Sword Art Online ALICIZATION- Reversal

Chapter 29- Broken mind, Unwavering Resolve

Kirito and I flew overhead of the Eastern Gate. If I were lucky, Bercouli would be here. Regardless, I had Kirito in light armor. I knew that he might get injuried so I wanted him to have some protection so he would be easier to protect. As I flew overhead, I saw the Knights and I searched for Bercouli. I had no luck finding him. I then flew to the Eastern Gate to check its life, not much left, there were only a few days before it broke. Afterwards, I had Amayori take Kirito and I down. I got off the mount, carrying Kirito, ready to explain the situation to any Knights. 

Eldrie came walking over. "Sir. Kirito, Alice?" He questioned and I turned to look at him. The man froze in his tracks and starred at me. "What's the meaning of this.... why do you have Integrity Knight armor?" He questioned with a mixture of confusion and frustration. "If Administrator could make two girls Integrity Knights then why can't the Commander do the same to me?" I replied coldly. Eldrie seemed slightly unnerved by my almost lifeless monotone. "Eldrie, what are our numbers?" I inquired. He responded by looking down slightly, "They have 50 thousand. We have a mere 7 thousand. We're giving them what training we can but....." he trailed off. "Where are the other Integrity Knights? From above, I only counted seven." I asked. "That's everyone." Eldrie answered. "That's ridiculous! Counting Kirito and myself, there should be 32." I retorted. "Alice, surely you're aware that Prime Senator Chudelkin had been using a retuning Art on Knights who showed symptoms of memory issues. Ten of those Knights have yet to awaken." Eldrie informed me, "At this time, only 21 Knights are active. Four are watching the Cathedral and the capital, and four are patrolling the end mountains and Sir. Kirito is comatose." He answered and I grit my teeth. "Then there should be 13, including me." I nearly growled. "We are already stretched too thin. And yet, Miss Alice.... do you intend to shield Sir. Kirito as you fight?" His question infuriated me, I found my hand moving to my sword ever so slowly. "Of course I do! Because I swore to protect him. I will keep my promise or die trying!" I stomped my armored foot on the ground to emphasize my point. Eldrie looked at me, stunned. "You're serious about protecting him, aren't you?" He managed to stutter out dispite his shock. 'Yes. And if you stand in my way, you will die by my blade." I threatened him, casually, having left the senses fear and hesitation behind with the eyepatch. Eldrie then nodded. "I see.... even so, you shouldn't have brought him....." I clenched my fist, he was really pissing me off. 

"That's enough, Eldrie. Relax." I knew that voice, it was Bercouli. "Hey little girl. You look better than I expected, even your cheeks filled in." Bercouli said as he hopped down to our level. "Hey, Bercouli." I said with a slight smile, "It has been a long time." Bercouli looked at Eldrie. "Commander?" Eldire questioned. Bercouli glared at his subordinate before looking at Kirito. I instinctually reached for my sword. 'Is he going to kill Kirito?' I wondered, irrational though it was, I knew why I thought it may be the case. I had become possessive and protective of Kirito, it was my duty as a Knight to protect him in the condition he was in, it was my wish as his friend to see him survive, and it was my role as his 'wife' to look after him. In other words, no matter how I looked at it, I had to keep him safe. As a result, I saw no one but myself as above attacking the defenseless Kirito. "Easy, no need for that, kid." Bercouli assured me and I relaxed a bit. Bercouli then looked at Kirito again, then me as if wondering something before he started moving his mouth slightly.

I heard Bercouli grunt and saw a distortion in the air, a metallic clang ringing in my ears.  "Alright, tell me what you saw." Bercouli said. "I think I saw... a... a clash of swords just now." I replied. "Mhm. I threw an incarnate sword at him, actually, it was more like a dagger. It would've only scratched some skin off his cheek, if it hit him, that is." Bercouli explained. "If it hit him.... then that means..." I trailed off.  "That's right, he stopped it. He did it with his willpower." Bercouli confirmed my suspicion and my breath hitched in my throat as I knelt down to look at Kirito's face. "It might not look like his mind's all there. But the kid ain't dead, no way. And he wasn't protecting himself when he blocked my strike, he was protecting you." Bercouli told me, his statement filled me with joy. I was so happy, he wasn't gone. Somewhere in those seemingly empty eyes of his, hidden behind that blank and lifeless expression, my Kirito was still there. 'Kirito protected me...' Bercouli interupted my thoughts by continuing to voice his own. "He'll snap out of it one day, that's what I think. I can't tell you when but I bet it'll be when you need him the most." I nodded at Bercouli and looked at Kirito, hugging him gently so I wouldn't hurt him. Bercouli then turned his attention to Eldrie, "Don't get hung up on the small stuff, Eldrie. We can look after young Kirito, easy." I continued to hold onto Kirito. Eventually, I let go of the young man.