Lycan

 ID# 68483 results: // LD: 18 //

As the two ventured deeper into the cave, light from the outside grew sparse. The faint glow of the underground crystals took time to adjust to, almost akin to moonlight. The rocky walls had become smooth and man-made. What was a cavern, now became a type of dungeon. Instead of naturally clustered illuminescent gems, they were set into sconces every few feet apart. The muddy earth at their feet become polished stone, each footstep echoing faintly. Every so often, an opening to locations unknown spanned before them.

Lycan listened to Calrex's recollection. Unlike the frontliner, Lycan had no one and nothing.

"Me?" he asked rehtorically. Lycan recalled the man in the dark hood, the mark it gave him on his forearm, and the concerned faces of Axios's friends. The teen inadvertently rubbed the fabric of his forearm where the Mark of the Beast lie underneath.

"My first day was terrifying," he began with a soft and somber tone. "A college kid, wanting to try a new game for the graphics and scenery... I'm sure you can relate to the shock of learning this was our new life. All that tuition, my family... I dormed alone, so I'm at least grateful no one unplugged me for first hour."

Lycan approached a break in the hallway and peered into an empty room. It was dark, but something lurked in the shadows in the far back. The grey haired teen looked to Calrex with a smile and nudged his head toward it.

"I'm envious of you." Lycan added as he walked up to the shadow to reveal a chest. "Sweet! a chest!"

The teen bent down and found the latch to be open, unlocked, and unattended.

"Weird..." With a flip of the latch, he popped open the lid to reveal a solitary gem of unknown origin within. With a shrug, he reached in and grabbed it.

"Guess the old bat wasn't joking," he mused with a smile, holding the stone out for Calrex to see. Lycan pocketed it and his expression flattened.

"I almost died to a pack of wolves," he started. "Just me and them. My sword and their fangs. To go from a student to a life and death struggle... It's a tough transition."

Lycan turned confused and almost sorrowful eyes to the bluenette.

"How do you do it, Calrex? You're always so... positive. You face death every day and clear floors for people like us. You're even here, helping someone who most would already see as a dead man. So how? How do you smile? How do you sleep?"

I need the name of the item, the roll IDs, profession, etc, just like the template found in the enhancement guide. Please redo your submission as such. As a merchant, you will also need to reference the original roll ID from the original craftsman. If you cannot find this template, PM me and I will PM you a copy.

Each night, the gut wrenching horror of watching his body act without consent festered in Lycan's mind. As an alchemist, he knew of certain recipes, but nothing so vile as whateve Allison slipped him. The mere thought of it both enraged and chilled the teen to the bone. After days of not hearing from the girl and paranoid of another attack from Addel's goons, everything felt numb.

The message from Arc brought an iota of reality and sanity to Lycan's current state - a message to meet him at the Inn on floor two, The Lumberer's Inn. The youth hesitated to answer the call. What if Allison showed his face? What if more of Addel's contact were about? What if they knew Arc's affiliation with himself?

Behind the locked doors of his apothecary shop, slumped in the corner beside the hearth, Lycan's hands clenched into fists. He looked toward the morning light pouring through the windows with weary eyes and hallowed features. Where light danced through colored glass in an explosion of vibrant color, he saw grey.

"I have to," he reminded himself.

If not just to warn Arc, to let him know the truth - someone had to. Lycan pressed his gauntleted hands into the creaking oaken floor and struggled to stand. With a grip perched on the cast iron hearth for leverage, he rose. He mustered the strength to open the several locks on the door before emerging from his wooden cave to the streets of Urbus.

Morning light washed over his pale skin and unkempt platinum hair. To the passersby, he may as well have been a spectre or ghoul. The teen locked his abode and made way to the Inn to meet Arc.

He stood outside for a brief moment, eyeing the Inn with a faint snarl on his lips. His body already tingled with terrible memories. He winced and pushed through the doors. Morning hours kept the Lumberer's Inn busy with patrons. Finding Arc took some time among the sea of heads. When he did, Lycan made way and perched a seat opposite of him, quietly.

"Hey..."

What does one say to a colleague after an even like this? Better yet, he left the questions to Arc. He indoubtedly had many.

Please use the following template:

Quote

Name: (give it a name. What's the item called? What is it?)

Your Profession: (what profession are you? This is just so we know you're not a tailor making a meal or a fisherman performing a song)

Your Rank: (this is so we know you're not making something that comes with rank 5 when you're only rank 2)

ID: (the dice ID)

Roll: (what did you roll on the crafting die?)

Item Type: (using cook as example, pick something from the bolded list in the profession guides... such as snacks, desserts, meals, or feast.)
Tier: (Self-explanatory)

Quality: (Uncommon, rare, perfect. Anything below does not need to be approved)

Enhancements: (Self-explanatory)

Description: (Just a fluffy description.)

