Cyrus

As they continued to talk Cyrus had his own game to play. It was less of an actual game for him though. This was him feeling Airi out. Everything she said, did, and reacted to was analyzed more or less. Playing MMO's before he knew the cautions that needed to be taken when meeting a new player. You had to be friendly but not too friendly. It was better to suspect everyone you first meet and be wrong than to hope for mercy later because of misplaced trust. Despite her smiles and general nice personality he wouldn't be swayed just off their first few minutes of conversation. She had his attention for now though only because she seemed like a fighter. 

And so their dance of wits continued. They would be feeling each other out and testing each other to see if they could benefit from further association. Cyrus wasn't ashamed to admit that he was going to be using her to some degree if she proved useful. Right now everyone would be leaning on each other to further their own goals. It just depended on how each individual reevaluated their associates once they didn't need as much help. Frankly even if Cyrus was one to form bonds with those he played with long term. As long as there was respect and some degree of loyalty he wouldn't discard anyone like a tool. However there was another side of that coin for those that chose to wake up that side of him. "Not everyone hear is able to handle the pressure. Just because they are in the game doesn't mean they were ever good at it or wanted to play it for more than the scenery. And even if they were there's now the psychological aspect to it since this is all so real now. But that's neither here nor there. It just makes one curious where you stand." His eyes met with Airi making an emphasis that he was talking about her specifically.

That probably made the conversation awkwardly intense so he just gave her a genuine smile and attempted to save her from it. A change in the subject.  "It's quite odd not to call yourself by your real name right? It's fine. You chose a beautiful name you might get used to it." He was still smiling. But he nodded to her recognizing her warm introduction. She was a very social person and he was as well. She knew how to navigate a conversation. "I am Cyrus. What's keeping you in the Town of Beginnings Airi?" A little more effort into their conversation to make it easier on her and engaging. He didn't exactly say that Cyrus was his real name either. Perhaps she would learn that fact later if she stuck around long enough. 

Cyrus nodded his head acknowledging her own benefit for just accompanying him. It was a win-win situation regardless and there would probably be a time or two when he would need to assist her as well. So taking this opportunity he walked a little faster to walk along side of his new ally. "I think I have an idea or two of where to start. I've been keeping an eye on the other players that were able to acquire the katana and their destinations. If you're tagging along follow me." Making a turn down one of the many streets he followed the mental map drawn in his mind. After staying so long in the town he had a general idea of where everything was and where to go. On his first day it was like being trapped in a maze after running into a few dead ends. He was never really lost though. Cyrus had a great sense of direction so it was easy to get back to where he came from. It just took a little bit of time and exploring to get where he wanted. If his ambitions weren't so great he probably could have gotten away with being a guide for the floors of the tower. But that wasn't something he could see himself content with. Surely a guide would have been able to rake in some good coin. But there wasn't enough action in that. Nor was it a truly satisfying purpose for anyone stuck in this world for however much longer. It would grow tiring and bitter in the end.

"You mentioned gathering gear though. I know I have my sights set already. But did you have anything you had your eye on? Perhaps we can knock out two birds with one stone. The more time we can save completing multiple tasks at the same time. The faster we can get off the first floor. I don't know about you but staying here with the zombies isn't going to be fun too much longer."

@Kisodeth

Now that business had concluded there was a chance for them to go out and get some stuff done. However there were quite a few things that needed to get done. "Normally I would have gone out into the field and do some gathering maybe a little fighting. But I guess we can stay away from that if you're not ready. We could either start hunting down our profession quests. Or if you want to tag along we could figure out how I can pick up my katana skill. I'd rather have that from the start and get used to using it. But that's only if you feel like joining me. I could always go find it on my own when I have some time." Cyrus did follow her out the door. Paying the kid no mind since he looked like another one of the zombie players. Cyrus was more than anxious really. He was still in the town of beginnings. The fact that he was not leveled up already was getting to him Maybe not today but soon he would start gathering up some experience so that he could finally get beyond level one. Waking up then past few days to see that shabby looking one on his HUD made him grimace. 

The young gamer ran a hand through his white hair looking around for any other ideas. There wasn't much to do in the town, In his eyes it was kind of plain and not worth staying for very long. "I've already checked out some hunting spots in the field and I have a pretty good idea of where to start off. A few boar spots as well as some wolves. While they might not yield much individually. If we play our cards right we could comb the area a few times and increase our yield. And if our professions can be picked up we can kill two birds with one stone. Better gear is going to cost us some at least at first. It will probably take me a while to get my skills up to par. Did you have other ideas?" Since this was a partnership he tried not to drag her along everywhere he wanted to go and do what he wanted to do. However he did want to let his must immediate agenda be known. 

