Haine

"Don't worry about it," Haine added, with a wave of dismissal. Topic shifted to the focus of their rendezvous, yet another quest to mark off their list. "Oh yeah? Shoot." She cracked her knuckles and rocked on her heels. As she took in his information, her sight fixed on the quaint seaside settlement. It was a beautiful getaway, though not her taste for living arrangements. The scent of fish could drive these marine creatures wild, though it was repulsive to the woman. An old fashioned hut on stilts had its novelty for some, though she preferred something more... modern. Grounded on soil and secluded.

"Sounds like a plan. I didn't read all the details. Fill me in as we go, yeah?" She looped her arm with his and set off on the walk up the mountain. Luckily, a few teleport points would aid them on the trek up there. As they moved, idle chit chat filled the silence. "As good as it can get when you find cheap salmon per pound. I might have went... a liittle crazy." She chuckled, a bit of the guilt in her tone as she pinched her fingers. "First, we knock some of these quests out. Then, I'm thinking a nice salmon fry." Her mouth watered as she imagined a heaping plate of it in front of her. That was today's incentive to keep up the pace. Her footsteps quickened, urging the man attached to her arm to hurry up.

Pingu squawked, all but pecking the man's hand off as she received the treat. The ravenous bird's stomach, seemingly a bottomless pit, received the treat as soon as she snatched it. "Manners, Ping!" Haine chastised, with a bop to her head. Words on deaf ears, as the penguin waddled away to the cub's sleeping mat. It was comical to watch the bird attempt to share the small mat with her brother, their bodies were much too large. The penguin opted to cuddling right next to him, burrowing under his fur for warmth. A groan of protest and the cub rolled over, crushing the bird under his weight. She chuckled lightly. Those two never failed to brighten her day with their antics. She couldn't imagine this day any better, surrounded by one she loved as they entered a new stage of life.

She parted her lips in thought as she fixed on the word wedding. Wedding, already?! Her eyes widened and she parted her lips to protest that they had time to think of it later on, though a cynical part of her suggested otherwise. Life was fleeting in this place. With the perilous paths they chose, death was a probability and there was no way of knowing what could come. She didn't want to live with regrets when every moment ticked on an invisible clock. She would make the most of what life had dealt her.

"I suppose, but I do want to surprise them first. Have em' see my ring and flip." She wiggled her fingers and appraised the ring once more. "It'll be a nice wedding. Small and cozy and..." Her mind trailed off and her smile faltered for a moment before it returned.

She melted into his hold, fingertips splaying over his shoulders. A scent of vanilla and cinnamon enticed her further, lips molding with his. She squeaked as he hoisted her in the air, breaking the kiss for but a moment. Of little distraction, she resumed the moment of passion. The kiss ended and two pairs of amber eyes met. She pulled away to catch her breath. Cheeks tinged the slightest as she licked the icing off ring. She hummed in approval. The sickly sweet buttercream was magnificent.

Amber eyes widened at the opulent pink jewel on the ring. It seemed to have cost a fortune. Kiluia held her hand and begun. Her heart raced rapidly as the ring slid on her finger. It was a symbol of their love, manifested. "I wouldn't have it any other way, love." She appraised the ring in its ornate glory, eyes glimmering. A moment of silence lingered as she gazed at him, adoringly. "I can't believe this is happening... and this," she started, reaching for the edible ring cushion, "is too gorgeous to eat. I feel a little guilty." She picked a candied rose off the top of the cushion and held it up to her lips. "Would be a shame to waste it. Here, have one." She handed him the other rose and crunched down, humming in delight at the sickly sweetness melting with floral notes. The corners of her eye crinkled as she smiled, the type of smile she had whenever something pleased her sweet tooth. "You've outdone yourself, this is amazing!"

Pingu skittered from the hallway to the kitchen, tugging at Kiluia's pant leg as soon as she spotted something edible. Beady eyes gazed up as if to say "Hey, where's my piece?" The polar cub flopped onto the mat and rolled over on his side. Lazy cobalt eyes watched the scene unfold.

Her heart raced, though not in the way one would assume around a particularly attractive person. Two revelations back to back were much for her to process in what little time she had as the bustling crowd cut in between them. Their only safe escape was through the empty alley. She made haste with him in tow, lest the others discover the path and run through them. A brisk walk down the alley maze led them away from the heart of the chaos. The man halted and broke the silence.

