Zelrius

"Aye, I often venture to those floors in the event snow covers the rest of Aincrad from Foundation to Chimney." He was more or less just trying to keep a conversation going at this point, waiting for her to make like every Low Level and ask for his help in anything. Though that anticipation was for naught, as the girl he was sitting next to on the bench continued to insist that there is no way Zelrius could equip two weapons at once. He awaited for her to try it herself, which Cilla inevitably did to know avail. He watched for a few moments as she consistently swapped weapons back and forth in an attempt to prove him wrong, of which it appeared she could not do. He only cooly smiled at her, his expression written with that of 'I told you so'. Though even despite the evident proof, it appeared that she was still skeptical and went on to ask questions he could have only expected and laughed a bit more at. "Go ahead and add me to your Friend's list. I am can guarantee you I am not an NPC. I am far more interesting than those coded pieces of Data." Though he was more reluctant to answer the former question. "It was a quest of sorts. More like an event, one that can only be done by one person once." He stood up, grabbing the blades out of their sheaths and holding one in each hand. Jerking one in her direction, holding it inches from her neck. "Zelrius, Commandant of the Azure Brigade, Level 52, at your service, Lady..?" He ended on more of a question, as he had yet to catch her name.

He thought about her words for a second, and wasn't at all surprised that she was reluctant to use the consumables. "Good point," He reached out to massage her cat ears again, seemingly obsessed with doing the motion whenever doing with Animal-Girls, though he wasn't exactly sure why. "That's one of the many reasons you're in Azure, a Sharp mind that most in this world lack greatly." Though he more disdained himself in his own mind for not thinking of that. Still, He ate the Alcoholic item and activated the Bloodrage Crytsal, turning back to the giant Castle. "You ready, Dearest Lady Gaul?"

As the Arena and Castle loomed into view not farm from the town, Zelrius turned to make eye contact with her, for some reason or another, really liking the feeling it gave him to do so. "Right up ahead, Here," He stopped to go through his inventory and toss her two items. A Bloodrage Crystal and an Alcoholic Item to boost their attack even more. Though he was sure that the two of them did plenty of damage, Manta had said that she wanted this done as fast as possible, even if that meant going a bit overboard. "If you don't want to eat the Food Item, I understand. Sometimes I am reluctant simply because it is an Alcholic item, and I personally refuse to have anything to do with that stuff, but the extra damage is nice." He grinned as she agreed to the relaxing bit "Perhaps we can go back to the Guild Hall and just talk, or go to a quiet little cafe somewhere. I don't know, As long as I get to spend a little extra time with you, I am fine with whatever."

As she didn't talk for a minute, Zelrius only mused on in his own mind, lost in his thoughts. The Golden Haired boy waited patiently for her to speak, and when she did, he responded in a non-chalant tone. "Salutations to you as well," He formal-like speech pattern bringing a small smile to his face, as he shared the same sentiment.  "Eh, Floor 5's weather is always like this. Even during December when the rest of the floors are covered top to bottom in snow, This particular floor and The Floor of 9, covered in Lava, never change weather with the seasons." It was more small talk that what Zelrius was hoping for, but the fact that they had broken the ice was enough for him. Her next comment made him laugh and he made eye contact with her now. "That's cute, You're one of very few people who didn't recognize me off the bat. Trust me missy, I am well aware of what I can and cannot do. See, It wouldn't have let me even pull a secondary weapon out of my inventory if I wasn't able to wield it. Go ahead, try it yourself."

As Manta didn't respond to his first comment, Zelrius silently cursed at himself for even saying that, wanting now to take it back and pretend he never even thought it. Though he felt even worse with the fact that Manta had always been kind to him, despite her obvious disdain for the Commandant when they first met. Her words reminded Zelrius of the battle with Rohk. The boy wondered how many people intentionally held back in the beginning, comfortable thinking that the Hero would handle it quite nicely as he had done with so many other bosses. Though his suspicions rose that several didn't take that fight seriously nearly early enough, Zelrius and everyone else still blamed the Raid Leader for the fiasco. "Righto, Let's get a move on then. Then perhaps you and I can run off to another floor and relax a bit?"

