SAO: Strawberry Bunny

The next morning, as the sun rose weakly over the snow-covered forest, Strawberry, Quinella, and Muffin were ready to begin their exploration of the fourth floor in earnest. But the memories of the previous night lingered—a rare moment of comfort in a world designed to test them at every turn.

The Hearthstead Inn, now bathed in the pale light of dawn, felt even more inviting than it had the night before. Villagers bustled around the common room, some finishing hearty breakfasts while others prepared for another day in the relentless cold.

Strawberry adjusted her scarf as she glanced around. "Well, that was a decent start to this floor. Warm food, warm bed. I could get used to this—if it weren't for the constant threat of death."

Quinella, her violet eyes sparkling with amusement, sipped her morning tea. "Let's not forget the man-eating beast lurking somewhere in the woods. Adds a certain… ambiance, wouldn't you say?"

Muffin, snug in Strawberry's hood once more, let out a soft chirp, as if to say he had no complaints about the arrangement.

As they finished their breakfast, the sound of the innkeeper's laughter caught their attention. She was chatting with a pair of rugged hunters at a nearby table. One of the men, a grizzled figure with a scar running across his cheek, was gesturing animatedly.

"I'm telling you, the tracks were as wide as my shoulders. Whatever made them wasn't no ordinary animal."

The innkeeper chuckled. "You've been in the ale again, Garith. No one's seen Snowmaw in years."

Quinella leaned toward Strawberry, lowering her voice. "Should we ask about the tracks? Sounds like it could be related to this floor's mysteries."

Strawberry nodded. "Might as well. If there's anything dangerous out there, better to know about it before it knows about us."

They approached the table, drawing the attention of the hunters. Garith looked them up and down, his eyes lingering on their weapons before nodding in approval. "Well, well. Looks like we've got ourselves a couple of adventurers."

"Something like that," Quinella replied smoothly. "We couldn't help but overhear—something about tracks?"

Garith's expression turned serious. "Aye. Found 'em near the frozen lake a few days back. Big as dinner plates, they were, and deep. Whatever made them was heavy."

"Could it be Snowmaw?" Strawberry asked, her tone cautious.

Garith shrugged. "Could be. Don't know if I believe in that old tale, but… I've been hunting these woods my whole life. Never seen tracks like that before."

The other hunter, a younger man with a nervous look, chimed in. "We're staying clear of that area for now. Whatever it is, it's not something we're equipped to deal with."

Quinella exchanged a glance with Strawberry. "Sounds like something we might want to investigate."

"Sounds like trouble," Strawberry muttered, but there was a spark of curiosity in her eyes.

Garith chuckled, his tone half-joking. "If you two are planning to chase after that thing, I'd recommend making peace with your gods first."

Strawberry smirked. "I'll keep that in mind. Thanks for the warning."

With the information tucked away for later, the trio stepped outside into the cold once more. The sun struggled to break through the thick cloud cover, casting a muted glow over the landscape. Snow crunched under their boots as they made their way out of Snowfrost, the village gradually fading behind them.

"So," Quinella began, pulling her cloak tighter against the wind. "Do we follow the map or detour to check out the tracks?"

Strawberry adjusted her hood, her scythe strapped securely to her back. "Let's stick to the map for now. If we cross paths with whatever made those tracks, we'll deal with it then."

Muffin chirped in agreement, his tiny head poking out of the hood to take in the snowy scenery.

As they trudged deeper into the forest, the world around them grew quieter, the only sounds being the whisper of the wind and the occasional creak of snow-laden branches. The map led them toward a winding path that skirted the edge of the frozen lake, its surface shimmering faintly in the dim light.

Despite the serene beauty of the surroundings, there was an undeniable tension in the air. Strawberry's hand hovered near her weapon, her eyes scanning the shadows for any signs of movement. Quinella walked beside her, her posture relaxed but her gaze sharp.

They were in the heart of the fourth floor now, and they all knew better than to let their guard down.

As the day stretched on, the forest began to change. The trees grew taller and more ancient, their gnarled branches forming a canopy that blocked out even more of the weak sunlight. The air grew colder, and the snow beneath their feet became denser, crunching less and muffling their movements.

