Cygnus

Cygnus was walking along next to Kooh in relative silence before she asked him about his hunting. With a smile, he began to recount his day. "Yeah, I figured i'd hunt down some materials and XP.. There's a lot of stuff I need for my shop. I was in the mood for a different landscape than what i'm used to." The warrior opened his menu and checked his stats. "Yup. i've only got a short way to go to level 16, aaaand i've also almost Grandmastered my weapon skill. Wonderful." He closed his menu and turned back to Kooh. "I guess what i'm saying is, today has been a good day." Little did Cygnus mention, that wasn't the only reason he had a good day. Reconnecting with Kooh also had a lot to do with it. He was close to just dropping contact with her. Thankfully, he met her out here. "So, other than getting lost in the woods, how was your day?" He teased playfully. Now that they got a fresh start, Cygnus was going to try to build onto their friendship. He didn't notice, but he was thinking about his life outside SAO less and less. The longer he was here, the more this truly felt like reality and the more he forgot that there even was a home, family, and friends to return to. Even his fiance and daughter were slipping from his mind more every day. He forgot the sound of Miki's laugh, the silky smooth texture of her hair and how it always seemed to smell of strawberries. He forgot Himiko's smile and the lyrics to that song he used to sing to her every night before bed. It seemed all he hadn't forgotten were their faces, and even that had slowly begun to slip.

Cygnus chuckled when Kooh mentioned that if he wanted to pick a fight, she would just stay on the sidelines. "Don't worry, I won't pick any fights." He closed the gap with a quick jog so that he was next to her. "Gotta get you back to the city after all. I could use something warm to drink and a fire myself, so I wanna get back as soon as possible." Cygnus smiled at his traveling companion. He was happy they got another chance to be friends. He didn't like leaving things unfinished; like he did with his fiance and daughter. At least he could chalk this one up as a victory. For now, at least. Cygnus looked over at Kooh. "Well, we're still a little ways yet. Not too far, but we're about half an hour away." Cygnus looked over his shoulder. The sun was setting. "Hm. We gotta pick up the pace. If we don't hurry, we'll be forced to walk through these woods at night. That's a little dangerous." With that, Cygnus picked up his speed a little to where he was power walking. "Gets a lot colder too." He mumbled the last part as another gust of cold wind blew across his face. The warrior shivered and crossed his arms over his chest. He new he would never get used to this place.

Cygnus turned his head towards the familiar voice and smiled when he saw that it was who he was waiting for. "Good morning, Baldur! I'm doing fine. Itching to take on this quest though. It sounds pretty fun and I could certainly use the SP. I'm so close to grandmastering my weapon skill. I look forward to the accomplishment. Once I get some decent T2 gear, i'll be just about ready for the frontline." Cygnus laughed, half-nervous and half excited. The idea of being there with all these high level players and going up against these powerful bosses intimidated and excited the warrior at the same time. The thought of battle thrilled him, while the thought of being compared to these elder players unnerved him. Cygnus grinned at his friend. "Anyway, how are you doing, Baldur? It hasn't been long, but i'd like to know if you're still well."

Cygnus cheered when Victor struck down the Minotaur that he had softened up with his Sword Art. He gave the player a thumbs up to tell him good job before turning his attention to the other enemy. There was no point, it seemed, as Baldur struck it down before he could even think of attacking. With a triumphant grin, he gave Gavel a quick spin before putting her back in the sheath. "Great job everyone." The warrior turned to the area where the loot was, going over and taking a pendant that rested on a pedestal. He looked the trinket over a bit. It didn't look like anything special. Probably just a vanity item. With a nod, he placed the pendant in his inventory and took his place alongside his party. Cygnus grinned and stretched. "So, you guys about ready to get out of here? I don't want to be here any longer than I have to be." The brunette laughed nervously. This maze gave him the creeps. Cygnus was eager to be rid of it as quickly as possible.

