love conquers all | kirisuna

Chapter XII - Recollection of the Past

It was night time, but the quiet forest was interrupted by the sound of two running horses.

"Eugeo, you take Alice and Asuna. Inform Diavel of the situation. Make sure everyone is safe," Kazuto said as their pace slowed down. The village lights were already visible from where they were.

Suddenly, he felt the small hands around his waist tighten the grip on his clothes.

"Is everything okay, Asuna?" he asked, turning to see the person behind him.

"You're about to do something reckless again, aren't you?" came her firm reply. Asuna wasn't looking back at him but had tilted her head downwards, balling her hands.

"No, I'm not," he said with an unconvincing chuckle. "It's gonna be fine, I promise."

"What if it won't? What if something happens to you again? Kazuto, you're injured. You should take Eugeo, or Alice, or me, anyone with you!"

"Asuna," Kazuto let out a sigh before adjusting his position to face her, bringing his hand to touch her cheek and lifting her face to lock her eyes with his own. "Listen, you have to trust me."

Though the bad feeling still lingered inside her, Asuna reluctantly nodded. Kazuto then helped Asuna get down before he shared a look with Eugeo and watched the three of them head closer towards the village.

Kazuto had to divert the guards' attention while remaining hidden so that the three could use the commotion to sneak into the village.

Now successfully in, Asuna led them straight to the hall where they found Diavel, the village chief.

Asuna took off the hood covering her face before approaching Diavel. Frankly speaking, the chief himself was surprised to see her again.

"Y-You're...a-alive?!" he exclaimed.

Asuna smiled at him and nodded. "I am safe, as well as Kazuto. But there's no need to fill in the details regarding that. There's something more important we need to tell you."

Diavel was perplexed, then he turned his attention to Eugeo who stepped closer to him.

"Chief Diavel, I am Eugeo, the Knight of Aincrad's crown prince, Kazuto. We are in a state of emergency. We need to evacuate everyone to a safe place." Eugeo said in a serious, calm voice.

"K-Kazuto?! The prince?!" Diavel cried.

Eugeo didn't waste time on Kazuto's real identity. "We're running out of time."

"Before I came here, Lord Raios reassured us that we are definitely safe. What is going on now?" Asked the dumbfounded chief.

"Unfortunately, things have gotten out of hand. He unknowingly led Illfang towards the village. Everyone is endangered."

The chief gritted his teeth in irritation. "W-what?! It can't be, we have to fight!"

Alice, who was standing quietly behind Eugeo the whole time, lost her patience and decided to step in.

"It's not just a beast." Alice was looking down, her bangs covering her eyes as she grabbed onto the chief's arm. Then, she looked up to him, and her narrowed sapphire eyes glared sharply at Diavel. "Evacuate everyone, or expect them to be dead by sunrise."

Taken by surprise by the forward yet factual words, Diavel stepped backward. Realizing the risk, he decided to remain silent, still hesitant whether to believe these strangers. He took a glimpse at Asuna who was behind them, expecting her to make a statement, only to receive a strong, authoritative glare from her that made him feel like he was looking at someone who was to be revered like royalty.