[SP-24] Lightbringer, Part I: A Window to the Past

[Morningstar 0]

                                                                                                                                              Paradise Islands - Floor 24

A rabbit hopped silently through bushes, stopping to nibble on patches of grass along the way. It weaved around trees and across paths until it reached a clearing. Sunlight poured in between the leaves and needles of greenery, bathing the critter in light. Its bounces turned to small steps as it poked its head out from behind the shrubs, unsure of its surroundings. A cool sea breeze wafted over the rabbit, the scent of salt relaxing it. It hopped forwards, coming to a stop at the edge of the cliff. The water below was a clear turquoise. Fish leaped from it, creating splashes upon landing. On the opposite side of the cliff was a neighboring mountain. A tranquil waterfall flowed down its side, meeting the sea at the bottom.

"Hello, little one," a voice called, startling the rabbit.

Morningstar knelt, dropping a bundle of wildflowers for the animal. The rabbit, wary at first, succumbed to the gift. The swordsman smiled, relocating closer to the cliff's edge and taking a seat. He breathed deeply, closing his eyes. The call of the sea lifted a weight from his shoulders. He couldn't remember how long it'd been since Baldur's tournament—no more than a week, he'd thought. Gulls chattered above, scanning the depths for food. A soft nudge to his leg caused him to open his eyes. Investigating the cause, he noticed that the rabbit had settled in beside his left leg comfortably. He lowered his hand, gently brushing the animal's soft fur.

His trip to the islands was intended for training of sorts. Not physical training but mental training. He'd grown exponentially as a swordsman; however, his mind held him back from being great. Continuously petting the rabbit, he immersed himself in the sun's beams. They washed over him angelically, illuminating his already light hair. With his right hand, he swiped the air. He unequipped his cloak and light armor, leaving him shirtless in the warm embrace of daylight.

During his retreat, Morningstar had explored an ample amount of the Paradise Islands. He'd met other travelers along the way—hikers, fishermen, other swordsmen who'd come to train. This cliff was always uninhabited, though. It was like a secret spot that only he knew of. His expression was soft as he glanced down at the rabbit. Today, he had a guest.

Spoiler

Morningstar | Lv. 13 | HP: 260/260 | EN: 44/44 | DMG: 11 | ACC: 4 | MIT: 9

Gear:

• Beginner's Straight Sword | Uncommon
  +1 DMG
• Beginner's Light Armor | Uncommon
  +9 MIT
• Lexa's Light | Perfect
  +3 ACC

Skills:

• Two-Handed Straight Sword | Rank 5 | Precision | Stamina | Ferocity
  +9 DMG
  +1 ACC
  -2 ENG per attack

Combat Shift:

• TECH Specialist
  +4 to multipliers
  +3 to ENG cost

 

Edited March 11, 2022 by Morningstar

[Morningstar 0]

His guest shifted comfortably, still cuddling his leg. Morningstar leaned back, holding himself upright with his dominant arm. The view from the cliff was breathtaking. Throughout his life, he'd never seen anything like it before. The problem with cities was the lack of mountain ranges and untouched bodies of water. Not to mention the fact that trees and bushes always seemed too intentional. Nature in Aincrad was wild and chaotic, yet peaceful all the same.

Morningstar had grown up in the heart of California. He'd seen the ocean, of course, but never taken the time to appreciate it. Hikes like the trails of the Paradise Islands were unimaginable for him. He was a city-dweller, fixed on the minutiae of life. Time was split and juggled between his growing acting career and the chance at a life beyond it, whatever that looked like. Back then, he must have held a lot of resentment for how his teenage years turned out. It seemed so long ago now.

"Stephen," his mother called, "we're heading out soon. Don't forget your bags."

Stephen, nineteen at the time, shifted in his sheets. The softness of his mattress called strongly for him to stay; however, he ignored it, forcefully pushing the heavy blanket off of him. He sat up, his feet touching the woven carpet below. He questioned why he was up so early, realizing shortly after that he had a plane to catch. They were heading to Japan. He rubbed his eyes, hoping to free himself of his fatigue. He could hear his parents talking from downstairs but his dazed mind couldn't process their words. He went through his usual routine—stretches, a shower, and breakfast—before meeting with his mother and father outside.