Blue locks flew over Haine's shoulder as she met his gaze. His face appeared flush, though she chalked it up to all the pacing about and adrenaline. "Oh duh, you do have a point." She brushed a finger through her bangs and tousled them. "Better here than out there to be 'killed'." She mimicked quotations with her fingers and rolled her eyes. She was in denial. Who wouldn't be? This whole thing seemed ludicrous. It had to be some kickoff event. In a few hours, the big red man would say syke and they'd be back in time for dinner.

Hopefully.

 Her eyes traveled downward to the pair of fingers laced between hers. Her eyes widened slightly and she pulled away. "O-Oop, my bad." She chuckled awkwardly, though she'd confess his hands weren't so bad to hold. His question caught her off guard for a fraction of a moment. Quick to process, she placed a hand on his shoulder. "Yeah, silly! My team of two could use an extra hand, and you just so happen to qualify." The distant sound of screaming caused her eye to twitch. "Jeez, they're really havin' at it. It can't be that serious can it?" She waved her hand in dismissal. "Lemme fire up a message to sis." She worked quick at her screen.

This was it, the moment she'd been anticipating. Her energy was slowly dwindling, a little close for comfort. Every bit was to be rationed wisely if she'd make it out of this in one piece. As her squad regrouped, she drew in a jagged breath. She sensed an inkling of her nerves crawling back as she stared straight at Orgoth in all his menacing might. In his deteriorated state, he wouldn't be the one throwing the punches. Yet. A thick fog manifested itself into a larger shadowy figure, just ahead of the minotaur. She squared her shoulders and squeezed the shiny new glaive in her possession. It was of remarkable caliber, exactly what she'd need to perform her best.

Haine thumbed the grooves of the hilt and fixed her attention on Raidou. His brief motivational speech was enough inspiration as she looked amongst the field. He was right, this was just the beginning. Being amongst close friends and comrades instilled her with resolve, knowing she wasn't alone in this. Come what may, she was prepared to match the opponent's vigor. A quick rundown of strategy and she was prepared to strike, this time on the forefront. "Roger that, Cap!" Haine confirmed, with a swing of her blade.

With a crisp swish of her glaive, she slivered at the shadow's form. It's wispy form concealed a wall of steel as her sword skimmed its surface. Just what was this freakish, tendril-y monster made of? She gulped and withdrew her glaive. An awkward start to the foray, but she had time to recover. She retreated a safe distance and searched for a blind spot.

+5 EN REC, +94 BH
Dimension Stampede vs. Shadow, the Malevolent
ID: #183228 [ BD: 2 + 6 ACC - 2 EVA = 6 BD, HIT ]
DMG: 27*15 [ 405 - 150 MIT = 255 DMG ]

In minutes, every last entity erased itself from the field. Among the darkness stood the boss himself, irate. Twin axes scraped against the ground as the figure drew closer, and along with that, the woman's anxiety spiked. This had been the strongest battle she'd faced yet. She was holding her own well - for now, but who was to know what tricks Orgoth had up its sleeve? She'd heard of the horrors that graced the front lines, and for it to go so smoothly this far, she feared what else was to come. The final phase, a few comrades uttered. Her palms felt clammy as she gripped her glaive, staring head on at the opposing threat. She'd gotten herself into this and there was no other way out than to face it head on. She drew in a sharp, ragged breath and willed away her nerves. A clang of the beast's axe and she sprung into action.

Blue locks whipped over her shoulders and she turned to Kiluia. She glanced at his calm, bright composure. "You bet, love!" she chimed in, a bright smile following. She could put on a strong front like the others here, like Kiluia, even with his nerves. She could feel the slightest tensing of his shoulders as she laid her palms flat on them. "Let's give em' hell." She squeezed his shoulders affectionately and her eyes fluttered shut. A fluorescent glow transferred from her fingertips, rejuvenating the man's energy. She pulled away and planted a swift kiss on his cheek. A brief exchange and she was back on her toes,  assessing her next move.

