Zandra

''Then home we go.'' Zandra and Jomei started walking back to town. This have been a good days work. Made the forest a bit safer. Well, until the queen gonna respawn. But they also got some useful items and a huge bunch of skill point. The sun was going down in the west. Zandra closed her eyes and fell the smooth breeze on her cheeks. ''I think I will get used to this after all.'' She smiled while walking the oath home together with Jomei, her first boss-battle.

''Jomei...'' Zandra just stood there, looking at him. She couldnt believe it. Someone realy wanted to be her firend. She decided to not leve any tears this time. She had to be carefull not ruin this. He placed his hand on her shoulder. She loked at it, looked at Jomei. Then without warning she threw herself at him and hugged him. ''If you promise that, I will promise that we will be alive then. Whatever the cost. ''

''I hoped you was gonna kill it'' Zandra imitated Jomei with a grumpy tone in her voice. The reward-screen poped up.

Congratulations

-<<The Matriarch's Stinger>>

-3 SP

''Well, that was an easy fight. Not a scratch on either of us. Now lrts head back to the town. Or do you wanna stay and slay some of its minions? If you want to stay I can do so too. I will try not to delay your actions.'' she finished with a smile and a wink.

Zandra turned her head a little so she could see Jomei but dont reveal her red face. Thou it slowly turned back to normal. ''Okay Jomei. I havent tell anyone about this before, promise to not laugh.'' she looked at him and it seemed he wouldnt. But she wasnt sure. Well, what did she had to lose. Well thats obvious, a hopefully long friendship with a man she enjoyed spending time with, and it seemed those feelings was answered back.''back in the real world Ive always been a loner. No one had enjoyed my company. I tried to get some friends at the start, but when it didnt worked even when I tried I gave up. Then I found the huge world of MMO's. They was my life. Work 40 hours a week, food, sleep and the rest MMO's. If youve ever herd of the guild 'the shining stars'? Thats mine. Ive started a guild with that name in almost every MMO thats on the market. So to get to the thing, I never had any friends irl, but hundreds digitaly. But on internet you can be whoever you want. I guess many of my 'friends' are actualy a complete other person then what they said they was. This is also a MMO, but its different since we have our real bodies and such. And you seems like a realy good friend. And I dont want to screw up our friendship. Thats makes me nervous sometimes. Now you kind of know my life situation and why Im not normal.'' when she was done she broke their eyecontact and looked at a little piece of dust in the corner.

Name: Sacred shard from western ice-dragon

Your Profession: Alchemist

Your Rank: 3

ID: 18920

Roll: 10

Item Type: Status update crystal

Quality: Uncommon

Enhancements: Damage +1

Description: An ice-blue crystal about 5x7x12 cm

So, Zandra have only one material left. She decided to success today. She closed the shop for a few hours so noone would disturb her. She placed a crystal on the workbench and started to work on it. She took long time to make it perfect. After half an hour she was done. She placed the last flower she had on it. An ice-blue one. She waited, inspecting the crystal from all angels while it changed color. When she thougth it was enough she removed the flower. When she inspected she saw it wasnt as good as the one she did yesterday, but it would increase the power of the one that used it.

ID:18920

CD:10 Uncommon -1 Material 3EXP

Name: Sacred shard from western ice-dragon

Your Profession: Alchemist

Your Rank: 3

ID: 18920

Roll: 10

Item Type: Status update crystal

Quality: Uncommon

Enhancements: Damage +1

Description: An ice-blue crystal about 5x7x12 cm

Zandra quickly pulled back her hands from his. Jomei saw her face beeing tomato-red and eyes wide-open for a second, then she turned her head to the side. Her hair covered her face from the side.''S-sorry, I didnt meant you to think I think that you think that you are bad or something. I think you are realy good and was thinking if you knew I was thinking you was good it would kinda... ehm... cheer you up or something. But I guess thats not neccesary.'' she was hoping he wouldnt take it personaly. Why did she metioned nightcore? It would be better if she said irish. She not like it as much as nightcore, but she did rely like it.