Post Link: (Self-Explanatory

After the events in the back Alley of Floor one, Lycan could no longer do business in such a place. Having earned some col, he moved to the second floor and arguably his favorite floor. In the city of Urbus, he purchased a small vendor shop along the marketplace streets. Wedged between an eatery and a tailor, Lycan opened the Beast Bane Brews a second time. Today, his usual vigor and strength seemed devoid from his body and his actions. In the dark room of his crafting chambers, he quietly busied with ingredients. Poison oak, fang of a viper, scales of a basilisk... The teen quietly ground them into a muddy mess and sloughed them into an empty beaker. To it, he added a pint of medusa blood and flicked the flame beneath with a starter. Then, with the patience of a man who lost everything, he waited.

ID# 68389 results: // CD: 1 //

CRITICAL FAILURE
<<-1 Material, +1 EXP>>

ID# 68390 results: // CD: 4+1 // LD: 8 //

GOOD ITEM
<<-1 Material, +2 EXP>>

 ID# 68391 results: // CD: 7+1 //

GOOD ITEM
<<-1 Material, +2 EXP>>

ID# 68392 results: // CD:9+1 //

UNCOMMON ITEM <<Antidote>>
<<-1 Material, +3 EXP>>

The thought of food or drink from any establishment soured his stomach. It was doing such a thing that got him in this predicament in the first place. An NPC vendor, maybe, but nothing with a middle man. Lycan hung on the thought for a moment, trying to recollect his last honest meal. Two days? Was it three? He lost track.

"No," he replied with another weak smile and wave of his hand. "I'm alright. It's just been... a rough couple days."

'Why am I talking to this girl? What if she-- No... Stop being paranoid. You know her. The lake. She was with...? Who the heck was she with...?' his mind raced in a state between conscious and delirious.

The mention of materials drifted into his ears and he nodded at the reminder.

"Right, yeah. I need a few ingredients," he said aloud. "I need to make..."

Lycan paused with the word "poison" frozen on the tip of his tongue. He saw the girl hold out her hand, posture closed, angled brows, and the glimmer of hesitation in her eyes. She was afraid - uncomfortable. The teen let the word fall off into oblivion.

"I need to make something for a friend," he lied. "And..."

'God, do I want to risk it?' he briefly thought, while looking at her timid demeanor and innocent features.

With a deep sigh, he added, "I could use some company... If you'd allow it."

He glanced at her raised hand, and shied his eyes away from it. A pang of guilt and fear riddled him. The memory of a lilac-haired girl flooded his memory. Whoever this girl was, she reminded him of her. 

'Timid... Quiet...' Lycan noted. He sighed and gripped his face, rubbing at weary eyes. 'You're doing it again...'

"No, wait," Lycan said with a huff. He let his hand fall from his head and took a deep breath. "I'm sorry. Let me try this again."

The platinum crested teen winced a bit as he tried to push the thoughts of recent events to the back of his mind. He tried to bury his aggression, his self inflicted hatred, and unyielding paranoia. While not entirely successful, he felt a stillness and looked to the stranger with kinder eyes.

"My name is Lycan. I hosted the lake party. You are?" He gestured to the brunette with an open palm.

'Keep it together, man. Just don't let her too close. For your sake and hers...' reminded the boy to himself.

He tried to offer his best smile. Though with the dark circles under his eyes, his best efforts of appearing jovial fell just flat of the mark. 

 ID# 68379 results: // BD: 9 // CD: 11 // LD: 13 // MD: 2 // <<MOB SPAWNED>>

Lycan: 220/220 HP - 22/22 EN <<4 EN Used>>
BD: 9 = Critical Hit! +1 DMG
<<Vertical Arc 2x2>> 5+1 BASE = 24 DMG

Bat: 0/20 HP - 20 DMG <<-24 HP>>

"You got it," Lycan chimed to his companion.

With a smile, he made way for the cavern, Calrex in tow. No more than his first step inside the maw of the cave, the ceiling stirred. The dark shadow of a stalagmite wriggled and broke free from above. Two wings spanned out and red eyes lit in the darkness.

"Woah! Sh--" The teen had his words cut short as the bat swooped low, tousling his platinum hair with beats of its mighty wings. Lycan ripped Harbinger from its sheath before righting himself.

"Get back here!" he shouted. The bat either heard him, or wanted another go and began its second dive. Lycan set his sword arm low and to the side, charging the familiar hum of Cardinal's sword art system. The bat opened its jaw and the novice responded in kind as two vertical arcs _(4EN) severed the wings from the body. The bat crashed into Lye, staggering him back, before skipping lifelessly across the cave floor. Moments later, only shimmering fragments of data remained.

"Welp," Lycan sheathed his blade. "Guess there's more than chests in here."