CASTS: Hyperactive on Kiluia ( + 3 passive EN REC for 3 turns. 3 turn cooldown.)
- 5 EN + 3 REC
+ 79 BH

After a brief greeting, she exchanged a nod with Simmone. A slight blush crept up Haine's cheeks as the raven leaned close, a little close for comfort. The woman's fingertips rested on her chin as she appraised the jewelry. From the proximity, Haine spared a moment to appreciate the woman's beauty. Such long lashes, were they naturally that way? A soft laugh later, to play off her timidity. The corners of her eyes creased as she smiled at the compliment.  "Why thanks! I bought these a few minutes ago. I can't resist a steal when I see one." She pulled away and toyed with one of her tassels.

An encroaching sound of footsteps revealed a frighteningly tall and stocky man. She craned her head up to distinguish the man's features. It took a minute for the pieces to click. The man stuck out like a sore thumb with his appearance and the golem by side. "Afternoon Griswold! You here for the quest?" With the topic of the quest relevant, she nodded to Freya. "Oh, of course! Just a minute, guys." She fiddled with her menu and fired a party invite to three others.

Options for quests were slowly yet surely dwindling off her list. She could hardly remember half of what she'd done as the grind made days grueling. She eyed the easy pickings compared to the lucrative yields. Most if not all of them were a drag, though her hunger for improvement was enough incentive. With the boss fight impending, she had to be vigilant. After a moment of thought, the woman settled with Nemean Lion. Rescuing damsels in distress? A fitting way to start the day. The quest would be brisk with some help from her guild. She fired up a request and made her way to the bazaar.

Quote

From: Haine
To: Firm Anima

Nemean Lion anyone? Floor 17 at the bazaar. Let's make it a quick one!

She ambled down the dusty path in pursuit of something eye catching. Surely enough, a stand with an assortment of trinkets caught her eye. She marveled at an opulent pair of earrings, soft, fuchsia tassels with beads adorning it. "Ooh, I'll grab this." Haine picked up the pair and placed it on the counter. A few swipes later and it was all hers. She curled them into her palm and kept walking to the rendezvous point. She fastened one earring and moved to the other, though a strong gust of wind blew it out of her palm. An exasperated sigh escaped her. She chased it down and dusted it off. Good as new, she fastened it on her other ear.

A brief glance to her right revealed a familiar face. She recognized the lithe, raven haired woman in ornate garb as Simmone, the guild's merchant. 

"Oh! Perfect timing. I didn't look for long-" she noted a blonde haired woman to her left and gasped in recognition. "Freya, was it..?" She chuckled in light of a previous memory. "I couldn't forget ya' after that whole guild fiasco. Sure was something."

CONSUMES:
Poached Egg Feast [2/4] (+2 ACC), Well Done Steak Feast {Above} [2/4] (+2 Protein Filled Making it 3 Protein)
Damage +3 :179394

USING SLIME FARM: + 1 SP

Haine | HP:1450/1450 | EN:142/142 | DMG:25 | MIT:34 | EVA:1 | ACC:6 | HLY:6 | BLD:36 | BRN:36 | BH:72

Haine nodded at the sentiment. Time in this world stretched on for what felt like forever, however the reality of its fleetingness weighed heavy in mind. There was a time when that fear caged her in. Once her loved ones left her behind to pave their paths, guilt overtook her. She forced herself out there to keep them in sight and regain some semblance of control. In time, she felt desensitized to this world. "Eruda, don't fret about the what-if's." Haine placed a palm on the woman's shoulder. "If time is fleeting, cease the moment. Think of the good memories and how much you've both grown." An affectionate pat followed. 

The topic shifted to the wisp. "Ah, you should stop by my house sometime! It'll be a girl's day thing." She searched her mind for a way to jog her memory. "Have you seen a girl this tall with long dark hair and blue eyes round' the guild?" Haine gesticulated Asmura's height. "She's a newer recruit among the ranks. Kil and I have grown fond of her." A soft smile graced her lips. "Our house was ridiculously empty, soo..." She trailed off, "She lives with us now." Haine noted a particular memory. "Pingu's jealous, but she'll just have to get used to it."

The troupe of shadowlings advanced at their boss' demand. A frenzied fray of light and dark took over the battlefield. Without a doubt, the teams decimated through a good chunk of the herd. Haine glanced over her shoulder for stray shadowlings. All clear. Her focus moved to several shadowlings clinging to a sliver of existence. She left the rest of her team to the coup de grace and skimmed their stats. A marginal amount of wounds inflicted. Just as the thought processed, a clang drew her attention back to the field. A shadowling went head on with Kiluia and perished. She winced. "Oof. That was a good one."

