Halkegenia Online V1: Chapter 3 - Part 1 | "History Lesson, The Headmaster"
Kirigaya Kazuto, Kirito, former Beater of SAO, and now a Spriggan from the world of ALfheim online, found himself traveling at a leisurely trot atop the back of a rather large stallion. At his back, the Sylph swordswoman Leafa, his sister Suguha in real life, swayed gently from side to side with the gate of the horse. They both road with their hands bound before them, one of their escorts, a small blue haired girl, lead their horse from atop her own mount.
Their escorts had first been on edge around them, but as they journeyed onward and neither Kirito nor Leafa made any threatening movements, they had become resigned to the situation. Only the high strung blonde boy continued to cast them suspicious glances. As they traveled, Kirito turned an ear to the conversation among the three, mostly between the red haired woman and the blonde boy.
From their comments it appeared that the small girl was named Tabitha, the tall one was called Kirche, and the blonde boy was named Guiche. Aside from that, nothing they said made much sense to Kirito.
Even the most dedicated VMMORPG players had to brake from character from time to time, especially when the play environment had just been radically shifted. Even in the death game of SAO, where the virtual world had become like real life for many of the players, the illusion had never persisted for very long. It was as if Guiche, Tabitha, and Kirche really believed that they were students at a magic academy, and none of his questions so far had lead any of them to indicate the contrary. Though he had not yet dismissed the possibility that they were some sort of NPC, so far, that did not seem to be the case either.
"Kirito-kun?" Leafa whispered at his back.
"Hmm?"
"What you said earlier, you don't really think that right? How can people not know that they're in VR?"
"I really don't know." He admitted. "That was just my impression from speaking to Professor Colbert. It's just one theory. I definitely don't think it's possible to not know that you're in a virtual environment. Not within the limits of the AMUsphere or Nerve Gear."
"But they're not NPCs." Leafa reasoned. "Or, I don't think they are. You don't either, do you Onii-chan?"
Kirito nodded. "Yeah. That means they're definitely real people..."
"W-what are you Elves whispering about!" The boy, Guiche, suddenly interrupted. He shot a nervous glance at the two of them.
"We're just wondering about this land." Kirito said. "Since we've never heard of it."
"Yet you're speaking Tristanian." The girl, Kirche, observed.
"Is that what it sounds like to you?" Kirito asked. They seemed to him to be speaking in oddly accented Japanese, so the system auto translate was still working. "Like I said, we've never heard of Tristain or the Brimiric Kingdoms until today. I wouldn't mind hearing more about this land."
"A likely ploy to gather information!" Guiche accused. "A son of the Grammond family will never reveal military secrets to an Elf!" Guiche babbled on but Kirito had already tuned him out. From the looks of Guiche's companions, they were doing their best to do the same.
"Guiche, give it up. If they say they don't know, then maybe they really don't." Kirche said.
"B-but, that's preposterous!" The boy shouted. "Humans and elves have been mortal enemies for six thousand years! How could they have never heard of Brimir, or Halkegenia?"
"Not elves." Tabitha said suddenly. "Maybe."
"But their ears! And that strange magic!" Guiche defended.
"Maybe." Tabitha repeated.
"Well, it's still a ways to the Academy, it can't hurt to tell them things every commoner knows." Kirche decided out loud. "Like we told you earlier, we're currently in the Kingdom of Tristain, one of the four Brimiric Kingdoms, that along with Germania, reside on the continent of Halkegenia."
"Brimiric Kingdoms?" Leafa asked.
"Those nations whose royalty can claim direct descent from the Founder Brimir himself." Kirche
explained. "I'm guessing that if you don't know what the Brimiric Kingdom's are you wouldn't have heard of the Founder either."
Kirito and Leafa shook their heads in unison.
"Brimir was the Sacred Founder of the magic system of Halkegenia. It is said that he wielded the
Sacred Element of Void to create the four lesser elements of Magic, that is, Fire, Water, Earth, and Wind. The Royal families of each of the Brimiric Kingdoms derive their right to rule from their descent from the Founder." Kirche explained.
"Okay, that makes sense." Kirito said recalling classes and documentaries on history, connection to a sacred holy figure, a savior or a sun goddess, became justification to rule. "So where are these different Kingdoms in relation to where we are right now?"
