Sword Art Online-Encroaching Shadows

Chapter 15

December 5th, 2022

"It's all your fault!"

"No, please it wasn't!"

"Hit her! Hit her harder!"

"Make her bleed!"

Jemza blinked her eyes letting them adjust to the light in her room. She waited a few moments letting her heart rate return to normal before taking a deep breath and letting it out. Swinging her legs towards the side of the bed she sat up and ran a hand down the front of her shirt. If this were the real world there was no doubt it would be covered in sweat, but here in Aincrad, nothing like that existed.

She could see sunlight beaming down onto the floorboards from the window across from where she sat. A quick glance at the corner of her peripheral vision showed the time as after ten in the morning. Far later than she anticipated sleeping and most likely very late to meet Jayce. There was no indicator of a message and he hadn't knocked on her door which meant either he left without saying anything or was too hesitant to wake her.

After walking across the room she leaned on the frame of the window looking out over the front of the Inn. She giggled and shook her head seeing a man in a black hooded cloak looking around impatiently while he leaned on one of the wooden supports. Swiping an index finger downward she opened the system menu and switched to the <<Inventory>> tab.

Moving away from the window she tapped once on the <<Remove all outer clothing>> button causing her t-shirt and shorts used for sleeping to disappear from her body. A mirror was situated above a small table nearby and she stood in front of it turning a few inches each way to look over her own body. Bodily injuries and blemishes didn't exist in SAO, but from time to time she felt the self-conscious pull to verify it herself. The Nerve Gear mapped out the entire body of the user which always made her scared just how much the headset could replicate.

Like all the other times she checked before, the girl in the mirror that stared back at her was devoid of any physical flaws. In many ways it was painful looking at her own reflection. It was a constant reminder of what she could have been if things were different. At least here, in Aincrad, none of that mattered. For as long as they were trapped here she could find bits of happiness. With that thought the girl in the mirror who stood in nothing but her underwear smiled with the knowledge that being free from this world would not be coming anytime soon.

Tapping on each piece of equipment and clothing in the <<Inventory>> tab materialized them onto Jemza's body. Before long she spun in front of the mirror happily content with how she looked. Her dagger appeared on her waist as she returned to the window looking down at Jayce who continued to fidget impatiently clearly waiting for her. She rested a palm on the glass closing her eyes.

"I guess we all have pasts that haunt us...right?"

Ten minutes later Jemza bounded down the stairs of the Inn two at a time hitting the landing and bouncing off the wall to reverse her momentum and run out the front door. NPC's and players alike within the ground floor of the Inn watched her in confusion until the door slammed shut behind her.

"I'm so sorry, I'm late!" The hooded man turned towards her voice and a look of relief crossed his face.

"We didn't actually set a time so it's no big deal. Next time we can settle on a time." Jemza nodded in agreement looking around at the town. Players and NPC's moved about since it was well into the morning. Shops and Craftsmen were open for business and numerous players poured over the services and wares offered. It seemed like even more players from the first floor had found their way up here overnight.