[PP-F4] Soul Shattering Silence. (Mari)

[Kyr 0]

Flakes of frigid white alighted on his nose as Kyr sat at the edge of a frozen lake. The cold reminded him of home, a place where winters stretched long into the rest of the world's spring, and the smell of evergreens greeted him when he went outside. Delightfully warm, the small campfire he'd stoked just next to him offered the familiar scent of smoke, and the heat licked at his pale flesh not unkindly.

He wore only the clothes that he started with, barely interested in the motions that correlated to acquiring better gear. The idea that he needed to get stronger or be more defensible against attacks was sadistic. He cared nothing for the back and forth that other players threw themselves mindlessly into.

He did desire, desperately, to be among those fighting on the front lines. But Kyr knew better than to commit to such a daydream readily. It would take far more effort on his part than he had put forward yet. He was years from the strength that the people who fought bosses had.

Instead, he enjoyed the smaller luxuries of life. Levels were irrelevant when it came to being human. So many people stuck in Aincrad forgot their lives before it. For some of them, perhaps, that was better than the alternative. For Kyr, it simply meant an understanding of what he had lost.

What he hoped, perhaps, to go back to.

Until then, the slightest of shivers shot down his spine as he turned his gaze toward the winter sky. Aincrad followed the Northern Sky's constellations, and he found Cassiopeia quickly; then Draco, and Orion, and once he found Andromeda he closed his eyes.

"Ahhhh," he sighed. "What a nice night."

[Mari 1]

Unbeknownst to the other player, Mari had been watching. Her tiny form hidden, nestled neatly in the freshly fallen snow. The white overcoat that Daeron had gifted her hung loosely over her shoulders. It's pale colours blending in with the snowy surroundings, her soft pink hair was almost hidden, as cold snowflakes clung to her silken strands. If one was not directly looking at her, or for her - they'd probably completely miss her presence. 

It had been a very long time since she had ventured so far down to the lower floors, it was Lowenthal - who had inadvertantly convinced her to do so. For here, there were few players, they were all too busy preoccupying themselves with the frontlines, heated battles against fearsome foes- and against themselves. Mari didn't want to deal with it. Was she a coward? Selfish? Perhaps, but she didn't care.

The other player, who sat directly opposite her - had started a fire. Unlike her, he didn't have a unique item that sustained a comfortable temperature. Mari had to admit that it was a little odd seeing a single player out in the snow, but to call him odd - that'd be hypocritical of her.  Mari pursed her lips, and took a deep sigh. The sudden intake of cold air caused her to sneeze, it echoed around her; but Mari did not care. She drew her legs tight to her chest, resting her chin on her knees. Her blue eyes fluttered closed. 

No...

It wasn't odd. It was peaceful.

Silent.

[Kyr 0]

Until that instant, the only sound above the wind was his own breathing. The tiniest of sneezes alerted him to the presence of another player- one he would never have been aware of otherwise. Kyr opened his eyes slowly and stared hard at the sky. How many stronger players would approach him, and how close would he come to death before it decided to close its jaws around him?

The fear was gone now.

Instead of speaking initially, Kyr reached up and opened his inventory. He sifted through and summoned a blanket, which fell gracelessly over his person and significantly warmed him. He hardly cared if a mob came by while he was at rest. Huddled close to the false heat of a virtual fire, the youth sighed.

His breath manifested as a plume of white, warmth that railed against the frigid night. "You can come closer to the fire, if you like," he spoke just loudly enough that someone nearby might hear. "It's a cold night."