"Well, we're almost dead in the middle of Tristain right now. Germania is to the North and East." Kirche said. "And Gallia borders Tristain to the south. Romalia is on a peninsula on the other side of Gallia, and Albion is... hmmm, what's today... Oh it'd be over the sea a bit to the north west right now."
Right now? Kirito wondered but didn't say anything as Kirche continued.
"Far to the East of Gallia and Germania are the Elven lands that exist beyond the mountains. So, where you're from."
"We're not Elves." Leafa said, but her heart wasn't really into arguing.
"Then, what are you?" Tabitha asked quietly.
"The names probably don't mean much to you, but Leafa here is a Sylph." Kirito explained. "And I'm a Spriggan." He smiled, "Though really, I'm more of a wandering swordsman than anything."
"So you really mean what you said about being Faeries?" Kirche asked with interest. "They're just legends you know."
"Giant Tree." Tabitha said.
"Yes, yes, I know dear." Kirche said and glanced over her shoulder at the World Tree.
"I think we may mean different things by Faeries." Kirito said. "And I definitely don't think we're from the Elven lands. The land we're from is surrounded on all sides by water for as far as the eye can see." Kirito glanced to Guiche, "I guess these Elves must be pretty powerful if you're so afraid of them."
Both Tabitha and Kirche stiffened in their saddles.
"Powerful?" Guiche said in a brittle voice. "Powerful? They can only make pacts with the spirits of the land and use their heathen magics to lay waste to entire armies!" Guiche said. "They can become one with the land, invisible to detection until they strike! A single elf warrior is a match for a full square class mage!"
"You know Guiche, if they are elves, you're paying them a compliment." Kirche said teasingly.
"Is that so?" Kirito said and then grinned. "It sounds like they're pretty tough. I wonder if I could beat one."
"Wuh-bb-but -" Guiche fell over his own words before babbling an ill thought out retort.
Kirche didn't seem to really believe Kirito's bravado, but continued to answer his questions as they approached the castle. The conversation left Kirito reasonably sure she was not an NPC. Which left him with only one theory, if the world that was being perceived was indistinguishable from reality, and the people they met could not be distinguished as NPCs, the conclusion was that they must treat this world as reality. Kirito frowned, unless of course he was hallucinating.
Before too long the castle began to rise before them, the overall structure consisting of a curtain wall connecting five outer towers, all of which surrounded a center tower. It resembled a European castle, like the ones on Postcards, more than it did anything from the history of Kirito's own homeland or the environs of ALfheim.
"Wait." Tabitha said softly, bringing the group to a halt. She brought her horse up alongside Kirito and Leafa. "Hands." She ordered.
"You can't mean to unbind them!" Guiche said startled.
The girl looked to Guiche. "Looks suspicious." She said.
"Tabitha's right. We don't want people thinking we brought back criminals, the guards would definitely want to inspect them. We should be okay this close to the castle." Kirche elaborated. "Come to think of it, the head coverings look a little suspicious too." She frowned thoughtfully before perking up. "How about something like this." Kirche recited a short enchantment and handkerchiefs rippled through the colors of the rainbow before settling into jet back and light green respectively.
The smaller girl gave Kirche an annoyed look as Kirito and Leafa examined the changed cloth. "Oh, I'll change them back later." Kirche defended.
"I guess Halkegenian magic has a lot of utility." Kirito mumbled to himself.
"B-but... " Guiche stuttered.
"Well, you can always look at it this way." Kirche commented. "If the guards take an interest, and they really are elves, then these two won't have any choice but to fight their way out. Am I right?" She nodded to Kirito.
"I'd really like to avoid it." Kirito said in the sweetest voice he could muster.
"Besides you're going to have to take them off soon anyway. We can't walk them through the school like prisoners. It would raise too many questions." Kirche continued.
Guiche seemed ready to burst, and then, with a shake of his head. "Fine!" Drawing his rose he gestured to the manacles and with a short incantation they began crumbling back into earth. "Are you happy now?" He asked Kirche.
"Yup!" The girl said cheerfully.
They were greeted at the gate by a group of guards wielding crossbows and halberds. "Halt, who goes there?" One of the guards challenged before recognizing the riders. "Oh, Lady Tabitha it's you." The man said politely. "Where is Professor Colbert? He left with you, didn't he?"
"Important business." Tabitha said tonelessly.
