Eatos

He was…sorry? Part of her mind screamed the word pity, and she felt a small anger within her. She hated people pitying her for it all, it was all she got along with hatred back in the real world. It had impacted her, yes, but she didn’t need pity to survive. She needed, understanding. She looked up past her Husky, to spot a…cat?! She frowned, when did that get here? She hadn’t noticed it before, and it did seem to be comprised of gas as if it wasn’t entirely touchable.

“That’s why…I panicked during our fight Pinball” She said, fighting to keep on talking despite the memories flooding her “That’s why I asked you to keep my panic to yourself, because I didn’t want people to know the truth until I was ready to tell it. Because I was scared of how people would react, how they would treat me if they knew the truth…” She looked up past her Husky, her normally calm amber eyes washed with tears “What about you, w-what do you, think of me?”

Would want her dead? Eatos felt a sting through her chest. There were only a few people, in the world, she wanted dead. It was a thought that rarely crossed her mind, ever since her actual taking of lives. She had strided to be better, to be more aware. And sadly, because of that, she understood Fae. She understood where the girl was coming from, why she believed what she did, even if Eatos believed it to be wrong.

“Very well” Fae didn’t want to talk about it, and Eatos didn’t want to plague the other girl much “My…chest?” She frowned, a little taken aback by the way this conversation went. She looked down. Unlike a lot of girls her age, her chest hadn’t developed much before when she was 16. Although Fae saying she couldn’t wait, Eatos let out a slightly amused smile. She had a lot waiting for her, and a lot of it wasn’t that fun “It started when I hit puberty, I was around 13 when it all started for me, only a little older than you are now”

The girl frowned a little. He was always a little surprising. At some points he knew nothing, and other times, he had nothing but knowledge. It often confused her. She smiled softly at him. He was right, having a player operating on the front lines would give plenty of weight to the guild. It would, at the very least, give her a card to play. Something she could use to play up the guilds potential.

“Don’t worry too much about it ok? I can handle that part of the guild” She said calmly. She didn’t want to say the truth, which was that she was surprised he hadn’t pushed the guild into a combat format. It wasn’t something that needed saying.

Then the Switch came back up again, and the girl allowed herself a silent groan. She knew learning how to right was important, but she hated it. She took a deep breath, and tightly gripped her Katana. Stryder threw himself in as she watched carefully, and saw an opening on the creatures side.

“I got it” She said calmly as she swung her Katana in an upwards motion, catching the Forsaken and throwing the creature up into the air, stunning it. In a swift motion, the girl swung to the side, giving Stryder a clear shot at it “It…it’s yours…!”

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Stryder H1 - 520/520HP | 35/52 EN | 54MIT | 3 ACC 

Eatos H2 - 340/340 HP | 30/34 EN | 4 DMG | 9 MIT | 3 EVA | 2 REC | 1 THRN

Forgotten (Loot Standard) 219/450HP - 78 DMG - STUNNED <Airbourne>

The girl wasn’t entirely sure why, of all Domarus’ was the first she would attempt to ally with. Others, such as the Holy Dragon Allience, would be more secure. While there was something to suggest that the guild, whose true name was hidden behind another language, the name itself gave the girl slight worry. While translating it was no issue, the very fact it was hidden. Corporations do that, from time to time, as a front.

She shook her head. Her parents rubbing off on her without a doubt. She looked in the mirror as she received a reply from Domarus. He was willing to meet. Good. She checked her inventory, making sure her suit was on before contacting the fellow guild head, Stryder.

‘Stryder, as we mentioned, I’m in the process of allying up with another guild. You’re welcome to be part of the talks, but remember to let me dictate our pace’. While overall formal, she was the face of the guilds. She was a businesswomen, and at the end of the day, she had to ensure that front was maintained.

