[F15;SP] Heart Torn | <<Feeding Your Enemy>>

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

Floor Four

Nari shook off the snow that had fallen on top of her, most of it making its way straight down the back of her shirt and creating a frozen line down her spine. "Ohhhhh when I catch you, you are going to pay. No treats for you tonight!"

The small fox seemed to pause at the threat, staring at Nari as if questioning whether she truly meant it or not. The pause was long enough for Nari to rush forward, her hands reaching out to grasp the fox. Yuki was far too fast for Nari, however, and the fox bounded into the snow, disappearing from sight off to her right.

"Hey! Get back here you trouble maker!" Nari called after her with a laugh, before trampling off through the snow in search of the small fox. The crunch of snow beneath her boots rang in Nari's ears, and as she pushed past bush and tree, she found herself growing worried. With the fox nowhere in sight, Nari found herself calling out - a touch of concern reaching her voice. "Yuki? Yuki! Hey, where'd you go? Yuki!"

Another rustling, and Nari had pushed through a bush, to find herself staring out at an open field. In its centre was a large, dark hole. Nari came to a stop, staring at the hole - the thing felt like it resonated an aura of...something. Something that made Nari uncomfortable. 

It was several moments later that she noticed the small button-nosed face staring at her, sitting beside the hole almost expectantly. Nari's eyes slowly pulled away from the hole, taking in the white face and realising slowly who was staring at her. "Yuki! Oh, thank goodness...wait, why...why are you sitting next to..."

Before she could finish the sentence, the fox gave a small yip, before nodding its head towards the hole. Nari glanced back at it, the unnerving feeling reappearing. She wasn't sure what the fox wanted, but somehow she knew that hole was important. 

Sighing heavily, Nari forced her foot forward, taking a single step towards the hole. The harsh yip brought her to a standstill, her eyes turning back to Yuki as the fox seemed to growl at her. The moment Nari stopped, the fox calmed. Confusion holding her still, Nari watched as the fox came over to her, standing on its back legs for a single second to lick her hand, before turning and making its way back towards the hole. 

Nari watched, the confusion holding her still, as the fox stopped before the hole, glancing back just long enough to give a soft yip, before disappearing into the hole itself. Left alone in the open field, it wasn't the disappearance of her friend, nor the sudden quiet that shook Nari. It was the disappearance of the small health bar that had always sat beneath her own, the disappearance of the name that had accompanied it, always there and reassuring her. For the first time in a long time, Nari felt truly alone.

---

 

 

