Squares of stone fell outward one after another, and the hole in the wall grew and grew. Eugeo stared, dumbfounded, at the blue sky and white clouds beyond.
A sudden gust of wind smacked his back and knocked him to the grass. The air inside the tower was being sucked out through the hole in the wall—and the two closest to the aperture were helpless to resist it.
To his utter shock, the tangled black swordsman and golden knight were sucked out of the tower. The image burned itself into his retinas.
“Aaaaaah!!” he screamed, crawling up to the hole.
What should I do? Make a rope from sacred arts—no, use the Blue Rose Sword’s ice to—
He didn’t have time to put any of these ideas into action.
The stones of the cathedral wall that had fallen through the outside were gathering together, as though time itself were rewinding.
With each one fitting into place, the hole got steadily smaller: gonk, gonk, gonk.
“Aaaaaah!!” he wailed again, rushing up to the wall just as it became seamless once more.
He slammed a fist against it. And again. And again.
The skin of his hand split and blood flew from the wound, but the restored wall did not budge.
“Kiriiito!! Aliiiiice!!”
His voice only echoed off the cold, smooth marble.
(To be continued)
AFTERWORD
Thank you for reading Sword Art Online 12: Alicization Rising. Beginning, Running, Turning—the Alicization arc is on its fourth volume now, and it’s about the time that the conclusion should be coming into sight, but…boy, Kirito and Eugeo sure have been climbing for a while. I mean, Central Cathedral is a hundred-story structure, just like Aincrad, so I guess it must be hard to get up that far. They should be reaching the top in the next volume, so just hang on for a bit more stairs, please!
The Rising subtitle for this book, of course, refers to their ascent up the tower, but in English, you don’t actually “rise” up stairs, you “go up” them. The next time you students have a sacred arts—er, English test—remember the difference!
It was in April 2009 when the first volume hit the shelves, so with the original release of this twelfth book in April 2013, the SAO series has lasted four years. Within the story, the launch of SAO is November 2022, and Alicization takes place in June of 2026, so that’s about three years and seven months. (And an extra two years for poor Kirito in the Underworld…)
During that time, Kirito, Asuna, and the others have been through a variety of experiences in the virtual world and the real world, and grown as people. As for me, the author, I can’t actually think of anything that has changed for me. My personality and living situation are so fixed in place, I have to wonder if Administrator is behind it all! I haven’t even changed the laptop I use to write! (Although the keys are fading from all the typing, I guess.)
I suppose this just means that I fear change and get annoyed by it. I’m more resistant to the idea of changing my surroundings than I am eager to upgrade my PC, and I prefer my weekly bike rides to remain the same, down to the last turn…But if I don’t come into contact with new things, I feel like the scope of my stories will narrow down and down, so I’m hoping that this year will be one of change. First thing is to get a new laptop…but gosh, putting the screen protector on is so annoying…
So given these and my other failings, I owe a great debt of gratitude to my editors Mr. Miki and Mr. Tsuchiya; to my illustrator abec, whose work is always executed with aplomb despite his busy schedule; and of course, to all of you readers as we embark on Year Five!
Reki Kawahara—February 2013
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Alicization Rising Page 21