Zelrius wandered around the Fifth floor despite his better judgement. The boy's tuxedo and heavy dark Cloak made it unbearably hot to wander this floor on a regular basis, but this is where he had put his shop at the time of choosing his profession. He sighed, having failed at his crafts and not having really anything else to do for the day. That was, until he witnessed a little scene by the Quest Broker that gave out the Butcher of the Sands Quest. It appeared two players had a slight argument and the female silhouette was left along and seemingly down on her luck. He saw an oppurtunity to perhaps meet another 'Investment' for the Frontlines, Slipping onto the Bench, undoing the sashes that kept the two blades on his hips and leaning the two swords against the Bench, idly whistling the whole time to indirectly catch her attention.

He frowned, knowing that the wording wasn't right. Though this was neither confirmed nor denied by the tail swishing. Zelrius didn't know whether or not it was subconscious or intentional, that and he had always thought that cats moved their tails in anticipation or contentedness, Though Manta didn't seem to show either of those in her facial features, leaving The golden haired boy to believe the tail movement was on purpose. Though she said she understood, Zelrius still didn't think he had worded that correctly. No sense in crying over spilt milk, Zelrius reasoned. "Of Course, if you still want to come with, I would be more than happy to bring you along." That was his attempt to fix his mistake, however much it may or may not work. "Same plan as every quest for me. Go to the Location, Obliterate the boss, Go home. I'd be willing to hold back a little if you want to get some shots in on it."

As she drank the potion, Zelrius' fake smile he had on slowly grew into a full on curve of happiness. He really didn't expect her to accept, given it was generally not in Manta's nature to do things like this, as far as Zelrius knew atleast. He reached a hand out to massage and rub her cat ears, Something he had done to the one he called Wolfy, and for some reason it was an enjoyable motion. He stopped and pretended like he wasn't all that thrilled about the potion being drank, talking to her as normal. "Aye, I know what you're talking about. Takao and Ssendom are catching up to me in level as well, and I refuse to let atleast Takao rain on my Parade. Speaking of that, I regret to inform you I intend on doing the next scouting alone." He stopped for a moment and tried to add quickly. "Not that I don't like Scouting with you, I just need the moments to myself. I hope you understand."

SUMMARY

4 SP (Three quest, One Thread), <<Claws of the Sands>>, <<Combat Dress>> and 400 Col to DarkPhoenixDawn

1 SP to Zelrius

Crafty Craft Craft

-3 Mats

ID 54809
CD  6
Quality Good
Item:  A Ring with feminine features, All white gold with a small band of obsidian around the Outside middle of the ring, Engraved on the inside is Ariel♥Hikoru

ID 54810
CD 6
Quality  Good
Item:  A Ring with Masculine features, All Obsidian with a small band of White gold around the Outside middle of the ring, Engraved on the inside is Hikoru♥Ariel

ID 54811
CD  RIP
Quality: RIP
Item: RIP

Placeholder

T2 Bloodrage Crystal Activated

T2 Alcholic Food Activated

Zelrius chuckled a bit at her comment. "You sound like someone trying to pretend like they know sports. 'Yea to win, you need to put the object in the enemy thing across the field.' What I am saying is, it sound very vague. Yes, It will increase your stats for equipping it. Most items do, that's what they're for." He stopped and mentally slapped himself in the face for being that rude. "How do you feel about increased Mobility and Precision on that Pendant?" In an attempt to divert the conversation from his overly rude and unwanted Comment.

He sighed, as she sent the Friend request. He was reluctant to go, even back to the Frontlines. He accepted the friend request and subconsciouts gave her wolf ear another little massage of sorts, the same way he had when she first obtained them. "I must go Wolfie, as you guessed. Though, I'd like you to promise me another quest in the future. I did, afterall, give you a permanent effect potion, I am hoping to atleast see it's effects every once in a while."

