Chapter 44

-][-

With Thrym's departure, life was breathed back into Jotunheim. The water that made up the frozen Thrymheim had been evaporated during the harsh combat, and without the Frost Giant's control the water sped back into the Well of Urd. The lake was restored, and roots from the World Tree reached downwards towards it, and then spread out from the lake to form smaller trees within Jotunheim. The ice that covered the vast cavern melted, flowing across the land into parched canals that was restored into rivers. The Beast Gods clamoured to be let out of their enclosure, and once the barrier protecting them was down they dispersed throughout Jotunheim. The land was still cratered from the conflict, but the greenery covered most of it well enough it was almost unnoticeable when looking from above.

"The event is over," Titania declared, an image of herself appearing above them all. "All of you can exchange your Reward Points at the usual locations. However, there is the matter of Legendary weapons to be decided."

Tabitha's spear vanished from her hands, as Titania recalled it away.

"Thrym was not eliminated, with no Last Attack occurring, so you do not get to keep the Sword of Surtr," Titania said. "Nonetheless, I am impressed with your performance today. Should you desire it, I may call upon your aid in the future."

Tabitha nodded stoically.

"For the individual that did the most damage – step forward, Rufus of the Leprechauns."

There was an uproar at the declaration, even as Rufus smugly flew towards Titania. Rufus' contraptions might have helped everyone to some extent, but everyone felt to some degree they had been exploited, as their magic residue was absorbed to help Rufus. Not to mention the explosion caused by him that caused plenty of player deaths near the end.

"For you, a replica of Mjolnir, seeing as even I am not so callous to demand drops that players acquired elsewhere-"

"Actually," Rufus spoke up. "May I exchange my prize for something of equal value?"

Titania paused, as did the uproar. "What is it that you want?"

"I want the keys to the Dvergr's Workshop," Rufus declared. "Why should I be happy with one Mjolnir, when I can have several? Or create more wonders on the same tier? I am perfectly willing to spend Reward Points or otherwise make up for the difference.

"And I am not doing this just for myself!" Rufus shouted to the rest of the players gathered, before they could riot at his audacity. "I am doing this for the sake of my Faction! Imagine, for example, if we had more Legendary weapons before we had to fight Thrym. Titania would not have had to intervene directly! We would not have had to resort to dangerous, forbidden techniques! How many of you here would say no to more shinies, and more explosions?"

"What about the rest of us?" An Undine shouted back. "Why should the Leprechauns get all the cool toys?"

"Well it's not my fault that your Faction wasn't willing to spend more time and more gold for success!" Rufus retorted. "Then again, if any of you want to jump ship, that can be arranged. The Faction Leaders are currently debating on improving the 'Mercenary' system, where players of one race work for a different Faction for rewards. We've seen today that having raid teams composed of Gnome Tanks, Undine Healing, Salamander DPS and so on, worked out far better than single-race raids that try to cover all the roles that they don't specialize in. Imagine having that kind of power, that kind of cohesion, in the future!

"If you join a different Faction, we're proposing that you'll never be capped as just a sword-for-hire, where you get paid but you can never rise up to be able to make important decisions. Under the proposed system you can, for example, be a Spriggan or a Salamander and still hold a position of importance in Demnann, assuming you've proven to be loyal to the Faction. In the future, we won't be divided by player racial specialty, but by our ideals! Sure, I'm still of the idea of 'Leprechaun Master Race', building things the goddamn Batman can only dream of, is the way to go – but I'm willing to share my wonderful toys with those that's willing to do things the way I do.

"Of course, I'm not just going to hand out WMDs to any Laughing Coffin wannabe," Rufus clarified. "If the Leprechauns get Dvergr's Workshop, there will have to be some precautions. Such as if you can't pass a mental health check, then go find your own nukes. After all, with great power comes great responsibility, and for Factions it doesn't get much more power than these Endgame tier upgrades.

"What do you say, Titania? Would the Leprechauns be allowed the Holy Grail of our Faction? Does my idea need more adjustments?"

"I will have to think on this further," Titania replied, her superior processing power made it seem like she did not take long to reply. "Allow some time for discussions and petitions to happen. However I will not dismiss this offhand."

