Winik

"I was stagnating there.  If you don't leave, you can't get stronger.  If you don't get stronger, we'll never leave this game.  I have a family to return to and someone here I need to protect.  I just haven't found them yet.  But that's why I'm here.  And I do appreciate the help, I really do." Winik settled his offhand on the hilt of his sword, watching the elf go about its business.  "You said that it's not that hard of a mob, right? I'll help in any way that I can, you should know that." Winik leaned forward, bracing his dominant hand against the trunk of a tree.  Leaves and branches rustled as he moved and he hoped that he wasn't going to draw any attention that was unwanted.  He still hadn't figured out the range of a mob's detection. He turned his head, locking eyes with his compatriot. "I'm ready whenever you are."

Winik drained his mug, gesturing with a gauntleted hand for the barkeep to poor him another one.  He kept one wary eye on his wallet, making sure that his little indulgence wasn't hurting his bottom line too much.  He sighed heavily, turning in his stool to lean his back against the bar, one arm outstretched along it.  With his other arm, he lifted his mug to his lips taking a long pull from it. He cast his eyes around the bar, taking in the various players and NPCs alike.  He could see two players conversing in the corner, but that was none of his business.  He swirled his glass, watching the liquid slosh around and spin in the glass.  He drained his glass, dropping it onto the bar and reclining back against it with both arms outstretched.  From his vantage point he had a good view of all that occurred within the bar and little chance of anyone coming up behind him.  He didn't think the system would allow that.

Winik doubled over in laughter, clutching his gut tightly as tears grew heavy in his eyes. "Might want to watch your step over there, flower petal. Mobs won't be the only thing that'll take you out at this rate." Winik drug a gauntleted finger under his eye, wiping away a tear.  "It's good to see that the system can't take away your little quirk.  I've needed a good laugh since we got here."  Winik strode over to her, still grinning from ear to ear.  He leaned in close to her ear, mirth apparent in his voice. "Just you watch, I'll get all my mats before you. Oh, you have dirt on your nose by the way." He drew himself up to full height walking over to where she was and dug around in the roots momentarily.  He stood up, clutching a mushroom in his hands that quickly stored itself in his inventory.

Winik tapped a couple other windows in his menu, donning his armor once again.  The sunlight streamed down, catching on the golden trim and star points in his armor.  He ignored the little light display and continued onward out of the gate.  "I have a friend that seems like he'll be sticking around for a while.  He'll probably want to help me out to the best of his ability and I think he has the makings of a good tank myself.  Though I feel I started off with the wrong build, but I'm making strides to rectifying that." He shifted through bushes along the wall of the Town of Beginnings, starting his search for materials.

Unfortunately he came up empty handed, what a great start to the quest. "GAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!" he screamed loudly, raking his hands through his hair roughly. "RNGesus really has it out for me! I swear, I never have any luck looking for mats even though I put in so much effort!"

Winik waggled his eyebrows at her, a grin splitting his face. "Flower petal isn't good enough for the little princess, eh?  Fine, whatever you say Raeze." Winik kept up his grin, enjoying the time he was spending with her.  He really had missed her. "I say we should just team up for the rest of the game, in my opinion.  I just found you again and I don't exactly feel like losing you.  Hell, we could even start up our own little guild if you want to." Winik stopped in his tracks, his face betraying the fact he just remembered something.  He quickly swiped his hand through the air, pulling up his menu.  A few taps later and two invites appeared in the air in front of Raeze. "I need to add you to my friends list, plus have you join my party.  This way I can definitely monitor you while we're out in the fields."

"That is an excellent idea.  You've shown me you are more than able to take care of yourself and I don't think we should be in much trouble should we find ourselves against anymore mobs," Winik chatted cheerily.  A glance in his upper left corner of his HUD showed that both Balmung's and his HP and EN gauges were filled completely once again.  Winik rolled his shoulders, cracking his neck from side to side in attempt to loosen it up.  "I didn't get to do much in that last fight and I'm itching to really put my gear to the test.  So, as long as you're okay with it, I say we go mob hunting since neither one of us was having much luck with the mat gathering.  We might be able to get more mats from loot drops and if we take too much damage or lose too much energy we can always mat hunt while we recharge."

