Morningstar

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If you could get past the nauseating smell and the extreme amount of goo, the Slime King was actually kind of cool. Star stared up at the creature. It loomed down before them, pulled into combat by Shiina. It had to have been ten feet tall. It wore a crown of bones atop a cowl of slime, and unlike the other mobs they had faced in the sewers, it wielded a weapon. A few quick steps and Star found himself clashing with the King's greatsword. He found an opening in its abdomen, and all of Wulfrin's hard work was put to waste. A layer of slime coated his sword as he pulled it out of the creature, w

He watched how the redcoat fixed up Dying Sun, out of curiosity more than anything. Blacksmithing was outside of his expertise, and he was always interested in their practice. The weapons Star worked on were premade, their stats hidden beneath lines of code. He had little say in the results of his work, as they were largely predetermined. Smithing, however, was more of an artform, and Star's blade was proof of that. Wulfrin handed back the blade, and Star was pleased with how nice it looked after all of the slime had been removed. "Good advice," he replied. "Thanks. I'll stop by your shop more

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Hope you’re okay :) we’ll be here whenever life allows you to start

Approved. Current XP: 247,100 Paragon Level 5 - Laurel Wreath (Earn Col equivalent to 15% of player’s EXP earned in thread) Paragon Level 10 - (1) Gleaming Scale, (1) Demonic Shard, +1 LD to Looting* Paragon Level 25 - (1) Gleaming Scale, (1) Demonic Shard, Free Skill Respec Paragon Level 50 - (1) Gleaming Scale, (1) Demonic Shard, x3 Paragon Tier Up Tickets, Custom Skill** Paragon Level 75 - (1) Gleaming Scale, (1) Demonic Shard, Custom SA Paragon Level 100 - (2) Gleaming Scales, (2) Demonic Shards, Access to ‘Champion’s Hall’***

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From behind his party, Star watched them fight. Their styles differed drastically from one another. Nian's cuts were wild, her slashes fearsome; however, she was also controlled and precise. She was a tiger, or perhaps a dragon, camouflaged in a pack of humans. Wulfrin was a goody two-shoes. His swings were neat and restrained, with only a fraction of his full power poured into each hit. They were textbook examples of how a swordsman should fight, as if he were recalling lessons from a time long since passed. When a path opened, Star swooped in. His sword clipped the phoenix, but fel

Star felt okay, but if Wulfrin was taking a break anyway he thought he would do the same and regain some energy. The offer to look over his sword was a nice gesture. He slid it back into its sheath and tossed it over. "Do your thing, blacksmith." He wanted to sit, but reconsidered when he looked at the ground. Some sick concoction of slime, sewage, and dirt marked up the floors. Star felt gross touching it, even with his boots. He wasn't trying to ruin his jacket as well. So instead, he stood around uncomfortably, waiting for the bar on his HUD to recharge. "How's it looking? I try t

Star waited for the shark to chomp down on Oz's head. No such luck. Words from behind, where none should have come from, had him jumping from his skin. He spun, meeting Pinball's gaze. He hadn't the faintest clue where he had come from or why he was there. "Christ—jump scare much?" He dismissed the comment, unoffended. It wasn't wrong; Star's attack was excessive, counterproductive even. Thankfully, Mishiro bailed them out. Terra Firma struggled back to its feet, still dazed from the stun. The girl was quick, proactively keeping Oz from snuffing out his own life while simultaneously

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thread summary. Morningstar 4,568 exp | 2,000 + (3,669/10 * 7 * 1) 190,550 col | 400 + 190,150 68 materials 2 Gleaming Scales 6 Demonic Shard Filet of King (T3 Perfect Consumable [Meal]) Random Dungeon Map 226892 Random Dungeon Map 226896 Random Dungeon Map 227080 Random Dungeon Map 228045 Random Dungeon Map 228069 Random Dungeon Map 228070 Random Dungeon Map 228079 Random Dungeon Map 228095 T4 Rare Consumable 226887a T4 Rare Consumable 226894a T4 Rare Consumable 228044 T4 Rare Consumable 228053a T4 Rare Consumable 228072a T4 Rare Consumable 228087a

He stopped for a moment, glancing back toward the lake, though Lotus was far out of sight now. A small breath escaped him as he turned back to the path, adjusting the sword at his side. There was no clear destination, no pressing urgency, but he felt the weight of the journey ahead, whatever it might bring. The forest grew darker, and Morningstar disappeared into the shadows, the quiet of the world enveloping him. Maybe he would take some time to relax, as Lotus has suggested. Breaks, over the years, had become few and far between. Maybe it was time to slow down, and to process thing

