she had her eyes open, as she got up still feeling sleepy, before she look around her to see a wand was pointing at her, as an undine was looking at her with the two are in confusion
"miss, may i ask where am i ?" the woman asked as she realize this isn't her house "you didn't know how you got here !?" asuna said in surpise of what she heard
"asuna, let me explain, she attacked us when we go out explore on dragon valley, but she suddenly faint, we doesn't dare to left her there, so we left with no choice" hearing this asuna put down her wand "next time, be sure to inform me this, you scared me to death back there"
"something got in my way when i'm about to inform you" kirito said scratching his head "well, since it was all clear, allow me to introduce myself, my name is solmani, it's a greeting to meet you miss-" solmani introduce herself but don't know what to call the lady in front of her
"asuna yuuki, you can just call me asuna" asuna said hoping she doesn't have to be this formal "and you are ?" solmani look to kirito as she wonder who he was "kirito"
"kirito, asuna, thanks you for you hospitality, but may i ask where is my weapon ?" solmani look around searching for her weapon
"i think it was with blesi, you want me to bring you to him ?" kirito requested "sure" solamni agreed thinking it also best knowing where she was "may i join?" asuna said just to kept an eye but also get to know her better
meanwhile
blesi had invited lisbeth to check on this weapon on the nearby hut "genbu?" lisbeth said as she took a look at the weapons profile
"didn't expect to see this weapon here, consider mace would be the most likely option" blesi wonder "it seems like this is quite a rare weapon, it look like it was dropped from a boss or some sorts"
"consider the way she wield it at full speed as if it was nothing, would you like to see the status ?" blesi requested knowing this can be problematic "well, i guess we could, but, are you sure about it though, maybe she was just very skillful at this" lisbeth said just to be sure
"it's hard to say, but i just want to take a peek" blesi replied as he want to know why, as he see lisbeth pull out the status the two were in for a suprise as every single parameter was maxed
"what the hell, it's all maxed !?" lisbeth was shocked she can imagine how overpowered or broken this weapon is "no wonder she can wield it at ease"
"but, where is the shine though, weapons usually shine when maxed out" lisbeth said wondering if there is a bug or error before blesi notice the circular guard as he twist it around noticing it was a switch
"lisbeth, could you step aside ?" blesi said hoping to not hurt lisbeth who is standing in front of the weapon point "what are you doing ?" lisbeth wonder as she see blesi twist the octagonal guard before the thing suddenly shoot out to the wall as a immortal object sign appear while the point fell to the ground, as it became a whip like weapon
"what the-, this is new !?" lisbeth said for the first time she saw a shine could be like this while blesi wonder as he remember she uses the whip before as he twist the guard back, the whip gather together as it became the original looks
"this really is the iron whip" blesi said in disbelief before decided to sheath back the weapon just as they heard a footstep outside and the voice of asuna with another woman
as he quickly put the weapon on the table to prevent suspicion as he prepare to greet the three
outside kirito had gotten close to the hut as he about to knock blesi had opened the door, as solmani see this man as she acted suddenly, looking at him in anger and fury
as blesi walking pass her, just as kirito brought solmani weapon out of the hut, she suddenly jump to grab onto the iron whip, before pulling it out as it unleash its whip form
smashing everything in front of him as it was going toward blesi, without enought time blesi can only see the attack coming toward him, but asuna quickly pull out her rapier to parry the incoming attack just as her weapon turn back into iron form
"solmani, what the meaning of this !?" asuna asked surpise with the sudden change of mood, as blesi wonder what just happen "step aside, asuna, this is a grudge between me and him"
"i don't even know you ?" blesi said ensuring she must have mistaken him from someone else "liars, why won't you just listen to her for once!" she began to attack with her weapon like a whip as she lashes out toward blesi but only to be taken care by asuna
