Buried of the Remembrance || SAO Fanfic ||

Chapter sixteen: The goddess and golden knight

Asuna's POV

Looking around on the 95th floor, I felt relaxed. Just a moment of peace. It had the white pillars. A quarts like table on the center with four chairs, they look like gold. All around of the furniture is flowers and a fountain on the wall. The balcony had an open view of the skies, although it is too high up to see the ground. I heard someone walking up the stairs and I turned around to see Alice. "Oh, it's you." She said, Alice sounds like she is exhausted even though it is morning still.

"Yeahhh, it's me. You didn't expect anyone else to be up here, am I right?" I asked as Alice walks to the chair and sits down. "Half right." She answered and she just seem so lost. Maybe I should try to help her and to see what's going on.

"Alice, is it about Eugeo?" I asked and she looked up at me surprised. "How did you-" I interrupted her with my reason. "Well after you slapped Eugeo, your face shows guilt. I seen that a lot with Kirito when he does something so dangerous.." I answered her question then approached to the golden seat across from her, pulling it out and sat down.  ".... Besides Eugeo, you didn't answer my question when we met you." I blinked. I don't remember her asking any questions.

Oh wait, she did. "About Kirito and I being outlanders?" I ask and Alice nodded. She started explaining that a pontifex named Quinella or known as administrator tried to take over the realm by having love as the number one reason to rule over others.

I am disgusted by Quinella's motive. Why would she want to "rule" over the realm with just love? From what I am hearing, she is a usurper. "Then Alice, how did the other knights like yourself are here? Shouldn't you be down there with the other civilians?" I ask as Alice look down, dropping eye contact with me.

"From what Eugeo has told me. We were people who broke the taboo index. We were suppose to be used as puppets to loose the memory usage from Quinella herself. That's why she always sleeps on the 100 floor to try not to make her memory storage go over the limit." Is it related to the system in this world? How did an underworlder such as Quinella manage to get admin powers that is only accessible in the real world?

"Then, how about Kirito-Kun? What happen to him?" Alice inhaled and exhaled, her hand twitched a bit. Is she afraid to tell the truth?..

"Alice, you can tell me. Whatever Kirito-Kun did, I know it's a good reason.." I reassured her as Alice looked up at me, her eyes were beginning flow into tears. "Kirito had no choice but to be an intergity knight to save Eugeo. Eugeo was injured critically in battle, he was bisected in half and is bleeding out. I don't remember anything that happened since I got knocked out by one of Quinella's attacks." My eyes widen in shock, disbelief even fear. Did Kirito sacrificed himself to save someone? Is Eugeo that special?..

"But knowing Quinella's behavior. She must've watched Eugeo and Kirito and enjoyed every single one of it of kirito begging Eugeo to stay alive.." My fist slowly clutches as Alice continued to explain about Quinella. "... What happened after that?" I asked trying to hold my emotions of anger in my voice.

"I woke up, Eugeo was fully healed and Kirito was just standing there. Emotionless, his eyes were empty. There was no sign of life in him. Quinella ordered me to leave with Eugeo. What's more suspicious that I argued back but Kirito didn't bother responding, he stood there while Quinella decided to taunt me of petting Kirito's hair."  How long can I keep my anger compressed?

I want to just burst my rage onto Quinella. Quinella is a hopeless and cruel. I just want to trap her in hell and make her suffer of the sins she caused. But I don't want to yell at Alice. She already has a lot in her mind.

"Quinella knew the moment she saw Kirito that he isn't from this world. Eugeo is in disbelief as he started to wonder that Kirito's home is beyond the skies in this realm. There was doubt but Kirito's face looked like he's desperate for us to trust him. That is why I wanted to ask you about you and him being outlanders." I stood out of my seat with my head lowered and my hands laying on the quarts table. Alice looked at me and is concerned about the sudden movement.

"Alice, I'm going to ask you a question. Please be honest with me." I ask as my voice seems to be hesitant. Shaky, trying to contain my anger without bursting out. "Where is she?" Alice continued making eye contact with me. Her blue eyes reflecting my image of just anger in my eyes.

"She is dead, Lady Asuna." She answered as I sat back down. I felt a little calm after hearing that response. "Well, my explanation may be shocking. You can tell Eugeo about it too if you want." I warn her that it may be shocking for her. "It's alright. I can handle the truth." She said as I sigh in relief.

I begin explaining to Alice about the outside world, it is like this one but more modern with technology. I also added that Kirito's sword techniques were from a game called sword art online. Reminiscing the 4 years of spending time with Kirito, hanging out with Sinon, Silica, Leafa, Lisbeth, Klein and Agil especially Yui.

I was on the part of explaining this world's existence and Alice. It is to make an artificial intelligence with a mind of its own and was intended to be beneficial for government reasons. Alice eyes widen in disbelief. "How about everyone else here? Can they get to go into the real world too?" Alice ask and I shrugged. "I don't know. All they said is they want to try and get you first. They can try to experiment on the others if you are a success.." I answered.

"I see. It is shocking to believe your world is magnificent compared to ours.. Especially your speaking of "modern" and game and uh, what did Eugeo say sometimes?" Alice had her finger on her lip, trying to think.

"Stay cool." She said as I chuckle a bit. "That's Kirito's response. It's a bit cheesy but I never knew it is that special to his friend." I said and smiled at Alice. We continued to speak about Kirito-Kun and Eugeo like a girl's day of hanging out with each other. I miss the others on the other side, it makes me wonder how they are doing.

Thinking about the others back home keeps reminding me that what if I can't revive Kirito? What if he's dead?..

What if I can't save him?...

Author note: •^• Yep an Alice and Asuna bonding session. We'll focus more on Kirito and Eugeo on the next chapter with Asuna included. Before you ask, the chapter where Fanatio asked Aira and the other knights to "infiltrate" Quinella's room. That plan will be held soon. :3 Stay cool! - scarlet

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