Shin Kagami

Support Action completed (Non-combat support):

After everything had finished, Kagami just floated on their back in the Mirror Pond. They lamented that their otherwise bright day had been utterly ruined and swore to themselves that they wouldn’t get involved next time.

It was an empty vow though. They knew that when the next time arrived, that they’d jump in before they could even react. And when everything had come to an end, they’d be annoyed and swear to not get involved again. Thus, the cycle would inevitably continue.

But Kagami, on their back listening to the silence that surrounded them, just smiled. They heard a voice from a long time ago. “If you’re going to have regrets, make them good regrets.” In this virtual world, Kagami actually had the opportunity to follow the advice. They had no plans to ever do anything more than what they wanted. Perhaps it was just unfortunate for everyone who wanted to escape the death game that it included returning to the real world.

Word Count: 164

Thread Summary/Rewards:

Shin Kagami:
EXP: 1274 (⌊3189/5⌋*2) [NOTE: At some point the wordcounter didn't match up with the google docs but word counter is 3189 and docs is 3187 so it doesn't really matter since the math doesn't change]
Col: 400 (1 page)
Mon: 1 (Fatal Error: Act 1 event)

Eventually Kagami relented and began to swim to the water’s surface. As much as they’d be willing to stay under the lake’s surface for the rest of their life, it wouldn’t have been a very long stay.

When Kagami looked up to the cliff above, the Spectral Knight was nowhere to be seen. It was a bit disconcerting. They would’ve preferred to have seen the Spectral Knight leaving even if it was just a glimpse. But now, Kagami would just have to trust that it left. That and watch their own back for just a little while longer until they reached somewhere safer in case it hadn’t given up its pursuit.

But the cliff wasn’t entirely empty. The young boy who called themselves Shin stood where the Spectral Knight once stood. He wore a smile like he was a villain who just completed their monologue about their master plan. Then he disappeared into thin air without a single trace.

Word Count: 159

The roaring winds rushed past Kagami as they fell. They could’ve turned around to see what awaited them at the end of their fall, but they chose not to. They continued to stare up at the monster’s expressionless face and how its shadowy body didn’t indicate any annoyance. As if the only thing it could do was just accept that Kagami threw themselves off the cliff.

Suddenly Kagami felt numb all over their body. Their healthbar quickly shrank and its color changed from green to yellow, then yellow to red. Even when it stopped changing, Kagami didn’t try to surface from the water. They couldn’t tell what it could be thinking. They wouldn’t be surprised if it didn’t even think at all and just reacted to stimuli in front of them. But Kagami didn’t want to give it fodder in that case. No. Their desire to deprive the monster of any knowledge that they survived outweighed any desire to back away from the edge of death, even as their healthbar shrank even further from the lack of oxygen.

Word Count: 178

Kagami kept running. Even though they couldn’t feel any physical soreness in this virtual world, the mental exhaustion of today was catching up to them. That didn’t stop them from running though. It made it easier if anything. All they needed to do was put one foot ahead of the next, all the way until they reached the cliff. Everything else didn’t matter. Neither the fear of the Spectral Knight, nor the awful memories of what awaited them at their destination — if Kagami was correct — mattered in this instant. All that mattered was that they took the next step.

Soon, Kagami reached the cliff. Behind them was the Spectral Knight who was steadily closing the distance between them. It was only a matter of moments before the monster reached them. Kagami waited. The next few moments may very well decide the player’s fate. And when the Spectral Knight was about to reach Kagami, the platinum blond fell off the cliff in a leap of faith.

Word Count: 165

The self-doubt began to creep in as they ran. Dozens of explanations for Shin’s existence began to creep into Kagami’s mind. All of them were relatively plausible. Many of them were reliant on Kagami just losing their marbles. Yet at the end of it all, Kagami tried to remain steadfast.

There wasn’t any point in thinking otherwise at this point. Ever since they saw Shin, that gut feeling never disappeared. Every time their mind and heart was at odds, their heart had never led them astray. All of their decisions, and all of their regrets, they were sure they weren’t put to waste.

When they followed their mind is when there were issues. Doubts, anxieties, actions, consequences. Kagami didn’t think there was any issue with thinking things through. In fact, they knew they wouldn’t have made it this far if they didn’t consider every step along the way. No. The problem was when it imprisoned their heart. From now on, Kagami’s mind would be a vassal to their heart.

Word Count: 169

When Kagami was finally confident that they wouldn’t just outright die from the fall damage, they let go of the vines. Not a moment too soon as wood splinters flew everywhere as the Spectral Knight obligated yet another section of the tree trunk.

