Morningstar

They had only walked for a few minutes before the excitement that Joaquin wished for arrived. They had not seen it at first, the beast that lay dormant in the shadows of the flames ahead. Morningstar was the first to notice the strange mound that poked out into the center of the wide pathway. It was dark and covered in what seemed to be fur. He reached out to Joaquin, who continued to walk towards the beast, and gripped his shoulder. Joaquin turned back, confused. "What?" he asked. Morningstar's finger rose to his lips, signaling for Joaquin to be quiet. Then, he pointed toward the d

When Joaquin was finished with his unfortunate opponents, he sulked his way back to Morningstar. "So, Duke's?" He asked, referring to a tavern in Urbus. Morningstar wasn't a fan. "Dante's. Town of Beginnings." "Never heard of it." "It's a strange place," Morningstar shrugged. They continued, making their way deeper into the cavern. Morningstar was thankful that they at least had the illumination of the lava and flames to keep them company. He had grown weary of the dark, particularly when he was inside a cave. There were deep, rhythmic rumbles beneath their feet as the

Without realizing it, they had waltzed right into the Inferno Cavern. Low growls and bright red eyes pierced the darkness. Flames erupted from the ground, stopping the pair of swordsmen in their tracks. Suddenly, a hellhound stepped into the light. It was bigger than Morningstar had expected and yet, it didn't shake him. Five more followed behind the monster, a powerful hunger in their howls. They surrounded the players, slowly circling, waiting to pounce. "What do you say," Joaquin began, "three each?" "Last one to finish owes the winner a drink." "Deal." Morningstar stepp

Morningstar's gaze was distant. He stared at the lava that exploded from a geyser not far from them. "What do you think's out there?" He asked his friend. Joaquin made a sound that indicated he was thinking. "I dunno. Treasure?" "You know I found some secret, not-so-ancient ancient ruins on the fourth floor once?" Morningstar recalled. "Oh yeah?" "Yeah. I wasn't the first—I think I was third. Met a guy there though. He had been the second to find it." "Who was the first?" Joaquin asked. "Some alchemist. Not sure." "Hmm." Morningstar's eyes drifted o

"Good. I need you with me, got it? Mentally, I mean. We don't really know what it is we're getting into." Morningstar nodded in agreement. He felt sorry for Joaquin. Grace and Simon were his guildmates. Grace in particular had been a long-time friend to him and Simon—well, Simon was just a kid. Joaquin patted his back. "We'll find him. Seriously, we will." His tone encouraged Morningstar. "Yeah. Yeah, you're right." Changing the subject, Joaquin glanced upward. "The flatlands sure are big, huh? Ever wonder if there are places out here that nobody's come across yet?" "I

"Keep your eye out for snakes, yeah? I hear there are nests around here," Joaquin said, dodging a tiny lava pool with a cartoonish leap. "No big deal, right? Not with big, strong Joaquin here to protect me," Morningstar jested. "Shut up." Morningstar heard a chuckle escape his friend's mouth. They walked in silence for some time, focused on evading magma and whatever creatures were hidden within it. When he believed the path was clear, he allowed his thoughts to wander. His daydreams, which really were more like nightmares, lead him back to Katar. Images of crumbling ruins and s

He was careless. His sword was caught rather than deflected. Eyebrows raised, Morningstar averted his gaze, tossing a puzzled look to Baldur. He questioned whether it counted as a point but before he could speak up, he found himself stumbling backward. He cursed under his breath, trying to find his balance. Astralin's sword neared his waist and Morningstar was powerless against it. He beckoned his arm to move but it was too late. The wooden blade stung as it met his oblique. There was a part of him that was angry. With himself, of course, not at the girl. He was capable of victory an

Unexpectedly, Astralin advanced first. She did not appear strong. She was much smaller than Morningstar and yet it was her who advanced first. He wondered if, perhaps, that was where his nervousness stemmed from; her confidence. It was not long before Astralin had closed in on him. Her stance told him that she intended to strike toward his center. There was a delay in Morningstar's defense but he managed to bring his sword up in time to deflect the first stab. The second came just as quickly as the first, followed by a third that nearly caught him off guard. Then, when he thought he