Morningstar’s let out a long breath. It was a relief after such a heavy conversation. "Thanks for talking with me." Lotus smiled, pulling his empty line from the lake. "No need to thank me. Sometimes, it just helps to sit with someone who’s willing to listen." Morningstar gave a small nod, sliding his sword away. "Maybe you’re right." "Maybe," Lotus replied. "But whether I’m right or wrong, the company’s been good." Star agreed. "Next time," he replied, "I’ll try catching more than just thoughts." Lotus chuckled softly. "I’ll hold you to that. Until next time." Mo

"I've lost people. And I think about them a lot, even though it's been a long time." Lotus reeled in his line slowly, glancing at Morningstar without pushing. "That’s natural. Some memories stick with you, no matter how far you go." Morningstar didn’t respond immediately, as if looking for the right words. "It’s not just the memories. It’s the feeling that maybe I could’ve done more." Lotus gave a small nod. "Regret is human. But what’s done is done. You can't change the past." "Doesn't stop me from wondering," Morningstar muttered. Lotus said, casting his line out aga

"Have you walked that path?" Morningstar asked. "I’ve walked many paths, and none of them have been straight. But that’s the life, isn't it? It rarely gives us a map." Morningstar’s eyes were locked on something moving beneath the lake. "Lots of circles and wrong turns." "Maybe," Lotus said, shrugging lightly. "But circles and wrong turns aren’t always pointless. Sometimes, you find something new each time you pass by. Other times, you realize the place you started wasn’t so bad after all." Lotus tilted his head, watching him. "And what about you, Morningstar? Where do you

"And what if the shadows are too much?" "Then you face them one at a time. The way you would any enemy. And if you need to, you call for help. We are never as alone as we think we are." Morningstar glanced at Lotus. "I never thought of it that way." Lotus chuckled. "That’s the beauty of it, my friend. There’s always another way to see things, if you’re willing to look." Morningstar shifted his weight, his gaze drifting back to the horizon. "You make it sound simple," he said. Lotus let the silence hang in the air for a moment, then responded gently, "Simple? Maybe. Eas

Morningstar shifted slightly, watching the lake's surface ripple with the wind. "I’m not sure I’ve ever learned how to sit still like that. Always felt like if I wasn’t moving, I was falling behind." Lotus gave him an empathetic smile. "Ah, the feeling that if you're not moving forward, you’re losing ground. Everyone gets it. But even a warrior must rest, or the sword grows heavy in their hand." Morningstar exhaled, his gaze still distant. "It's ironic, considering I live on a beach. Lotus laughed. "Quite. Not resting is like fighting with a dull blade. Eventually, it’ll give ou

Morningstar remained quiet for a moment, then asked, "You don't ever get restless doing this? Like, you don't feel the need to do more?" "Sometimes I do," Lotus admitted, his voice soft. "But then I remind myself—there is always more to do, always another battle to fight, another goal to chase. It’s easy to get lost in that. But if you can learn to be still, even for a little while... well, you’ll find that the restlessness fades." Morningstar watched him carefully, as though measuring his words. "And if it doesn’t?" "Then you stand, you stretch, and you move again." Lotus smile

Morningstar rested his hand on the hilt of his sword, staring out at the water. "I always feel like I'm wasting time, relaxing in places like this." Lotus let out a soft laugh, the kind that warmed the air. "Ah, wasting time... such a curious idea. Time isn’t something to waste, not when you're living it. Whether you're catching fish or fighting on the frontlines, the time passes just the same." Morningstar frowned slightly, eyes narrowing in thought. "I guess so. Are you saying that what we do doesn't matter?" "Not at all," Lotus shook his head gently. "What we do matters, but

Morningstar cleaned his blade on his sleeve, a habit that achieved nothing. "You spend a lot of time out here?" Lotus smiled, his gaze soft on the water. "Ah, time... I spend it where it feels right. Out here, everything moves at its own pace. No rush, no worry." Morningstar tilted his head. "You don't ever get bored?" "Bored? No," Lotus chuckled warmly. "The world is full of little moments, my friend. You just have to be patient enough to notice them. Like how the light dances on the water or how the breeze feels different depending on the season." Morningstar watched the