The white haired man approached her. She jogged forward and placed a palm on his shoulder. "I'm fine, love." She squeezed his shoulder affectionately and closed her eyes. Her fingertips glowed as a portion of health replenished the other's bar. "A heal for good measure." At the expense of some energy, though she was wary of his level compared to the rest. She slapped his shoulder and pulled away. Having the upper hand on the field gave her the heebie jeebies, as if something devastating was to come. She willed her anxiety away to remain vigilant.

+ 79 BH, + 3 EN REC
Activates First Aid on Kiluia / - 12 EN
 

A chorus of interjections prompted the woman to hesitantly crack the door ajar. Similar to the other two, her face flushed a beet red. "...Hah, a little early was I? Sorry for killin' the mood." She waved sheepishly and stepped in, closing the main door shut. Back pressed against it and she cast her attention to the others as they spoke. Slight amusement painted her lips in the form of a knowing smile, seeing the flipped over couch now upright. What a lovely pairing, although at the expense of a rather awkward discovery. 

"Mmm, I've been swell. We should fight more of those sometime, yeah?"

She fixed her gaze at a painting on the wall as the others made haste to tidy the living space. Sam ushered the bluenette to the living space. The woman sunk into a cozy chair by the fireplace. The warmth of the flames radiated on her skin, like a soft, cozy blanket. A soft sigh of content, then she glanced at Sam. A moment of silence exchanged and Haine felt acclimated with her surroundings.

Haine's lips curved at Sam's sentiments towards Katoka. The gesture and gaze exchanged between the two radiated a deep sense of adoration. "That's beautiful..." She clasped her hands together and folded them in her lap. "I'm happy for you two." A moment later, her eyes widened. Weddings were few and far between in her circle. She could only recall one in her time here, years ago. "Oh! Now this made my day." A vibrant smile met her eyes and she scooted her chair closer. "You don't have to ask twice. I'd love to." 

A wave of excitement overtook the woman. With the nature of this world, nods to a normal life livened things up. "This is exciting news! Two couples to wed within the guild." She covered her mouth as an expression of joy, a glimpse of an ornate ring on her hand. "Ah, I've been meaning to get married sometime soon too." She toyed with her ring as she spoke. "We haven't figured out a date, but..." she cleared her throat. "The boss raid is impending, and preferably sometime before that, just in case, yanno?" Haine scratched her chin. Lovely news turned into a slightly awkward revelation. Two weddings nose to nose. That wasn't something she anticipated.

A sea of bright and all but blinding light washed over the dark room. Kiluia crushed the fragment and the sudden flash of light caused the woman to shield her eyes. "Woah." For a moment at most. Those shadowlings were relentless. A stray one had managed but a scratch on her. Haine backed out of melee range to survey the field. Their manpower was no joke. Dozens of shadowlings were decimated across the field. The real threat posed was stamina. The battle had just begun, and with enough energy to spare, Haine assessed her team's stats. A perusal of her HUD called her attention to NIGHT, an AOE firecracker at the expense of extra energy.

"How bout' a pick-me-up, NIGHT?" Haine shouted across the field to a silhouette whom she assumed was NIGHT from a distance. A faint glow of her nametag glinted in confirmation. Haine stood in proximity and placed a palm on the other's shoulder. Eyes fluttered shut and she concentrated her energy on the skill she would activate. Fingertips glowed blue as a portion of energy replenished her ally's reserves. "Good to go." Haine spared a quick nod and retreated to her original position.

Haine casts Energize on NIGHT (+8 EN), -10 EN
+4 REC
BH+79

Several others manifested fragments of glowing light, scattered beacons among the darkness. She had none of her own, relying on the faint, dim glow that the shards produced collectively. She fell into line and assessed the battlefield. The shadowlings moved with prowess. Easy to best, were it not so dark and the source wasn't teeming with those things. Wave after wave severed, more of them flooding in. She clutched her spear and held it at her side. The others were first in rotation. As her role as support, she would see that the others were in good health before landing a proper hit. She assessed her energy levels. She was holding up well in the early phase, but there was no construct of time with this thing. She held back her glaive and watched her energy trickle up.

Kiluia returned beside her and she acknowledged his shadowed form with a nod. "Holdin' up?" She cast a gaze towards the center of action. She was pulling her own weight by far, as she intended to the entire time. Memories of an incident prior flickered in her mind.