Quest

Statblock

Spoiler notes -- Nari-Lanreth | Lv. 32 | P. 41 | HP: 840/840 | EN: 98/98 | ACC: 4 | DMG: 20 | EVA: 3 | MIT: 30 | B.Healing [+46] | L.Momentum: 1 | LD: 4 | Bld: 48 Tier 4 | Tier 8 equipped Solitude's Sorrow [Scythe; Tier 4 Perfect] Enhancement: Accuracy [2 Slots] Enhancement: Bleed [1 Slots]  Reaper's Defence  [Light Armour; Tier 4 Perfect] Enhancement: Evasion [2 Slots] Enhancement: Light Momentum [1 Slots] Twin-Fox Bracelet [Tier 4 Perfect Jewellery] Enhancement: Recovery [2 Slots] Enhancement: Evasion [1 Slot]   battle-ready inventory Teleport Crystal {3} Starter Healing Potions {4} | Heals 50 HP Divinity's Wait {4} | Tier 2; Perfect Potion | Mitigation III Divinity's Protection {4} | Tier 3; Perfect Potion | Overhealth III Cold Brew Coffee {3} | Tier 1; Perfect Potion | HP Recovery III Percephonius Pyratius {9} | Tier 4; Perfect Potion | Damage III Ketchup Chips {3} | Tier 4; Perfect Snacks| Probiotics III Siúil a Rún {2} | Tier 3; Perfect; Masterpiece Support Song | HP Recovery III [Mass] skills Spoiler Utility Skills Extended Weight Limit [Active: Passive. Effect: +2 additional Battle-Ready inventory slots.] Searching [Rank: 4. Active: Passive. Effect: +1 LD per rank. +1 to Stealth Detection per rank.] [Rank 3 Searching Mod] Detect [Active: Passive. Effect: Grants +2 Stealth Detection. Grants +1 LD when searching for dungeons and labyrinths.] Combat Skills Battle Healing [Rank: 3. Active: Passive. Effect: While in combat, recover 1% per rank of your maximum HP (rounded down) at the beginning of your turn.] Fighting Spirit [Active: Passive. Effect: Attacking and using Howl or Focused Howl generates +1 additional Hate. (Ex. Generate 1/2/3 Hate on a Miss/Hit/Critical attack. Generate 5 Hate when using Focused Howl.)] Weapon Skills Polearm [Rank: 5. Active: Passive. Effect: +7 DMG] [Rank 5 Weapon Addon] Stamina [Active: Passive. Effect: Reduces EN of all attacks by 2.] [Rank 5 Weapon Addon] Precision [Active: Passive. Effect: Gain +1 ACC.] [Rank 5 Weapon Addon] <<Weapon Type>> Focus [Active: Passive. Effect: Decreases minor critical threshold by 1. Also reduces DoT thresholds by 1. Players cannot use Focus and Ferocity at the same time for the same Weapon Type.] [Rank 5 Shift] TECH Specialist [Active: Passive. Effect: For TECH Sword Arts, +4 to multipliers, +3 to EN cost. No other Shifts may be taken.] Armour Skills Light Armour [Rank: 5. Active: Passive. Effect: 30 MIT. Mitigation is capped at 2 slots.] [Light Armour Mod] Meticulous [Active: Passive. Effect: Gain +1 base Damage.] [Light Armour Add-on] Resolve [Active: Passive. Effect: Gain +1 Accuracy and +10 * Tier HP.] Active Extra Skills Concentration [Active: Free Action. Cooldown: 5 turns. Effect: As a free action, gain Absolute Accuracy on your next attack. In the case Absolute Accuracy is already present, increase your Accuracy by 1 instead. Effect lasts until the start of next turn.] Meditation [Active: Post Action. Cooldown: 3 turns. Effect: Recover an additional (4 * Tier) energy.] Parry [Active: Post action. Energy cost: 9 EN Cooldown: 3 Turns. Effect: Apply the energy cost upon proc, not activation. Reduces the final damage of the next successful attack against you by 50% (rounded down) and negates stun/paralysis effects of that attack. If hit by multiple attacks, only apply parry to the first attack against you. Parry lasts for three turns. Cooldown starts when the player activates the Skill. If the player is hit when using Parry, the cooldown is reset to 3 turns.] [Parry Mod] Vengeful Riposte [Active: Passive. Cooldown: 4 Turns. Effect: A successful Parry also returns 50% (rounded down) of the raw damage that would be dealt to you back to your opponent. The reflected damage can be mitigated by the opponent.] Survival [Active: Passive. Effect: Increases Healing effects received from all sources by 10%. Grants immunity to all damage dealing environmental attacks/effects.] Familiar Skills Protector Familiar [Active: Free Action. Cooldown: 3 Posts; Effect: The next time you would take damage, your familiar rushes to your aid, reducing the final damage by 10%.] sword arts Spoiler [x12] ST-I (12 10 EN) | A single-target sword art. [x15] ST-II (15 13 EN) | A powerful single-target sword art. Only available for use when ST-I was used and successfully struck an enemy the previous turn or if ST-II had been used and had missed the previous turn. [x20] ST-B (20 18 EN) | A devastating single-target sword art. Can only be used if the sword art used the previous turn is not ST-B and had rolled a natural CD9+. When performing an AoE attack, use only the first roll. [x11] AOE-I (11 9 + 2 * targets EN) | AOE | A sword art that strikes multiple targets at once. [x14] AOE-II (14 12 + 2 * targets EN) | AOE | A powerful sword art that strikes multiple targets at once. Only available for use when AOE-I was used and successfully struck an enemy the previous turn or if AOE-II had been used and had missed the previous turn. [x16] TECH-A (16 14 EN) | STUN | A single-target sword art that stuns an enemy. [x16] TECH-B (15 13 EN) | DELAY | A single-target sword art that, on a successful strike, applies [Delay] on the enemy. [Delay] is a status condition that reduces the enemy’s ACC by 1 for one turn. [x16] TECH-C (15 13 EN) | COUNTER | A single-target sword art that, on a successful strike, places [Counter] around the player. [Counter] reduces the final damage taken by its user by 25% (rounded down) for one turn. [x16] TECH-D (15 13 EN) | SHATTER | A single-target sword art that applies [Shatter] to an enemy for 3 turns. [Shatter] is a debuff that can stack up to a cap of 3. Each stack of [Shatter] removes -20 MIT from an enemy, down to 0, if it has MIT. [x12] TECH-F (11 9 + 2 * targets EN) | AOE STUN | A sword art that strikes multiple targets at once. All struck targets are stunned for one turn. [x16] TECH-G (15 13 EN) | BURN | A single-target sword art that, on a successful strike, applies [Burn] on the enemy. [Burn] is a DoT ailment that deals [14 * Player Tier] unmitigated Burn damage for 2 turns. [x2] RAW-A (10 8 EN) | THORNS | A single-target sword art that utilizes the [Thorns] of the individual against the enemy. Other types of enhancements that apply damage upon contact with the individual are also considered in improving the damage of this sword art (eg. Immolation Potion, Flame/Frost Aura, etc). Outgoing damage is considered mitigatable.  Must have a weapon equipped to activate this sword art. buffs Spoiler Estate Buffs Master Bedroom [-1 energy cost for the first three expenditures of each combat.] Master Bathroom [The first time you would suffer DoT damage in a thread, reduce damage taken from DoT each turn by 25% (rounded down).] Dining Room [Turn 2 identical food items (same quality, tier, & enhancements) into a Lesser Feast. A Lesser Feast contains 4 portions of the food items sacrificed. Lesser Feasts created this way cannot be used outside of the thread they are created. Limit 1 item created per thread.] Basic Kitchen [Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot. This can exceed normal Cook enhancement caps. Ex: A perfect T2 MIT food gives 35 MIT instead of 30.] Living Room [Increases out of combat HP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.] Attic (Storage) [+5% bonus col from monster kills and treasure chests] Storage Closet [+1 Battle Ready Inventory Slot]