Winik stumbled as he was forced to bend over so far at the waist as Sakura pulled at his collar. "Sakura! If you keep this up I'm going to end up...." his tirade was interrupted as he tripped over the threshold of the store, faceplanting directly onto the cobblestones outside.  He slid along the ground, scrambling to his feet when he stopped, and raced after his friend. "Please, don't ever do that again.  That sensation was terrible," he grumbled, rubbing his face with his palm.  He followed alongside her, lacing his fingers behind his head and walking with his knees comically raised too high.  "You know, you never gave me your IGN." When she gave him a blank look he sighed heavily. "Your in game name, flower petal.  You know, the name you chose for your avatar before this all started.  I can't keep calling you by your real name.  Do you want all the creepy weebs here to find your house?"

Winik sheathed his sword, clapping his compatriot on the shoulder with a wide smile plastered across his face.  "It's good to see you made it through the fight in one piece.  I wouldn't say I got worried for ya, but I didn't want you to get hurt any further than what you had to deal with." He headed across the clearing, gazing around to see if he could find any more mobs.  When he didn't find any, he turned back to Balmung. "I heard the notification at the end of the fight.  What did you get? Anything good?" Winik strolled over, placing a hand on Balmung's shoulder and smiling at his new friend.  He loved getting loot, but he wasn't disappointed with his friend getting it.  He had a good amount of col from that frontliner, he just wanted gear.  He loved his gear, both new and old.  He couldn't get enough of them.

The Dire Wolf was knocked back from the attack, flipping through the air to skid across the ground before slamming into a tree.  It scrambled to its feet, shaking its head to reorient itself.  It snarled, bending its front legs and baring its teeth at Balmung.  With a loud growl, it leapt through the air.  It hit the ground, charging the poor armor less adventurer.  It crashed into him, its teeth closing around his shoulder.

Winik charged his sword skill, Snake Bite, releasing the skill and letting the system carry him forward.  His sword smashed into the wolf, blow after blow smashing against its body.  The last blow struck the wolf in the side of its chest, knocking it off his companion.  Winik spun on his heel, placing himself between the wolf and his new friend.  He raised his shield, looking over it at the creature, but it wasn't any good.  He didn't know it, but Balmung's attack had been a critical. This drew more aggro than Winik's tanking.  But Winik was going to do everything he can to protect his friend.

"Ah, my quest for helping the scared.  If you choose to accept, I'm going to need 5 materials from all in the party.  So, do you accept?"

As Sakura was busy trying to seem big and bad, pop up windows appeared in front of both players.  Winik pressed his finger gently against the blue circle, accepting the quest before turning to Sakura. "You can't get hurt in this game and you can't take damage in a safe zone.  If you deign to pass out from the blow, that is literally all on you.  Now, accept the quest so we can get going, flower petal." Winik cracked one of his roguish grins at her, walking away to explore the shop.  He was waiting on her to make her decision, so he decided to do some snooping.  He peered into jar after jar, each liquid and powder contained within them getting stranger by the minute.

Winik skidded to a stop, his boots sliding across the cobblestones.  They came to a stop in front of a storefront, an array of alchemical equipment visible through the windows.  "We're here to see a man about a potion," Winik chatted cheerily, pushing his way into the store with Sakura still thrown over his shoulder.  He entered into a space seen in fantasy novels.  Vials and beakers, mortars and pestles, jar of herb after herb, all laid in the open adding to the eye boggling view inside.  Winik made his way through the shop, turning his head to and fro in search of the shop keep. "Hello?  Is anybody here?," Winik called through his cupped hand.

"What can I do for ya?" came the reply.

Winik jumped, spinning around to see a figure behind him.  The sound of breaking glass told him that he might have smacked Sakura into something he shouldn't have.  He cringed at the noise, directing his attention to the new man. "We're here for the <<First Lesson is Free>> quest," answered Winik honestly.