Party 1:
Shield | HP: 1985/1985 | EN: 129/176 | DMG: 2 | ACC: 5 | EVA: -1 | MIT: 260 | HB: 72 | VO: 180 | VD: 90 | LD: 8 | PRLYZ | DoT: -50%, 1 HIT, -25% AFTER | DoT: -27 | Dote: 3 | Oxidant | BURNS: -50% | TAUNT | THRNS: 30 | EN REGEN: 3 | BH: 114  | KEEN: 1 | KEEN | PARRY | [PARRY: --/2]
Raidou | HP: 1870/1870 | EN: 148/166 | DMG: 6 | ACC: 6 | EVA: 7 | MIT: 216 | VO: 280 | TAUNT | Oxidant | Dote: 3 | DoT: - 27 | LD: 8 | BH: 93 | EN REGEN: 3 | VENGEFUL RIPOSTE | [PARRY: --/2] | [VENGEFUL RIPOSTE: --/3]
Haine | HP: 1470/1590 | EN: 110/138 | DMG: 27 | ACC: 6 | EVA: 3 | MIT: 79 | HLY: 6 | BRN: 36 | VO: 159 | Oxidant | Dote: 3 | DoT: -27 | LD: 3 | BH: 79 | EN REGEN: 3 | [HYPERACTIVE (CD): 0/3]
Baldur | HP: 1612/1650 | EN: 132/144 | DMG: 28 (+3: 1/2) | ACC: 8+1 | EVA: 4 | MIT: 64 | REC: 3 | BURNS: -50% | THRNS: 30 | Dote: 2 | BH: 82 | EN REGEN: 3 | KEEN: 1 | KEEN
NIGHT | HP: 1774/1790 | EN: 135/173 | DMG: 26 | ACC: 6 | EVA: 6 | MIT: 94 | BRN: 36 | BLI: 72 | BLD: 72 | TXV: 24 | VV: 10 | ENV: 4 | PRLYZ | Oxidant | Dote: 3 | DoT: -27 | BH: 104 | EN REGEN: 3 | [VANISH: 2/3]
Kiluia | HP: 1198/1270 | EN: 77/106 | DMG: 25 | ACC: 5 | EVA: 4 | MIT: 79 | BH: 63 | ABS ACC | REC: 3 | KEEN: 1 | BLD: 36 |  Dote: 3 | DoT: -27 | Oxidant | LD: 3 | EN REGEN: 3 | HYPERACTIVE: 2/3

The woman's comment and affectionate gesture touched Haine. "Actually, that would be better. I like that more." The corners of the bluenette's eyes creased as her lips curved. It had been a while since she could connect with a friend like this. The next question had the woman in momentary thought. "Mmm... no, not so much, actually. I've been kicking it with Asmura and Kil. We're adjusting nicely. It's a joy having her with us." Mind drifted off to the young girl with doe-like kyanite eyes. Recent memories of fingerpainting in the sunroom flooded her mind. A bit of light shed over Haine. She couldn't paint to save her life, though in a way it felt therapeutic to capture a moment of happiness on a canvas. 

She made her merry way to the exit, only to find that there was nobody beside her. A ruckus in the distance revealed where her love had slipped off to. She twisted on her heels and observed the white haired man butting heads with an equally fiery brunet. Gods. She appreciated that her lover wasn't some spineless coward, but sometimes his pride interfered with his judgment. Stepping away from a challenge could mean victory depending on the situation. "What the-?" Soles moved across the hall and her form slipped between the two. She stretched her arms out in an attempt to separate them.

"Girls, girls, you're both pretty," she sassed, a tinge of annoyance in her tone. "Is this even necessary?" Not on her watch. She'd intervene to the best of her abilities. She pointed a finger at both of them. "You should be ashamed of yourselves. You're both just proving Freya's point." She folded her arms. "Fire against fire isn't going to solve a thing!" Her words seemed to go unheard and so she stepped in front of Kiluia as if to be a shield. "But if you insist, you can measure it out outside in your own free time."  Ugh. Fragile masculinity. She stepped aside and pinched the bridge of her nose. Kiluia and her would have a serious talk about this later. As for Gaius, she knew the man was a character but he had yet to cross her radar until now. She scrunched her nose in distaste. 