Zelrius waltzed in, slapped the money down for the ordered he had called in for Dawn, and paid the price; 10k Col. Turning around with it and walking out, With Kiru's order as well

-30k Col from Zelrius to Ariel

Yo 3 Neko potiosn homeslice. I am stocking up

As they walked at of the shop, Zelrius turned his attention to his notification bar and sighed. Reading the message, He had been invited up a few floors for an Event boss. "Probably some kind of Easter bunny or some [censored] like that..." He said more to himself than outloud. He turned back to Dawn who was now geared out and gave a quick inspection of where extra items would go. noticing they were blank.

"Well, You have Armor and a Weapon. Now we need to get you a Trinket or something. I am thinking since I am buying the stuff, a Phoenix Pendant?" Though he tried to be assertive about it, Zelrius still accidentally added an upward inflection, making his 'statement' more of a question to her. He sighed at his own inability to demand or force things upon people.

Another Notification, this time by Tristan about the same Boss fight. He frowned, knowing that he'd have to leave soon. And for the first time in a while, Zelrius was reluctant about leaving a person, quite enjoying the company of the person he called Wolfie. He closed the message, ignoring it and trying to keep a conversation with Dawn.

He hated this floor so much, for more than a few reasons. Though he had always hated the floor, even when he first stepped foot in it after clearing the Third Floor boss with Shark and Ryujin. Since the moment it was open, Players flooded the Winter Wonderland, for some god damn reason, and Zelrius wasn't particularly fond of very large crowds, especially ones composed entirely of useless Low levels. Though in thinking this, he grew a bit self-conscious, given he is now walking through that same Snowfrost town that he hated so much with a low level "What have you stooped down to?" Zelrius asked himself in his thoughts.

As she took the Cloak, he nodded, "Seriously, I want it back. As sweet of a person you've been to me so far, I kind of need that cloak. Just not right now." He was trying to emphasize the importance, but failed to do so in his mind. He decided to let that go, thinking that if she wanted to keep it, he was too nice of a person to say 'No'. Not like it was that big of a deal anyway, he could get another one made.

As they arrived at the Crowned Lion Shop, Zelrius picked up the order he sent to Ariel and then pushed Dawn slightly forward. "Go ahead and order the Enhancements you want and what type of clothing you want it to be. Be descriptive, You're going to want to like your armor, given you'll be wearing it a lot."

When they got to the fourth floor, Zelrius pulled back on his gloves to make sure they fitted snuggly around his hands. He began making his way through the town, remembering everything that has happened for him on this square. Where he met Zoey, whom was attacked by PKers and was being dragged out of town. Where he went with Kiru on their first and only search for Keith, and where he first met Lessa, whom went from friend, to foe, back to friend over the next year or so. Just another reason for the Golden haired boy to avoid the fourth floor. Too many bad memories, not enough good ones.

The first thing he did was unclip his cloak and hold it out to her. He figured that she might have clothes appropriate for the floor, but thought to be more of an act of Manners than of actually trying to do much else. "You can wear my Blackfyre Cloak while we talk to and from there. I want it back though before we part ways. Last person I lent my cloak to on this floor ran off with it. I had to get a new one made." Whether or not she accepted it, he called out to Wolfie moving along the path to the edge of town.

(Writing post now that I am no long Salty)

Zelrius grinned, Boss fights were what he lived for afterall and a Field Boss of all things stood no chance against him. Though he had always known that, it was emphasized in his latest adventure with Dawn, The now Wolfgirl person. Still, A Boss was a Boss, and whether or not it could survive a hit from Zelrius didn't matter, so long as the Loot was good enough to reap. After Tristan rushed in and pulled the Bunny's Aggro, The golden Haired boy charged in with his swords, Slashing and cutting furiously at the Rabit, kicking off from it, and landing back behind The Invincible Warrior, A shield he knew he could count on to stand throughout the entire fight.

