As the first rays of dawn filtered through the narrow streets of the Holy City of Lindwurm, Kirito strolled in solitude, his figure shrouded in a black hoodie. His steps were quiet against the cobblestone pavement, his gaze curious as he took in the ancient architecture and the serene atmosphere of the city awakening. Shadows danced around him, mingling with the gentle morning light, as he wandered through the labyrinthine alleys.
"The ambience here is vastly different from Midgar's capital," Kirito remarked, his voice barely above a whisper as he observed the cityscape.
As he continued, a voice interrupted his thoughts. "This city is also known as The Sacred Land," a girl said, her tone carrying a hint of reverence. "Its history runs deep, intertwining with legends and lore."
Turning to the source of the voice, Kirito met the gaze of Alexia, who had been waiting for him.
Alexia looked at him with a hint of annoyance, her eyebrows furrowing slightly. "You're late," she stated firmly, her tone carrying a hint of reprimand.
Kirito blinked in surprise. "But it was just one minute," he protested, trying to defend himself.
With a stern glare, Alexia retorted, "Still late! And let me remind you, I'm not your average princess who twiddles her thumbs waiting patiently for someone!"
Kirito scratched his head sheepishly, realizing he had underestimated Alexia's punctuality standards. "Note to self: never keep Princess Alexia waiting, even for a nanosecond," he muttered to himself, earning a raised eyebrow from the princess.
Later on...
As Kirito and Alexia walked through the streets of Lindwurm, the princess took the lead, her steps purposeful and confident. She pointed out landmarks and historical sites, her voice filled with passion as she recounted tales of ancient battles and legendary heroes.
After purchasing a couple of crepes, they continued their walk, nibbling on the sweet treats.
"Wow, these crepes are so delicious," Alexia exclaimed between bites, a satisfied smile gracing her lips.
Kirito, with a mischievous glint in his eyes, looked at Alexia and pointed at his mouth with one finger. "Alexia," he said, a playful smirk forming on his face.
Alexia glanced at him, momentarily puzzled before her cheeks flushed crimson. "H-How indecent of you to wish to kiss me like that!" she exclaimed, flustered.
Kirito's eyes widened in embarrassment, realizing his unintended implication. "N-No, that's not what I meant!" he stammered, cheeks turning red as he backpedalled. "I was just trying to tell you that you got some on your lips!"
Alexia's embarrassment turned into a mixture of relief and annoyance as she wiped her mouth hastily, still blushing furiously. "W-Well, next time, be more clear!" she huffed, trying to regain her composure.
As they continued their stroll through the picturesque streets of Lindwurm, an unexpected silence settled between Kirito and Alexia. Each lost in their own thoughts, they walked side by side, the only sound being the soft shuffle of their footsteps against the cobblestones.
While Alexia appreciated Kirito's enjoyment of the city, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss.
Watching Kirito's carefree demeanour, Alexia couldn't help but sigh inwardly. She had been so eager to spend time with him that she hadn't fully planned their day together. Now, as they walked in silence, she realized she had exhausted her ideas too quickly.
With a hint of frustration, Alexia mentally scolded herself. (Oh, Alexia, you rushed into this without a proper plan,) she chided herself softly, casting a sideways glance at Kirito, who remained oblivious to her inner turmoil.
Feeling a mix of determination and embarrassment, Alexia resolved to make the most of their time together, even if it meant improvising along the way. As they turned a corner onto a bustling street filled with quaint shops, Alexia mustered up her courage and spoke up, determined to break the silence and salvage their day.
"Hey, Kirito," she said, mustering up a bright smile, "how about we explore these shops? Maybe we'll find something interesting!"
Kirito turned to her, his eyes lighting up with enthusiasm. "That sounds like a great idea, Alexia!" he exclaimed.
As Kirito and Alexia browsed through the assortment of accessories in one of the quaint shops, Alexia's eyes widened in surprise as she spotted Rose and Cid strolling by, seemingly lost in their own world.
She couldn't help but notice Rose's rather bold display of affection, clinging to Cid's arm like a koala to a tree, her gaze filled with adoration as she looked up at him.
Alexia couldn't help but feel a pang of annoyance mixed with disbelief. (Is that girl either way too dumb or just bold as hell?) she thought, her eyebrows furrowing in a mixture of frustration and amusement.
*Flashback*
As Alexia and Rose sat sipping tea, Rose suddenly blurted out, "So, do you like Kirito Kuroha?"
Startled, Alexia choked on her tea, spilling it everywhere. "W-What? No way! I-I don't know what you're talking about!" she sputtered, cheeks flushing.