With an awkward smile at Calrex, the teen continued deeper into the cave. Small glowing crystals lit the darkness along the natural stone walls. While mostly rocky craigs, some walls seemed smooth and man-made. Each footstep they made reverberated into the depths and the soft patter of droplets filled the eerie silence.

"Hey Calrex," Lycan began, breaking the silence. "Do you remember your first day on SAO? What went through your head after that announcement?"

The teen kept his eyes forward as his mind recalled his own experiences. Between the two, Calrex somehow managed more power than he. The gap needed a reason, yet even as a front-liner, the bluenette seemed to maintain a solid moral core. How did he do that? Was there a secret?  

Just as Lycan closed out of his windows, his HUD dinged. The little, flashing, yellow envelope pulse out of his peripherals. He selected it and opened the first of two:

Quote

To:  Lycan
From:  Unknown
Subject: <Blank>
Body:
-You have me as an enemy for what you did to Esther Lycan.  Your safe for now, but watch your back in the future.  You've just become my enemy-

Quote

To: Lycan
From: Arc
Subject: <Blank>
Body:
Hey man, I heard about what happened to you the other day. With Esther. Don't worry, she's safe. I'm looking out for her right now. You ought to apologize to her at some point, though. I don't know the details, and it's not any of my business, but it messed with her something fierce. Anyway, I look forward to hitting a dungeon with you sometime. Hit me up.

-Arc

  Lycan bit his lip. And began a reply.

Quote

To: @Arc
From: Lycan
Subject: <Blank>
Body:
Keep her away from me. Something isn't right. I've made enemies and they're willing to hurt anyone around me. Keep her safe. I owe her more words than she knows.

Lycan hit send and just as he managed, a soft, timid voice caught his attention. Lycan quickly scattered his windows to the wind and faced the girl with fists clenched, ready for a fight. His fierce amber eyes locked on her lithe frame and flowing hair. He felt his muscles relax and he let his fists fall to his sides.

"You..." While not intentional, his ire and animosity bled from his words.

"I saw you at the lake," Lycan commented. He looked to Rin with hesitation on his eyes.

'Is she one of them?' he asked internally. 'She going to poison me too?'

His eyes narrowed. "Who are you? What do you want?"

@Rin

"Damn it," the teen cursed, head buried in his hands just outside the safe zone of Urbus. He shook his head before thudding it against the fence pole behind him.

"Damn it," he repeated as both hands streaked down his face to reveal reddened eyes from lack of sleep and fatigue.

He titled his head toward the ceiling of floor three, which took the form of an orange morning sky. Clouds listed across at a casual pace, white and pure.

"She won't reply..." he muttered. "Esther..."

Lycan's head hung low and braced against his knees. White locks of hair jutted against the fabric of his pants and tousled about as he ground his face into them. His mind burned with the images of what he did to her - all the shouting, kicking her, his blade at her throat. He knew he was frustrated and upset, but to have it amplified to such horrifying degrees.

Lycan's fists tightened and teeth clenched. The teen recalled the snake tattoo and the redheaded steward that left him paralyzed in that bed.

"Allison..." Lycan seethed, his anger nearly palpable on the air. "Addel..."

Hand balled and white knuckled, Lycan slammed one into the ground. He raised his head and stood, producing a set of windows in front of him.

Quote

To: Addel, Allison
From: Lycan
Subject: <Blank>
Body:
I'm coming for both of you.

Lycan hit send, then moved over to his equipment menu and produced his Twin Grips, a pair of metallic gauntlets, on his hands. Since Harbinger shattered that night, he was reduced to his own fists. However, it was with those fists, he'd drive his point home to those two.

Lastly, the young boy navigated to his Alchemist interface. He spun through the potential recipes, the millions that other players had put together, and landed on one that caught his eye.

<Toxic Venom>

He selected it from the list, skimmed the ingredients, and closed out.

"Thanks!" Lycan replied as he ducked under a swinging vine. He rose Harbinger to sever it in two, but the green appendage recoiled just in time.

"They're fast, be careful!" he warned as another lashing missed his torso by a hair.

The blonde seemed quite competent, if not more, than Lycan himself. She too wielded a straight sword but also struggled to land anything substantial on the creatures. 

"Help! Please!" shouted another fairy as she was plucked from the air. Thorny green vines wrapped around her lithe frame, threatening to crush her. Tiny hands pounded and pried, struggling to get herself free.

"Damn," Lycan cursed. He threw his weight at a long section of the vine and pinned it to the ground. While he gripped it against his body, he turned to the blonde.

"Cut her free!" he shouted while praying the Mandrakes wouldn't take advantage of his prone position.

