Seul

The ghost had landed some solid strikes, but one good body slam from Inugami was enough to knock the familiar out of the arena’s boundary. Seul caught Pro as he went flying, cradling him like a parent would a child. Other spirits who had been watching the spectacle began to applaud, though he was certain it was not merely for the dog-spirit’s victory.

Caron approached after the loss, and to the swordsman’s surprise, there was no disappointment in his eyes despite them failing the second trial. In fact, he almost looked happy. He and Inugami clearly shared a deep connection, and knowing that they could still keep up with the younger generation must have sparked something in the old man’s heart.

“Providence did a fine job out there. Though you may have failed, I don’t believe you two will have any problems with the final test.” He said with a grin. 

Familiar Training Attempt 4 ID# 147148 results: Craft -- 3 | Fail

”It might look tough, but don’t worry. We’ve faced  scarier enemies than this before, so just do your best.”

Hopefully the encouraging words would reach Pro. From what Seul could tell, they had. The ghost was eager to get into the action. He watched as his familiar drifted into the arena and soon the duel between the two spirits was in full swing. 

Back and forth. Up and Down. Inugami chased the ghost around the field with an impressive amount of speed. It was no wonder why Caron chose this spirit in p-articular to be their adversary in the second round. He knew Pro possessed a decent amount of speed and combat prowess already. Perhaps he wanted to see what the ghost would do when left with no choice but to stand and fight. But being unable to enter himself, all Seul could really do was cheer on from the sidelines.

With a clap Caron was able to summon a group of spirits to begin assembling the field for the next trial. The humanoid monsters quickly took to arranging rocks they managed to scavenge up in a circle. They were building an arena, and a pretty large one at that. 

“Next, Pro will face Inugami alone.”

At his heeding call, a dog-like spirit would materialize at Caron’s side. Though it appeared menacing, the whisperer assured the pair that he was docile and that the battle to come would only be meant to test the familiar’s skill. Inugami waited in the arena patiently, giving them a second of respite and a chance for Caron to explain the new rules.

“As I said, Pro will enter the arena with Inugami and the two will battle. Whoever manages to knock the other out of bounds first will be declared the winner. We will begin when you’re ready."

Seul stopped in his tracks at the man’s announcement. They really did it? Pro had managed to swipe the cloth before his legs gave out! Triumphantly, he ran toward the ghost opening his arms for a hug. The familiar became tangible just long enough for the embrace to matter. 

“Good job.”

The praise was very much welcomed. It felt like the two of them were finally getting on the same page as far as working together was concerned. Seul smiled, but knew that this was just the beginning.

“We can retire to my home if you wish or begin the next trial.”

He thought for a moment. They were already on a roll. Using the momentum from this win, and since the ghost seemed up for it as well, Seul decided that they should just begin the second part of training. Caron too seemed eager. Too eager. What could possibly top this?

"Pro, grab the cloth!"

When he yelled, the two split off in different directions. While the ghost moved toward the elder, Seul ran in the opposite direction around the pond. Napaea gave chase, but knowing how slow Charon was he just had to avoid her long enough for Pro to grab his cloth. He darted in a zig-zag pattern, but being able to fly made it simple for the sprite to maneuver. Cursing under his breath he changed direction entirely. 

Pro floated close to the whisperer as he had when they first met, floating around him as he looked for the cloth. Caron did nothing to hinder the familiar's search, though. The ghost would eventually find the cloth tied to the end of his walking stick, and casually tug until it came loose. 

“That’s enough!” Caron yelled. A winner had been decided and they would be able to move on now.

They eventually stopped at a small pond. Clear water pooled at the base of another waterfall and glowing lily pads caused ripples as they drifted on the otherwise calm surface. Seul sat at the edge with his legs crossed. Between his fingers, he fiddled with the cloth Caron had given him to wear. Pro needed to get close enough to the old man to steal his, but Seul also needed to elude Napaea. A difficult task, for sure, but still doable with the proper plotting.

"You two move together quite well."

