The Solo Knight

Familiar Faces

I met Silica in the woods a while back. At the time she was being attacked by a couple drunken apes. After I came to her rescue, we went on a quest to obtain an item called the Pneuma Flower. It's a rare item that has the power to resurrect a beast tamer's companion or partner. Not really sure what they are called, besides im just a simple Swordsman whose trying to live through this death game. Anyways im getting off track here, after we've obtained the flower. We ran into a dark guild known as Titan's Hand. The leader of that guild know as Rosalia, lures other players to steal from them and even takes there lives. These players are known as red players. I kinda feel bad for using s
Silica as bait, but I am glad I helped her. In any case we both benefited from it.

"Hyah!" I yell out as I slash the last of the pack of blood wolves. "Well that wasn't so bad Silica, you could've handle it." I say with a smile.

"Yea right! Did you see how many wolves were trying to chew my face to bits! Silica says as she hit my arm lightly.

"Ow! What was that for, besides you shouldn't doubt yourself. You've gotten way stronger since the last time we met. Remember?" I say patting her head.

"Y-you big dummy kirito.." Silica says stuttering while she hides her bright red face. I just stand there smiling.

"Anyways, what were you doing way out here? You know it's dangerous traveling alone on higher floors like this." I say while she gives me this glare. "W-whats that look for?" I say as I flinch.

"It's kind of funny how you tell me I shouldn't be traveling alone, when you're traveling by yourself all the time Kirito! So in that case you should be asking yourself the same questions." Silica said with an evil smirk on her face.

"W-well I'm a solo player and I can handle myself you know!" I say as I stutter. I open my item menu and select two sandwiches. "I was saving these for later, but im starved. Would you like one?" I say extending the sandwich towards Silica.

"Yea, thank you kirito, you're the best you know that.." Silica says as she takes the sandwich from my hand. As she sits down to eat, I sit next to her. We both unwrap the sandwichs and bite into them. "Mmmm.. This is really good kirito. Where did you get these?" Silica mumbles while she takes another bite into the sandwich.

"I know a friend who knows how to cook. She can cook almost anything. She's really good at it in my opinion." I say smiling.

"Seems like you two are pretty close if you ask me. Hmmm kirito? Do you have a crush on her?" Silica says as she gives me this weird look.

"I-its not like that, a-anyways let's just finish our sandwiches and start heading back to the nearest town. It's getting late." I say as I look up at the stars. Silica looks at me for a while longer then takes another bite of her sandwich. I can hear her giggling as I finish my sandwich.

"Alright kirito. It is getting pretty late.. isn't it? Do you have somewhere to go on this floor?" Silica says looking at me curiously.

"Not really. I was just planning to rent a room for a cheap price at some inn. So I haven't given the subject much thought. What about you?" I say as I look back twoards the mountains.

"Yea..aren't the inns on this floor pretty expensive?" Silica says with a low tone.

"I think they are a pretty decent price, besides I have enough col to last another month in rent if I had to." I say with confidence.

"W-well.. You can come stay with me and a friend tonight if you want. We decided to help each other out." Silica says smiling. "let me just message her and say you are coming."Silica says while opening her menu.

"Well you don't have to, but I appreciate what you are doing for me..so yes. I would love to stay the night with you Silica." I say as I get up and start to put my equipment away. Silica smiles as I help her up. We walk to a near by town and use a teleport gate to floor twelve. It was pretty quiet and not many players were on this floor. As we approached a small little house a loud familiar voice shouted out while the door opened. A girl with pink hair comes out running and hugs Silica.

"Where were you! I was so worried!" this girl comes out screaming hugging Silica tight. I stand there for a minute and then I realize who it was. She stops and looks at me. "K-kirito?! W-what are you doing here?!" Lizz yells out looking clueless.

"I-I was just helping Silica come back home and she invited me to stay the night." I say as I stutter a little. "How are you Liz?" I say curiously.

"I have been busy thank you very much. Hmph." Liz says as she turns away. I stand there in confusion for a second then turn twoards Silica. "If it bothers you guys to much I can always go rent a place for tonight." I said looking up at the stars.

"No we don't mind at all." Silica says smiling. Liz turns twoards me and still giving me the silent treatment. "Right Liz?" Silica asks Liz as she looks twoards her.

"No I don't mind at all. Just upset that kirito has been ignoring me all week. Isn't that right kirito. Hmmm..." Liz says with almost a death glare.

"I-Im very sorry.. I have been very busy and the front lines has been tough lately.. Every floor just keeps getting difficult as we continue." I say lowering my voice. "Some players have given up and decided that life here is better anyways.." I say. We all just stand there for a minute in silence. Even the air seems lifeless, like the very essence of happiness has left this area. "Anyways.. Thank you for letting me stay the night.. I appreciate everything you are doing." I say trying to break the silence and tension.

"No problem kirito." Liz says smiling slightly.

"Anytime kirito." Silica says smiling as well. "You've done so much for me.. Its the least I can do." Silica says with gratitude.

"No problem guys, I would do it all over if I had to." I say smiling.

"No kirito.. You really have done a lot and I just don't know how I could ever repay you." Liz says with a low tone. "But.. Don't forget who went into my shop and shattered my best sword." She says glaring at me.

"Kirito?! You did what?" Silica asks me with a surprised tone.

"I-I...W-Well..I mean." I stand there stuttering the whole time. I don't even know what to say and they just laugh.
"You guys are really tough on me sometimes." I say as I laugh a bit.

"Oh whatever kirito. Suck it up buttercup." Liz says laughing out loud. "Alright, Let's go inside. It's getting cold." liz says as she heads inside. We follow her inside and I lay down in the living room on a couch. Liz gives me a blanket and silica hands me a pillow. I grab them and place them at the foot of the couch.

"Thank you for everything." I say as I smile. They nod and both head to bed. I think back to the time I met Elizabeth. I do admit I did walk in and I did break her best sword that she made at the time. After that she made me one hell of a sword, the best I had ever saw anyone make with my own eyes. I pull up my menu and see the sword's item name. "Dark..Repulser.." I say quitely to myself. It's a good sword and I can feel that she forged her soul into it. I really appreciate everything Liz has done. There is a secret I kept from everyone.. I don't know how I've obtained this, but I do know when the time comes, I'll have to use it.

Next chapter: A Time of Action