The man glanced to Kirito and Leafa. For a moment, Kirito wondered if his headband had come undone.
"Messengers." Tabitha answered the guard's unasked question. "Going to speak with the Headmaster."
The man nodded hesitantly and signaled for them to be allowed past. Kirito felt a wave of relief as they passed through the gate and into the castle's courtyard. Where they found themselves face to face with a dragon.
Kirito nearly fell out of the saddle as the creature settled to the earth before them, hand instinctively reaching for his absent sword. Fortunately, he managed to catch himself in time and then nearly fell again as Leafa grabbed his shoulders to catch her own balance. The dragon was unlike any he had seen in either ALfheim or SAO. Its body was sleek and long and its nose terminated in a rounded beak like snout that was almost cute. It studied the group like a small child before zeroing in on Tabitha.
"Kyuiii!" The dragon chirped. Not roared, not growled, chirped.
Tabitha road forward and placed a hand against the dragon's offered snout. "Okay, Sylphid." She whispered softly. "Not hurt. Go back and wait."
The dragon cocked its head off to the side and then chirped again. "Kyuiii." Before spreading its wings, and with a gust of wind, took back to the skies. Kirito watched as it ascended and then glided back down towards the far side of the castle.
The party dismounted at the stables situated next to the gate. Kirito helped his sister down from the horse gingerly, both of them were stiff from the ride.
"You okay Sugu?"
"Mmm." His sister nodded. "But my back really hurts." The Sylph swordswoman stretched her arms. "I guess I'm not made for the saddle. How about you?"
Kirito smiled, "I have some experience with mounts, so I'm okay."
Beyond the curtain wall, the castle grounds consisted of a wide open courtyard ringed by a few odd outbuildings and herb beds. Clusters of young people in the same uniform as Tabitha, Kirche, and Guiche, were scattered about, either standing near the buildings or actively patrolling the courtyard. Scattered among them were older figures, no doubt instructors, giving directions. The school seemed to be on high alert.
Tabitha went to converse with a group of the instructor standing watch beside the stables while Kirche and Guiche did their best to keep their curious fellow students at bay. Their arrival was met by more than a few odd looks and comments.
"Did you go all the way to that Tree?"
"What was it like?"
"It's some kind of illusion right? It can't be real."
"Where's Professor Colbert?"
"Who are these two?"
"They're Messengers we met along the way. They're here to see the Headmaster, don't crowd them." Kirche announced and started pushing through the crowd of curious onlookers. As they passed Kirito's ears perked
at some of the comments.
"Messengers? They don't look like mages, are they commoners, foreigners?"
"Look at his hair, and his skin is so pale!"
"Maybe he's from Rub'al Khali."
"Do you think?"
"Do you think they know what happened?"
"What sort of girl wears pants like that?"
"It's so undignified!"
"But look at her chest!"
"And her legs!"
Kirito's hand twitched idly.
Leafa simply scowled and ignored the comments, sticking close to her brother's side. Tabitha returned from speaking with the teachers and waved for them to follow.
Their destination seemed to be the base of the tower at the center of the castle grounds. Along the way they received more odd looks and more whispered comments, but their small party, lead by Tabitha, was given a wide berth by the assembled students and faculty. Any questions about their identity or destination were dispelled almost instantly by Tabitha with comments of "Official Business".
They were led into a large room, a dining hall, where the students and faculty were hurrying to and fro. A wizened old man, face obscured by a long beard, was standing, leaning on his staff, while conversing with the gathered faculty. Tabitha walked straight up to him, ignoring the cue that had built up and beckoned for him to lean down.
"Ah, Miss Tabitha" The man said.
Tabitha whispered something into his ear. Whatever it was caused the Headmaster to become instantly alert. The man stood back up and turned to look directly at Kirito and Leafa, stroking his beard thoughtfully.
"My, is that so?"
Tabitha nodded solemnly.
The old man looked back to Kirito and Leafa and then to his gathered staff. "I apologize, but an
important matter has come to my attention. Please direct your requests to my Secretary." He nodded to a green
haired woman at his side. "Miss Longueville." He gave the woman a small pat on her posterior and with surprising grace, disentangled himself from the crowd.
The young woman perked up in surprise. "Hey, wait but..." Before she could say anything more the
pack of students and faculty closed in on her.
