Kirito: What the hell, Akiri!
Akiri: Sometimes you need to run before you can walk, Kirito
Kirito: Make it stop!
He shouts as he was flying around in the air uncontrollably.
Yui: Sorry, daddy! That's hilarious!
After a while, Kirito had finally managed to get the hang of flying and they raced off towards Sylvain.
(Timeskip)
A few minutes of flying later, they started to see the town in the distance.
Kirito: We made it
Leafa: We'll land at the base of the central tower
Akiri: Roger that
Leafa: W-wait. Kirito-kun, do you know how to land?
His eyes widened in realization.
Kirito: I don't...
Leafa: U-umm... Sorry! It's too late
She said as they were closing in on the tower.
Leafa: Good luck!
Kirito: Y-you're kidding me!
Akiri just gave a two finger salute and he and Leafa both started to descend safely to the ground while Kirito crashes into the tower and he hits the ground.
Akiri: Now that's a big oof right there
Kirito: Shut up, Akiri...
Leafa: It's okay, I'll heal you
She said as she brought her hand forward and started to chant a spell. Kirito's body started to glow as the spell took effect and healed him.
Kirito: Wow, so this is magic?
Akiri: Pretty neat
Leafa: Only Undines can use high-level healing magic. That's a really important spell, so you two should learn it, too
Kirito: So different races get different bonuses? What are Spriggans good at?
Leafa: Treasure hunting and illusion magic, I guess. Neither of those is much use in battle though. Salamanders, on the other hand, are just good at physical combat
Kirito: Physical combat, huh? Then it makes sense why you chose to be a Salamander, Akiri
He said as he got back up on his feet.
Akiri: Yup
They then started to look around the town.
Kirito: So this is a Sylph town? It's pretty
Leafa: Isn't it?
???: Leafa-chan!
A voice suddenly started calling out and they turned their head to see a boy with green hair running up to them.
???: You're okay!
Leafa: Oh, recon
The boy known as Recon stopped in front of them while catching his breath.
Recon: You're great, Leafa-chan
He then notices Kirito, which made him shocked.
Recon: A Spriggan?!
He then notices Akiri, which made him even more shocked.
Recon: Ah! A Salaman-
Leafa quickly covers his mouth to shut him up.
Leafa: It's okay. These two are the ones who saved me. So I would appreciate it if you didn't attract unnecessary attention to us
Recon nodded and Leafe lets go of his mouth.
Leafa: This is Recon, my friend
Kirito: Nice to meet you. I'm Kirito
Akiri: And I'm Akiri
Recon: Ah, yeah, nice to meet you-
He then suddenly backed off and reaches for his dagger.
Recon: No, no, no! Are you sure about this, Leafa-chan? They're not spies or anything, are they?
Leafa: It's fine. They're both are a little too dim to be a spy
Akiri: Excuse me?
Recon: Sigurd and the rest saved you a seat at the usual tavern
Leafa: Oh, sorry, I'll pass today
Recon: You're not coming?
Leafa: No. I promised Kirito-kun and Akiri-kun a drink for saving me
She then grabbed their hands and dragged them away.
Leafa: See you later!
Recon: W-wait! Leafa-chan...
As they were walking, Kirito decided to ask Leafa a question.
Kirito: So, was that guy your boyfriend?
Leafa: W-what?! No way! He's just someone who I'm partying with
Akiri: You two seem pretty close though
Leafa: He's someone I know in real life. We go to the same grade school, but that's it
Akiri then noticed that the other Sylph players were looking at him.
Akiri: You're not kidding about how these guys hate Salamanders. They've been looking at me funny the entire time I've been here
Leafa: Well, you just gotta ignore them. I'll try my best to stop them from killing you
Akiri: That's reassuring...
(Timeskip)
The three of them are now sitting at a table at a bar, waiting for their drinks. After a short while, a waiter came and delivered them their drinks.
Waiter: Here's your order
She puts two cups in front of Kirito and Leafa.
Waiter: Oh, and for our Salamander guest. This is for you, on the house
She said as she places a dog bowl with a bone on the ground and walks away.
Leafa: I'm sorry for that, Akiri. It seems like this place doesn't serve Salamanders. I'll make it up to you somehow
Akiri: Haha... I'm gonna commit mass genocide
Leafa: You can't attack other players while in our territory
Akiri: Who said anything about doing it in game?
Kirito: He's kidding
Akiri: Yeah. Maybe
Leafa: W-well, anyway. Thanks for saving me
Kirito and Leafa toasted.
Kirito: Those guys were pretty aggressive
Akiri: Yeah. Are group PKs like that common here?
Leafa: Salamanders and Sylph don't get along well, to begin with. But an organized PK like that is new. I'm sure they'll start trying to clear the World Tree soon
Kirito: About that. We'd like you to tell us about the World Tree
Leafa: You said something like that before. But why?
Akiri: We want to get up there
Leafa: I think that's true for all players. That's ALO's grand quest
Kirito: What do you mean?
Leafa: You know how you're limited in how high you can go?
Akiri: Yeah. No race can fly continuously for more than ten minutes
Leafa: Correct. But the first race to teach the Floating City atop the World Tree, and hold an audience with the Fairy King Oberon, Will be reborn as an advanced class known as Alfs. And they'll be able to fly as much as they like
Kirito: I see. That does sound nice
Akiri: So how do one get to the top of the World Tree?
