Morningstar

It was funny, he thought, how quickly the mood could change from hopeful to distraught. He felt he could blink and Katar would reappear in the distance, changed, cloaked in evil. But no such thing happened. He wondered what was going through Joaquin's mind. Had he considered what he would tell his guild, now that he had found Katar? Had he thought about how they would react to the situation? Or was he thinking at all? Not long after they had reappeared in town, they found themselves reacquainted with the injured broker. He still sat in the same position as before, unmoving and unhealed. I

They rematerialized in Knorilt Village. Morningstar used the wall of the nearest building to hold his weight. He still had not processed what they had witnessed in the Volcanic Flatlands. Nothing made sense to him. It was clear that Katar had gotten in with a rough crowd but Morningstar could not understand why. Why would he abandon them for people so dark? Joaquin had fallen to his knees and all Morningstar could do was stare. What words could he have said to ameliorate his pain? He knew that there was nothing that could change what had happened and yet he wished that he was wrong.

"We've got it all—wings, fries, and burgers, I mean. What can I get ya?" Dante asked. Morningstar caved into his cravings and ordered a serving of fries. Dante was not known for his food but it did the trick. His water came first, of course, and he sipped it conservatively. It would probably be the last drink he ordered. He couldn't tell if Ink's question was meant to be thought-provoking or literal. He took a second before answering, twirling the ice cubes in his glass. It was getting late, he thought, and he had not made any plans for the evening. "Sleep, probably," he answere

Morningstar's smile faded, his expression more serious now. He was not a front liner. When it came to strength, they were in a league of their own. He was nowhere near it and yet he knew that even they were struggling at the top. The more floors that were cleared, the more difficult the enemies became and the fewer allies remained. It was hard to say what their numbers were looking like now. He had met many of them some time ago but his relationships with them were surface-level at best. He often wondered if he could be of use to them or if he would be a liability. "Twenty-seven," Morning

Another pause followed Ink's reply. Morningstar did not intend for it to be so awkward; he simply expected the man to be leagues above him in terms of levels. "You mean, you're level one?" Morningstar asked. He cleared his throat, realizing his rudeness. Dante seemed shocked by the fact too, despite being level one himself. Everything he learned about Ink just seemed so... odd. He had hoped to invite the man along with him on an adventure of sorts but now he was worried about the consequences that would arise if he did so. "Not that there's anything wrong with that, of course. I

Katar made a sound that was close to a word but he stopped himself before it came out. Joaquin tossed him a health potion. Morningstar looked at his friend. He saw pity in the warrior's eyes but he could not tell whether it was for the fool on the ground or for the friends he had lost because of said fool. "You could have come back," Joaquin said, "We could have helped you." Many emotions were plastered on Katar's face. Sadness, frustration, regret, and hints of despair. His bottom lip quivered as he tried to speak again. "I'm sorry," Katar said, consuming the health potion.

Before Morningstar could reply, his attention was stolen by the faint crumbling of rocks to their left. Joaquin appeared to not have heard and for a moment, the blonde wondered if he had gone crazy. He stopped, staring in the direction of the low cliff-side where he had heard the noise. Joaquin, confused, asked what he saw. Morningstar neglected to answer and, instead, activated his Charge skill. He flew by the cliff in a yellow flash, his hand already on his blade's hilt. The silhouette of a cloaked player slid down the cliff, seemingly shocked that they had been noticed so suddenly. Mornings

"Was that everything you had hoped for?" Morningstar said with a grin. Joaquin rolled his eyes, turning towards the exit of the cave. It had been a long trip for such a short fight, Morningstar thought. The reward would likely be small, too. As they walked, the blonde kept his eyes locked on their surroundings. They talked here and there about whatever nonsense crossed their minds; however, Morningstar was only half there. He remained focused, a feeling in his gut warning him that there was more to come. The journey back to Knorilt Village seemed longer than it should have but perhap

Ink was not the name he had expected to hear leave the man's mouth. He was full of surprises, it seemed. Morningstar thought about the oddity that was his invitation. He didn't feel like it was the time of day that was unusual (even if alcohol did not work within the game, he was not one to hang around bars during the day), but rather the fact that they were strangers to each other. He couldn't say what made him invite the man, aside from pure curiosity. "What can I say—spontaneity is the key to a fruitful life," Morningstar replied. He was not sure if the quote had come from his min