Cygnus straightened up and laughed nervously when Kooh pointed out he repeated his question. He was just so eager to change the subject that he didn't even notice. They didn't dwell on that, however. "Heh, well, this floor is beautiful, but it's cold. I can't handle the cold very well. Even though i'm not actually exercising, it seems to help a bit to keep active." The warrior grinned at Kooh. "Well, if you wanted to do some exploration, i'd be happy to help with that. It might be helpful to have someone with you while you explore. I'm certain I can handle any threats on this floor." Cygnus struck a confident pose, then looked over at Kooh again. "I've come a pretty long way since we last saw combat together. I think I can have your back here." The warrior took a quick look around, just making sure that there weren't any stray mobs nearby trying to sneak up on them. He wasn't really in the mood for an ambush.

<<Guardian of Fire>>

Cygnus stood around the gates of Vulcan, waiting for his friend and mentor, @Baldur. The two have been going on a lot of quests together lately and Cygnus had learned much from the elder player. This was the warrior's purpose today. He had sent a message to Baldur not long ago, asking him if he wanted to go on another quest. This time, they were going to tackle <<Guardian of Fire>>. Cygnus had heard little about this quest, just that the boss was the legendary monster and guardian of the underworld in Greek mythology, Cerberus. Just knowing that was enough to pique his interest. He also heard that there was some kind of ongoing damage effect, so Cygnus was sure to pack plenty of healing items just in case. It was always better to be prepared. With a sigh, the brunette wiped the sweat off his brow. This place on the whole wasn't bad, just the city was. It didn't help that the city was made of metal and suspended over an active volcano. That made things here even hotter than the rest of the floor. Eager to leave, Cygnus scanned the surrounding area for any sign of Baldur.

Cygnus gave a repectful bow to Gram as Baldur formally introduced them. "A pleasure, Gram." The warrior laughed when Gram gave them a bow of his own. Cygnus straightened his posture after that and looked over at Baldur when he said that Gram really was meant to be his wolf. "Yes, it certainly seems that way. I've known this little guy for all of ten seconds and he already reminds me of you." Cygnus knelt down and pet Gram on the head. "He's rather majestic, don't you agree?" The brunette asked his friends. It made him excited to get his own familiar. That golden dragon had been on his mind a lot lately and he wanted to try to go after it soon. Cygnus stood up straight and flashed a smile at Baldur. "Congratulations and good work, my friend. May he serve you well." He gave his comrade a thumbs up, his smile remaining.

Cygnus tried to look and see where the wolves were when Baldur mentioned he found one, but the brunette could not see anything. He really had to invest in some Search and Detect stuff before he tried to find his own familiar. Cygnus didn't have to worry, however, as Baldur motioned for the warrior to follow and once they got close enough, he spotted the wolf. It truly was a beautiful creature, its white fur matching the color of the freshly fallen snow. "Wow, he's beautiful." Cygnus mumbled as he observed the creature. Soon, Baldur took out some cake and the wolf walked over, eating it right out of the player's hand. Cygnus gave a quiet "Yes!" as he pumped his fist in the air. Once it was clear that this wolf was bonded to him, Baldur began thinking of names. Cygnus put his index finger to his chin as he though. "Hmm... Hugin does sound good. I'm partial to Gram as well. All in all, my vote would go for Gram. It's up to you though, my friend. He's yours now." The brunette grinned widely.

Cygnus waved to Rain as he and Baldur walked off. "Good luck!" Some time after they left, Baldur warned Cygnus to be on the lookout for any lone wolves and should they engage in battle and should the wolf let off a howl, have the rest of the pack contend with as well. Cygnus nodded, thanking his lucky stars that he had a few stunning Sword Arts in his arsenal. This shouldn't be too difficult, but the warrior refused to let his guard down.  Cygnus grinned when Baldur mentioned that the path he was on would compliment him and Rain well. He felt part of the group and that was what he was looking for for awhile. "Yes! Once I can get to the more durable stuff, I think i'll be pretty sturdy. But... um... i've never really seen a floor boss before. I imagine they're like other bosses, just a lot meaner." Cygnus shrugged. "The thought of fighting one though... its really got my blood pumping. I like a good challenge." The brunette chuckled, deciding to draw Gavel from its sheath. They would likely be in combat soon and Cygnus didn't like being caught "with his pants down" as it were.