Seul scrambled to his feet. Caron and the spirit were walking toward them from behind. Slowly. Confidently. It was as if they had known they were going to end up there the whole time. The swordsman didn't put it past the man to have asked one of the spirits on the way here which way they had gone. 

"But the game ends here."

Familiar Training Attempt 3 ID# 147128 results: Craft -- 9 | Pass | 1/3

"Come on, Pro."

Seul wandered over to the little ghost and gently tried to tug on it, only for his fingers to pass through. The various spirits that stood around snickered at this, but the swordsman was too eager to win the competition to pay them any mind. With a wave, he gestured for the familiar to follow as he walked off.

They already happened to be at a bit of a disadvantage. The Garden of Spirit's was where Caron lived, so it was safe to assume the man was well-versed in the lay of the land. Few places could provide shelter from such experienced eyes, and Seul knew of none of them. 

The two would walk for some time through the grassy clearing. Seul told the familiar not to wander off somewhere. Splitting up now would be detrimental, especially since they didn't have any real plan of attack yet.  

"The game is simple. We will each wear colored cloth, and whoever's familiar can remove the other team's first will emerge victorious."

It did sound simple. Seul could remember playing a similar styled game in the real world. Though it wasn't necessarily a fight, they would need to work together to win. Maybe, the old coot did know a thing or two about training familiars after all. 

***

Caron was generous enough to give the swordsman a headstart as neither of them had seen Pro for a while. Half tempted to call out for the ghost, Seul ultimately decided against it. Doing so would have defeated the purpose of leaving early as undoubtedly Caron and Napaea would easily find him. When he did eventually find the familiar, it was playing. Other spirits had joined in, and in the glowing mushroom patch, they floated to and fro without a care.

Caron slowly lumbered over to the table and took a seat, resting his stick against the edge of his chair. Seul wandered over and sat across from him. Though he was not nervous, he was interested to see just where this was going.

"Napaea!" 

At the old man's call, a small ball of light flew into the room. A lighting bug? No, it was far too large. But once Caron held out his hand, the creature landed in the center of his wrinkled palm.

"This is Napaea. She's the first spirit I met when I came here and one of my closest friends."

"Nice to meet you."

Holding out his index finger, Seul greeted the tiny being. Though it was about the same size as her, she managed to shake it using both hands. With introductions out of the way, the swordsman waited with anticipated for whatever the whisperer had in mind.

Caron snapped his fingers in agreement.

"Precisely. Spirits, at their core, aren't much different from people. Communicating bridges that gap even further, and although you do not understand them, they certainly can understand you. I brought you here so that you may strengthen that power."

It made sense. Seul and Pro had managed to get by, but only at the most basic of levels. If he could learn to convey commands better from Caron, perhaps he'll be able to train Pro with ease.

"So, what do I have to do?"

The old man stroked his beard in thought. Pushing the door open, Caron would beckon for him to enter. Inside would lie his first test.

***

His home's interior was what one might have expected. A fireplace, a  table, and a bed were just some of the amenities he kept around. It was cozy, but Seul couldn't picture many other than his new mentor enjoying living in such a manner.

"I have. I also noticed the monsters here don't seem to be hostile." 

Caron shrugged at this before starting to walk off toward his house. Seul, not wanting to miss his explanation, followed, but Pro floated off in some other direction. Rather than give chase, he let the ghost be. The area was safe enough, and the familiar knew better than to wander too far. 

"Would you believe me if I said I was something of a ghost whisperer?" Caron asked once they reached the door. 

It was an odd question, for sure. In a world where dragons were common as mice and people walked around with swords, it was not out of the realm of possibility. Still, it must have been a rare trait as Caron was the first NPC he met who openly admitted to having the ability. 

"So, you're saying the spirits here are friendly because you can talk to them?"

Familiar Training Attempt 2 ID# 147062 results: Craft -- 3 | Fail

The end of the tunnel opened into a clearing of wild bioluminescent vegetation, with a tiny home constructed next to a river. Various creatures flitted about, but none seemed to pay Seul any mind. Why had Caron brought them here, though?

"Beautiful, isn't it?" 

