The days raced by at Norcha as its inhabitants prepared for the upcoming battle. The recruits ran drills to brush up on the skills most had forgotten after the war. The Summoned spent the majority of their time in the swamps leveling up on the local monsters. Meanwhile, the daeben could be seen taking frequent travels down the river with different types of spears. When not traveling, he either cooked for them, practiced his smithery, meditated, or practiced his Kata. Very rarely did he join the summoned in their raids.
At Leila's behest, the camp had split into six teams, each with a clear purpose. The appointed leaders for each group were: Kashi; Leila; Iason; Jero; Paris; with Narkis and Alex sharing the final team. As the days passed by, each man reflected on their lives, muttering prayers to Aerith for guidance and Gera for strength.
On the tenth day, a ship brought with it the news they had been waiting for. Absalon's army had started the march to Riven. The journey would take five days to complete. Absalon would definitely rest his army for a day, which meant a total of six days for their deadline.
On Leila's behest, Kashi called a halt to the training. He instructed each man to spend the remaining days as they saw fit, but be ready on the appointed day. To his surprise, no one left. They chose instead to stay in the fort, practicing, albeit much less than usual.
Leila watched the recruits, impressed by their valor. They might just pull this off...
Adachi Estate Mansion.
4:23 am, Thursday, 7th May 2043
Adachi Ayumi opened her eyes and raised her hand. I'm back here, huh?
Ayumi removed the Virtual Gear and placed it on her bed as she stood up. Yawning, she shuffled over to her bathroom. Several minutes later, she emerged from her room dressed in her school's uniform, the picture of perfection.
Ayumi's family had a thing for traditionalism. As a result, she lived in a vast compound that resembled the Edo period homes, complete with tatamis, sliding doors, and wooden floorboards.
Ayumi brushed her overly long hair over her shoulder as she walked across the tatami to her father's meditation room. Upon reaching the ornately decorated door, she knelt and then knocked on the door.
"Who is it?" her father's voice cold voice called from within.
"Ayumi, father."
"Open."
Ayumi slid the door open, shuffled in, and then bowed to the floor. "Good morning, father."
General Adachi's back was to Ayumi as he too sat on his knees, practicing his excellent calligraphy. "Ayumi." As always, his voice carried no emotion. "I was informed you spent the entire weekend inside that game of yours. I permitted you to indulge because you promised it enriched your archery. You said nothing about wasting your life away in there."
"My apologies, father. I assure you, my archery has significantly improved."
"Hmph. There will be a competition in two weeks. You will be excellent." His words were a statement, but his tone and the subsequent pause suggested otherwise.
"I will not bring shame to the Adachi name."
"Good. You can leave."
"Thank you, father," Ayumi said. She gently exited the room and then slid the door shut. Ayumi then exited the building to the black sedan parked in the driveway. A young man in a black tailor-made suit stood by the door, silk black hair nestled on his shoulders.
"Blessed morning, young mistress," Hayato, her butler greeted as he opened the rear door. "A fine morning, wouldn't you say?"
"I hate Mondays," Adachi muttered as she slid into the seat.
Hayato laughed as he shut the door. "Don't let your father hear you say that. It'll be my neck on the line" He entered the driver's seat and started the vehicle.
Ayumi sighed. She rested her cheeks on her hand as she watched the streets pass by, wondering what thoughts ran through the minds of the people she passed. How many of them lived lives that truly made them happy? A certain boy has once told her he doubted one in ten enjoyed what they did. Then again, he more or less hated humankind, so his opinion might have been biased.
Suddenly, something caught Ayumi's eye at a traffic stop.
Unruly black hair shielding eyes she never saw, those damnable headphones, and a white hoody. She wrought the door open and stepped onto the road for a better look. Unfortunately, he was gone.
"Ojousama!" Hayato yelled as he too exited the vehicle. "It's the middle of the road!" His voice barely registered, but it was enough.
Ayumi looked past the throng of onlookers, then shook her head. "He wouldn't be here," she muttered. Shaking her head, she flashed a smile at the people they had obstructed and then returned to her seat.
"Are you alright?" Hayato asked as he resumed the drive.
"I'm fine," she said with a reassuring smile.
Hayato knew the young woman was lying but decided not to press the issue. They rode the rest of the way in silence until, eventually, the sedan pulled to a stop in front of Shinju High. Hayato stepped down and then opened Ayumi's door.
"Thank you," Ayumi said as she stepped out.
"Uwaaah... Hime is here."
"Look, its the Archery Princess. As cool as ever."
"Maan, what do you think those supple lips taste like?"
"Baka! No one can touch her. Her father will end your parents' lives."
Adachi held her head high, ignoring the coos and whispers. Three girls walked up to her smiling brightly as they took her schoolbag and archery equipment.