Their jet left around seven in the morning, he recalled. It wasn't a bad trip, although it was long and seemingly unending. He'd received a gift that morning. Or maybe it was more like a trade.

"Open the box. Trust me, you'll like it," his mother said.

He ripped open the wrapping paper, a hint of confusion plastered on his face. It wasn't his birthday or anything; why go through the trouble of buying him a gift? The box was littered with katakana, which thankfully he'd learned to read years before. The gift contained Japan's newest technological breakthrough: the NerveGear.

"What's this?" Stephen asked.

"It's supposed to be a new virtual reality headset. We thought you'd enjoy it," his father returned, taking a sip of whiskey.

"No," Stephen said, "what's the occasion?"

His parents met each other's eyes as if speaking telekinetically. His father took another sip from his glass, allowing Stephen's mother to speak.

"We have something we hoped you'd audition for. It's an adaptation of an old show in Japan, it was very popular at-"

"That's why we're going to Japan?"

"It would be a big deal for your career, Stephen. We'd like you to at least give it a shot."

Stephen slouched in his seat. "What's it about?"

"Ninjas, I think. Big money, I've heard," his dad said.

"Fine. I'll go," he said, meeting his mother's gaze.

She smiled softly and although Stephen's expression was cold, he couldn't help but feel appreciation for her. She worked hard to get into the position she was in—he knew that. She always tried her best to provide for him. She wanted him to succeed, just like she had. He shut his eyes, sinking into the cushions of his chair. The plane rocked gently, leaving him in a state somewhere between sleep and consciousness. They'd be landing in ten hours and two days later, he'd go to the audition for his family's sake instead of his own.

Morningstar scratched the white rabbit's ear, lost in the memories of a time before Aincrad. A time before he was Morningstar.

[Morningstar 0]

Memories of the audition were foggy now. It'd been what—nine years? Seven, maybe? He couldn't remember. His time in the game had come together in a big blend of combat and exploration. He hadn't even celebrated his birthday this year. Assuming nine years was correct, he was twenty-eight now. The thought of that made him feel old. It couldn't be right.

A few details stuck out from the day of the audition. He remembered the scent of oak vividly. Someone's perfume, he thought. He also remembered that he'd fought with his father in the evening.

"It's not a big deal," Stephen told his dad, "there are a million other roles I can audition for,"

His eyes were glued to his sketchbook. Stephen loved to draw. Not many people knew that about him. His pencil flowed against the page, lines and basic shapes transforming into something more. On the page, he'd drawn himself sitting on a couch somewhere in western Europe with a Bengal cat. A fireplace crackled gently across from their couch, keeping them warm despite the rain dripping down the outside of the window.

"This one," his dad started, avoiding eye contact, "was important. You know how much they were offering? Fifteen million dollars. Fifteen million!"

Stephen didn't respond. He knew that he'd blown it but he had no idea why. He'd presented himself well, he'd mastered the lines. He knew the character as if it were his own. So why hadn't they chosen him? His dad stood in the kitchen, his back turned away from Stephen. He could hear the wave of whiskey crashing into the man's glass. 

"You need to try harder, Stephen. Apply yourself and land these jobs. They're valuable. You can't afford to be missing out on them," his dad said, turning now to face him.

Stephen's eyes were still stuck to the page. He signed his sketch with a wonky star and closed the book.

[Morningstar 0]

"Are you listening to me?" His dad shouted.

Stephen shut his book, his mom entering his peripheral vision. "Yeah, I'm listening. I screwed up my audition, okay? I've screwed up the last three. I'm not cut out for this bullshit anymore," he leaned forwards in his seat, placing the sketchbook on the side table next to him.

"Stephen!" his mother gasped.

"Do you know how hard I had to work to open these doors for you?" His father's face was red, as it often was when he got angry.

"I didn't ask you to—I didn't even want you to."