but this time blesi had his weapon ready and kirito pull out his sword to help but her whip surrounding her making her hard to get close, as she turn around to give him an attack, kirito tried her best to block it but the strength had push him a few feet away
as she continue to attack toward blesi with blesi and asuna having to struggle with the strenght of incoming attack, kirito decided to just run as she saw this she began to unleash every attack on him, by some miracle, kirito felt like he had a similar encounter before
as he dodge every attack with ease, she look in suprise as she turn her weapon into iron formas she began her attack, with her plunge her weapon like a rapier she attack it constantly while kirito continue to parry, dodge, and parry more as blesi began to help kirito
even with one at front and back she manage to handle it like it was nothing before she suddenly unleashed her whip and swung it around her giving her more space
as she look to blesi, pointing her weapon at him before she began to talk "impossible, there no way, this has to be him !?" she suddenly speak as if she is talking to another person "true" she said before end it with a "fine, you know you could have told me this earlier" she agreed to something "whatever" she said as she grab her scabbard to put to sheathed her weapon
seeing this kirito began to ask "are you truly solmani ?" she look to kirito as she put her weapon on her shoulder "how do you guess it ?" she said acting as if she was the boss of this place "your sudden mood changes when you suddenly attack blesi"
"anybody can change in mood when met a person, what makes me so different" she said giving a smug look "you continue to say 'you or her' as if there was another person" blesi helped kirito hoping she could told something they didn't know
she began to laughing like it was a joke as she said "fine, fine, you have good ears, kiddo, well then allow me to introduce myself once again, you may know me at first as solmani, but now, in front of you are..." she pointing at blesi "the most mighty and powerful, skoll"
"was she a child ?" blesi whispered "don't know, best be safe and play along" kirito whispered back as blesi decided to play along "oh, the great and mighty skoll, may i dare to ask, who would dare to not listen to the great and mighty one ?"
"oh, you mean that guy ?, just a close friend to solmani" skoll said as blesi began to wonder who it was "may i be bold and ask who this person was"
"sadly, i can't tell you this, solmani demand me to never tell anyone about this"
"i see, in that case we have no choice" blesi said feeling so close to know who she was refer to as he see skoll began to walk away "where are you going ?"
"dragon valley, bye!" she said waving back "do you even know the road to dragon valley?" she stop after hearing this "you know what, i think i'm gonna stay here for a bit" she said awkwardly yet pretending to be tuff
while asuna simply chuckle as she think she act like a child, quite a suprise to see it in front of her eyes "well, i'm guessing you all haven't had any breakfast right ?" asuna said remember that almost everyone haven't eat anything "now that you mention it, we sort of forgot about it" kirito said in realization
"anyway, wanna go back, i'll made the breakfast" she said as everyone follow her back, as lisbeth walk out of the hut wondering what the hell she just witness before decided it's time to go to yggdrasil city to her workshop
meanwhile
leafa, sinon, silica decided to login early today as they visited the forest house only to realize the door was locked, with silica and pina looking through the window noticing no one was there
"weird, were they still asleep ?" leafa wondered "if it was yui or alice, i can uderstand but it's suprising to see kirito and asuna woke up this late" sinon said as the three wonder where they are
before hearing from the distant a voice of a girl talking as they look back to see a stranger getting closer to the house, they wonder who it was with suspicion especially with their experiences these few days but they didn't expect her to simply said "yo" as if they had known each other
"a, who are you? " leafa asked politely "me?, just some guest, but what are you three doing here?" skoll asked as if she lived here "what a bratty kid, sinon, should we trust her ?" leafa asked just ignored skoll "hey, i'm not a kid!" skoll replied embarassed of being look down upon "yep, she clearly is a child" leafa continue as she made fun of her "stop calling me a child!" hearing leafa saying this sinon and silica could help but chuckle though her focus quickly turn to asuna as she saw her coming "eh, asuna ?"
