[SP-F3] <<Worn Out Welcome>>

[Ashrah 0]

"I wish I could help you," the Armorsmith told Arc with a look of genuine disappointment on his face, "but I'm afraid the well's run dry, so to speak. I could make you a bit of armor if I had the materials, but there's been a problem getting my shipment in lately and a certain, ill-intended creature of the forest has made it all but impossible to recover the goods." Arc knew what was coming next. He had learned of this "vendor" from an information dealer in Urbus, but the actual details were spotty. If he had gone to higher floors seeking the same intel, he might have learned quickly that it was a "go get the items and bring them to me" kind of quest. He should have expected this.

"You want me to go find the beast and take care of it, then bring me your goods?" the mercenary asked with a telling smirk. The vendor clapped his hands together merrily.

"I'm so glad you understand," he stated with a carefree enthusiasm that almost pissed Arc off. "If you do, I'll work with you to size the item and decide what sort of armor suits you best. A custom job by way of thanks." It made sense that this would be a bit more difficult than some of the quests he had taken on already, so he almost expected the enemy to be some kind of Dragon. "The creature in question is called a Dark Elf," the smith explained. "They're not like the rest of us elves, they don't like the sun and their eyes are blacker than night. Something about them is malign, and so we don't go near them. Normally they don't get close to us, either."

Arc nodded. He knew about Dark Elves. The mythos made them out to be horrific creatures with a penchant for dark magicks and blood rituals. They kept to the darkest parts of the world and slew anyone who dared to get close. That just meant whatever beast he sought would not be friendly. He placed a hand on Levantine and tilted his head. "You can count on me," he told the questgiver.

As he left, the NPC almost seemed uneasy.

[Ashrah 0]

His HUD laid out the general direction in which he would find the quest, but most of the legwork fell to the player in pretty much any situation. MMO games were designed to take you near and far to see the world and learn new things, test your skills, and become better. The quests had a basic story that they followed once you found your place in them, and it helped to give the user an immersion that they couldn't experience by just going around killing beasts and being social. It was part of what gave the game its allure to begin with., that escape from reality.

The forest seemed to get darker around him as he passed through one grove and into the next. Different species of flora and fauna cropped up around him along the path, but so long as he stuck to the main road he would be relatively safe from the somewhat higher level creatures that littered the various areas of the floor. Arc kept his blade in one hand and rested it along his shoulder as he walked.

"It shouldn't be too far now," he muttered to himself.

[Ashrah 0]

Winding for what seemed like hours, the trail bore him further away from civilization. The blip on his minimap was growing in size, but still a ways off. Arc cleaved through foliage with halfhearted gusto as the boredom threatened to drag him down. "It's a pretty long way from the city, isn't it?" he asked rhetorically. "Is this quest really okay for low level players?" he thought it might be a bad omen to ask that now, but it was already too late.

He drew his weapon as he rounded the bend and emerged in the next copse of trees. On the ground, a girl lay with her eyes open wide as her body trembled. Paralysis? "Are you alright?" he called out as he rushed toward her and slid on one knee. When he came to a halt next to her, Arc placed a hand on her shoulder and shook her to ensure she was still alive. That was probably unnecessary. If she had died in Sword Art Online, her avatar would just have exploded in a flash of light right?

"Hey, say something!" he knew it was no good unless he could treat paralysis, or the effect wore off on its own. "What did this to you?"

Arc shivered at the prospect that someone had poisoned her and was waiting nearby to PK them both, but if that were the case then why would they have waited? Would they not have killed her outright? There's got to be something that can paralyze its victims creeping nearby. I should be careful. "Sorry about this, but I'm going to carry you with me, alright?"

He knew she would not object. She was unable. Arc slung the girl over his shoulder and headed deeper into the grove. "I'll take you back to the city when I finish. There's a quest that I've just come too far to give up on now, but afterward I'll make sure to grab something for you when we get back." Normally, people would just run back, right? Hmpf. I guess I could do that...

"Dark... Elf..." the girl managed to mutter two words that gripped his attention.