Hearing the door being knocked on, the girl took a deep breath. Her black suit shifting on her shoulders as she opened the door, being met by Domarus and Keres. He was wearing, well, a lot more casual clothes than she honestly expected. The girl was still wearing those maid clothes. Was that a ploy to mess with her? She smiled softly at the pair of them, and took a step backwards to allow them into her store, directing them to the waiting area. Several couches in front of a stone fireplace, which was softly burning.

“Thank you for coming down so quickly, and replying to my message. It’s been some time since we last saw each other, I hope you are well Domarus”

Hephaetus, the god of the Forge itself. While she knew it was just a game, and other blacksmiths would have the same option to meet him. She couldn’t not feel excited. As something who spent so much of her life understanding Greek history and myth, it was just something that made her happy.

“I’m greatful to meet them. Please, take me to them” She said. The Saytr nodded his head, and began heading towards the mountain. She pondered, as they walked, how ‘correct’ would this be. Would a human like her be allowed on the mountain itself, or would the god descend and greet her, as they did in the stories?  The son of Zeus, the almighty God and Hera, the god of women. The husband of Aphrodite, who was considered the most beautiful god. And of course, the fact the god himself was the forger of weapons for the gods themselves. She was being called here because of her skill as a blacksmith, that much was clear. But what was she being called to do?

No one could tell? The girl would have shaken her head, but there was no point. So many people did know, that’s what had caused Silver to find her. He’d read it in the paper, hell she’d reach national headlines. It had destroyed her confidence and her will to live. She had nearly taken her own life back then…She took a deep breath. She couldn’t focus on that, she had to think about the present. The past was the past, a possible tapestry of the future if one did not learn.  

She was, still worried about the guild? To a degree that would make sense. She could see the guild serving as a catalyst, something to allow her to see the ‘real’ world. But then, if that was the case… Her brain cut itself short listening to the last part. Put her out of her misery? She knew what Fae was thinking. Only a few years ago, she had asked the same damn thing.

“My store has a backdoor, there is a key in a lockbox to open it. If you get in trouble, you’re welcome to come and make yourself home” She offered. What more could she do, when something as simply as words failed her?

Holy Dragon was far from their best choice in the girls honest opinion. The Holy Dragon Allience, while it didn’t have a huge roster, had powerful members. Telrenya, Ruby, Jomei and Beat serving a key active members. All of them had strong levels, and from her information, were caring individuals. But would that kindness extend to other guilds? It was worth considering, however there were several other guilds that could still prove useful. The guild Embers was in, as well as Hestia. Both of them could prove useful in the long term.

“They’re just one option Stryder. In creating alliences, you cannot afford to be sentimental. The goal in allying with the others, is to ensure our members are safe. They’re members are strong, so when a member of our guild wants help, they’ll be obligated to help. Of course, we’ll be the ‘weaker’ of the guilds, so our negotiations means we may lose out at first. But I can work around that” She took a deep breath as her mind went over as much information. There was so much to do, and she’d need to turn to her information network in order to ensure she had everything. She muttered something outloud to herself in French, before looking up at him.

“Switch…I mean, I can give it another try” She left out how the first one hadn’t gone that well for her…

The girl had no idea if Hei saw through her smile. She had neve been that good at ‘faking’ emotions, often time simply neglecting emotions entirely and allowing a cold heart to direct her. It was just how she was, after her incident. But, that was some time ago, yet the scars would never truly vanish, even she knew that.

She nodded at Hei at his suggestion. She knew that her damage was minimal and that she had put no additional specs into it since the last time they were her. Hei, on the other hand, well, she knew he had damage with his build. She had to reply on that. She nodded her head “We’ve got this. The beast shouldn’t be able to threaten you normally, plus I’ll have my healing up and ready for you” She promised. While the mob didn’t pose a big threat, the girl couldn’t help but treat it as if it was a threat. Better safe than sorry, even if she was being extreme about it.  

He was right, or at least, she felt unsafe. Something just felt wrong, she felt it in her bones. Moving up, she watched him punch his way through a roof. She raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. Stryder needed to chill out sometimes, even in times like this. She reached up, taking his hand and using it to haul herself up and out.