Flinching was the natural response, as it was like the senior had appeared from thin air to stand beside him. For someone past their prime, he sure was good at moving about without being noticed. Yet, despite his desire for the Caron to stop jump scaring him, Seul nodded along with the sentiment. The area was unlike any he had encountered before.

"It is. You live here?"

"This is where I stay, yes. I call it the Garden of Spirits. I don't doubt you have already deduced why." He said with a chuckle.

While it was true, something was bothering Seul about that. How could Caron live among monsters so casually? Without any means of defense, he was able to coexist with the spirits who made this place there home.

There was always the possibility that this could be a trap. Who would suspect an old man of harboring any ill intent, after all? Still, Seul felt there was little need for worry. Riding the high of walking away from the goblin encounter unscathed, bolstered his confidence. With his energy meter full, he'd be able to escape with ease if things flew south. 

The party must have walked for about a watch, before stopping at a waterfall. At a glance, it was difficult to discern from any other one might find on this floor. But Caron would not wait for questions. Instead, the elderly man would pass through the water. When he did not return, Seul would enter as well with Pro following close behind. The two staggered through the darkness, cold and wet. It was like passing into the afterlife, and when he saw the light, Seul was sure that he had. 

Energy Recovery 3/3

"In that case, I may be of some service to you."

Even if that were true, he lacked the funds to pay anyone for help. The swordsman had never been the wealthy sort of player and only lived within his means for the most part. In other words, he was broke. 

Seul folded both arms across his chest as he pondered the offer. In the meantime, Pro had taken a liking to the elderly man, floating around as if examining his cloaked body. Cute as it was, the two of them didn't have time to waste. If there was some secret to training his familiar, he had to find out what it was.

"Alright, I'll bite. But I don't have a way of reimbursing you for your help. Being a vagrant doesn't pay well these days."

At that, Caron would smile, knowing he had successfully convinced the swordsman. Perhaps in his years of life, he had time to perfect skills like persuasion. Waving for Seul and Pro to follow, he began to walk. 

Energy Recovery 2/3

"Ho, Traveler!"

The shaky voice had caught him by surprise, nearly making him drop the bread he had packed. It came from behind, and when he turned, an older man seemed to be the source.  Cloaked and grizzled, his eyes seemed to cast an inhuman weight from their gaze. A stick he carried did not appear to be a weapon, but rather an implement for assisting movement. What he wanted, Seul could not tell. Rather than ask, he'd wait for the man to speak again.

"My name is Caron. It appears that you and your little friend there are having trouble training."

"Only some." He replied without really thinking.

Caron's brow furrowed at the statement, making the elder shake his head. It was clear this was not his first time seeing someone struggle with these sorts of things. Though, Seul remained skeptical. How could this man, who could barely walk so much as know how to fight, possibly help?

Energy Recovery 1/3

It may have only been five stones stacked together in a small pile on the ground, but it managed to stand taller than the ghost, at least.  A worthy adversary, Seul thought. Providence needed to learn how to fight in a controlled setting, and the static target would provide just that.

"Try to knock them all down in one go." 

Seul placed a finger on top and beckoned for his familiar to charge. Ideally, the ghost would be able to knock down the tower, but as Pro stopped just short. Whether it was nerves (did ghosts have nerves?) or lack of experience, this time would be a failure. 

Rubbing his temple, the swordsman tried to come up with something better. Fighters needed to be aggressive, and he knew Pro was a gentle soul. But not being able to harm the target meant this training could take a while. 

"Let's take a break. You've more than deserved one."

Familiar Training Attempt 1 ID# 147059 results: Craft -- 3 | Fail

A few steps back was all he would need. Bending his knees brought about the activation of Straight, and in an instant, the distance was closed. His blade drove into the monster's chest. The pained expression was the last thing he'd see before the creature burst into dust. 

For such a small enemy, he managed to earn a pretty good haul. Walking away with a decent amount of col, materials, and armor was not something he expected. But Seul wouldn't complain.

"Alright, Pro, that was good. We need to work on your offense a bit more, though." He'd say to the little spirit. Though Pro did not speak, Seul knew the familiar had understood what he said, and even seemed eager to play a more active role in battles moving forward. He looked around for something to use. But in the absence of sticks, the swordsman would settle on building a dummy out of stones.

