December 28, 2022. 08:19 AM – Town of Beginnings, Floor 1

  Silver walked through the quiet streets of the town, heading toward the cathedral.

  Yuiha had asked him to come for breakfast with her, Sasha, and the children—who had insisted on seeing him again. He carried a bit of milk and some strange sweets he'd bought in Rovia; he didn't know what they were, but he'd liked them enough to bring a few.

  He knocked on the side door. It opened almost instantly, revealing Yuiha with a warm smile.

  —Thanks for coming.

  —Thanks for inviting me.

  She stepped aside and let him in. Silver took the things out of his inventory and handed them over. Yuiha thanked him and led him toward the dining room, where several kids were already waiting impatiently. Kain was the first to react—he jumped out of his chair and ran straight at him.

  —Silver-san! —he exclaimed, hugging him tightly.

  —Hey, champ —Silver replied, ruffling his hair.

  Mina appeared behind Kain, wearing a mischievous smile.

  —Silver-nii! Did you come to see Yuiha?

  —He came to see all of us —Yuiha answered from behind before Silver could stumble over a reply.

  He gave her a grateful smile, but the peace didn't last.

  —You came to see Yuiha? —asked Sasha from the hallway, her tone far too innocent to be genuine.

  —Actually, I came to see you —Silver blurted out before thinking.

  Both women froze. It took him half a second to realize what he'd just said.

  —I mean... I need to talk to you after breakfast. About the kids.

  Sasha tilted her head, confused. Yuiha just raised her hands in a helpless don't ask me gesture.

  Breakfast went on amid laughter, sweet bread, and an argument about whether Kain was old enough to start learning how to fight (Sasha said no, he said yes, and Silver tried not to take sides).

  When the children finally ran off outside, the three of them stayed in the kitchen.

  —All right, I'm listening —Sasha said.

  —Should I leave you two alone? —Yuiha offered.

  —Not necessary —Silver replied.— Yesterday... well, I didn't get the chance to talk to you.

  Both of them blushed at once. Sasha watched them with an amused smile, like two kittens tangled in a ball of yarn.

  —It's rude to talk in code in front of others, you know —she scolded, tapping the table.

  —It's not that... —Yuiha interrupted.— We tried to help two players on the fourth floor, but I failed to save one of them.

  Sasha immediately took her hands.

  —I told you already. You didn't fail. You saved one.

  Yuiha's expression softened. Silver took a breath and continued.

  —The fifth floor opened recently. I heard there's going to be a New Year's event—music, food... even fireworks. I thought it might be good for the kids.

  —Will it be inside the safe zone? —Sasha asked.

  —Yes. But they say the fireworks look better from a clearing outside the city. I'm going with my party to check the area. If it's safe, we'll coordinate a watch so the kids can see them.

  Sasha took a few seconds to process that. It was rare to see a front-line player caring this much.

  —What do you think? —she asked, turning to Yuiha.

  —It's a chance for them to see more than this town —Yuiha said.— But are you sure your friends will want to help?

  Silver smiled.

  —Miwa will say yes. And if she goes, Goose and Ryuho will too. Veget... is Veget. He'll grumble, but he'll help. Even if he doesn't come, the four of us are enough.

  —Sasha and I will stay in the center, with the kids —Yuiha added.

  —Exactly.

  Sasha thought for a moment. Then Yuiha spoke again.

  —We should bring six teleport crystals. If anything happens, you take the kids and leave first.

  —I agree —said Silver.

  —Six? —Sasha asked.

  —For you and the five children —Yuiha answered naturally.— They depend on you. You can't go down with us.

  Sasha swallowed, feeling the weight of that truth.

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  —And each of us in the group will carry one too —Yuiha continued.— We'll escape together afterward. I don't plan on dying just yet.

  Sasha sighed, defeated.

  —Fine. But I won't tell the kids anything until everything's confirmed.

  Yuiha and Silver smiled. She glanced at the time.

  —We should head to Liz's.

  As they walked away, Sasha murmured with a grin:

  —How much longer are they going to wait...?

  —Since when did you plan all this? —Yuiha asked as they walked.

  —Since I talked to Forkaf yesterday.

  —You could've told me.

  He scratched the back of his neck, uncomfortable.

  —I was going to, outside the cathedral, but... you know.

  She laughed and gave him a gentle shove on the arm.

  —About yesterday... thank you.

  He looked at her in silence.

  —Thank you for not judging me. For saying exactly what I needed to hear. For staying.

  Silver looked away.

  —Don't thank me. I owe you my life.

  Yuiha sighed softly.

  —I wish you wouldn't treat me like that just because you feel indebted.

  She kept walking, and he froze, his throat tightening.

  For the first time, he knew exactly what he felt... and still couldn't say it.

  He took a breath and went after her.

  December 28, 2022. 11:51 AM – Town of Beginnings, Floor 1

  The moment they stepped into the forge, a sing-song voice greeted them:

  —Hooo... together again?

  Lizbeth's hair was pastel pink—bright, vivid, impossible to ignore.

  —Did you fall into a cotton-candy machine? —Silver asked.

  The hammer hit his head before he could finish his grin.

  —How strong are you...? —he groaned from the floor.

  —Strong enough to teach you not to say dumb things, —Liz replied sweetly, her eyes saying the opposite.

  —You look beautiful, —Yuiha interjected.

  —Thank you. Finally, someone with taste.

  —How long did it take you to find the dye? —Yuiha asked.

  Liz pulled a tragic face.

  —Three days!

  —I told you it was rare, —Yuiha laughed.

  —But worth it. That bush was harder to find than half the rare weapons out there.

  —Because it's legendary.

  —What!?

  Liz opened her inventory and nearly fell backward.

  —I could sell this for a fortune...

  —And give your special color to half of Aincrad, —Yuiha pointed out.

  Silver raised a finger.

  —Uh... sorry to interrupt, but—

  Liz already had her hand on the hammer.

  —Did you have to bring this idiot?

  —He helped me get the Hardened Finn, —Yuiha explained.

  Liz's eyes lit up.

  —You got it!? Hand it over!

  Yuiha gave her the item. Liz held it as if it were a treasure.

  —Leave it to me.

  She activated her forge commands. The material glowed as it heated into a brilliant sphere. Four sharp strikes. Light shaped itself into a blade. And finally:

  [Item Created: Coral Edge (Epic)]

  [Type: Short Sword]

  [Description: A slender, curved blade of translucent coral hue that absorbs light and returns it with a warm glow. White pearlescent leather hilt; pommel adorned with a carved seashell.]

  [Attributes: ATK +52, AGI +15]

  [Passive Effect – Wave Slash: Each consecutive hit increases critical chance by 10% and critical damage by 3%.]

  Liz smiled, satisfied.

  —The best non-legendary weapon in the game.

  Yuiha took the sword, thrilled. She gave it a few testing swings, examining it in the light. Silver glanced at the stat window beside her.

  —Great ATK. The passive's perfect for fast combos, —he noted.

  Yuiha, however, ran her fingers gently along the coral blade, her eyes gleaming.

  —It's beautiful... the color... and those glowing veins when you strike—it feels alive.

  Liz smiled proudly.

  —Thank you, Liz. Really, —Yuiha said.

  —Thank you for bringing me such a material. But teach this idiot to talk less, —Liz said, pointing at Silver.

  —No promises, —Yuiha replied, laughing.

  Silver watched them, unsure whether to be offended by the comment... or just happy to see pure joy shining on Yuiha's face.