Chapter 2 — The Oath of the Sword
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The sun was already setting when we left the central square. A gloomy silence reigned around. People weren't laughing or haggling anymore. There was anxiety and fear in their eyes—fear that clung to their hearts like icy claws.
Kirito and I walked in silence. We didn't have to talk — everything was clear without words. We knew that now the real struggle had begun.
The path led us to the outskirts of the starting city, where the training fields began. The monsters were weak, but there were a lot of them. We decided to stay here for the night to kill wild boars, hone our skills and... think.
—Kirito," I said, sitting down by the fire, —are you afraid?"
He didn't answer immediately. He stared into the fire, as if searching for an answer there.
"I'm afraid." But not for myself. For others... for you. I don't want to lose anyone.
I nodded.
"And me." But do you know what I'm thinking?
"About what?"
I got to my feet and drew my sword.
"I don't just want to survive. I want to get through this. Walk all the way to the top. And to help others. If we hide, we'll just become shadows. And if we fight, we will become hope.
Kirito looked at me, surprised, as if he had never seen me like this before.
"You've changed from beta, Ren.
"No, I just... realized what I wanted."
He grinned and stood up too.
—Then... let's swear."
I blinked in surprise.
"Swear it?"
Kirito held out his hand.
— No matter what happens, we will complete the game together. We will not retreat. We won't betray you. We won't fall until we reach the hundredth floor.
I also extended my hand.
"Together." Until the very end.
Our vow was not pompous. But at that moment, she became the foundation of the entire future path.
We are two swordsmen.
Two blades that became brothers.
In this cruel world of the sword, we only had faith in each other.