"Yeah. A Dark Elf. That's what I'm looking for." He glanced around as she spoke and became extremely wary. Does she know something I don't?

"Dark Elf... paral...danger..." Crap. The Dark Elf did this to her? Arc gulped. "Care...ful..."

He gulped down his fear and blew it out between his lips. No time for that. I've got to find the thing and kill it.

[Ashrah 0]

He hobbled along the path just a bit further before he saw it. All-consuming darkness, or at least, that was the look of it from afar. He made out ephemeral rays of light through the leaves that gave the area just enough luminescence that it was not pitch black. This was where the Dark Elf made its home. "Watch out!" the girl cried from over his arm, and Arc took a half step, half leap to one side. He narrowly avoided a powerful stroke from a weapon that looked almost sinister. "It's got a paralysis attack that it uses when it gets low on health," she huffed, and Arc gazed sidelong at her as she explained. "I finally managed to power through it enough to talk, but it's extremely potent. Don't let it get a clean hit in, if you can manage."

"'fraid I'm not quite that quick, ma'am," he protested morosely. "Only choice I have is to go blow for blow with the thing and hope I come out on top."

"That's suicide," she retorted.

"I'm one of the Black Brothers," Arc puffed out his chest proudly as he proclaimed his allegiance. "Looking Death in the eye is what we were born to do."

You're darn right it is. Finally starting to man up, huh Tobes?

Arc traced the edge of his weapon readily as the Dark Elf circled him. The smirk never left his face. "Let's dance, big guy."

They exploded into motion at the same time. Blades kissed, sparks permeated the battlefield. The girl watched in awe and terror as the swordsman and her assailant danced the deadly waltz. Arc moved his weapon with the ferocity of a man possessed, unwilling to back down even in the face of a skilled foe. Yellowed teeth gnashed in the mercenary's face as the creature leaned over the nexus of their weapons and taunted him menacingly. Arc merely gave a laugh. "You're not too bad," he praised.

The beast howled in a fit of rage.

Arc: 80/80 HP 8 Energy

Dark Elf: 12/12 HP 9 damage per hit

ID# 66855 results:

Battle: 3

Craft: 4

Loot: 4

[Ashrah 0]

Their stalemate continued as both swordsman and fell creature bore down on each other. Heavy sword met with bardiche in rhythmic harmony, at odds with the malice that dripped from the mercenary's foe. Arc brought his blade up to match the onslaught of the lengthier weapon and succeeded in warding away each sloppily timed blow with quick flicks of his powerful steel. He knew to economize his motion for the swings that would count.

He gave no ground, instead pursuing the Dark Elf further into the grove with every intention of taking its life. Both of them were somehow unscathed, a miracle by all means. Arc felt sweat beading on his brow as he slid his blade upward and interlocked with the Elf again, then kicked at its midsection with a blow that was effectively meaningless. Without the Martial Arts extra skill, his hands and feet did not count as weapons and dealt no damage. Still, the energy was transferred and the creature backed down as it was pushed away, little more than irritated with the act.

ID# 66903 results:

Battle: 4

Craft: 1

Loot: 5

MOB: 3

[Ashrah 0]

The beast got the better of him for just a moment, but that was enough. The spear-like weapon got behind his guard and scraped across his upper arm, whereupon it left a bright red line that symbolized first blood. It wore a mocking grin as if to gloat over its victory, but that proved to be short lived. Arc swung his blade mightily through the beast's guard and surprised it with a strike that sent it reeling backward. The novice mercenary did not gloat long over his attack like his opponent. His focus tightened, narrowed, and his body relaxed. He was in the zone.

"Woah," the girl muttered from behind him. Arc could not hear her. "He's so into it..."

Both blades rang out again when mob and player returned to mortal combat as if their wounds were nothing. In truth, this was only just the beginning. Tobias craved more. The excitement was building, and the rage was burning heavy beneath the surface. Everything Thom had taught him came to life in these moments. All the time they spent playing together channeled through his blade and into his movements.