Kagami landed in some shrubbery and they watched their healthbar slowly trickle down. Thankfully it wasn’t enough to make them concerned that they couldn’t take another tumble, and Kagami was pretty sure that even at full health, they wouldn’t be able to take a single punch from the monster.

They were given no time to rest though as the Spectral Knight began to meander their way towards the player. Kagami flipped themselves over and then pushed off from the ground before breaking off into a run. If Kagami was right about Shin, this should end relatively soon. If not… well it’d end as well but with their death.

Word Count: 151

Kagami fell when a section of the tree trunk beneath them was obliterated. They swung their ice tools into what remained of the tree to try to arrest their fall. Kagami swung the implements even harder with every failed attempt. Once, twice, Kagami stopped counting. After a few moments of eternity in near free fall, they caught themselves. They were hanging from one of their tools only a few dozen feet above the Spectral Knight, and it didn’t seem like it was about to stop anytime soon as it prepared another punch.

Before the monster let their punch fly, Kagami stowed the ice tools away into their inventory. With their now free hands, they began to climb down the creeper vines that littered the tree trunk. There was still the problem of the Spectral Knight in the way but that would come after preventing a long fall to their death.

Word Count: 150

Kagami immediately started surveying the area around them when their head was just able to peek out from the top of the canopy. Unfortunately, they couldn’t discern exactly where they were. None of the landmarks they learned by heart stuck out to them. At least not from the viewpoint at the top of the tree. Fortunately to Kagami, it let them hatch a plan. But it all depended on whether Shin was a mirror image or not.

Kagami didn’t waste time in trying to calculate their confidence. They had a lifetime of calculations behind them and if the game was ever cleared, a lifetime of performing even more calculations ahead of them. In this world, however, all they wanted to do was rely on their instinct. Even if it needed honing, Kagami wouldn’t have it any other way. Kagami almost smiled until the tree they were on top of started falling.

Word Count: 151

Kagami swung their tools into the tree trunk closest to them. They moved the implements back and forth a bit to make sure there was enough purchase so they wouldn’t fall to their deaths instead of dying to the Spectral Knight. That wasn’t how Kagami wanted to be remembered. Their entry in the Monument of Life would be infinitely more embarrassing if that happened.

Once Kagami was satisfied with the implement’s stability, they started climbing the tree with haste. One hand, then the next, then her feet. Over and over again as they raced to the top. Their goal was to reach the canopy before the Spectral Knight reached the tree they were currently climbing and destroyed it too.

This tree didn’t need to last forever, though. No, it just needed to last long enough for Kagami to gather their bearings. They didn’t care what the Spectral Knight did with the tree after that.

Word Count: 154

But the Spectral Knight didn’t raise its fists at Shin as it approached. When the monster caught up to the boy, it ignored his existence. And when Shin was in its path, the Spectral Knight just walked through him.

Yet, Shin’s appearance never faded behind the Spectral Knight’s shadowy existence. Kagami saw the young boy clearly, almost like he was a projection shining from behind the monster. And from that projection, Kagami saw his sadistic grin.

But Kagami wasted no time in trying to understand what had just transpired in front of their eyes. In a heartbeat, they began to clumsily navigate their inventory to equip the climbing equipment they used to scale the ice caps during those blizzards on the 15th floor. It was the first time in a long while they used their game menus to equip something, but they couldn’t bother about habits as the Spectral Knight clambered towards them. Even if the ice tools and crampons weren’t ideal in the jungle environment, they’d have to do.

Word Count: 170

After a few moments, Kagami looked back to Shin and saw the Spectral Knight slowly walking towards him. The player got ready to turn back and throw themselves at the monster to give the young boy a chance to escape. Kagami already knew that the distance between them was far too great for any last second heroics. They also knew that they were too weak to even buy a few seconds of time even if they appeared there the next instant. But they didn’t care and started to run towards them anyway. They’d damn themselves if they didn’t at least try.

So Kagami bounded through the jungle, cutting away at any underbrush that may have impeded their movements. They ran like their own life was at risk and not some stranger they just met today. Yet it was all in vain. Kagami hadn’t even traversed half of the distance between them when the Spectral Knight reached the boy first. And all they could do now was watch.

Word Count: 167

“What the hell is that?” Kagami asked herself internally as they ran. It went without saying that they hadn’t ever seen anything like it before. And given how strong its impression was, they were also pretty sure that they should have heard anyone else coming across it. That left only three options. “Either this is one of the first times this new monster was found, something is happening in Aincrad, or—”

“Anyone who’s discovered it died before they could spread the word.” Shin completed their sentence as Kagami passed him. He was at a standstill.