ID# 68341 results: // BD: 1 // CD: 9 // LD: 5 // MB: 5 //

Lycan: 140/140 HP // 11/14 EN // 5 DMG // 2 ACC // 3 EVA // 9 MIT

Galilea: 180/180 HP // 16/18 EN // 5 DMG // 0 ACC // 0 EVA // 14 MIT (12 Bleed & 18 Thorns)

GROUP A:

[0][0] Mandrake: 20/20 HP // 20 DMG

[0][0] Mandrake: 20/20 HP // 20 DMG

[0][0] Mandrake: 20/20 HP // 20 DMG

GROUP B:

Mandrake: 20/20 HP // 20 DMG

Mandrake: 20/20 HP // 20 DMG

Mandrake: 20/20 HP // 20 DMG

Lycan waved back at the bluenette. Honestly, he felt a little surprise that Calrex opted to show.

"Hey man, good to see you! How've you been?" Lycan shouted from the distance. He broke into a jog and closed the gap between the two. "How we doin'?"

The platinum crested teen arrived next to the frontliner with a huff and a wheeze.

"Should've stretched... whew... this morning," he huffed. After a moment to catch his breath, Lycan stood upright and cracked his neck side to side.

"So, this old lady said something about chests and treasure. Then some cryptic stuff about fingers and wisdom? Who knows. All I know, it that is a cave," Lycan said, pointing behind him to the gaping hole in the cliffside. "And it has treasure chests in it."

"So what'ya say? Ready to head out?"

The teen smiled at his role model. Unknown to Calrex, the teen saw a lot of himself in the frontliner. They both chose the one handed sword, for one. For second, they were both generally positive people. Lastly, they liked blue and red. Calrex certainly favored the former and Lycan the latter.

OOC: Rules of engagement. Roll the die each post we're inside. LD 15+ is a chest and inside, a gem or item or whatever your want (+1 Material). If you roll a 1 or a 2, a mob spawns (Min for the floor). The mob can be a mimic, bat, skele, or whatever you might find in a dark cave. When we hit 15, I roll for my mimic. If not, we can end it on 20 posts or push it to 30 for another try. Your call. 

Lycan's limbs tingled and fell to the wayside. His health bar flashed yellow in the top left corner of his peripherals. He struggled to move, only capable of clenched teeth.

"Easy now..." The redhead sat next to Lycan on the bed, staring out the window to the streets. Nightfall had blackened the sky and only the faint light of the street lamps leaked through. The ginger held out his wrist to the teen so he could see what was transcribed on his flesh.

The symbol of two snakes, a scale, and a blade through the middle.

"Who are you?" Lycan managed through the strain of his body.

"Well that's no fun to outright tell you, is it? I'll give you a name though. Allison. Pleasure to meet you, Lycan," he said with a slender finger pressed against Lycan's nose.

"It's so fun when they're paralyzed," Allison mentioned as he wiggled around the teen's nose with Lycan unable to stop him. "Exhilarating even."

"Why did you do this?!" Lycan wanted nothing more than to leap out of the bed and run him through.

Allison sighed.

"Why mee..." he chided in musical tones. "I'll kill you... You're a monster... Wah, wah, wah... It's always the same with your types."

Allison stood and tilted his head to the collapsed stranger on the floor. The ginger put a finger on his own lips.

"Sleep PK?" he asked himself. "Naw... Not worth going orange."

Lycan struggled to move, his efforts looking more like twitches than thrashing.

"Well Lycan, it's been an honor, dear. We're off to go make your life more miserable. Maybe next time you think about who you threaten with that sword of yours, hmm?"

Allison made for the door and hung on the hinge for a moment.

"Bye-bye~!" and with a kiss and a wink, Allison shut the door and vanished.

Unable to move, stuck with the horrors of his actions, and deperately wanting to undo them, Lycan resorted to the only option available at the moment. And like the namesake of his avatar, the teen roared into the night at the top of his lungs, personifying his agony, remorse, and despair.

Lycan watched as Esther made for the door. His hand reached out and mouth opened, but nothing escaped.

"Woah there!" an unfamiliar voice called out. Lycan felt a strong arm throw him back and into a wall.

"I think you've done enough. Don't you?" Mused a familiar redhead that joined to pin his other arm.

Harbinger clattered down the stairs and vanished into a haze of data. Lycan's body felt heavy, and hot. His forehead had already grown damp as he listed his head toward the steward.

"I'll kill you..." Lycan managed in venomous tones.

"You'll leave that poor girl alone!" the stranger chided while the redhead just grinned and winked at the youth.

"Let's get him upstairs to his room," the server added.

"We should take him to the brig under the Palace," added the stranger.

"No no, that won't do. My... employer wouldn't want his reputation tarnished." The ginger and the stranger hoisted Lycan up and dragged him up the stairs. The teen's eyes looked out to the open door of the Inn where Esther ran. His hand tried to reach out, but his sensed denied him control of his body once more.

"201, here we are," the steward groaned. As one open the door the other pushed Lycan through. Together, they threw him on the bed. 