"Thank you for that," Rufus said, looking like the cat that got the canary. "Would that be all?"

"In regard to the players, yes."

With the emergency over, splurging on teleportation crystals was no longer needed to maximize the efficiency rate for reward points, and so most players decided to move towards the physical exits and save their rare items. The raid teams had no more strength to scout out the new areas, so they only stuck around because of the bottleneck at the exits, and that they were still curious at what the major movers and shakers were planning in the aftermath. Titania's hologram had yet to disperse despite her word that she had finished speaking, for example.

-][-

Kirito made his way to Tabitha in order to debrief them. Upon Tabitha's dragon, Kirche's face flushed at what they had survived. When Greater Spirits clashed they caused widespread devastation, something Kirche had never considered she would witness, never mind being dragged along for the ride as Tabitha for a time held enough power to be considered one of the active participants. The last passenger, Miss Longueville, looked ill after the experience. With one thing after another she either didn't have time to activate the crystal, or too shocked by the events to have considered to do so.

Tabitha tensed as the Spriggan joined them. To say the entire Quest was a mess would be a severe understatement. First, Tabitha found out the succession for faerie royalty could have been convoluted enough to give Gallian history a run for its money, as she has suspicions as to what happened to 'Fairy King Oberon' that led to Titania taking the reins. Then, there was the practically open rebellion between Titania and Kirito who acted in her stead – Kirito went against a direct order, and came out unpunished. Tabitha picked a side in what could easily be civil war in Alfheim, and she dearly hoped Kirito wouldn't just remove them as he had got what he wanted. Kirito had gotten away with more, from what she had seen already.

Kirito's boyish visage warred between disappointment and betrayal as he faced Tabitha. Tabitha's expression was stoic, and spoke before Kirito could:

"I did not hide that I joined this Quest because I needed Titania's aid," Tabitha said quietly. "I empathize with your view that peace is preferable, but I do not agree peace is worth pursuing to the detriment of our own benefits. Halkeginia is not so kind."

Kirito sighed deeply.

"I shouldn't blame you," Kirito said tiredly. "I'm reminded of having to adjust after leaving Aincrad. Of the different expectations between having to compromise when fighting for our lives, and during times of peace. The difference between us, I think, is that while those with me managed to leave… you never left your Aincrad. Or couldn't. Am I right?"

Tabitha didn't allow herself to react to Kirito's words.

"Well, even with everything that I disagree with Titania about, I'll admit she holds up her end of the deals," Kirito said, turning away. "Whatever you're looking for, Tabitha, I hope you find it. I hope that the next time we're on the same Quest, we won't end up on different sides. I don't want to fight those like us ever again.

"Kirche, and Miss Longueville – good luck with getting whatever it was you're after as well."

Kirito flew off to reunite with his comrades, and Tabitha directed Sylphid towards the closest exit. To some extent, Kirito and the rest of the faeries reminded her of herself, after the first mission Isabella sent her on. The difference however, was that the faeries somehow were still holding onto their optimism when Tabitha's was crushed.

In that single moment, Tabitha felt truly envious of the faeries. That they were fortunate enough that even after everything they went through, they didn't have to compromise many times, to the point they might as well became dolls so it would be less painful.

Tabitha – Charlotte – was not that fortunate, and the comparison hurt.

-][-

Kirito exchanged glances with Leafa and Asuna. They likely needed to report back to Urd to end the Quest, but they didn't feel contacting them in front of so many players was a good idea. Sadly, that decision was taken out of their hands:

"I request your presence, Urd," Titania's voice came only from Kirito's Medallion, even though her image was still present. With a golden glow, Urd appeared in front of Kirito's raid team, with a guarded expression on her face.

"Titania," Urd nodded towards the source of the Fairy Queen's voice. "Much has changed since… the 'Transition', wasn't it?"

Kirito blinked, and then winced. Of course, if Thrym could have figured it out, then why wouldn't the true Spirit that ruled Jotunheim? "Um, Urd, well…"

"I do not wish to take Jotunheim from you, Queen of the Lake," Titania stated plainly. "May the players – the faeries – use your realm reasonably?"