Combat Summary
Seul [1130/1130 HP] | [72/104 EN] (+1/-2)
 
Goblin 1 [-18/520 HP] | (-30 Damage)

Rolls
Straight ID# 147057 results: Battle -- 8 | 7+1 (Hit) | 15 x 2 = 30 Damage
Vamp Defense ID# 147051 results: Craft -- 2 | Fail

Looting Goblin 1 ID# 147058 results: Loot -- 15 (14+1) | Craft -- 11 | 3640 Col / T3 Material (x2) / T3 Rare Heavy Armor (x1)

With a spin, Seul activated Astral Hell. One, two, three cuts swept across the body of the goblin with four stabs to its chest from the oversized sword to finish the combo. The attack pushed it to death's door, and, to make the situation worse, the green-skinned demon was still blind. Covered in gashes, red pixels oozed from the open wound.

It was on its back, tired and mostly defeated. In this state, the best it could do was swing the axe at the space in front of it. But of course, Seul was not within close enough range for it to matter. It would soon stop and lie there, likely reflecting on the choices it made that day. If only it had taken a different path or stayed home. Some other outcomes could have occurred. That is assuming the AI in this world offered mobs luxuries like free will.

Combat Summary
Seul [1130/1130 HP] | [73/104 EN] (+1/-7)
 
Goblin 1 [12/520 HP] | (-105 Damage)

Rolls
Galaxy Destroyer ID# 147054 results: Battle -- 6 | 5+1 (Hit) | 15 x 7 = 105 Damage
Vamp Defense ID# 147051 results: Craft -- 2 | Fail

Goblin 1 Attack ID# 147055 results: Mob -- 5 | 4+1 (Miss) | 

Shaking off the blow, Seul lashed out with another Galaxy Destroyer. When the greatsword landed, it blasted the small monster away and sent it sprawling into the dirt. Soon it would pick itself up and run at him with axe raised high.

"Now, Pro!"

Right on cue, his familiar flew toward the enemy just as they neared. Though Pro's body was transparent, it was still effective in clouding the goblin's vision. With its free arm, it tried to swat the ghost but to no avail. Without sight, it swung down, using the weapon and forcing Seul to dart to one side. Despite this being their first time employing the tactic, it went quite smoothly to the swordsman's surprise. After fighting alongside him for so long, he suspected that Pro had learned his partner's tactics at least to a certain degree. They were able to move in sync, so hopefully, the rest of their training would be a cakewalk as well. 

Combat Summary
Seul [1130/1130 HP] (+80) | [79/104 EN] (+1/-13)
 
Goblin 1 [117/520 HP] | (-195 Damage)

Rolls
Galaxy Destroyer ID# 147050 results: Battle -- 6 | 5+1 (Hit) | 15 x 13 = 195 Damage
Vamp Defense ID# 147051 results: Craft -- 2 | Fail

Goblin 1 Attack ID# 147052 results: Mob -- 5 | 4+1 (Miss) | 

Today was the day Seul would go about training his familiar, and the twenty-first floor offered a nice change of scenery from what he had grown accustomed to seeing on the lower levels. Glowing mushrooms lined either side of the road he traveled and his spectral companion, Providence, free from the restriction of a physical form, kept pace by drifting beside the swordsman like a balloon caught in the wind. The tiny creature had done much to keep the man alive during their time spent together. But it was time for Pro to fulfill a new purpose. What Seul sought now was a stable build, and by having his familiar carry the brunt of it, he would free to focus on other areas.

It didn't take long for the pair top run into a goblin who had been toiling over some ill-gotten loot it kept stored in a rucksack the subhumans were known for carrying. Seul drew his blade and lunged forth with Galaxy Destroyer, shaving off a good portion of its health. The Goblin cried but quickly drew its axe, cutting into the man's hip for minimal effect.