The way she looked at him as he sized her up wasn't exactly happy. Granted he wasn't ogling her like a frat boy it was still probably a little rude. He didn't think she would be that conscious about someone looking at her. If anything it was a more innocent glance than an attempt to 'see what she was working with'. "I'm not trying to look at anyTHING. I just observe everything. It was a joke lost on you. We'll have to work on your humor. I'm very aware that this is a business relationship. There's too much going on to add more things to worry about." Despite what he said Cyrus was the type of person to protect those that he claimed as his own. And in a way Kisodeth sort of made the cut. She would become his other set of eyes on the battlefield and the blade to protect his weak spots. While emotionally she didn't really have a place there was enough respect to at least keep her alive. As she accepted his friend request he went through a few other things. While he had the tab open it was probably best to clear everyone else out. Anyone he met previously had become irrelevant. While he trusted them back when this was just a game he didn't trust them with his life. Kisodeth still needed him as did he. So for the time being she was the only friend he had technically. 

She went on to explain her plans for her profession and he just nodded along not finding anything wrong with her reasoning. They would be needing an alchemist badly if it was just the two of them for a while. When she brought up the tailor he thought about it for a moment before passing. Speed is where he wanted to focus but he needed some mild level protection if he was going to be diving into danger. With only two people in his party he needed to be able to pull his own weight. Plus they needed to be able to forge their own weapons to save on spending. But also to be able to possibly turn a profit later. Blacksmithing was all part of his grand plan. "A Blacksmith and an Alchemist travelling together would make them very well equipped. I'm sure we could always distribute our extra product also." The way he said it almost made it seem like they were starting a Cartel. 

And then it was time to make the conversation weird again. It was better to get it all out now than to face it later after opinions had been formed. "I think we should spend the bare minimum on living expenses. They are more luxuries and slight protection more than anything. If this Inn is on the lower end of things then I have no problem moving here. I didn't spend too much time doing research on Inns. Didn't think I would be here long. But from what I saw the Inn I'm staying in was on the lower end of the scale also." Their lack of an organic friendship kept him from saying any jokes he had about their living situation. As Kisodeth looked away his mind wandered for a moment also. Checking the amount of daylight left he figured there was still enough time left in the day to go out and make a little progress. There wasn't much combat done in the last few days for him. On one hand he wanted to see if he could hunt down a katana first. On the other he was tired of waiting. He could always search for his new sword as he continued his grinding. Hopefully it wouldn't be too difficult. "Is there anything else we need to discuss?" His eyes returned to the woman.

@Kisodeth

It was very possible if they worked well together that they could clear through mobs and floors easily. However he wasn't trying to get too excited yet. It all sounded good now but there was no telling what could happen when it was time to put all this talking into action. Her comment about not letting the mobs rape him made him laugh. "Thank you. I would rather not be raped by a slime. That wouldn't be something I could just mentally walk away from." So she was able to joke and let down her cold exterior. That was interesting. It was something he would have to look into at a later date. "That would work though. I mean I'm sure I can handle myself for now. But when he fighter harder enemies two on one it might require more bait and switch. For now she would suffice as a make shift tank whenever they needed it. However it would probably be within their best interest to find one eventually. That would require a delicate touch seeing as Kiso didn't like to play well with others so easily. 

Professions were next. The expression on Cyrus' face took on a more thoughtful appearance. "I haven't given professions too much thought. I would probably say I might take on blacksmithing but you never know. It's what I did in previous games when I ran or was part of a clan. I like to have access to high end equipment without the wait. And I'm able to make sure it gets done right. But I want to hear you out also and know just what you were interested in taking on. 

Cyrus could feel the atmosphere shift and her tone change some as she stepped into some weird territory. However this didn't bother him too much so she didn't have to fret too much. Her hesitation did make him chuckle though. Never would have taken her as one to hesitate on these sorts of things. They were both grown as far as he could tell. "I'm doing alright for now. I've been pretty good with my budgeting so far. Cutting out things that I don't need. If I can get away with using old equipment for a while it's better than buying a whole new set every time you level up. Basic MMO strategies and such." Her suggest on them becoming roommates didn't shock him too much. It was a logical decision for now. When they were kicking ass and taking name making a lot of col then they could see about being frivolous in their spending. He was just glad it was her suggestion instead of his own. It wasn't going to bother him. And it probably didn't bother her seeing as she would have no problem dishing out some pain if things got weird. "But yeah I understand your point. I'm sure everything will work out fine. We both know where we want to go and the priorities to get there. As long as you don't get clingy on me." He teased her. Although he did take the chance to actually look her over. She was actually fairly cute. It wouldn't have been completely bad just weird. However his goals were focused on survival more than anything else.

