SAO: Strawberry Bunny

Sorry about the previous chapter. I know it was shorter. My wifi was acting up.

As the trio approached the southern edge of the third floor, the vibrant fields of Flora came into view, spreading out before them like a colorful tapestry. Waves of delilahs in vivid shades of yellow, pink, and lavender swayed gently in the breeze, their sweet fragrance carrying on the wind. The cobbled roads that cut through the fields were uneven and overgrown in some places, giving the impression of a town both old and quietly worn by time.

Flora itself was nestled beneath the dense canopy of the forest. Its rustic charm was immediately evident as the trio entered its borders. The tightly packed buildings in the center of the village looked like they had been plucked straight from a medieval storybook, with their heavy timbers and moss-covered stone foundations. Most were modest structures, their thatched roofs a muted golden brown, though a few clay-tiled rooftops stood out, marking the more significant buildings like the town hall and the local inn. Vines and flowering plants grew along walls and windowsills, adding bursts of green and color to the earthy tones of the town.

The village square was at the heart of Flora, a wide-open space where a modest fountain gurgled softly. Its clear water reflected the sunlight that broke through gaps in the canopy, casting dancing patterns on the worn cobblestones below. Surrounding the square were shops and stalls, their goods displayed on wooden counters and racks. Vendors offered everything from simple tools and handwoven baskets to more specialized wares like enchanted herbs and handcrafted charms.

Despite the idyllic setting, an air of tension lingered over the town. The streets were quieter than expected, and the few NPCs and players they passed moved with a wary urgency, their eyes darting nervously toward the edges of the forest. Shopkeepers stood stiffly behind their counters, their smiles strained, while Faune and Fae alike whispered in hushed tones.

Quinella frowned as she observed the unease around them. "There's definitely something wrong here," she murmured, her violet eyes scanning the square. "These people look like they're expecting trouble."

Strawberry adjusted her mask, her scythe resting over her shoulder as she surveyed the area. "Let's ask around. If something's going on, we need to know before we head deeper into the forest."

Muffin, nestled snugly under Strawberry's hood, suddenly perked up. His small nose twitched furiously as he turned his head toward a narrow side street, letting out a series of chirps and squeaks.

"What is it, Muffin?" Strawberry asked, following his gaze.

Muffin squirmed out of the hood, leaping onto Strawberry's shoulder and pawing at her arm. His insistent chirps urged her to follow him, and Strawberry sighed but gave in, nodding for Quinella to come along. They turned down the narrow street, its shadowed walls lined with ivy, and came to an abrupt stop when a voice reached them.

"Please! Someone, help me!" The voice was desperate and strained, coming from a small alley ahead.

Strawberry quickened her pace, rounding the corner to find a Fae woman standing alone, her bark-like skin glimmering faintly in the dim light. Her dual-colored eyes—one a piercing green and the other a deep purple—were wide with fear and desperation. She wrung her hands nervously, her gaze darting between the newcomers as they approached.

"Are you all right?" Strawberry asked, stepping forward cautiously. Quinella stood just behind her, her hand resting lightly on the hilt of her sword, ready for anything.

The Fae woman's shoulders sagged with relief as she looked at them. "My son—Kagamine—he's been taken by the Faultwarren Bandits," she said, her voice trembling. "They're holding him for ransom, but they're asking for more than I can possibly pay. I've begged everyone for help, but no one dares to stand up to them."

Quinella's expression darkened. "The Faultwarren Bandits? Do they operate out of the forest?"

The woman nodded, her hands gripping her cloak tightly. "Yes, their fort is deep in the Forest of the Wavering Mists. They sent me instructions for the ransom, but I don't have enough to meet their demands. Please, I'm begging you—save my son."

Strawberry exchanged a glance with Quinella. "We'll help. Just tell us where to find them."

The Fae woman hesitated, then handed Strawberry a crumpled piece of parchment. "This is the map they gave me. It marks the meeting point where they want the ransom delivered. It's near their fort, but the forest is dangerous. They've set traps everywhere."

"We'll be careful," Strawberry assured her, her tone steady. "We'll bring Kagamine back."

Tears welled in the woman's eyes as she bowed her head. "Thank you. Thank you so much."

