Leafa Pov.

"This guy is weird," I mutter to myself. I know it's rude but seriously he's strange. He's flying rings around me but he's going in completely random directions. It's literally like I'm riding a bike and he's driving a car but the car is stuck at 40 mi an hour. Plus he's always on ice and sometimes he overshoots me so he has to double back a lot. I swear the only reason he hasn't crashed is the fact that there's nothing to crash into besides me up here. Maybe he's practicing dodging? I can't think of anyone who could hit him with anything while he's flying like this. That's got to be it! No newbie could take out 3 Salamanders by himself.

"This is so much fun daddy!" His private pixie laughed in his pocket holding up her arms like this is a roller coaster. "Mommy would love this!"

"I know sweetie, I Know." He told his pixie looking sad.

"Why would he do that?" I whisper to myself.

He's treating that computer program like it's his own daughter and where is her Mommy? Maybe he lost someone too, that could be a reason that mini-fairy keeps calling him Daddy. He acts like a teenager sometimes and like an old man other times: maybe he lost someone just like me. Only grief ages someone like that.

"It's okay to be missing someone." I suddenly blurt out; why did I do that? We're nearly strangers! I met him only a few hours ago, true he did save me but…

"I know, but I have hope… no I know I will see everyone again." He confidently tells me. "I just hope they know that I'm trying to get back to them with everything I have. I just hope there still waiting for me."

Maybe he is like me; well if he's trying to get back to his love ones then I will do everything in my power to help him; for my brother's sake. "I'm sure they are and I'm sure you'll see them again." Like I hope to see my brother again.

Looking ahead I see the village; it's the Sylph capital, Swilvane. "We're here Spriggan; welcome to our capital Swilvane; isn't it beautiful?"

Kirito's POV.

It is beautiful alright. 4 pillars that are light green surround the capital; dwarfing all the buildings and covering everything in soft green light. I see huge trees on the ground that look like bushes from up here. A huge pillar sticks up from the middle only it's flat on top. I can see landing platforms everywhere. Wait a minute; if I crash into a landing platform I think I will put a dent into the pillar rather than me, what do I do? If only there was auto land. Wait, didn't Heathcliff have an auto mode? Maybe I can use it; but how?

"You're going to fast, slow down!" Leafa shouts at me.

"I know that." I mutter, "Yui please go back in my pocket until I say so; this is going to be a rough landing." Hearing an "okay daddy" from her I gather my strength and I try to back wing. It's kind of like back paddling but it feels like my wings will come off, it's not pleasant. Luckily I come to a stop on the platform, I can handle a little pain but people might think I'm a weakling and attack me if they see my land bad.

Like I thought, I see many people staring at me. Whether it's because of my landing or because I'm a Spriggan I can't really tell.

As I watch Leafa is sending messages to other players she knows to tell them she's going on a trip. She's also telling them that she's temporary not a part of the group and I can see how hard it is for her to leave them. I watch her curiously because I'm normally a sole player; you don't have to anyone where you're going or if you will be back. I can see the advantages of being in a group but I still like being a sole player better, I can handle anything thrown my way by myself but not everyone can. I learned that the hard way so I still don't like being in a group. Even on the front lines I only joined the knight group because Heathcliff beat me or it was the first boss. I played with them on the front lines but I didn't join any groups. Maybe being with her in this game where I don't have to worry about anyone dying for good will change that.

She barely pressed send before the newbie who I saw die before fly up to her panting out "Is it true Leafa, your leaving the clan?" He whined at her. "Please you can't go I… We need you."

This kid obviously has a crush on her; I wonder why she doesn't like him. Maybe it's because he acts like a little kid. Or because it's harder to fall in love if you're worrying, I know how she feels. At least I can do something; it's much harder when your just waiting and you can't do anything.

"It's okay Recon," She informs him, "I wanted to see this world anyway and I owe this guy for defeating the Salamanders that would have PK. me."

The kid, Recon then turns to me. "Hey just because you saved her doesn't mean she needs to do you any favors, I'll come to, wherever you're going."

"Do you know where we're going?" I ask him, I kind of feel bad for this kid; to have a crush. "We're going to face the guardians in that unbeatable quest."

"Hey Leafa I have heard that are you abandoning your party?" A new voice calls out. "Tell me that you're not going rogue are you?"

I look around to see a fairy wearing a golden band on his head with a green cloak and surrounded by two lackeys.

He patronizes her, "Do you realize how sad our members will be if you leave? Especially Recon here and if you just go you'll damage this party's reputation. Do you want to do that? That's a poor thank you, I expected better from you."