The party reached the ship without trouble. First to climb aboard and enter the fight was Morningstar, clad in his tired old cloak. With a leap between boats, he found himself gripping a weathered rope ladder with both hands. He ascended, placing one hand on his blade handle when he reached the top. Meteor glowed bright gold as it slid from its scabbard and tasted the salty breeze. His hood flew off, revealing a wide grin and messy hair. He hurdled the edge of the ship, eyes eagerly scanning its layout. Four deckhands stood idly, cutlasses in hand. Trusting those who would come behind him

He took another sip of his beverage, still deciding whether he liked it or not. It was difficult to pinpoint what type of melon was used in it which was strange, considering they were often distinct in taste. He took the straw between two fingers and stirred it around the slushy, aquamarine drink. The armored man still wore his helmet and Morningstar had taken notice. He was a cautious fellow and that was understandable in a world as dangerous as Aincrad. Even so, they were safe so long as they were within the city. He smiled at the connection the man had made. "Yeah, like the devil."

Morningstar was glad to hear that the man was on board with his idea. It was a strange request, especially considering the time of day and lack of familiarity the two had with each other. He gestured deeper into the town. A few shopkeepers were closing up for the night but a bit further on, one store remained open and welcome to customers. Expecting his new acquaintance to follow his lead, he began walking towards the old bar. He had not been around in some time; however, he was considered a regular there. There was something enjoyable about not having to worry about the effects of alcoho

Morningstar shrugged, unfazed by the less than friendly response. "Nothing in particular." Despite them being similar heights, he felt like he was staring up at a giant. It had less to do with physical size and more the dramatically intense suit of armor the stranger had chosen to sport. Under different circumstances, Morningstar may have mistaken him for an endgame boss. Admittedly, he liked the man's style. He looked out of place in the Town of Beginnings but in a dungeon, he'd be terrifying. He almost moved on, ending the interaction, but curiosity got the best of him. "Cool armor

His reflection in the store window seemed foreign. He adjusted his cloak slightly to no avail. What was once forest green was now sunset red and while it may have objectively suited him, he still felt as if he were looking at a stranger. Perhaps it was the hair, though. It was longer than he was comfortable with; he had never grown it longer than his ears before. Now, it reached below his jaw easily. The gentle breeze kicked it up into his face, momentarily obstructing his vision. His eyes were just as they had been before. They were his mother's—at least, that's what people liked to

Morningstar moved on pure instinct and he knew Joaquin did the same. The synergy they had built together was stronger than even they knew. Without a word, the pair dashed to opposite ends of the cave; Joaquin towards the hellhounds on their flank, and Morningstar to Cerberus. Meteor, unshaken in Morningstar's grip, glowed gold once more as he activated another sword art. He weaved around the beast's slashes and stomps and when it decided to try biting at the blonde, he dug his feet into the ground and swung. An opportunity had opened up for him and he took it, slashing through the first o

They had only walked for a few minutes before the excitement that Joaquin wished for arrived. They had not seen it at first, the beast that lay dormant in the shadows of the flames ahead. Morningstar was the first to notice the strange mound that poked out into the center of the wide pathway. It was dark and covered in what seemed to be fur. He reached out to Joaquin, who continued to walk towards the beast, and gripped his shoulder. Joaquin turned back, confused. "What?" he asked. Morningstar's finger rose to his lips, signaling for Joaquin to be quiet. Then, he pointed toward the d

When Joaquin was finished with his unfortunate opponents, he sulked his way back to Morningstar. "So, Duke's?" He asked, referring to a tavern in Urbus. Morningstar wasn't a fan. "Dante's. Town of Beginnings." "Never heard of it." "It's a strange place," Morningstar shrugged. They continued, making their way deeper into the cavern. Morningstar was thankful that they at least had the illumination of the lava and flames to keep them company. He had grown weary of the dark, particularly when he was inside a cave. There were deep, rhythmic rumbles beneath their feet as the

