[PP-F01] Demonic Quarry | <<Earning A Living | Forager>>

[Acanthus 0]

After her last few attempts at gathering, Acanthus had to acknowledge that she couldn’t forage any further without some guidance. It’s time for beginner quest two. Let’s see… I’d prefer foraging to fishing. And it seems like alchemy would be a natural companion to that.

Acanthus decided to start with foraging. As eager as she was to brew potions, she noticed that the quest log for crafting required her to gather materials. If I failed gathering those three for Zackariah—even with that awful fondue—then I’ll need all the help I can get.

Acanthus set off to the outskirts of town, where the quest marker indicated she’d find a woman named Giovanna. Her campsite turned up right where the quest marker indicated. It appeared to be a cozy place, with a small covered wagon and campfire. The camp smelled like smoke, cedar, and rosemary. Acanthus took a deep breath before approaching the wagon.

Spoiler

Acanthus | HP: 120/120 | EN: 30/30 | DMG: 5 | MIT: 24 | EVA: 1 | LD: 2

Combat Inventory

• (5) Bertha's Braciole
• (3) Starter Healing Potions

 

[Acanthus 0]

A woman dressed in green emerged from the wagon. She had a voice as thin as paper, but firm like stone. "So, it appears you've found me," she comments, though not unkindly. "I tend to move around quite a lot, but someone always finds me.” 

Acanthus couldn't help herself. “I believe that would be the quest marker, miss.”

Giovanna glowered at her. “I suppose you are looking for some herbs?"

“In a way. I was hoping you could teach me how to look for herbs?”

Giovanna's emerald eyes widened. "Most simply expect me to forage their materials for them, but few truly care about the process itself. You surprise me, little bloom." Giovanna offered Acanthus a small compass from the pockets of her dress. "You may borrow my compass. Dark magic has made it capable of locating an incredibly rare item called a Demonic Shard. Should you find one, and bring it back to me, you will prove yourself worthy of my teachings. Take care, and may good fortune travel with you."

[Acanthus 0]

The compass radiated evil energy. How on earth does dark magic help you find anything? And why give an *evil compass* to a beginner? What does evil energy even mean?

The fishing quest is probably more relaxed. No evil magic or dark compasses. Probably just some old man with a beard, like all the other quests so far. Then again, the fishing quest might have featured Pete.

“Dark magic it is, then.”

Acanthus trekked out to the familiar fields surrounding Tolbana. She barely gave it a second thought when she stepped over the threshold and into the wilds. Finding a familiar path, Acanthus wound her way through the tall grass and into the forest beyond. She suspected there would be much more to gather there. The day was young; Acanthus had plenty of time to spend gathering.

Maybe I could even spend a little time relaxing. Just wander down to the creek and enjoy the sounds for a while. A week ago, the thought would not have crossed her mind. She would have fixated on Aincrad as a prison, and every minute she spent sleeping or relaxing was a minute not spent escaping. But things started to feel different lately.

Spoiler

 

Post Action: Gathering Materials

Roll ID: 224008 | LD: 4 + 2 = 6 CD: 6. No materials found.

 

 

Edited August 4 by Acanthus

[Acanthus 0]

As tempting as the river was, Acanthus resisted. There would be plenty of time to relax once she gathered her demonic shard.

At the edge of the forest, she held the compass aloft. It thrummed with a familiar dark energy, and the needle spun wildly before settling on a direction. Deeper into the woods. Of course it’s deeper into the woods. As Acanthus moved to put the compass away, it emitted a single bass note. Does that mean there’s a shard nearby? I should have asked Giovanna how her evil compass worked. It might as well be speaking a different language to me.

Acanthus decided to take a look around the trees. There appeared to be plenty of materials: bright trees with sturdy branches and low fruits, tall reeds rustling in the wind, and the occasional bush sprinkled with bright yellow berries. Even if she couldn’t find the shard, hopefully she could find some materials. I could use the practice gathering.

Spoiler

 

Post Action: Gathering Materials

Roll ID: 224015 | LD: 6 + 2 = 8 CD: 7. No materials found.

 

 

Edited August 4 by Acanthus

[Acanthus 0]

No luck, but she wasn’t surprised. The compass’ pale affirmation hadn’t given her much confidence that she would find one so close to Tolbana. She pressed on, deeper into the forest.

