[PP|F2]<<Let There Be Light>>Dancing in the Dark

[Assassin 0]

"Don't think like that." Assassin put plainly. "We'll find her. The quest would fail if she was dead... wouldn't it?" Hopefully the merit in those words would help keep her tank focused on the fight in front of them now.

With a gust of wind, Snow felt the presence of her roguish ally beam past her. She was hard to see in this low light, until her dagger lit up with it's familiar colored hue. The red blade slashed through the air, hitting absolutely nothing in front of her. An annoyed strain on her face, the Assassin zoomed back to ensure nothing would hit her in the cross fire. While she considered the dark her ally, it was rather fickle to have it blocking her vision so much that she actually missed an attack.

"These meanies wont stop us from helping that girl! Stay focused tank-lady! You can't help anyone if you get beat up."

Spoiler

Results:

1. Snow || HP: 279/280 || EN: 27/28 ||
2. Giant Bat || HP: 50/50||
3. Assassin || HP: 20/20 || EN: 2/2 ||

 

[Snow 0]

Spoiler

ID# 153485: BD: 3+1-1 || Craft: 4 || Loot: 11 || MOB: 2 ||

Snow:
|| HP: 280/280 || EN: 27/28 ||
|| DMG: 5 || ACC: 1 || MIT: 35 || THN: 18 || RGN: 5 || BLD: 12/8-10 ||

• [+1 EN]
• <<Regen>> Activates!! +5 HP (1/3)
• Environmental Darkness -1 ACC
• [MIGHTY CHARGE] <<MISS>>
• <<Rested>> Activates! (2/2)
• [-1 EN]
• <<Concentration>> on Cooldown (1/3)

Giant Bat:
|| HP: 50/50|| DMG 20 ||

• <<MISS>> 

Results:

1. Snow || HP: 280/280 || EN: 27/28 ||
2. Giant Bat || HP: 50/50||
3. Assassin || HP: 20/20 || EN: 0/2 ||

Stay focused...

"Yeah," Snow replied. Her attentions adrift between the fluttering darkness and the thought of a lone lost girl. Snow righted herself and stood at ready with Sif's Needle in front of her. The darkness was almost impossible to make out their attacker. Snow heard several high pitched chirps and the constant thrum and flutter of what she could only assume was wings. 

I can barely make out my own hands standing still, and this thing won't stop moving.

The sounds echoed from deeper in the cave and the blonde decided to give her best shot at taking it out. She aimed for the bobbing red marker and Sif's Needle took in its cerulean hue. User and spear bolted across the cavern in a streak of light. They came to a stop, the light dissipated, and nothing happened.

Another miss.

As she stood, the winds of their attacker displaced several locks of her blonde hair but left without a scratch. The one it dished out earlier, already healed by her armor's regenerative properties. 

"Damn," she swore. "See if you can aim just under the red marker. It just won't stop moving!"

@Assassin

Edited June 15, 2020 by Snow

[Assassin 0]

A second red light lit up in the darkness behind the bat enemy that Snow could barely make out. Assassin had already fused her form within the shadows. One could barely see her if not for the red-hot looking dagger that silhouette the darkness with a bright contrast. The dagger moved fast through the air and slashed the bat's wing directly, splitting it enough to make it's ability to fly difficult. The giant creature stuttered in the air trying to keep a hold of it's stability. After that attack, it started to look for the tinier little girl that had struck it, ignoring the threat that Snow was holding.

"Go ahead and try to hit me you meanie!" Assassin's voice bit back in an attempt to intimidate her enemy. She wasn't entirely worried about taking a hit since she had armor to protect her and was pretty good at dodging attacks herself.

@Snow

Roll null, not enough energy to perform action.