For a moment, nobody said anything. He looked his father in the eyes, emotions welling up inside. He detested acting but he'd never told anyone before. How could he? They never listened. Thoughts of disdain were thrown into the trash with the rest of his complaints and he was expected to get over them and move on to whatever the next big thing was.

His dad cleared his throat. "There's one more audition here in the city. It would be best for you if you went to it tomorrow. We only want what's best for you."

The man spoke more calmly now, but Stephen knew that he could explode again at any moment. He stood up, scowling down at his father. "Like you know what's best for me?"

His steps were slow and heavy as he walked away from the scene. He couldn't meet his mother's eyes as he passed. Stephen shut the door of his room, lazily made his way to the bed, and dropped like a rock. His mind was a mess. The intelligent part within him told him to go to sleep and try to reset for the morning but instead, he reached to the nightstand to his right. He picked up his new NerveGear, holding it above his head. He'd been so caught up with the audition that he'd forgotten to give it a try. He slid it on and booted it up, entering a world unlike anything he could have imagined.

Edited March 9, 2022 by Morningstar

[Morningstar 0]

The sun had peaked now. Morningstar accidentally nudged the rabbit, waking it. "Sorry."

He lifted himself up wearily. After all the time he'd spent basking in the sun, his body had grown tired. He stretched his back, satisfied by the subtle cracks he heard. The rabbit stared up at him curiously. Star felt bad. He'd intended on leaving this spot for the time being. There were still some parts of the island he wanted to visit before departing the next day. He tapped his index finger against his leg a few times, thinking.

Then, he knelt down again. "Want to come with me?"

The rabbit didn't answer, obviously. It just watched with its tiny teddy bear eyes. He scooped the bunny up and pointed down the cliffside. "That's where we're going. What'll I put you in..."

Morningstar placed the animal on his shoulder, swiping open his inventory. A basket and some rope were his only choices unless he wanted to put the rabbit in the hood of his cloak. It was way too hot for a cloak, though, and that sounded dangerous. He withdrew the items from his inventory. He tied the rope around his waist leaving a longer strand for the basket. Once he made sure everything was sturdy, he sat his new friend inside. He looked over the edge of the cliff. The spot he'd climb down to was a little under halfway from the bottom. He sat down, his feet touching a rock jetting out from the wall. He spun around carefully, lifting the basket up and dropping it down gently. This climb was nothing he'd never done before, but the added weight meant he'd need to go slower than he liked. He scaled downwards, his fingers shaking as he gripped each rock. Periodically, he'd check in on the rabbit.

"You need a name, I think," he said between breaths, "Peaches, maybe?"

Peaches' attention was distant. Star couldn't tell where she was looking. He continued his descent, extending his reach whenever he came to an inconvenient spot. His foot touched a loose patch of rocks and they cracked, causing momentary panic. He sighed. Peaches didn't seem to care or notice that they'd both almost fallen.

"Almost there," he muttered.

[Morningstar 0]

With a hand on the basket's handle, he dropped down from the rock wall and landed gracefully in front of the cave. The entrance of the cave was small, but not so much that he couldn't fit through. Morningstar peeked down, making sure Peaches was okay. She still sat idly without a single care. Morningstar didn't bother equipping a weapon or any armor. During his week on the islands, he'd yet to see a single monster. He wasn't worried about what hid in the dark; it was unlikely that there was anything at all.

Still, he kept the rabbit close to him as he entered. Both the width and height of the cave seemed to enlarge the further in they went. He wondered if it had been explored before. Perhaps he was the first to notice it. After all, the cave wasn't in the most obvious spot. Aside from scaling the cliff, there wasn't any way inside. The dripping of water could be heard from multiple jagged rocks on the roof. The lack of sunlight dropped the temperature and he desired the warmth against his bareback once more. 

After who knows how many regular rocks he'd seen, Morningstar noticed a glimmer from the corner of his eye. A crimson sparkle emanated from the wall of the cave. He moved towards it, placing down the basket to get a closer look. They were beautiful.

Red gemstones stuck out in a small patch of rocks. He'd never seen anything like them before. Morningstar was so caught up in the glow that he hadn't even realized that he'd lifted his hand to touch one. He hesitated, his fingers hovering in front of the gem. His own cautiousness confused him; why was he so distrusting of the stones?