Kagami was 100% sure that they hadn’t said anything aloud to their confusion. To be fair, that was indeed an option, but it was not the one Kagami had in mind. So Kagami corrected the boy. “I’m such a recluse that I just haven’t heard of it yet from other players.” Kagami didn’t stop, even as the gap between them and Shin grew.

Word Count: 158

Kagami didn’t have time to gather their bearings just yet. Kagami saw a mere glimpse of a shadowy figure before grabbing Shi and making their desperate attempt to hide behind a tree trunk. Shin had started screaming into their hand, but they didn’t relent their grip. They weren’t sure if Shin saw it.

Kagami pleaded to no one in particular that the monster would just pass by and they could try to call it a day. That whatever that thing was, that it didn’t find them. It was one thing to deal with an anomalous event. It was another thing to deal with an anomalous existence.

But Kagami wouldn’t be able to avoid it for much longer as the tree trunk behind them exploded. It took almost no time for Shin to run into the jungle without Kagami, and it wasn’t long until Kagami followed Shin after getting a good look at the Spectral Knight.

Word Count: 155

A few minutes had passed since the pair ran away from the unknown threat. The boy’s chest heaved as he struggled to catch his breath while Kagami stoically stood watch.

The jungle hadn’t truly come back to life yet. The incessant starts and stops of animal cries worried Kagami. They hadn’t seen anything like this ever before. No, that wasn’t the problem. They’ve never heard anything like this ever. Not just on this floor, Aincrad, or even the real world. And the unknown threat was even worse.

Kagami decided their best bet would have to be the safezone. If it was a monster, Kagami hoped that the sanctuary properties would repel it. If it was an anomaly, maybe the Amazons could beat it. The issue? Even if Kagami could try to navigate to the major city on the floor, they didn’t even know where they were and what their starting point was.

Word Count: 152

Kagami opened their mouth, ready to interrogate Shin about his mere existence. They were rudely interrupted by the sound of howler monkeys screeching, but before either of them could plug their eyes, the sound was cut off.

Kagami’s face turned pale and they grabbed Shin’s hands, dragging him along. If it wasn’t Shin, as odd as his existence may be, Kagami definitely didn’t want to stick around for what had killed the troop of howler monkeys.

As the pair ran, Kagami made sure to not go into circles by keeping track of two trees ahead of them and ensured that their path never strayed from the middle of the two. But in their hyperfocused state, Kagami didn’t realize how dark the jungle had gotten. Even though there wasn’t a single cloud in the sky and the canopy wasn’t thick enough in the area they were in to block out the sun.

Word Count: 151

Kagami fell backwards onto their butt. The first thought that struck Kagami when they looked at the young boy was that they had looked oddly similar and that they also couldn’t somehow be related. After all, the young boy didn’t bear a green crystal above their head.

Kagami was the first to speak up. “Are you okay?” they asked. Kagami stood up without using their hands and their head still on a swivel. They hadn’t let go of the rapier with their left hand but they offered to help the boy with their right.

The boy smiled and nodded in response. He took Kagami’s hands and they helped him onto their feet. He dusted his now-stained fine clothing. “My name’s Shin, what’s yours?” Apparently it was his turn to ask a question.

Kagami’s eyes just narrowed. This was going to be the last time visiting this floor if they could help it.

Word Count: 152

Kagami took a moment longer to try to identify the source of their alarm. Any source, anything that could possibly explain their sudden concern really. But they really couldn’t find anything. And that was enough to explain everything.

The animals in the jungle had eventually grown accustomed to human presence. They didn’t run at the sight of them as the Amazons that were denizens of the jungle didn’t overhunt them, but they also knew well enough to steer clear of humans just in case. So why did all of the animals go quiet all of a sudden?

Kagami treaded carefully. It was already obvious that something unusual was going on and if the animals wanted to avoid it, Kagami wanted to follow suit. So they did so, that is, until they turned the corner around a tree trunk and bumped into a young boy around 10 years old with platinum blond hair.

Word Count: 152

Suddenly, Kagami felt a chill run down their back. They sprung into action before even registering their surroundings. Their hand swung to their rapier at their side and brought it out in front of them. Their eyes scanned the entire area (including from above) and they listened closely for any odd movement without stopping to wonder what they were seeing or hearing. In just that moment, Kagami had prepared themselves for combat.

This was something they had been practicing in their meantime. Kagami learned the hard way that even a life of indulgence didn’t mean that trouble never lurked around the corner. Maybe they could always live in the safezone to avoid the physical threats, but even that wasn’t guaranteed if the 15th floor meant anything.