ID 54570 BD 10

6 Base + 16 Holy = 22+5 charge = 27+1 Banner = 28 + 12 Consumables = 40*27 = 1080-30 = 1050

Boss Stats:

«HP»: 750
«Mitigation»: 30
«Evasion»: 2
«Accuracy»: 2

Tristan 281/281 Hate : 5
Zelrius 220/220 E: 25/52 Hate : 2
Takao 205/205
Manta 148/148
(Boss)

"You can call me Zel, only because I don't hate you like I do most Low Levels. However, I draw the line there. Nothing more, just Zel or Zelrius." He grinned and added in a joking manner "Though Lord Commandant is the most preferred." He pulled at the collar of his Dress shirt under the tuxedo to let in some air flow agains this body, the immense amount of equipment and long sleeved clothing being a little too much to bare in the desert sun, Reminding the Golden Haired boy why he didn't come to this particular floor often. "We should leave this place fast before I have a god damn heat stroke." He said in light of the great heat that loomed over the floor during the day. 

He continued along the Floor and got to the teleport gate, before going through his inventory quickly and pulling out a small item. Tossing it to her, Zelrius explained. "Open your Inventory, press 'Examine' and then press Activate. That was a drop from the monster we just fought. Should be a fairly good weapon for a Noob like you Wolfie. Of course, I'd prefer a straight damage weapon, but we can get you one of those only if you're feeling especially picky about your equipment." Though truth be told, Zelrius didn't believe in a such thing as 'Picky' when it came to equipment. You either got what you wanted, or might as well be useless. 

Zelrius began sending a message over to Ariel for his order for Dawnika, and called out 'Snowfrost Town' once at the teleport gate, taking him to the city so he could navigate to the shop.

He jumped slightly at her increased voice volume, unexpecting it and stopping his walking to glance back to her. It only took a moment for Zelrius to register what it was she was talking about, and grinned taking the chance to brag a bit. "Aye Fifty-Two. As Impressive as that may sound, there are plenty of people catching up to me very very quickly. Part of the reason I am doing this quest again. That aside, I'd try to be modest and say it's not a big deal, but honestly, it is a big deal. For me anyway." As much as he tried to sound nonchalant, his words were true enough. Most would try to play cool and say it's not that hard, which is a load of bullshit, Everyone who is even Level 30 can tell you that it is hard once you start getting to the upper Levels.

"A Deal's a deal Wolfie. See you on the Frontlines. After this, I have a shop I can lead you to, and we can gear you up. Would you be okay with that?" He asked, though Zelrius could probably guess the answer that was going to be given. He was certainly glad she had a bit of confidence unlike most lowlevels, Whom are either too Confident and think they could outdo even Zelrius, or far too under confident, and don't even think they could stand in the presence of someone like Ssendom.

Her last comment made him laugh as they arrived at the Butcher's Arena. He turned around and rubbed her new wolf ear again, hearing no protest from the last time he did it. "That's real cute. You think the boss is going to last long enough to even draw a weapon, let alone two turns. No, so long as you enter the Arena with me and stand inside when I kill him, you don't even have to draw a weapon. Now come on," He led her inside the arena and within an instant, the Boss's desginated area recognized there were infact two players and the in a plume of sand the Lizard appeared. 

Zelrius didn't even wait for the dust and sand to clear, Drawing both his swords and in a flurry of attacks, turned the quest 'Boss' into data particles. Sheathing them once again and walking about to the Wolfgirl. He exteneded a gloved hand to her and bowed slighty. "Shall we go?"

BD 2+4 Accuracy = 6 HIT ID 54550

6 Base + 8 Fallen + 5 Charge = 19*27 = 513

Zelrius 208/208 E: 25/52
Dawnika 4/4 E: 1/1

Butcher 0/350 HP

Seeing everything in their full brightness again was foreign to him. Under tracking, the world darkened, and only small footsteps of whomever it was you were tracking and the person themselves had any luminosity to them. It was strange to Zelrius, and he had to keep blinking, hoping his eyes would adjust more quickly to the shift of lighting.  Her words only made him want to cry more, Even as much as he though he paid attention to Kiru and thought he cared, Zelrius was oblivious to her dwindling strength and wasted time. He hated himself for not telling her, Hinting at her, something so that she would atleast be out grinding and doing quests. No instead, she worried about him, while he selfishly followed his own plans.

