Sword Art Online-Encroaching Shadows

Chapter 9

December 3rd 2022

The science behind how the Nerve Gear work was a mystery to Jayce. Virtual reality was not a new concept and in fact had evolved rapidly over the last ten to fifteen years. This announcement of a brain interface device like the Nerve Gear was beyond expectation. Full immersion within a virtual environment that allowed a complete sensory experience was what it offered. On that level it most assuredly delivered and exceeded all expectation. If only the entirety of the ten thousand users weren't being held hostage.

Jayce took another bite of the bread he was served on the ground floor of the small inn. The fact that it tasted exactly like a loaf of fresh baked bread was what made him start wondering about the Nerve Gear and just how it functioned. Not only the taste, but the texture while chewing it was completely identical to the real world. It made him wonder what else might exist in the game as far as food was concerned. He dared to hope that he would come across a hamburger at least once.

The creaking of wood made him look towards the staircase noticing Jemza slowly descending. He gave her a quick nod before returning back to the bread he was breaking pieces off of and eating. He watched her as she seemed to hesitate before approaching him. His chewing slowed to the point where his mouth all but stopped moving. She seemed torn between joining him or saying something.

"There a problem?" He tried to ask in a more polite tone than normal. After yesterday's dangerous encounter it was time to try and be more vocal with Jemza. Regardless what happened out in the woods, without her he was certain he wouldn't have made it. Her lips tightened as she shifted her weight back and forth.

"Um..." She trailed off looking back towards the stairs. In the real world her actions were similar to a child that had to use the bathroom, but here in Aincrad no such urges existed. He didn't even want to think how his real body was handling that in the real world. In the spirit of turning over a new leaf with his temporary partner he figured it would at least make her laugh.

"Gotta pee?" He was wrong. She stopped fidgeting and stood facing him before stomping forward and grabbing the back of the chair opposite from him.

"No! You...why didn't you wake me up?" Jayce resumed chewing the bread and swallowed it. What was this girl's problem now?

"I wasn't aware you needed me to be your alarm clock. I think you can set something like that up in the system menu." He responded breaking off another piece of bread. Her face was beginning to change from the light pink shade to a darker red. Warning lights began to erupt in Jayce's mind as he noticed her complexion shift. She was very angry about something, and from what little he knew about women he was confident that when angry...stay out of their way.

"Not that! Last night!" Things began to click into place little by little. She wasn't upset that he hadn't woken her up this morning. She was upset he didn't wake her up last night when she fell asleep on his couch. A woman falling asleep in the room of a man she had only met the night before. Jayce dropped the bread on the plate and quickly threw both hands up apologetically.

"It wasn't like that! After you fell asleep I left and purchased a second room. I never went back into that room I swear it." It was the truth. After Jayce put the blanket over her he had debated passing out on the bed, but when he looked back at Jemza who looked so comfortable he didn't have the heart to try and wake her. The same reservation she now was angry about had been on his mind in the moment last night. So, he left the room to her since it was paid through the night and rented out a second for himself.

"You did?" Her features softened dramatically at his explanation which in turn helped to reduce the level of fear rising in his mind. He kept his hands up defensively nodding quickly.