No one's POV

Both Zora and Eugeo continued to look at the Integrity Knight in front of them who revealed herself as Alice Synthesis Thirty and the moment Zora lay his eyes on her, his eyes widened in shock that he couldn't help but muttered.

Zora: Big Sis...?

But it appears that his voice was a dead ring as Eugeo continued to look at her completely and utterly shocked. It couldn't be a coincidence. Eugeo stumbled forward, legs numb.

Eugeo:...Alice...? Is that you...? Are you...Alice...?

Zora(mind): Alice? She looks just like Big Sister Rumia. Golden hair, blue eyes, and the ribbon on her head.

Zora reached out quickly from his side, but Eugeo slipped past his grasp to approach one step closer. The hair and cape rustled, sending forth a faint, light scent. It was gentle and familiar, like a field of flowers under the sun. It was the smell of his old friend's blue apron dress.

Eugeo: Alice!

He called, firmly this time, and reached for her shoulder. She would turn around, greet Eugeo with that fond old smile, mischievous and smug— A glint of light shattered that hope into dust. A tremendous force smashed Eugeo's right cheek, knocking him clean off his feet to land heavily on the training hall floorboards.

Zora: Eugeo!

Zora cried, helping him up, but Eugeo was so stunned he didn't even register his friend's presence. Somehow, there was a longsword in the knight's outstretched hand, even as she kept her back to them. But it was still sheathed, not naked. She had removed the sheath from its holder and used the end of it to strike Eugeo's cheek.

Alice: Choose your words and actions carefully. I have the right to remove up to seventy percent of your life. The next time you attempt to touch me without permission, I will cut off your hand.

She said, her voice as crisp, clear, and harsh as snowmelt water when she turned around at last.

Eugeo:...Alice...

Eugeo couldn't help mumbling that name one last time. The Integrity Knight with the golden sword could be nobody else but thegrown Alice Zuberg,daughter of Gasfut and sister of Selka, once taken away from Rulid as a child—Eugeo's childhood friend.

Naturally, she was not dressed the same. On her torso, shoulders, and waist was thin, light armor of finely detailed metal, and below that, the skirt extended practically to her ankles. But there was no mistaking that face.

Long, pristine blond hair. Clear, pale skin. But most of all, the incomparable deep blue of her slightly tapered eyes, a color that he'd never seen in anyone else's, even in Centoria.

But the look in those eyes was not what he remembered. The vibrant curiosity of her childhood Rulid days was gone, replaced by nothing but cold authority that fixed on Eugeo as he sat on the floor. Her pink lips moved, producing that beautiful, cruel voice again.

Alice: Ahh...I intended to strike you for thirty percent of your life, but I achieved only half that. If you have the agility to disperse that damage, then I can see why you were able to achieve elite disciple status...and the boldness to attempt murder.

The way she spoke, it was as if she'd read Eugeo's Stacia Window without touching him, but he couldn't even begin to guess what that meant. He just couldn't accept the words he was hearing. Kind, caring Alice would never say these things. Further, it made no sense that she had no reaction to his name, had struck him on the face without a second thought, and then—most of all—that she was standing there as an Integrity Knight, of all things.

He was going to call out again, to ignore her warning—when Zora whispered into his ear.

Zora: That knight must be the Alice you've been searching for.

Even in these bizarre circumstances, his partner's voice was calm and collected, and it brought a measure of rationality to Eugeo's bewildered mind. He managed to bob his head, to which Zora whispered again.

Zora: Let's follow her orders for now. As long as we get into Central Cathedral, even as criminals, we should be able to argue our case.

Eugeo(mind): Get into the cathedral.

It took Zora's suggestion to get this point into Eugeo's head. His dream of going through the two tournaments in triumph and being named Integrity Knight was dead, but violating the Taboo Index had actually brought him here to his goal more than a year ahead of schedule.

Get into Central Cathedral and meet Alice. The order was backward now, but that was everything Eugeo wanted. He didn't know why she was acting like a totally different person now, but at the very least, he'd achieved half his goal. And once he got into the cathedral, he was sure to find a way to turn Alice back to her old self.

Eugeo's mind was back under rational self-control, and Alice was putting away her sword. She started walking for the main doors, cape trailing in the breeze.

Alice: Come with me.

Disobedience was not an option. Zora helped Eugeo up to his feet, and they followed her in silence. Once out of the hall, Alice headed straight for the waiting dragon and patted its fearsome snout. Then she retrieved some strange tools from the large cargo bag behind the saddle. They looked like three heavy leather straps connected by chains—shackles. Just like the tool used to bind Alice eight years ago.