"They're just shiny rocks," he assured himself, "they can't hurt you."

The swordsman let himself touch the crystal. It felt loose, as if pulling it from the wall would be no challenge. He tried, immediately freeing the gemstone from it's containment. He brought it up to his face, examining it thoroughly. The glow flowed over the stone, growing bigger and smaller in different spots. It reminded him of the ocean outside. It was hypnotizing.

Then, it crumbled away. The glow faded, leaving nothing but dust in it's wake.

Spoiler

ID: 205575 LD: 10

 

Edited March 12, 2022 by Morningstar

[Morningstar 0]

"I really like exotic crystals, don't judge me."

"I'm not judging you, you can like whatever you want."

"You're looking at me like you're judging me."

Stephen leaned back, his arms crossed. "Maybe I'm just a little skeptical."

The blonde woman lightly kicked Stephen's leg from across the table. "I don't think they're like, magical or anything. I think they're pretty!"

Stephen smirked playfully. "Good, I thought I was going to have to break up with you for a second there."

Her mouth hung open in disbelief. "Honestly, you're the worst."

Stephen stood up, adjusting his pants comfortably. He looked out the window of their room. This was their favorite inn because of the view of the Town of Beginnings. You could see the busy street-dwellers and overworked merchants clearly. They loved the ambiance and the commotion that the town offered. He ruffled his dirty blonde hair.

"Hey, Lex?"

"What's up?"

"Why don't we buy a house here?"

Lexa stared from behind, surprised. "Stephen, you really mean that?"

"Yeah, of course," he said.

Stephen turned around, stepping back to the table and sitting down with the girl. He reached out, intertwining his fingers with her own. The only thing stopping them from doing it was money and that was easily solvable. Between the two of them, it wouldn't take more than a month to scrape up the funds.

"Can you even buy houses in town?" Lexa asked, her face beaming.

Stephen shook his head, "I don't know, but we should try."

"Yes," Lexa giggled, "Yes, let's do it."

Edited March 12, 2022 by Morningstar

[Morningstar 0]

The house that piqued their interest was modest, yet comfortable. It was in a quiet section of the Town of Beginnings; or at least, it was quieter than the markets were. You could still hear the liveliness coming from across town, even from inside. Stephen stood in the living room, admiring the space. It was a step up from the inn they'd been living in.

"How much will this cost?" He asked Lexa.

Even when she looked sad, she was beautiful. She stepped down the stairs, frowning. "A bit under 135,000 col."

He sighed, smiling softly. Stephen reached out, pulling her into a hug. They both knew it was well beyond their price range. They didn't even have a quarter of the cost between the two of them. But the house was perfect for them. The master bedroom had just enough room for them, the kitchen was perfect for Lexa (an aspiring cook), and they could furnish the place however they wanted. The walls had room for art and there was plenty of storage space as well. Losing out on the opportunity would be a shame.

"We'll make it work," he told Lexa, pulling back, "We'll just have to quest a little harder."

"If we just quest, it will take months for us to be able to afford this. Maybe longer."

For a moment, they faced each other in silence. His hands rested on her shoulders until he moved one to fix her bangs. She wasn't wrong—in the time it would take for them to put the col together, the house would probably be swooped up. There were other opportunities to increase wealth, though.

"What about dungeons? Maybe we can get bonus col from them if we find treasure or something," Stephen said.

"I guess. Where did you have in mind?"

"We've still never gone to Floor Seven together, have we?"

[Morningstar 0]

The mountains of the seventh floor were cruel and unforgiving. The higher you traveled, the more ice and snow you were met with. They'd followed a path up the mountain as far as they could until they were forced to climb instead. Their goal was to find the entrance to a cave system that lead deep within the mountain. It was unexplored, to their knowledge, which meant more of a risk. High risk often came with a higher reward.

"Catch me if I fall?" Stephen joked, placing his foot steadily on a rock.

"No promises," Lexa laughed.

