Morningstar

He'd done it.

He'd landed his first stun. He wasn't accustom to the system's Sword Arts yet, but it felt fluid to him. The game helped him move through the motions so well, it surprised him. The boar twitched on the ground, unable to move. This was his chance to get in a free hit. Morningstar dashed towards the paralyzed beast, his sword glowing yellow once more. He swung down, strength filling his body. The boar wheezed.

Stephen moved backwards, knowing that the boar would be getting up in a moment. He readied himself, although he was somewhat nervous to take a hit. He told himself that he could mitigate it, but his hands were unsteady.

"He's in the lead. That boar won't be stunned forever, though," Joaquin said, his face serious.

"That stun was smart of him. He got an extra hit in for free. Fifty percent of it's health is already gone and he's got plenty of Sword Arts in him," Julius added.

Julius looked at the warrior. "Will he really be okay? I mean, the two of us could handle it easily but he's pretty low level."

Joaquin watched carefully, squinting. "We'll intervene if we need to, but he should give it a try. Besides, it's not a field boss or anything. It shouldn't be able to kill him. I think."

Morningstar took a breath. He pushed himself off the ground, lunging at his opponent. The Boarlet's Blood fell from his pocket where he'd hidden it. The system quickly took over as he swung his blade. Bathed in a yellow glow, his sword dove towards the boar. It met the beast's back, a red slash appearing across it.

The boar fell to the ground, but didn't explode like the rest of them. It managed to tank a hit, but it didn't stand back up. The glow of Morningstar's blade faded.

"Did he stun it? Impressive," Julius leaned back in the grass, eyes fixed on the fight.

Joaquin and Julius didn't speak at first. They stared back at Stephen with wide eyes, seemingly unsure of what to do.

"What's wrong? You two okay?"

Joaquin pointed behind Stephen. "I think you missed one."

The cloaked swordsman turned his head, confused. Behind him was a boar double the sized of the other three he'd fought. If they were boarlets, then she was the mother. Two sharp tusks would make for an even harder hit than the previous adversaries.

"Lyle didn't mention this one," Stephen blinked, getting into a defensive stance.

It seemed like the right time to bring out his Sword Arts. He was glad he hadn't wasted them in the previous fight. The boar sounded even angrier than it's children. He had killed three of them, of course. He cleared his throat, a bit nervous.

"Want a hand?" Julius called.

"No, it's okay," Stephen returned, "I've got this."

He focused once again on the boar, drowning out the sounds of conversation coming from his party. It charged at him, but he was quicker. He slammed the hilt of his blade into it's back as it leaped, causing it to lose momentum and hit the ground. The beast got up without missing a beat and snarled.

Part of him wanted to use a Sword Art and deal as much damage as he could in a single strike. It was overkill, but it would have been fun. He rarely got the opportunity to use them, since the mobs he fought were always so weak. He abstained, however. He could be reckless, but he wasn't stupid.

The boar dashed again and Stephen let it get close. It nearly hit his leg with it's rock hard skull, but he slashed in a downwards motion, slicing through the middle of the boarlet. It was done. An item appeared where the boar once was. Boarlet's Blood, it was called. He picked it up, bringing it close to his eye to inspect it.

Satisfied with his examination, he looked over to his friends. "I guess we can head back to Lyle now."

The group was approaching the final boar. "I'll just be a quick second and then we can head back to town."

Julius and Joaquin stayed back while Stephen moved on. He withdrew his sword and gave it a swing, instantly becoming used to it's weight. The boar stopped it's chewing as the player got near, noticing and turning around. It snorted angrily. Stephen was starting to get tired of the beasts. They always did the same thing but they were too weak to hurt.

"Maybe I'm too harsh on them," he muttered, preparing for the fight.

The mob stamped it's hoof, kicking up dirt and grass. He listened to his friends in the field behind him talk about their experiences in Sword Art Online. Joaquin told Julius about the guild he was apart of, even offering him a spot in it. Julius declined, being more of a solo player himself.

"If I change my mind, and I'm sure I will someday, I'll let you know," Morningstar heard him say from a distance.

The three spoke briefly before Morningstar offered for Julius to join them.

"I'm working on a quest and he's here for the ride. You're free to tag along as well," he said.