“There are a few guilds I could start getting in touch with. The Holy Dragon Allience would be important, but I know a few others I can start getting in touch. If you wanna get access to the front line, then building allies early on is important” She knew it would be the way to get him to listen. She knew, he wanted to get onto the front lines. By mentioning them, she knew it would make him more compliant. “Anyway, I think lets get one more then wrap it up, we’ve been up here for a while…”

The girl let out a breath of relief. At least he would listen. She tried to perk up, before giving up. The look that passed over the girls face was cold, depressed. Nothing at all like what she appeared in public. She let out a sigh.

“When I was still a teenager, I…helped someone kill over a hundred people…” she said. She wasn’t sure how to word anything, and unlike her usual self, controlled, she just started talking, unable to stop herself from just getting it out “I was his alibi…then I become his witness, watching him…k-kill…” the girl blinked, and found a tear on her face. Unaware when the tears had started, but she forced herself to keep going, despite the flashes that passed through her mind “A-and, then, he used me. The doctors said, that he had been drugging me with all kinds of stuff, making me compliant, submissive…and i…stabbed…”

The girl broke, curling her knees up to cover her face as she took a deep breath to try and calm herself down. Angel, noticing something was wrong, cuddled up against her owner, trying to conform the crying girl.

“E-even after he was arrested…I had nightmares, of being in the alleys…coated in blood. Even now, when I feel out of control, I freak. W-when you froze me, I was back in that alley, knife in hand” She looked up, her usually calm ember eyes coaxed in fear and tears as she held onto the Husky as if the world would slip away if she let go. She wasn’t watching him anymore, and had no idea how he had reacted to her tale.  

Eatos felt a stab in her chest, and it was pain. Right through her heart. She had one job, protect the members of her guild, protect the people who needed her. And she’d failed. She could tell the smile of Faes face was fake. Could smell it from a mile away, and it hurt her more than she thought possible. And the guilt, at no longer being the parent. She was thankful for it, and hated that despite it all, that it had happened.

She opened her mouth, but had no idea what to say. She had never been that good at this, that had been Silver. She had wanted to care for others, and yet, here was someone needing help, and she had no idea what to do.

“I’m sorry” she said simply, unsure what to do. If only Silver was here…. “We share the same burden Fae. I know what you’re going through, I know how it feels. I promise you Fae, this is not a path you want to walk down alone" 

The girl surpressed the sigh that would come out of her mouth. She had a feeling it might go like this, as much as she didn’t want to. Pinball, just didn’t trust her…or people in general. The why, would be something she wanted to know. It would allow her to help him, to understand him. But, that would be far from easy. She could tell when people were lying, and he was…almost. It was an odd taste she got in her mouth.

“Pin please…” she said softly, even reaching out a hand to hold him. As she moved, Angels head popped up, the familiars blue eyes zeroing in on Pinball. “I just…want to talk with you, please” There was a crack, a sense of desperation in the girls voice “If you don’t want to talk, then that’s fine. But at please just listen? It’s about our fight, a-and…my breakdown” She hadn’t expected him to be this, himself. He seemed ready to flee, and so, she would have no choice. To get him to listen, she’d have to admit her sin to him.  

The girls heard went out for Fae. There was nothing she could do, really, to help her. And yet, Fae was here depending on her. Could she honestly do this? She doubted it. She was no parent, and had never wanted to be.  This ‘motherhood’ of Fae was far from anything that she had been prepared for. She pulled the smaller girl into a hug, Angel looking around rather confused. The familiar, for all her intelligence, was just that, a familiar. What Eatos would give for the dog to be capable of talking.

“It’s fine Fae” she said calmly “It isn’t your fault, I promise” Eatos knew that the younger girl blamed herself, as she did herself when she had claimed lives of her own. “The past is just that, the past. Changing the present, is impossible. All the past does is change how you view the future” She wasn’t sure how to help Fae, not properly. But ensuring the other girl felt safe, and cared for, should be enough. Hopefully.

