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It didn't take them long to unload their cargo. There were only three crates after all. Once the girls had placed the boxes down Katoka brushed her hands off and turned to her companions. "Well? It's drink time right?" She grinned and eagerly as she hunted for a set of stairs that led back up to the bar. Finding a set a bit farther in the back she called for Acanthus and Mari to hurry up. Kat nearly took the steps two at a time but she had to remind herself that most of the building on this floor were on the verge of collapse, this one was probably no different. She was humming to he

Approvioli

To the SAO Community, I want to sincerely apologize for my behavior back in December of last year. I recognize that I broke community rules and let my actions fall below the standards expected of members here. It’s taken me some time to fully reflect on everything, but I want to take this opportunity to take responsibility. I understand now how my behavior may have hurt the community, disrupted the space, or made others uncomfortable. That was never my intention, but I fully accept that intention doesn't erase impact. I’m not asking for a reset, just a chance to move forward wit

The dance had grown quiet the tension, loud. They circled each other like mismatched rivals. One clumsy and snorting, the other refined, still, waiting. Her earlier misses replayed in her mind, not as failures, but adjustments. Lessons. She wouldn’t miss again. The boarlet squealed and charged blindly. This time, she didn’t retreat. Miyuki inhaled sharply and stepped into the path of the attack. Her curved sword shimmered faintly, resonating with her movement. The Sword Art activated — not dramatic, not flashy, just fast. She sidestepped at the last second, pivoted on

Miyuki’s grip tightened as she circled to the left, boots grinding into the dirt. The boarlet pawed the ground in front of her, tail flicking, ready to charge again. “I won’t miss twice.” She stepped in low and quick, blade arcing for the boarlet’s shoulder with another clean slash — her timing sharper, her stance more focused. But again, the beast was erratic. A last-second jerk sent it stumbling to the side. Her curved sword sailed just inches wide, slicing through empty air. MISS. The frustration flared, but she kept her breathing steady. Discipline over e

A calculated leap from above saw Elora's soles plant softly in the sand before the rest of her teetered backwards in an unceremonious flop. Groaning from the soreness of every strained muscle, she begrudgingly lifted herself up and dusted off her ass. Wherever the sword wants. "Definitely North.", Elora answered Astra's question. "And I agree, the trees would provide the most coverage." For us and for the monsters. She took the initiative in leading them, or at least conjured some spectacle into playing the part. With her spear drawn, she swept every shadow, sliced away every dangling br

PH

The wind stilled for just a moment — and Miyuki moved. Her feet pounded the dirt, curved sword flashing with a violet glow as a simple Sword Art activated. Her eyes narrowed, zeroing in on the boarlet ahead as it rooted carelessly in the grass. “Strike with purpose. No hesitation.” She brought the blade in from the side, aiming clean across its flank— But the boarlet shifted at the last second, squealing in alarm and jerking just out of range. Her sword cut nothing but air, the MISS signal flashing red like a warning bell. Too slow. Before she could rese

Thread Summary Abellio | [Word Count: 2052/5 = 410.4] * [True Tier: 3] * [Group Factor: 1] = 1231 + 500 = 1731 EXP Lysette | [Word Count: 2052/5 = 410.4] * [True Tier: 3] * [Group Factor: 1] = 1231 + 500 = 1731 EXP Both Players Receive: 1 Mon, 1 Token Thread Transcript

The wind was different out here. It swept through the tall grass in steady waves, bending it like the sea in a stormless tide. The cobblestone paths of Tolbana had long since faded behind her, replaced with packed earth and the occasional crunch of scattered stones beneath her boots. Miyuki followed the trail Lyle had described east of the forge, past a shallow ridge where the trees began to thin, until the ground opened into wide meadows speckled with flowers and brush. This was where the boarlets nested. From a distance, the place looked serene. Almost peaceful. But she

The heavy forge door groaned shut behind her, muffling the ring of steel and bark of fire. Outside, the air was cooler — clearer — but the weight of what came next hung just as heavy on her shoulders. Miyuki reached into her inventory and materialized the curved sword Lyle had given her. The blade gleamed in the sunlight, simple and unadorned, but expertly balanced. She tilted it gently, watching the metal catch the light like a ripple on still water. “This isn’t my usual style…” “But a warrior should adapt.” With steady hands, she slid the blade into the sheath at her h

The rhythmic pounding of metal echoed louder the closer Miyuki came to the forge. Heat pulsed from the building in waves, and smoke curled into the sky like a signal flare. Inside, sparks danced across the air, and the scent of scorched iron clung to everything. Lyle Tealeaf stood at the center of it all — a towering man with thick arms, a sooty apron, and a permanent scowl carved deep into his face. He didn’t look up as Miyuki stepped into the threshold. “You’d better have a reason for being here.” She stepped forward, dust clinging to her boots. “Mayor Dorian sent

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The streets grew quieter the further Miyuki walked. The laughter of players and chatter of merchants gave way to creaking wind vanes and the soft buzz of insects humming near ivy-covered fences. Up ahead, the stone roads faded into well-worn dirt paths, with tufts of grass pushing through the cracks. Tolbana, though modest, felt surprisingly large when you walked it alone. Miyuki welcomed the quiet. After all, samurai walked in solitude. “Two herbs,” she murmured aloud, just to hear her voice. “Better than none.” She looked down at her hands. A little dirty, knuckles slight

