that she won't get up in the morning or go to school.
This happening to her of all people is just. .
. life kicking her while she is down.
She lifelessly continues trudging around, not even acknowledging where her steps are taking her.
She comes to a dark alleyway, snapping back to attention as she nearly bumps into the wall, her hands accidentally grasping. .
. something?
She blinks owlishly, hand on some form of invisible object on the brick wall in front of her.
It feels. .
. spherical? And it's pretty hard judging from a quick squeeze.
She feels around the wall briefly, it feels like a standard brick wall, but there's a small invisible raised piece and this object.
She finally comprehends what it is.
A doorhandle.
She gives the handle a slow turn, pulling back on the handle as she does so.
The wall peels back revealing a wooden door with a golden symbol at the top. One of those old timey weighted scales.
One with two sides.
She opens the door and hesitates at what she sees on the other side.
It's small.
Really small for a shop.
Realistically it's only a countertop, there are no shelves or anything like that.
A black haired teen sits behind the counter looking absolutely bored, propping his head up with an arm as he stares lifelessly at the door.
Hearing a small jingle, his red eyes light up, rapidly erasing his boredom.
"Welcome to my shop. What can I get for you.
" He speaks, a kind smile on his face as his soft and calming voice causes the girl a brief pause.
After a moment of looking over her, he freezes in. .
. shock? His eyes growing wide.
"U-Uh. .
. " She blinks as she looks around and steps inside.
As she shuts the door behind her, a lance of pain shoots through her head several popups appear around her with dull flashes and blaring lights.
*Error. System malfunction.
You have left the borders of Aincrad. Return or you will face termin-*
*ERROR CORRECTED. SYSTEM SUSTAINED BY SHOP.
*
*Death timer negated*
"Are. .
. you alright?" The teen in front of her asks, hand on her shoulder, he had jumped the counter and is now standing beside her, worriedly looking over her.
This place is. .
. outside of Aincrad? What? That doesn't make any sense.
"Where. .
. am I?" The girl whispers as she looks around the shop.
It is incredibly small, a little pathetic in fact, but. .
. it's not in Aincrad?
She peers out the window, seeing a floating island. Nothing exists beyond it.
She opens the door in shock, revealing the alley she was just walking through.
"Wh. .
. "
She closes the door slowly, turning back to the boy who had clambered over the countertop. "Where are we?"
"Some extradimensional space of some sort. I come in through Japan.
Judging by your clothes. .
. I doubt that the same can be said for you.
" He frowns, a hand coming to his chin.
"Japan? You. .
. come from Japan?! Please, you've got to tell somebody! Akihiko Kayaba trapped us in his game! If anyone tries to take off our nerve gear helmets, we'll die!
"…"
"Nerve. .
. gear?" He blinks.
"Do. .
. you now know about Nerve Gear? The newest video game console! The one required to play sword art online? The first true Virtual Reality game?"
"Doesn't ring a bell. " He admits casually.
"R-Really?'
"You must come from another Japan. .
. in my world.
Supernatural creatures roam the world in a big ol 'secret society', making sure to keep normal humans out of their business via mind-wipes and creating miniature dimensions in to do their battles. Did your sister die in a car accident on the way to work? Sorry.
What actually happened was a necromancer and a church exorcist got into a scuffle in the middle of the highway and she was collateral damage. Did that plane crash due to a 'fuel leak'? It hit a dragon.
Get struck by lightning? Zeus got drunk, look to his wife and was all 'look I know your mad I fucked that woman as a goose, but watch THIS' then he promptly does a backflip and accidentally obliterates you as bolts of lightning fall out of that little quiver thing on his back. "
"W-What?" The girl whispers.
Z-Zeus?
"I'm not fucking with you by the way. " The teen shrugs as he hops over the countertop, gesturing above his head.
There's nothing there at all.
He nods to the girl, causing her to look up above her.
Lisbeth - Lv 1
He opens the door and gestures outside.
It is noticeably not where she just entered.
She leans forwards, going to peek outside.
A crackling wall of hard-light appears in front of her, causing her forehead to thud against it
*WARNING* *WARNING* *WARNING*
You are leaving Aincrad are you sure you wish to do this? In doing so your original body will be killed. You will be locked to this form, and you will be forevermore unable to enter Aincrad.
Leave Aincrad? {Yes} {No}
K-Kill her?
Wait. .
. locked to this form? She would still be alive?
Before she can fully contemplate leaping from her old life into this new one, the shopkeeper closes the door.
She shakes her head as he returns to behind his counter.
His world sounds scary. She would go from a death game where she can be safe if she just cowers in the first city.
. .
to a world where anything could kill her anywhere any time.
"Yeah. My world sucks pretty bad.
Why do you think I'm hiding away in here?" He gestures around the shop. "Admittedly, I sort of have to leave to restock, but alas.
I'm just a 'normal human' all I gotta do is not draw attention to myself as I walk down the street to the nearest seven eleven. Buy stuff, then come back.
"
"So. " He finishes.
"What can I get for you, Lisbeth?"