Spoiler

Results:

1. Snow || HP: 279/280 || EN: 27/28 ||
2. Giant Bat || HP: 50/50 ||
3. Assassin || HP: 20/20 || EN: 0/2 ||

 

[Snow 0]

Spoiler

ID# 183049: || BD: 7-1+1 || CD: 12 || LD: 14 || MOB: 7 ||

Snow:
|| HP: 280/280 || EN: 27/28 ||
|| DMG: 5 || ACC: 1 || MIT: 35 || THN: 18 || RGN: 5 || BLD: 12/8-10 ||

• [+1 EN]
• <<Regen>> +5 HP (2/3)
• Environmental Darkness -1 ACC
• [MIGHTY CHARGE] <<HIT>> [4*5] 20 DMG
• [-4 EN]
• <<Concentration>> on Cooldown (2/3)

Giant Bat:
|| HP: 36/50|| DMG 20 ||

• <<20 DMG TAKEN>>
• <<HIT>> vs @Assassin <<20 DMG - 18 MIT>>

Results:

1. Snow || HP: 280/280 || EN: 24/28 || 1 HATE ||
2. Giant Bat || HP: 30/50 || 
3. Assassin || HP: 18/20 || EN: 1/2 ||

A faint line of red arched through the air and the high pitched shrill of a bat's scream sang contrast to the wet tear of metal through membrane. Assassin's attack scored a hit on the creature and painted a target for Snow to follow.

"Nice one, Assassin!" Snow complimented. The bat's attention, however, seemed locked on the smaller of the two.

The flutter and bob of the winged rodent's massive body chased after Assassin. Snow leapt into action and the pull of Cardinal consumed her weapon once more. It tugged her small frame forward and Sif's blade slipped silently into soft sinew. Snow's stance rooted and she slammed her foe against the ground with a loud crack. The massive bat bounced bluntly beside her small companion and flailed wildly to regain flight. One of its massive wings reached out for air and instead caught against Assassin's body. The two small talons at the crest of the bat's wing ripped two long lines down the child's avatar.

"Assassin!" Snow shouted. Her heart raced.

@Assassin

Edited February 17, 2021 by Snow

[Assassin 0]

In the dim light, the girl didn't have much time to react to the oncoming attack. She took the hit like a champ, noticing that it hardly tickled her. There wasn't really any pain to it anyways. Just a numbing tingle on the wounds. "I-I'm fine! Don't worry! Let's finish him off and get to helping this little girl, she's waiting on us right?"

From in the darkness, Assassin skulked with her weapon hidden but ready. Her attack was cancelled on the last try because she attempted to use her sword art before her energy was enough to use that sword art. Still, the moment that her energy ticked back up, the deadly red light shined throughout the cavern. A surge of energy pierced the flying beast from it's other side. Snow could see the red light sticking from the bat from it's back side slowly fade until the blade was pulled out.

---

Spoiler

1. Snow || HP: 280/280 || EN: 24/28 || 1 HATE ||
2. Giant Bat || HP: 20/50 -10 || 
3. Assassin || HP: 18/20 || EN: 0/2 || 2 HATE ||

 

[Snow 0]

Spoiler

ID# 183167 || BD: 9-1+1 || CD: 5 || LD: 5 || MOB: 1 ||

Snow:
|| HP: 280/280 || EN: 24/28 ||
|| DMG: 5 || ACC: 1 || MIT: 35 || THN: 18 || RGN: 5 || BLD: 12/8-10 ||

• [+1 EN]
• <<Regen>> +5 HP (3/3)
• Environmental Darkness -1 ACC
• [MIGHTY CHARGE] <<Critical HIT>> [4*(5+1)] 24 DMG
• [-4 EN]
• <<Concentration>> on Cooldown (3/3)

Giant Bat:
|| HP: 20/50|| DMG 20 ||

• <<24 DMG TAKEN>>
• <<DEFEATED>>

Results:

1. Snow || HP: 280/280 || EN: 21/28 || 3 HATE ||
2. Giant Bat || HP: 0/50 || 
3. Assassin || HP: 18/20 || EN: 0/2 ||

Snow felt a rush of relief. The bat did no more than a scratch to Assassin's health, and Snow would see that it did no more. She leveled her spear toward the flailing beast and prepared herself for Cardinal's assist. As Assassin's dagger bit into it and let the red light give away its location, Snow locked on and fired her sword art. Her body surged forward and the moment Assassin pulled away, the Valkyrie impaled it. She lifted the haft of her spear with fresh skewer atop and slammed it down into a shower of geometric fragments. The Giant Bat was defeated.

Snow let a pent up breath escape her lips before abruptly turning to Assassin.

"Phew," she began. "Good work! If we run into something next time, hopefully I'll keep its attention. Are you alright?"