"I guess that means we should add each other to our friends list." Getting bold he already brought up his menu and sent of the request before she could even respond. They were partners now. Hesitation would get each other hurt or worse. 

Cyrus was looking into the window of the shop for a while longer but he was aware of the woman next to him. It was impossible to actually be 'attacked' in safe zones. So there really was no need for him to be on edge. His stance was relaxed and calm but alert. It was easy to keep tabs on her out of his peripheral. After he had responded he wasn't expecting to receive a response. This was only the second person that he was actually engaging a real conversation with. Normally he would just give some simple small talk and the depressed fools would go on about their unfair life. That's where he usually tuned them out or walk away. Normally he didn't come off cold-hearted but enough whining would make anyone annoyed. So when an actual conversation came about he actually took some interest. In this game an actual conversation brought about interesting things. It was a simple conversation that brought about his first ally. Where would this conversation take him? 

As the younger woman spoke, it was hard to tell just how old she was, he listened. Her voice was soft and light. She was coming off friendly as far as he could tell so she was given some of his attention. Turning away from the shop now trying not to be rude he nodded letting her speak. Growing up in New York developed cynicism and awareness. She at least seemed like a sweet girl so she was given the benefit of the doubt for now. Her interest in him leaving the city put him on edge for a moment however you would never tell by his outward appearance. Internally he was now paying attention. It didn't necessarily mean she was a threat but it was possible she would try to hang on to him to keep herself safe. Which was a smart play by her if she wasn't strong enough to fight on her own. If that was the case he at least respected her more than the mindless zombies still lurking in the city. "It's not too bad. I'm used to playing these sorts of games. So it's not very different to me. Instead I feel comfortable. Maybe even more in tune with the game now that it's become dangerous. If you know what you're doing it's pretty easy to avoid danger on this floor."

Years of gaming experience gave him insight to a few things. While SAO was vastly different from other games it was still similar in some area. There's only so much you can do with coding. It's very draining to put particular detail into every single thing in the game. So there were patterns to watch for things to listen for. Breaking away from his thoughts for a moment he took a second to study the girl in front of him now that he was really looking. His eyes ran over her briefly taking in a few details. Her red hair and intense eyes were interesting traits for her. She could probably bring men to there knees with just a smile. Was that something she knew herself though?

A deal among equal was struck. Cyrus imagined previously that he would have solo'd the game until he was pretty strong. At that point his strength would have drawn other players to follow him. It wasn't exactly ideal but it would have been on his term and he would be able to control just who he would be letting into his party. But with the meeting of Kiso it threw his strategy for a loop. Granted this wasn't a terrible thing but so much was changing so fast at a simple hand shake. If they both agreed to truly look out for each other that meant he would have to think about someone else just as much as himself. Normal loot that he would have trashed would be given to someone else for a look. The terms of their agreement was still a little fuzzy. Overall he was sure that they would be climbing the floors at the same time. And possibly taking on the same missions. But the day to day operations were fuzzy. 

However the pieces fell he acknowledged that she was smart, logical, and strong mentally. When her name was provided he couldn't help but smirk a little. The name was a pun and kinda cool. Personally he just used his own name since it was available. His name alone was a strong name that usually got some props from other players. "It's nice to meet you Kisodeth. I'm Cyrus."  Her logic on their rewards was fair and he was sure that it would work out in the long run. If he took her meaning clearly it would work out. His play style was probably different from her own. More than likely they would never have to clash on one piece of equipment. It would either favor one or the other. To Cyrus he could live with dispersing equipment logically. "I would have to agree with the loot. That's usually how I play with others." 

As she continued Cyrus listened carefully. Apparently she had quite a few ideas already and that worked out in his favor. Her thinking and ideals were in line with his own pretty much all the way. Most of what she had already said was his game plan if he ever did form a duo with someone. It was nice not to have to be the only one constructing a logical plan. However just because he was quiet and agreeing now didn't mean he didn't have plans of his own. If he ever thought anything she said was wrong he would speak up. "When I did my research this past week I did find out a few spots that did look promising. The boars aren't good for anything more than practice for new players in my opinion. We should probably try two or three together so we can study each other. We'll need to practice our team work to come in handy later. As for the quests I've already did one it was a beginner quest. Something simple gathering and crafting. I believe it has a few more connected to it that I didn't finish." Listening to her Cyrus was a little stunned when she said that she was a newbie. The way she spoke was like a veteran. At least someone that had played one or two MMO's and been in a clan or party. She was naturally good at planning this would work out for both of them.

