Sword Art Online:Cradle of the Moon Chapter 1

Status: Incomplete

Prologue

In a corridor lined with white columns, loud echoes of human and animal footsteps can be heard.

A girl clad in grey light-armor with a sword hanging at her waist is running forward, her slightly-long black hair wildly flying. Immediately behind her, a young dragon wrapped with yellow fur shakes its long tail. Yet, the head of the dragon is located slightly above the girl's.

The girl's name is Ronier Arabel. The young dragon's flight name is "Tsukika".

As though they are in a fairytale, the pair emerges in a beautiful and agreeable spectacle. These two cannot imagine at all that they will be the first of the <<Integrity Knights>>...which will become the largest fighting force in the Underworld, in just a few short years.

In fact, at this point, however, girls who use the sword or <<sacred arts>> may be competing against those who came from all over the world and even the Human World...even the Dark World pushed through a hundred people, even though they had little chance of success.

In that formidable <<War of the East Gate>>, and subsequently, the <<Rebellion of the Four Empires>>....That girl was always at the frontlines. For the first time in history, through her great feats of valor in combat, she was appointed to be an Apprentice "Integrity Knight".

That said --

Though more and more refined swordswomen flourished, they were not to come from the battlefield.

Because Underworld finally got the peace that came after three hundred years of disorder.

The people of the human world, the humans of the Dark World, goblins, orcs, ogres, and giants: these six tribes signed a permanent, united peace treaty. Four noble imperial families with privileges who had oppressed the common people were also abolished. Just after the collapse made by the <<War of the East Gate>>, trading wagons came in and out constantly; in Centoria, the central city, tourists from the Dark World could be seen everywhere.

Once, fear and a lack of understanding separated the two worlds, but exposure to the sun melted the remaining frost without a trace.

Again the blood of the enemy would kiss the swinging sword hung around the waist; the girl and young dragon ran past the columns which blocked the sun, Sorusu, forming slanted stripes of glorious light.

• Katsu...katsu...* *Pata...pata...* Two sets of footsteps echo, and soon fade away.

Out of nowhere, a large butterfly materialized, again hovering in the corridor it came to, to enjoy the silence.

Chapter 1

"Ronier! Over here! Over here!"

A voice called. It was only when Ronier gazed beyond the crowd that she saw a fiery redhead shaking and hopping, standing on her tiptoes.

Together, the two girls went through the crowd, keeping their heads down and making apologies. People such as calligraphers and cooks packed closely together, while mages working at the Cathedral made space. For appearing to intrude, faces turned towards them. "Fu-n...fu-n..." Behind Ronier, a snort sounded the minute that Tsukika noticed. Frightened, the crowd cleared the road. At that sight, Tsukika's owner bowed even more.

After managing to get as far as the front row, Ronier took a deep breath.

"Oh, yeah! Let's get things started!"

In front of the circle, the redhead best friend puffed out her cheeks. Quickly bowing her head, she made one last apology.

"I'm sorry, I'm not sure what clothing I should have been wearing..."

"'Not sure'...you'll just end up looking the same as usual."

The name of the girl that made the disgusted face was Tiez Stolinen. Like Ronier, she was also an Integrity Knight Apprentice. With hair that was the colour of autumn leaves, and round eyes that shined, her disciplined body was dressed in a cute woolen tunic and skirt. A beautiful red leather scabbard was belted around her waist; it appeared that even her clothing and accessories matched.