"You would take Jotunheim regardless of your wishes, if your wards clamour for such, Titania," Urd said sourly, her expression marred by distaste. "While I hold no love towards Thrym, I am not blind to the possibility of being chased out of my sanctuary. We would defend ourselves, and help out against those that seek to use Jotunheim to cause you trouble, but do not mistake that for trust between our kinds."

"That is acceptable," Titania said neutrally. "And that is all I would ask from you. Rest assured, you will not have to deal with the faeries if you do not wish to – send a message directly through the roots of the World Tree if you wish to converse. I have found that relying on proxies to complete Quests to be unreliable."

Urd said nothing as Titania withdrawn her presence from Kirito's Medallion, and her image vanished. Urd then turned her gaze upon the five faeries in front of her. A sphere of gentle wind expanded from her, removing other players' ability to listen in to their conversation.

"You have done well, Leafa, Kirito, Asuna, Klein, and Agil," Urd spoke. "While Jotunheim has not quite returned to its former glory, it is on its way to full recovery."

"We aren't the ones that settled things with Thrym though," Kirito apologized. "I mean, we tried to let him go. Aren't you angry about that?"

"As far as I'm concerned, the Thrym that committed his offences died an ignoble death soon after the Transition," Urd said, almost sadly. "He was power-hungry, literally so, and in trying to 'game the system' he lost sight of who he was, with the spirit stones morphing him. If Thrym was a more virtuous soul, what happened to the King of the Frost Giants would have been a tragedy instead. Nevertheless, his is a cautionary tale for us all."

"I don't think eating Windstones is going to be an option for any of us anyway," Klein joked weakly.

"I meant more in the case of my sisters," Urd smiled slightly. "Speaking of them, they wish to meet you as well."

A blonde robed woman, slightly shorter than Urd but still taller than the faeries by at least a head's height, appeared to one side. To Urd's other side, a figure closer to the size of the faeries' appeared, dressed in armour not unlike the players would have chosen.

"Verthandi," the robed woman nodded.

"I'm Skuld," the smallest sister smiled. Klein's breath hitched, much to the others' amusement.

"We would reward you with many coins and items for your efforts, but alas you no longer have an 'inventory' that could hold all of them," Urd said apologetically. "Do come back and visit again if you want them. We have further Quests for you all as well, if you would help us."

"Yes!" Klein said sharply, puffing himself upright. "It would be our pleasure!"

"Dammit Klein," Kirito muttered. "You're embarrassing us."

"Shut up," Klein hissed back. "Don't you dare ruin this for me, not when I'm the only guy left that-"

"We'll take our leave now," Urd stated, the bubble of air dispersing around them. "Thank you all, and farewell."

"Skuld-san!" Klein cried out as the Water Spirits floated away, golden glow enveloping around them. "Please, may I have your contact details?!"

What. Kirito was gobsmacked at his best male friend's daring. He was further dumbfounded however, when the smallest Spirit smirked after some thought, and send a speck of light into Klein's Medallion.

"Call me later," Skuld said with a wink, before the sisters vanished.

Every player left within sight of the scene was left frozen, they couldn't have been more still if Thrym was around and decided to freeze them all.

"What the fuck," the Puca player with the Salamanders said flatly. "That's just… hey bro, do you mind introducing me to her sisters?"

"No way!" Klein hollered back. "That'll just hurt my chances with Skuld! Over my dead body!"

"That can be arranged!" The Puca shouted, before another player cut them off:

"We don't even have dead bodies as faeries," a Salamander pointed out.

"That's the point!" Klein said emphatically.

"So Remain Lights don't count?"

"Bodies have to be physical, don't they?"

Even though it had been a long day, at least it ended with laughter and a façade of normalcy where players trash talked like they were back on message boards.

AN: The bit with Klein and Skuld came about because that plot hook never went anywhere in the SAO LNs, and I wanted to play around a bit with it in the future.

The next chapter is a breather chapter with Charming Faeries Inn, before we get back to the next part of the main plot with Reconquista.