Following the map, the trio ventured into the Forest of the Wavering Mists, a place shrouded in mystery and danger. The mist clung to the air like a heavy curtain, its cool dampness brushing against their skin and making it difficult to see more than a few feet ahead. The trees here were ancient, their gnarled roots snaking across the forest floor and their towering canopies casting deep shadows even during the day.

The sound of their footsteps was muffled by the soft moss underfoot, and the occasional rustle of leaves overhead put them all on edge. Quinella scanned the trees with sharp eyes, her hand never straying far from her sword.

"This place is perfect for an ambush," she muttered, her voice low. "We need to stay alert."

Muffin chirped in agreement, burrowing deeper into Strawberry's hood as if to shield himself from the eerie atmosphere.

The map led them along a narrow, twisting path lined with faint carvings on the trees—likely marks left by the bandits to guide their movements. The deeper they went, the more oppressive the forest felt, as though it were watching their every step. Then, without warning, the ground beneath Quinella gave way.

"Quinella!" Strawberry shouted, reaching out as Quinella disappeared into a hidden pitfall trap. The sound of snapping branches and rustling dirt echoed as Quinella fell.

Without hesitation, Strawberry leapt in after her, Muffin squeaking in alarm as they plummeted into the darkness below.

They landed with a jarring thud in a damp, stone-walled chamber. The air was musty and cool, and the faint sound of dripping water echoed around them. Strawberry groaned as she pushed herself to her feet, glancing around to assess their surroundings.

"Are you okay?" she asked, helping Quinella up.

"I'm fine," Quinella replied, brushing dirt from her armor. "But it looks like we've fallen into one of their traps."

The chamber was small, with rough-hewn walls and a single heavy door at one end. Across from them, in another cell, sat a young boy—Kagamine. He was thin and pale, his clothes torn, but his eyes lit up with hope when he saw them.

"You're here to save me?" he asked, his voice shaky.

Strawberry nodded. "We are. Just sit tight—we'll get you out of here."

Quinella moved to examine the door to their cell, her sharp mind already at work. "It's locked, but these bandits don't seem like the brightest. If we can lure one of them in here, we can take the key."

Strawberry smirked, flexing her fingers as she reached for her wires. "I've got an idea."

Using Muffin's soft squeaks as a distraction, they managed to draw a guard into the chamber. The burly bandit stepped in cautiously, his rusted axe raised, but before he could react, Strawberry's wires shot out, wrapping around his weapon and yanking it from his hands. She twisted the wires expertly, tripping him and sending him crashing to the ground.

Quinella moved quickly, searching the unconscious bandit and pulling a set of keys from his belt. "Got it. Let's get out of here."

They unlocked their cell and freed Kagamine, who clung to Strawberry's arm as they made their way through the fort's narrow, dimly lit halls. The bandits patrolled in small groups, but the trio worked together seamlessly. Quinella's precise strikes and Strawberry's wires took down their enemies swiftly, while Kagamine proved surprisingly resourceful, using his small size to scout ahead and warn them of approaching danger.

Muffin, ever the clever companion, darted through the shadows, creating distractions that allowed them to bypass several groups of guards.

Finally, they reached the exit—a heavy wooden door that opened out into the forest. They burst through it, running until the fort was far behind them, the mist swallowing the bandits' shouts as they faded into the distance.

Back in Flora, the sight of Kagamine running into his mother's arms brought tears to Issela's eyes. She knelt to embrace him, her hands trembling as she clung to him.

"You're safe! My precious boy, you're safe," she whispered, her voice breaking.

Kagamine hugged her tightly, his voice muffled against her shoulder. "They saved me, Mama."

Issela turned to Strawberry and Quinella, her gratitude overflowing. "I have no words to thank you. I don't have much, but please, take this as a token of my appreciation." She held out a small pouch of coins, her hands shaking.

Strawberry smiled softly, shaking her head as she pushed the pouch back toward Issela. "Keep it. You'll need it more than we do."

Issela blinked, her dual-colored eyes filling with more tears. "I—thank you," she whispered, clutching the pouch to her chest. "You've brought my son back to me. That's more than I could have ever hoped for."

Quinella, standing beside Strawberry, placed a comforting hand on the Fae woman's shoulder. "Just take care of him. That's all the thanks we need."

Kagamine looked up at Strawberry with wide eyes. "Thank you, miss. And you too, Muffin." He gave the small bunny a shy wave, which Muffin answered with a chirp and a twitch of his ears.