The blonde tried to stifle her worry. She tried to remind herself that Assassin didn't like to be treated as a kid. On the other hand, Assassin was still new when it came to the laws of the game. It might take one false move to spell permanent game over. Snow shook her head in the darkness and with it, the dark thoughts.

"Let's try to keep going. We have someone waiting for out help." She flashed a quick smile.

Meanwhile, the soft sounds echoed from deeper within the cave.

@Assassin

Edited February 17, 2021 by Snow

[Assassin 0]

With the threat taken down, Assassin could relax a little. She would cover her cloak over her body to hide her weapon and walk with Snow. As much as she wanted to hurry this along, she wasn't really in the position to be leaving Snow's side. Hopefully they would be able to find this girl soon, before she was eaten by one of those giant bats.

Just as the child was about to try and respond to her question, an ear piercing scream filled the cave. A young girls voice sounding as though she was in danger. "Tank-lady, we have to go fast! It sounds like she's in trouble!" Assassin said rushing ahead.

The blinding darkness was difficult to see through, but as they got closer the duo could see the girl being chased around by another one of the giant bats that they just finished off. "A-Another one! My energy is still recharging, I can't attack..."

[Snow 0]

The shrill of terror echoed through the darkened cavern and raised the hairs on the back of Snow's neck. Her pace quickened in the direction of the sound. In the murky darkness, the blonde spearwoman could only make out rough shapes and the erratic movement. Subtle waves of disturbed air wafted against Snow's face and she knew another foe lurked in the depths. Cardinal reacted to her perception of danger with a solitary red prism that danced rhythmically above the bundled figure of a whimpering child.

Assassin called out and Snow nipped at her lower lip.

'This is fine,' she mentally quipped. 'I can draw its attention and keep them both from harm.'

Snow snatched her spear from her back and squared her stance.

Spoiler

ID# 183529|| BD: 5+2-1 || MOB: 5 ||

Snow:
|| HP: 280/280 || EN: 21/28 ||
|| DMG: 5 || ACC: 1 || MIT: 35 || THN: 18 || RGN: 5 || BLD: 12/8-10 ||

• [+1 EN]
• Environmental Darkness -1 ACC
• <<Concentration>> Activates +1 ACC
• [MIGHTY CHARGE] <<HIT>> [4*5] 20 DMG
• [-4 EN]
• <<Concentration>> on Cooldown (0/3)

Giant Bat:
|| HP: 50/50|| DMG 20 ||

• <<20 DMG TAKEN>>
• <<MISS>> @Snow

Results:

1. Snow || HP: 280/280 || EN: 18/28 || 1 HATE ||
2. Giant Bat || HP: 30/50 || 
3. Assassin || HP: 18/20 || EN: 1/2 ||

Snow darted forward and with a rough guess, impaled the bat through the abdomen with her spear. She twisted her torso, pivoted on her heel, and spun forcibly until the bat flung free from her weapon and slammed into the jagged cavern wall across the way.

Snow snapped her attention behind her where a small girl's tears halted for a brief moment.

"It's okay now," Snow encouraged with soft, matronly words. "We'll get you home soon. Can you be strong for me and stay right here?"

Snow heard the faint whimper of a nod through the darkness.

"Good." Snow turned her attention to the green marker in the room. "That should keep its attention for now. Show me your best, Assassin!"

@Assassin

Edited February 22, 2021 by Snow

[Assassin 0]

Assassin watched as tank-lady made her move to engage the enemy before it got ahold of the young girl it was chasing. Just in time too. As she connected an attack to the bat, Assassin moved past it and to the girl. "Don't worry, we're here to help you. Stay behind tank-lady and she'll make sure you don't get hurt." The dagger wielder said before turning to the combat happening behind her. After a deep breath, she threw her arms up to remove her cloak from her front side and assumed a fighting stance. The blood-red dagger sword art pierced the darkened cavern momentarily until it tore through the thick hide of the bat's bloated body.

She would gauge it's remaining health and call out to Snow in response. "You can finish him off! I'm out of energy again, so I'll start getting her out of the cave!" The child called starting to lead the daughter out of the cave as quickly as possible.