Julius didn't take time to think before he agreed. "Sure, I'll join you. You can ask whatever questions you'd like about the artisan profession."

"Good. I've got at least a couple."

------------------------------------------

The wind ruffled Stephen's hair.  Julius unequipped his hat in fear that it would fly away. Joaquin followed along, entirely comfortable in the heavy breeze.

"Okay, one more and then I'm done. Do you ever wish you'd chosen a different profession?"

"Nope," Julius said, sincerely, "I was an artist before joining Sword Art Online and I saw no reason to switch. I used to paint back home and it took years for me to make any money out of it. It would have been a waste, I think, if I'd gone into alchemy or something."

"In that case, maybe I should stick with acting and be a performer," Morningstar thought aloud.

"Only if you like it, of course. If you're not feeling it, do something different. There aren't any rules here, Star, do whatever you want."

Morningstar heeded the girl's advice, withdrawing his two-handed sword. His eyes were drawn by the blade. He glanced back and forth between his weapon and Rebekah's. His was dull in comparison; a simple blade he'd come into the game with. It needed an upgrade.

They walked for some time without saying a word to each other. Larbrook led them through the labyrinth, confidently turning corners as if he knew the exact locations. Star wasn't sure what they'd do without the goliath there to guide them. When they'd arrived at the maze, for some reason he'd expected unkempt hedges that weren't exactly short, but also not overwhelmingly tall. He thought he'd be maneuvering over branches, but the paths were clean. He gazed up at the somber stone walls. They towered over the party, emotionless and uninviting, just as Daedalus' labyrinth had to Theseus. It was unnerving.

Morningstar broke the silence. "What's your brother like?"

He didn't have any siblings. He barely even had time for friends. The child actor's life was hectic and it was impossible to coordinate things. He often wondered what life would have been like with a brother or sister.

Maybe it would have been easier.

Post 1/5 Searching for Minotaur #1

@Rebekah

Joaquin seemed wary, but Stephen was the opposite. He eyed up the stranger, getting a full look of his attire. It was honestly quite odd.

"I'm Morningstar," he stuck out his hand, "and you?"

"You can take your hand off of the blade; I mean no harm," he smiled at Joaquin before reaching out to meet Stephen's hand, "I'm Julius, but I'm more commonly known as the Magician."

"Magician, huh? Why's that?" Joaquin smirked.

Julius pulled several playing cards from his sleeve. "Magic's a hobby of mine. Not spells and that sort of magic, of course. Stage magic."

Morningstar shared a look with Joaquin. He was intrigued and judging from the look on his friends face, so was Joaquin. They both picked cards when Julius gestured for them to choose and humored him while he showed them a trick.

"Joaquin," the Magician began, "you've got the 7 of spades?"

"Well, you've got me," Joaquin showed off his card.

Julius winked. "And Star, your card is the king of hearts?"

Morningstar was pleasantly surprised. "You're right. I'm impressed."

"Sorry to hear about your guild."

Morningstar wasn't the only one who'd lost people and he knew that. Still, it always shocked him when people confessed that the people they'd known and fought beside had perished, whether in battle or due to other reasons. It was never easy to hear.

She asked him about his reason for joining Sword Art Online. He took a moment to respond, pondering the question. Why had he enrolled in the death game? Could he even remember?

Of course he could; how could he not? "I had an argument with my parents. Something stupid, I'm sure. I booted up the game hoping to destress and suddenly I was stuck."

Morningstar didn't think about that day much. He reminisced about his family and the busy life he'd had before Aincrad, of course, but not of the fated argument. He wondered what they were doing. Did they know how he was doing? He was sure they were visiting way more than necessary. They'd always had a good relationship, despite their differences. He loved them and vice versa. 

"What about you? What brought you to the wonderful world of Aincrad?"

"The heavy ball thingy on a stick" made him chuckle. He'd been thinking more of the biblical figure, which he thought fit with his last name, but whatever worked. It was nice to hear the thoughts of another player who'd been in his shoes. It gave him perspective.

"I'll be sure to take you up on your offer as well," Star returned to Freyd, "I've got a million quests to do and I could use the extra hand."

Morningstar memorized the pairs names and faces. He had a feeling he'd see them again in the near future. Maybe he'd even stop by the next boss fight. He glanced around the dojo, fiddling with his training sword.