She brought over the shackles, one in each hand, then commanded Zora and Eugeo to stand up straight. The order was far quieter than when Raios screamed that he would execute Eugeo, but it had a deep, irresistible quality to it, as though she were speaking God's own words.

Alice: Elite Disciple Eugeo. Elite Disciple Zora. For running afoul of the Taboo Index, I shall apprehend you, take you into custody and after questioning, I shall execute you.

She wrapped the restraints around them as they stood at attention. The leather straps went around their arms, chest, and waist, and soon they were completely immobilized. She then returned to her dragon, still holding the chains connected to their backs, and fixed one chain to each of the large armor clasps on the beast's powerful haunches. Zora was tied to the dragon's right leg and Eugeo to the left.

The Integrity Knight named Deusolbert had tied Alice to his dragon's leg the same way. But it was a day's flight from Rulid all the way to Centoria. If she was just dangling in thin air the entire time, it was hard to imagine a more terrifying, strenuous experience for an eleven-year-old.

Somehow, Alice was now an Integrity Knight herself, tying Eugeo to her dragon just as she had once been tied. The lack of any hesitation in her actions forced Eugeo to face the truth: Alice the knight was both Alice Zuberg and a different person entirely. Some great and terrible power had changed her.

Like Zora said, they might be able to learn the secret behind this change if they went to Central Cathedral. But the real question was, could they actually turn Alice back?

And even more pressing—what if the same thing happened to him? What if he forgot everything and turned into someone else? What if he forgot his life in Rulid, the journey to Centoria...even his memories at the academy...?

For a moment, he was plunged into deep fear and panic. Then a pair of footsteps approached from behind, and both he and Zora turned to look. Stumbling forward, uncertain and yet insistent, was a pair of primary trainees in their gray uniforms: Tiese Schtrinen with her long red hair and Ronie Arabel with her brown hair cut short.

The hesitance of their footsteps was actually due to the objects they were carrying. Tiese had a longsword in a white leather sheath, while Ronie carried a similar weapon in black. It was clear at a glance that these were their personal swords, which had been left behind in Raios's bedroom. Tiese's palms were split and bloodied where they held the sheath, and it was no wonder—even Eugeo and Zora had to steel themselves to lift the swords, they were so heavy.

Eugeo: Tiese...

Zora: Ronie!

The girls responded with faint smiles through the pain. But it also drew the attention of Alice, who left the dragon's side to examine the girls. Eugeo recalled the stinging pain of the blow on his still-numb cheek, and he shouted.

Eugeo: No, Tiese! Don't come closer!

But the trainees did not stop. They crossed the last ten mels of distance, blood dripping on the cobblestones, then fell to their knees in front of Alice. After a lot of heavy breathing, Tiese was first to look up, face resolute.

Tiese: L-Lady Knight...we beg of you!

Ronie followed in a quavering voice.

Ronie: We ask your permission...to return their swords!

Alice stared down at the girls until, eventually, she bobbed her head.

Alice: Very well. However, weapons cannot be given to the guilty. I will take them. If you wish to speak to them, you will have one minute.

She took the Blue Rose Sword in her right hand and the black sword in her left and easily lifted them up, apparently not feeling the weight whatsoever, then returned to the dragon and stashed the weapons in the storage bag from which she had pulled the restraints. Tiese and Ronie clasped their bloodied hands before their chests, relief seeming to numb them to any pain. They unsteadily got to their feet and rushed to their tutors' sides.

Zora: I'm sorry, Ronie.

Ronie leaned close, her red eyes puffy from crying. Zora immediately meet her gaze, rather than look away. He had cut off Raios's arm right in front of them last night. Tiese and Ronie were physically unharmed by the experience, but the mental shock and trauma had to be great.

To her, Zora was no longer a trustworthy mentor, but a criminal who had broken the Taboo Index. He was locked in chains, the only just fate for someone guilty of his sins. But then—Fat tears welled up in Ronie's maple-red eyes and spilled down her cheeks.

Ronie: No! It's not your fault, Zora-senpai! This is our fault.... I'm sorry...If only I hadn't...been so stupid...

Zora: No...that's not true. You did nothing wrong, Ronie... In fact, what you did for your friend was right. All of this...is my fault. You have nothing to apologize for.

She stared back into his eyes, so straightforwardly that she seemed to glimpse the very depths of his soul, and put on a brave smile.

Ronie: Next time, next time I will save you. I...I'll work my hardest, perfecting the Aincrad style, become an Integrity Knight, and come save you...so just be patient. Wait for me. I swear...I swear...

A sob stuck the words in her throat. Zora smile at his page and nod, before giving her a kiss on her forehead.

Ronie: This is...a lunch for you. If you get hungry, please eat...