Cygnus watched the two experienced players talk about the frontlines and plan for the future. That was right. Cygnus almost forgot that as powerful as those two were, there were still new levels of power for them to reach. There were more levels of power for him to discover too.  He looked over at Baldur as the elder player addressed him directly. "Oh, yes. I plan to go eventually. Once i'm ready, of course. I want to actually be able to contribute something. I can't wait for that day, though. It's going to be glorious indeed. I can't wait until I am actually able to assist those fighting the good fight." The warrior crossed his arms and nodded to himself. He was overjoyed to discover that his style was one that would be needed. All Cygnus wanted was to be useful in this fight, to cut down bosses and be just as effective as his peers. Now, it seemed he was finally on the path to making that dream a reality and it felt good. 

"Um..." That was all Cygnus could say at first. He didn't expect this to go that easily. He quickly nodded, however. He didn't want Kooh to change her mind. "Okay. I... I can live with that." He stood up straight and the blush vanished from his cheeks. "Um..." He said again before stiffening up and giving Kooh a polite bow. "A good day to you, miss. I am known as Cygnus. It's a pleasure to meet you." He glanced up at Kooh and flashed her a smile to let her know that he wasn't taking her that liiterally and was just joking. He straightened up after a few seconds and rested his hand on the pommel of Gavel. "So, since we're here, what are you doing in a place like this?" Cygnus was eager to get the subject of the conversation as far away from what it was before as possible. The past few weeks had been trying, but now everything was back to normal. Hopefully forever.

Cygnus shivered in the freezing cold of the fourth floor. It seemed he had been coming here a lot lately. Why, he honest to god didn't know. This floor was among his least favorite. He didn't handle the cold well, and so the warrior tried to avoid this floor when he could. But as fate would have it, he ended up here a lot. The place wasn't too bad. Over time, Cygnus began to appreciate some of its qualities. The beauty of its forests, the calmness, the tranquility. If it wasn't so damn cold, it would be a nice place to relax. He didn't regret coming along though. His friends Baldur and Rain were with him, and that was enough. He hadn't met Hunie before, but she seemed nice enough. The group had come together for the purpose of assisting Rain in helping him find a familiar. He heard him mention it in an earlier encounter they had. The player used the goal as inspiration to keep trudging through the pass. He stayed silent for the most part, focused on putting one foot in front of the otehr and ignoring the bitter cold.

Cygnus had averted his gaze from Kooh as she spoke, his face still red. He didn't think he wanted to go out with her, or that he was interested at all in calling himself her boyfriend. "No... no it's not that. You don't understand... I..." He sighed. "I just care about you. I'm not going to lie, I... I liked it when you kissed me. But I can't... I can't be with a girl right now." The brunette felt like he was stumbling through his sentences. He wasn't good at being open and honest at all, at least before today. Kooh, perhaps unwittingly, had helped him in that regard, putting him in situations where he had to be open and honest. He stared at his feet for awhile before finally looking up. "I don't want anything like that from you. I just want you to not hate me is all and I want you to let me..." Cygnus paused, the words getting caught in his throat. "I want you to let me be there for you." He finally choked out. "I don't want to... lose you. You're a friend and... i've lost enough people in my life." 

Shop Status: Open

[On the outskirts of Delilah, on Aincrad's third floor, there lies a small, cozy cabin among a field of dandylions with a large forge outside on a covered deck. Hanging on the door is a crudely painted sign that reads - "The White Scabbard: Quality Weapons and Armor." Underneath, it states; "Forged with love by Cygnus - Owner and Proprieter." Once you head inside, you notice the weapons hanging on the wall and armor on display stands. There is a noticeable lack of a counter, the owner instead opting for something a little more inviting. Around a cozy fireplace are several armchairs. Along the walls, there are several weapons on display.]

Welcome!

Welcome to The White Scabbard, a cozy little shop on the 3rd Floor. This shop was founded with a singular goal in mind; helping those in need of help. Take a look at my prices and place an order! Prices are negotiable! Also take a look at my various promotions! Next time you're in need of some new gear, remember me!