Kagami got confused when they eventually took the time to actually process what they saw and hard. What they found wasn’t really a surprise, but it was unexpected. Kagami couldn’t find what set off their instinctual alarm.

Word Count: 163

Earlier in the day, Kagami was celebrating just another bright and sunny day of indolence in Aincrad. It was a bit of a special day since Kagami decided to break their routine. They were on the 6th floor enjoying the jungle scenery and enjoying a small exploration safari by their lonesome. They normally didn’t come to the jungle floor ever since they had that incident at the Mirror Pond from a while ago, but they decided to break the rule just for the day. There wasn’t any real grandiose reason though. They just thought that it could be a nice change of place.

Kagami strolled wordlessly along the jungle floor and admired the birds of paradise that flew overhead. Their songs intermingled, creating an orchestra that pleased Kagami’s ears. They stooped down to examine the flora that littered the ground. They appreciated the minor details such as the veins in each leaf of shrubbery. It really was starting out as just another day for Kagami to enjoy life in what many others called a virtual prison.

Word count: 176

Kagami slammed their back against the tree trunk. They pressed one hand against the young boy’s mouth to stifle his loud breaths. Their other hand brandished the rapier that was normally stuck at their side. Their own breathing hitched as they tried to hold it in desperate hopes that the Spectral Knight couldn’t hear the pair’s panicked breaths. That hope was quickly dashed as the wood just above their heads were smashed into pieces.

The boy screamed into Kagami’s hand before ripping himself from their clutches and ran into the jungle. Kagami swung around to face the Spectral Knight. It stood before them with nothing but its bare hands. Its hazy silhouette towered over Kagami and shrouded the paradisiacal jungle.

Kagami raised their rapier to a guard position and took one half step towards the Knight. Then they turned around on a dime and followed the boy into the jungle.

Word Count: 150

Stats:

Kagami’s eyes narrowed in on Pinball and they grit their teeth. A few seconds passed, and the only noise was the wind sweeping across the hills. Then, after a deep breath, the tension on Kagami’s face faded away with the breeze. They only wore a smile. ”I guess there’s nothing left to say then,” Kagami said. No venom, no malice, no taunts. It took only a few moments before their demeanor reverted to the time before Pinball had approached them. Just a sincere smile, as if they had just met and were complete strangers who hadn’t yet exchanged a word. After all, there was no point in putting in any effort when they’d get nothing out of it. Neither the slightest bit of enjoyment, nor a story to tell.

Though it wasn’t long before the remaining boarlet finally took advantage of Kagami’s distraction, tackling the player and performing a hit-and-run. Kagami clenched their side as their unconscious filled the gaps in sensation that the game did not allow. As it faded, they dusted themselves off and flashed a glare at the boarlet. Talk about annoying.

Kagami turned back towards Pinball, this time not planning on letting themself to be distracted and caught by surprise. ”So… what do you plan to do now?”

Word count: 212

Combat Summary:

Stats:

”Because stories and experiences are what connects us to other people. It’s the good, bad, and ugly in our lives that make us who we are; for the better and for the worse,” Kagami said pointedly. ”And also if you weren’t such a wet rag while I was talking to you, maybe I wouldn’t have even brought this up.”

”What I need to know is how you got enveloped in such a rage that’s enough to justify killing someone? What happened afterwards? What did the people around you think of it and how did they treat you differently?” Kagami fired question after question towards Pinball, though they weren’t going to leave their own questions unanswered. ”But I guess I’ll go first because your knickers are in a twist.”

Kagami closed their eyes and their expression darkened as they recalled the third time they tainted their hands with the death of another being. The second time in this game. And this was the first time they were explaining the experience to someone else. ”I was in the mountains. I was the only person who was able-bodied enough to investigate some… rumors. So I did, thinking I was going to be face to face with a beast. But I happened upon an old man who admitted to everything. So I killed him on the spot. He didn’t put up much of a fight to be honest.”

Kagami took a deep breath and looked inwards, trying to piece together their exact feelings about what they’ve done. Their fragmented emotions and memories became whole once more as they talked about what led up to the fateful encounter in that alpine environment. It wasn't the first time their hands were tainted by their volition, nor the first time they had some remorse for their actions.

”Yet, I don’t regret a thing. I did it to protect others because the old man was threatening other people with his selfish actions.” After all, who would regret self-defense? Even better, defense for the sake of others.