"Miss Tabitha, Miss Zerbst, Mister Grammond, your guests, please come with me." The old man gestured for the group to follow him. They departed from the hall and took a flight of spiraling stares high up into the tower which deposited them before a pair of large oaken doors that were deeply inscribed with runes. At the center of one of the doors, at eye level, a small brass placard was engraved with text. The old man tapped his staff against the placard and a soft click issued from the doors.
Beyond the doorway lay a large office, comfortably furnished, that seemed to take up most of the floor. After closing the door he muttered something under his breath and described a small circle with his staff. A flash of greenlight briefly issued from thin air. Satisfied, he looked at Kirito and then Leafa before removing a pipe from his robes and placing it delicately in his mouth.
"Now what am I forgetting." The man mumbled. "Ah yes, my manners." He took the pipe from his mouth. "Allow me to introduce myself, I am known as Osmond, Old Osmond if you prefer, Headmaster of this Academy."
"Old Osmond?" Kirito asked, "That seems like a strange title."
"Kirito-kun!" Leafa hissed in his ear. "Don't be rude!"
The old man took a puff of his pipe. "It's quite alright, when you've lived as long as I have, being called 'Old' becomes rather a compliment I should think."
Just how old was this person? Kirito wondered.
The man looked them both over. "Now then, Elves is it? Show me." Far from being an order, the voice carried a note of almost grandfatherly concern.
Kirito and Leafa undid their handkerchiefs so that the Headmaster could see their ears. The man circled them slowly, examining them from every angle. At Kirito’s side, Leafa fidgeted nervously.
"Hmmm."
"What?" Leafa asked.
"They do indeed appear to be the ears of an Elf." Osmond decided. "Though I’ve never seen or heard of an Elf with dark hair and eyes, and your accents are not what I would expect. Most peculiar."
"Might not be elves." Tabitha said.
"Indeed, you mentioned that." Osmond replied. "If you would give your report, Miss Tabitha."
The girl seemed to frown at the request, though Kirito couldn’t be sure. She blinked her eyes rapidly
and her lips thinned. "Departed at ten hundred hours, traveled due south for two hours."
"She means that we left the academy with Professor Colbert at ten of the lock and got about halfway to the tree." Kirche explained glancing to Tabitha for confirmation. The smaller girl nodded.
"Observed change in the Flora and Fauna." Tabitha said.
"The plants and animals we saw in the direction of the tree were different. Professor Colbert agreed." Kirche elaborated.
"That's right." Guiche agreed. "And the terrain has changed too."
"Were spotted by elves." Tabitha glanced to Kirito. "Maybe not elves." She added.
"Meaning?" Osmond asked.
"Claim to be Fairies. One had ears like a cat." The pale girl blushed as she pantomimed cat’s
ears. "Another had dark skin and red hair." She added.
"He would have made a handsome Germanian." Kirche agreed thoughtfully.
"Then perhaps a demihuman." Osmond said, "An alliance? Ah, well, go on." Osmond puffed against at his pipe.
"Flew using an enchantment. We hid. Got spotted." Tabitha frowned. "They had the element of surprise and the high ground but surrendered both. These two, Kirito and Leafa," She pointed to the two faeries "Talked with Professor Colbert. Offered themselves, collateral, for the Professor to speak to their leaders." Tabitha, finished with her report, rubbed gently at her throat.
"She means that they got the drop on us, but they didn't want to fight." Kirche said. "They say that there's a town at the base of that tree that got transported along with it."
"This is indeed very peculiar." Osmond said. "You claim not to be Elves then?"
Kirito nodded, "I’m a Spriggan and Leafa is a sylph."
"Spriggans and Sylphs?" Osmond mused, "Like the old tales of Albion? You certainly do not look like the ghost of a giant nor a spirit of the wind. But perhaps there is half a truth to what you say." The man stroked his beard. "And you said they flew using magic and not mounts?"
"Does that matter?" Kirche asked.
"Indeed." Osmond said. "No doubt you all know that Elves are uniformly powerful Mages. Unlike our own elemental magic, they use the magic of the firstborns, magic that calls upon the spirits of the land to assist them. Elves dislike using their magic while flying, as it makes it more difficult for them to call upon the spirits of the land for aid. So it is quite strange to here of one using magic to fly, they prefer airships or mounts."
"How do you know that, Headmaster?" Guiche asked.