Another sniffle, and now he tried to hide the slight shaking in his voice. "Kiru, I didn't mean- I want this to be the result. I was- I wanted to just help you. I wanted you to carry on to continue to be one of the strongest in Aincrad. I wanted you to not be so damn lonely and afraid. I took it upon myself to find and kill Dai, hoping you'd let the whole thing go, and live a normal life. I tried to stay busy and act normal the whole time, trying to get you to stop worrying about me. And yet you kept caring because I was too dumb to realize that I wasn't helping at all. I didn't want to tell you 'It will be alright' I was afraid that'd make you more suspicious, I was afraid you'd waste more of your time carrying about things I already had handled. I am so so sorry that I didn't tell you I had it handled. I should have trusted you more, but I didn't want to trust anyone. My friends drifted away from me, one by one, and it felt like you were too. And rather than try to restore any friendships or mend ours, I only wanted to get rid of this guy, find out what happened to Keith and let you live Happy." He shuddered still trying to fight back crying in front of Kiru

"And even after all that, It was for naught. Despite me spending every waking moment, cutting DAYS in between sleeping, and even then for only a handful of hours at a time. Even after all my effort, I still ended up hurting you, and I hate myself for it." He stopped for her final comments. That was even more she pointed out. He gave up everything and now felt like he put way too much of everything into it, that he ended up doing more harm than good with this whole thing. "I don't care if I didn't finish it. That wasn't my goal. My goal was to make sure that once he was dead, you could take a walk in the wilderness without having to peer over your shoulder every three seconds. My hope was that you could leave Aincrad one day, and not be completely ruined by it. That you could finish this game running, and still go on to be a completely Normal person, without any sort baggage. Y'know, Emotional Baggage. But it seems I failed at that too. I've never doubted myself in my life, but right now, I am really hating everything I am, and for that, I am so very terribly sorry."

He smiled like an idiot even more when she just seemed so thrilled about it, for reasons beyond his knowing. Her stopping him was an also unexpected action, but he closed his inventory without question. "I am going to be honest; I didn't expect you to be so accepting of you're new... look. Nonetheless, I request you keep it on then. I am going to nuke this quest for you, and what I want in return is for you be half-Wolf for the rest of the game. Deal?" With that, he began to head off into the desert to fight this boss and get it over with. "Atleast you're realstic. Most low levels think they can wake up one day and decide to be a high level. A lot of people have spent the last few years sitting on Floor 1, wasting their lives away, I can atleast commend you for trying."

Though her next words seemed a bit more serious than the light-hearted and joking mood Zelrius tried to keep the conversation at. "Good way to die and make sure everyone knows how, Frontlines. My Morbid humor aside, I'd like to make you an offer now." He reached a gloved hand out to her after straightening the Bowtie on his tuxedo that he always wore around. "If you're absolutely serious about being a Frontliner and wanting to stay a Ookami. I will nuke any quest with you and gear you out, so long as you can guarantee I will see you at a future Boss fight, adorned in said gear and," He used that reached out gloved hand to lightly massage her new Wolf ears "You're new appearance as well." Though he wasn't sure if she'd be receptive of the touching part.

He clicked the accept button and didn't say a word after that, only adjusting the Blackfyre cloak on his back and continuing to walk through the desert. The wolfgirl would be able to see his name and level in the top left of her own Heads Up Display. "Commandant of the Azure Brigade, Lord Blackfyre, and Slayer of the Hydra, Zelrius is my username. Good to meet you Dawnika."

He grinned as she reacted, at first, exactly how he thought she would. He didn't say anything about the benefit. She was right that it didn't directly benefit the Commandant, only that it made him happier knowing that there was now a Wolf girl running around Aincrad, one he'd be able to easily spot if she didn't ever get rid of it. Though the reaction right away shifted and became a good bit more positive, much to Zelrius' surprise. "Eh?" Was all he managed out in confusion as she now seemed quite pleased with the potion. The most surprising part wasn't that she enjoyed the effects, it was more that she didn't seem to care he had told her it an EXP bottle and not just a regular transformation potion, though if she had disregarded that, he certainly wouldn't bring it back up.