Zandra was walking a big street. There was many NPCs standing outside the inns and taverns. They was selling all kinds of thngs. Like weapon, armor, food and so on. She wondered it would cost to get some new equipment. She walked to a NPC. It was a middle aged man with hair and thick beard."can I help you player?" he had an extremly deep voice. Zandra almst dldnt herd what he said. She herd that he said something, but didnt herd what words

Zandra saw Jomei killing only air when he attacked withhis rapier."oh come you big ugly flying thingie, Im over here." Zandra said to it in an irrotating tone. The qheen reacted faster then she thougth. She got to throw herself out of the way without beeing able to stab it. Hopefully thou she think this was giving Jomei time to recover. Even if he was teasing him, she knew he was the one that hitted hardest of them. "Now take it out, I have faith in you, kill that f******* thingie."

ID:18882

BD:5 Miss

MD:2 Miss LD:6=Zandra

She sat on the chair, tilted her head a little looking at him. She did it for almost a whole minute. She looked more serious now and didnt smiled. Then she leaned forward, grabbing his hand with both hands anf looking deep into his eyes."Im glad you liked it. And Jomei, youre music are realy great. And if you wanna be a oerformer, you must have faith in yourself. And if some people didnt like your music, it dosent matter. They just dont like irish or japanese. Like there is many great rapper out there, but so far Ive never have thrilled when listen to any of them. But tons of nightcore I listen to make me thrill in my whole body andg gets goosebumps (right word?). Your music was great, you understand that?" she still looking at Jomei, havent blinked during her whole speech.

"N-no more of my music for you."

Zandra gripped a tableedge with her right hand and pulled herself up."Sorry."she said to him with tears in her eyes."Im sorry." she started t o calm down. Thou a few 'ha' escaped her mouth from timt to time. "So, what did you think about it? We are in a safe zone so you dont worry about beeing poisioned." Zandra drank the whole cup in one go, not because she was thirsty but to show Jomei he had nothing to fear. She refilled her cup. Pulled out a chair and sat down at a table."Please sit." she had stopped laughing, but not stopped smiling.

The queen, scared by the boys attack, turned to the young woman instead. It aimed its stinger towards Zandra. Then it came flying with full speed. "Yeah, thats more like it. Come at me, BUG!" when the queen was only one meter away from Zandra took a quick side-step and slahed it when it passed her.

ID:18839

BD:8 Hit 3dmg

MD:5 Miss LD:6=Zandra

HP:

Queen: 5/20

Zandra: 29/29

Jomei:32/32

When Zandra had finished she tried to hold back her laughter. But she could only hold it back for a few seconds.''Gwahaha... You should see your face.''

''You realy think I would risk to pision you? Hahaha. And Ive never herd of potions that can remove body-parts. Hehe. Oh, Im sorry.'' she wiped away some tears.''I dont mean to be rude or mean or something.'' she tried to hold back another laughing attack.''I never thougth it would have such a....'' now she couldnt hold it anymore, she fell of the chair and laughed when he stared at her. 

''Oh come on, dont be all cooky because you have better gear. You also need fighting spirit and some guts. No one remembers a coward right? Hahahaha...'' she looked at Jomei while speaking, her dagger, hands and face beeing full of red pixels from the queen.

While Zandra stood there there queen came charging. She didnt saw and before she could react it had passed her by five meters, aiming for Jomei. It took a few moments for her to snap out from her laughing. It was one moment too late to be able to attack the queen, it was already out of her range.

ID:18823

BD:5 Miss 

MD: 4 Miss LD(1-10=Zandra 11-20=Jomei): 20 Jomei

HP:

Queen:14/20

Zandra: 29/29

Jomei: 32/32

Name: Bloodstone crystal

Your Profession: Alchemist

Your Rank: 3

ID: 18816

Roll: 12

Item Type: Status update crystal

Quality: Perfect

Enhancements: Over-health

Description: An ash-black crystal about 5x7x12 cm

Name: Sacred shard from the northern ice-dragon

Your Profession: Alchemist

Your Rank: 3

ID: 18817

Roll: 12

Item Type: Status update crystal

Quality: Perfect

Enhancements: Damage +3

Description: An ice-blue crystal about 5x7x12 cm

Zandra was so excited now when she had a new working space. The area of the workbenche was twice as big as her previous one. Now when she was more experienced she would be able to craft a total of four items. So she placed 2 crystals, 2 flowers, 1 blue muchroom and 1 black flower. She also filled her new pot with water. When she was waiting for the water to boil she started working with the crystals. She worked at them with her steel nail and hammer. When they was perfect size she putted them to the side to make the red flowers to powder and pour it in the now boiling water. When waiting for the brew to be done she placed the other flowers one on each crystals. She conscentrated on the color of the crystals. She removed the blue one first when the crystal was iceblue. Just a minute after she removed the black flower when the other crystal was ash-black. It also did sparkle. She was so concentrated on the crystals so she completly forgot the potions. They got way overcooked and went straight into the garbage. But when she inspected the crystals closer she saw that they was perfect! This she was gonna earn alot of money on.