 

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

The weeks had passed in a blur, as Nari tried to recover from the loss of her friend. She'd found herself wandering the fourth floor for a few days, searching for Yuki in every possible corner of the snow-covered lands that she could possible look through. It had taken quite some time for Nari to finally accept the reality of the situation - her friend had left her behind.

"You're doing it again. The lost in thought and ignoring the world around you bit." Onóra's voice pulled Nari from her musings. The blonde had been visiting her frequently as of late, subtly trying to cheer Nari up through her presence and continuous gifts of foods. As much as Nari hated to admit it, it had been working - that was until Onóra's own familiar had shown up, the small red coloured ferret appearing on the blonde's shoulder as if it had always been there.

Even now, as Nari stared at it, the thing seemed oblivious to the pain it was causing her. Not that Nari could hold it accountable at all - it wasn't Tori's fault that Yuki had disappeared. In fact, Nari had no one but herself to blame - and even that she wasn't entirely sure was fair. The longer she had considered it, the more she wondered if the fox hadn't known something.

"Doing what?" Her question came out monotone, her eyes locked on the ferret even as her friend continued speaking. 

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

"That. Thinking about what you did wrong, what you could have done better. As if her leaving was your fault, somehow." The blonde leaned forward, shoving Nari's shoulder. "I saw you with that fox...you didn't drive her away. If she left, it was for a good reason."

Nari shrugged. She'd liked never learn what that reason was, no matter how much searching she did. Time had only confirmed one thing - Yuki wasn't coming back, no matter how long she waited for the fox to return. Whatever the reason, the fox had decided - or perhaps been told - that their time together was done, and nothing Nari wished upon would change that fact. 

"The gypsy's out on Floor Fifteen, you know..." Casual. That's what Nari would describe Onóra's comment as. Casual, as if it were part of any other conversation, and not about the implication of replacing the one friend who had been with Nari for almost her entire time in Aincrad. If it weren't for the fact that Nari knew her friend was only trying to help, she likely would've become upset. "Maybe...Yuki's waiting for you to do just that?"

Nari's eyes shifted to Onóra's, something about the phrase hinting at a concept that Nari hadn't considered. Was the fox testing her? Was she expecting her to hunt down the gypsy who had originally brought them together, in order to bring them back together? The entire situation seemed unlikely, even considering some of the insane scenarios that Cardinal had created in the past. Still...

"Fine...but only if you come along for the ride." Nari rebutted, half expecting Onóra to provide some excuse. Instead, the blonde surprised her.

"Already ready to go."

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

Floor Fifteen

The teleporter hummed to life, before Nari and Onóra materialised into being. The two took a quick look around, before stepping off the platform and down into the crowd that seemed to constantly move throughout the main avenue of the giant bazaar. The place, like always, reminded Nari of a mixture of Middle Eastern and Asian venues, the giant keep within the mountains seeming almost monk-like in aspect. 