Lycan landed with a groan. The haze of whatever that potion was began to fade and the youth began to feel his limbs heed him.

"Whew, heavy kid, huh?" The stranger chuckled.

"Sure is, I could go for some water. How about you?" The sever produced a flask of water from his inventory. With a smile, he held it to the stranger and he accepted. A few gulps later, and the man slumped to the ground with a thud. The sound of shattering glass soon followed.

"Whew, now that he's out of the way. Your turn." The ginger grinned and produced a second flask. Gripping Lycan by the nose, he liberally poured the paralysis water into his mouth.  Lycan mustered the strength to grab at the man's suit. It was too late. The server clasped his hand over the teen's mouth and unable to breathe, Lycan swallowed the next batch of poison.

'Esther...'

"Tch, So be it. At least I'll have my answer." Lycan growled. He brought Harbinger to his chest, level with the girl and scowled.

'NOOO!'

ID# 68329 results: //BD: 5 (3+2)//

3... 2... 1... GO!

Lycan's blade hissed with Cardinal's assist system. With the same intensity and ferocity as he dispatched monsters, he rushed at the unarmed, helpless girl. His sword arm shot out and two vertical arcs _{(4 EN)} severed locks of hair from her head. Wasting no beat, Lycan reached out and slammed his hand into her chest to grab a fistful of clothes. With the strength governed by the game, he lifted her into the air.

For a moment, he looked into her eyes, face marred by his uncontrolled actions. The look of regret filled the depths of his black pupils, framed by a fire of amber iris. Inside, Lycan struggled to regain control, his fist trembling as it suspended her. He pulled her close.

"If you're going to die..." he whispered into her ear. "At least it'll be by my hands."

He brought Harbinger level to her throat, a mirror of what he warned the commoner.

"That's enough!" From over the rail guards of the stairs, the steward from earlier thrust himself between the two. Immediately, the notice of "Duel Forfeit" displayed above them.

"This isn't your fight!" Lycan shouted, turning his blade on the stranger.

Instead of fleeing or bracing for the blow, the redhead gripped Lycan's coat and jerked him close. The sudden action forced Lycan to let Esther free of his grip. The remaining onlookers cried their concern for the girl while others moaned in disappointment. During which, the steward leaned in to Lycan's ear.

"_{Addel sends his regards...}" he whispered, washed out by the commotion so only one man could hear.

Lycan froze, his body shaken. Eyes wide, he gasped as if rising from under water. He staggered and dropped to a knee. The strange feeling in the back of his mind became a rushing burn. His senses flooded with loud noise, light, and heat. He huffed heavily, trying to regain his grip on the world.

"Miss," the redhead said to the girl, helping her to stand. "You have to go, now. Quickly."

'Hnnngh..! It was... Damn it...!'

Lycan managed to look up, teeth bared, anger flared greater than before. His irises locked on the redhead as he tended to Esther, his gaze easily mistaken as hatred for her over the bastard that poisoned him.

'It isn't me! Stop listening! Just.... Just go! Please!'

The girl stood despite his punishment. She weathered his rage like a storm and pressed herself into the headwind. His venomous words lashed out but she pleaded. She wanted to help him. She wanted to fix his pain. She cared.

"What's wrong with you?" Lycan growled, his hand reaching to Harbinger's hilt. 

'Oh god no...'

His eyes still glazed, he loosed the blade from its sheath and knocked her grip from his back. He spun about, placing Harbinger's tip mere inches from her.

"Why won't you give up?" While an anger still danced on his tongue, the faint notes of remorse lingered. "Would you do this for anyone? Are you really just that naive?"

With his free hand, Lycan opened his menu.

'Don't do it! Gods, don't do it!'

He navigated to the duel settings.

"You really want to put this to the test?!"

'Why are you doing this?! Stop it! STOP IT! STOP IT!'

He selected total loss, and hit accept. A window appeared in front of Esther.

"Prove to me how far you'll really go."

The redhead in the onlookers below spread a wild grin. The glare of his glasses blazing with ill intent and absolute amusement.

Lycan carried himself up the stairs until his pants caught on something. He tried to kick away, but it persisted. With a fierce gaze, he shot it to the source. Esther desperately clinged to him. Her eyes sparkled with tears. Her cries hit his ears with such pain. Inside, trapped, Lycan felt the urge to scream and break down the doors of whatever prison he was lock inside. It, however, persisted.

"You again," Lycan snapped. "I thought I made myself clear. I'm done with you. You've got something special with Mari, go cry in her lap."

'Damn it... I can't stop... I just... I just have to watch this...?'

"Maybe you need a little violence to get the point through? You like that collar, maybe you'll like this."

Lycan's gut wrenched at the sight of his own actions in motion. He lifted the boot free from her grasp and pressed it into her head of lilac hair.