He lifted himself up, securing his other foot on a different rock. Their time in Aincrad had developed them into quite the rock climbers. Knowing that they could survive the fall in an unfortunate circumstance, they weren't hesitant to start. It wasn't as high as it looked. He pushed up with his legs, moving up the body of the mountain with ease. Occasionally, he'd look down to make sure Lexa was alright. She smiled back at him every time.

Two years prior, when they'd met, Stephen wasn't sure about the girl. They both frequented a café in the Town of Beginnings, but he never intended on approaching her. Instead, after four days of subtle glances, she sat with him. She talked a lot. That was the first thing he had noticed about her. It wasn't bad; actually, he enjoyed it. She seemed too perfect, though. They'd both come from similar luxurious lifestyles and while he could relate to her a lot, she intimidated him as well. She was skilled with her rapier, she was even more confident than he was, and she looked like an angel.

Now, he knew that she was perfect for him. Stephen looked back up towards the sky, judging the distance between them and the entrance.

"Just a bit more," he called down to Lexa.

[Morningstar 0]

Stephen looked down from the cave entrance, waiting for his partner to join him. When she was close enough, he held out his arm to help her. He pulled her up and they looked out together at the world. The view was spectacular. From their position, they could see across the mountain range, even as far as Deepedge. He tapped her shoulder, motioning her to follow him. They moved onward, ducking under jagged rocks and swerving around sharp corners. The cave became darker the deeper they traveled.

"Any chance you brought a torch?" Morningstar asked.

"Of course. One of us needs to come prepared." Lexa returned.

She lit the torch, illuminating their cave. They stopped dead in their tracks. Seven lizard-men blocked their path, some of them crawling on the ceiling and walls while the others stood upright on the ground. It was a grotesque scene. They reacted quickly, both drawing their blades with swift timing and slicing down their opponents.

"Unexpected," Morningstar said.

"Yeah."

[Morningstar 0]

Stephen lost track of how much time they'd spent in the dungeon. He estimated an hour but it could have been longer.

"Has it gotten colder in here?" Lexa asked.

"I mean, we're pretty far in. Sun's not really touching this part," Stephen shrugged.

"I guess."

Groups of frost lizard-men had attacked multiple times while they explored but there were never enough to worry Stephen. The cave was lacking the challenge that they had expected. Where were the strong monsters? The rare loot? He glanced at Lexa.

"Does this seem weird to you?"

"What?"

"We've seen nothing but low-level mobs since we came here. There's been no sign of anything else."

Lexa looked ahead, stopping in her tracks. "Speak of the devil."

Stephen, confused, looked ahead. The walls, floor, and roof were covered in ice. They had discovered the source of the temperature change. Stephen stepped towards the ice, poking it with the tip of his shoe. Oddly enough, it didn't feel slippery. He moved forwards, taking a full step onto the glimmering floor.

"I think it's safe," he called.

[Morningstar 0]

There was something that dwelled in the darkest parts of the cavern. Something that terrified Stephen. He knew because moments after stepping onto the ice, the beast's bellowing call echoed through the air, vibrating the walls and paralyzing him and Lexa. They stared at each other, eyes wide. Thumps and scurries grew louder and louder as seconds passed. What happened? Had he activated something by accident? He looked in the direction of the sound saw something large and ice-blue swiftly stomping through the cave.

"Run!" Stephen cried.

He moved first, pulling Lexa from her fearful trance. They sprinted back through the tunnel they had come from, dodging stalactites as they passed. A low-hanging spear-like rock scraped Stephen's shoulder, causing him to wince. He didn't stop, though; he knew the creatures were right behind them. Every little while, he'd look behind him to make sure Lexa was okay. She kept close but the expression she made was heartbreaking. They couldn't outrun them. He clutched his sword, contemplating his next decision carefully. He nearly spun around when Lexa's voice reverberated through him.

"Don't!" She shouted. "Don't you dare turn around!"

Stephen gritted his teeth. "Damn it! They're too fast!"

He met Lexa's eyes for a short moment as he spun his head around. Only one of the creatures could fit through at once. If he could hold back one, then he could hold back them all. His amber eyes darted from her face to her waist. Why was she drawing her rapier? What was she doing?