Miyuki walked slowly through the streets of Tolbana, letting the noise and motion of the town settle around her like a warm breeze. The sun had climbed higher now, casting golden light through the gaps between timber-framed rooftops and worn stone chimneys. Everything here had a rustic charm as if pulled from a history book she'd read back home. The buildings, though digital, bore signs of life: baskets of herbs hanging by doors, laundry fluttering from second-story windows, and carved wooden signs swinging gently in the wind. A group of players passed her on the left, laughing loudl

Pins and needles. That's what he felt the entire way to the cave. Through the dark tunnel and into the cavern proper. He was constantly aware of Lydia's presence. Hard not to be, the way she clung to his arm for dear life. She had gone well beyond hints. Abellio wasn't that dumb. But he was absolutely chickenshit. He was convinced that if he just kissed her that it would be off to the races. The start of something special. Something real. But as convinced as he was, Abellio was equally convinced that he would fuck everything up if he did. "Lydia," he said. "You're really close."

Always. Was that excitement or a promise? Probably the former? Maybe the latter? What did always even mean? Didn't matter. It just sounded so sweet when he said it. Lydia would need to be forgiven for clinging to his arm the entire way to the cave. It was such a simple thing, but it was so foreign to her. Lydia knew the physical. Those brief moments of rebellion when her hangers-on were caught up in the lights and the bass of those concert after parties. The sins committed in a shadowy VIP section with some random guy who happened to catch her eye at that moment. Rebellion that

Abellio didn't want to move. Didn't want to breathe, either. His breath caught in his throat the moment Lydia scooted over. He tried to pull away and get some space, but she didn't let him. She just rested her head on his shoulder. Perfectly serene, perfectly relaxed. He could only match her energy. His back, once stiff and tense, melted as he heard her breathing slow. Abellio was screaming inside, but he kept it contained with just a small content smile. After a while, he felt her shift. Looking down, he found himself staring straight into those piercing golden eyes. Her expression was s

She wasn't going to cry. Even though Abellio's words felt like a warm, comforting blanket draped heavily over her shoulders - oddly weighted yet so very light. She wouldn't cry. Lydia's eyes stung and her tears threatened to fall, but she wouldn't let them. She'd cry later. Right now, she just wanted to be in the moment. To enjoy her personal sun for just a bit longer before her own storm clouds obfuscated them. She. Would. Not. Cry. Instead, she twisted in her seat and scooted as close to Abellio as she possibly could. She felt him try to release her hand. She didn't let him, her fi

Abellio had to think for a moment. What was someone supposed to say to soothe years of trauma? God, she probably hated herself. But at the same time, she was taking command of her life. From her skin, to her clothes, even the way she acted. Because she probably wasn't going to ever leave the town without that first push. And she would have never learned what she could do. Never would have found that confidence to just stop silently suffering with it all. Abellio's fingers curled around hers. He was suddenly keenly aware that their hands were entwined. But he couldn't pull away right

Lydia took another steadying breath. "Okay, so," she began. And she gave him the entire story. About her job in the real world and about how she was never given a real choice about it all. She told him about the piercings and the tattoos done at her manager's behest. With her parents' blessing. She spared no detail about how much it hurt or the sharp "corrections" her mother gave her for having the audacity to cry. How dare she be emotional over her skin being permanently marked? Good girls didn't cry, even when the needles bit into her skin. "But I'm here now. And I don't have to lo

The visage had shattered after a time and the hunter was relieved to not have his team attack him by mistake. He could see how they all were looking towards him, as if they couldn't easily tell, or that there was something that could possibly cause him to be a target in that instant. The issue that he had to figure out during that time was how and why it happened? There was obviously quite a bit more to this boss and it was definitely something more sneaky than he looked. The change of weapons and a few parties being enshrouded in darkness. Typical sneak DoT user. So, what was it th

By the time Miyuki returned to the alchemy shop, her boots were caked with dust, and her fingers tingled from hours of combing through underbrush. Still, she pushed through the wooden door with steady steps and a faint smile on her face. Zackariah was still there, buried in glass bottles and strange glowing mixtures. A faint pop! came from one of the beakers behind him, followed by a cloud of lavender smoke curling toward the ceiling. “Ah!” he called without turning. “Back already? I take it you’ve braved the wild unknown and survived?” “I did,” she replied calmly, stepping

The deeper Miyuki walked, the quieter the world became. Grass gave way to soft earth, scattered with pine needles and the faint scent of damp bark. The canopy above her swayed gently, sunlight flickering through in golden shafts that danced over the forest floor. Her boots crunched softly against twigs and pebbles. She paused near a leaning tree with roots twisted above the ground like skeletal arms reaching outward. Kneeling beside them, she spotted a patch of deep-green moss — and nestled within it, something caught her eye. A cluster of pale blossoms peeked out from between two ro

The wind shifted as Miyuki moved through the uneven terrain, her boots pressing softly into the mossy earth. Ahead, a cluster of fallen logs lay in a half-circle — likely remnants of a past storm, or maybe placed there by the developers to look “natural.” Either way, it was promising. She crouched low again, eyes narrowing as she spotted a patch of pale green sprouting from beneath the shadow of one of the logs. The leaves were wide, with faint blue veins trailing through their surface — and when she looked closer, she saw it: A shimmer. Not much. Just a tiny glint of light