Arc: 71/80 HP 8/8 Energy

Dark Elf: 7/12 HP

Battle: 8

Craft: 12

Loot: 12

MOB: 6

[Ashrah 0]

"Aren't you even a little afraid?" she asked weakly as the Mercenary before her fought valiantly against something that seemed unwilling to back down. The Elf spun its bardiche in a tight arc that the blade aspirant watched carefully, then maneuvered out of the way of. The upward stroke was a feint. Arc cursed aloud as the weapon thinly missed him, then shifted directions. He couldn't get his weapon in the way of the strike in time. Air hissed out through gritting teeth as he braced himself and soaked the impact like a piece of wood beneath an axe. His body shivered, and a line of red appeared across his midsection. "Not... bad."

He grinned broadly as the beast shaved a hefty bit more than a normal stroke might have off his health. The bar flitted away as though it were insignificant. The Black Brother merely continued his efforts. He slammed the pommel of the weapon toward his foe in lieu of a proper slashing vector, and the blunt force caused the beast to reel. With a quick, vicious motion, he slid the blade down the Elf's torso and opened another wound.

They were trading blows like sadistic lovers now, and Arc almost seemed to enjoy it. "Come on," he challenged. "Is that the best you've got?" His maniacal smile and brilliant green eyes reflected the bloodlust that drove him now. He was a terror to behold.

"This can't be normal," the girl muttered to herself. It wasn't everyday someone fought without fear in a game where they died for real if they got killed.

 

 

Arc: 60/80 HP 8/8 Energy

Dark Elf: 2/12 HP

ID# 66909 results:

Battle: 7

Craft: 4

Loot: 18

MOB: 10

Edited September 4, 2016 by Arc

[Ashrah 0]

Arc watched the beast as it readied its weapon again, obviously disgusted by the tenacity of its opposition. It smashed something over the edge of the spearblade and Arc watched as the neurotoxin sloshed over and coated the weapon with a promise of motionless death, should its bite be true. "Watch out," the female player warmed. Arc was already more than aware of what came next. He closed his eyes and tilted back his head, allowing the gentle breeze to wash over him and clear his mind. The rage served him well up to now, but only a level head could counteract a venomous, underhanded tactic like this.

Thanks, bro. I owe this to you. I'd never have learned to deal with things like this unless I'd met you. I'd never have-

Oh stuff it, Tobias. Kill the bloody thing and get it over with.

You never were the sentimental type, huh?

Neither were you.

Good point.

Shocking green eyes burst open as the Mercenary flung himself toward the Dark Elf for the last time. The spear ripped forward, but stopped when the two handed sword slammed into it. The weapon creaked loudly in protest, then the Elf joined in its screaming. Arc brought his weapon across the opening and split the foe in two. It was more than enough. The damage had accrued to this point. He had done it.

The elf sank to its knees, screamed. Arc looked on through the procession. The beast died horribly, bleeding out and crying for mercy. It was too late for that. Arc watched as the quest item offered itself to him in a window and he took it contentedly. "Now," he said as he turned to the girl with a smile on his face. "It's about time to get you back to the safe zone, huh?"
"You don't think you went about this a little out of order?" she muttered.

Arc shrugged.

Arc: 60/80 HP 8/8 Energy

Dark Elf: Dead

Battle: 10

Craft: 5

Loot: 1

Mob: 2

[Ashrah 0]

As he dragged the girl along, it occurred to Arc that he never got her name. "I'm Arc," he introduced himself. "Sorry I didn't introduce myself earlier. I got caught up in the thick of it and it just slipped my mind." She seemed almost disinterested in the formalities. Her eyes were focused far off, as though she were just embarrassed that she had to be saved by someone she didn't even know. "I mean, you could just say thank you, I don't really need to know your name."

"It's Liebra," she said softly, "that's the name I chose for myself. My boyfriend helped me pick it out when we were figuring out our characters." She glanced off toward the sunset as it peeked through the trees. "Too bad, too. He was a nice guy."

"He got killed," Arc observed a bit too easily. "Sorry to hear that."

"It happens a lot in this game." She sounded bitter.