"Ah, well, even I was once Young Osmond." The man said with a hint of mirth.
Was this person even taking them seriously? Kirito began to wonder.
"The surest way to tell if they are elves would be to examine their magic." Osmond said thoughtfully. "Could either of you cast something, a small spell perhaps."
"Headmaster!" Guiche stepped forward in protest. "Certainly you wouldn’t allow them to use their magic here of all places!"
"Calm yourself Mister Grammond." The headmaster admonished.
Kirito frowned as he thought, he’d memorized a few useful spells, but most of them weren’t appropriate for a small demonstration. "Sorry, but I don’t think you’d want me to use any of my spells in here." Kirito apologized.
Leafa stepped forward. "I think I know one that might be harmless enough."
"Very well." Osmond said. "Please, proceed when you are ready."
Leafa closed her eyes and took a breath before beginning to speak. The spell sounded a bit like a song spoken in a foreign tongue. As Leafa recited, the air around her glowed and was inscribed with circling runes. With each verse, more of the runes came to a stop, stacking one atop the other before her. Leafa’s voice rose as she neared the end of the incantation and the runes glowed brightly before collapsing and collecting down into a single point of flickering light. The light bobbed in the air before drifting to hover beside Guiche. The boy leapt back in surprise only to be followed by the light.
"Interesting." Osmond said. "And what is the purpose of this spell?" Osmond's brow raised. "Miss Leafa?"
Kirito noticed his sister touching a hand to her head. "Are you okay Leafa?" He asked.
The Sylph nodded slowly. "Mmm, just felt like deja vu." She nodded to the flickering light which on closer inspection resembled a firefly. "It’s called a searching tracer." Leafa explained. "It’s a spell that takes the form of a small animal or insect and then follows a specific target. The caster can sense the location of the tracer and use it to follow someone at a distance."
"I see." Osmond said. "An interesting skill. In any case, those incantations were not any Elven magics that I recognize, nor were the runes ones that I am familiar with. Perhaps you can tell us your story and how you came to be in this land."
"That might take a while." Kirito said.
"We have time." Osmond replied.
"You probably won’t believe us." Kirito added.
"I’ve always enjoyed a good tale, one way or the other." The Headmaster assured and gestured for those gathered to take seats.
Kirito settled down beside Leafa and churned over what he had heard and seen so far.
"Before I begin, I have to ask to be certain. None of you have ever heard the terms ALfheim, AMUsphere or Nerve Gear?"
The gathered students and Old Osmond all shook their heads.
"Then what about Virtual Reality, or the country of Japan?"
Again the answer was negative.
"Then." Kirito said. "There is one last thing I have to ask. I’ll know the answer based on your response." Kirito sat up straight. "Quest Pause." He said flatly.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Kirche asked.
Kirito nodded slowly. "Then, this really isn’t a game." He said quietly.
Those gathered looked confused at his comment.
"Onii-chan?" Leafa whispered. "What are you talking about?" Leafa eyes were wide and confused and fearful. "You don’t mean that, right?"
Kirito tried to be strong for his sister, he smiled reassuringly and gently squeezed her hand. "It’s okay, Sugu. We’ll figure this out."
He looked back to Old Osmond and gathered his thoughts. At this point all of his theories were exhausted. The only conclusion was that, somehow, this was their reality. Kirito’s thoughts spiraled in a million directions as he tried to make sense of how that was possible, and more importantly, what it implied in his quest to find Asuna. Kirito began. "The land we came from is called ALfheim, the Land of the Faeries. It is a continent surrounded on all sides by oceans for as far as the eye can see, and at its center resides the World Tree."
"You mean that giant shrub?" Kirche asked.
"Mmm. It is said that at the top of the tree lives the Fairy King Oberon and that the first of the faerie races to prove their worthiness and reach the top of the World Tree will be rewarded with an audience before the King and be reborn as a legendary faerie race, the ALFs, light faeries whose wings never tire. The fairy races have struggled against one another to reach the top, but none have succeeded. From the outside, the crest of the world tree is protected by an impenetrable barrier, the only way up is through the trunk which is defended by an army of Guardian Knights that have repelled every attempt to defeat them. Some believe the quest may be impossible, the joke of a cruel King."
Kirito laced his fingers before him. "That is the world we came from, but it not the world we are from..."
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