"sinonon, didn't expect you to login early" asuna said as she got close to the house while kirito and blesi just arrive "well, i got nothing to do so far so i might just take sometime to login a bit, and also, who is this ?"
"welll..." kirito said scratching his head as he had his hand knocking on blesi to continue before blesi understand the signal continuing with "it's a long story, best talk about it when we get in"
they all got in the house as blesi and kirito explain it to ensure to the three she isn't an enemy as skoll just sat there looking up to the ceiling, playing with her hair, just getting bored, until she saw a little pixie looking at her as she blink in confusion before swipe her hand as she though it was an insect or somesorts
as asuna see yui flying and hiding behind her "mama, who is this scary lady !?" asuna heard this suprise as she hope to calm down the situation "yui, don't be rude" though skoll hear it as she felt that insult was personal "hey who are you calling scary, you little pixie !?"
as yui continue to hide behind her skoll hear solmani voice in her head (you scared her, skoll) as skoll look at yui before said "would you like to handle it ?" solmani replied with a (sure) as skoll simply sat down "it's all yours" (ok) she said as she closed her eyes before she opened her eyes again now a different person entirely
as blesi asked "is this solmani ?" with solmani replied calmly "yes" as leafa was suprised to see this, wondering what just happen and why the sudden change of mood as solmani look to the young yui smiling gently while yui is still having a bit of fear as she have no idea what this lady was going to do
while blesi nudge to kirito arm as kirito said "yui, meet sister solmani." just as kirito finish this solmani simply show her gentle smile to yui "hello little yui" as blesi wonder is that the best kirito can think of, but he'll have to wait and see
as he can see solmani is trying her best to make a welcoming impression on yui, but yui seems to be more afraid toward her as solmani stare slowly saddened as she pull back her arm while blesi wonder should he ask if she is fine or not
he and kirito can tell she try to hold back but dare not to say it for fear of awkwardness not to mention it might make yui felt guilty as blesi nudge on kirito arm hoping he could get some idea, knowing this he quickly said "oh right, asuna, didn't you say your going to make dinner ?"
asuna look to kirito understanding the signal as she quickly said "right, right, almost forgot about that, solmani, would you like to help me with breakfast ?" asuna look to solmani "sure, i'll help" she said silently as she quickly got up to get to the kitchen with asuna as asuna turn around and wink at silica, hoping she could let pina play with yui
as silica decided to let pina lay on yui lap letting her petting it to her hearts desire while blesi and kirito hope thing goes well behind the kitchen
solmani follow asuna to the kitchen as asuna wonder what should they prepare before solmani asked "have you heard of the scarborough fair chicken soup ?" asuna heard this word find it familiar "yes, but i never really try it out before" solmani hear this as she said "i guess you and your family can try it out today" asuna excited to try it out as she replied "sure"
asuna prepare the chicken meat she prepare the ingredients needed, chopped carrots, water, chopped herbs of parsley, sage, extra rosemary, and thyme, as she cut some chopped onion, with some pearl barley all mixed into the water and stir, now she need to await for asuna chopped chicken
as she put the pot of water in heat, while asuna bring in the chopped chicken, though asuna notice she was quite silent which was suprised to be coming from a person yui first met "hey, are you alright ?"