Anxiety wracked through her petite form. The crowd of players moved frantic, tall enough to swallow and trample her under their weight. She was jostled about like a ragdoll, pulled further from the heart of the crowd and into the back. A heavyset man knocked her aside and out of the crowd. She yelped, faceplanting against the dusty cobblestone. "Euugh." She spat out the earth and cringed in distaste. A kind saint outstretched a hand for her to grab. A familiar voice. "Thank you..." She accepted the man's hand and hoisted herself up to her feet. A soft smile crept up her lips as she tilted her head to meet her kind hero.

It was none other than him.

A frog settled in her throat. Try as the girl might, but the words couldn't escape her. Amber eyes widened, akin to a deer stuck in the headlights. Her name left the white haired man's lips and she searched his expression, bewildered. The longer she seemed to stare, the more apparent the situation seemed. The effects of the mirror vanished, leaving the man in his natural form, reminiscent of the boy she'd known from her past. Her name had left his lips. She gradually recovered from the shock.

"Kiluia. I knew that name had a ring to it." A soft chuckle escaped her. "So it is you. You're not going to run away now, are you?" She held onto his hand just in case. The Kiluia from long ago was a skittish one, it was hard to catch him at the right moment. His nature was like a puzzle to her, but she could use it to her advantage now. "Not that you can." A lilt followed. "You're stuck with me now." The moment of nostalgia was short lived. The sounds of chaos and screaming put a damper on her mood. "As much as I'd like to continue this chat, this is..." She twitched an eye at the crowd, "Not the place and time. Follow me." She found an opening through the alleyway and took off, tugging the other behind her.

Her expression softened at Eruda's plight. A feeling of love which skirted the lines of uncertainty, push and pull. How the woman could endure it and remain enamored for so long was only a testament of her devotion to the man. She nodded in acknowledgement. "I see..." She would wait for the other to empty these thoughts from her mind before she could impart any advice or sentiments. She would be here for her as her friend to the best of her ability.

The cup shattered in Eruda's hands, the liquid crystalizing as it fell to the ground. Haine flinched at the sudden sound, brows knitted in concern. Amber eyes sought Emerald which were gleaming with emotion. The bluenette swallowed her words and listened on. Hearing of the blonde's beginnings shed  light on Haine. She'd seen the other from a different perspective as she struggled to relate. The difference in their upbringings was a far cry from each other. Haine was raised in a family which was functional for the most part, a cozy and sheltered life where she could ask for no more. Several times she had taken that for granted, and moments like these, she felt humbled.

And in light, her respect for Eruda increased. She had endured a lot and from those experiences improved. Improvement was no easy feat, and it wasn't always an uphill battle. "Eruda, I'm glad to have met you." She kicked back and stared up at the sky, mesmerized by pillowy clouds. "It's amazing how strong you are. I think your future has something good in store for you." She exchanged an earnest expression. "Hang in there a little longer and trust the process." A soft smile curved her lips. "You've made something beautiful from what life has given you, and now your loved ones are close."

A soft smile curved her lips. "I enjoy our talks. It's nice to have someone to connect with like this, it's been so long." A glimpse of Elyth flickered in her mind. "I guess I just wanted to say that I consider you like a good friend." She placed a hand to her mouth and chuckled softly. "Too sappy?"

An unsettling feeling settled in her gut. She weighed both sides of the situation and could not come to a conclusion on the spot. She'd known little to none of the azure haired teen by far. Just a face and a name, and a cryptic but tolerable personality. On an occasion or two, they'd accompanied each other on a quest. Their interactions were sparse enough that she couldn't shape a proper opinion of him yet. The boy, he was overcome with emotion enough to attack someone. The why's and what's remained uncertain, she would have liked to hear both sides of the situation, as much as she could trust Freyd for his word. There could have been more to the picture.

If Freyd's judgment rang true, the boy seemed like more of a liability than a benefit to the guild. Firm Anima didn't foster such toxicity. It was a place to foster camaraderie and build one another in her eyes. Volatile behavior seemed like an act of selfishness. If push came to shove, could they rely on a character like that? Was it necessary for a guild who could fair well as is? Though on the other hand, the guild was a generous bunch. There was room for forgiveness under good reason.