"I think it's time I started preparing for my next match. Nice meeting you both," he smiled, raising his hand to wave lazily.

He turned from the two, a new determination—or perhaps, a dormant resolve that had finally awakened—set ablaze within him.

Nari-Larenth.

Morningstar gazed in her direction for a moment, listening to Jomei's advice. Yet another opponent he was excited to face. His thoughts were interrupted by another new voice. The stranger's dark hair matched his traditional outfit elegantly. He had a piercing gaze that gave his words even more meaning. 

"Well said," he nodded to the man, "in all honesty, I don't know many people. I've spent a good portion of my time here alone. This has been a nice change, I'd say. Hell, even the rush I get from competing feels great. Even if I don't come out with the win, I have a feeling I won't mind all that much."

He thought back to his fight with Hirru and of the thrill he experienced throughout the event. The emotions he'd felt after landing his first hit and after being hit himself. The realization that he'd won and the fleeting moment of content that followed. He remembered the bluebird he'd met by the water and the sudden peace it had brought him; the hope for a brighter future.

He beamed. "Freyd, right? I'm Morningstar."

@Jomei@Freyd

Morningstar agreed with the decision to bring the guide along. Getting lost in the forest, let alone the maze, sounded like a nightmare. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Rebekah peering into the woods. It seemed they'd both seen the wolves hiding behind the trees. Despite this, he felt safe in the group. Rebekah's stats were intimidatingly high and Larbrook... well, he was just scary looking.

She questioned his weapon choice. His brow raised and he look down at his blade. He hadn't thought about it before, but maybe it was an uncommon pick. He didn't know anyone else who used a two-handed straight sword.

"It just felt right to hold, honestly. Other swords felt too light to me and I'm not a big axe guy," Star unsheathed his blade just enough to show the bottom of the blade, before dropping it back into place, "I did consider a staff, though."

He switched his gaze to the girl's weapon: a rapier. "I knew someone who used a rapier. Good choice."

Old memories of the girl he loved flooded back but rather than thinking too deeply about them, he focused on the mission at hand. What one would call avoidance, he decided was efficient. Besides, he didn't like the thought of Larbrook being his therapist. 

"Your axe is also cool," he added, not wanting the behemoth of a man to feel left out.

Larbrook gave a grunt and grinned.

"So," Morningstar pulled up the hood of his cloak, "are you a solo player?"

@Rebekah

The question didn't surprise him—players always seemed like they were willing to work together in this world. He adjusted his cloak, which blended in quite well with their surroundings. A partner didn't sound bad at all.

"I am here for the Hoyas and if it's not too big of an ask, I'd love to join you. Honestly, I was a little worried this quest would be too much for me to handle on my own," he ran a hand through his messy undercut, blonde locks enveloping his fingers.

A popup appeared before him, indicating a party invite. Star pressed the accept button and it disappeared, leaving him to face the girl once again.

"Rebekah, huh?" Morningstar offered a handshake.

He took a short second to look at the girl. After her hair, the most noticeable thing about her was her height. Rebekah was quite a bit shorter than he was. He gave her a smile before introducing himself.

"Morningstar. You can call me Star, though."

@Rebekah

Aruyt.

Morningstar was by no means a master explorer, but he'd been around the third floor quite a few times. Aruyt was at the bottom of his list of settlements. The rabbit people, as he thought of them, were friendly but the town itself was... sketchy, for lack of a better term. After all, it was built in the trees and if you weren't careful, you could fall out of trees.

The last time he'd visited Aruyt, he and a friend had been chasing a tip they'd received from some broker about a rare item—he didn't remember what anymore. The lead turned out to be false and after nearly killing themselves multiple times, they'd vowed never to return to the third floor.

But here he was, breaking his vows.

"Sorry Katar," Morningstar sighed, stepping into the green city.

If not for the bad memories, he'd have found the town to be peaceful. In that moment, it was quiet. There weren't the bustling crowds of people that he was used to in the Town of Beginnings. It was a nice change, he thought. As he passed, he smiled at a rabbit girl selling an assortment of fruits he'd never seen before.

Unfortunately, he wasn't there for the fruits. Morningstar had teleported to Aruyt for a quest that he'd put off for a long time: Search for the Hoya. He approached the woman at the stand.

