Skyward Blade

Chapter 6

The day had started like any other, but now, as the morning light filtered through the window of my room, everything felt heavier-more real. I fastened the last strap on my coat, the sleek black fabric hugging my frame with familiar snugness. Silver-grey accents lined the edges, adding that sharp, futuristic edge that had become a part of my identity here at the Academy. The high collar brushed against my neck, the coat flaring just slightly near the bottom, giving it that cape-like appearance.

I adjusted the fingerless gloves that were worn more out of practicality than style and glanced at my reflection. The black, tight-fitting outfit underneath the coat was built for speed and precision-qualities I was going to need down there. The reinforced boots, solid and sturdy, were ready for whatever terrain waited below the clouds.

It had only been a day since everything changed. The gliding competition, the victory, and then the fall-Asuna slipping from my grasp, vanishing beyond the clouds. The sight of her fingers just out of reach haunted me, her scream still echoing in my mind.

Now, my mission was clear. Bring her back. Whatever it took.

I strapped on the black sword that was given to me by the headmaster and the weakened version of Excalibur-the sword that had been whispered about in ancient texts but was still far from reaching its true potential. As I stood, a slight unease settled in my chest. The headmaster's words from last night echoed in my mind: "So the stories were true."

I stepped out of my room and made my way through the Academy's halls, nodding to the few who crossed my path. The atmosphere was tense-everyone knew the gravity of what I was about to do. This wasn't a training exercise. This was life or death.

At the entrance, the headmaster and my instructor stood waiting for me, their expressions grave. The headmaster stepped forward, his eyes locking onto mine.

"Kirito, you've always had the talent, but now it's time to prove your strength. You know what's at stake. Bring her back."

"I will," I said firmly, and even as I spoke, I felt the weight of the responsibility settle deeper into my bones.

My instructor gave me a firm nod. "Be careful out there. The surface is nothing like the sky."

I turned to face the horizon, adjusting my wing glider. The sky stretched endlessly ahead, the clouds below obscuring whatever lay beneath. I took a deep breath, spreading the glider's wings wide. The wind caught them, lifting me into the air as I soared off the platform, descending toward the unknown.

The stories we'd heard our whole lives about the surface had always painted it as a wasteland-a chaotic and dangerous place where nothing could thrive. But as I broke through the clouds, what I saw was nothing like I had imagined.

It was breathtaking.

Snow-capped mountains in the distance, lush forests, rivers winding their way through valleys, and ancient ruins scattered across the land, remnants of a time long forgotten. The surface was alive, full of beauty and danger alike, and as I glided closer, I realized just how little we truly knew about it.

I banked left, letting the wind guide me toward an old, overgrown path that seemed to lead toward an ancient structure-something resembling a temple. The ruins rose from the earth, partially hidden by the forest's growth, but unmistakably ancient. This was where I needed to go.

I landed softly, my boots hitting the ground with a muted thud as I folded the glider's wings behind me. The air was still, almost too quiet. I began walking along the path, the weight of Excalibur against my side, a constant reminder of what lay ahead.

As I walked, my thoughts drifted to Asuna. Was she somewhere out here, trapped or worse? The fear gnawed at me, but I forced it down. I had to stay focused. There was no room for doubt.