Sword Art Online Alternative: Underworld Burning

Chapter Four: Poison

I looked at Eydis' face, wiping the sweat away. The ice was close to melting, and I noticed the color slowly draining from Eydis' face. I took her hand in my left hand, "Transfer durability, self to left." With me never aging I had plenty of durability to share. I opened my stacia window, checking Eydis' life. Her life was draining slowly, but my transferring seemed to stop it. "The enemy figured out a poison strong enough to kill an Integrity Knight. Luckily they're dead." 

We arrived at the cathedral, Ruri and Kirimai landing as fast as they could. I hopped off, running into the cathedral. Fanatio was in the corridor I was running in, "Arteo!? What's going on!? What's wrong with Eydis!?" I bit my lip, "A poison. Something potent enough for an Integrity Knight." Fanatio gasped, following me as I ran towards my room.

Fanatio and I ran up the stairs, passing Deusolbert as we ran. He looked in confusion but shrugged, continuing his duties. "I'll put her in my room. It's closer." Fanatio nodded in agreement, running ahead and opening my door. I sped walked into the room, laying her on the bed. I turned to Fanatio, "Keep people away from my room for a while. Even the Prime Senator." Fanatio nodded, leaving the room. I took a deep breath, unhooking and removing her armor. I set each piece on the floor gently, watching her slowly look less and less like a knight. After removing all but the chestplate, I undid the armor, slipping it off of her. As I did her breasts were revealed, and I was surprised. They were much bigger then what you'd expect when seeing her in armor. They bounced as I removed the chestplate, causing me to blush. I stared at them for a moment before shaking my head. I walked over to her, looking where the dart struck, a small hole in her pants that revealed where it struck. 

I took a deep breath before pulling her pants down a bit to her knees, not looking any further than mid thigh where the dart struck. Underneath her skin were green veins which seemed to snake upwards. "Focus focus focus focus focus!"  I repeated in my mind as I saw her dark gray underwear. I quickly looked away, focusing on following the trail. I realized I'd had to strip her a bit more to find the flow of poison. "It's to save her life. Just remember that."  I unbuttoned the top bit of her clothes, pulling it down over her shoulders, revealing her breasts. I took a deep breath, focusing on the green veins. They went from her leg up her body to near her neck. "What do I do!?" I thought, putting my head in my hands.

"Arteo..."

(insert picture here lol)

I lifted my head from my hands, seeing Eydis looking at me with a caring gaze, blushing lightly, "I trust you... I know you'll do whatever it takes to save me. Your caring personality is something I admire about you." She took my hand in hers, squeezing, "I know you can save me." I looked at her, nodding as a tear rolled down my cheek, "I will. I'll make sure you live." I reached to finish taking her clothes off, hesitating for a moment. "It's fine Arteo. Do whatever you need to." she said, closing her eyes. She had an embarrassed look on her face as she lay there, a side to her I don't see very often. It was cute. I nodded to what she said, removing her clothes and laying them next to the bed. I used all my willpower to focus on the poison, which was making it's way to her head. Eydis had a fever, sweat covering her body. I put my hand on her forehead, "System Call. Generate Cryogenic Element." Ice formed on her forehead, her face no longer wincing from the pain.

I thought for a moment, returning to the wound. I drew a stacia window to look at Eydis' life left, but to my surprise the window opened to the poison. I saw it's durability in the window, seeing it slowly tick away. I thought for a moment, then generated a small thermal ball on the tip of my finger, holding it near the poison in the vein. I looked at the stacia window for the poison, seeing the durability drain faster. "It's weak to heat." I thought, but then I heard Eydis cry out in pain quietly. I looked where I was holding the heat, seeing it turning slightly pinkish. I pulled my hand back, taking a moment to think.

"I can't use thermal sacred arts directly on her in such a condensed manner without burning her. But heat seems to work to get rid of it." I looked around for a moment, noticing my sword to my side. "Well there is that special sacred art the Pontifex taught me to heat up my body. But it only works if..." I looked at Eydis, pulling the covers on my bed over her. I then undid my armor, setting it on the table. I walked to the dresser, pulling out some disposable clothes, putting them on. I then walked over to the bed, pulling the covers back and quickly getting in the bed. I put my arms around Eydis, pulling her closer to me. I gulped as I felt her soft naked body against me, but shook my head to focus, "System call, generate thermal element around self." I gained a slight red glow, my entire body heating up slowly and steadily as to not burn her. Eydis sighed in her dreariness, "You're so warm Arteo. I'm so cold. Will you keep me get warm?" I petted her head gently, "Of course Eydis." She curled up closer to me, flipping over, pressing her chest against me, wrapping her legs around me. I was in pure bliss, but snapped back to normal, holding her as the heat destroyed the poison in her. I closed my eyes, falling asleep.

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I awoke the next morning looking at the ceiling. "You know even laying in bed can be rejuvenating." I looked to my side, seeing Eydis laying next to me, smiling. I sat up quickly, "Eydis! You're alright!" Eydis sat up next to me, holding the covers over her chest, "Yep! You saved me- oh!" I embraced her, pulling her close to me. Tears formed in my eyes, streaming down my face, "I'm so glad you're okay! I was so worried!" Eydis pet my head, comforting me, "It's okay. It's okay." She hugged me back, the two of us sitting there for a moment.

"Arteo?" Eydis said.

"Hm?" 

I pulled back a bit, looking at her face. She smiled, blushing, looking a bit embarrassed, "This situation looks a bit risqué, don't you agree?" I let her go, seeing her shoulders were still exposed. I then looked at myself. I too was naked. "Right! The drawback of that ability is that clothes burn away after a certain time. I'm only supposed to use it in case I get hit by a cryogenic element."  Eydis stared at me for a moment, holding her arm over her breasts. She glanced down, her face turning red for a second. She tilted her head, smiling uneasily, "And it looks like you're not handling yourself well." My eyes widened, my face burning bright red. I quickly turned away, covering my face, "I'm sorry!" Eydis chuckled,  "It's fine. I would be mad if it was anyone but you." Eydis pulled the covers over her as she stood. She looked back at me, "But I appreciate your respect to not look at me. That's one reason why I like you so much Arteo." I heard her start putting her clothes on, "Now don't look over here you." I laughed, "I won't."

After we both got dressed Eydis and I went out on the balcony. I watched as the wind blew through her hair, her eyes sparkling in Solus' glow. "You're room is so nice Arteo. You got lucky." Eydis turned around, sitting on the balcony. I chuckled, "It took a lot of convincing to get this room. The Pontifex wanted to keep the cathedral the way it was but I told her I could watch Centoria easily from here. After a bit of time she converted it into a window with a balcony." Eydis looked back, staring out past the cathedral walls to Centoria. "Hey Arteo." Eydis said, looking down at the floor. 

"Yeah?"

"Do you ever want to walk among people? Like go into Centoria and experience what they experience?" 

"I guess I've never thought about it before."

Eydis stood up from the balcony, "Yeah, I didn't think anyone else would." She looked up at me, "Do you mind if I come here sometimes? I don't think I could resist the view." I smiled, "Of course." Eydis grinned, turning and walking back into the room. She turned around, winking at me, "Who knows, I might even start sleeping in here with you. That bed was so comfy!" Eydis left the room, but she mumbled something before she left. I only caught one word, "...you..." Eydis left the room, leaving me to contemplate.