"How's that? Get the message?" He pushed harder.

'STOP IT!!!'

Lycan raised his boot to strike her down but his leg froze. The teen's expression wrenched between anger and another entirely different emotion. His fierce eyes glistened and the tears began to well. His throat became hoarse and fists trembled.

"A promise with a liar..." The words left his lips in a struggle. "Is a lie in itself."

And his boot met her, signaling another attack in a safezone. The force repelled one from the other.

'JUST STOP IT!!!' he screamed in his internal prison.

"Just stop it," he voiced. "Give up. The game's over."

'Esther...' his mind wretched at the sight. His actions again wounding her, this time without remorse or control. 'Why...?'

"You can't," Lycan growled. "Your kind. Can't."

'She's had enough. Stop it. Just hold her. Stop her. She's crying again.'

"You can't fix a coward. You can't fix someone who just... submits to other people. And you can't fix a liar."

Lycan grit his teeth and opened his menus.

"All you preppy girls are the same. You want to be abused? You want that bad boy?"

He navigated to his friend's list where only a handful of names appeared.

"Not me. I'm not your tool. I'm done being strung around on your invisible leash."

'Don't do it. Come on. Please. What is wrong with me?!'

Lycan pulled up Esther's contact and hit unfriend. With a clenched fist, he dismissed his interface.

"You want a dog, go get a familiar. I'm done."

'Stop it. Go help her! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!'

Lycan gave her his back and started walking toward his room. He stopped to see some civilian that looked upon him with hate and that sense of justice. He was held back by the steward.

'You... Did you...?'

"What the f--- are you looking at?!" Lycan spat at the commoner. "You want to take this to a total loss duel? I'll slit your throat right here."

Lycan didn't notice the server flash his wrist, but the commoner backed down regardless. Lycan scoffed with a snarl and continued toward the stairs. Again, the room fell quiet.

As the teen spoke, the feeling of ants or cold water inside his head grew. He blinked more, and shook his head lightly as he tried to ward off the unusual sensation. It felt like a whisper, like a faint nagging that burrowed deep. He tried to focus on his words, something he knew - a potion recipe. As he rambled, the whisper became more of a voice, no concrete words, but a tone similar to his own, but harsher. Soon, his words stopped becoming his own, but someone else entirely. His head pounded and he felt drunk with a warmth. A seething, brutal warmth.

Esther's hands shook him from his verbal trance. The one thing that tethered Lycan together from that awful feeling snapped like twine, and somewhere inside, a dam broke.

"What?!" Lycan barked, his fist slammed on the arm of his chair.

'Woah, dude, simmer...' he mentally chided toward his seemingly out of place outburst.

"You want to know what the problem is, Esther?" Lycan began, and the pit of his stomach immediately soured.

'Sh--, what am I doing?'

"I'll tell you what. It's you. You're the problem."

'No, stop it. Stop talking...'

Lycan turned to face her and grabbed one of her hands. His grip was firm, commanding.

"You play coy, walking up like you've never been outside the walls. Convince me to help you, for free. Then we end up in that alley. My fault, granted, but what was with that act huh?"

'It wasn't an act. You know it wasn't an act. Stop talking!'

"Strip down, play vulnerable? Do you like trouble? Or do you work with Addel?"

'Stop it, stop talking. Why can't I stop talking?!'

"You wake up long enough to make a potion that tastes like your lips? And that kiss at the creek, what was all that about? Do you like stringing people along? Play with my heart?"

'Not here. Not like this. Shut the f--k up, please!'

"I like you, but maybe you're too dense to see that. Maybe, just maybe, you're smarter than you look and your vice in this sh--hole is sucking people like myself into your sick games."

'I don't mean that. That's not how I want to tell you. Don't listen to me!'

Lycan squeezed her hand harder than he should and Cardinal acknowledged it as an attack. The rejection of a safe zone attack rebounded his hands from her violently.

"You're a tease, Esther..." he seethed.

'No please. Stop. Not like this...'

"And you don't care about anyone but yourself."

The room fell silent. All eyes were on Lycan and the girl. The hiss and crackle of the fire behind them broke the otherwise dead Inn.

Lycan rose from his chair and looked down on her with his lip flared in disgust.

"Can you fix that?" he spat.

'God... no.... Esther....'

"Don't worry about it," Lycan quipped, sharper than usual. "It's not something you can fix."

"Your coffee sir?" the steward asked from behind. Lycan turned to meet his attention, missing any sort of reaction Esther may have had to his comment.

"Thanks, yeah, just place it on the table." The teen pointed a hand and the steward placed the silver platter atop the low table.