Joaquin and Morningstar took turns unsuccessfully questioning the NPC about Katar. He mostly stared back at the pair, confused. Sometimes, he would say a few words, such as "I have no idea what you're talking about" or "I've never seen him in my life." Nothing that the two found very helpful. "So," Morningstar changed the subject, "what happened to you?" The NPC's glare was sharp. "Hellhounds." "Hellhounds, huh? Katar's not here, Star. Let's just do this quest," Joaquin said. Morningstar nodded. "Care to share any more details about the hellhounds?" "You'll find them i

Morningstar stumbled forward, his body being pulled by Nari. She had become comfortable with him quite quickly and it surprised him. The blonde knew that they had reached their destination when she eventually let go of him. The raggedy old sailor sat upon a crate, glancing over at the trio. Nari's voice seemed to pull his attention and almost immediately, the NPC began spouting dialogue at them. The sailor told a short tale of a malevolent pirate named Greybeard. It was a change of pace for Morningstar, who spent ninety-seven percent of his time on land. "I mean, I've always wanted to go

The bartender gently slid a drink across the counter. It came to a halt, barely touching Morningstar's palm. The icy glass was refreshing against his skin. With a light grip, he lifted it to his lips and took a sip. As far as Scotch went, it was decent. It reminded him of something his father might have enjoyed, although he wasn't sure if he would experience any aftereffects. The volume of the party began to increase as more and more players filled the ship. He noticed the green hair of a player he'd had the honor of dueling the previous year but didn't say anything. He took another sip of his

Xlear was quite enthusiastic for somebody who had just consumed a grass-lime hybrid drink. Nonetheless, Morningstar liked that the man had goals. His words brought back memories of his first days outside of the Town of Beginnings' tall walls. Memories of the first people he had met during those early days. So much had changed and yet, so much was still the same. The bartender nodded to Xlear's graciousness and turned from them to clean off a few dishes that had piled up. Dante was an odd fellow. Morningstar was having trouble getting a good read on the old man. The blonde eyed the shelves

Despite a tempting array of foods, Morningstar had opted to keep breakfast light this morning. He walked alongside observers and his fellow participants, returning to the dojo at last. While many players moved toward the edges of the room, he stepped into the middle. His eyes traced the hollow, white rectangle beneath him. How he had managed to fight his way to the semi-finals was a mystery to him. Perhaps it was the strength of his opponents that strengthened him. Or maybe, it was all luck. It made no difference; he was there either way. Shaky hands wrapped the handle of Morningstar

Morningstar thought recognized the red-haired man from a party he had attended not long ago, the girl confirming this by saying his name. He wondered if she had also been there. Perhaps they had even walked by each other without noticing. He did not find it too surprising that the two were friends. Everyone seemed to know everyone by this point, aside from him of course. "Morningstar. It's nice to meet you, Nari," he said, meeting her hand. He glanced around at the villagers once more, listening to the woman speak to Jomei. While he did not voice his thoughts about the matter, he was

Morningstar was becoming tired of his ragged brown replacement cloak. It worked as it was supposed to but he missed his old green one. Nevertheless, he tossed it over his shoulders before teleporting to the sixteenth floor. He had heard tales of a quest, made for swashbucklers like himself, where one could travel the seas in search of treasure and adventure. Finally, the opportunity for Morningstar to live out his pirate dreams had arrived. He stepped off the teleportation pad, eyes attached to the small translucent screen in front of him. The message he had received from his friend had only v

It had been a while since Morningstar had put on a suit and still, it felt as natural as ever. Tonight, there was no photo shoot or movie premiere, however. It was for his own enjoyment, which was rarely the case. He toyed around in a mirror, adjusting his collar to his liking. Originally, he had intended on wearing a tie with the outfit but it made him look like he was applying for a loan. He dropped a few buttons until he felt comfortable with his appearance. He quite liked the suit he had picked out. The subtle stripes were just enough to give it some character, while the red complimented h