ID:18814

CD:2 Fail -1 Material 1EXP

ID:18815

CD:7 Good item -1 Material 2EXP

ID:18816

CD:12 Perfect item -1 Material 8EXP

ID:18817

CD:12 Perfect item -1 Material 8EXP

Name: Bloodstone crystal

Your Profession: Alchemist

Your Rank: 3

ID: 18816

Roll: 12

Item Type: Status update crystal

Quality: Perfect

Enhancements: Over-health

Description: An ash-black crystal about 5x7x12 cm

Name: Sacred shard from the northern ice-dragon

Your Profession: Alchemist

Your Rank: 3

ID: 18817

Roll: 12

Item Type: Status update crystal

Quality: Perfect

Enhancements: Damage +3

Description: An ice-blue crystal about 5x7x12 cm

Name: Minor HP Recovery Crystal

Your Profession: Alchemist

Your Rank: 2

ID: 18659

Roll: 10

Item Type: Crystal

Quality: Uncommon

Enhancements: HP Recovery +5HP

Description: A strawberryred-coloured crystal about 4x6x10cm

-So, now its time to move. I realy was lucky I got that cart at floor two for free. Well, not free but just in exchange for this one.’’she looked at her own little cart.’’So, here I have brewed three potions while spending like twenty materials. Not a good success to fail ratio. Hopefully it will works better when having a bigger cart. I realy like these new tools I gonna get also.’’she putted down her iron pot, tripod, nail and hammer in a box under the workbench. She closed the box and putted the other ones in another one, the mortar in a third. People passing her lab wsa throwing strange looks at the woman standing there talking to herself. But they didn’t have anything to do with it so they just walked by and didn’t thougth about it.’’Well then, time to leave you. I would lie if I say Im not gonna miss you, you have been a trusty servent.’’She hugged the cart and then walked away towards the warp-gate, not looking back a single time.

‘’Urbus!‘’ she walked out of the warp and looked around. Didn’t was as crowded as floor 1, but she guessed this would work. She went to the floor 2 market where she was gonna meet the seller.’’Hi mister, Im Zandra.’’she said to a man standing beside a huge cart that she guessed was the seller.’’Oh Zandra, so you are the one that wanted to exchange carts.’’ ''Yes its me. This one looks pretty big. Its perfect now when Im getting better at the art of alchemy.’’she says while walking around the cart and inspecting it from every angle.’’Yes it is. Thou I make to weak potions, no one here wants to buy them.’’ Zandra thanked for the cart and saw the man leaving.’’Im so excited to start.’’Zandra said and started to experiment.

Today Zandra had a good feeling. Today she was gonna do an awesome crystal, no, she will do three awesome crystals. She was so eager to start that she dropped the first crystal and it shattered on the ground. She scratched herself on the cheek and took a deep breath of irritation.

She didnt started with the other two until she had calmed down. This time it went better. She chopped both of them to right size. Then she putted one flower on each. After awhile she removed the flowers. When she inspected them she saw she didnt calmed down enough. The flowers should have been on the crystals for longer time.

ID:18658

CD:5 Bad item,

-1 Material 1EXP

LD:2+1=3 No salvage

ID:18659

CD:10 Uncommon item,

-1 Material 3EXP

RANK UP!