"Yeah. It does." Tobias wanted to console her, but he had no words. He had lost Thom, but he had never been in love with the guy. It must have been a gutting experience for her. "But life goes on."

As cruel as always, aren't you?

Weakly, the girl nodded. "Life goes on," she agreed mournfully.

"Did you get the credit for the quest, too?" he asked her. It would benefit both of them to get off the morose topic. "I can handle the guy a second time, if you need."

"No need," she shook her head. "I'm satisfied with him just being gone. Thanks."

Arc considered briefly that it could have been that Dark Elf that killed her boyfriend. He pushed the thought from his mind. "Yeah, don't mention it," he murmured.

Sometimes, it's better to leave things alone.

[Ashrah 0]

Arc silently wondered how long a fit of paralysis could last. If it was so bad as to totally immobilize someone, many weaker players might meet there end because of it. Arc made a note to warn the information dealer so that he could add that part to the quest info. It was important that no one rush in unprepared. "Is it starting to wear off yet?" he asked curiously. She seemed annoyed.

"No," she responded glumly, "I would let you know if it was. I don't enjoy being carried any more than you enjoy carrying me."

"I didn't mean it like that." Arc rounded the bend that brought them within sight of the floor's main city. "I've just never gotten afflicted with paralysis. I wanted to know the symptoms and how to treat it. It's important to figure out things like that when you're stuck in a hostile environment." He went a bit further before he recalled the armor that he was promised at the end of all this. "Oh, man. I wonder what kind of armor I'll get for turning in this quest."

"I think you get to choose," she chipped in helpfully.

"Choose?" he tilted his head. That was something that not many quests allowed. "Choose what, exactly?"

"You'll see when you turn it in," she told him. "I've never actually done the quest. I don't know what to tell you."

[Ashrah 0]

Arc dropped off the woman outside of the general store. Inside, he found the necessary potion and bought it. "Thanks," he told the elf behind the desk, who bowed respectfully. Arc returned a nod and headed back out, where he administered the remedy. "That ought to do it," he said with a smile. "Take care from now on, Miss Liebra. I'll see you again, sometime."

"Count on it," she said with a big smile. "You're my savior, so I owe you one."

"Nah, on the house this time. Wouldn't do my conscience good to charge someone who was on the brink of death." He held up a hand and waved her off. She frowned. Her arm looped around his and she pulled at him.

"I insist," she told him. "Let's go turn in your quest, then I'll treat you to some lunch." Arc watched her with a hint of confusion, then thought better of questioning it. This might help her get her mind off the death of her boyfriend.

"Alright," Arc acknowledged. "I'll go. Just this once, though."

She broke into laughter. "Alright, alright. Just this once."

[Ashrah 0]

"And here we are," she said with a trace of song in her voice. Arc glanced sidelong at the woman and shook his head. "What?" she asked with a smile. "I'm excited!"

"It's my quest," he said, "what's got you so excited?"

"I never got a chance to finish it," she told him, "so I kind of hoped to see it done, at least once. You know?" There was a sadness in her eyes that hid behind the happy face she put on. Arc caught on. Like most people in this game, she was holding on to hope. He let out a soft chuckle.

"I get it," he replied quietly. He pushed open the door to the shop and slid inside. She followed quickly.

"Ah, you're back!" the Blacksmith greeted. "Did you get the materials I asked for? Is the Dark Elf dead?"

[Ashrah 0]

Arc opened his inventory and the item in question materialized in his hand. He held it out to the blacksmith with a nod. "As discussed," he said, "we can talk about that armor now, right?" He glanced sidelong toward Liebra, who smiled brightly.

"Ahhh, yeah, that's the stuff," he appraised with a quick nod. "How was the Dark Elf? Dangerous as the accounts told, or...?

The mercenary shrugged. "It was a rocky start, but in the end they all go down right?" He didn't want to talk about it too much in front of the girl. She seemed distant when the topic came up. "So, what kind of armor were you thinking?"