Seul's Stats

Enemy Stats

Combat Summary
Seul [1098/1130 HP] (-32 Damage) | [91/104 EN] (-13 EN)
 
Goblin 1 [312/520 HP] | (-208 Damge)

Rolls
Galaxy Destroyer ID# 147045 results: Battle -- 9 | (Crit) | 16 x 13 = 208 Damage

Goblin 1 Attack ID# 147046 results: Mob -- 10 | (Crit) | 158 - 126 = 32 Damage

With raised fingers, he gently raked the back of his neck. Only now had Seul realized how starved he had been for the touch of another person after all this time spent in solitude. Even something as incidental as this woman bumping into him now had managed to cause a spike in his heart rate. Pathetic, some might say. Though, he found the notion funny as those same people likely would have jumped long ago if faced with a fraction of the horrors this game had placed him through. A faked cough would be all he offered on the matter as Mari pushed herself away. 

At the kotatsu, Mari took to offering him something to drink again. Part of him debated having a cup just to put her at ease. The other half knew that wasting it would likely insult the woman more than not taking anything at all, though. It was a tough decision to put things mildly. 

"It's not weird... Honestly, I wouldn't know which to choose. Hot cocoa has always been more my speed." He'd say while sheepishly removing his mask and casting it to the floor.

Watching her as she spoke then a glance around her home, it was clear as day. Mari was easy to talk to and looked as though she had this whole living thing sorted out somehow. Two traits that made her an outlier in an otherwise bleak and hopeless world of wayward souls. Seul had seen time and time again that those who stood out in Aincrad were the ones who often attracted the most attention, both good and bad. If one's flame dimmed, they would find kindling from an already roaring fire. Or, in his case, others might attempt to douse the fire completely so that they alone may burn brightest.

"Well, you seem down to earth and reliable enough. Finding someone who happens to be both is a rarity these days."

@Mari

Though he faced away from the spear-user while they walked, Seul listened intently as the man answered his question with honesty. It seemed Oikawa too had been on a journey of sorts these past few months. But unlike Seul, his purpose was found somewhere along the way. 

"I see." 

From the corner of his vision, Seul had noticed a small patch of grass growing between two stones and quickly took to digging up the bundle of flimsy blades. With one ingredient down and four left to find, the pair were making decent progress for only having just started. After tucking it away, he would finally turn back.

"Guess I've been going through something similar. I've spent a lot of time traveling this world alone, looking for a reason to keep going. I'm not too sure what that'll be, but I know I'll know it when I find it." 

A nagging sensation pricked the back of his mind while speaking. The choice was simple: He could press for further information or let the conversation take a different turn. Of course, curiosity would get the better of him, as it so often did. 

"So, these goals you mentioned..."

Looking for Mat ID# 147031 results: Loot -- 19 | (18+1) | Success! | 1/5 Found

@Oikawa

Seul wandered into the forge with a fiery passion that burned as hot as the raging flames themselves. In his palm was a small rolled piece of paper upon which he jotted down the specifics of the new equipment he sought. As most other blacksmiths charged an arm and a leg for their crafts, he was happy to have heard Oikawa was back in business.

“Hey, I could use your help.” He directed to the man after entering.

“I need a new sword and better armor. Shouldn’t be too difficult for someone like you to make.” With that he’d send the required col and pass along his requests.

Sent 8000 Col to Oikawa

THREAD COMPLETE / REWARDS

14,400 Col

T3 Crafting Material (x2)

2 SP

Unidentified T3 Rare Armor (x1)

Unidentified T3 Uncommon Consumable (x1) & Unidentified T3 Rare Weapon (x1)

But was it all an illusion? It was true that the dangers of this world were real. One mistake or miscalculation would mean his end. Another thing that broke the facade was the existence of his fellow players. They walked this land with baggage in the forms of hopes and desires, and the number of bonds formed despite being in such a bleak situation only solidified this point further. In an artificial world, there were real things. People to care about were everywhere, and many fought not just for themselves but so that they all might be able to live again someday. 

Seul could feel his eyes start to grow heavy as he watched the ceiling. Sleep had finally caught up with him, and he put up little resistance as he drifted off. The battles of today, past pain, and goals for the future would all fade from consciousness, for now.