ID:18660

CD:3 Fail

-1 Material 1EXP

Name: Minor HP Recovery

You proffession: Alchemist

Your Rank:2

ID:18659

Roll:10

Type: Crystal

Quality: Uncommon

Enhancement: HP Recovery +5HP

Drscription: A strawberry-red crystal

When Jomei jumped back to her and asked her what she was saying she didnt answered, she just sticked out her tounge at him. ''Jusr shut u...'' she couldnt finish her sentence before the queen attacked them again. She saw the queen aiming for Jomei this time, She jumped forth to try to stop it but got pushed to the side. She didnt stopped it, but she cutted up a huge wound on its side. She saw it health bar dropping again. ''There, continue doing your thing and this thing will be down so can get home for dinner.'' Queen down to less then half its starting helth, and not Jomei or Zandra had even got an scratch. This fight went much better then she thougth.

ID:18616

BD:10 Crit 3+2=5dmg

MD:4 Fail

HP:

Queen:14/20

Zandra: 29/29

Jomei: 32/32

''Wow, your a gymnast? Its not everyone that can do that with confident.'' she said when he climbed up instead of taking the stairs.''Thank you.'' Zandra took the cup, then turned around.''Its done now'' she took the glass bottle and poured up a quarter of it in each cup.''Take sip, or several if you dare. Since Im not very experienced at alchemy and dont have very great tools I cant promise its not poision. I also cant guarantee that you will have all your body parts left.'' she gave him a wink.''Nah, its just strawberry-juice. I found out the recipie when I tried to make a healthpotion. I hope you like it. But as I said before, I cant guarantee your safty if you decide to drink it.'' she took a sip and waited for him to do the same.

Zandra almost paniced when she saw two big trees was bending to the sides and the queen appeared in front of them. Her eyes wideopen and her whole body shoke. No, she must snap out of it. Must protect Jomei, well she also have to fight to not die herself. She steeled herself, prepeaaring on what the newly arrinving threat would do.

The wasp leant backward and charged the two player with its sting first. It aimed for Zandra, but luckily for her she dodged to the side in the last moment. Instead of beeing stung she succesfully gathered courage and made a quick double slice on its body,''no, come on. Again Zandra.'' she said to herself and inflicted a third slice. It looked liked a red star on the queens body.''Haha, your not so cooky now are you!?'' Zandra laughed fanatically.''Go Jomei, this f****** bug is no match for us.'' she jumped back to give room for Jomei.

ID:18611

BD:10 Crit 3+2=5 dmg

MD: 4 Miss

HP:

Queen: 25/30

Zandra: 29/29

Jomei: 32/32

''What Im making gonna be a surprise.''

*Jomei plucking at his lute*

''Oh, you can play japanese as well? Isnt that a special combination, Irish and Japanese?'' she said when he was done.''Perfect timing as well. My brew is finish.''She walked to the table and blew out the light. Poured the liquid in a glass bottle she took out from her inventory. When the bottle was full and the pot empty she held the bottle in her right hand, covered the opening with her thumb and shaked it frenetically. When done she placed it on the table.''Just have too cool of for five minutes. Do you have any cups or something?''

''Oh my, a sandshark, on floor 5.'' she got impressed by the man.''And an ice giant? You are a realy veteran it sounds like.'' Zandra remembered her own fight, when she lost more then half her health against small easy mobs. Well, nothing to do now. Only thing she could do from now on is to do her best. Specialy now when another players life can depend on it. This man was realy something else, he agreed to accompany her as soon as she asked. She cant let him die. Then there was a huge sound like three-hundred meters away. She stopped and draw her dagger.''What the heck was that Jomei?''

Zandra sat on a chair, stunned to hear Irish music here, in SAO. ''I realy like irish music. Its, so... how shall I explain it... kind of relaxing. I could acyually listen to it several hours in a row'' I was gonna give you some Col like they to to those that perform on the street. But I have a better idea.'' she cleared on of the tables, placed a small ironplate, about 6'' diameter. On it she placed a iron tripod with a pot on. Under the pot she lit a candle. She poured some water in it. While she waited for it to boil up she took a red flower from one of Jomei's vases on the table next to the one she was working on. With a mortar she turned the flower into powder. She was 100% consentrated on what she did while she was working, while music probably was Jomei's passion, this was hers. Her hands almost danced across the table forth and back. The powder into the pot. When all powder was in the pot she took a deep breath.''There, now we just have to wait 30minutes. Could you play another song while we wait?'' she walked to one of the couches and half-laid there. Looking at Jomei with a red and exhausted but still happy face. She havent threwed togheter a brew this fast before. She just hoped she didnt screw this one up.