As they turned to leave, Strawberry couldn't help but glance back at the mother and son, reunited and safe. It reminded her, painfully, of the people she had once trusted and lost. Her heart clenched at the thought of Zev and Aubrie, their betrayal still fresh in her mind. She took a deep breath, pushing the dark thoughts away. There would be time for vengeance later. For now, she had other things to focus on.

Quinella broke the silence as they walked back toward their inn. "You did a good thing today, you know."

Strawberry tilted her head, her expression unreadable behind her mask. "It was the right thing to do."

Quinella smiled faintly. "Not everyone would risk their lives for someone they don't even know. It's part of what makes you... different."

Strawberry glanced at her, the corners of her mouth twitching upward. "Different, huh? I'll take that as a compliment."

Muffin let out a squeaky huff from his perch on Strawberry's shoulder, as if to agree. Quinella laughed softly, the sound light and genuine, and the tension from their earlier ordeal began to ease.

Back at their inn, the trio settled into a quiet corner of the dining area. The room was warm and cozy, lit by a roaring fire and a few enchanted lanterns that cast a soft, golden glow. They ordered a simple meal—stew, fresh bread, and herbal tea—and sat together at a small wooden table, finally allowing themselves to relax.

As they ate, Quinella leaned back in her chair, her violet eyes studying Strawberry thoughtfully. "So, what's next? The Faultwarren Bandits are handled, but there's still the matter of Ormi's quest. If the pattern holds, the next gemstone is somewhere on this floor."

Strawberry nodded, tearing off a piece of bread and offering it to Muffin, who nibbled it eagerly. "We'll start by gathering information. If the gemstone is tied to the Fae or the Faune, we'll need to figure out where they'd keep something that valuable."

Quinella took a sip of her tea, her gaze contemplative. "The Fae might have some answers, but they're not exactly forthcoming. And we can't trust them to tell us the truth, even if they do talk."

Strawberry smirked. "Then we don't ask. We listen, we observe, and we piece things together. There's always a trail, even if it's hidden."

Muffin let out an enthusiastic chirp, his small paw tapping Strawberry's arm as if to say, You've got this.

Quinella chuckled. "Looks like Muffin believes in you."

Strawberry scratched behind Muffin's ears, her smirk softening into a genuine smile. "Good. Someone has to."

As the conversation shifted to lighter topics, Strawberry found herself relaxing more than she had in weeks. Quinella's sharp wit and easy laughter made the evening pass quickly, and for the first time in a long while, Strawberry felt a glimmer of something she hadn't dared to hope for—companionship.

Later that night, as the inn grew quiet and the fire burned low, Strawberry sat by the window in their shared room, gazing out at the moonlit fields of delilahs. Muffin was curled up in her lap, his soft fur warm against her hands as she absentmindedly stroked him.

Her thoughts drifted back to Issela and Kagamine, their tearful reunion playing over in her mind. Saving them had been the right thing to do, but it had also stirred memories she'd rather forget. Memories of a life stolen from her, of trust shattered by the people she thought she knew best.

She clenched her fists, her gaze hardening. "I'll find them," she muttered under her breath. "Zev, Aubrie... I'll find you, and you'll pay for what you did."

Muffin stirred, letting out a soft chirp as he looked up at her with curious eyes. Strawberry smiled faintly, her fingers brushing over his ears. "Don't worry, Muffin. I won't let them get away with it."

Quinella's voice broke the silence, soft and gentle. "Still thinking about that thing you refuse to talk about?"

Strawberry turned to see Quinella standing in the doorway, her expression unreadable. She hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah. It's hard not to."

Quinella walked over, leaning against the windowsill beside her. "You don't have to tell me everything, but... if you ever need someone to listen, I'm here."

Strawberry met her gaze, her heart softening at the sincerity in Quinella's eyes. "Thanks. I might take you up on that someday."

Quinella smiled, her hand resting briefly on Strawberry's shoulder. "Anytime."

As the night deepened and the village grew still, Strawberry let out a slow breath, her resolve stronger than ever. There was a long road ahead, but for the first time in a while, she felt like she wasn't walking it alone. With Muffin by her side and Quinella watching her back, she was ready for whatever the third floor—and Aincrad—had in store.