The further Acanthus ventured, the more gnarled the trees grew. They began to thicken and blot out the morning sun. A chill ran down her spine. It’s just the cool breeze from the forest. But there was no such thing. Despite the absence of the sun, the forest seemed to grow hotter with each step inside. Each gust felt like the exhalation of a giant monster. The thick smell of moss and fungus began to smother her senses. She had never been this far in the woods, and she feared she would lose her nerve.

You will be fine because you will be careful, she told herself. There is no need to fight—flee at the first sign of trouble.

Spoiler

 

Post Action: Gathering Materials

Roll ID: 224019 | LD: 1 + 2 = 3 CD: 10. No materials found.

 

 

Edited August 4 by Acanthus

[Acanthus 0]

The compass pulsed again; this time, twice.

She bent down and began rooting through the nearest mushroom patch. Many familiar fungi dotted the forest floor. Despite her search for the shard, she found only a few green mushrooms. Better something than nothing.

A wind blew from the heart of the forest. It made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. She jolted up, scanning the woods for any sign of danger. She saw nothing.

WHAT IS THIS SWEET YOUNG THING, COME TO PLAY WITH ME?

In a swift motion, Acanthus drew her knife and held it close to her chest. She found it hard to breathe. The woods had only grown slightly warmer, but a single drop of sweat trickled from her brow. The wind gusted; Acanthus swore she heard laughter.

SHE THINKS WE ARE TO BE FOUGHT WITH A DINNER KNIFE.

Her arms began to feel numb and she started losing focus. Am I… Am I dying?

Spoiler

 

Post Action: Gathering Materials

Roll ID: 224022 | LD: 13 + 2 = 15 CD: 3. (1) material found.

 

 

Edited August 4 by Acanthus

[Acanthus 0]

Acanthus considered herself calm and collected. And that had always been the case before today. But today, something evil laughed at her through the trees. It was powerful beyond her comprehension, and it wanted to kill her. But first, it wanted to play.

She sprinted through the trees, uncertain of her direction. She ran wherever the trees seemed sparse in a vain hope that she was leaving the forest.

LOOK AT YOU. ONE BRUSH WITH DEATH AND YOU'VE LOST ALL YOUR COMPOSURE.

The voice seemed to be coming from inside of her. It continued taunting Acanthus.

YOU SHOULD HAVE STAYED IN TOLBANA, HARU. THERE'S NO TELLING WHAT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU OUT HERE IN THE WOODS.

How does it know my name?!

A BUCKET ON HER HEAD THAT TELLS THE GAME EVERYTHING FROM HER HEIGHT TO HER EYE COLOR, AND SHE WONDERS HOW WE HAVE A NAME. The voice laughed like a cinder block dragged across gravel.
 

Spoiler

 

Post Action: Gathering Materials

Roll ID: 224022 | LD: 4 + 2 = 6 CD: 7. Failure.

 

 

Edited August 4 by Acanthus

[Acanthus 0]

Acanthus had nearly exhausted herself running, but had nothing to show for it. If anything, the woods had grown thicker. The air was even hotter and almost too heavy to breathe. Acanthus thought her lungs might burst, but she knew—she knew deep down, that the moment she stopped running, she would die.

She hit a gnarled root and tumbled down a steep embankment. Pain indicators sounded alarms as she hit branches, rocks, and nettles on her way down. Patches of gatherable items vanished in digital puffs as she crashed through them and into a dry river bed. She landed on her back and cried out. 

The woods around her were quiet, save for her labored breathing. Her chest heaved with exertion.

I’m dying. I think I’m going to die. Acanthus felt a spasm run up her left arm and down her right. She almost started crying. Not from fear or sadness. It was a physical reaction to something she couldn’t explain.

Focus on the quest, Acanthus. You’ve been doing so well. You don’t know anything about the voice in the woods. If it really wanted to kill you, it would have just fought you.
 

Spoiler

 

Post Action: Gathering Materials

Roll ID: 224048 | LD: 9 + 2 = 11 CD: 9. Failure.

 

 

Edited August 4 by Acanthus

[Acanthus 0]

Acanthus stood up and tested herself. Despite the fall, her health bar remained full. Her left leg had been sprained a little, but she could still put weight on it.

With some trepidation, Acanthus checked the dark compass. It was dormant.

“Some help you are.” She mumbled, drying a few tears. “Might as well make the most of wherever I am.”