Winik smirked, quickly dropping his shoulder to pick Sakura up and throw her over his shoulder.  He turned on his heel, sprinting out of the center of town.  "Not a rogue, just a confused player right now.  And the name's Winik now, by the way.  Thought it sounded cool," he called over his shoulder at her.  He sprinted his way down alley after alley, street after street.  Past shops and players alike, not stopping to talk to anyone.  He was on a mission and she would have to deal with the ride.  "You see, now that I've found you we're going to take on a quest with the two of us.  We both need to goods that are offered and it'll be good time to catch up.  And no, I won't put you down until we're there." You wouldn't believe how big the Town of Beginnings actually was.  Winik turned down an alley next to the Black Iron Palace, following his minimap to the quest objective.

Winik strode forward, beckoning Balmung to follow him.  He made his way, weaving between roots and under branches, deeper into the forest.  All was quiet, except for the sound of their boots beating a rhythm against the forest floor.  Suddenly, a howl split the air around them, sending Winik's hair standing on edge.  He held up a hand, stopping Balmung, and crouched down.  Peering between the trunks of trees, Winik could see a Dire Wolf standing in a clearing sniffing at the ground.  "This is our chance.  We can get some loot to make up for the lack of mats found, and you can get some experience.  Follow my lead."

Winik shrugged his shield forward, firmly affixing it on his arm, and drew his sword from its scabbard.  He rushed forward, his sword enveloping in a bright blue light.  He yelled as he slashed downwards, but the Dire Wolf leapt to the side and avoided his attack completely.  His blade buried itself in the ground as the post motion delay caught up to Winik, freezing him in place.
 

Tamaki's face broke into the largest grin he's had since he got here.  He shot up, his head turning to the side with enough force his new ponytail flew into his face. "Sakura?!" he called, jumping into the fountain and sprinting through the water.  Winik ignored all the protests he was getting from other players, snatching the petite player up and gathering her in a bone crushing hug.  "I can;t believe I've finally found you! You've had me so worried!" He plopped her feet onto the ground, ignoring the eyes of all the players on him.  Little did he know, many of the male players around him were glaring at him for what they assume is taking one of the cutest mascots in all of AIncrad. "I've been looking everywhere for you! What did you do to your hair?! Where'd you go?! Why didn't you come to me sooner?!" Question after question shot from his mouth as he fussed over his 'cousin'. He'd never tell her, but he's been enamored with her since they were young.  Why else would he take the abuse from his mom for her like he does?

Winik flashed Balmung a smile, letting the apple despawn into his inventory. "I'm going to tell you the truth, I haven't been this far out so I have no clue what kind of mobs we could run in to.  Are you okay with taking some on if we have to?  If not, I'll make sure we can make it back to town.  I just have a feeling I can trust you to have my back." His face had grown solemn, only to brighten as he said his final words.  He did trust Balmung, there was something about him that he liked.  He clapped his companion on the shoulder, before turning around to continue onward.  He didn't draw his sword, nor swing his shield forward for at the moment he felt there was no need.  He could arm himself quickly enough should he need to and he didn't want to worry his new friend before there was a call for it.

The Next Day

Winik made his way to his spot, again.  He wasn't going to let this get him down, he'll keep coming back day after day if he had to.  She had to be around here.  Repeating his ritual, he unequipped his armor and settled onto the ledge, a tasty treat clutched in his off hand.  He took a bite from the NPC vendor bought creampuff and started talking to the air around him, loud enough that passerby's would be able to hear him.

"Hey Sakura, remember that time you snuck into my mom's general store trying to surprise your mom at work?  You managed to knock over all of our supply shelves in the back of the store.  Boy, was that a mess to clean up.  Your mom made you prostrate yourself in front of mine for a week," he laughed as he talked, the memories surfacing so readily in his mind. "I was ticked off because my mom made me clean everything up.  But still, you had that determined look in your eye.  You kept coming back everyday, always hiding behind the flour bags.  Until that day they collapsed around you.  You were white as a sheet, literally.  Covered in flour head to toe with tears in your eyes, I got a good laugh out of that one.  That is until my mom made me clean it up.  Seems I've always been cleaning up after you, flower petal.  How 'bout you let me do it again and come find me?  Is it a deal?" Winik's voice trailed off, heavy with melancholy.  His shoulders drooped forward and he took a forlorn bite from his creampuff.  He munched on it until it was gone, then laid back on the ledge to stare at the clouds as he waited. 