An ivory decanter of hot coffee emitted a thin line of steam from its spout. Two polished, ceramic cups sat to either side, each with their own saucer of cream and sugar. Silver spoons laid in a row on white linen napkins and in the middle, a layered tower with varying scones. The server pulled another linen cloth drapped from his forearm and plucked a lemon poppyseed scone from the top. He placed it on a small plate on Lycan's side and stood upright.

"Lemon poppyseed," the redheaded steward commented. "Enjoy."

Again, the thin-lipped steward feigned a smile with questionable undertones. With an adjustment of his glasses, he left the two alone. Lycan cocked a brow and followed the man with his gaze until he vanished behind a door to the kitchen.

"Hmm..." With a shake of his head, Lycan brought his attention to the display of coffee and sweets.

"I'll pour you a cup," Lycan stated, further deflecting Esther's question. 

He lifted the decanter and poured two steaming cups before setting it back down. With two spoons of cream and two spoons of sugar, Lycan whisked away his creamy beverage as the musical clinks of metal to teacup sounded. He pushed his lips to the edge and exhaled to cool the first sip.

"Mmm..." he muttered. "That's good."

Eager to try the sweets, Lycan took a bite out of the scone set before him and washed it down with another hearty sip of coffee. The lemon and poppyseed pastry combined on his tongue like he recalled so many times back home. It was like Montana in winter. The teen cracked a small smile as he set down his hot cup and dusted his hands.

"So, safeguard potions. You remember those crystals? You start by grinding them down in a pestle..." he began, droning on all the little details to make the potion. Toast the leaves, steep them like tea, mix in a ratio of the crystal, heat, reduce, and cool. As he spoke, something began to ache at the back of his head. Lycan blinked a few times to try and rid its influence, but the strange sensation started to spread.

Lycan opened an eye as Galilea shed her thin shroud to reveal a white bikini - one of his favorites. He grinned to himself as she slid into the water and shut his eyes once more to appreciate the serenity of a good soak.

Unfortunately, as fate would have it, serenity didn't last as the cacophony of splashing water filled the air. Lycan's head dropped and hung loosely from his shoulders with a deep sigh. He looked skyward as he grit his teeth, then mustered the will to stand up. He gripped onto the boulders that framed in their little paradise and peeked over to witness the scene of a bluenette wrangling with some sea creature. The massive fish flailed vigorously and despite Clarex burying his blade into it, the monster flung him to the shore. He quickly waved hello to some players before locking in mortal combat with the creature. Lycan dipped his head back down just as some other player joined the fight.

"Ugh... Thought I cleaned this place out... Forgot to check the lake..." Lycan mumbled. With Calrex at the helm, he wouldn't have to worry about others getting hurt.

'I'll pop over to thank him later', he mentally noted.

As Lycan slid back into the warm embrace of the soaking pool, Galilea introduced herself.

"Oh? Yeah. I'm Lycan, nice to meet you," he replied. To answer her question, he looked her over. Blonde hair, blue eyes, slender but fit, nice b...

"Uh... Do you own a an antique shop?" he blurted, turning his eyes away. His mind threw out the first thought that popped into his head, but he quickly corrected. "No... that girl had black hair. Different person."

Lycan shrugged and turned back to Galilea with a smirk.

"Doesn't ring a bell," concluded the teen.

"Me?" asked the girl beside Lycan in a whimsical tone. "Um.. I-I'm Jenny... I-It's nice to meet you..."

With a formal half bow, the brunette turned her rosy cheeks away from the blonde. Lycan raised a brow.

"Jenny huh? You alright? You seem a bit uncomfortable," he asked with a poke of her shoulder.

"N-no, I'm fine... I-I don't get out much..." she whimpered as she covered her shoulder where he poked her.

Lycan shrugged again. "Weird, you just slid on in here without a worry. We don't bite. Well, I don't. She might."

Lycan gestured to Galilea with a mischievous grin and soft chuckle.

Esther broke Lycan from his trance. Like waking from a dream, he looked at her groggily until reality settled back into his bones. He noticed her change of outfit, a more casual number with thinner fabrics apart from her shawl and draping attire. Ironically enough, she looked like one of those catholic school girls with the skirt and blouse. He found it fitting, considering his previous conversation with himself.

"Hey," he greeted in return. She sat beside him on the arm of his chair and leaned over with her HUD exposed. Lycan's eyes glassed over the information, taking no particular interest. A part of him wanted to smile, give her a hug, and wish her congratulations. The other part, however, struggled with the idea of her presence. 

"Congrats," commented the teen.

"Why don't you take a seat." He gestured to the opposing chair in front of him. Between the two, a small and short table stood. The entire ensemble rested on a rug as the heat of the hearth washed over them. "I ordered us coffee. Cream and sugar on the side. Do you like scones?"

Overall, Lycan's expression and mannerisms lacked his previous jovial spirit. His features looked firmer, his eyes duller, and his posture closed. He looked up to Esther with a flat face and gestured over to the chair another time with the nod of his head. It looked as if a father shooed his child away.