"We should head back before it gets dark and we can't see," Strawberry said. She did not want to be stuck in the cold at night. 

Quinella and Muffin agreed.

The trio trudged back through the snow-covered paths toward the heart of Snowfrost as the daylight began to wane. The muted sunlight filtering through the thick clouds gave the snow a faint blue hue, casting an ethereal glow over the landscape. The frosty air bit at their cheeks, making the promise of warmth all the more enticing.

By the time they reached the outskirts of the village, the charm of Snowfrost's quaint streets and rustic shops felt like a small reward for the day's trek. The golden light spilling from the windows of various establishments painted the snow in warm hues, creating a cozy contrast to the harsh environment outside.

As they passed through the central square, Quinella's sharp gaze landed on an unusual storefront with a sign that read Frosty's Café of Ice Cream. The display window was decorated with icicles and frosted glass, while an inviting glow from inside hinted at warmth and comfort.

"An ice cream shop?" Quinella asked, her voice a mix of surprise and amusement. "In this freezing cold?"

Strawberry tilted her head, curiosity sparking in her pink eyes. "Why not? It's so absurd it might actually be good."

Muffin let out an excited chirp, clearly in favor of the idea.

Quinella chuckled. "Alright, let's check it out."

The moment they stepped inside, they were greeted by the comforting hum of warmth from a roaring fireplace. The interior was delightfully whimsical, with snowflake-patterned rugs, tables carved from ice, and walls lined with shelves of jars containing colorful sprinkles and syrups. A soft melody played in the background, giving the shop a magical atmosphere.

Behind the counter stood a plump NPC with rosy cheeks and a thick mustache that curled at the ends. He wore a tailored white coat and a chef's hat embroidered with snowflakes. "Welcome to Frosty's!" he bellowed with a cheery grin. "Best ice cream and hot chocolate in all of Aincrad!"

Quinella leaned closer to Strawberry and whispered, "That's a bold claim."

Strawberry smirked. "Guess we'll have to test it out."

They approached the counter, scanning the menu displayed above. It boasted a dazzling array of ice cream flavors and hot chocolate options, each one described in such detail it was hard to choose.

Strawberry eventually settled on chocolate chip strawberry ice cream paired with hot chocolate topped with whipped cream and sprinkles. Quinella opted for mint chocolate chip ice cream and a cup of rich, dark hot chocolate.

As their order was prepared, Strawberry noticed Muffin gazing intently at the bright red cherry perched atop her ice cream. She laughed softly and plucked it off, offering it to the eager bunny. "Here you go, troublemaker."

Muffin chirped happily and nibbled at the cherry with enthusiasm, his little tail wagging in delight.

Quinella watched the scene with an amused expression, shaking her head as she sipped her hot chocolate. "Spoiling him, aren't you?"

"Someone's got to," Strawberry replied with a shrug, though her soft smile betrayed her affection for the little creature.

The ice cream was better than either of them expected. The chocolate chips in Strawberry's dessert added a satisfying crunch to the creamy strawberry base, while Quinella's mint chocolate chip was refreshingly cool and perfectly balanced. The hot chocolates were rich and velvety, warming them from the inside out.

As they sat at one of the ice-carved tables, enjoying their treats, the world outside seemed to fade away for a while. It was a rare moment of peace in a realm that constantly demanded their vigilance.

Quinella leaned back in her chair, her violet eyes thoughtful. "You know, if we're going to keep pushing forward in this questline, we're going to need more of these moments. Little pockets of normalcy."

Strawberry nodded, licking a bit of whipped cream off her spoon. "Yeah. Can't fight dragons and dodge Fae all the time without a break."

Muffin, now perched on the table, let out a content chirp, as if to say he wholeheartedly agreed.

The trio lingered for a while longer, savoring their time at Frosty's Café. As the sky outside darkened and the snow began to fall once more, they knew that the challenges of the fourth floor awaited them. But for now, they were content to enjoy the simple joys—a warm fire, sweet treats, and the rare comfort of companionship.