The riverbed appeared to have dried out a long time ago. Acanthus checked for materials but found nothing. In one direction, the river wound deeper into the woods. The air seemed fresher in the other direction. Acanthus began to walk toward the fresh air before she stopped herself.

You’re looking for a demonic shard. You’re not going to find it out there.

Maybe, but we don’t know that. Besides, do you want to go back to whatever that voice was?!

No, but… I think we may have to. Besides, this is a tutorial quest for a gathering profession. Do you really think they would include unkillable demons as a part of the quest?

THEY MIGHT.

Spoiler

 

Post Action: Gathering Materials

Roll ID: 224048 | LD: 10 + 2 = 12 CD: 3. Failure.

 

 

Edited August 4 by Acanthus

[Acanthus 0]

Scared as she was, Acanthus did not run this time. She made her way down the river bank, deeper into the forest.

A SECOND APPROACH DOES NOT SALVAGE THE FIRST, LITTLE GIRL. YOU HAVE ALREADY FAILED.

Acanthus set her jaw. “There’s still a quest in my log. If you’re not going to help me or kill me, then shut up.”

The voice laughed again. BOLD. ALL THE SWEETER WHEN YOU BREAK.

Acanthus shivered. She wondered how anyone else had completed this quest.

SIMPLE. THEY WERE BRAVER THAN YOU.

“How… How do you know what I’m thinking?”

The voice did not respond, but Acanthus knew it had not left yet either. Trying to keep her composure, she stopped to look for anything she could take back home. But she was too rattled—the river moss came up in uneven, uncollectible clumps, the river geodes proved worthless, and the toads were too fast to catch. 

Spoiler

 

Post Action: Gathering Materials

Roll ID: 224065 | LD: 10 + 2 = 12 CD: 10. Failure.

 

 

Edited August 4 by Acanthus

[Acanthus 0]

Acanthus lost sense of time. The darkness of the woods left a feeling of perpetual dusk weighing on her. She grew tired from the monotony of the woods. Every time she reached down for plants, or up for branches, or even looked at materials, they vanished as she touched them.

MAYBE YOU'RE JUST NOT USING YOUR WRISTS, HARU. IT'S ALL IN THE WRISTS, REMEMBER?

An icy chill rooted Acanthus to the spot. The memories came back to her.

The moonlight streams into a bare room, and Haru sits on the hard wooden floor. Her hand moves automatically: press, down, left, left, down, press. The button isn’t there. She closes the menu. Press, down, left, left, down, press. It’s not coming back. Press, down, left, left, down, press. Maybe this time. Haru chokes back frantic tears as she opens the menu: press, down, left, left, down, press. Press, down, left, left, down,press, PRESS, down LEFTleft downpressPRESSDOWNLEFT—

 

Spoiler

 

Post Action: Gathering Materials

Roll ID: 224079 | LD: 11 + 2 = 12 CD: 10. Failure.

 

 

Edited August 4 by Acanthus

[Acanthus 0]

DENIAL, LITTLE GIRL. YOU STILL DENY.

Breathe, Acanthus. Focus on collecting. She reached down and plucked a small flower from the riverbed. A poppy, the color of blood.

NONE OF THIS IS REAL, REMEMBER?

A mocking facsimile of her voice hurled her own words back at her.

The compulsions stopped after the first week. But the denial did not.

Her situation was comical. Trapped in a game that could kill you? It was a marketing stunt. Some kind of technical issue they were explaining with some in-game reason. She’d even heard rumors that the game didn’t actually kill anyone, it just didn’t let people log back in, and that meant that this was all some form of immersive storytelling. One delirious player began to shout in the town square that none of this was real, it was all happening in the blink of an eye, and when everyone woke up, only a few hours would have passed.

He stopped showing up after two weeks. But the denial did not.

Each day, denial’s chokehold loosened a little more. But in its place, a quiet atmosphere of unease suffocated the first floor. Haru felt like she was trapped hundreds of feet below ground, sharing thin oxygen with 10,000 other people. And if she didn’t get out soon, she would burst.
 

 

Spoiler

 

Post Action: Gathering Materials

Roll ID: 224084 | LD: 18 + 2 = 20 CD: 3. (1) material gained.

 

 

Edited August 4 by Acanthus

[Acanthus 0]

[Content warning: this post contains descriptions and references to self-harm. I’ve kept it at what I feel is PG-13, but may still be triggering content. Please exercise care.]