The girl looked at Pinball, her Husky being lazy and lying still on the couch. She didn’t want to tell him this, gods above she hated anyone knowing. But, Stryder, and Fae, and Thorsten. If Pinball was going to open up to her, she didn’t know any other way to get to him. This would either get him to open up, or he’d hate her forever.

“I’m worried about you Pin” she said finally “You seem to avoid the guild, or just people in general. You used to get along with Tsu, now you barely spend any time with her. The same with Fae. Even at the dragon quest, you showed up out of the blue, then left the second it was done. I can’t help but worry there is something bothering you…” She took a deep breath as pulled her Husky into a hug “And please, don’t say there is nothing. There is always something, and I just worry that something might happen to you…So can we talk? I’ll tell you, about me…if you’re willing to trust me”

The girl looked around her store. Heros Infinite Arsenal. Her ‘home’ effectively. Weapons and armour up displayed around the store, as well as a her waiting area. The girl was sitting on one of the couches, waiting. She knew how she was going to do this, how she wanted to approach this conversation. She needed him to relate to her, and she had two ways. She had been, more open, about herself of late. And he knew something was wrong, after their last fight. If she was to open up, to show her scars, maybe he would do the same?

Eatos didn’t hear the knocking at the door, but thankfully, two sets of ears existed within the house. Angel, the girls Familiar and pet Husky, started barking at the door. The girl stood up and petted the large pet, before opening the door and smiling softly at Pinball.

“Hey Pin. Thanks for coming down so quickly. Come on it, it’s a little chilly today” The girl walked into the house, allowing Pin to enter. She had spent nearly an hour in the snow with Angel, the Husky loved to play in it, and while she hadn’t found it cold, others would. Then again, others had their heartbeat change.

The bluenette sat down on her couch, and the Husky leaped up and claimed the rest of the seat. The girl smiled sheepishly and gestered for Pin to sit on the other couch “S-sorry, Angel does this with people she doesn’t know hugely.  The only person she doesn’t do this to is Hei, and sometimes Stryder” It was an odd habit, but then again, her familiar was territorial. “Anyway, I asked you here…for a few reasons. Do you…remember when we had our duel?”

Trixie, wasa player. Fae had killed? Despite the news, Eatos had no reaction that Fae could see. Her mind was reeling, but nothing else changed. Even her heartbeat remained the same, a constant beating in her chest. Her amber eyes watched the other girl slowly unhinge, and honestly, sadly so. She knew that look in Fae’s eyes. She hated it. It was the same look she had once.

“Fae…” she said, trying to find the right word. She knew what the other girl was going through, sadly, too well. “You’re not crazy” The girl sat down, Angel seemingly unaware of the conversation and running around chasing her own tail.

“Taking another life, it’s hard. You’ll never forget it, even when you know it wasn’t your fault, or that there was nothing you could do” The girl said, repeating words once said to her by a close friend “But I understand what you’re doing through…We, share the same sin” She confessed. She hadn’t wanted to tell the girl, but maybe, by letting her know, she wouldn’t feel so alone?

“Back in the real world, i….i had errors, and I got people killed, and i…I killed people. I didn’t want to, but it just…happened” The girl look into Fae’s eyes, her amber eyes seemingly dull as she recalled her personal sin “I promise this stays between us Fae. It isn’t your fault”

She wasn’t sure if she was getting through to the other girl, but she had to try. Her only ‘saving grace’ was she was 16, she was an adult. Fae was a child….No, she wasn’t even that. She was a kid that was barely holding together.  