"I figured a lazy low level like you just wanted to Mooch off. That's fine, not like this is going to be a TON of effort anyhow." He laughed a bit hard at her statements, trying not to seem too rude. "Every god damn Low level wants to be a Front Liner. Of course you do. They all think it will happen over night. Look, your gear isn't even good enough to handle a Boar, let alone bosses. Go home cute little Wolf, let the Big kids handle this." To stop her from getting angry or offended by that, Zelrius quickly changed the subject.

"Well, the effects are permanent..." He trailed off but quickly raised his hands in defense and added to his sentence with haste "Before you freak out, I do have a curing potion, here. Let me get it," The golden haired boy began rifling through his inventory in search of the cure potion, unable to find it right away in a bit of a panic.

Zelrius' eyes twitched a little when he heard the female voice call out from behind him. He was kind of hoping she'd take him up on the offer, and kind of hoping she wouldn't have. He honestly didn't want to babysit a level 1, but fought that reluctance because the girl was actually a bit cute. On the flip side, He was already dating Manta, and to simply accept a quest with another girl on the basis that she didn't look bad, felt kind of off for the golden haired Commandant. On top of that, she didn't exactly seem ready to adventure with him either, the feeling clearly being mutual, but for completely different reasons. He decided to drop the thought and not be mean to her.

"That's fine. You don't have to be a high level at all. I am more than fine with you standing behind me while I completely annihilate the boss if you're okay with doing that. Though I suppose most low levels would find that a bit insulting, so I understand if that is not in your best interests." He was trying his best to be polite to a low level, despite just how very much he hated them and how lazy they all were. He grinned as a thought came to him, pulling out his permanent Ookami potion. Maybe he'd see her again, who knows. This would be his personal mark on some random person. "Here, Drink this. Should boost the amount XP you gain." Zelrius tried to keep a straight face holding the potion out to her.

Zelrius slowly groaned awake from his bed on the Thirteenth floor. The following Month had been so emotionally tolling on the boy, not that was anything new to him. Matter of fact, the golden haired boy would have been more surprised had an entire month gone by without some form of Damage, whether that be Physical, Emotional, Or Mental, taken place. It was so common place now, especially for anyone who was a Frontliner. The consistent pressure from the thousands Not fighting, The heat of battle on an almost daily basis, the Planning and arguing. That, and then the Drama following the Spring Festival at the beginning of the month. He had asked Manta out on a date, and while that's all well and good, Kiru interrupted them leaving. Again, not that big of a deal, other than how much of an idiot Zelrius was for the way he treated Kiru during that interaction. And what ensued, was what Zelrius was now waking up from, twas the day after. Yet even after all that, and how he knew each month left in the game brought similar events, Zelrius still found the will power to get out of his room in the Guild Hall and switch into his gear.

Within moments, The boy was adorned from head to toe in Unique items and other gear assortments. With that, The Commandant rushed off to the Teleportation gate, intent on making this day more of a stress-relief day than anything else. Each step to the Gate not far from the Guild hall left no Footprints, his boots of Agility to thank for that. The only noise he made was the jingling of the two pendants around his neck and a slight metallic sound each time the swords on both hips bounced just a bit in their sheaths. Within a few minutes he teleported out of the horrid thirteenth floor and into the Capital of the Fifth floor named Ignis. 

Within moments he walked over to the Broker that distributed the Butcher of the Sands quest and sighed, Remembering that the quest was strictly non-solo allowed. He looked beside him to a girl also accepting the quest and sighed. Zelrius was reluctant to ask her, afraid she'd either see his gear and run off, or think he was just trying to flirt with her. He turned away and called out to anyone in earshot, hoping someone would accept the quest with him. "For anyone interested in Doing the Butcher of the Sands quest, I request you please come talk to me. You can keep the drops or whatever, I just want to kill something..." He wasn't sure if that'd draw anyone's attention, but it was worth a try.