Prices

Current Promotions

Order Form

Cygnus instantly regretted bringing that kiss up. Instead of making him feel like an idiot, like he expected, she just pushed him even further, teasing him and saying he must have really liked it. His face went bright red, but he managed to maintain eye contact, if only just barely. The brunette was overwhelmed by a flood of emotions. He thought back to how that kiss felt. It was a difficult question, whether or not he liked being kissed by her. Cygnus came to the conclusion that maybe he really did like it. The kiss didn't mean much to her, perhaps, but it meant everything to him. He hadn't felt close to someone like that in a very long time. It also made him feel guilty though. In his heart, he felt like he and Miki were still together. He loved her just the same as he did the night she died. He remembered a conversation he and Miki once had, about what they would do if the other died. It was just a silly conversation, but Miki told him that night that she would want him to move on. Moving on was difficult though. But when Kooh told him to forget about everything, his resolve was strengthened and he only mumbled two words. "I can't..." A long pause followed. "You can't just kiss me and tell me to forget you. I can't do it." He paused again, his face growing redder. He followed up with a whisper. "I won't..." Cygnus came to decide at that time that he would stick close to Kooh for as long as possible. Whether he loved her or not, he knew he at least cared about her. He would protect her just like he did from those Dark Elves, and do his best to make sure that they both got out of this alive.

Cygnus grinned as Kasier said she was okay and thanked him for the material and a fun day. "No problem! Let's do it again some time soon." When Kasier left, the brunette gave her a friendly wave before turning around and stretching. He figured that he should probably head back as well. This day had been productive, but his lunch had made him lazy. Cygnus looked towards where he came from, then headed back to town. He'd get a nap, then maybe go out hunting one more time before the day was over. He nodded to himself, his plan for the day set.

Thread Summary

Cygnus: +1 SP, 425 Col, 2 Materials

Kasier: +1 SP, 425 Col, 1 Material

COMPLETED

Cygnus's heart began to pound when Kooh asked him if he was nervous about something. Her acting like that kiss never happened was really throwing him off. Did it just mean nothing ot her? Was it just something she did without a second thought? Was it supposed to be innocent? If so, why did he feel like this? That was when he realized he had been standing there like an idiot for awhile. With a small squeak, he tried to form words. "Oh... uhm... I-I... there's not... damn it." He whispered, finally giving up. He thought about telling her why he was nervous. Perhaps that would help how he was feeling. Maybe Kooh would chastise him for being an idiot and he'd feel like he was just overreacting to an innocent little kiss. "I... i've just been thinking about that kiss we had a couple of weeks back. That's... why I haven't spoken to you. I've just been thinking about it."

Cygnus honestly didn't think about the difference in level they probably were now. Even though Cygnus had likely surpassed him by now, this fact went over the head of the player. To him, Victor was still a higher level player showing him the ropes, and so the warrior would treat him with respect and defer to his judgement. "I'm not too familiar with all of the quests, though I have done quite a few. Do you have any quests in mind specifically? I'm up for anything, personally." He smilled and stretched with a yawn. He hadn't yet fully woken up this morning. "Beyond quests, we could also go hunting. Get some Col and materials. Up to you though. Like I mentioned, i'm up for anything." Cygnus smiled, happy he could hang out with Victor again. It had been far too long, that was for sure. 

Cygnus smiled and waved to Rain as he approached. When Baldur introduced htem, he nodded and bowed respectfully to Rain, then turned to Baldur. "Oh, we've been on a quest or two together. I was also there for the potion giveaway." He turned his head back to Rain. "It's good to see you again though." As they began speaking of familiars, Cygnus relayed what he knew about the familiar he wanted to get. "I heard that somewhere on the third floor, there is this golden miniature dragon that frequents this glade. Supposedly, he gives sagely advice to other players. I'm going to see if he will become my familiar, because he seems to be a creature I would surely like to have." He listened to Rain explain what familiar he was going after. "Oh, that sounds like a capital idea. You can count me in if I have the time and if there's room." He toyed with the pommel of his sword absent mindedly. 

Cygnus averted his eyes, failing to meet Kooh's gaze as she spoke to him. "Oh, um... i'm just hunting. Haven't had... um... a lot of luck so far." He chuckled and scartched his head nervously. The warrior shivered as an icy wind bit through his skin all the way to the bone. "Oh, how rude of me." He whispered, his face growing redder. In his embarrassment, he forgot to respond and ask her the same. "What about you? Where are... you headed?" He choked out. Part of him debated with the other part about whether or not they should discuss that kiss. She told him to leave her alone, but she kissed him. What kind of mixed signal was that? Despite the fact he was embarrassed, he was actually happy she was here. 