"Come on...not going to find her here, that's for sure." Onóra led the way out of the main bazaar, and towards the gates of the city. Nari followed diligently, content to stay quiet for the moment. The overbearing pressure of the area had her unsettled - contrasting her usually quiet spots over the past few weeks in a way that seemed almost too intense. "Man...this place is always so busy...oh, hey Nazaar!"

Nari glanced towards the individual that the blonde was waving at, her eyes spotting the brown-skinned man from a distance. The NPC seemed to return Onóra's greeting, before going back to the work that he was doing. Nari raised an eyebrow, looking at her friend with a questioning gaze. "Come here often, then?"

"Often enough to know the locals...at least those who are in the trades." Onóra's smile seemed genuine, and Nari let the topic drop as the two pushed on ahead, making their way through side alleys to avoid the larger crowds. Often or not, Nari couldn't help but notice that Onóra seemed to know her way around the settlement quite well.

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

Nari relaxed a bit once the two had made it beyond the gates of the settlement, the crowd dispersing to a mere collection of stragglers making their way into, or out of the main gates. Somehow, even though the roads beyond the gate were outside of the safe zone, Nari found it more peaceful than the throng of crowds that had greeted them upon their arrival to the floor. 

"Fresh air...gotta give this floor that. No toxic wastes, biting cold, or overly warm tinges. Just pure, mountain air..." Onóra walked along with her hands behind her back, the longsword on her hip jingling slightly as it bounced with her steps. 

"Yeah...have to give it that much...would be nicer if it was...emptier..." Nari grumbled in response, earning her a shove from the blonde. The smile upon Onóra's face gave away the playfulness behind it, even if Nari deserved it. Still, it didn't help lighten her mood anywhere near as much as Onóra was likely hoping it would. "So...where should we start with our search for the great and wonderful gypsy woman?"

"I heard that there's a temple...deep within the woods around the central valley, where she was supposedly sighted earlier this morning. Supposedly she's been hanging around there a lot, recently. I wonder if there's some sort of connection to it." Nari shrugged, not having any idea. She'd barely been to this floor, let alone the temple that was on it. The few times she had visited, she had made her way around the bazaar, before heading off again. 

"Worth a try, I guess. Lead the way oh great and powerful warrior." The quip wasn't lost on Onóra, who gave Nari a hard look, before stepping ahead and leading the two down a pathway towards the forests in the distance.

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

The forest had seemed far away when they'd started, and Nari had prepared herself for a long climb down the mountain. Pulling up her menu, she'd pulled a spyglass she'd purchased before trying to spot the temple itself in the distance - the building appearing after only a few moments, shaky due to her movement but otherwise clear and obvious. "Huh...there it is..."

She handed the spyglass to Onóra so that the blonde could spot their destination, before marking the location on her mini-map. Even approximating it, she was surprised to see that their path led directly to the location, and that it would be no more than an hour at most - far shorter than she had expected, based on the density of the forest itself.

"It's an optical illusion, sort of. Looks further away than it actually is. Took me by surprise the first time, too." Nari cocked her head, raising an eyebrow in response. Without prompting, Onóra answered the unspoken question, her voice light and full of memory. "What? Did you think you were the only one who got out and explored? I used to come here a lot, a long time ago. Back before even you."

Nari held up her hands in defence, not pushing the topic any further. Some things were best left unspoken between friends, and even she knew that each of them had their own past secrets that they kept to themselves - whether due to personal reasons, or just a lack of desire to speak about them. "I hope your information broker was right, and that gypsy is there...otherwise I'm going to make you carry me all the way back up this mountain."

Nari uses Spyglass (1); reduce posts to find familiar by five (5) posts.

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

The pathway wound through the forest, leading them to the small temple where Nari and Onóra found themselves alone for the first time since entering the floor. The few individuals they'd passed on the path - most heading back towards the main settlement - had smiled and waved, but left them alone otherwise. Now, in the small clearing that housed the temple, the two found themselves without anyone else around.

"Well, looks like no gypsy." Nari kept the smirk off her face. She wasn't upset with Onóra at all - her friend had only been trying to help, and it wasn't like she had any control over how the NPCs in this game came and went, as if they worked on their own schedules. "Guess that means you're carry-hey, where are you..."