"You don't happen to know where I could find a man named Larbrook, do you?" He glanced down at the fruits, finding it hard to stay on task.

The NPC looked puzzled, as if deciding whether to tell the truth or not. "I do. He's not someone I'm particularly fond of, though."

The merchant shifted uneasily. Morningstar had been told that the Faune didn't know what to think of Larbrook. He had the look of a marauder and the personality of a beast—or so he'd heard.

"I'll take one of these," he winked, pointing at a viridian fruit that resembled an abnormally large cherry.

"Ah," a smile crossed her face and she quoted a price.

He obliged and paid accordingly. "And Larbrook? Where can I find him?"

"Head to the center of the town. You won't miss him, trust me," she handed him the fruit.

"Thank you. Take care," he reached out to shake the NPC's hand, before heading in the direction she'd pointed out.

She was right; a blind man would have seen Larbrook. A giant of a man with an axe over half his size stood in the middle of town. He reminded Morningstar of a bodybuilder fellow that he'd once acted with. Larbrook was more than six feet tall in stature and was built like the statue of Laocoön. Morningstar noticed a rosy-haired girl approaching the NPC. He did the same, addressing her as he got near.

"Are you planning to take the quest from Larbrook?"

@Rebekah

"Yeah," Morningstar said proudly, "although I'll admit there was some luck involved."

He used his training sword as an anchor, leaning on it while he fiddled with the angel wing pendant around his neck. He liked Jomei's cloak. It almost reminded him of his own, although his was a lighter shade of green. He looked back to the duels. Truthfully, it seemed like the strongest players were the ones losing. It surprised him.

"Sorry to hear that you're out so early. Who'd you fight? Anyone I should be worried about?" Star half joked.

He hadn't watched all of the matches but from what he had seen, Alkor was the most daunting opponent. Part of him prayed they wouldn't get the chance to fight, while the other was thrilled at the sheer though of the challenge. Morningstar flipped his blade, holding it up between his bicep and his torso while he tightened his kimono. 

@Jomei

Morningstar dried his wet hand on his kimono. The bird, finding nothing but stone, flew away into the trees. He stretched his arms, extending them above his head. He was beginning to feel comfortable; however, instead of staying and relaxing he forced himself off the ground.

Star gazed up at the tree line. "Thanks for the company."

He was sure someone had mentioned beverages when he arrived, but couldn't remember where. The dojo made the most sense. He walked back up the stone path until he reached the entrance to the dojo. The fights were almost done, although that was the case when he'd left as well.

The crowd was unchanged; some viewed the matches from a distance while others socialized in groups. Morningstar was anything but anti-social but in that moment, he felt like his battery was sapped of it's energy. He wasn't sure he could handle more than a person or two. As he scanned the observers, he noticed a few faces sticking out from the crowd. It wasn't because he knew them, but because he'd done the same sweep of the room a million times. There were new viewers, but it mostly stayed the same.

His kimono flowed as he stepped through and around batches of people. He missed his cloak, but appreciated the comfort that the traditional garment offered. Morningstar, apologizing to someone he'd bumped, noticed shades of orange and green by an entrance to the dojo. He'd found his target.

"Hey," Star approached the man, "you were competing earlier, right? I'm Morningstar."

@Jomei

While they walked, Stephen periodically shifted his attention to the ground and nearby bushes to see if he could pick out any materials.

"If you see something, let me know," he told his friend.

Joaquin agreed. "What kind of profession are you thinking of learning? Hopefully these quests have come in handy."

"As much as I dislike Lyle, I actually think smithing could be fun.

"Fitting. I had a feeling you'd stay away from performer."

Stephen chuckled. "Years of acting will be going to waste. Artisan is my second choice."

"Artisan, huh?" A voice called.

The duo stopped, turning their heads to see another man in the branches of a lone tree. He dressed in all black; a neat suit paired with a top hat. In his hand was a large staff in the shape of a cane. Stephen had never met a polearm user.

"Sorry," the man called, "I didn't mean to eavesdrop. I'm an artisan myself, actually."

Joaquin's eyes grew wide as he watched his protégé attack. "That's better."

Stephen swung hard, his blade penetrating the boar's skin and slicing cleanly through. A perfect hit. He came to a stop, kneeling behind the explosion of particles where the boar once sat. He hadn't even given it a chance to attack. He stood up, sliding his blade into it's leather sheath.