She stopped suddenly and, with a pink glow, thrust her blade into the beast a dozen times. He slowed down.

"Come on!" Stephen called out, hurrying her to join him.

The beast was stunned; she'd bought them enough time to get out unscathed. The exit was so close now. Lexa nodded, beginning to run once again. He didn't speed up right away. Instead, he waited for her to catch up.

His heart sunk as he noticed the two lizard monsters crawling on the roof. They were smaller than the one that Lexa had stunned. They could fit right over the top of it. Why hadn't he considered that there could be different-sized monsters? One of them leaped from the ceiling, the beast's claws sinking into the woman's back. She hit the ground with a devastating thud and her rapier flew out of reach. Stephen reached out to her but he was too far away.

Why?

The beast slashed at her, dropping her health bar further.

Why was this happening?

It's jaw descended into her shoulder. Before he could reach her, the bar fell to zero.

"Stop!" Stephen screamed, a golden arc slicing through the two smaller beasts. The lizards shattered into blue shards and disappeared. He knelt down next to Lexa, looking for a health potion. He scrolled through his inventory, breathing heavily in his panicked state.

"I'm sorry. I know I told you not to do it," Lexa smiled faintly, her fingers grazing his cheek.

Then, she was gone.

[Morningstar 0]

Morningstar knelt on the cold ground, clutching the dust left by the red crystal. Tears ran down his face and he opened his fist, letting what remained of it flow to the ground. It fell slowly, like sand in an hourglass. The crystals were the exact kind that Lexa would have liked, shimmering and beautiful. However, it didn't last. Nothing ever seemed to.

The rabbit nudged the arm that held Morningstar up. He opened his eyes, surprised. He had forgotten Peaches was there. He wiped his face on his bare arm and, with a lot of effort, lifted himself up.

"I knew I'd be dealing with some hard stuff on this trip but I didn't think I'd cry so much. Thanks, friend," Morningstar smiled, pulling the rabbit into an embrace.

His eyes were puffy and red but he managed to choke out a laugh nonetheless. Peaches nuzzled into the man's chest affectionately. Petting the animal, he ventured further into the cave. It didn't take long for him to reach the end, though. He expected something more exciting for the last part of his travels but found it hard to complain. He'd already seen some of the most gorgeous parts of Aincrad earlier.

He turned his back on the end of the cave, passed the sad gemstones, and exited the cave for good.

[Morningstar 0]

Within a twenty-minute time frame, Morningstar had climbed back up the cliffside and said goodbye to Peaches.

"I'm sure we'll meet again. Here," he said, handing the rabbit the last of the wildflowers he had collected.

The animal took them willingly and hopped away, back through the bushes and into the quiet forest. Morningstar watched for a moment until he was sure that Peaches was gone. Then, he turned back to the sea. Previous tests had concluded that the currents below were safe for swimming. Taking a few steps back, he took a deep breath in. He stretched his back and legs and then exhaled. He took one step forward and then another. Picking up momentum, he found himself running. The edge of the cliff neared with each step and as if it were muscle memory, he pushed himself forwards. Before he knew it, he was free-falling.

Seconds turned to a millennium as he dropped lower and lower. All he could see was blue. The wind hit his face with a cold force but it refreshed him, invigorated him. His tired body awoke and his mind was freed from the pain that came before. He crashed into the water and sank below the riptide.

[Morningstar 0]

Everything is different underwater. It's as if your senses are restrained; tethered by the ocean itself. You can't see or hear anything clearly. You relinquish your control to Neptune and in return are offered uncertainty—a mystifying coin flip between tranquility and dread.

Luck was on Morningstar's side. Holding his breath, he floated for a bit less than a minute before rising to the surface. His head breached the glass-like plane that separated the two worlds of sea and land. His blonde hair looked brown when it was wet. He trod the water, admiring the serenity of his surroundings. There wasn't another place he felt comfortable swimming.