Zora: Thank-...

Whatever Zora said in reply was drowned out by the sound of the dragon's wings flapping.

Alice: It is time. Step away.

Alice commanded from the saddle. She whipped the reins, and the dragon stood. The chains pulled upward and left Zora and Eugeo nearly in the air. Tiese and Ronie took a few steps backward, tears tumbling from their eyes. The silver wings beat the air, whipping the girls' hair around.

The dragon took a few rumbling steps to pick up speed. The girls sprinted after them, but soon they stumbled and dropped to all fours. Then the beast's powerful legs launched off the surface and into the air. As it ascended in a spiral, Tiese and Ronie grew smaller and smaller. Eventually they disappeared into the gray blur of the cobblestones, and even the entirety of the North Centoria Imperial Swordcraft Academy began to fade.

The dragon, Integrity Knight on its back and criminals hanging from its legs, started a direct flight to the Axiom Church's towering Central Cathedral at the heart of everything.

(Timeskip)

Even now, there were times Zora thought back to when he was held prisoner in Aincrad. Back then, especially that first year of the game of death, every single day lasted forever. Whenever he was outside of town, he had to watch his back at all times for monster and occasionally player attacks, and leveling at maximum efficiency required some truly grueling daily schedules.

After he lost Rumia, he cut down his sleeping time as far as he could without sacrificing concentration, and Zora had dedicated even the scant time he had for eating to memorizing data he bought from info brokers. By the later stages of the game, he was the black sheep of the advancement group, a guy who could spend an entire day taking a nap, It felt like the fourteen years before SAO and the two years in Aincrad occupied an equal amount of time in his mind.

Zora(mind): Compare that to this...

The days since coming to this mysterious Underworld seemed to fly by. Zora wasn't letting them slip past out of laziness—not at all. If anything, the two years from leaving Rulid to joining the Zakkaria garrison to being a student at the Swordcraft Academy in Centoria were a time of constant activity. Perhaps even busier than his time in SAO. And yet when he thought back on them, it felt as though they'd passed in a blink.

Perhaps the reason for that was the lack of danger of his life—their concept of HP—running down to zero. Or perhaps the reason was that compared to real life, the passage of time here was vastly accelerated.

When Zora took on a job for the mysterious tech company Rath, they explained that the maximum FLA (fluctlight acceleration) of the STL was three times that of normal time. But that was definitely false. Based on a number of data, Zora estimated that his current FLA ratio was closer to a thousand to one. If true, then the two years he'd spent in this simulation had passed in just eighteen hours in the real world. Surely the lack of mortal danger and the knowledge that all of this was passing in the blink of a (real- world) eye were making the days feel shorter.

But...no. Perhaps there was another reason. It was because his life here...especially at the Swordcraft Academy, with Eugeo, Sortiliena, Ronie, and Tiese, had been so enjoyable. Even though what brought him to the school to polish his skills was to get out of this place as soon as possible. Perhaps his secret desire for this enjoyment to last was making the time pass quicker.

If so, that was a betrayal. A betrayal of Kotone, Kazuto, Asuna, Sugu, Sinon, and the others, all waiting and worrying about him in the real world. Perhaps this was his punishment for that betrayal. His time at the academy ended in a bloody catastrophe and got me locked down beneath the earth, where no ray of sunshine could penetrate...

Zora:...

Zoea stopped reflecting and sat up, causing the steel chain locked around his right wrist to clink. A few moments later, he heard a dull whisper from the darkness nearby.

Eugeo: You awake, Zora?

Zora: Yeah...have been for a while. Sorry, did that wake you?

Eugeo chuckle

Eugeo: Of course I can't sleep. I'm normal—not like someone else who started snoring away from the moment we got locked in here.

Zora: That's the second secret to the Aincrad style: Sleep when you get the chance.

Eugeo: Right...

Zora: But to think it's been about a day and a half since we were put in here. Well...feeling a bit calmer now?

Zora's internal clock told him it was about three in the morning. If they were locked in this basement prison at midday yesterday, that meant only thirty- five hours or so had passed since the incident of two nights before. Eugeo defied the Taboo Index to attack Humbert Zizek with his Blue Rose Sword, then witnessed Raios Antinous lose his mind and die—an almost incalculable amount of shock and trauma for him to undergo.

Euego: It feels like...all this has been a dream...That I turned my sword on Humbert...and that Raios ended up like that...

Zora: Don't think too hard about it. You need to focus on what comes after this instead.

It was the best Zora could come up with. He wished he could rub Eugeo's back to reassure him, but the chains kept him from reaching the other bed. After a few moments of watching his outline closely, Zora heard Eugeo whimper.