"One more to go," Stephen's attention turned to the sky, "let's take our time and enjoy the weather though."

Joaquin smiled. "Let's."

The pair wandered through the fields, laughing and chatting together. The next set of boars was still far from them.

"Hey," Joaquin chuckled, "remember that time we had a party at the guild hall?"

"How could I forget?" Stephen grimaced at the memory.

"You and Katar got in a fight about who had discovered that old temple on the fourth floor and Simon, the fifteen year old, had to break it up," Joaquin tapped Stephen's shoulder.

"Good times."

"Stop slacking or we'll be here all night. Go fight that one." Joaquin gestured towards a boarlet in the distance.

Stephen saluted, rolling his eyes. The banter was a nice change from the silence that he was used to. He'd been by himself for a while now and the isolation was getting to him. He heard a crunch behind him followed by some chewing. Joaquin had helped himself to an apple while he watched Stephen prepare.

He approached the boar nonchalantly, not worried about the outcome of the fight. He anticipated another quick fight, although this time it'd be a bit cleaner. At least, he hoped it would be. His ego was counting on it.

The boar turned around, facing Stephen with a fierce look in it's eyes. It snorted and the swordsman raised his blade. The sooner he could finish this quest, the sooner he could move on to the next.

"Go Stephen! Get 'em!"

Stephen sighed. Then, he lunged towards his opponent.

Morningstar returned a smile. "Thanks for the tip. Maybe we'll get the chance to fight later."

He waved lazily, heading towards the exit she'd gestured to. Honestly, he almost felt disappointed that NIGHT wasn't joining him. But he understood. The first round would be ending soon—why risk missing the next? Besides, some time alone to clear his head seemed like an opportunity to prepare for his own match. At this point, it was hard to tell who he'd fight. He wasn't worried.

The sun was high, although it felt like he'd been there for an eternity. Star wandered away from the dojo, staying close enough to hear Baldur's announcements. The water surrounding the various buildings was calm. From the stone walkway, he stared down at his reflection. He wondered what Lexa would have thought of the tournament. She would have competed—he had no doubt. Star smiled at the thought, taking a seat in front of the still water. He dipped his fingers in, the cool pond engulfing them. Birds chirped from somewhere in the distance. It was peaceful, although he felt a bit melancholic.

Perhaps it was the exhaustion from his first match bringing it all back. It was more likely the fact that the anniversary of Lexa's death was on it's way. It'd been nearly a year and he still experienced the sudden waves of emotion.

If only he could be like the water, calm and steady.

Star had met friends and they had helped him through his endeavors, but it was the time he spent alone that felt the hardest. He explored less, afraid of repeating old mistakes. He trusted less, leaving no room for others to disappear from his life. He thought less, avoiding the experience of grief and mourning.

Maybe he was wrong. He felt wrong. Star removed his hand from the pond, drops of water falling to his kimono and the stone below him. This was the first time he'd thought about how he felt in a long time. A bird landed next to him, meeting his eyes for a moment before scanning and pecking at the ground.

"Sorry," his tone was quiet and hushed, "I wish I had some food for you."

The bird's sudden arrival changed his expression. It was a pretty creature. It's back was azure blue while it's underside was half red and half white. He recognized it: an eastern bluebird. The bluebirds lived somewhere deep in his childhood memories, although he wasn't sure where specifically. Maybe he'd seen them while visiting a relative or during one of many poorly-planned vacations in the east of the United States. He reminisced, his eyes gently fixed on the bird.

Star wondered if his parents kept his old bird book. He'd have to go looking for it when he could.

Recovering quickly, he kicked off the ground. This time, he aimed down at the boarlet, looking to end the first fight as fast as possible. Joaquin watched, pleased at Stephen's speedy improvement. It wasn't long ago that he watched the blonde struggle fighting boars. Now, he could even tank a hit from one.

"Still," he muttered, "I'm not sure he's ready for the big ones."

Stephen touched the ground again and brought his blade down with enough force to eliminate the boar in a single strike. It shattered into pixels as he sliced into it. Stephen wiped a bit of sweat from his forehead. The weather was hotter than he'd expected, as it so often seemed to be on Floor One.

He turned to Joaquin. "How was that?"

