Unital Ring II: The Virtual Study Society

My Past In Her

Whether it is a part of me avoiding Central Cathedral unconsciously, curiosity about my life as the Crimson Emperor, curiosity in what I passed down to Slyvie, or some combination of the three, I convinced myself it was time to return to Obsidia. Unfortunately, I had to convince myself that I must avoid Eydis - or, more importantly, not to cause Eydis any trouble besides taking the Chaos Drake.

After my decree, Eolyne placed a call somewhere and sent Alice, Asuna, and Kureha to change into something besides the armor and clothes they wear. Alice's knightly armor and Asuna's heavenly armor would stand out, but not Kureha's. However, she wanted to dress up as well, an unusual showcase of her girly side, and they all came back wearing the standard issue Integrity Pilot uniforms. I'll admit they all look cute in the navy uniform and cap. It wasn't too strange to see Alice and Asuna in a navy uniform anyway, I've seen them in their school uniforms, but I had to will myself not to laugh at seeing Kureha in anything other than pink and white.

Kirito and I kept our clothes on, for we wouldn't stand out much. If anything, I'd look like some stuffy noble in my tunic and sword, but nothing Eolyne hasn't seen.

Despite being told that the mansion was safe enough to leave her prized armor within, Alice was not leaving the dragon eggs of Amayori and Takiguri in her belt pack behind. Before his fight with Subtilzer, Kirito reverted the sibling dragons of Alice and Eldrie Synthesis Thirty-One to a pre-hatched with Incarnation. I know Alice is eager to have them hatched, but she can't be in the Underworld at all times, and the only person I know who has experience raising dragons and that Alice could trust to leave them with is thousand of miles away. I could take them to Eydis, but that's Alice's choice, and I am avoiding Eydis for the time being.

We make our way out of the spooky mansion to the equally eerie woods and are greeted by two cheery voices belonging to two of three sets of heels snapping into place. "We've come with your ride!" The words come simultaneously from two girls in the Pilothood's uniforms, Stica Schtrinen and Laurannei Arabel. In the center is a silent boy their age saluting alongside them, Mathias Orthinanos.

"Huh?" Kirito yelps in surprise. "I assumed you were doing your real jobs today."

"They ought to be," Eolyne remarks with a sigh. "At their young ages, they're the aces of the Blue Rose Company. Ordinarily, they're as busy barracudas, between training new operators and testing experimental dragoncraft; they shouldn't be acting as chauffeurs, but they insisted, so..."

"Blue Rose Company," I murmur to myself. That's the name of Eugeo's Sword, but also that means the divisions of the Integrity Pilots were named after flowers. I believe Operator Second Class Elgia said she was part of Cattleya Company. Besides the company's naming, I feel weirded out as I glance at Mathias. No "Lycoris Company," huh?

"Lady Alice, Lady Asuna, Sir Kirito, and Sir Jaymes, it's so good to see you!"

"I'm so happy we got the chance to meet again!" Stica and Laurannei approach us excitedly. They hug Alice and Asuna and shake hands with Kirito and me. Before I could even introduce Kureha, they got all giddy and shook her hand too. Turns out Cordelia told her brother about our previous visit in detail, so they had already heard of Kureha.

In the meantime, I parted from them and walked over to Mathias, who strode to the second vehicle he must've driven. "Not eager for a meet and greet like they are?"

"I'm happy to see you all, but as the elder of the trio, I have to keep some reservations." He smirks and glances at the girls. Laurannei struggles to hold the brown leather bag of Kirito, Alice, and Asuna's swords, which were heavy for Kirito, Asuna, and Alice by the overall weight-heavy for Laurannei because of the high priority levels of each blade. However, Laurannei barely manages to keep the bag from touching the ground alone, and with Stica's help, they strained themselves to carry the bag over to the first vehicle.