Acanthus believed she had found the heart of the woods. It terrified her beyond words.

The leaves above were so thick that she could not see any sunlight. She felt as though she had been traveling for days. The trees were gnarled and twisted over themselves in bewildering shapes. In the faint light, they cast almost imperceptible shadows of men contorted in agony.

And the air. The deeper she traveled, the hotter it grew. The gusts had become softer and more regular, like the light breathing of a slumbering dragon.

But worst of all, the aura of the woods now matched that of the dark compass. The needle thrashed violently, gyrating like the eye of panicked prey. Its single point of malevolence was now all-encompassing. Acanthus had no doubt that this was the place. An evil, suffocating air threatened to strangle her if she stayed too long. The voice was out there—its physical form. It would devour her whole if she made even the slightest noise or mistake.

Acanthus gasped as she fought the heavy ozone of HATRED.

That Hatred began seeping past her defenses, and she fell to her knees, struggling to block the painful memories. Hatred spoke to her.

YOU ARE A COWARD. YOU ARE WORTHLESS.

The Hatred was right. She was just some girl, some useless office worker trapped in a game far beyond what she ever knew or comprehended.

YOU WASTED TWO YEARS IN THIS GAME. Yes, I did. YOU KNOW WHAT'S WORSE? YOU WERE TOO SCARED. Yes. AND WE BOTH KNOW THAT I DO NOT REFER TO ADVENTURING. Yes. THE FOOLISH GIRL WAS TOO SCARED TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT SHE REALLY WANTED. ... Yes.

 

A knife in her hand, bouncing off an invisible shield. Frantically, she raised the knife again. Driving down with all the viciousness she could muster, the knife bounced carelessly off the unseen wall. You can’t take this from me!

The knife glanced off again. This choice is all I have. She screamed wordlessly as she tried again, and again. But the same message kept appearing. The same message, the same DAMN message:

[You cannot damage a player in a safe zone.]

“Please. Just let me out. Just let me choose this.”

She collapsed, sobbing. She was too tired to go on.

The Hatred had completely flooded her mind. Awash in a sea of her worst fears and memories, it no longer had to shout. It merely whispered.

“You weren’t even brave enough to walk outside the city gates and finish it. That’s all you had to do. Two hundred fucking meters and you could have actually succeeded for once. Instead you sat on your ass for two years, longing for what you were too scared to do.”

No, that’s not right. This isn’t right.

“Well, now you’re here. It’s no longer a safe zone. SO DO IT.”

Hatred spit her back out into the dark grove, drenched in sweat. On her hands and knees, she felt for the knife by her side. Her fingers trembled as she worked to unclasp the leather straps. The blade gleamed, reflecting fiery light from an unknown source.

“You deserve this.”

The knife moved slowly. The edge rested gently across her left forearm.

“It’s better this way. You’re not real.”

More pressure. Red wound marks started to form.

“None of this is real.”

A soft buzzing in the back of her mind. The pain indicators were going off. *Her* pain indicators.

Breathe. 

“Pull that knife, and get it over with you useless—”

Let the feeling pass over and through you. 

“No.”

Understand the feeling, but don’t let it control you. 

“Hurry up and finish the FUCKING job—”

Don’t let it take over.

“NO!” She screamed. The voice withdrew to a safe distance.

NO? I AM WHAT YOU'VE SOUGHT FOR TWO YEARS—THE COURAGE TO MOVE FORWARD. AND YOUR ANSWER IS NO?

“No.” Her mind felt weak. She couldn’t argue with the Hatred. She only had the strength to say it again.

“No. Not now.”

The Hatred crowed with laughter.

IF NOT NOW, THEN LATER. I ONLY HAVE TO DEFEAT YOU ONCE. Hatred licked its lips. YOU CRAVE REALITY. I OFFER IT FREELY. NOTHING IS REAL HERE, EXCEPT FOR DEATH.

“I don’t CARE if it’s not real! You can’t have her!”

HER. PECULIAR. WHO IS "HER."

“Haru.”

THEN WHO ARE YOU.

“I am—I am Acanthus!”

Acanthus blinked. She was on her knees, drawing ragged breaths. Her back was rigid, and her right arm was outstretched in a throwing motion. Six meters away, her knife was buried in a gnarled tree so deep that the blade could not be seen. Hatred was gone, and the grove felt at ease.