Eatos looked at the options within the guild. Player names, her notes as a leader. Information. A lot of it. Normally, she spent her time categorising the members of the guild and ensuring they were ok, and today, well, was similar. A single player had come up on her radar, again and again, and not in a good way. Pinball. Something about him bothered her, his anti-social behavior alone weren't bad. However, she had noticed a few more things. The interactions between himself and others, namely Froppy and Embers, during the last quest, had been the catalyst for the actions. From what she knew, Tsu and Pinball got along well and were close. Then at the raid, it was clear something was up and even the outsider, Embers, knew about it. If the girl knew one thing, that girl was insane, but her instincts were on point.

So it only reinforced her next action. A message to Pinball.

'Hey Pin. I'm sorry to pester you, but if you've got the spare time, could you please come down to my store/home on the 4th floor? Cheers'

Simple and short. She didn't want to get into the nitty gritty of it, not at first. She had a valid reason to call him down, get them talking, then they could, well, talk. 

@Pinball

The second dragon was never the threat. As each member took their turn, if it wasn’t clear before, it was now. The only dragons that would prove threats would be from Floor 5 and higher, possibly. And even then, they would have plans to deal with it. Eatos watched as the dragon was slain, by Pin of all people. Not only was he unexpected, but he seemed to have a decent level. But of all things, there was something else that bothered her. Something she would need to sak him personally….

“Well, that seems to conclude this” She said to the gathered group “I’ll let you know when the third dragon becomes available. Also, please make sure you upgrade your equipment. It won’t be long until these drakes start proving a risk…” She didn’t want to spell it out, but if someone died under her own watch? She’d never forgive herself.

He was right, it would make them much more a merchant guild than a combat guild. However, that works for them. Given that majority of the members within the guild honestly can’t fight high level monsters any time soon, what else did they honestly have?

The girl sat next to Stryder, and the Husky nested down next to her, resting her head on her owners lap. She turned to Stryder, and shrugged “It wouldn’t make us a merchant guild entirely. In terms of allying with other guilds, it’s our only playing card. We’ve got nothing else to offer, and any alliance could prove beneficial. Having allies, support if we need it. They’re important. We’re still the same guild as before, simply…fitting a glove”

Eatos closed her eyes, before looking around and frowning. Where…were they? “Stryder…where are we? I don’t remember entering a place like this, where we are…” The girl didn’t like it, was this, a dungeon? If so, she wanted to get out. Now.

The demon was wrong, on so many levels. Silver had cared for her, too much and now, it was her turn to care. For the boy who moved away from his family to care for her, who stopped her from going too far. For the person who allowed her to have a life.

The Demon threw a punch, and it did connect. But, Angel was there and caught Eatos before she hit the ground. The girl petted the familiar, before spinning her blade and throwing her counter attack, connecting cleanly on his chest. She look at the health bar, not even half way.

“Ungrateful…” The demon started, but the girl shook her head instantly “You’re wrong, you’re so so wrong. I don’t care the reasons Silver, the why you chose me. But you did, and at the end of the way, that’s all that honestly matters. I’m alive, before you cared”

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Eatos: 399/400 HP | 32/40 EN | 7 DMG | 3 EVA | 3 ACC | 9 MIT 

ID: 99432

BD: 8(+3)= <hit>

Sword Art: Han'ie <EN2> (2)7= 14 DMG

Pride Demon <Silver/Thorsten>: 64/100 HP | 4 DMG | 2 MIT 

ID: 99328

MD: 7 <Hit> 4 DMG

The girl had made a straight line for the mountain, after all, she had hoped that this would be what she had hoped. She took a sharp turn, to find herself face to face with a creature that made her heart hesitate. A Satyr.  He was, oddly, beautiful, at least his top half was. Human, with a clear sharp face and seemingly purple eyes, the girl found herself smiling before she could help herself. His bottom half, goat, as was ‘traditional’ within Greek stories.

“Do you know, what I am?” It asked her. Eatos tried to stop herself, but her love of mythology got the better of her, and before she could stop herself, the words came out.