"When you're comfortable, we'll talk about the safeguard recipe."

Lycan already began to seed distance between the two. What he thought may have been a potential interest for a deeper relationship, now became something more about business. He wanted her safe, that much remained a constant. The emotional roller-coaster, kiss, and silken slip, that vanished into the recesses of his mind as though they never existed. The teen began reverting to his old ways - the time before her. He believed once again, this world was a lonely one meant only for the independent and the strong.

 ID# 68309 results: +13 Bonus Materials

The serenity of the soaking pool did not last. Before long, Lycan opened his eyes to the face of a stranger looming over him. He held up a hand to block out the sun from overhead and get a better look at the kid. Wait, was that a reflection? Short white hair, sharp eyes.

"What's that now?" Lycan replied, his bearings skewed. He widened his eyes and blinked a few times to rid the horrible feeling of deja vus. Finally, Raze's words sank in. "Oh, yeah. No, I'm not sleepin'. Just enjoying a quiet soak. Besides..."

Lycan, now content he wasn't dreaming, settled into the pool a bit more until his chin touched the water's surface.

"I spent most of the morning clearing out the area. We should be good for a couple hours."

The warm waters and sun-heated stones felt like heaven on his skin. The teen almost wished he were made of butter, because he certainly felt like he could melt right now.

"You should strip down and hop in. When was the last time you got to enjoy the lake like the real world?" Lycan asked, his eyes again shut.

Another voice added to the mix and Lycan opened a single, amber eye. His eyes pinned on a slender blonde who seemed quite uncomfortable in her bathing attire. With a grin and slight chuckle, the teen gestured to the more than ample space of the soaking pool.

"Jump right in," he commented. "Feels amazing..."

Before he shut his eyes again, another shadow loomed overhead. This time, without words, a female in a frilled top and bottom slid into the water to the left of Lycan. She made a quiet seething sound as she lowered into the warmer waters. With brunette locks thrown up in a high ponytail and blue eyes, she turned to Lycan with a smile.

"Don't mind if I do!" she chimed. Lycan looked about for a moment in confusion.

'Where the heck are these people coming from all of a sudden?' He shook his laugh with a low chuckle and settled against the boulder.

"Feels good, don't it?" he asked to those that joined him. 

"God, what a day..." Lycan muttered as he slid on his pants. He buckled them shut and looked over to the rest of his gear dangling on a drying rack. The fading evening sunlight reflected the red and blues of his clothes throughout his room at the Lumberer's Inn. He shook his head, trying to erase the memories of the afternoon.

"That girl..." he muttered as he reached for his v-neck. "I don't get her."

He slipped it over his head and tugged it tight. For a moment, he flopped down on the queen sized bed and rubbed at his forehead.

"It's like highschool all over again," he huffed. Then he threw out his hand as if arguing with an invisible stranger. "Like, she gets herself in these horrible situations. I save her thinking its the right thing to do and then... the kiss potion? Running in with Player Killers? Practically getting naked?"

He fell backward and spanned his arms across the comfortable plush comforter.

"I'm too old for this, man..." his voice dropped off into a whisper. "I should call quits. She's gotta be toying with me - like one of those preppy girls."

A long drawn sigh escaped Lycan's lips at the memory. He remembered a girl who pretended to be his friend, dropping small hints here and there it might be something more. When he finally worked up the courage to ask her out, she denied him in front of all of his and her friends. The years that passed, he had to fight off the rumor she spread of him being gay. Who would they believe, a nobody, or an attractive popular girl.

"Not doing that again," Lycan muttered to himself as he sat up. His eyes fell on his longcoat as it waited for him. He sighed.

"Better not keep her waiting."

Lycan got off the bed and finished donning his normal attire. With a few taps of his boots on the worn wooden floor, he made way for the door. Down the steps he went to the main lobby of the inn. Tables scattered around a massive dining hall with a large hearth burning fiercely in the far corner.  Feeling the remnant chill of the creek, he walked to the hearth and picked a comfortable leather seat closest to the flames.

"Hello sir, can I get something for you?" A young male steward asked him almost immediately.

Lycan looked up with a furrowed brow.

"That was fast," he commented. "Uh... yeah, could I have two coffees? Cream and sugar on the side. And do you guys have scones?"

"Yessir."

"One of those. Something with citrus baked in - lemon, orange, lime, whatever."

"That all?"

"That'll do, thanks." With those words, the steward gave a bow and Lycan noticed something off-putting. The server seemed to be grinning, not smiling. Lycan cocked his head as the man left and shook it off as his own paranoia.

With a deep inhale, he exhaled with pursed lips and turned his Amber eyes toward the flame. Esther wouldn't be long now, he told her to find him when she was done in her room. Girls always did take longer at these sorts of things.