"Everyone brings some good points," the woman added. "It's difficult. From Freyd's perspective, he seems like a liability." She clicked her tongue in thought. "I would've liked to hear it from the other two's perspectives. It doesn't sit well for me to decide things so abruptly." Affirming Eruda and Raidou's thoughts, she went on. "We need to speak to Mari and ChaseR, one way or another." She tucked strands of azure behind her ear. "We must exercise more thought to this. It's a polarizing situation."

Tension wrung high between several others and their opposing views. The room was quick to feel stuffy and she wished to remove herself from the situation. The bluenette rose from her seat and bowed. "If that will be all, we have some things to tend to. Do keep me posted." That was a lie. She had nothing to tend to. She gave Kiluia a slap on the back and spared a glance at Asmura.

 "We're headin' out."

The fruits of her labor had proven itself useful. With Asgard's Finery in hand, she was one step closer to her dream weapon. The Radiance of Harmonious Dawn was a gift from her comrade Freyd, exceeding in strength from her previous blade. She set it aside for the newer one, but as great as it was, it hadn't reached its utmost potential. All that was left was to hand over the shard to Simmone or Sam and pray for the best. She squeezed her fists and inhaled sharply. Hopefully something good would turn out. The woman knocked on the counter. The others were at the back of the shop. A cat with brilliant, jet black fur bore holes through her. "You're givin' me the creeps lil' guy." She shook her head. Two women with brightly colored hair stepped up to the front. "Good day! I need my spear refined with this component. Anyone'll do the job."

Was this... the right place? Plunged into a room full of darkness, it was hard to traverse it. She clutched the fabric of her tunic. The marker led her through the decrepit corridors, up to a nook in the cavern. The dungeon was a highlight of attraction. It was a wonder how there wasn't a line already. Oh well. Convenient to her. She peeked a head through the doorway, into the dimly lit shop. None other than her fiancé and the mysterious NPC were within. The others were a ways behind them with business to tend to. She cracked her knuckles and stepped through the entrance.

"See anything you like here?" She glanced around the white haired man's form. The NPC, as if programmed by a prompt, laid down a menu for her to select from. She perused the list on her HUD and selected an item, Asgard's Finery. Ah, yes, it would make this whole trip here worth it. Her blade was in dire need of an upgrade.

Dungeon Completion: [here]
Trading for: Asgard's Finery (1)

Amber eyes stared longingly at the brilliant stone affixed on her finger. Time went on in the blink of an eye, days seemingly longer despite being so little. A woman once ecstatic and so on cloud nine to focus on much else had finally grounded herself to reality, enough to at least perform the daily grind. Her engagement to Kiluia took a little getting used to, but there was no rush to set a date. She just knew her big day was around the corner, but it was hard to be sure when with all these distractions. She thought once or twice to push the topic with the boss raid impending. God forbid anything happened to separate them. She wouldn't live it down if she had any regrets.

In opportune moment, a chime disrupted her thoughts. A message from a comrade from so long ago. She perked a brow and matched the name to a face. Ah yes, the eccentric brunette she'd accompanied on a fishing trip, half a year ago...? A slight bit of concern and then intrigue followed at the urgency of the message. Why decline with all this time on her hands?

She spared a glance at the cub beside her foot, rolled onto his back on the plush mat. Some unearthly snore escaped him. Guess it would be a trip all by her lonesome. Haine slipped into a comfortable tunic set and brushed her locks into a half-up ponytail. Presentable enough.

Knuckles rapped against the door to Sam's cottage. A moment, and no sign of anything other than a faint giggle and some rustling. She perked a brow and contemplated. "Um, yahoo, Sam?" She tentatively cracked the door ajar and stepped in. Lo and behold, there was a couple, scantily clad, running for cover behind a flipped over sofa. A bright flush crept up the woman's cheeks as she stood there, mouth gaped. "O-Ooh. Please continue. I'll come back another time, y-yeah?" A series of awkward chuckles escaped her lips. She hadn't looked long enough to identify the blonde woman beside Sam. She slipped behind the door and closed it shut, palm placed over her mouth.

The miasma plunged the room into deep darkness, even the light from her pendant snuffed out. Haine clutched the pendant, a crease on her eyebrow in mild annoyance. The others were quick to remedy the situation. Their leader produced a pillar fragment, a beacon of light in the dark. A portion of sight returned, though not by much. The bluenette could feel her vision forcibly disorientated, no doubt a part of the mechanic. As much as she strained, her senses were a slight bit addled. Only a minor setback from the safe distance she stood.