Rose leaned in, her eyes sparkling. "Oh, come on, Alexia. It's obvious! You totally have a crush on him!"
Alexia huffed, trying to play it cool. "Ridiculous! He is just my mentor."
Before Rose could respond, Alexia quickly changed the subject, but not before noticing the mischievous twinkle in Rose's eyes.
Then, to Alexia's surprise, Rose confessed, "Well, I've been feeling something for someone lately too."
Alexia raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? Who's the lucky guy?"
With a dreamy sigh, Rose replied, "It's like fate, Alexia. I'll do whatever it takes to make it happen."
Alexia couldn't help but roll her eyes at Rose's dramatic declaration, secretly wondering what kind of trouble her friend was getting herself into.
*Flashback end*
As Alexia watched Rose and Cid stroll by, her mind whirled with conflicting thoughts. She couldn't deny the pang of envy that surged within her as she witnessed Rose's unabashed display of affection. It was bold, perhaps too bold for Alexia's reserved nature. Yet, a part of her couldn't help but wonder if maybe she should take a page from Rose's book and show Kirito how she truly felt.
But as quickly as the thought entered her mind, Alexia dismissed it with a shake of her head. "No, that's not me," she murmured to herself, a faint blush dusting her cheeks. "I can't just... cling to him like that."
She recalled the time when she had pretended to be Kirito's girlfriend during a mission, how easy it had been to act the part, to hold his arm with a sense of purpose. But this... this was different. This was real, and the thought of exposing her true feelings filled her with a mixture of excitement and apprehension.
Just as Alexia was lost in her internal debate, Kirito's voice broke through her thoughts, drawing her attention to the shops ahead. She blinked, momentarily surprised by the sudden shift in focus.
"Hey, Alexia, those shops look interesting. Want to check them out?" Kirito suggested, his eyes gleaming with curiosity.
Before Alexia could respond, a surge of determination coursed through her, and without hesitation, she found herself intertwining her arm with Kirito's, a bold move she never thought she'd make.
Kirito turned to her, surprise evident in his expression, but before he could say anything, Alexia flashed him a bright smile, her cheeks tinted pink.
"Sure, let's go," she said, her voice filled with newfound confidence.
As they walked side by side, Alexia couldn't help but feel a flutter of excitement in her chest. Maybe, being a little bold wasn't such a bad thing after all. And as Kirito's arm tightened around hers in response, Alexia couldn't help but feel a surge of warmth spread through her, banishing any lingering doubts. Today was going to be a good day.
The next morning...
As the first light of dawn kissed the sky, Kirito found himself indulging in the luxury of a hot spring. With steam swirling around him, he meticulously scrubbed his body, enjoying the sensation of warm water cascading over his skin.
"Mmm, this little vacation is just what I needed," Kirito murmured to himself, relishing the tranquillity of the moment.
With a leisurely pace, Kirito made his way towards the inviting waters of the hot spring, eager to soak away any lingering tension. As he approached, he couldn't help but hope that he'd have the place all to himself, relishing the prospect of some peaceful solitude.
But just as he was about to step into the welcoming embrace of the steamy water, a sudden projectile whizzed past his head, narrowly missing him.
"Holy—!" Kirito exclaimed. He turned to see a bucket crashing into the rocks behind him, its water splashing harmlessly onto the ground.
As Kirito turned to look at Alexia, he froze in disbelief. There she was, attempting to hide behind a measly towel, her face a vibrant shade of crimson that could rival a ripe tomato. Her eyes widened in mortification as she realized Kirito's gaze was fixed on her, and she let out a squeak of embarrassment.
"Alexia, I—!" Kirito began, his voice trailing off as Alexia's frantic shout interrupted him.
"Don't you dare look at me, you naked pervert!" Alexia shrieked, her voice echoing through the tranquil surroundings.
Kirito's cheeks flushed a deep shade of red as he stumbled over his words, frantically trying to explain himself. "I-I'm not naked! I mean, I have a towel, see?" he stammered, pointing awkwardly at the towel hastily draped around his lower body.
But before he could fully articulate his defence, Alexia's expression hardened, and with a swift motion, she hurled another bucket in his direction.
"That doesn't justify anything!" she declared, her tone laced with frustration.
Kirito winced as the bucket sailed past him, narrowly missing his head once again. "Okay, okay, I'm sorry!" he exclaimed, raising his hands in surrender. "I promise I wasn't trying to peek or anything!"