Eugeo: Got it. I'll be all right.

Zora was the one who had severed Raios Antinous's wrists, not Eugeo. The wounds themselves shouldn't have been fatal if treated promptly and properly, but Zora suspected that Raios got stuck in an infinite mental loop trying to assign priority between his own life and the Taboo Index, which caused his fluctlight to collapse.

Zora did feel guilt at causing the death of an Underworldian, of course. But already, two years ago, he'd killed two goblins in the cave north of Rulid to save Selka, the sister in training. They had fluctlights just like Raios did, so it would almost be an insult to that goblin captain's memory if I fell to pieces over killing Raios, who was far weaker than them.

Zora(mind): But even then, something sat wrong with me.

Zora suspicion was that Rath and Seijirou Kikuoka, the people operating the Underworld, were attempting to create a true artificial intelligence. The artificial fluctlights here already had emotions and intelligence on par with real human beings. If their one flaw was absolute, blind obedience to the law, then Eugeo had crossed that wall by drawing his Blue Rose Sword and striking Humbert down to save Tiese and Ronie. In other words, he'd completed his final breakthrough and evolved into true artificial intelligence.

And yet, thirty-five hours of internal time later, the world showed no signs of shutting down. Either the acceleration rate was so high that Rath still hadn't noticed the change or there was some kind of horrible accident going on that Zora couldn't even imagine...

Eugeo: What happens next?

Zora:...

Eugeo repeated from the other bed. Zora set aside his concerns and took his eyes off the ceiling to look at Eugeo again. In the darkness, his familiar silhouette bobbed.

Eugeo: You're absolutely right, Zora. We have to break out of this cell somehow, and find out what happened to Alice.

Zora was relieved that his partner seemed to be recovering from his shock, but something very important in his statement stuck with me. He'd said, "Get out of this prison" like it was just that simple. To him, this prison—a symbol of the Axiom Church's power if there ever was one, the place both Zora and Eugeo would remain until they received God's forgiveness—was less important than Alice. The recent events had indeed prompted a major change in the way his mind worked.

But Zora didn't have time to delve into that now. Soon the sun would rise, and some inquisitor or executioner would come drag them out. Like Eugeo said, they could consider deeper matters once they had escaped.

Zora: Yeah...I'm sure there must be a way to get out.

Zora(mind): But only if it's your typical RPG locked-in-a-jail event, where there's always a means of escape.

Zora brushed the chains holding him in place. They were cold and almost unbearably tough metal. They were welded to a ring of the same material that was locked around my wrist, which in turn was connected to a similar ring embedded in the wall. It was quite clear that no amount of pulling would break any part of the binding apparatus.

Yesterday morning, Eugeo and Zora had finally crossed the wall into the Axiom Church's Central Cathedral, their ultimate goal ever since leaving the very northern tip of the world. We hadn't planned on doing it by dangling from the legs of a dragon, however.

They had barely had any time to admire the chalk-white tower that stretched up into the clouds before they sent us marching down a deep spiral staircase behind the spire, and at last we reached this underground prison and were handed over to its fearsome jailer.

Alice Synthesis Thirty had finished her duty and left without a word. After that, the beastly, burly jailer with a metal mask like a kettle slowly but surely chained us here in this cell.

For food that night, Zora and Eugeo  got one meal of hard, dried bread and a skin of lukewarm water, tossed through the bars.

They'd tried and failed at every method of freedom yesterday: pulling on the chains, gnawing, sacred arts. If they had the Blue Rose Sword or the black sword, they could cut through them like butter, but sadly, the weapons that the girls tore their palms bloody to bring to Zora and Eugeo had been taken who-knew-where by Alice. Ronie's homemade lunch thankfully escaped confiscation, but it was now long gone.

In short, they just "needed a way out." However, they'd tried and failed at every conceivable option so far.

Eugeo: I wonder...if Alice was chained up down here, too... eight years ago?

Eugeo mumbled, sitting on the bed of metal frame and rags.

Zora: Yeah...dunno.

If Alice Zuberg, Eugeo's childhood friend and Selka's sister, had undergone the same treatment, that meant she'd been locked in this horrible place alone by that iron-masked jailer at the tender age of eleven. It was hard to imagine a more terrifying experience. Eventually she would have been summoned to make a confession, then sentenced—and then what...?

Zora: Say, Eugeo. Stop me if I'm off, but...are you absolutely certain that this Alice Synthesis Thirty is the same person as the Alice you're looking for?

After a few seconds, a pained response came

Eugeo: That voice... that golden hair and those deep blue eyes... I could never forget them. She just seemed like a totally different person.