The joke died on Nari's lips as Onóra approached the temple, pulling open the front door and sliding inside. Nari shook her head before following up the steps to the door, entering behind Onóra a few seconds after. Inside, she found a small homely temple - void of any benches or seating areas, but a hallway leading to multiple different rooms that reminded her of a Buddhist temple she had visited once.

"This way." Onóra led Nari through the hallway, curving around a corner and out towards the back. The two made their way out into what was clearly a garden, walled in against the fores that surrounded them, but clearly meant to be an open, natural space for meditation or relaxation. Peaceful, all things considered. That was, aside from the individual standing in the centre, staring at them as if awaiting their arrival.

"Hello, again."

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

"Hello again." The voice was familiar, but it was the visage standing before Nari that brought back memories. Searching through the snow covered forests for the small creature that would eventually become her friend. Managing to coax it in towards herself, before eventually getting it calm enough to be fed - and in turn making a friend that had lasted for years in the making. "Are you here for a new companion? I seem to remember your face..."

Nari took a step back in surprise. There weren't many NPCs that remembered their encounters, and the few who did were generally dangerous - well outside the boundaries of the normal Cardinal program. She threw a look of concern towards Onóra, but the blonde seemed calm, not in the least bit worried. For a brief moment, Nari considered her answer, before get the words out shakily. "Ye...Yeah...sort of..."

Before she could say anything further, the gypsy woman had taken a step forward, procuring a pouch from the side of her belt. Raising it up, she held the pouch out to Nari with a stoic expression, the words coming out similar to how they had long ago. "Here, I've got a few treats that will help you with taming a friend - just make sure to bring me back any you don't use, these are hard to come by."

Nari stepped forward, taking the bag without a word, before turning away from the gypsy woman suddenly. The entire experience stung, and Nari wanted nothing more than to leave the garden, to get away from here and never return. She almost said as much aloud, before realising the impact that would have. Instead, she shouldered her way past Onóra and out into the corridor they had originally come through, making her way back to the front doors of the temple.

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

"Hey..." Nari stopped at the sound of the voice, not looking at her friend. She was well aware that Onóra was only trying to help, but the entire experience had left a sour taste in Nari's mouth - a taste that she couldn't get rid of, no matter how she tried to approach it differently. Somehow, deep down inside, she felt like she was betraying Yuki. Like she was accepting that the fox was gone forever, never to return. "If you don't want to do this..."

I have to do this...Onóra's right. Yuki's not coming back. For whatever reason, she's gone. And she won't be coming back. I just...need to face it. She turned to look at Onóra, trying to wipe the frown off her face - albeit not quite making it into a smile. She didn't feel ready to smile, not yet. But the least she could do, would be to show some appreciation. "No. No you're right. I need to do this. As much as it hurts...I need to do this."

Onóra gave a single nod, before stepping back. The hand she had raised, as if to comfort Nari, had fallen again to her side. Nari let out a deep breath, before turning back to the front doors of the temple. She wasn't sure what she was looking for, but she knew she wouldn't find it in the temple itself. They'd need to go outside for that, which meant beyond the doors. One small step...I can do this. She forced herself into motion, grasping the door and pushing it open, before stepping through the opening and back into the forest path that had led them to the temple, to the gypsy woman and to the quest that Nari had determined to complete.

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

The trees rustled as Nari stepped back out, and she found herself sliding into her defensive stance naturally. Her eyes roamed the area, looking for whatever had made the sound, her scythe held in the ready position behind her back even as she searched. From behind her, Onóra's whispered words reached her ears. "Hey...what's going on? Somebody out there? This is a safe zone so we should be okay..."

Nari relaxed ever so slightly as the words reached her ears, calming her just enough to think straight. She was just about to reply, when the small black nose caught her attention, drawing her eyes along the white snout. Before she knew it, her voice was carrying across the open area, calling out to the small fox-like creature. "Yuki? Yuki is that you? Yuki!"

The creature seemed to recoil, it's body emerging from the bushes as it dashed a few steps away, before coming to a stop and observing Nari and Onóra. The eyes appeared curious, as if trying to figure out what the two of them were doing in the temple area, and as it looked over them Nari was able to get a better view of the creature. Although it had the general appearance of a white fox, the resemblance stopped fairly quickly. Red colouring on its forepaws, face and body led to nine-tails that seemed to shift between whites and reds, leaving the creature looking like it was painted in a ceremonial colouring. 