---

Spoiler

1. Snow || HP: 280/280 || EN: 18/28 || 1 HATE ||
2. Giant Bat || HP: 20/50 -10 || 
3. Assassin || HP: 18/20 || EN: 0/2 +1(-2)||

 

[Snow 0]

Spoiler

ID# 183568 || BD: 7+1-1 || MOB: 6 ||

Snow:
|| HP: 280/280 || EN: 18/28 ||
|| DMG: 5 || ACC: 1 || MIT: 35 || THN: 18 || RGN: 5 || BLD: 12/8-10 ||

• [+1 EN]
• Environmental Darkness -1 ACC
• [MIGHTY CHARGE] <<HIT>> [4*5] 20 DMG
• [-4 EN]
• <<Concentration>> on Cooldown (1/3)

Giant Bat:
|| HP: 20/50|| DMG 20 ||

• <<20 DMG TAKEN>>
• <<DEFEATED>>

Results:

1. Snow || HP: 280/280 || EN: 15/28 || 2 HATE ||
2. Giant Bat || HP: 0/50 || 
3. Assassin || HP: 18/20 || EN: 0/2 ||

"Got it," Snow called back. She watched from the corner of her vision as Assassin's marker vanished deeper into the darkness with little girl in tow.

She redirected her focus on the only other thing that remained. The bat's marker bobbed erratically, clearly wounded. Its chirps cried out to help it see and began to make its way closer to Snow. The blond leveled herself and charged at it for the last time. Her spear caught it by the wing and she lifted its tip high before whipping the beast down to the ground in a spray of fractals.

Snow exhaled sharply in relief and stood up straight in the silence of the cavern. Without the pressing danger and sounds of terror, she found the lack of light and sound peaceful in a way. Snow took a deep breath and mounted her spear to her back. Then, she chased after Assassin and the girl.

@Assassin

Edited February 22, 2021 by Snow

[Assassin 0]

The girl rushed her and the child out of the cave as quickly as she could. It would be bad if one of those bats attacked her when Snow wasn't around to keep their attention. Thankfully though, they made it out with much resistance at all. Soon, the indicator of Snow's health not going down showed her that she was able to take it down. The younger girl had her suspicions

"Sh-Shouldn't you have stayed to help her? We just left her alone in there." Assassin shook her head and looked the girl in the eyes. "If we'd have stayed there, we probably would have just gotten in her way more than anything. Getting you out was the most important thing and there is no way that tank-lady would lose to a meanie like that."

Soon after, Snow would emerge from the cave. Assassin would smile at her, glad that she made it out without having any other enemies jump her. "Let's get her home then. You're mom is probably worried sick about you."

[Snow 0]

The light of day slowly turned the black of darkness to grey and finally painted the world in color as she emerged. Just outside, Assassin stood beside the little girl and for a moment, Snow's lips curled into a smile. Beside one another, it looked as though they might have been siblings; one took up the fantasy of fighting "meanies" and the other just wasn't strong enough to handle actual bad guys. The blonde spearwoman sauntered up to the two and placed her hand on top of Assassin's head with a smile.

"Great job in there," Snow complimented while taking a knee. She turned to the missing girl, their eyes still red from tears. "You too, but next time, don't play near scary caves, okay?"

The little girl's head hung. She knew what she did was a mistake. She likely remembered her NPC mother reminding her it was dangerous. After a pause, she nodded softly.

"Th-Thanks tank-lady and..." The little girl looked to her other savior. "Thank you ah-sis."

"Ah-sis," Snow repeated. "Cute."

The play on words and Assassin's name all sort of rolled into one. How cleaver for an NPC.

"Well," Snow huffed as she stood. "How about we head back into town, reunite you with your mom and..."

The blonde looked to Assassin with a giggle.

"How about you and I settle in for some dinner? What do you say, Ah-chan?"

@Assassin

[Assassin 0]

Assassin smiled as Snow's hand rubbed across her head, a weird feeling to be sure and she wasn't totally sure how else to take it as anything other than praise. Soon, the group would start making their way back into town. The girl would call her Ah-sis. An odd play of words of her unwanted name. Though, she wasn't going to show that sort of weakness to anyone here so she just kept quiet.