Zora: For being old friends, she sure smashed you pretty good. So perhaps... her memories are being controlled in some fashion...or her thoughts limited, even...?

Eugeo: But I didn't find any sacred art spells like that in the textbooks.

Zora: But the fancy bishops of the Church can manipulate life itself, right? Surely they've got some means to mess around with memories.

And in fact, the Soul Translator Zora was using to dive into the Underworld could do just such a thing. If they could manipulate the memory of a biological brain, surely it would be even easier and more effective on an artificial fluctlight saved on its own medium.

Zora: But, if that knight is the real Alice, then what was that thing two years ago, in the cave north of Rulid...?

Eugeo: Right...you mentioned that, when you were healing me with Selka, you heard a voice that sounded like Alice's...

Though Zora hadn't told Eugeo all the details, Zora had used Selka's powers to give Eugeo half his life when Eugeo was gravely wounded in the fight with the goblins. It was a very risky action and sucked out Zora's life at a much faster pace than he'd expected, but just when he was certain that he couldn't maintain himself any longer—he had heard a voice.

Alice: Zora, Eugeo...I'll be waiting for you always...I am waiting for you at the top of Central Cathedral...

Zora: Waiting at the top of the Central Cathedral huh?

Along with the voice, Zora felt a mysterious warm light fill him, restoring both his life and Eugeo's. That wasn't just confused memory. It must have been Alice, once taken away by the Axiom Church, using some unexplained power to save both Zora and Eugeo.

They took that message to heart and had made their way down to Centoria to the Central Cathedral.

But when they finally met Alice in a most unexpected manner, she was not Alice Zuberg from Rulid but the Integrity Knight Alice Synthesis Thirty. She treated both of them merely as criminals to be judged and gave no sign whatsoever that she was Eugeo's childhood friend.

Either she was a different person who coincidentally shared her looks and name or she was the real Alice with her memories altered or controlled. It seemed the only way they'd find out the truth was to escape this prison and actually get up to the top of Central Cathedral—the place where they'd find out everything about the Axiom Church.

And yet we they been able to put a scratch on the chains or bars so far and didn't seem likely to in the future.

Zora: Argh, this is so frustrating...If there's a God here, I'd like to strangle that holy neck until I finally get the entire truth!

Zora grunted, thinking of Kikuoka's stupid face. Eugeo chuckled nervously.

Eugeo: Come on, you shouldn't insult Stacia while we're inside the church. You don't want divine retribution.

His shift in priorities regarding the Taboo Index had not removed his faith in their religion, Zora noted.

Zora: Hey, maybe she'll punish these chains instead. Wait a second. Speaking of Stacia, couldn't we call up a window here?

Eugeo: You know, we never thought to try that. Go on and see.

Zora: Right.

Zora waited to ensure that there wasn't any movement from the jailer's station down the hallway to the left, then extended the index and middle finger of his right hand. Zora made the familiar status window summoning gesture, then tapped the chain tied to his left hand. After a brief pause, a pale-purple window popped into being. Zora didn't think that learning the chain's properties was going to improve their situation, but it never hurt to have more information.

Zora: Hey, there it is!

Eugeo grinned and checked the numbers but he immediately groaned when he saw the number.

Eugeo: No wonder they won't budge no matter how hard we pull on them! To break these chains, we're going to need a weapon or tool that's at least class 38 as well.

Zora: I guess you're right. If only we had our swords.

Zora immediately started looking around the dim cell, but all the room contained was the crude metal beds and an empty waterskin. Zora felt a brief moment of hope when he wondered if he could remove a leg of his bed to use as a crowbar, but upon examining the window, it was a cheap class-3 object. The iron bars looked much tougher, but the chain was too short for him to reach them.

Zora looked around, even more desperate for some option he hadn't tried yet, when Eugeo said weakly.

Eugeo: You're not going to suddenly find some incredible sword hiding in your cell. I mean, what's there to find? It's just the beds, the skin, and these chains.

Zora: Just...chains...

Zora mumbled, staring at the chain confining his arm, then the one around Eugeo's wrist. Suddenly, he had an idea. He tried to control his excitement.

Zora: It's not just chains. It's two damn chains!

Eugeo: Huhhh?

Eugeo gasped, totally baffled. Zora waved Eugeo down off the bed, then got onto the stone floor himself so he could see his partner's outline standing in the darkness, wearing the school uniform they had on since their arrest.

Around his right wrist was a crude metal ring, like Zora's, welded to a long chain that ran to a fastener in the wall behind his bed. First, Zora ducked under Eugeo's chain, then doubled back over it to his original spot. That crossed their chains into an X pattern. Then Zora motioned for Eugeo to back away, which Zora did as well, so that the tension at the intersection of the chains was high enough for them to creak unpleasantly. At last, Eugeo seemed to understand what Zora was thinking.