Winik looked back at Balmung, an apologizing smile on his face.  "I'm sorry about that, just getting a little flustered is all.  I'll try to be more careful." Winik squared his shoulders as he turned back around, pulling himself to his full height.  He strolled deeper into the darkened forest, eyes and ears alert to the sound or movement of any mobs.  Every now and then he would cast his gaze up into the boughs of the trees above him, taking in the shifting leaves and swaying branches.  On the fourth gaze upwards, he noticed something in the trees above them.  He stopped, holding up a hand so Balmung wouldn't run into him and pointed.  "See those apples?  If I pick one it will just be labeled as a Tier 1 mat in my inventory, but if I wanted to use it as an apple when I use my cooking skill I can.  Hell, I could use it as some sort of other fruit if I wanted." He jumped as high as he could, snagging one of the apples before falling back to the Earth. The rest of the apples were dislodged from their branches, falling all around the duo before shattering into crystals.

Winik pushed into the establishment, his armor clanking as he hit the door. He rolled his shoulder, holding onto it with the opposite hand. He heaved a heavy sigh and settled down onto one of the stools at the bar. Waving a hand to get the server's attention, a menu popped into the air in front of him. He scrolled through the menu, ordering a simple cup of the local special. His drink appeared in a flash of pixels, draining the prerequisite col from his wallet. He lifted it with his offhand, sipping at it as he scrolled through his inventory. The sounds of the establishment pressed against the back of his mind, immersing himself in rearranging his inventory. Choosing to be less auspicious, he unequipped his armor. The flurry of pixels swarmed around him momentarily before settling into nothingness. He leaned heavily against the bar, taking longer drinks from his mug as he tried to relax.

Winik made his way into the center of the Town of Beginnings, cracking his neck from side to side as he went.  Yesterday, he had put up a notice trying to find her but he didn't help things when he went home and changed his appearance.  He had started to enjoy his time in this world and wanted to distance himself from his old life, to start anew.  He had his armor equipped, but as he sat on the ledge of the fountain it was stored in his inventory in a flurry of pixels.  He yawned loudly before cupping his hands around his mouth and calling out, "Sakura! I'm here again today!  It's really me!" 

He dropped his arms, folding his hands in his lap to wait.  He soon grew bored and pulled one of the pork skewers he had made out of his inventory.  Opening his mouth wide, he took a large bite out of the slightly charred kebab.  He grimaced at the burnt taste, but chewed it thoroughly before swallowing.  The time he took to eat was never spent unaware.  He kept an eye out for anyone that seemed familiar, in hopes she'd show.

Winik trudged deeper into the forest, his boots splashing water high into the air as he quickly crossed a stream.  His boot caught on a root on the opposite back, upsetting his balance and sending him reeling forward.  Quickly he stuck out his right arm, catching himself on a tree on the bank.  He craned his neck over his shoulder, trying to find what tripped him in hopes it was a usable mat.  No such luck, the root appeared to laugh at him in his delusional mind.  He grumbled under his breath, cursing his fortune in this endeavor.  He felt like an embarrassment, talking big about being able to help and then not being able to do anything.

He mounted the bank, the trees over head grew denser as the shadows deepened.  Winik himself had never been out this far, but he wasn't going to let Balmung know that.  He kept trekking onward, trying to find those elusive mats.