"I thought our leader let anyone go who wanted to go, at least that's what she said when I joined." She challenged him.

"So you're betraying us for a Spriggan?" He challenged her, now looking at me.

"Party members aren't items." I inform him, "She can come and go whenever she pleases, with whoever she pleases and you can't stop her, so stop threating her."

I hate these types of parties; if you try to leave some of them they might take your items or even take your life if you belong to an especially terrible one in SAO.

"What did you say to me?" The guy who thought he was superior questioned me. "I bet that attitude against your betters was what got you thrown out of your territory. Let's see what you got you piece of Spriggan trash."

"Sigurd stop it, I'm going with him as my partner and that's final." Leafa defends me.

It's nice that she's standing up to this jerk but I can take this guy easily.

At her words though he draws his sword and yells at me. "First you stroll around here like it's your territory and then you steal one of our party members; I was willing to overlook a trespasser but I won't overlook a thief; I won't stand for it."

"Hey this isn't the time or place Sigurd." One of his lackeys tells him.

Sigurd looks around and sees that everyone is watching the confrontation; he knows that if he attacks a defenseless player then it will reflect badly on him. But I don't want him to walk off and keep his pride; he needs to learn that he can't treat his party members like there his minions. I need to teach him a lesson and knock him down a few pegs.

"How about this; challenge me to a duel; that way I can teach you a lesson." I suggest to him sweetly.

"You're not only trash you're also an idiot." He tells me drawing his sword, "Fine I challenge you to a duel, first strike; I will show you your place, since someone has to."

Raising his sword he waits for the countdown and then charges at me.

I can tell by his stance that he's pretty good with his sword but I haven't met anyone who could match me. I raise only one of my swords; I don't need two to deal with him and I don't want to show everyone here watching my abilities or the fact that I can double-wield.

As the first strike comes near me I easily step side him. Quickly raising my sword I break his in half. He stops and gaps at the metal handle. He obviously wasn't expecting me to be any good. Well I hope he has learned his lesson, but I wouldn't count on it. Those types of people rarely change.

"First strike goes to me, I win the duel." I say unnecessary, turning to Leafa I begin to walk to the top of the tower to take off of. "Come on Leafa let's go." We needs to get to the top to take off because I'm not sure I could have cleared the trees surrounding this city without some height. I really need to practice flying.

She's looking at me with surprise but also newfound respect, she then shakes her head and follows me up to the top of the tower.

Looking around I see eyes following me and people whispering about my victory to their friends. The jerk that I just defeated makes to go after me but the guy next to him whispers in his ear about something. Shaking the guy off he meets my stare. Seeing it, he backs off and walks out the way he came in a huff. At least he can tell when he can't win a fight.

The kid Recon who I had forgotten was there told me, "that wasn't a good idea, Sigurd can hold a grudge."

"I'm not afraid of him kid." I reassure him.

"I'm not a kid," He childishly yells at me. "I'm just warning you because you're with Leafa."

Leafa, sensing an opportunity to get rid of him, suggests that the kid, "Stay behind to keep an eye on him as a personal favor to her."

The kid, wanting to please his crush, immediately chirps that "he will watch him like a hawk" and tries to sneakily run after the guy. I'm honestly surprised that he didn't salute her or something.

"Good job," I tell her, "Where we're going is no place for a newbie. Speaking of which," I continue as we're at the top, "Which way is the fastest?"

Letting out a sign she points to a mountain north of us. "Through that mountain is the fastest way. We can't fly over it as it's too high for our altitude limit. It's a Sylph secret which way is the easiest to get through the mountain."

"Do you know the location of this secret passage?" I ask her.

"Yes but it is my first time as we don't often go through this mountain. In a way it's an adventure for me. Plus this way I don't have to go alone. First, however we need to fly over this forest." She shyly informs me.

I envy her, to go on an adventure with no threat of dying on it. I have forgotten the last time I was that carefree.

"Hey I have an idea? Why don't I carry you to get us there faster?" I asked her because I should get to King Oberon's castle as fast as possible to see if I have any game master duties I need to attend to.

Leafa's Pov.

I seriously can't figure this guy out! He can beat Sigurd by cutting his sword in half but he lands by literally flapping like a duck! However he's good with a sword. With him as my partner we can easily make it through the forest and mountains! Wait a minute he wants to fly us there? He's fast but what about his steering skills? Well… "As long as you don't fly into anything I guess its fine." I do want to get to the capital of Alfheim quickly; I've been in that forest before and I want to experience new things.

Chuckling he grabs me and with a sonic boom we're off!