Eugeo: Um, Zora... You're not actually thinking of pulling on them like this, are you?

Zora: Pull, indeed. The two chains have identical priority levels, so this should essentially damage the life of both. We'll see once we try—use both hands to pull.

Eugeo still seemed skeptical, but he did as Zora said and used both hands to grab the chain connected to his right wrist, then crouched a bit. Zora did the same on his end.

Zora: Wait, before that...

Zora made the sigil with his left hand and called up the chain's window again. If they tried this method in the real world in an attempt to sever chains of this thickness, they'd maybe put a tiny scratch on the surface at best. But in the Underworld, no matter how real everything looked, the physical principles were different. As demonstrated by the way they cut through a twelve-foot- wide tree in just a few days with the divine Blue Rose Sword, when any two objects collided with a certain amount of force and velocity, the higher- priority object would eventually destroy the other.

Zora: Ready, set...

They made eye contact to get their timing right, then yanked on the chains with all their might. Immediately the chains rattled, dull and forceful, and it took Zora's entire core to keep his legs planted so that Eugeo's surprising brute strength didn't hurtle him off his feet. He started to get into the spirit of it, too, and before long they had mostly forgotten the original idea and were having a simple tug-of-war. In addition to the ugly scraping at the intersection of the chains, there were occasional orange flashes of sparks. Without letting up any of the pressure, Zora craned his neck to check the open status window.

Zora: Alright! It works! One more time!

At this rate, they'd have them down to zero in mere minutes. Zora gritted his teeth, pulling even harder with Eugeo. In order for this to work, they had to have two chains and two prisoners, as well as a high-enough object control authority. So it was unlikely that eleven-year-old Alice, imprisoned alone, would have been able to do this.

She must have gone to her interrogation, and then something happened. If the two Alices were the same person, then they must have done something to her that controlled her mind, changing her into an obedient soldier of the Axiom Church...

Zora and Eugeo: Ready, set...

The sound of chains sparks again. The next instant, Eugeo and Zora were hurtling backward, and he slammed the back of his head against the hard stone wall. Zora huddled on the ground, clutching his head, desperately trying to resist the pain and dizziness the STL faithfully represented. Once they abated, Zora looked toward the door, certain that the jailer would have heard them this time, but there was no reaction. Zora exhaled with relief and got up.

When Eugeo recovered and stood on his own, he rubbed his head and muttered.

Eugeo: Ow...that must have knocked a hundred off my life.

Zora: Hey, that's a cheap price to pay. Check it out.

Zora held out his right arm, the chain dangling limp from the shackle. The metal was severed clean, with about one mel and twenty cens left connected. There were four U-shaped pieces of metal on the ground, the remains of the two rings that had split simultaneously from the stress of Zora and Eugeo's pulling. Before long, they tinkled and crumbled out of existence.

Eugeo: Good grief...I could never pull off a mad idea like this. It's why I'll never be like you, Zora.

Zora: Heh! My motto is, 'Impossible, improbable, inadvisable.' Still...I don't know what we'll do about this now...

They were free from being stuck three mels from the wall, but he had no idea how he'd remove the dangling tail of chain hanging off his wrist now. If they did the same tug-of-war, we could shorten the chain but never remove it entirely.

Eugeo: I guess we'll just have to lug these everywhere with us. It's a bit heavy, but if you wrap it around your arm, it shouldn't interfere with the ability to run,

Eugeo said, doing just that. Zora followed Eugeo's lead, and soon they had matching chain gauntlets, which made them smirk at each other.

Zora: So, I need to ask you something, Eugeo. You understand that if we escape and go searching for the truth about Alice, that means open rebellion against the Axiom Church. We don't have time to grapple with what that means, each and every action we take. If that knowledge is too much for you to handle, I think you should stay here.

For the two years they'd known each other, this was probably the hardest thing Zora had ever said to his best friend, but it was an unavoidable issue. Eugeo seemed calm on the surface, but Eugeo's fluctlight—his soul as a collection of light quantums—had just experienced a violent restructuring. Ever since birth, he'd believed in the absolute authority of the Axiom Church and Taboo Index. Now he had turned his back on that and placed something else in a higher priority.

Zora had to assume that Eugeo was in a more unstable position than he seemed, and if Zora put too much strain on Eugeo's shifting mental model, it might cause an aberration within his soul like Raios's. That's why Zora had tried not to mention either the Church or the Index if possible over the last thirty-five hours.

