I was wondering around on Floor 35. I heard the sound of monsters attacking something.

U/n: Huh?

Curious, I walked in direction where I heard the sound. Reaching there I seen a player getting jumped by a group of monsters. They get closer to the girl who had her back turned to them. I drew my sword and effortlessly took them all out.

The player whom I saved turned around and saw me. Getting a better look at the player, I see she has brown hair in pigtails with red eyes.

She looked at me with tears in her eyes.

???: Pina.

She turns around and grabs hold of a feather.

???: Pina. Don't leave me all alone here.

She brings the feather close to her chest and started crying. I sheathed my sword and walked closer.

U/n: What's with the feather?

???: It's Pina, my best... friend.

U/n: I see. You're one of those beast tamers.

I looked her feeling a little sad.

U/n: I'm sorry. If I had gotten here sooner, I could have saved your friend.

???: No. It's all my fault.

She shakes her head.

???: I was stupid to think I could make it through the forest on my own.

She turns to face me.

???: Thank you for saving me. You did what you could.

U/n: That feather...

I walked over to her and kneeled down.

U/n: Check if it has an item name attached to it.

???: Huh?

She stares at the feather and looked and saw that the feather was called "Pina's heart".

She cries even more.

U/n: Hey, it's okay, don't cry. That means Pina's heart's still here. There's a chance you can revive it.

???: No way. Really?

U/n: Yup. On the south side of Floor 47, there's a field dungeon called the Hill of Memories. I heard somewhere that the too can revive familiars.

She gasps and looks at me hopefully. But was quickly replaced with sadness.

???: Floor 47, huh?

U/n: Normally I'll do something like this for free. But the thing is, the flower won't bloom unless the familiar's master's there.

She looks at me.

???: Thank you so much for telling me about it. If I work hard to raise my level, then someday I could...

U/n: About that.

She looks at me confused. I rubbed the back of my head.

U/n: There's a three day limit to revive it.

She gasps.

???: No way. It's all my fault. I'm so sorry, Pina.

U/n: It's okay. You have three days. Plenty of time.

She looks at me.

I opened my menu and started trading with the girl giving her multiple high level equipment and a dagger.

U/n: Here take this equipment. It should boost you 5 or 6 levels, and if we go together, I'm sure everything will work out.

U/n:(Thoughts) I hope.

She stands up.

???: But... why would you do all this for me?

U/n: Because, it's the right thing to do.

She looked back at the trade and equipment.

???: Um... I know this isn't enough col to pay you back, but--

She was about to trade me with her col but I stop her.

U/n: Nah. I told you before I'll do it for free.

???: But, I want to pay you back.

I put my hand to my chin in thought.

U/n: You can pay me back by telling me your name.

Silica: Silica.

U/n: My name's U/n. It's nice to meet you Silica.

I held out my hand. She takes it and we shake hands.

(Timeskip)

After agreeing to help Silica, we both made it back to town. We were walking through town, just then two players ran towards us.

Player1: Hey, look! It's Silica!

Silica: Huh?

I watched as the two players approached Silica.

Player2: It took you a long time to get back. We were getting worried.

Silica: Um...

Player1: You want to team up with us? We'll take you wherever you want to go!

Silica started to back up nervously.

Silica: That's really nice of you to offer, but...

She looks at me and then grabbed my arm and held on to it.

Silica: Well, I've sort of already agreed to be in a party with him, so...

They both glared at me.

U/n: Uhhhh?

Silica: 'Kay, later. Bye.

She started dragging me as I felt them both staring at me from behind.

Silica: I didn't mean to put you on the spot like that.

U/n: Fans of yours? You must be popular.

Silica: No. They don't take me seriously. They want me to be their mascot. Maybe they're right. They call me Dragon Tamer, and I guess...

She stops walking.

Silica: It went to my head.

U/n: Don't worry about it.

Silica: Huh?

I put my hand on her head.

U/n: I promise you. We'll make it in time, Okay.

She smiles.

Silica: Okay!

We continued our walk towards the inn while Silica asked me another question.

Silica: Do you live around here, U/n?

U/n: I live on Floor 50. It's too far so I was thinking about getting a room here tonight.

Silica: If you stay, I'll take you out for some cheesecake! It's really good here!

U/n: Cheesecake? Now I'm definitely staying here for the night.

Silica giggles.

???: Well, if it isn't Silica.