"I'm going to be honest with you again. I'm a DPS. A person how takes on dealing damage on the battlefield. I usually design my characters for High attack, high speed, high energy reserves, and passive healing if I can get it. And I'm gonna be doing  the same again with this game. I have a one handed curved sword currently. I've already invested some points into it. But I'll be searching for a katana some time soon. From the information I've gathered it should fit me. Soooooo I may need some cover every once in a while. I'm saying thank you up front now. But I'll be sure to take down our enemies swiftly." It had been a while since he was able to get excited about a game. Granted he was kind of happy he was trapped in SAO. The risk of death really put him in a position to have to think logically before just 'having fun'. However the way they were speaking and planning reminded him of why he loved games in the first place. And with Kiso he would hopefully be able to take some of the edge off of the game. However it would take some time to fully trust her with his life. And he suspected the same went for him.

Now that he was more than half way done with the first part the anticipation was gnawing at him. All he had to do was find two more quest materials and he could be on his way. Searching and gathering was getting rather boring for him. Action is where he thrived. The man was half tempted to approach a nearby mob down the shore and attack it. But he knew from the beginning that he would need the self restraint to just follow along with these type of easy quests at first. He could then spend his point on his skills. When he was finally ready to fight he would be a threat to these level 1 monsters rather than a chew toy. The search continued and he knew he could find more material against the pale colors of the shore easily. And once again success found him with his type of thinking. This was not the first game he played years of experience was helping him now. 

ID# 80319 results:

Loot: 13

The counter argument had been laid out perfect enough and he saw the wheels turning in her head. Something was clicking with what he said. Their encounter was an odd possibly one that was meant to happen. Despite her cold exterior and he ability to scare away other Cyrus never backed down. Her personality wasn't something he couldn't deal with. For the most part she was a logical person and that was one of the more valuable things in their world at the moment. Morals were a more grey area to deal with on a case to case basis. She didn't seem particularly psychotic so that was enough for the moment. Originally he was just having a small debate with her seeing her words as something worth responding to. What he wasn't expecting was for an alliance to come out of this. She seemed more stubborn but maybe that was a opinionated judgement on his part. But she could be reasoned with. This was priceless to find so early on. They were like minded enough that a bare minimum alliance at first would be secure. 

"A partnership eh? You didn't really seem like the type to play nice with others." He gestured to the surrounding tavern with a chuckle. Leave it up to him to be able to calm down such an intense situation. "I can be honest with you also. I am not one to empathize easily. You are either strong or weak in my eyes. Right now we have no room to be teaming up with those who will only slow us down. I am passionate about what I believe in. However I can give respect where it is earned. I would have to agree that we probably would click on and off the battlefield enough to benefit each other." Cyrus had been paying attention to the woman the entire time. Her body language spoke volumes. Granted this could all be a facade he highly doubted it. If he was any good at judging people he was making the right call here. 

"I think I might be able to trust you enough in a fight. Or rather I can trust you enough to at least run a few trials. I'm sure you know what you're doing out there but I want to know if our fighting styles compliment or clash. If everything goes well I would say that we might have something solid here. Having two sets of eyes, ears, and arms is way better than one. I'm sure we could help each other get rather far." Leaning forward he took her hand giving it a firm shake. This was not done as a challenge of her strength. It was a firm shake acknowledging her as an equal. It was quite the assumption at the moment but he had a good feeling about Kiso. It would make both of their lives a lot easier if they were both serious about what they wanted.

There were plenty of depressed players lurking around. Their faces and weeping would probably bring down a normal person's mood. However Cyrus held no sympathy for them. He was never one to easily be empathetic to others and their troubles. Nor did he ever try to feign like he cared. Only those closest to him or those that earned his respect received that courtesy. These broken players were just taking up space and wasting loot. Some just never tried to fight the game and whined all the time. The others tried and probably danced with death breaking their resolve. Those that died because they weren't prepared mentally were no longer there for obvious reasons. Anyway you put it there were no soothing words coming from him. These were the people that gave up without truly trying. Honestly he respected those that died fighting against low level mobs than those just laying around weeping on the streets. Staying in the town of beginnings for as long as he did made him rather immune to what was happening nearby.  