But if they were going to undertake the extreme task of escaping this cell and infiltrating Central Cathedral, Zora had to get some things straight beforehand so that he didn't have to stop and grapple with a sudden existential quandary in the middle of everything. Zora had to get Eugeo to the top floor of the cathedral safely—the place where he should find a control console that would let them disengage the simulation and return to reality.

That's right—Zora wanted to bring his partner and friend out to meet real people in the real world. The Underworld as it existed now was an experiment run by Rath, and they could turn it off or reset it at any time. That would mean deleting the fluctlights of the thousands upon thousands of people who lived in this world. Zora couldn't let that happen. He needed for Rath, and Kikuoka, to have a conversation with Eugeo and realize what they'd built.

The Underworldians weren't just virtual NPCs. They had the same intelligence and emotions as people in the real world, and they had a right to live here.

Eugeo's eyes went wide when Zora demanded that he prepare for the truth. He lowered his head, lifted his hand, and clenched a fist in front of his chest.

Eugeo: Yeah. I know. But I've already made up my mind. To even defy the Axiom Church, if it means that I can go back to Rulid Village with Alice. To draw my sword and fight, again and again, if that's what it takes. If that Integrity Knight is the real Alice, I'm going to find out why she lost her memories, and turn her back into who she was before. That's the mist important thing to me. That day we went into the woods with Ronye and Tiese, you said so yourself, Zora. That there are things we have to do even if they're against the law. I finally understand what you meant now.

Zora:...I see.

Zora took a deep breath of cold air to push down the strange feeling he was getting in my chest. Zora nodded, stepped forward, and patted Eugeo's shoulder.

Zora: I understand your determination. But...once we're out of here, we're going to avoid battle wherever possible. I don't feel like we stand a chance against any of the other Integrity Knights.

Eugeo: You're usually not this pessimistic, Zora.

Eugeo smirked. Zora reminded Eugeo that these guys were the toughest fighters in the world, then walked over to the metal bars separating their cell from the hallway.

Eugeo: Hmm...that should be easier than the chains, but it'll probably take a while to bend it with our hands. What do you think? Should we body-slam it at the same time?

Zora: We'll lose plenty of life on our side, too. But I think I've got an idea. Check this out.

Zora waved Eugeo back, then undid the chain wrapped around his right arm. Zora made it sound like he had the idea all along, but in fact, it came to him only when Zora was first wrapping the chain up. For the first year he'd spent at the Swordcraft Academy, he'd watched his mentor Sortiliena wrap up her own signature leather whip in the exact same way when she was done with it.

Eugeo: Um, Zora, are you going to try to break the bar with that? What if you mess up and hit yourself...?

Zora: Don't worry, I got plenty of lessons in whip-snapping from Liena-senpai. They called her the Walking Tactics Manual, remember? Now, if we blow the bars off, it's gonna make a hell of a noise, so we need to run straight for the stairs. Don't fight the jailer if he comes out. Just run.

Eugeo: Uh-huh. Plenty of lessons, eh?

Zora ignored that and started waving the chain wider and wider. It was still a bit short to use as a proper whip, but that class-38 priority would help make up the gap.

Zora(mind): You must strike by focusing on the weight of the tip, not the hand holding the whip, Liena would tell me.

Zora pulled back the chain and, before it stretched all the way out, swung it hard.

Zora: Seya!

It sprang forward like a dull gray snake, striking the intersection of those thick bars directly and producing a shower of sparks. The bar ripped loose from the vertical frame, top and bottom, and slammed into the cell on the far wall with a tremendous clatter. If anyone had been stored in that cell, they would've assumed that Solus had sent down their punishment directly.

Zora: Alright. Let's make a run for it before the guard comes.

The stairs had felt interminably long when they were descending them, but rushing upward, Zora sensed the exit was near after just a few minutes. The moldiness of the air trailed away, and the damp stone walls and steps changed to fine, smooth marble.

Eventually the way ahead got lighter, and when the exit came into view, they leaped upward, skipping steps and completely forgetting any sense of caution. Once they were on the surface again, they greedily sucked in lungfuls of fresh air.

Zora and Eugeo: Ahhh...

Zora: I think we should be okay now...

Eugeo: Zora, these are...

Zora: What's wrong?

Eugeo then looked at the flower beds and the ones on the wall.

Eugeo: I've never seen any before...but I'm positive. These are roses, Zora.

Zora: Roses? Are you serious? All these flowers growing in this labyrinth?

Eugeo: For there to be so many precious roses here... Even now, I just can't believe any of this. You and I are in the Central Cathedral.

Zora: -_- Too bad we're here as escaped fugitives, rather than Integrity Knights like we planned.

Eugeo weakly smiled back for a moment.