As Kirito turned away, giving Alexia the privacy she desperately sought, he felt a pang of guilt gnawing at him. "I'll just leave you alone, Alexia," he mumbled, taking a step back.
But just as he was about to turn and leave, a small, hesitant voice called out to him from behind. "Wait..."
Kirito froze, his heart skipping a beat as he turned back to face Alexia, who was still clutching the towel tightly around her. Her cheeks were still flushed with embarrassment, but there was a hint of vulnerability in her eyes that tugged at Kirito's heartstrings.
Kirito stopped in his tracks, his expression earnest as he faced Alexia. "Alexia, I'm truly sorry for intruding on your privacy. I'll accept any punishment you wish to impose on me," he said sincerely, his eyes reflecting genuine remorse.
Alexia's cheeks still tinged with embarrassment, but she softened at Kirito's words. In a low, embarrassed voice, she replied, "Well... then you can stay with me."
Kirito blinked in confusion, his brows furrowing slightly. "Wait, Alexia, are you... playing with me?" he asked, his tone laced with uncertainty.
But before Alexia could respond, she took a deep breath and waded into the water, her cheeks still flushed with embarrassment. She tried to hide her discomfort behind a facade of nonchalance as she turned to Kirito and said, "Well, since you're already here, you might as well join me."
With a slight pout, Alexia crossed her arms over her chest and fixed Kirito with a determined glare. "And don't you dare try anything funny, mister! One wrong move, and you're as good as dead!"
Kirito's eyes widened in surprise at Alexia's threat, and he quickly raised his hands in surrender. "I promise, Alexia, I won't even think about it!" he exclaimed, trying to reassure her while feeling cornered.
As he entered the hot spring, Kirito made sure to keep a respectful distance from Alexia, not wanting to make her any more uncomfortable than she already seemed. He settled into the warm water, trying his best to keep his gaze averted and his movements subdued.
Despite the initial awkwardness, a sense of awkward silence settled over them as they soaked in the soothing waters.
As Alexia soaked in the hot spring, she couldn't shake off the awkwardness of the situation.
Feeling a surge of determination, Alexia decided to break the tension. "Kirito," she began, her voice hesitant, "do you... want to participate in the Goddess's Trial?"
Kirito lay back on the smooth rock behind him and gazed up at the sky, the warmth of the hot spring enveloping him. "Honestly, the Goddess's Trial sounds like too much of a hassle for me," he admitted with a sigh, his tone tinged with reluctance.
Alexia's expression fell, disappointment evident in her eyes. "Oh..." she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. She had been hoping Kirito would agree to join her in the trial, eager to see if he was as powerful as she believed him to truly be.
Kirito chuckled softly, a playful glint in his eyes. "Well, if I were to participate, I bet I could just summon some kind of weird spirit," he teased, a smirk playing on his lips.
But Alexia wasn't convinced. She knew Kirito well enough to understand that his powers were far greater than he tried to let on.
"If you did that, I hope you summon some kind of death reaper to give you a run for your money!" Alexia exclaimed with a mischievous grin, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
Kirito chuckled nervously, a bead of sweat forming on his forehead. "Uh, that's... kinda harsh, don't you think?" he replied, a hint of unease in his voice.
"Hey, I'm just saying, it would be a fair fight!" Alexia retorted, her tone teasing yet determined.
Suddenly, Alexia's expression turned serious. "Speaking of death," she began, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, "I initially came to this city to investigate some dark rumours surrounding..."
As Alexia began to delve into the serious matter at hand, Kirito's mind drifted off into a dizzying whirlwind of thoughts. "Is that so," he murmured absentmindedly, his gaze unfocused as he stared off into the distance.
But Alexia, sensing Kirito's lack of attention, furrowed her brows in frustration. "I'm not playing around here, Kirito," she insisted, turning to look at him with determination etched on her face.
However, her expression quickly morphed into one of shock as she noticed Kirito's peculiar behaviour. There he was, with his eyes covered by a wet towel, and his arms folded across his chest in a rather bizarre attempt to prevent himself from inadvertently looking at her.
Alexia couldn't help but burst into laughter at the sight, her amusement evident as she shook her head in disbelief. "Kirito, what on earth are you doing?" she exclaimed between giggles, struggling to contain her mirth.
Kirito, with the towel draped over his eyes like a makeshift blindfold, attempted to explain himself through stifled laughter. "I'm, uh, practising... meditation!" he declared, his voice muffled by the fabric.