Winik turned his head to look over his shoulder, eyebrow raised in question.  It took him a moment to realize what he was looking at and a large smile broke across his face.  "That's exactly what we're looking for.  You see, here, mats can be anything you need it to be once it is in your inventory.  This is great for craftsman, as you can trade in mats and even if you are a cook they can use it for tailoring.  Unfortunately, I'm still not finding anything myself," Winik prattled on, his disappointment in the lack of success wearing on him.  He knew it wasn't Balmung's fault, it was just wearing him down.  'I need more mats,' he thought to himself, 'I'm running out of mats quickly with all the crafting I've been doing.' Winik strolled through the forest, the dappled light streaming through the boughs of the trees.  He took a deep breath, sheathing his sword and swinging his shield onto his back once again.  He rolled his shoulders, making sure the shield was sitting snuggly. 

Winik made his way to the notice board in the center of town, his shoulders slumped as he dragged his feet.  He had his armor unequipped, a hunter green long sleeved shirt and black pants composing his outfit.  He reached up with weary hands, pinning a single piece of paper against the board.

"NOTICE: In search of missing cousin.  We got the game together and decided not to tell each other our usernames.  I was holding a sign saying that I was saving a spot for my cousin so the other gamers didn't lynch us.  If you see this, I'll be waiting at the fountain everyday.  There's a quest I want us to do together, I just have to find you first."

With a heavy sigh, he trudged over to sit on the lip of the fountain.  He leaned back on his hands, watching the NPCs and players walk through the streets smiling and happy.  He was only hoping to find his lost 'cousin' and be happy himself.

@Raeze

"I think the mountains are on Floor 2, but the forest sounds like a good idea.  I'll lead, in case of any mob spawns," Winik said cheerily, smiling at his new teammate.  He strode through the field, shrugging his shield off his back and securing it firmly on his arm.  Next, he drew his sword, the rasping of the steel freeing itself from the sheath audible in the quiet field.  He kept a wary eye out for any mobs, hoping to catch their attention before they turn it towards Balmung.  "We'll have to get you some gear, don't want you to feel bored out here in the field," Winik called over his shoulder, still keeping an eye out for anything that could be harvested for mats. "Strangely, there are some quests on this floor that suggest a higher level than some found on some of the higher floors.  We just cleared floor 20 and the frontliners have started exploring floor 21 more recently, but there's not much for the low leveled players to do to help them except craft."

Winik trudged down the stairs from his room above the restaurant, a sense of foreboding laying heavily on his mind. "Today feels like all these other past days," he mumbled to himself.  He swiped his chef's coat off of the back of a chair and slung it across his shoulders, snaking his arms into the sleeves.  A pile of ingredients laid on the table where he left them last night, the frustration of so many failures driving him mad.  With his off hand, he swiped a few eggs off the prep table and with his other, he grabbed a pan that was hanging above the stove.  He lit the stove, watching as the flames grew higher and heated the pan.  He tossed an egg into his dominant hand, cracked it into the pan, and repeated until all the eggs were on the stove.  He turned to grab a spatula when a cloud of dense black smoke flooded around him.  He swore, throwing the pan against the far wall and spinning around to go to the prep table yet again.  Grabbing more eggs, he stomped over to a pot of boiling water and dropped the eggs in heavily.  Water splashed onto his coat, but the game didn't register the blistering pain that should have been registered.  He sat at the bar, reading through his manual again.  After some time, he used a wire spoon to pull the eggs from the water.  He cracked one to check the quality and shrugged.  They were a little over what he wanted, but there wasn't anything wrong with them.  He deposited them into his inventory and went back to studying, absentmindedly spinning a fork in his fingers.

Winik rooted around in the gnarled roots of the trees, trying not to let his disappointment of not finding anything show.  He was supposed to be showing his new companion how to look for mats and luck was not on his side.  He growled loudly to himself, knotting his hands in his hair.  "Why is this so difficult?!," he cried to the air around him.  He stood suddenly, spinning around to find his companion.  He swiped his hand through the air, pulling up his friends list in the menu.  A few taps later and he sent a friend request to Balmung.  "I never got around to doing this earlier, but would you accept my friend request? I want to make sure I can come help you whenever.  Oh, and this." Another tap and a party request was sent as well.  He crossed his arms over his chest, a small smile playing on his lips.