Sword Art Online Alicization Episode 07

Swordcraft Academy (剣の学び舎) is the seventh episode of the Sword Art Online Alicization anime adaptation. It aired on November 17, 2018.

Plot


After departing from Rulid Village, Eugeo and Kirito successfully enrolled into the Sword Mastery Academy in Centoria as part of their goal to become Integrity Knights, which would grant them the right to enter the Central Cathedral, where they could find Eugeo's childhood friend, Alice Zuberg. On the 1st Day of the 3rd Month, 380 HEC, nearly two years after the start of their journey, the two boys decided to use their rest day to visit the town. After buying some treats from the Prancing Deer Inn, the two boys encountered Kirito's mentor, Sortiliena Serlut, the Second Seat swordswoman at the academy. After a short chat, the two boys and Sortiliena parted ways to enjoy the remainder of their rest day.



Nearly a week later, on the 7th Day of the 3rd Month, 380 HEC, Kirito and Sortiliena held a sparring match in the latter's dormitory. Following her victory in the match, Sortiliena praised the boy for his growth, revealing that she had selected him as her Valet due to a similarity in their sword styles. However, she was concerned about being unable to beat Volo Levantein, the First Seat swordsman at the academy, over the course of the past two years with her sword style due to a lack of confidence to withstand his blade. On the other hand, the swordswoman believed that the reason Kirito was unable to beat her was due to him concealing the true potential of his sword style. As his mentor wished to see his true skill, the boy promised to demonstrate it to her the following day as a graduation present.



Some time later, Kirito returned to his own dormitory after a lengthy practice session with Sortiliena. After being confronted by Instructor Azurica about breaching the curfew, Kirito joined Eugeo at the cafeteria. During their meal, the two were verbally harassed by two noble students, Raios Antinous and Humbert Zizek. In order to help Kirito ignore the provocations, Eugeo asked his partner about the state of his personal garden, leading to the two boys visiting the flowers that Kirito was raising as a graduation gift for his mentor. Surprised by Kirito's newfound hobby, Eugeo speculated that Kirito might be regaining his memories, causing the boy to be concerned that Kirito would one day leave him if he did regain his memories. Reassured that this would not be the case, Eugeo offered to help his partner with his Sacred Arts the following day, prompting Kirito to remind Eugeo about his plans to claim his new sword that day.



As the following day was a rest day, the two boys came to the shop of an artisan named Sadore. Under the advice of Garitta, Eugeo's predecessor, Kirito had retrieved a branch of the Gigas Cedar that had accumulated the most resources before leaving Rulid Village, in order to have it fashioned into a sword by the craftsman when the boys reached the capital. After a year of diligent work, Sadore succeeded in producing a an impressive black sword that he allowed Kirito to claim it as his own free of charge when the boy proved that he was able to wield it. Upon returning to the academy, Kirito found a discreet place to test his new sword to see if he would be able to use his more advanced Sword Skills with it. However, during an attempt to execute a five-hit skill, Kirito accidentally flung a piece of dirt onto Volo Levantein, the First Seat swordsman, who had come to the same spot to practice his own swordsmanship in secret.



At that moment, the elite swordsman confronted Kirito about practicing with a sword on a rest day. While electing to ignore this specific offence as he himself enjoyed finding excuses to wield his sword even on rest days, Volo decided to use the fact that Kirito stained the elite swordsman's uniform as pretext to have a battle with him. As punishment for disrespect, Kirito was forced to accept a duel with real swords against Volo at the main training hall. News of their duel quickly spread, attracting a significant number of people, including Eugeo and Sortiliena, to the training hall. When Sortiliena requested to know the rules of their duel, Volo stated his desire for a match without the need to avoid physical contact. As this type of duel required mutual consent, the swordsman allowed Kirito to make the final choice. Despite warnings from his mentor, Kirito did not refuse Volo's request for a first point duel.

New Characters

 * Sortiliena Serlut
 * Egome Zakkarite (Cameo)
 * Azurica
 * Humbert Zizek
 * Raios Antinous
 * Sadore
 * Garitta (Cameo)
 * Golgorosso Balto
 * Volo Levantein

Locations

 * Centoria
 * Sword Mastery Academy
 * Trainee dormitory
 * Elite swordsmen dormitory
 * Trainee dormitory
 * Main hall
 * Cafeteria
 * Garden
 * Sadore's store
 * Zakkaria
 * Gigas Cedar
 * Centoria
 * Sword Mastery Academy
 * Main Training Hall

Adaptation Notes

 * Adapted from Volume 9, Chapter 1, Part 6; Volume 10, Chapter 3, Parts 2 and 4; Volume 10, Chapter 4, Parts 1-5


 * The events of the entirety of Chapter 3 were glossed over in a short montage.
 * Because of this, Charlotte was not introduced.
 * The scene where Kirito and Eugeo encounter Sortiliena while walking through the streets of Centoria was anime original content.
 * The scene where Sortiliena told Kirito of the history of her Serlut Style and why she chose him as her Valet, after their sparring match, was omitted.
 * In the Light Novel, the scene of Kirito retrieving the top branch of the Gigas Cedar took place before he and Eugeo left Rulid Village, instead of in a flashback.
 * In the Light Novel, when Kirito successfully swung his new sword, it caused a shockwave that accidentally cut a shield that hung on the wall in two.
 * Because of this, the scene where he was afraid Sadore would demand compensation was omitted.
 * The scene where Sadore tells Kirito to think of a proper name for the sword was omitted.
 * The scene where Kirito registers the sword with Azurica to allow him to keep it at the dorms was omitted.
 * Because of this, the scene where Azurica asks Kirito about the sword's memory was also omitted.
 * Details regarding Kirito not being allowed to practice due to it being Rest Day, to explain why he tested his sword in a remote clearing, were omitted.
 * Because of this, the mention of Volo Levantein also wanting to practice in secret was also omitted.

Errors

 * The date for the events starting with Kirito's match against Sortiliena was incorrectly shown to take place one day later than they did in the novel.

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SAO III - Episode 07