Looking over I saw a group of players and a red headed woman.

???: Wow, you made it out of the forest alive. Good for you, girl.

She started walking towards us.

I looked back at Silica who had a nervous face.

U/n: Hey, you okay?

Silica: Oh, no. Nothing.

???: Hang on. What happened to your little friend the Lizard?

She leans closer to Silica.

???: Did it run away?

Silica: Pina died saving me. But... I'm gonna get Pina back!

Silica looks back at the red headed woman with a determined look.

???: Really? I guess you'll be heading for the Hill of Memories, then. I wonder if you'll be able to clear it at your level.

Silica sighs sadly.

U/n: Of course she will. It's not that difficult of an area.

???: Oh, god, this girl's seduced Another player. No, it's not difficult, but you don't look That strong.

U/n: Looks can be deceiving. Come on Silica.

We both started to walk away from her.

(Timeskip)

After walking away from the woman. We found an inn and are currently sitting at a table.

Silica: Why does she have to be so mean?

U/n: Is SAO the first MMO you played?

Silica: Uh-huh.

She nods.

U/n: A lot of people act differently when they play online. And some actually like being the villain. You see how our cursors are green? If you commit a crime against another player, your curator's gonna turn orange. And there are the red players-- the worst, also known as player-killers. They're all about murder.

Silica gasps.

Silica: They kill other players?!

U/n: In a normal game, they play as the bad guy, do some super villain laughs, and it's cool. But this isn't a normal game.

I clenched my fists.

U/n: It's definitely not a game.

Silica notices this.

Silica: U/n?

U/n: Sorry.

Silica noticed how upset I got about this.

Silica: Well, I think you're good, so...

She puts her hands on mine.

Silica: I mean, you saved me, after all.

I gasp.

U/n: Looks like You cherred Me up instead.

I gave her smile.

U/n: Thank you, Silica.

Silica quickly realized what she was doing and started to blush like crazy and sat back down.

Silica: Wow, where the heck is our cheesecake already?! Excuse me! Our desert hasn't shown up yet.

(Timeskip)

I was walking towards Silica's room in the inn. Reaching her room I knocked on the door.

U/n: Silica? You still awake?

I can hear her gasp in her room.

Silica: U-U/n!

U/n: I forgot to mention some stuff about Floor 47, but it can wait till tomorrow.

Silica: No, now's fine! Actually, I was just thinking I should ask you about--

I could hear her pause mid sentence.

U/n: Silica?

Silica: G-Gimme a second.

I shrugged and leaned against a wall, after a few seconds Silica opened the door and let me in.

She sits on her bed blushing like crazy.

I grab a table and brought it closer to her.

Digging in my coat I pulled a mirage sphere and placed it on the table. I noticed Silica who was embarrassed.

U/n: Uh, what's up with you? Something wrong?

Silica: No! Nothing!

She notices the mirage sphere.

Silica: What's that thing do, U/n?

U/n: It's a mirage sphere.

I pressed the button on it as it starts to glow and the top half of it goes up in the air and a digital map appears.

Silica giggles.

Silica: It's pretty.

U/n: This is the town area of Floor 47, and that's the Hill of Memories.

I point at the map.

U/n: I was thinking if we take this route, we can--

I stopped mid sentence as something catches my attention at the door.

Silica: What's wro--

U/n: Shh!

I put two of my fingers to my mouth. After confirming my suspicions I rush over to the door opening it.

U/n: Who's there!

I heard running to my right. Looking in that direction I seen a dark figure jump down the stairs.

Silica walked to my side.

Silica: Um... who was it?

U/n: An eavesdropper.

Silica: But they can't. I mean you can't hear through a door unless you knock first.

We walk back in the room. I closed the door behind us.

U/n: If your listening skill is high enough, you can. It takes practice. Not that many players have it.

Silica: Why would they want to listen to us?

U/n: Who knows.

(Timeskip)

Meeting up with Silica in the morning we made our way to Floor 47. Silica looks around amazed.

Silica: Wow!

I noticed a few couples around the garden.

Silica: This place is like a dream!

U/n: I know right. The whole floor is covered in flowers. That's why they call it the floor garden.

Silica giggles and runs over to some flowers nearby, she crouches to get a better look at them.

She looks up and notices the couples in the area. Her face turns red.

U/n: Silica?

Silica: What?! Nothing!

She stands up straightening herself.