It dawned on Nari upon seeing the full form that the creature wasn't Yuki, but as it watched over them, she felt suddenly drawn towards it. The way it held its forepaw up off the ground, the look in its eyes, even the way it moved the numerous tails. It may not be Yuki...but perhaps...She didn't finish the thought, didn't want to make that connection, not yet. For the moment, she needed to see if the creature could be tamed - that was the only purpose of the quest, after all.

---

ID211286 | LD: 14+4=18 | Find Familiar | Familiar Located.

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

Nari glanced behind her at Onóra, making sure the woman could get a view of the creature outside. She held a single finger up to her lips, before taking a few steps forwards. The fox creature matched her steps, keeping the distance between them, but not fleeing as soon as she moved. Realising that the creature wasn't going to immediately run away, but also wasn't going to let Nari get any closer at the current time, she carefully lowered herself to the ground. Careful not to move too quickly, she placed the treat bag in front of her, opening it up so that the smells would reach the fox in the distance, before sitting back and waiting.

"You're an interesting little fellow...you kind of remind me of someone I once knew, not too long ago." She spoke carefully, trying to keep the emotions out of her voice. She didn't want to spook the small creature by being too emotional, not before she got a chance to try and bring it in towards herself. The fox-like creature seemed to cock its head at her words, eyeing her carefully before taking a single step towards her, then another.

Hesitantly, it approached the area that Nari was sitting in, careful to stay just out of reach. Slowly, in an attempt not to spook the creature, she reached forward and carefully retrieved one of the treats. Opening her palm upwards, she held the treat in reach of the fox-like creature, waiting to see how it would react. Memories flooded back to her, similar events having happened in the past, the scene so similar to when she had first met Yuki. Don't...not now...

Either sensing her change in emotions, or desiring the treat, the thing suddenly stepped forward. Cautiously, it slowly nestled its head against Nari's hand, before taking the treat gingerly from her hand. Slowly, it turned and laid itself down against Nari's side before chewing at the treat. Carefully, not wanting to spook the creature now that she had made it this far, Nari reached out a hand and placed it on the fox's side. Although it seemed to tense at her touch, it didn't recoil or run away, and Nari slowly began running her hand through its fur, taking comfort in the fact that it stayed with her.

---

ID211358 | CD:12 | Taming Familiar | Familiar Tamed!

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

"Well, you two seem to be getting along well..." Onóra's voice whispered from behind her ear, the breath leaving a faint heat behind that caused Nari to shiver. The fox-like creature at her side glanced upwards in reaction to the words, tittering ever so slightly in response. Careful not to disturb it too much, Nari reached into the bag and provided the creature with another treat - knowing that she shouldn't waste them, but also unable to resist spoiling it a little bit more. "It looks kinda like a kitsune...one of those Japanese foxes out of those stories..."

Nari glanced at the fox again, taking in the red markings all over its body, the way that it seemed painted in some sort of ceremonial method. It certainly reminded her of something she'd seen before, and seeing as she had no other idea of what it could possibly be, she decided to take Onóra's word for it. Besides, kitsune seemed to fit the creature well, somehow. Not that it really mattered, she'd eventually have to come up with a name for the thing - which would prove troublesome, seeing as she didn't know its gender, nor how to check without the system integrating their status. Something that wouldn't occur until the end of the quest, once she'd returned the treats to the gypsy woman.

Probably should take those back and get this over with...before I end up giving them all away. Angering NPCs isn't exactly smart, in this game... Sighing, she pushed off against the ground in an attempt to stand up. The fox-like creature - kitsune - stepped back enough to give Nari room to stand. As she took in the thing's full frame, really looking it over for the first time, she realised that the creature was a fair size larger than Yuki had been - not quite double her size, but big enough that Nari doubted it'd be able to ride her shoulders like Yuki had once done. Although...maybe? She did know that her strength and carry capacity in this game was based upon her own scores, which meant that she was far stronger than she was in the real world - perhaps it would be possible.

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

Nari shouldered the consideration for the moment, knowing that it wasn't worth trying until the new familiar was more comfortable with her - if it ever became that comfortable. Looking at it, though, she felt a similar connection to one she had once held with Yuki; a familiarity and bond that seemed to echo beyond time and the general world of Aincrad. As if it was right. Maybe...maybe she's in there, somewhere...

She knew that the fox - kitsune - was just a piece of code, a strand of words and letters, just like Yuki had once been. It wasn't entirely impossible, or implausible, that a part of her may have been reincarnated into this new creature. It was certainly easier to believe, than accept that she was betraying an old friend. 