After a moment of stillness, he dove back beneath the waves, making deep strokes to propel himself through the water. He could see tiny entities swim by and he knew that they were harmless fish. He stared down as far as he could, but there was nothing but blurry darkness to be found. He stopped to come up for air.

An unfamiliar voice beckoned him from behind. "Enjoying the weather?"

Spoiler

ID: 206426 LD: 5

 

Edited March 19, 2022 by Morningstar

[Morningstar 0]

Morningstar spun around, surprised that anyone was around. He hadn't noticed the old man when he'd jumped and he hadn't swum a far distance.

"I am," he called back. "This is my last day on the islands so I wanted to make the best of it."

"Truly, truly. We're in the same boat," the old man laughed.

Due to his age, one could have mistaken him for an NPC. It was rare to see older players. The man was dressed comfortably in shades of brown with a straw hat to block out the sunlight. He wore glasses, strangely enough. Morningstar was of the belief that eyesight problems were fixed within the game.

"They're a preference. I don't feel right without my glasses," he said, adjusting the frame.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to stare," Morningstar swam up to the rocks that the man sat on.

"It's quite alright," He said, tossing the line of his fishing rod into the water. "Care to join me? I have tea."

Morningstar smiled. "I would love to."

Gripping onto the rocks, he pushed himself out of the water. His pants were soaked now but soon enough they would dry off. He took the man's offer and poured himself a glass of tea.

"It's green."

"My favorite," Morningstar proclaimed.

"Good," the man's focus remained on his rod, "mine as well."

They sat silently, the man awaiting a tug from the water and Morningstar enjoying the company. He blew on his drink before taking a sip. Suddenly, the old man pulled hard on his rod. Out of the water came a fish the length of Morningstar's forearm. The man grinned in pleasure.

"First catch of the day!"

Morningstar replied with a smile, taking another sip of his tea.

"I'm Watson. I have a house here on the twenty-fourth floor and I come to the Paradise Islands occasionally to fish."

"Morningstar. I'm here on a bit of a vacation."

"Is that so?" Watson asked. "Care to join me for this fish on your last night here? This should be plenty between the two of us."

Morningstar nodded. "If you'll have me. Actually, I have some fancy bread I've been meaning to try."

[Morningstar 0]

Time went on and the pair continued to chat until nightfall. The fire that Watson had started crackled in the moonlight. The fish was finally ready. Watson pulled it off of the flame and gently placed it on a cutting board. He tapped it with his glowing kitchen knife and the meat split into two portions. Morningstar withdrew the artisanal bread from his inventory and handed half to Watson.

"So, what happened next?" Morningstar asked.

Watson took the bread and put it on a plate. Then he began dishing up Morningstar's food. "Well, the giants found us, of course. Sam was so pissed that he'd woken them up that he charged right in and leaped on one, sword in hand, and stabbed it in the leg. Poor fool of a giant couldn't shake him off!"

They laughed and Morningstar took his plate from Watson. The fish was seared to perfection and sliced delicately next to the bread. Watson had explained earlier that he was a cook by profession, both inside and out of the game. He'd proven himself with their dinner. Morningstar took a bite of the meat.

"Delicious," he said, complimenting the chef.

"Why, thank you," Watson replied.

Morningstar smiled. "Since you're still here, I take it you lived the encounter with the giants."

"Oh, yes. After a while, Sam stopped flailing and took down his giant. I was quicker, though," Watson winked.

Morningstar chuckled. He took a bite of the bread with a pleasant surprise. "How do you like it? The bread, I mean."

"It's really tasty. Where'd you find it?"

"There's a bakery down on the first floor. I'm not down there often these days but when I am, I try to stop there for a treat."

"What's the name of the bakery?"

"Five Wheels," Morningstar said, ripping off a corner of the loaf and tossing it into his mouth.

"I'll take a look some time. I have a friend who recently purchased a house in the Town of Beginnings so I'm down there quite a bit."

Crickets began to chirp in the distance. Morningstar had noticed a lack of bugs in the area. Perhaps the fire was causing them to keep their distance.

[Morningstar 0]

"Your turn," Watson began, "I'm sure you've got plenty of stories to share."