"Two handed swords, huh?" the armorworker pondered aloud as he glanced over Arc. "Could go for something heavy to offset the damage you'll take when you charge in head first. Or we could go light and give you some freedom of mobility. What's your preference?"

"Light and fast," he said with a smile as he mirrored the same style he and his best friend fell in love with. "Don't much care for drawn out combat. If I can go in and get the job done quick like, I can do more fighting overall. Right?"

"Some leather might work," the armorer nodded twice in rapid succession. "Yeah, I'll go with leather. With this Dragon Bone, it'll end up lighter than anything metal but still have some defense for ya. Might want to start practicing fighting with light armor, though. It's different than fighting in just rags."

"I'll keep it in mind," Arc smirked.

[Ashrah 0]

The armorer went to his workbench as Arc turned to Liebra. "Looks like I'll have some better equipment soon, huh?" he asked. She gave a sad smile, and he tilted his head. "Hey, what's that about?"

"Huh? Oh, nothing," she assured him as she glanced toward the quest NPC as he threaded a needle. "So he's making it for you, huh? Wonder what kind of effect it'll have on it."

"Probably something to provide fleetness of foot," the Mercenary considered. "I did say something to that effect, didn't I?" He pondered over whether the NPC could pick up on subtleties like that in conversation. If Cardinal had anything to do with it, it probably would. "What do you think?"

The armorer began to sew.

"Maybe some extra mitigation," she suggested. "Even if it's not all that useful for you, right?"

"Every little bit counts," he objected. "It's important to be able to survive, isn't it?"

"Yeah..."

[Ashrah 0]

"Here," the Armorsmith muttered to himself, "and here, if I patch this piece and sew that one on..." Arc tilted his head and listened intently as the man planned out the armor meticulously. It was almost like watching an artist paint a portrait. Even if it were a beginner's item, the thought that went in and the utter concentration that it required made the effort he'd put in worthwhile. He was almost dissatisfied with his own work when he compared it to what this man was doing.

"Arc," Liebra uttered softly in his ear. He looked to her. "I'm glad you let me come with you." She bowed slightly, then looked toward the door. "The truth is, my boyfriend took this quest, and he died in the effort. We were both level one, and I tried to stop him. I really should have persisted, but he wouldn't have it. He said I needed to have the armor, and he refused to back down. His stupid pride..."

She looked hurt, and the mercenary understood why. He decided not to speak. It was better to let her talk. "See, we were together for several years. He had planned to get into the game with me for a while so we could do something while he was away for work. We were to be married."

He continued to watch the man work.

"Watching you fight almost made me sad," she said. "He wasn't nearly as strong as you, but he tried to do the same thing. That elf chewed him up and spat him out. I watched him slip away, powerless to do anything. He almost got me, too."

"You're not planning on committing suicide, are you?" Arc did not have to look at her to tell she was wide eyed and staring at him. "I don't think your boyfriend would be happy if you followed him into the dark. He'd want you to keep on living, right?"

"I..." she bit her lip.

"I thought so." He offered her a smile. "This wasn't a very good last first date, was it? Watching me kill the thing that killed the love of your life, then turning in a quest and getting an item? Seems contrived, doesn't it? Doesn't it make you feel like he died for something so insignificant?"

Liebra hung her head.

"He didn't, though." She shook as he spoke, and tears formed in her eyes. "He fought and died with one thought in his head. 'I have to protect her. Even if it kills me, I have to make sure she lives."

"I know that," she said weakly. "He died for me."

"Don't you dare forget it, either."

[Ashrah 0]

"It's just about done," the questgiver announced. "I've just got to put on the finishing touches."

Arc smiled. "Thanks," he called out. "Are you sure you don't need some Col for the effort? You've done a lot."

"Not at all," the blacksmith replied. "You did more than enough, killing that Elf. He was in the way of my business, and I needed these materials to do my job. A simple bit of armor is but a small gesture in comparison."

I think you're just being way too nice.

"I appreciate your work," Arc bowed.

"It's no trouble at all. I appreciate your patience."

Arc glanced toward Liebra. She had taken a seat on the floor, and was quietly looking over her friends list. He frowned.