Window shopping wasn't something that Cyrus did often. Most of the time he knew exactly what he was gonna get as soon as he walked into a store. That went for the real world as much as the virtual one. However he was now being forced to do so since he didn't have much in the way of currency. The former gamer wasn't exactly broke but he knew how to budget coming from an upper middle class family. Instead of wasting his money on clothes for now he would focus on his room and board as well as his equipment. If he focused on his task when he was strong enough he could indulge.

Just as he was about leave the window of the store and be on his way to the gate footsteps caught his attention. Surely in a market area such as this footsteps would have been a common sound. However this wasn't a common shopping area. There also weren't as many people running around the town as day one. The heroes moved on to the front lines. Those still in despair moved slowly usually dragging their feet. No, these steps were determined and growing closer. Breaking his gaze from the window he acknowledged the arrival of the woman with a nod before they turned back to the shop. "Oh? I've never really had the chance to and look around here. I usually take the main road out of the city limits." It was usually a shocker to most still left in this town when he said that. However she didn't seem like the other poor soul lost in self pity. That alone kept him interested rather than resorting to small talk and finding a way to disappear. 

It apparently wasn't going to be that easy to just stumble upon some loot. So now he was actively searching the grass just as he came upon the bank of a lake. It was calming to just be out near the water. That is until he remembered the circumstances of why he was there. Walking along the bank the sandy shore made it easier for him to spot things. The water was clear also but he started along the bank and walked along it searching for any of the materials. Checking his HUD briefly he confirmed that he was still within the search area where the quest material could be found. For a moment he was almost sure he walked out of bounds without even realizing it. The recon he did of the area proved to be worth since he didn't have to keep checking his HUD to make sure he was still following the quest. He almost walked right past the material for a moment. If he wasn't paying attention he would have missed the shining material symbolizing quest material.

ID# 80290 results:

Loot: 11

For now Cyrus was sticking to keeping his distance. It seemed like if he kept enough distance from them then he was more or less safe. The only thing was that the mobs never stayed in one place. They would often move to mimic actual animals. So the young hero stayed alert keeping track of the smallest of movements as he moved into taller grass. There was a slight rustle in the grass and it made him pause until he realized it was just the grass moving in the wind. With a sigh of relief he continued deeper into the grass slowly. As he moved his shoulders and legs brushed against the grass moving things around. His eyes were alert to keep an eye out for any loot that he might pass over by coincidence. There was the faint sound of splashing that alerted Cyrus to the presence of water.

ID# 80281 results:

Loot: 1

This strategy seemed to be working. Either that or he was just really lucky. He hoped it was the former of the two. Luck would run out eventually. Turning away from the tree his eyes scanned the horizon trying to study the lay of the land. There were some lush darker green heading in the southeast direction and so he would follow his instincts. It was very possible that the coding in this game wasn't that specific and that grass was just generated randomly in different shades of green. However following a theory was a lot better than a guess and check method. And so he started a small walk from the tree further towards the southeast. There were more mobs in this direction also seeing as it led further away from the town. This would mean that things would be getting increasingly dangerous if he continued down this path.

The search around the base of the tree continued for a moment as there was a lot more grass. All of this vegetation could only mean that there was a steady source of water some where close by. That would be his the next thing Cyrus looked for. He was quite interested in seeing some of the local fauna. There were wolves and boar so far from what he could tell. There would obviously be some fish since fishing was a skill you could acquire. The way the game was built he was quite sure that if he would a body of water it would be interactive. He probably wasn't going for a swim today but it would be nice to know where he needed to go if he did want to check out the water. His searching came to an end when he found another quest material in the grass.

ID# 80271 results:

Loot: 20

Cyrus was half tempted to do a solo celebration for his small victory but he had to successfully repeat this process fourth more times. Rather he would save the celebrating for when he was finished with the quest and got the real rewards. The quest materials were meaningless outside of this job so there was no need to get too happy. Instead of looking in the same area he decided to put some distance between himself and the grass he just scouted. He wasn't exactly sure how the loot rules worked for the game yet. So there was the possibility that the chances of him finding material in the same place twice was lower. Instead of wasting his time to test out that theory he found a moderately sized tree and began checking around it's base for additional materials. Patience would be the key to his success. Rushing would be his downfall.