Hayato bowed. "See you after practice, Young Mistress."
"Take care," she said, dismissing his services.
"Yuuuuuumiiii-CHAN!"
Adachi ducked as a silhouette, jumped over her, and banged her head against the vehicle. "Are you alright?"
Manami Kawaguchi crouched, nursing the bump on her forehead. "Yumi-chan. You're worried about me?"
"Huh? I wasn't talking to you."Ayumi pointed at Hayato, who had turned pale.
A vein popped on the butler's forehead as he forced a smile. "Nami-kun. Do you know how hard it is to fix a dent? That hairpin of yours also scratched her. You have any idea how much that'll cost? Whose paycheck do you think this will come out from? Besides, do you even know what a paycheck is? Why are you always—"
Nami grabbed Adachi and ran off, leaving the mumbling butler behind. "When he gets like that, he'll go on forever."
Nami set her friend down on her seat and then scoffed at the neverending mumbles of admiration. "Seems your fanbase is as crazy as ever." She turned to the class and spread out her arms. "Hey, gophers! She ain't the only girl in here, you know?" A fedora appeared in her hands as she posed. "How's that, huh? Y'all falling for me yet?"
Graveyard silence.
"Saru."
"It's the monkey."
"Don't know what Hime sees in that monkey."
"It's her beautiful mercy."
The pink-haired chipmunk teared up as she ran to Ayumi. "But I heard Fedoras make anything desirable!"
"Where' did you hear that?" asked the princess.
Nami perked up as she covered her eyes with the hat. "Fedora... Be wanted," she said, in her best sexy man impersonation.
Ayumi suppressed a chuckle. "You fell for that stupid ad? There's no way it'll work in real life."
"W-what? Then the Marigold attractor perfume won't bring me lovers from all dimensions?"
"... I don't think it'll bring anyone lovers in this dimension."
Nami reduced to sand and shuffled over to her seat as the homeroom teacher entered.
After the customary greeting, the teacher turned to Ayumi. "Adachi-san, the school festival is in a few weeks. Have you begun preparations?"
"Yes, thanks to the class' co-operation, we are ahead of schedule."
"Good. I heard you have a competition coming up? Make us proud, Archery Princess."
A shadow crossed the girl's face, but it was sharply replaced by a smile. "Yes. I will try my best."
"We are expecting gold," said Ms. Homuri. "Now then... where were we last week.."
The classes passed by, with each teacher having some task or assignment for Ayumi. Breaks did not exist for her, as even then, she had to assist a teacher in grading some class papers. By the time the final bell rang, Ayumi was exhausted, but she could not show it. Her father absolutely hated weakness.
At the end of the school, Ayumi assisted the student council with some budget problems, then went to the Archery club.
It was full as always, but more than half of the students there had not picked up a bow throughout their stay. Many gathered for the superfluous purpose of catching a glimpse of the princess in action, while others confessed their undying love. Speaking of which, a boy with blond hair and a brilliant smile walked up to her.
The potential suitor seemed to have his own fanbase. The girls with hearts for eyes suggested he was probably some big-shot in school. Unfortunately, Ayumi had no impression of him.
"Hey, Adachi-san. Would you like to go out with me?"
'Why don't you eat dirt fucktard?' is what she would have liked to say. Instead, she smiled warmly as she said, "Sorry, but I'm not looking for a boyfriend right now."
Ayumi attempted to walk past, but the boy grabbed her arm. "Hold on, sweetcheeks. We're the perfect fit. I'm handsome, popular, and rich, and you're you. The people ask for it."
"Uwaah, check it out. Honda-kun is asking Hime out!"
"They look so good together!"
"Ah, will his unrelenting charm pierce through her."
Ayumi ignored the cheers as she struggled to keep a straight face. "Honda-kun. you're hurting me."
"Ah, sorry," he apologized as he loosened his grip. He, however, did not let go. "So, what's your answer?"
Ayumi shook her head. "Like I said I don-"
"You still got the hots for that Mato guy, don't you?" he interrupted.
The air around Ayumi immediately turned chilly. "Who told you that? I could not care less about a quitter."
"Spot on. You'd do well to forget about him. I heard he was taken to jail for shoplifting."
"Pfft." Ayumi couldn't help herself. She burst out laughing, which was rather uncharacteristic of her. Calming herself with a deep breath, she wrenched free of the boy's grasp. "If he was capable of leaving his home and doing something as bothersome as that, I might have actually given him the time of day. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to practice for a competition. Not that you'd know what that is, as the highest level you've had is comparing whose hair has more grease in it."
The icy sting in her voice stopped Honda cold, and he could only watch as she left the scene.