[Ashrah 0]

"Here," the blacksmith held out the leather padded cloak for inspection, and Arc took it with a smile. "This looks great," he said approvingly. He slipped his arms through and tested the fit. Thankfully for him, the game customized items to the size of the player without any need for specifications. "It feels so light," he remarked. "You're a really good leatherworker!"

"Heh, well, I do what I can with what I have," the smith responded modestly. Arc smiled at that.

"Well, regardless, I appreciate your effort." He went through his inventory and changed everything around so that he was now equipped with his "Black Coat." He noticed the diminutive change in his stats, which would have felt insignificant but for his understanding that it was anything but. "Oh wow," he said. "This coat is..."

"Made for quick movements," the man told him. "You have the ability, I just had to cater to it. Should give you an out when situations get sticky, I think." Arc traced his fingers along the wide hood and the trim of the coat. "It won't get in the way when you swing your sword, or when you try to run. You should be able to get away with more acrobatic movements when you wear clothing like this."

"Again, thank you," Arc bowed much more deeply this time. "I am in your debt."

"Consider us even," the Blacksmith returned his bow. "You honor me by wearing this."

[Ashrah 0]

As they left, Liebra smiled. "He seemed more happy than most NPCs, didn't he?"

Arc nodded. "Yeah," he said offhand, "they all get that way when you manage to handle their request. Cardinal makes the experience pretty realistic. Did you ever read the interviews with Akihiko about NerveGear and the Cardinal System?" Arc recalled the information as he spoke, both intrigued by the prospect of a higher artificial intelligence and terrified, now that he knew what SAO was capable of.

"No, I never did," she confessed, "my boyfriend was way more into all of that than I was. I agreed to play the game because he seemed so excited about it, but if we're being honest, it was never really my thing." Her crooked smile betrayed guilt when she told him that.

"Yeah, most folks these days play MMOs just to try it out, or for the social element. There aren't too many hardcore gamers. Well, I'd like to say that, but that's not entirely true. It was a new market, VRMMORPGs. They were branching out into uncharted territory. Lots of people who migrated away from gaming came back, just to get a taste of the new technology and what the future holds."

"Sadly," the woman sighed.

"Sadly," he agreed with a sober nod.

[Ashrah 0]

"So you mean to tell me the system reads your thought patterns and reflects on actual, recorded history in order to create quests and craft a unique experience from player to player?" she asked skeptically. "That seems incredible. It definitely shows that he used his genius for evil."

"Not evil, so much," Arc scratched at his chin thoughtfully. "I think it's more that he got to the point where reality was boring. He wanted to do something where he could give people an experience unlike any they had in the real world, with the same consequences for death that you might have if you were to get killed." He'd pondered this before, obviously. "Yeah, he's utterly nuts, but I think his idea was to give people a new lease on life, albeit not in a way they'd take to well."

"You're making him sound like some kind of well-intended god," she chortled. "I don't think it's as complex as all that."

"You never know," Arc responded. "We're not geniuses. If we were, we'd have figured this puzzle out already, right?"

"That's probably true," she conceded.

[Ashrah 0]

They rounded the corner toward the center of town, and he turned to her. "Look, I'm gonna be straight with you," he said. "You can do whatever you want, but I think you shouldn't do that. It would really kill the feelings he had when he lost his life in your defense, you know?"

She smiled up at him. "I decided against it after all," she told the mercenary. "I might not be able to do much, but I'm glad I met you Arc. It's made me want to do all I can, just like you. Even if that's stick to the lower levels and give what help I can to the weaker players, it'll still be enough." He smirked.

"Sounds like you found it," he remarked.

"Found what?" Liebra looked at him, confused. "Don't go saying something that doesn't make sense so suddenly!"

"Your reason to fight. We've all got one. Sometimes we struggle to figure it out, and sometimes we never find it at all. The ones who do, though- we can't stomach giving up, or letting anyone else give up either." Arc gave her a thumbs up. "That'll do."

The woman laughed out loud.

Edited September 7, 2016 by Arc