Eugeo: But this might've been the right thing all along. Since if we'd become Integrity Knights, we might've ended up like Alice, too.

Zora: They could've controlled our memories, too, huh? But if that's true of all Integrity Knights, who do they think they are, I wonder?

Eugeo: I don't know...

Zora: In other words, even if those Knight's memories have been sealed away, they should know things like who their parents are, and where they were born, right? After all, that's the fundamental root of being human. That's why I think it would be hard to fake knowledge like that.

Eugeo: Right, those Knights can easily go anywhere in the human realm on their flying dragons. Even if the memories of their real birthplace were sealed away and replaced with fake ones, once they actually visited their hometowns, they'd know right away that it was a lie.

Suddenly, Eugeo sucked in a deep breath and stared at Zora. Zora looked back, surprised at this reaction. After several seconds of staring at each other, Zora finally recognized the reason for his behavior.

Zora: You! You just realized we might find a way to restore my memories in this tower, didn't you?

Eugeo: Uh, n-no I...

He scrunched up his face and looked down at the ground, so Zora moved toward Eugeo and ruffled his flaxen hair.

Zora: Come on now!

Eugeo: Wha— Stop that, Zora!

Zora: You're such a worrywart. I told you —whether my memory comes back or not, I'm going along on your journey to the end.

Eugeo raised his reddened faced and protested.

Eugeo: Don't treat me like a kid. It's not like I'm doubting your word. I mean, you've said it so many times. But when I think about how our journey might be coming to an end, somehow...

His voice was tense and thick with emotion, and Zora started to feel something rising within his own chest. Zora looked up, hand still on Eugeo's head.

The tremendous monolith standing over them was truly worthy of being called the center of the world. Even if there somehow weren't any obstacles on the way up, the trip would not be easy—but that was all that was left. No matter how many thousands of stairs were between Zora and Eugeo, once they'd finished climbing them, their journey would be over. And it had taken at least a year less than they had planned. But this wouldn't be an eternal farewell. Zora'd log out to the real world, but he would be back. He had to see Eugeo, Liena, Ronie, Tiese, and everyone else again.

Zora: Once it's over, let's make sure we secure a happy ending. You'll get Alice's memories back and take her home to Rulid. But...wouldn't you need to choose a new calling then? You should probably start thinking about that now, because you won't get another chance.

Eugeo looked up at last, his familiar annoyed expression present.

Eugeo: I think you're getting ahead of yourself. Well, but either way, I've had it with being a woodcutter!

Zora: Ha-ha, I bet you have.

Zora took his hand off Eugeo's head and slapped his shoulder, just as the Bells of Time-Tolling far overhead rang the time, beautiful and grand. That was the four o'clock melody. Only one more hour until daybreak...

Zora: Looks like we ought to get moving.

Eugeo: Yeah, let's go.

They knuckled fists in solidarity, the force, timing, and speed of which were perfectly matched. No more words were needed. They set about examining their surroundings again. For now, all they knew was that we were on the back side of the cathedral, on the west. The eastern side was hidden from view on the other side of the building, of course.

The next gate soon made its appearance. Just past it was the clearing where the dragon landed. Zora recalled seeing benches and a small fountain, but Zora wasn't sure if there was a map of the garden as well. But it was a clearing for general use, so there should be one. There must be! Just as they passed through the second, smaller gate, Zora felt a familiar pain at the roots of his bangs, while Eugeo tugged on the back of his coat.

???: As expected. My mentor, Lady Alice is very perceptive. After all she predicted the very unlikely escape of our prisoners.

They heard a voice near the garden their in.

Zora: "My Mentor"?

???: Anticipating that you would break out, I was ordered to spend the night here. To be honest, I was extremely skeptical, but for you to really show up...

The person walked up and they saw it was an Integrity Knight.

Eugeo: An Integrity Knight?!

Zora: Lady Alice? "My mentor"?

???: Needless to say, I will be sending you back to the underground prison, but first, it looks like I'll have to administer some harsh punishment. I'm sure you two are prepared for that.

His thin smile hadn't left, but there was power radiating from his tall, lean form, and Zora had to resist the urge to falter.

Zora: Then you must also be prepared for us not to take that punishment without a fight, right?

The Integrity Knight then glared at Zora and Rose Petals started to swirl around them.

???: Ha-ha-ha! Very feisty. I'd heard you were just pups who hadn't even graduated the academy, but I'm impressed. In honor of your empty threat, I will give you my name, before I beat you to the last shred of your life. I am the Integrity Knight Eldrie Synthesis Thirty-One. I was freshly summoned just a month ago, and I don't have any territory to my name yet—hope you don't mind that.