They stood a few feet from the inn, going over their options. Despite failing to discover any new information, they were unwilling to quit. "Do you think he knows that we're tracking him? He could have already left," Joaquin said. "We've been careful, so I doubt it," Morningstar replied, "I say we ask around town a bit more. If he's not here, then we can pick up a quest or something. It'll take a while to find him again anyway." Joaquin nodded and they continued through the town. They spoke to countless players and NPCs that they passed, hoping to get even a crumb of informatio

Joaquin stumbled forwards, grumbling to himself as he transferred the col to the NPC. The old man shut his magazine and slid it to the side. He was finally ready to talk, now that he had been paid for his trouble. He motioned for the picture and Morningstar handed it to him. Holding it close as he adjusted his glasses, the innkeeper took his time remembering whether or not he had seen the man. Eventually, he shrugged and handed the drawing back to the blonde. "Not much of an artist," the old man said, crossing his arms. Morningstar, who thought himself a decent artist, felt offended.

"This is the place," Morningstar said, wiping the gathering sweat from his forehead. "You ever been to this floor?" Joaquin replied. "Nope." "Too hot?" "Yep." The pair followed the main street of Knorilt Village, eyeing up the civilians as they passed. A sulfurous scent bombarded their noses and their pace hastened. Knorilt was new to them both and yet they were already prepared to leave. If they were not on a mission, they would never have come at all. If he had one col for every tavern they passed, Morningstar would be in the top five wealthiest people in Aincrad. It

As he explored the tower, his footsteps loud within the collapsed space, he noticed a small glimmer amidst the debris. Intrigued, he approached the pile of rubble and began carefully sifting through it, his fingers brushing against broken stone and twisted metal. With each movement, anticipation grew within him. And then his hand closed around a solid, cold object. Pulling it free from its hiding place, he marveled at what he had found—a weapon. It was a gleaming silver sword with a beautifully crafted hilt, adorned with intricate engravings. The blade's metal was dull, however, and Morni

He searched and searched for anything of value. Broken furniture and shattered glass littered the floor, remnants of a time now passed. Curiosity drew him towards a partially collapsed cabinet tucked away in a corner, its contents obscured by debris. With cautious movements, he popped open the cabinet door. In the back, untouched for a long while, sat a vial, unscathed and nestled within a small compartment. Carefully, he picked it up, examining the liquid inside. It was hard to tell what it was just by the color. Happy with his find, he stowed the potion safely in his inventory, exc

He wandered a while until he was reasonably far from the safe zone. A tower, which had now mostly crumbled away, sat in his path. The first floor remained accessible, so he decided to take a peek inside. It was dark but his Night Vision skill came in handy. He scanned the room from left to right, identifying points of interest and confirming that nothing was about to jump out and attack him. It seemed clear and he immediately noticed the piece of armor sitting on the table in the center. It was a simple, silver chest piece with no adornments or anything of that sort. It was not his style

Morningstar was not surprised by the fact he would have to find the items himself. He had done similar quests in the past and they were never too much trouble. He nodded in agreement and a small white screen popped up in front of him, giving him the decision to accept the quest. He pressed the blue button with a smile, excited to start his journey into appraising. The quest prompt disappeared. "Be back in a bit," he said to the shop owner, leaving the shop and returning to the busy streets of the town. As quickly as he could, he rushed towards the front gate. He tried his best not to

Another sunny day in the Town of Beginnings. Morningstar stepped out of the inn where he had been staying. It was early and the sky was a mix of red and blue hues. Today, he was on a mission. He wiped his weary eyes and, wrapping himself in a ratty old cloak, he ventured off into the street. His eyes wandered between shops as he searched for one in particular. It took some time but, eventually, he found it. A small, wooden store sat at the edge of the road. A pair of customers exited just as he got there, talking about a special enhancement they had received on a sword. Morningstar c

"Coming right up," Dante said, turning from the pair to grab a few bottles from the shelves behind him. The stranger began speaking to Morningstar, a hint of enthusiasm in his voice as he curiously questioned life on the higher floors. The blonde obliged his questions, interested in his new acquaintance as well. "Each floor is different. They all have individual histories and themes to them. I'm sure you've already guessed that the difficulty of the monsters is consistently increased as you climb but if you stay within the safe zones, even you could take a look," Morningstar smiled b