Without realizing it, they had waltzed right into the Inferno Cavern. Low growls and bright red eyes pierced the darkness. Flames erupted from the ground, stopping the pair of swordsmen in their tracks. Suddenly, a hellhound stepped into the light. It was bigger than Morningstar had expected and yet, it didn't shake him. Five more followed behind the monster, a powerful hunger in their howls. They surrounded the players, slowly circling, waiting to pounce. "What do you say," Joaquin began, "three each?" "Last one to finish owes the winner a drink." "Deal." Morningstar stepp

Morningstar's gaze was distant. He stared at the lava that exploded from a geyser not far from them. "What do you think's out there?" He asked his friend. Joaquin made a sound that indicated he was thinking. "I dunno. Treasure?" "You know I found some secret, not-so-ancient ancient ruins on the fourth floor once?" Morningstar recalled. "Oh yeah?" "Yeah. I wasn't the first—I think I was third. Met a guy there though. He had been the second to find it." "Who was the first?" Joaquin asked. "Some alchemist. Not sure." "Hmm." Morningstar's eyes drifted o

"Good. I need you with me, got it? Mentally, I mean. We don't really know what it is we're getting into." Morningstar nodded in agreement. He felt sorry for Joaquin. Grace and Simon were his guildmates. Grace in particular had been a long-time friend to him and Simon—well, Simon was just a kid. Joaquin patted his back. "We'll find him. Seriously, we will." His tone encouraged Morningstar. "Yeah. Yeah, you're right." Changing the subject, Joaquin glanced upward. "The flatlands sure are big, huh? Ever wonder if there are places out here that nobody's come across yet?" "I

"Keep your eye out for snakes, yeah? I hear there are nests around here," Joaquin said, dodging a tiny lava pool with a cartoonish leap. "No big deal, right? Not with big, strong Joaquin here to protect me," Morningstar jested. "Shut up." Morningstar heard a chuckle escape his friend's mouth. They walked in silence for some time, focused on evading magma and whatever creatures were hidden within it. When he believed the path was clear, he allowed his thoughts to wander. His daydreams, which really were more like nightmares, lead him back to Katar. Images of crumbling ruins and s

He was careless. His sword was caught rather than deflected. Eyebrows raised, Morningstar averted his gaze, tossing a puzzled look to Baldur. He questioned whether it counted as a point but before he could speak up, he found himself stumbling backward. He cursed under his breath, trying to find his balance. Astralin's sword neared his waist and Morningstar was powerless against it. He beckoned his arm to move but it was too late. The wooden blade stung as it met his oblique. There was a part of him that was angry. With himself, of course, not at the girl. He was capable of victory an

Unexpectedly, Astralin advanced first. She did not appear strong. She was much smaller than Morningstar and yet it was her who advanced first. He wondered if, perhaps, that was where his nervousness stemmed from; her confidence. It was not long before Astralin had closed in on him. Her stance told him that she intended to strike toward his center. There was a delay in Morningstar's defense but he managed to bring his sword up in time to deflect the first stab. The second came just as quickly as the first, followed by a third that nearly caught him off guard. Then, when he thought he

Joaquin and Morningstar took turns unsuccessfully questioning the NPC about Katar. He mostly stared back at the pair, confused. Sometimes, he would say a few words, such as "I have no idea what you're talking about" or "I've never seen him in my life." Nothing that the two found very helpful. "So," Morningstar changed the subject, "what happened to you?" The NPC's glare was sharp. "Hellhounds." "Hellhounds, huh? Katar's not here, Star. Let's just do this quest," Joaquin said. Morningstar nodded. "Care to share any more details about the hellhounds?" "You'll find them i

Morningstar stumbled forward, his body being pulled by Nari. She had become comfortable with him quite quickly and it surprised him. The blonde knew that they had reached their destination when she eventually let go of him. The raggedy old sailor sat upon a crate, glancing over at the trio. Nari's voice seemed to pull his attention and almost immediately, the NPC began spouting dialogue at them. The sailor told a short tale of a malevolent pirate named Greybeard. It was a change of pace for Morningstar, who spent ninety-seven percent of his time on land. "I mean, I've always wanted to go