Leafa: The base is a big dome. You can reach the Floating City from there. But the NPC guardians that defend the dome are really powerful
Kirito: They're that strong?
Leafa: The game's been around for a full year. Would you believe no one's beaten the quest yet?
Kirito: So it's either they missed a key quest...
Akiri: Or it is set so that one race could not get there by themselves
Leafa: You two have good instincts. Everyone's searching for a missed quest as hard as they can right now. But if it's the latter, no one will ever clear it
Kirito: No one?
Leafa: Because it makes no sense! Why would you help another race with a quest of only one could clear it?
Akiri: It's probably intentional. To keep the game from being completed
Kirito: Then, does that mean it's impossible to reach the top of the World Tree?
Leafa: I think so. But you can't give it up. Not once you see how fun it is to fly. Even if it takes years, someday-
Kirito: That's too long!
Kirito shouted as he slams the table.
Yui: Daddy...?
Akiri: Kirito, calm down
His expression softens and he looks down.
Kirito: I'm sorry... But I need to reach the top of the World Tree as fast as possible
Leafa: Why is it so important?
Kirito: I'm looking for someone...
Leafa: What do you mean?
Kirito: It's not easy to explain...
They then sat in silence for a while, until Kirito spoke up.
Kirito: Thank you, Leafa. That information helped a lot
Kirito and Akiri began to get up from their seat until Leafa grabbed Kirito's arm.
Leafa: Wait. Are you two going to the World Tree?
Kirito: Yes. We need to see for ourselves
Leafa: It's crazy. It's far away, and there are a lot of strong monsters-
Akiri: That won't stop us
Akiri said as he opened the door and the two of them were about to walk out.
Leafa: Then, I'll take you there!
The two of them stopped in their tracks and looked at Leafa shocked. Akiri and Kirito looked at each other and Akiri shook his head.
Kirito: But, we couldn't ask that of someone we just met
Leafa: Do you know how to get there? What about the guardians?
Akiri: We'll think of something. This isn't our first time being in this situation
Leafa: I've already made up my mind!
Kirito let out a defeated sigh.
Kirito: Fine...
Leafa: Good. Can you two log in tomorrow?
Kirito: Y-yeah
Leafa: Then be here at 3 PM. I have to log off now. You can use the rooms upstairs to log out. See you tomorrow
Leafa then opened the menu and went to log out, but Kirito stops her.
Kirito: Wait
She turns to face them.
Kirito: Thank you
Akiri: We really appreciate it
Leafa just nodded and she logged off.
Kirito started to walk towards his room, but Akiri stops him by blocking his path.
Akiri: Aren't you forgetting something?
He asked with his arms crossed.
Kirito: We can't talk about it here
Akiri: So where then?
He thinks for a moment before answering.
Kirito: Meet me at Asuna's room as soon as you log out. You know where it is, right?
Akiri: Of course I do. I'll meet you there
The two of them then got into their rooms and logged out for the day.
As he opens his eyes, it is to a familiar ceiling of his gaming room. As he took off his NerveGear, Alexander coincidentally enters the room.
Alexander: Done for today, sir?
Akiri: Yeah
He replied as he puts his NerveGear aside on the nightstand. He then lifts himself off the bed and got into his wheelchair.
Akiri: Al, we're heading out
Alexander: Of course, sir. Where to?
Akiri: Tokorozawa General Hospital
(Elsewhere)
After logging out, Kazuto quickly went downstairs and rode his bike towards the hospital.
Currently, he is in front of Asuna's hospital room.
He pulled out his keycard and swipes it on the card reader. But to his surprise, nothing happened and the door wasn't unlocked as he expected it to.
Kazuto: (thoughts) What the?
He swipes on it again, but the same thing happened and the door didn't unlock.
Kazuto: Damn it. He must've blocked my card
He then suddenly heard a beeping sound and saw that the door is now unlocked. He turned his head to see that it was Akiri in his wheelchair, holding a keycard.
Kazuto: Akiri?
Akiri: Here
He handed Kazuto his keycard.
Kazuto: You're giving it to me?
Akiri: I could always ask for a new one
Kazuto: Thank you
Akiri: No problem
Both of them went inside Asuna's room. Akiri went towards Asuna's bed to see her.
Kazuto then took a seat on the bed.
Akiri: So, tell me everything. I'm all ears
Kazuto nodded and took a deep breath.
Kazuto: Asuna is going to get married
Akiri: What?! To who?
Kazuto: Nobuyuki Sugou
Akiri: Nobuyuki...
Kazuto: You know him?
Akiri: Yeah. He's the head of RCT's Full-Dive Technology Research Division which is now running the SAO servers
Kazuto nodded before continuing.
Kazuto: He's taking advantage of her still being asleep to marry her
Akiri clenches his fists in anger as he heard that.
Akiri: When is the-
Kazuto: Next week
The two of them fell silent for a while before Akiri spoke up.
Akiri: So that's the situation, huh?
Kazuto: Yeah...
Kazuto said with a sad tone while looking down. Akiri noticed this and placed his hand on his shoulder.
Akiri: Don't worry. We'll get her out
Kazuto: Yeah. You're right. Thank you, Akiri
They both had a determined look on their faces as they both fist bumped.