CHAPTER 23.2 - Cold Night

"I'm sorry. Did I wake you up?" Asuna ask him she already changed her clothes

"No. The room and the bed are so big, it makes me uneasy, you know?" He looks at Asuna who was now hugging her knees, so he thinks that something is bagging Asuna "Were you also laying awake thinking about next year?" Asuna didn't say anything "I knew it"

"I want.. I want to.. Survive" Asuna whispered "I want to survive to see next Christmas and watch snowfall on aincrad" Asuna look outside of the big window

"I'm going to make sure.." Kirito look at where Asuna was starring "I'm sorry Asuna, I can't promise that. I don't have the strength right now to offer you advice" Kirito feel useless at the first time

"Then, get stronger, until you're able to tell the frightened people like me that I'll be okay" Asuna lay on his shoulder. Kirito starred at Asuna's face and she closed her eyes. Looking at her makes Kirito come for something he wants to protect Asuna at any cost however he can't do that as of now

"I'm going to be stronger" Kirito hugged her "I'll do what it takes so that next time, I can say: 'It's alright, you're not going to die"

***December 27, 2022 / Yofel Castle***

"Sixteen Forest Elves boat, ours only number eight" Emilia said she was looking at the lake that surrounded the Yofel Castle using a telescope "That's more than expected"

"Not to worry. That's just more of them for us to sink" Asuna took her Farner rapier on its scabbard

"We're going to drive back the invading Forest Elves! All ships full speed!" Emilia is the one who dominates the battle. Good thing that they prepared for this so Asuna and Kirito find the best and durable material for the ship that the Dark elves going to use in this war. Because of that when both parties collided with each other the boat of the Forest Elves was quickly destroyed "Two enemy ships sunk! One ally damage!" Emilia called Kirito "Now its turn! Let's go, Kirito!"

"You got it! Don't get thrown off!" Kirito said and started to sail the gondola "Asuna! Emilia! Now!" Emilia and Asuna jump on the Forest Elves' boat and attack them. They planning to fight the Forest Elves on the gondola's

"What?!" The Forest Elves shock looking at Asuna and Kirito "Lowly Dark Elves! You stood to ally with a human?!" They said in disgust, and suddenly stopped and look at their above, they saw something coming from the sky, it was Kirito who was about to attack them "What?! From above?!"

"How can that be?!" The other Forest Elf was shocked too

"I'm your opponent!" Kirito charges them with a vertical attack "Next one! Back to the gondola!"

"He's very determined. What happened that night?" Emilia ask Asuna she feels that something happen that Christmas Eve, because after that Kirito become more hyper since that night

"Ha-Haha-Ha" Asuna blushed and remembered that Christmas eve when Kirito hugged her and she fall asleep. After wrecking some ship Asuna called Kirito "Look, The Dark Elves are being pushed back, the forest Elves still have strength left over. It's only a matter of time before they're storming the castle

"I suppose we can't take them all by ourselves," Kirito said

"Kirito! Change of tactics! We'll disembark at the shore and fight them at the gates!" Emilia said

"But we still need numbers can the priests in the castle fight?" Kirito asks her, their help would be a big thing to win this war

"They've never known battle in their lives. I wouldn't count on it"

"So we can't expect help from the castle, the only one who might have the power to overcome this situation is him," Asuna said referring to Leyshren Zed Yofilis

"Hear this out!" Kirito came up with an idea ".. And this is my idea" Kirito explain his idea

"I can handle it but.." Emilia said in hesitant

"I can do that Kirito-Kun, you can stay here," Asuna said "Just don't risk too much, this is a pretty big gamble on my part. If it looks too dangerous, flee to safety" Asuna said

"O-Okay" Kirito was hesitant however he needs to be here in the battle "J-Just be careful, Asuna" Kirito tap the shoulder of Asuna "Okay, we're going to fly! Don't get thrown off!" Kirito manages the gondola to the dock

"Commander! The way to the dock is open!" The Forest elves said

"Good" The Forest commander smiled "Begin advance! Disembark on the dock!" He commanded

"Let's go, Kirito!" Emilia said and gripped her sword

"Ready! We're going to hold out here until Asuna gets back" Kirito looked at Asuna who was now running towards the Castle, he was worried if Asuna could do that, but he think the information that he gave to her was a big help. When the Forest Elves was about to enter the castle Kirito and Emilia block them "You're not getting past us.."

".. Until Asuna returns!!" Emilia said

***Yofilis Office***

Asuna take a deep breath and knock on the door "It's urgent my Lord"

"You may enter," Yofilis said

"Excuse me, sir!" Asuna said when she opened the door of his office "If you'll pardon my impertinence, I have something to ask you" She bowed "Our boats-"

"The battle is faring poorly, it seems" Yofilis look calm he was sitting on his usual office chair

"C-Correct, the flagship has been sunk, and they've made landfall" Asuna reported to him

"I see, and then it is only a matter of time before the enemy comes up here, is that what are you trying to say?" His calm voice made Asuna a bit terrified

"I-I give it twenty-five, no fifteen minutes" Asuna estimated the time

"Very well, human swordswoman, take your husband and leave this place" That makes Asuna shocked "I will wait here for the enemy. I appreciate your help thus far"

"Huh? Wait! Just a moment please!" Asuna can't understand why he is like that "We can still win! All we need is a true leader on the battlefield!" Asuna remembered Diavel when they fought the 1st floor Boss and he died all the front-liner players were scared because of that lot of them died and she doesn't want to repeat that for her Leader is not like commanding his subordinate but also encouraging them

"Ah then I ask you, who do you think will be this 'true leader'?"

"I'm speaking about you, my Lord Viscount" Asuna directly looking at his eyes with full of spirits that they can win it

"Heh. I'm afraid that is not possible, it may be hard for a young human like you to understand" He sighs "But if you continue fighting; there will come a time that you lose. If today is to be that day, then it is the will of the holy tree, as the people of Lyusula, we can accept the fate it gives us"

"They're still your soldiers are still fighting! And now they're waiting!" Asuna grabbed his color, because of that he was shocked looking at her "To hear your voice! If you're just waiting here for death to arrive, then why don't at least stand before your soldiers and encourage them instead!?" She doesn't care if it was a quest however she doesn't want them to die in front of her eyes

"Human youngster.." There is suddenly a quest sign appeared on his head, so Kirito was right that it could be part of the quest