Sighing, she put aside the internal strife for the time being. It wasn't fair to her new partner that she think only about an old friend who had been gone a while now - an eternity in Aincrad, in reality. She should be focusing on this new friend, making new bonds. Doing everything she could to make things right, going forwards. Honour the memories...but do not be held in the current of the past.

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

Pushing herself to her feet, knowing that the old words were right as much as she hated them, Nari smiled at her new companion, before nodding towards the temple. "We should go return these treats, and then think up a name for you...and maybe take you home and introduce you to...err...everyone, and everything. Oh, and I guess we'll need a bed for you...and maybe some treats...and...err...what do kitsune normally eat?"

The final question was tossed towards Onóra, Nari realising suddenly that she had absolutely no idea what to feed the thing. She doubted it would complain about treats for every meal, but somehow she thought that wouldn't be beneficial - not in the long run, at least. The blonde seemed to be just as lost as her, however, giving Nari a shrug in return.

"Alright...well, you're fox like...so maybe you eat like a fox? I mean Yuki...she ate meats and stuff...so hopefully...err...this might be a bit of trial and error, so just bear with me for a bit?" The kitsune seemed to stare at her in consideration for a moment, before waving two of its tails in what Nari took to be understanding and acceptance. Content with the semi-response, Nari led the way back into the temple, holding the door open so that the other two could pass before her, her eyes watching the kitsune the entire time.

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

The gypsy woman was waiting for them, her arms crossed and a slight smile across her face. Somehow, that entire expression caused Nari more anger than when she'd first seen the woman. "I see the treats brought you success, I'm glad. I hope your new friend-"

"Here's your treats. Piss off." She tossed the treats at the woman before turning and leaving the room, the small fox and Onóra tailing behind her. She could see the worried look of Onóra's face out of the corner of her eyes, but Nari refused to acknowledge it, at least for the moment. Onóra' seemed content not to bring anything up, at least until they had exited the temple itself.

"Little bit of resentment...?" The question was spoken hesitantly, as if she was afraid of being snapped at herself. Nari sighed, mostly to herself - both at the question itself, and the fact that her friend was having to ask it in fear of repercussions. She took a few steps beyond the temple, considering her answer before she spoke it aloud.

"Little bit, yeah. I just...something about that woman has me frustrated - like I somehow blame her for Yuki's disappearance. I...I mean it's not her fault, I think. I mean I've no proof of that - if anything, it's Cardinal's fault...but still, she's like the system made personable, and that means..." That means that Nari snapped at her, rather than someone else. Foolish, childish, completely irresponsible. But should she be blamed for it? She knew it wasn't Onóra's fault, and she would never snap at her friend like that - or so she hoped. "I just miss her."

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

She was expecting Onóra to be the one who would react, who would try to comfort her. Instead, she found the kitsune at her feet, standing on its back paws and resting its forepaws on her for balance. The small creature looked up at her, a glint in its eyes that Nari could only describe as caring, as if it was upset that she was upset. You have them now...you can't be breaking down every time you think of Yuki. It's not fair, not fair to them...

She knelt down, getting down on the kitsune's level so that it could stand properly. Four of the tails seemed to wave in excitement as she did so, and Nari couldn't help but smile through the few tears that had started. The thing was clearly upset about her current emotional state, and as it nuzzled its head against her, Nari couldn't resist reaching out to try and pull it close for a hug - in an attempt to comfort the creature in return. 

As she pulled it in close, a sudden pop-up appeared before her, the message similar to one she had seen before. Back when she had originally taken the quest, years ago. Carefully, she reached out trembling hands, entering the first thing that came to mind, before hitting the acceptance button.

New Familiar Acquired! {Male Kitsune} may now be named, do you wish to enter a name? Name: Mio

 

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

"Mio...I would say unique, but it seems somewhat common. I like it, though." Onóra's voice spoke from over her shoulder, the blonde clearly having leaned in to read the message without saying anything. Nari yelped in surprise, before Onóra continued talking - ignoring the fact that she'd scared Nari entirely. "Male kitsune...guess I was right on the kitsune part. So, Mio. Should we go back and introduce you to the house?"

The kitsune seemed to jump at the idea, managing to wiggle free from Nari's embrace and taking a few steps ahead, before turning to see if they were following. Nari threw a quick glance towards Onóra - her tongue stuck out in response to the blonde scaring her, and then offering to go to her house, before Nari could.