Her duty for now was to aid her party to success, keep their endurance and strength optimal. She withdrew her spear and diverted her attention to the white haired warrior. His numbers plummeted further than she felt comfortable with. "Over here, love!" The woman called out to the man across the room. She made her way over to him and placed her palm on his shoulder. "A token of good luck." Eyelids fluttered shut as she concentrated her energy to her palms. A soft blue light emitted from her fingertips and spread through Kiluia's form. "This should keep your energy up to boot. Go kick some ass!" She slapped his shoulder and stepped aside. 

The cub squeaked and sprung off his hind legs, in an attempt to jump into the girl's arms. An attention seeker as always. One could not resist the shine in his soulless, dark eyes. His chipper attitude wore off any initial intimidation from his sharp claws and razor-like fangs. Mishka had all but forgotten his owner, fixed onto Asmura. The woman spared a chuckle at the sight. Unfortunately, the bluenette discovered he was after the pastry. "Oh you...! You ate breakfast thirty minutes ago!" She waggled her finger. "Tell me if he's buggin' you sweetie."

The guild hall was unusually lively this day, people moving to and fro from the vault. A group must've found something good to chase. She spared a wave to her comrades. "It's going to be a journey, so eat up if you're hungry." Haine recalled the chaos that was her attempt to tame Mishka. The cub, then skittish, ran off at the snap of a twig. Only several days of attempts later did she bag the fellah. She left the grueling part of the mission out of discussion, she wouldn't want to scare Asmura. When the girl would draw, she noticed a familiar theme of something fuzzy.

She fanned her nape. "Phew, it's stuffy in here. Let's get some fresh air." She made way for the exit and held the door open. A pleasant gust of wind brushed against her face. "Ahh, much better." Haine leaned back to crack her back. Right that moment, her stomach grumbled. The woman was one to eat on the go, typically. Without an absolute destination in mind, she would have to wait a bit. "Hold that. Why don't we eat breakfast here before we head out?" She ushered Asmura to the steps and plopped down. 

"A twin sister? Introduce me to her sometime." The woman produces a pack of trail mix and tears the seal. "Want some?" She tips the package and holds a portion to her friends, fur balls included. She listens intently and crunches. "That sounds magical... You're really in love with him, huh?" A playful lilt followed. "Was a shame, that chaos. I was ordering Takoyaki...!" She mock pouted. Before the events of the chaotic riptide, the populace enjoyed a rare moment of peace. No swords nor garb, just good ol' people enjoying time with comrades turned companions. The woman crossed a leg over the other and folded her palms in her lap.

The question shifted to Haine and she paused in thought. "Ah, the usual. I'm glad you called me here, I didn't feel like doing any grinding today." Word of Eruda's mother piqued her concern. Brows furrowed slightly. "If you don't mind me asking, what happened with your mother?" 

"Holy smokes Rai." she gestured towards the strange tar-like substance slithering off her leader's form.  "What was that?!" The raven haired man's outburst weighed heavy at mind. She had never seen him so livid, so fueled with rage. A veil of miasma and some tar-like substance shrouded his form. What sort of parasite was that? A shiver crawled up her spine.  "H-Hang in there. We'll rip him to shreds before any of us can fall!" The battlefield was no place for idle chatter, few words spared as she watched her back. She spared a nod, determination fueled in her eyes. She would aid to the best of her ability.

A series of blades hit Orgoth in a brutal assault, like Armageddon. The minotaur fell to its knees, and from its pitiful state, a shadowy entity manifested. She chortled at the comedic effect of the shadow's tiny form, fists pumping and soles stomping. What a cute little fit-

She swallowed the thought as the room enveloped itself in complete darkness. The sound of clashing blades came to a halt as parties retreated for distance. "Uuuuh..." The heightened vulnerability gave her the creeps. She swiped through her inventory for anything to provide some source of light for comfort. A glowing pendant? She sighed in relief. Not so practical but it was hands off. She fastened it around her neck and the miniscule source of light enabled her to at least distinguish the faces of her party.

She fell into place upon orders. "Yessir's.'" She shot a thumbs up to Raidou and Baldur. Haine produced a bright blue crystal and eyed the effects on her status. Not good. But she could make haste to get rid it. Fragments scattered and the crystal healed a sliver of health for the party.

+90 HP to party 1
+3 EN Regen