though. They are not and will never be Fluctlights like the ones shown in Alicization arc. This arc is inspired by the Progressive novels, after all. So forget about any characters from there appearing here aside from the first chapter.

Have a wonderful holidays! See you in two months!