"I've seen worse. From you, actually," Joaquin laughed.

Stephen shook his head. "Any advice for your willing apprentice?"

"Yeah," Joaquin leaned back, "Don't fall over."

Stephen stretched his arms as he prepared for battle. The boar took instant notice of the swordsman and snorted. Even boarlets were aggressive and mean, but compared to the bigger boars they were a cake walk. The blonde swung his longsword, getting used to it's weight, before dashing forwards. He sliced up from the ground, aiming at the beast's throat, but felt that his footing was off. His sword missed it's mark, but just barely.

"Damn it," he muttered, trying to catch himself.

The boar didn't allow it, though. Stephen felt it's dense head ram into his back with enough force to knock him over. Thanks to his mitigation, he didn't sustain any lethal damage; however, emotional damage was soon to come. He could hear laughter coming from his left.

Joaquin sat down in the soft grass. "This'll be more fun than I thought! Do it again!"

"Very funny," Stephen picked himself back up, brushing off his pants.

The boars weren't as close to the town as Stephen had remembered. He wondered if they ever moved locations. They spent their time walking catching up and talking about life in Aincrad.

"How's the guild?" Stephen asked.

"Same old. Actually, Katar's been promoted. He's leading his own exploration team now. I think he wants me to convince you to join," Joaquin chuckled, scrolling through his inventory.

Stephen played with his pendant. "My answer's the same as last time. No guilds for me. Solo exploration only."

"I won't try to change your mind, but expect Katar to come find you eventually."

It was nice having Joaquin around when he could. The warrior was often busy with guild related activities, but he always made time for Stephen. Joaquin wasn't on the front lines, which always confused Stephen. He seemed like the type who'd head straight for them, but instead he stayed behind on the lower floors helping weaker players.

After Lexa's death, Stephen didn't have many people to go to. Elwood tried his best, but he was the leader of a guild; he had dozens of people to look after. Joaquin took up the mantle willingly and stuck by Stephen's side for a while, even taking time off from the guild to help him mourn.

"Thanks for coming today. I've been training on my own, but I could use a coach once in a while," Stephen drew his blade as the approached a lone boar.

"Of course," Joaquin tightened his armor, "I'll jump in to help if things go bad. Otherwise, you're on your own. Good luck."

Star laughed. "I don't know if I'm that good, but if I can help then I'd love to."

He'd always been more of an explorer. Aincrad was a big place and he intended to see as much of it as he could before he left. Morningstar considered the idea of joining a raid boss fight. NIGHT obviously had experience with them; maybe he could ask her to show him the ropes some day.

Morningstar viewed idly as another match came to an end. NIGHT seemed to avoid—at least partially—his question. He didn't press, but he did appreciate her offer to watch out for his friends.

"It's okay," he crossed his arms, "I don't expect them to show up; this isn't really their scene. Thanks, though."

In his head, the swordsman counted the remaining fights. It seemed like it'd be a while before the first round came to an end. Star had noticed Hirru leave the dojo after his match and he wondered if the hunter had gone to look around Baldur's beautiful estate. He looked at NIGHT, the Valentine's Day theme making him feel a bit awkward.

"I'm going to take a walk," he gestured outside, "want to join me?"

@NIGHT

"Both, I suppose—my match with Hirru just finished and now I'm waiting for the next round to start," Morningstar tried sliding his hands into his pockets, but realized that his kimono had none.

How long had it been since the quest on the first floor? It felt like months but truthfully, he couldn't remember. Star hadn't kept in touch either, although he'd originally intended to.

Morningstar returned a smile. "Nice to see you again, NIGHT. Just watching today? I don't think I saw you in the bracket."

Speaking of which, he had no idea who his next opponent was. An uneven amount of pairs often meant he'd skip the round and move onto the next when it was over. Star glanced in Baldur's direction, but asking in the middle of the round felt inappropriate. He'd wait until the matches were over. The swordsman's attention was split between NIGHT and the blue-haired man he'd found himself interested in earlier. Star watched the stranger fight until his opponent gained a third point and won the match. He couldn't help but feel disappointed; Star had hoped to face him later on. He shrugged it off.

"Did you come with anyone? I've been looking around to see if I know anyone here but so far I've only found you," he chuckled.

@NIGHT