"oh nothing" solmani said as asuna see there is more rosemary in the soup "do you enjoy this soup with extra rosemary ?" asuna asked as solmani said "sorry, it's a force of habit of mine, though i put a lot less than i usually do"
"i see, well then let's put the chicken in and it should be ready soon" asuna said dropping the chicken into the soup as solmani stir up the soup for a bit, as the texture of the soup became thick and sticky as the color turn grey in color, seeing it was a good sign
"it's ready, now enjoy" she said as asuna going to call everyone, though solmani told "i'm not hungry so you go ahead and enjoy" asuna was suprised by this "eh, why ?" solmani replied pointing at the mess she made in the kitchen"well, someone gonna clean up the messy part of the kitchen" hearing this asuna have decided "all right then, come join in when your finish"
"i will" solmani said as she got to clean the kitchen though she kept her ears sharp as she was curious to how they reacted
alice just got out of bed yawning as she look around her suprising to see everyone is on the table with kirito greet her as she got close to see what is asuna cooking
before her was a bowl of soup grey in color as it was thick and sticky with chicken filled and some chopped carrots in them, she got curious as she and everyone else taste it
"interesting flavour, what soup is this ?" blesi asked curiously "scarborough fair chicken soup, if i recall" asuna replied find the name a bit hard to understand
"scarborough fair... as in the elven folk story?" blesi said to see solmani walk out of th kitchen "yes"
"i must say, this is a good soup" blesi praised before he continued his soup while other doesn't fully grasp what they were just talking about but they decided not to barge in as they continue their soup while solmani decided to sit down as she realize she is close to alice
"h-hello "solmani greet awkwardly as alice don't know how to repsond except a single word of "hi" coming out of her mouth as the two feeling a bit of awkwardness solmani decide to ask what they think
"do you like it ?" as skoll was facepalming inside her she couldn't believe this is the first thing she would ask
(i recommend we got out for a stroll) skoll said try to get solmani out of this situation as solmani agreed before got up "well i'm going out for some stroll" as she suddenly walk to the door though blesi began to ask "all by yourself, are you sure about that ?"
"it's all right, skoll will help if i can't handle them" she said as she reach to the door before it was suddenly opened knocking to her head as she was pushed back
but a hand grab onto her as she look to see klein pulling her so she can stand properly he quickly pull back his hand as he quickly apologize to this beautiful young lady before the apology seems to turn into flirting
kirito though of klein is doing it again while blesi looking at solmani before he got up, he grab to solmani weapon as he point it to his stomach before twisting the guard as it shoot out punching to klein stomach "ouch, what was that for !?"
"oops, i must have trigger the weapon to its whip form by accident, sorry klein" blesi said jokingly as he turn the trigger back to it's original form, as kirito reminded of the punch he made to klein when he introduce him to asuna
"oh by the way, solmani here your weapon" blesi said as he gave the weapon to solmani "i heard your going for a stroll would you mind if i join ?, i have nothing to do currently so might as well join for a stroll"
"i don't mind, the more the merrier after all, klein was it, would you like to go as well ?" solmani asked as klein blushly replied "s-sure" she then look to agil as she realize she didn;t know his name yet "and you are ?"
"agil" agil replied no more no less "wanna join me ?" she asked nicely eventhough she was terrified by his height "i don't mind" agil said as he got nothing to do for today
as they all got out, with blesi and agil on the tail looking at klein and solmani in the front flirting with her saying jokes as she chuckle at it, while blesi originally planned to have some talk while going on a stroll but agil see him as he said "hey, kiddo, your alright ?"
"i'm fine, it just it seems that it didn't go as i planned " agil heard mistook it for blesi having a crush on solmani but just to be sure "you had a crush on her ?" blesi hearing this in suprise as he quickly replied "n-no, it's not like that, i actually want to ask her some questions ?"
"classic excuse" agil said think of it as an excuse to hide his crush "hey!, well i guess i wouldn't be suprise because of my wording" blesi chuckled "so you really do not like her, not even a little ?" agil asked forward "no, i just curious what she meant when we first met her"
"she said something to you in a fight ?" agil asked as he barely heard a thing during the fight "yes, if i recall it was 'why won't you listen to me', but who do you think she refer to ?"
agil and blesi had put out their though but came out nothing "hard to say, it can be anybody from the looks of it" agil said before he stopped blesi as he see klein and solmani stopped on their tracks
blesi try to look only to see in suprise as in front of him a figure standing with his back facing them, he was dress all in white, his hand had a two handed jian, while on his belt a shorter version of the same sword, blesi recognize this figure as he see him turn back, it was jakul.