Morningstar laughed. He wasn't sure it was possible to top the tale of the giant slayers; however, he was happy to give it a try. "Sure," he said, humoring the old man.

"This was back when the game first started—within the first few months, anyway. I didn't know anyone yet, since I came into the game alone, and I spent most of my time doing quests. Well, one day, I decided to take a day off," he recalled the story vividly as if it had only just happened.

"I can't remember what floor we were on but back then there weren't many unlocked yet. I spent most of my time between the Town of Beginnings and Urbus and if I wasn't doing easy quests I was hiding in the safezones like most other people were in the beginning. On this day, though, I went up into the Tablelands down on Floor Two. Pretty dangerous place for low-level players. Anyway, I went there mostly to explore, since I'd never had the chance of going before. There were the usual mobs: giant bugs, goblins, et cetera. But that wasn't all."

"What do you mean?" Watson asked curiously.

Morningstar smirked. "I take it you've never heard of the Ghost of the Tablelands?"

"No," he responded, "go on."

"Okay," Morningstar continued. "Legend has it that when the first boss was cleared and the second floor opened up, the first player to die was with a party that was exploring the Tablelands. If you go far enough, you'll reach a set of cliffs. They're slippery and if you're not prepared, there's a good chance a fall will kill you. As I said, this player traveled there with a party but according to the group, he went off on his own for a few minutes to take a look at the cliffs. Then, he disappeared. There was no trace of him."

"Obviously, dozens of people have gone back to figure out what exactly happened. The most likely scenario is that he slipped and fell to his death but nobody really knows."

Watson scratched his neck. "So, how is this your story?"

"I'm just about to get to that."

[Morningstar 0]

"I told you that I went to the Tablelands, yeah? I went because I wanted to see the cliffs for myself. People in Urbus like to tell stories of the spirit that haunts the Tablelands; the ghost of the first player to die there. I wanted to confirm whether the stories were true or not. I guess it's kind of what got me into exploring in the first place."

Morningstar took a bite of his fish before continuing, afraid of letting it go cold.

"I went in the late afternoon and arrived at nightfall. I walked all the way across the Tablelands until I found the cliffs where the ghost was supposed to show up. But it didn't."

"It didn't?" Watson looked confused as if he wasn't sure where the story was going.

"Nope. Not at first, anyway. After waiting around for a few hours, I turned around, lit a torch, and headed back towards town. That was when the breathing started."

"Breathing?"

"Breathing. Right in my ear, like someone was standing behind me. I turned around but nobody was there. Then, I heard rocks slip off the cliff. Kind of—"

"Like someone had fallen?" Watson asked.

Morningstar nodded. "Exactly. By this point I was scared. I didn't really believe in ghosts or anything but even I could admit that these things were weird. I was sure that I was alone. I started to panic and I turned back around."

He stopped speaking for a moment, staring out at the calm water. Only crickets were audible now. Not even the birds chirped that late on the Paradise Islands. He turned his head back to Watson.

"The Ghost of the Tablelands was right in front of me."

[Morningstar 0]

"I remember whipping out my sword and slicing at it but after I blinked, it was gone. I think I ran the entire way back to town," Morningstar chuckled.

"So, the ghost is real?" Watson asked.

"I mean, I think so. Not a single person I've told has ever believed me, though. What about you?" Morningstar handed his plate back to Watson, who was beginning to clean up.

Watson hesitated. "I'm not sure. I've never really believed in the supernatural, myself."

"Care to join me on a trip to the Tablelands?"

"What, are you trying to give an old man a heart attack?" Watson laughed and Morningstar joined in.

Dinner and conversations like this were rare for Morningstar. He spent most nights alone, eating whatever it was that he could find with the least amount of effort. He made sure to add the old man to his friends list; they'd have to go fishing again someday. Star wasn't much of a fisherman but Watson promised to show him the ropes.

"Thank you for tonight. I don't think there's any chance of me camping out here after a story like that, though. I'll be heading back to town, I think. Need a crystal?" Watson asked.

"If you have an extra, I'd appreciate it," Morningstar replied.

"Of course. Consider it payment for a story well told."