There was a plus side to his gathering however. He was able to explore the immediate area of the town and possibly scout some spots to return later when he was finally ready to swing his sword around. A curved sword was never really too appealing to his style. But there was the rumor that a katana could be acquired later. That source of information was fairly reliable and he had see one in a shop. So gaining one was among his short term goals right along with clearing the first level. Breaking his train of thought his attention was returned to searching for the materials requested of him. When searching to local area didn't cut it he attempted to comb through the local flora instead hoping that it would yield better results. With some patience his searching began to yield results. While looking through a nearby tuft of grass he found one. 

ID# 80269 results:

Loot: 13

This was the first quest Cyrus had ever done since coming to SAO. The young man decided to do some investigating in the area first before taking on the mobs of the world. This investigation led him to his first quest. Some old looking NPC was giving out a fairly easy gathering and crafting quest. Ideally this wasn't his preference when starting out a new game. But the fact that he could die in this world made him reasonable and cautious. So he decided to take on this simple task choosing to use this method first to level up before testing his battle prowess against the floor one mobs. It would be a tragic end to fall to a simple blob all because he wasn't ready. And so Cyrus found himself outside of the town of beginnings searching for materials. This would be a fairly boring task but he would try to make the most of it. 

Cyrus couldn't help but chuckle for a moment listening to her reasoning. She wasn't exactly wrong in here thinking. There were a lot of valid points however he had a counter argument. Cyrus by no means was a golden boy do gooder knight type of guy. Those were usually the ones to die first in the real world. And SAO would be no different. However in his eyes those that lacked the barest minimum of ambition or drive would just be miserable and alive. Neither one of those options appealed to him. Sitting back in his chair the young man took a moment to gather his thought. His stunning silver eyes looked concentrated for a moment as he stared off. And apparently things came together for him because they quickly returned to Kisodeth. "You're not exactly wrong. However strength and survival is a term that's always changing especially in a game like this. Surviving today might just mean not dying against a super weak mob. But who knows what that will mean tomorrow. Right now everyone has about equal strength and so anyone can do whatever they want."

He checked to see if Kisodeth was following him. There weren't any accusations being thrown around. And he kept his speech vague to avoid an unnecessary argument. It was very likely to come to fists. "The first rule of survival is that the strong rule the weak. If you're strong enough to handle yourself you're less likely to be taken advantage of and now less likely to be killed. I'm sure you're very aware that other players have the ability to kill one another. And unless you plan on staying inside the city your entire time here which would be impossible there's always the possibility to die. So it's most logical to keep up with the leveling of players. If you fall 20 level behind the average level of players you're an easy target. Hell, if you're at average level you're still an easy target for those above average."

The conversation had ignited a bit of passion to his words. It was the first conversation with someone that had real substance to it. So far Cyrus had been keeping to small talk. While he was a very social person the people he came across were usually just weaker self pitying players. They weren't people he really had a reason to talk to. "So to ensure you're survival and your life it's better to at least be right behind the front lines no? Most people in this game will do anything on a whim. 'You bought that rare sword I was gonna buy. So now I'm gonna kill you.' That  This world has no laws. Anyone can commit any inhumane act without consequences. Strength is the only law now. It's a double edged sword really. Because by climbing higher you have to play smarter. But rather than being at the mercy of someone else you're able to control you're own fate. And you don't look like the type of person to let someone else decide your life for you."

Wrapping up his counter argument he somehow felt reassured by his own words. Saying them out loud just reaffirmed his own beliefs. The guy that created SAO had no intentions of making it easy for trapped players to just sit around indefinitely. The conquerors and explorers of this game would always have the advantage. The words he just spoke were part of his reason for climbing he refused to die by the hand of some nerd with social issue. Someone who used to be bullied so now they kill players to feel strong. That would not be the end to his life. "My goals do not lie primarily on the front lines. Perhaps for the first few levels. It will be easier to group up with other players to take down bosses and catch some loot. It will keep me alive. I have my own plans. I've never been a good follower. So I will find my own way of living in this tower. I'm sure I will come across those like minded individuals that aren't foolish enough to run to their deaths but strong enough to not die a simple death. Until then it's better to fly solo and have some associates than to group up and die or be truly alone and die." He wasn't hard pressed to change her opinion of him but he need to correct what was false. She probably viewed him as another mindless hero attempting to be viewed as the 'Chosen One'. It was a fantasy. While fame, power, respect, and riches held some great importance to him he had no intentions of becoming said chosen one. 