”Oops, did I forget to mention that my kill wasn’t in cold blood?” Kagami put a hand over their mouth in mock surprise. ”Must’ve escaped my mind.” Of course, it would be different if Kagami talked about the first time in the game, but that would ruin all the fun. Even while their empathy for and connection to other players had grown dull, Kagami still had the self-awareness that talking about a shared experience would raise alarm bells. And as for the first time in their life? They hadn’t ever shared that with anyone. They didn’t plan to.

Kagami looked away from Pinball for a moment and saw three boarlets begin to charge the pair. Kagami brandished the rapier that they borrowed, elbow relaxed, poised to strike. Two of them ran headlong into the tip of the blade with minimal effort and a firm grip from Kagami. The other brushed its tusk along the length of the rapier as Kagami guided it away from them and it crashed down the short hill.
Kagami gave a sideways, smug grin to Pinball. They repeated the same words they heard earlier. ”Don’t worry, I’m listening.”

Word count: 530
 

Combat Summary:
 

Stats:

”I don’t think so, “ Kagami said as they turned their head towards Pinball with a sour expression on their face. Their demeanor didn’t bear any hint of venom or malicious glee that they wore on their sleeve not too long ago. Instead, their gaze was directed at Pinball but their focus was on something that couldn’t be seen with the naked eye. ”You’re not getting away that easily. Like I said, someone was dying so that you can tell your story. So you— go— first.” Kagami’s tone grew firmer and their face darker with every word. Suddenly, it all returned to normal. In the blink of an eye, almost as if it was overwritten, their entire body had relaxed.

Kagami gracefully drew the rapier from its sheath drawing an arc in the air with its tip and made sure that the tip was far from Pinball. Eventually, the sheath found its home on Kagami’s belt on their left side and the rapier pointing to the ground in a fool’s guard.

Kagami flashed a smile at Pinball. A childish one. ”Then, maybe I’ll tell you mine.” They may be childish but it’d be foolish to call it an innocent smile.

Word Count: 200

Stats (updated to reflect equipping T1 Perfect Rapier from Lyle):

Kagami’s eyes widened and their smile grew more animate as they reveled in Pinball’s sudden, yet reasonable outrage. It wasn’t quite the reaction they were expecting, but it only made Kagami more interested in the player in front of them. ”I’ll see you in a bit then,” they said, performing a mock salute while Pinball became one with the shadows. Kagami looked around to look for a trace of the other player but just shrugged when nothing apparent was in view. Kagami  just hoped he wouldn’t bail on them.

Kagami strolled back to Tolbana and the journey was wonderfully mundane as they took their time and hummed Études Op. 10 to themselves to pass it. The sun had already reached its zenith when Kagami arrived back in Tolbana. Just down the road, they spotted Dorian who was pestering a few players who were passing by to ask them to begin the starting task of the questline. Kagami stared at all of the people there with pity, both for Dorian’s trapped fate and the players who will probably keep on hearing that incessant tirade until they bear through it. Yet, life continued on for Kagami, even if it didn’t for others.

It didn’t take long for Kagami to find Zackariah’s workshop again. They gently opened and closed the door behind them and brought out their pouch of materials. ”I got a few things you can look at, “ Kagami said with a bit of excitement leaking out. Even if Zackariah was bound like Dorian, they were ready to head something new.

”Hm—, you picked this all yourself?”, the alchemist asked. Kagami nodded in response. ”Only the berry’s worth anything. Surprised you thought a parasitic vine and some grass would do.”

Kagami pursed their lips and was about to speak up before just accepting the fate Zackariah presented them. But thankfully, Zackariah wasn’t going to leave them empty-handed.

Kagami walked out the store the same way they came and started heading further down the road from the alchemist’s workshop. Lyle the blacksmith… Blacksmith… Ah, there you are, Kagami thought, eventually finding another workshop with an anvil and hammer on a hanging sign board.

It didn’t take long for Kagami to find Lyle in his foundry that was scarce save for various materials or smithing implements. But Lyle didn’t dare to entertain a single word from Kagami who had to calm down and remind themself that the quest NPCs didn’t seem to be able to do much else with themselves. Kagami took one of the rapiers off the wall and promised Lyle to return it after hunting the boarlets that he wanted the tusks for. It seemed as soon as Kagami had entered, they were forced to exit. Yet again, told to do another task. Though at least this time, it was a bit further up their alley. 

Thankfully, the boarlets were plentiful throughout the First Floor and it was only a hop and a skip from the town. Kagami looked around for one last time to find Pinball, but couldn’t catch even a glimpse of him. Talk about an annoying ability. ”Hey, killer, you still around here?”

ID: 231345 | LD: 6+3=9. Active stealth detection failed.

Word Count: 525

@Pinball