Assassin managed to keep herself quiet on most of the way back. She realized that once this walk was over and the day was done, at some point her and Snow would have to part ways. This little girl was being brought home to her mother: Something that Assassin could never, ever experience in her life.

She was so lost in thought that she almost missed it when they passed through the safe zone and the girl's mother was waiting for them there. "You're okay!" The mother screamed in joy as she wrapped her arms around the little girl. "Y-Yeah, thanks to them." She said, pointing to the two of them. "Thank you so much! I cannot express how much I owe you two!"

Once their interaction ended, Assassin sighed quietly, watching her experience go up. Soon her stomach would give a hearty growl. "Well... wanna get some food?" It was clear in her voice that something was on her mind, but she wouldn't make it clear yet.

[Snow 0]

To see mother and child reunited was heartwarming even if the two avatar's were not tied to any living person. The image in itself reminded her of family back home. Memories of long distance phone calls and harassment form her father trickled into her thoughts and the weight of sorrow hung heavy on the corners of her lips. The mother looked to the two of them with a brimming happiness and relief that felt so distant and foreign to Snow. As the two ran off from view, a little prompt appeared with the notification of quest rewards. With a press of the accept button, the window vanished to the scene of a hungry Assasin.

"Hmm? Food?" Snow repeated a little flat. Her brow lifted at a similar lack of tone in her companion's voice.

"Sure!" Snow tried to overcome the somber mood with an injection of positive energy. "How does the tavern from last night sound, or would you like something different?"

@Assassin

[Assassin 0]

Even the uplifting tone of Snow's response wouldn't change much of Assassin's tone. Watching the scene of mother and daughter had really gotten to her. The subtle reminder that she had nothing to look forward to in this death trap of a game. Why was she even trying to do any of this? Was it better that she just give up now?

Snow would ask if she wanted to go a different place than they did last night and the child shook her head in response, still the dull drag in her voice. "I don't care, let's just go somewhere." The girl said quietly as she started to make way to the inn that they had stayed at the night before. Honestly, if that man treated her like a lost orphan again, she wouldn't really even resist. When it came down to it, that's all Assassin really was: A deceitful child with no one to go home to. No one she could ever call family.

[Snow 0]

As they arrived at the inn, Snow caught Assassin by the shoulder. The look on her face held only one emotion: concern. Her words, her body language, and just the way she moved seemed... empty.

"Hey... wait here for a minute..." With that said, Snow approached the counter. The gents from before went wide eyed and from Assassin's perspective, she could see Snow lean into the counter. There were some muffled words exchanged and the blond pointed her finger firmly against the table several times. The other patrons in the lobby turned a gaze. Some of them leaned into their comrades and likely whispered the events of the prior night where Snow nearly stripped down to nothing. Then, both the gents turned and vanished in opposite directions. Snow spun on her heels, cheeks red as tomatoes.

"Okay, so. Two beds. Lets go." Her words were broken by the rapid beating of her heart. Snow was definitely not the assertive type and acting like she did last night nearly killed her with embarrassment and anxiety.

Snow went upstairs where one of the gentlemen opened a large door at the end of the hall and ushered them in. Once inside, Snow immediately took a seat and exhaled a heated breath of relief. She took a moment to get her heart rate slower than a hummingbird.

"So," Snow sucked in a deep breath. "What's going on? You've been quiet since we finished that quest. I thought you would be excited. You did really good today."

@Assassin

[Assassin 0]

As the girls moved into the inn, Assassin just couldn't get the thoughts of her missing parental figures out of her mind. Something so deep was practically impossible for a child her age to have to deal with. Snow's hand found it's way to Assassin's shoulder and she asked if she would here for a moment. The orphan did so, likely so that the men wouldn't tease her the way they did. After a moment of waiting, Snow came back and told her that she snagged them two beds this time. 

Leading the way through the upstairs, the blonde Valkyrie pushed open the door and closed it when the both of them were inside. Assassin took a seat on one of the beds, falling back into the sheets quietly and Snow took a seat in the chair. Once her breath was calm, she spoke to the girl.

Assassin said nothing to start. Anytime she thought talking might help the image of that girl and her mother smiling returned. "I'll never experience that feeling that girl did. When I leave this place, I'll get yelled at by the caretaker and she'll be more strict with me." The girl finally blurted out without even moving from the bed.