She gulped down air in the silence. She waited, terrified that one movement would summon the Hatred back. But it was gone as quickly as it had arrived. She stood up, shaking, and felt something rough in her hands. A demonic shard. She almost threw it down on the ground.
 

 

Spoiler

 

Post Action: Gathering Materials

Roll ID: 224085 | LD: 15 + 2 = 20 CD: 10. Demonic shard gained.

 

 

Edited August 4 by Acanthus

[Acanthus 0]

Acanthus was barely in camp before the compass was back in Giovanna’s hands. She looked over Acanthus with an air of approval.

“So you found the demonic shard! You continue to impress me.” Exhausted, Acanthus merely nodded her head. “Next time you hunt for a shard, you will have to earn it the hard way—with your own skill.”

Acanthus laughed dryly. “If that’s the easiest way to get a shard, maybe I am better off fishing.”

Giovanna’s eyebrow raised in curiosity. “What did you encounter?”

Acanthus shrugged helplessly. “I don’t think I can explain it, and I don’t have the energy right now to try.”

“Was it like all your worst fears and insecurities were encouraging you to give in?”

Startled, Acanthus asked, “What do you know about it?”

Giovanna shook her head. “Not much. A few of the adventurers that have taken my compass shared similar things. Like you, I know very little about it. But it seems to be drawn to the dark energies of the compass.”

“Have any of those adventurers ever encountered it again? Did they say?”

Giovanna frowned. “Not one has returned to tell me as much. But that does not mean it did not return. When you are a demon's quarry, the hunt only ends in death. I would take care if I were you, little bloom.”
 

[Acanthus 0]

Acanthus wanted to learn more about whatever had confronted her in the grove. It seemed too intense for a beginner quest, and it knew her real-world name—something she had not confided in anyone. I suppose there’s the possibility that the game knows and can pull that data. I reserved the game with a credit card, and that wasn’t under the name Acanthus.

Even still… there were a few things about the event that she couldn’t reconcile, or put into words just yet. She needed to know more.

But Acanthus made an executive decision to hold off. The monster is past, the quest is complete. I deserve a little treat.

“Little treat time” was a guilty pleasure of Haru’s. Any time she had an awful day at work, or she had really put in the effort, she liked to stop somewhere and grab a “little treat.” What that was depending on the kind of day. Somedays, it was a quick drink. Sometimes, she would stop by the local bookstore and check the bargain bin. But most often, she would stop by a cafe and pick out whatever had the most strawberries on it. One time, after her boss had yelled and she stayed five hours late, she got two strawberry desserts. She was sick from all the sugar, but didn’t have a single regret.
 

Edited August 4 by Acanthus

[Acanthus 0]

“Little treat time” had narrowed itself down to one choice in SAO. No drinking was allowed, and the bookstores all held only public domain works, and Acanthus had read all the good ones already. But there were plenty of cafes. The problem was, she had never been to any of them here. Were all of them good? Did they have the same selection?

There’s only one way to find out. Acanthus made a solemn resolution that she would meticulously chart each and every one of the cafes here on the first floor. It was a foraging quest of her own devisement. 

She started with Tolbana. The collection of eateries was not sparse—it was the second-largest town on the floor—but its selection of cafes left Acanthus disappointed. Maybe I should become a cook instead of an alchemist. I could stay down here and open a cafe. An adventure of its own, and a little less death involved.

[Acanthus 0]

In the end, Acanthus tracked down three cafes in Tolbana. There could have been more, but the map was difficult to use, and often hid information unbeknownst to the user.

First and largest, The Sweet Tooth sat just off the main square. She had eyed it on numerous occasions over the last week. It had a bright and cheery exterior, with a beautiful cobblestone patio and tall windows that gave a good view into the cozy seating inside. Acanthus had never walked by The Sweet Tooth and seen it empty. It seemed to operate all hours of the day. Glancing through the window, she saw a counter stuffed to the brim with every dessert imaginable: puddings, cakes, parfaits; even some little fruit kebabs drizzled in a sparkling red sauce. She almost called the quest early just to give one a try.

A deep voice interrupted her thoughts. “Excuse me, miss? Would you like to order something?”

[Acanthus 0]

Acanthus peeled her face from the glass and turned to the man. He struck an imposing figure; broad shoulders and massive hands, and even taller than Acanthus. But his round face showed nothing but joy. Acanthus pictured him as Aincrad’s most imposing teddy bear.