The harsh climbing of the the tower had begun a few days ago. It was only about a week or so since coming to this new world. Cyrus was starting late but not out of laziness or even fear but rather intelligence. He spent the first few days learning the systems of the new world. Now that he knew how they worked he could focus on grinding to catch up to everyone else that started on day one. Of course he realized that this put him at a disadvantage but knowledge was priceless and would aid him in the long run. It was early in the afternoon and Cyrus was leaving his inn which was closer to the center of the town. His destination was the fields that surrounded the starting city. There was a nice farming area he picked up. A place by a nice stream where mobs were more bunched up than other areas. On the front end of the stream there were barely any mobs around a nice area to have a picnic or something. However on the other side of the stream the further you got away from the stream and the Town of beginning the mobs increased. Originally when he found the spot he chose not to venture on the other side. Rather he just took the widely scattered mobs. Now it was time to put in some real effort. 

As Cyrus walked away from his Inn he chose the more scenic route taking note of a few familiar faces that hung around the area. He chose to walk along the store keeping an eye on a few items that caught his attention. There was so much anticipation brewing in him. The path that he drew for himself was almost crystal clear he just had to put in the work to get there. Stopping for a moment he took the chance to browse a store that had clothes and accessories. His outfit was pretty good for a newbie so he wasn't too shabby but maybe he could add a few things in the next day or so. It would be better to have a few sets of clothes that he could change into. It would at least make his day to day life seem a little more normal.

@Airi

Former Weapon Skill:  One-Handed Straight Sword
Former Weapon Rank: 2

New Weapon Skill:  One-Handed Curved Sword
New Weapon Rank: 2

Cyrus never looked away for a moment when her fierce eyes intensified their gaze. It was right then that he knew how interesting their conversation was going to be. If he didn't speak it was possible that they would have just gone their separate ways. It's funny how a few words and a look could open up a conversation with a stranger. It was all in how you handled each situation. Long dark hair it moved rather realistically. It was one of a few of her traits that he took notice of. Her threat fell on deaf ears as he continued to look. There was not even a hint of a flinch. Despite not doing too much in the way of hunting down loot he was still a good match for a fellow newbie. There was no reason to fear her but there were reasons to respect her. And so he would at least show a little respect despite her reckless mouth. 

It was no surprise that she finally got up when Cyrus refused to break his look in her direction. She wasn't just a talker she was also about her actions as well. Very good. There were so many players that could talk a good game but do less. Usually the ones that spoke less were able to back up the few words they spoke.  Even if the woman in front of him was making a show of trying to assert her dominance. It was too bad that Cyrus had his own alpha like personality and would not submit to it. "I don't have much to say to you really just observing for now. You can keep the inn I have no interest in it." The way he spoke held confidence. Like if he really wanted the inn he would just take it from her anyways. A hidden challenge to her self claimed authority. "But yes, I do have a pair on me. I have come to terms with our new reality. I used to play video games before. I've already learned the basics of how things work. And honestly I don't see the point in losing yourself to fear. If there are those that fear dying in this world then they should stay out of the way and let everyone else do our thing." Caught off guard by his own words he paused for a moment. This was how he really felt he just never said it out loud before. Honestly being trapped in a game was every gamer's dream. Speaking again there was less passion and ferocity in his tone but rather calm and collected. "I'm only still here because I was collecting information. Now that I'm done investigating I have full plans on joining the front lines you can bet on that."

Despite his comfort with being trapped there was still the fact that his body would start turning on itself if left in it's current state for too long. This was something he realized. Essentially whatever happened in the outside world his time in SAO wasn't indefinite. "And what about you huh?" Now the tables had turned on her. Leaning forward on the table he looked her right in the eyes once again holding his gaze with his silver eyes. "Are you planning to be Queen of the Taverns of floor 1? I doubt something so mediocre wouldn't be satisfying." He added some teasing at the end just to lighten the mood some. "At least try to take over the taverns on the higher levels. They're probably nicer looking." A smile. A small grin stretched his face. All of her badass attitude didn't faze him in the slightest. 

Cyrus remained sitting at his seat for quite a while actually. As he eyed his hear he was imagining the many paths that he could take his starting gear. Personally he favored high speed and high attack this usually left him with low defense. To balance this out however any other skills in between he tried to get above average. This play style wasn't exactly original but being a tank wasn't something he could see himself ever doing. Being the tip of the sword in combat was a thrill for him and this was back when he was 'behind the screen'. And this didn't change now that he was on the other side of the screen. Fear was not something that rattled him in the slightest. There was no point to phobias for him. Of Of course he still felt fear but it was more just the catalyst to pump him full of adrenaline than anything else. Even now faced with death. Fear would not push him to make irrational decisions or keep him from taking that extra leap. He was very aware of his surroundings and this would prove useful on the battlefield. It would keep him aware of when he need to just take a step back or two before losing that last bit of health. 