Alexia couldn't contain her laughter any longer, doubling over with amusement as she watched Kirito's futile attempt at maintaining his composure. "Oh, Kirito, you never fail to surprise me with your unique methods of respect," she managed to say between giggles.
Wiping away tears of laughter from her eyes, Alexia smirked mischievously at Kirito. "It's quite rare to see the mighty Kirito rendered so helpless by the mere presence of a woman," she teased, her tone dripping with amusement.
Kirito, feeling utterly embarrassed by the situation, removed the towel from his eyes and tried to salvage some semblance of dignity. "Hey, it's not like that! I just... didn't want to make you uncomfortable," he protested weakly, his cheeks flushing crimson.
As Kirito emerged from his makeshift meditation cocoon, he couldn't help but notice Alexia's proximity, her face adorned with a seductive smirk that sent a shiver down his spine.
"Um, Alexia, you're... pretty close," Kirito stammered, his cheeks burning with embarrassment. "And you seem... way too comfortable with this situation."
But before he could finish his sentence, Alexia interrupted him with a playful twinkle in her eye, the towel still strategically covering her body. "Oh, Kirito, it seems like you're the one who's more uncomfortable now," she teased, her tone dripping with amusement.
Kirito squirmed under her playful gaze, desperately trying to regain his composure. "I-I'm not uncomfortable! I'm just... um... adjusting," he mumbled, his words coming out in a jumbled mess.
But before Kirito could gather his thoughts, Alexia leaned in closer, her smirk growing even wider. "Well, if you're feeling uncomfortable, Kirito, maybe it's my turn to make you comfortable," she teased.
Kirito's eyes widened in alarm as he struggled to process Alexia's words. "W-What are you doing, Alexia?" he asked, his voice tinged with a mix of confusion and apprehension.
As Kirito and Alexia found themselves in an increasingly awkward yet strangely intimate situation, with Kirito's cheeks rivalling the colour of the hot spring, suddenly, the tranquillity was shattered by a booming voice.
"Hot spring here we go!" Cid announced, bursting through the door with all the subtlety of a stampeding behemoth.
The serene atmosphere evaporated faster than water on a hot skillet as Cid's eyes landed on Kirito and Alexia, who were now practically nose to nose, their faces frozen in a mixture of shock and embarrassment.
Cid's eyes widened in exaggerated shock as he took in the scene before him. With a theatrical flourish, he raised one eyebrow and quipped, "Well, well, well! Looks like I interrupted something steamy!
Don't mind me, folks, I'll just... ahem... leave you two to your... research."
With that, Cid swiftly closed the door behind him, the sound echoing through the hot spring area like a comedic drumbeat. Kirito and Alexia exchanged mortified glances, their cheeks burning brighter than the hot spring itself, as they sank deeper into the water in a futile attempt to hide their embarrassment.
Alexia, feeling a surge of frustration, exclaimed, "I demand one million gold coins as compensation for this embarrassment!"
Then, with a determined glint in her eye, she declared, "And I'll put a bounty on Cid Kageno's head for barging in on us like that!"
But before Alexia could unleash her wrath upon poor Cid, Kirito, sensing the impending chaos, quickly intervened. "Whoa, whoa, Alexia, let's not get ahead of ourselves here," he pleaded.
Later on that day...
Kirito let out a heavy sigh, the weight of the day's events pressing down on him like a leaden cloak. "This... this wasn't quite what I had in mind when I said I wanted new experiences," he murmured to himself, his voice tinged with frustration.
As if in response to his lament, a melodic chuckle floated through the air, causing Kirito to turn in surprise. There, standing before him, was a woman whose ethereal presence seemed to radiate a sense of tranquillity amidst the chaos.
"It seems even the Sacred Land can't keep you at peace, Kirito," the woman remarked, her voice as soothing as a gentle breeze.
Kirito's eyes widened in recognition as he gazed upon the woman's serene visage. "Alpha?!" he whispered incredulously, disbelief colouring his tone.
The woman smiled gracefully, her golden hair dancing in the air like strands of spun silk. "Fancy meeting you here, Kirito Kuroha," she said, her voice tinged with amusement.
A Failed Wingman:
Cid, feeling like the ultimate failed wingman, realized he unwittingly crashed what he thought was Kirito's epic side quest to lose his V-card. Oops, wrong quest line!
A Bit More Complicated:
Alexia didn't pull her usual antics with Kirito in the hot spring like she did with Cid in the anime because she sees Kirito as a more mature and flawless guy. It's like trying to dance gracefully in front of a seasoned ballerina—you're too busy worrying about tripping over your own feet to actually bust out your moves.