Silica: Sorry to keep you waiting.

U/n: What's up with you?

Silica: Oh, nothing! Nothing at all!

I narrow my eyes.

U/n:(Thoughts) Sus.

U/n: Come on. Let's head out.

I walk forward.

Silica: Okay.

She follows me to a bridge. I stop and hand her a teleport crystal.

Silica: What's that for?

U/n: If something bad happens while we're here, I'm gonna tell you to wrap out. When I do, use this crystal. You can jump to any town with it.

Silica: But...

U/n: No "buts" missy. Use it.

She stares at me and to the crystal in my hand.

Silica: I understand.

She takes take the crystal and puts it away.

U/n: Let's get moving. If we take this path, it'll lead us right to the Hill of Memories.

I gesture the field in front of us.

I walk forward. Silica follows suit. We we're walking side by side in silence.

Silica: Um, U/n?

Just then two tentacles from a monster wrap around her legs and lifted her up in the air. She grabs her weapon and started freaking out and flailing around.

Silica: AAAAAAAH!

U/n: Calm down Silica! That thing's not That strong!

Silica: Help, U/n! Save me! But don't look! Save me, but don't look!

I covered my eyes with one of my hand.

U/n: That'll be... difficult.

Silica: Darm you! Put me down! Now!

She cuts off one of the tentacles holding her and drops down to the monster and stabs it in the head killing it.

She landed on the ground safely and looked at me blushing.

Silica: You see anything?

I looked away.

U/n: Nothing but the blue sky.

We both walked forward continuing our path.

(Timeskip)

After a few minutes of walking Silica spoke up.

Silica: Is that reviving flower around here?

U/n: Yup. It's right over there.

I point to the altar in front of us. We both made our way to it.

Coming close to it the flower started to bloom and Silica looked at it in amazement.

U/n: Go ahead. Pick it up.

She grabbed and we both saw the name "Pneuma Flower."

Silica looks back at me.

Silica: You sure it'll bring Pins back to life?

U/n: Of course it will. I didn't bring you up here so we can just pick up random flowers.

Silica: I'm so glad.

U/n: There's a bunch of strong monsters around here. Let's revive it when we get back to town. I'm sure Pina would want it that way.

Silica looked at me with tears in her eyes.

Silica: Okay!

After retrieving the "Pneuma Flower" we made it back to the bridge. I put my hand on Silica shoulder stopping her. She looked at me confused.

Silica: Is something wrong?

U/n: Whoever's hiding out there, come out.

The red headed woman I saw last night walked from behind a tree shocking Silica.

Silica: Rosalia?

Rosalia: If you saw through my hiding skill so easy, your detection skill must be really high, swordsman. Oh! It looks like you were successful getting your hand on the Pneuma Flower! Congratulations. Now, hand it over before you get hurt.

Silica: What are you talking about?

U/n: No one's handing anything over, Rosalia... not to you or the orange guild, or should I say Titan's hand. You're their leader, correct?

Rosaila: Nice.

Silica: But Rosaila's cursor is green.

U/n: It's a trick. The green members find their victims, then they lure them to the orange players for the ambush. That was one of your guys last night eavesdropping on us, wasn't it.

Silica: Then the reason you were in that party with me and the others was to--

Rosaila: How perceptive. I was observing their strength and watching them earn all that beautiful money.

She licks her lips while Silica gasps.

Rosaila: You were who I was excited about, and I was so sad when you left the party, but then you told me you were getting a rare item. What I want to know is if You knew about us, why did you bring her here? Are you dumb, or does she have you wrapped around her finger?

U/n: Nope. You're wrong. You see Rosalia, I've been looking all over for you.

Rosalia: What are you talking about?

U/n: Remember 10 days ago? You attacked a guild called the Silver Flags? The leader survived, four didn't.

Rosalia: Oh, the losers with no money.

U/n: Their leader went back and forth from the wrap point to the front lines, morning till night, and with tears in his eyes, he begged everyone he met to avenge his dead friends. He didn't want you killed. No, he wanted you to go to prison. Do you have any clue how he felt?

Rosaila: Can't say I do. Only idiots take this seriously. So what if we kill someone here? There's no proof dying here means you're dead I.R.L. Anyway, it's time you started worrying about yourselves.

She snaps her finger as multiple orange players come out from behind the trees they were hiding behind.

Silica: U/n, there's too many of them. We should get out of here.