Speaking of that awareness seemed to be coming in handy now also. If you knew what you were looking for anyone could see what was going on. Everyone else seemed to be giving the figure at the back a wide berth. It was something he sort of picked up on when he first walked in. Not that he was giving her space on purpose. This table just happened to be the first one that caught his eye. Still he was closer to Kisodeth than any other player in the tavern. Taking full note of what was going on the young man took a break from weeping internally at his pathetic gear. Instead he turned to get a better look at the figure. It was a woman actually. It wasn't a complete surprise this world was full of previous girl gamers that could kick some butt. However it was obvious that something happened previously to have rattled the other men in the tavern. 

When he turned to eye the figure he also caught her looking at him. But why? Quickly reviewing his actions in his head it was safe to conclude that he had not done anything in particular to piss her off. And so without any hesitation he just looked back at the woman sizing her up. Despite the obvious signs that he probably shouldn't just be looking at her he did it anyways. It wasn't done so in a disrespectful way it was more so curiosity than anything. Finally he broke the silence. He wasn't stupid. There was no need to antagonize her but he did need to feed his own curiosity. So a slight compliment and a joke would probably be a good middle ground. "You must have knocked quite a few heads to earn this much respect."

It had only been a day or two since Cyrus had been pulled away from reality and thrown into SAO. No that was wrong... this world was his new reality and he adapted to it fairly quickly. Rather than jumping into things with both feet right off the bat he resorted to doing some research first. Testing out systems, learning combat, and exploring the surrounding area of the starting city became his only focus. Forming alliances and making friends wasn't going to do him much good in the beginning. Everyone started at level 1 there was no real way to know just who would push you or drag you down. He wasn't too hard pressed on making long lasting friends just yet. People worth allying himself with would show up over time regardless. In the next few days it would be clear to tell just who the real survivors will be. There was always that hanging question if death really would be final in this game. Not wanting to find out first had he would take every threat serious and make every decision count. Despite his serious outlook on the way he would handle this new world Cyrus still wanted to enjoy himself along the way. If he was going to be living here it would have to be worthwhile. There were already plans developing in his head. To reach his goal he would need to start questing and soon. He was already falling behind by waiting.

Removing himself from his thoughts the young man realized he was closer to his destination than he realized. This inn had been recommended to him by an NPC and so he would check it out. Sometimes there was hidden information in the word of NPC but most of the time it was just rambling to make the game seem alive. Either way Cyrus was now upon the door pushing it open. Maybe there was an item hidden in the corners or possibly a quest. Entering the inn something told him he wasn't going to find anything. The inn was filled with other players and they probably already combed the place over. Without much motivation at this point he just checked a few corners. Not finding much or even a quest to follow the white haired male just chose a seat closer to the back before bringing up his menu. He spent the next few moment looking through his gear and such with a grimace on his face. All of his gear was unsatisfactory to him. He would start grinding tomorrow. If all went well with his plans he would be making some rapid improvements.

Roleplays

Completed RP [4/9 SP]:

Meeting Kiso [+1 SP +200Col]

Blacksmithing Skill [+2 Sp +200 Col]

Claiming the Katana Skill [+1 Sp +200Col]

Open RP:

Coming soon

Closed RP:

Meeting Airi

Getting Kiso a Skill

Relationships:

Coming Soon

Story Thus Far 

Coming Soon

Profile
» Username: Cyrus
» Real name: Cyrus Silverra
» Age: 20
» Gender: Male
» Height: 5'10"

About: History/personality

This is not a story of a shut-in NEET. Just a guy that had a passion...

Virtues:

Social - Cyrus has no trouble starting and holding a conversation. He always felt comfortable around people and he had great skills of observation. He could find something about a person and open up a conversation instantly. He was the type of person to have friends in every type a social circle, one that he could easily slip into naturally.

Flaws:

Skills
Non-combat:
-----

Passive:
-----

Combat:
-----

Weapon skills:
» 1H Curved Sword - Rank 2 - (0/4)

SP Earned = 2

_{SP Spent = 2}

_{Unspent SP = 0}

_{Skill Slots Used = 1/9}

Inventory
Weapons/Tools:
» Basic 1H Straight Sword
» Clothing

» Bread x 10

» Water x 15