“We have plenty of seating inside. I see you’re eyeing the fruit skewers; they are a popular choice.”

The man was right; her gaze had lingered on the strange fruit skewers.

“They appear delicious. What is the red sauce?”

The man beamed. “Well, I can’t give away all our secrets, but it’s a special mixture featuring rougeberries.”

“Rougeberries?”

He gestured to some of the desserts through the window. Acanthus eyed them and audibly gasped. Strawberries. This world had strawberries.

The man laughed. “Sounds like you’re already sold. C’mon, we’ve got plenty of seating inside.”

Acanthus put a hand out and politely refused. “I’m almost certain I will be back, but I cannot. I am on a quest.”

“I can see that focus in your eye. I won’t keep you! Just know that Tomathon will always be here to satisfy your sweet tooth.” Tomathon held his chin up and smiled. With tongue-in-cheek reverence, she vowed,  “I am certain we will meet again. Fate has decreed it…. And those fruit skewers.” 

[Acanthus 0]

The other two cafes in Tolbana were promising, but they didn’t appeal to her the way The Sweet Tooth did.

Down a shady alley, Acanthus found the second cafe. Cobblestone Curiosity was the name, and it delivered handily on the name. Acanthus walked inside to see some of the strangest desserts and drinks she had ever laid eyes on. A parfait that included strips of boar meat, three oranges in the shape of a snowman, the top one hollowed out and filled with whipped cream. A pudding that shifted colors as the light caught it from different angles.

“We have new stuff to try every week,” the owner told her proudly. She was a young woman, plump and bright-eyed. Her husband and child worked in the back, helping her clean and prep.

“We don’t have the mainstream appeal of The Sweet Tooth or the service appeal of Maid in Heaven, but it’s not about sales. It’s about the craft of cooking and pushing those boundaries! We are lucky to have a consistent rotation of clientele that are just as eager to taste what we have to offer. Ah, here comes one now. Good afternoon, Edict!”

Acanthus turned and was face to face with a pair of brilliant blue eyes. They were uncomfortably close. Startled, Acanthus pulled back, and bumped into a table. She was now aware of just how small the shop was.
Edict also pulled back slightly at her movement. “I’m sorry! The space in here is a little small, I didn’t mean—”

“No, no. It’s alright.” Acanthus straightened the table up. It screeched painfully on the wooden floors. Edict coughed and stood stiffly in place. Acanthus stood back up and took another look at him.

Based on his equipment, Acanthus thought he might be a tank, back from the frontlines. On his back was strapped a shield nearly as tall as her. By his side, a large war axe dangled. His disheveled hair was tucked back to avoid his eyes. Apart from their brilliance, Acanthus now saw the bags underneath them.

“I haven’t seen you before. What’s your name?”

“Um, H–Ah, Acanthus.”

“Edict. It’s nice to meet you.” He held his hand out. She shook it firmly.

He waited for a moment. “I thought I had met most of the players, but I guess with 10,000 people there’s always someone new. Have you stayed on the beginner floors this whole time?”

Haru felt heat rising to her cheeks. “Yes. I haven’t made much progress.” Edict blinked. “I’m sorry if I offended you. I didn’t mean—”

“It’s nothing. I need to leave, though. Not related to our conversation, I’m—I’m on a quest. Have a nice day, Edict.”

She brushed past him before he could say anything else to embarrass her. She heard him start a comment before it died on his lips. Acanthus made it all the way to Maid in Heaven before he managed to say:

“God damn it.”
 

[Acanthus 0]

Maid in Heaven was, as it implied, a place that prided itself on excellent service. But Acanthus could see from the outside that she was not the usual clientele.

Not that there was anything bad about the cafe. Everybody was all smiles, maids and men alike. And the large bouncer in the front told her that problem customers did not stay for long. But it was not the kind of cafe she particularly enjoyed. For Acanthus, it was all about the desserts themselves. She didn’t place much emphasis on service and presentation. As long as no one spit in her food, she would overlook it for a decent dessert. From the few times she had been pressured to go after work with some friends, she found that these service-focused cafes often came at the price of middle or low-quality desserts. And while that might not have been the case here, she already had two other options to choose from. And that didn’t include whatever was in Horunka or the Town of Beginnings.