Cygnus let out one final sigh and just so happened to turn his head towards Kooh. He didn't recognize the player for a moment, but when he did, his face went bright red and he froze up. On the bright side, he wasn't cold anymore. He wasn't sure what to do for a second, and so he just stood there awkwardly for a moment. Eventually, he raised his hand and gaver her an awkward wave. "Um, hello!" He managed to get out at a volume that would be just enough for Kooh to hear. His face was still as red as a beet as he stood there, leaning up against the tree. The suddenness of their reuinion was more than a little jarring. He wanted to talk to her eventually, but he wanted to have some time to get over this embarrassment first. He wondered what brought her there. She looked lost. Cygnus knew that if she was indeed lost, he would have to help her.

@Kasier

Cygnus stopped when Kasier motioned for him to do so, spotting the beady red eyes with killing intent. As they dived out of the trees and towards Kasier, he heard her scream. His protector instincts kicked into action and he angled Gavel, roaring and slicing through the birds with a flurry of six slashes. The mobs that gave Cygnus trouble on the past were less than nothing to him now, and so they all fell to his blade in a shower of blue polygons. Cygnus smirked and sheathed his sword, looking back at Kasier. "Kasier, are you alright?" He was pretty sure she was. He had managed to destroy the beasts before they got to her after all. Still, Cygnus was the type to get concerned anyway.

Cygnus cut down white wolf as it lunged at him, sighing when he saw that it dropped nothing. He shouldered Gavel, looking around at the forest of evergreen trees. Cygnus didn't really like the fourth floor that much. He wished he decided to go somewhere else. He shivered and took a few steps forward, looking for more mobs to hunt, but ended up coming up with nothing. As he leaned upagainst a tree to take a break, he thought about Kooh. They hadn't spoken in two weeks and the warrior had actually begun to miss her, odd as that might sound. Since she kissed him on that day, he had tried to message her a few times, but he would always back out and never send it. He wasn't entirely sure what to make of what she did. Did she like him? For that matter, was what she said true and did he like her? He thought back to their kiss, trying to put aside all the embarrassment for a moment and trying to think about whether or not he did like it. It was a tough question, and one he wasn't sure he was ready to answer. He sighed and sheathed his weapon. Girls are complicated...

Cygnus looked around as they traversed the labyrinth. The closeness of the walls was beginning to make him feel claustrophobic. He kept his blade at the ready, looking around for their quest target. It wasn't long until they found what they were looking for. A red and blue minotaur, looking like it stepped right out of the legends. The warrior held his blade at the ready, heeding Baldur's advice while he and Rain drew aggro. At his current level, these monsters posed no threat to him, so he figured he'd just hang loose and have some fun. Cyguns stepped forward once Baldur got off his attack, executing his own Sword Art, Straight. It had been awhile since he used this one. The warrior lunged at the enemy, stabbing his blade right through the creature's midsection. He pulled the weapon out and readied himself again.

Cygnus slapped some Col on the table as Kasier accepted his hunting invitation and got up to get ready to go. He honestly expected that he would be paying. He was groomed to be a gentleman ever since he was a child. Before they began their journey far outside the safe zone, Cygnus drew Gavel, shouldering her. The two then began their trek into the Black Forest. Cygnus smiled at his companion as she suggested he take the lead, and that the forest gave her the creeps. Indeed, the forest had a creepy feel. The canopy above blocked out much of the afternoon sun and a thick mist clung to the ground. Cygnus didn't scare too easily, however, so he was perfectly fine taking the lead. He actually liked being a guardian of sorts. He always liked helping people, even when he was very young. Before this happened, when he was in the real world, his darker mood prevented him from doing that very much. But now that he had been given something to fight for, this trait of his seemed to emerge again. He flashed Kasier a thumbs up as he took the lead. "Hm. I get what you mean about this place feeling creepy. I wonder if any players died here? Certainly there must have been a few..." The warrior shivered. "Heh, doesn't make things less creepy thinking about it like that."