“A Satyr, a companion of Dionysus. It’s said that the Satyr cared over the forest and nature itself, acting as protectors and massagers for the gods in their temporary absence. While traditionally male, female Satyr were introduced later Roman mythology made them more aggressive, they were dancers, and also lovers of wine and women”

The purple eyes of the Satyr seemed to glow as he smiled “It seems to you know your history well my dear. You were called here for a challenge, to test your skills up against one who deems you worthy” The girl frowned, baffled. The Satyr pointed at the hammer on her belt “You are a blacksmith, and caught the attention of…”

“Hephaestus” the girl said, interrupting the Satyr. “The god of fire and forges, the son of Zeus and Hera, blacksmith of the gods themselves”

The girl listened to Fae talk about back home, having a pet. Even Fae seemed to be a name from her parents. It seemed, everything had a root, deep within ones self. She knew it, but often hated to admit it. Eatos let out a soft smile at the other girl as Angel barked, walking right next to the smaller girl as if acting as a shield for her. Eatos rolled her amber eyes, of course Angel would do this.

“Names, are….like titles” she finally said “Often times, there is a story behind them, and that’s all people see” The girl felt something in her chest, pain. “Sometimes, it’s good to make the name have meaning, over having meaning already” Gods above knew she’d of preferred that in her own life. But titles were all people saw, the title that had followed her. She shook her head! Dammit now was not the time!

“Trixie, is there a story there Fae?” She asked, unable to stop. She needed to not get stuck in her own head, not now of all times!

The walk through the snow mostly filled the girl with happiness, of an odd kind. She loved this weather, it was like back home where she used to live. Calm pure snow up and down the street, people playing in them, a husky at her side. All too much of it was like home. It was, a shame, that so much of it was different now.

Arriving at the cave, the girl looked at her belt. Her Katana sat there, and yet, she hesitated. She didn’t want to draw her blade, she knew the dangers of breaking down if she did. She moved towards it, before her hand jolted away from her weapon, afraid of it. She did her best to smile at Hei as she spoke to her.

“Yeah, it’ll be the same as last time. You fight it, I’ll make sure you don’t get hurt…” A cowards way, in part. She was just, too scared, to drew her blade. Last time she did, she had a mental breakdown. She couldn’t afford to do that here….

The girl said nothing about Fae’s river comment. She herself was born and raised within London, but after her incident, Silver had taken care of her. His house had a lake nearby that she would often visit, for worse more than better. She smiled sadly at the memories that plagued her, that would truly never leave her.

“I always saw a…beauty in ice, how pure it was” she said quietly, more to herself “How things would just, stop….”. The girl allowed her mind to take her, before hearing Angel bark. The Husky had noticed, and rested her head in the girls lap. “Why did I pick, Angel? Back in the real world, I had a Husky. I called him Gluttony, since when I first saw him, he ate three bowls of food” the girl smiled softly at the memories of when she first saw the blue-eyes puppy wagging its tail at her “Coming here, I knew I wanted another Husky….But, this one, would be redemption…” Eatos let out a sigh “In the real world, I’d made…a lot of mistakes, some rather sever. Angel is, the piece of my life that I managed to keep, much like how Gluttony was…”

The girl arrived on the 17^th floor, and as it always did, her heart leaped in her chest. While the 4^th floor would always remind her of home, this was the world she loved beyond all others. The world of mythology, the world that could have been. How she could always have loved to see it in its prime. Her amber eyes scanned around her, and of course, settled on Mount Olympia. The home of the legendary gods. The imfamous battle, between Chronos and Zeus, was one of her most beloved stories, in part, for the reality behind it.

Eatos looked through her quests, hunting for the one that had brought her up here. It was simple titled ‘Challenge of Olympus’. The girl frowned, what did that mean? Her amber eyes looked at the mountain again, and she found herself getting excited. Did the developers, finally, use this floor the way she dreamed about? With a floor all about the ancient Greeks, did they? Excited, the girl ran off into the city, heading right for the mountain.