Ayumi, on the other hand, could not wait to be done with practice. Her battle in the virtual world would start once she returned home.
Genaco Secret Compound
Suzuki strolled through the compound, immersed in thought. He paid no heed to the hundreds of people lolling in the streets, chatting amicably about the upcoming siege in the virtual world.
"Hey, Suzuki!"
Suzuki turned around to see Jade riding up to him. She hopped off the bike in-motion and staggered to a stop in front of him. "Hello, Jade. What're you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same," she said as her eyes searched for something. "Where's your bike? Don't tell me you walked all the way here?"
Suzuki raised a brow and took in his surroundings. He really was in an area he did not recognize. "Hmm? Where are we?"
"You've got to be kidding me. Just what were you thinking of? It took four shouts for you to turn around."
Suzuki shrugged. "Stuff. Anyway, you didn't answer the question."
"I guess I should be glad you weren't wearing the headset this time," muttered Jade. "This is the Learning sector. Remember, they showed it to us on the first day?"
"Oh, I knew it looked familiar. I just kinda wound up here. What brings you here, though?"
"Chasing you?"
"Be serious."
"Che. You're no fun. I received a text to meet with James Shouyou. Apparently, he has something he wants to talk with me about."
"Oh? Mind if I tag along?"
Jade teased, "Only if you promise not to start a fight."
Suzuki visibly frowned, appearing very troubled by the condition. "I'll try?"
Jade released a despondent sigh and then patted the young man's shoulder. "I guess that's about as much as I can expect from you. All right, you can come. But if you embarrass me in there, I'll shave you bald. Got it?"
Suzuki nodded as he matched his stride to hers.
Learning Sector
Building 3
Level 4
The learning sector was comprised of everything anyone in any field would need to further their education. From dojos to state-of-the-art laboratories and several libraries. The floor they entered was dedicated to the sciences of computers. Jade knocked on a door, and a familiar voice called for them to enter.
They walked into the room to see James Shouyou sitting with a host of screens in front of him. "Hello, Yuhi-san. Nice to meet you."
Jade cut right to the chase. "You know, don't you? About my hacking?"
James sighed. "Don't know what's up with your generation. Everyone's in a hurry. Yes, I do know."
Jade looked around the room, but she couldn't make out any hiding places for goons to hide in. "What do you want?"
"Me? I want everyone to have fun and get along. No, this is about you. I'm going to help you find who you're looking for."
A glimmer of hope appeared in Jade's eyes. "You know where he is? Take me to him, please."
James folded his arms as his expression turned deadpan. "Do you know have any idea how dangerous what you've done is? In your search for your grandfather, you may have alerted the enemy to us, and placed him in danger."
Jade's heart shook in fright. "Wh- what are you talking about? What enemies? He said he was conducting research that would save humanity."
"He is doing exactly that, but what saves can just as easily destroy. You might not be aware, but there who seek to claim his research for themselves. You did well coming this far, but I do not recommend any further action on your part. When the time is right, you will meet him."
"B-but you said you'd help me meet him."
"I will. In du-."
"Don't fuck around!" Suzuki butted in, slamming his fist on the wall. "If she wants to see her grandfather, then take her to him."
James smiled at the irate young man. "What's this? You're actually caring for someone other than yourself? It seems the Adachi girl really did do a number on you."
"Don't change the subject."
James looked from him to Jade and then sighed. "Listen, if you meet him, then you forfeit your old life. His project is above top-secret. You won't be allowed to leave once you learn what it is."
Jade nodded. "I prepared myself for that much."
"Fine. He will be glad to see you too. Talks a lot about you." James then turned to the glaring teen. "From the looks of it, you want to come too?"
"Technically, I have no life outside this compound to give up," Suzuki said. "If it'll help me know what we're really doing here, then why not."
James stood up. "Then follow me. Remember, though: you can not tell anyone what you see there..."
Later that night, Suzuki fell onto his bed and then buried his face in his pillow. "I don't believe it." He struggled to process what he had just witnessed but ended up even more confused. All he knew for sure was that the world was more messed up than he initially thought.
At thestroke of midnight, all thoughts on the past day vanished as he entered thevirtual drive. Suzuki would deal with Suzuki's problems. Kashi had more thanenough to deal with already...
Riven Plains
9th Maha, 1092.
Birds took to the sky, animals fled, and the earth trembled as a procession of heavily armored soldiers, flying Kerta's flag broke out of the surrounding forests. They came to a sharp halt, and Absalon rode out in front of them on a blood-red armored warhorse.
Absalon looked to the sky, which had begun to darken with sporadic flashes of lightning off in the distance. Then at Riven's massive wall with archer's lined up all around it. "And so it begins..."
Absalon's words though soft, raised an uproar as the soldiers raised their swords high in the air.