"Alright, let's go then..." She pushed herself to her feet, letting the movement throw her forwards and into motion. The kitsune seemed content to take that as a sign that they were headed off, racing ahead again only to stop and make sure they were following - repeating the action for a while as they began the trek back up the mountain, heading for the main settlement and the teleporter gate.

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

The further away from the temple they got, the more Nari relaxed - as if the burden of past tensions were being left behind as they climbed. She stopped once to glance back down, a feeling of apprehension hovering over her for the briefest of moments. Onóra stopped as well, stepping close and laying a hand on her arm, before speaking. "Take as long as you need..."

Simple words, that gave no clarification, no answers or any sort of path forwards. Yet somehow, they seemed to calm whatever emotions had been boiling within Nari, letting her ease away from the anger and frustration. Quietly, she gave a few final words to Yuki, her voice barely audible against the soft breeze. "I won't forget you, ever. I may have someone new, but you'll always have  a special place in my heart, until the very end."

The small kitsune seemed to look up at her for a moment, and Nari saw a flash of Yuki's face, before her new companion's appearance returned. Something about the kitsune's face lifted a weight from Nari, as if the thing was trying to tell her that it would be alright, that she was forgiven. Perhaps it was her imagination, perhaps she was just making things up in her mind to make herself feel better. Either way, it worked. 

As she turned away from the temple, looking forward towards the settlement, Nari felt a calmness in her heart that she hadn't felt in a long while now. Smiling to herself, she chased after the kitsune, revelling in the new companion and the fun times she hoped they'd have together.

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

The throng of individuals pressing against Nari reminded her of the dislike she had for these main settlements - especially the ones that were overly packed with NPCs, players trying to make their way ahead in the game, and the numerous others who seemed to loiter about. It had started the moment they had come towards the peak-city on the floor, the giant bazaar unsurprisingly creating a perfect meshing point for individuals of all means.

"Mio...don't go too far ahead. I would hate to lose sight of you." Nari whispered towards the kitsune, hoping that it would hear her above the noise of the conversations around them. Even Onóra seemed bothered by the sudden change in their atmosphere, the blonde pushing away a few people who accidentally came too close. The sooner we get out of here...

Nari didn't finish the thought, figuring it wasn't going to help anyways. Instead, she kept her attention towards the few people who were getting closer and closer to her, before they too turned away. She knew that she wasn't the most welcoming appearance sometimes, and now was one of those times. 

She could see the teleporter platform ahead, a mere collection of steps away - and yet somehow so far still, considering the wall of people between her and it. She growled a question at Onóra, the blonde returning a shrug in kind. "Some sort of celebration going on here today, or what?"

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

"Oh, come on!" Nari whined as another group pushed her backwards from the teleporter, the leader sneering at her as they stepped up onto the platform, before calling out something less than pleasant. "Yeah, fuck you too. Asshole. I hope something bites you, hard."

She turned to Onóra, about to complain to the blonde when her eyes caught movement - a flash of red and white as the small kitsune launched itself towards the man whom had just shoved Nari aside, slamming into him and latching its teeth into his leg. The man shrieked, shaking his leg a few times before managing to dislodge the kitsune - Nari rushing forward to catch the creature before it hit the group. 

She looked up, fire in her eyes as the man stepped forward with his sword raised. A quick flick of her wrist, and the scythe was in her hand, materialising from her inventory almost instantly. Standing slowly, she stepped towards the man, a burning anger across her face as she stood protectively over Mio. "Try me. I may not be able to kill you, but I will make you rue the day you touched my friend."

Either her words, or her expression, or perhaps something else, caused the other player to pause. Suddenly, he was stepping backwards, activating the platform in a squeaky voice, before disappearing from sight - leaving Nari to tend to the kitsune, whom was flustered but otherwise unaffected.

"Thanks, Mio. But next time...go for the groin. The guys always fall for that one." She gave the kitsune a wink, before standing again. Smiling at Onóra, she waved a hand towards the teleporter pad - now clear of anyone else as the few remaining players seemed reluctant to get near the trio. "Shall we head home?"

Home. The word felt right, like it hadn't in a long time. The idea of returning to the house not entirely appealing, but not entirely depressing as it had been just hours ago. Now, she had something to return to - even if it was temporary. Home...even if she's not there anymore.

---

Thread Summary

Word Count: 5,846 words
EXP: 5,846 / 10 * 8 * 1 = 4,672 + 300 = 4,972 EXP
Col: 400 col
Familiar Unlocked.