Elora

Elora narrowed her eyes at Freyd, before reexamining the edges of the sea. By now, the sun had leaped ahead in its setting sequence, casting a blinding glare across the surface of the water. It would be impossible to confirm what she had seen. "I guess if you insist there aren't any boats, then a raft would be the only feasible option." Elora took a moment to inspect their surroundings as Freyd focused on getting Katoka's attention. She began by sending the picnicking snacks into her own inventory. If fortune would have it, Freyd would believe that her and Katoka had finished off the delectable selection all on their own. I'll have to split the bounty with Kat later., she mused to herself.

"We building a raft or something?", said their blonde friend, her small form now faintly silhouetted before the changing sky.

"Probably more like the 'something' by the time we're through with it.", she quipped. Without a particular crafting skill, she couldn't imagine the hodgepodge endeavor giving rise to anything substantial. Scenes of their sea-faring vessel disassembling into a hundred sticks the moment they intersected with choppy water made a shiver of fear spike up her spine.

"How many do you think we need?"

"Enough to float --", croaked Elora, her mind doing its best to shake its self-inflicted doom-scenarios. "I think we're also gonna need to find or make some rope.", after a second's pause she added, "Oars also wouldn't be a bad idea."

I should have dropped it., Elora thought as she witnessed him revert to something cold, whether it was shock, apathy, or simply retreating to familiarity, she couldn't discern. Most likely, it was a combination of even more emotions and experiences she didn't understand. Reaching out, she chose to fill his cup in turn. It was an unspoken prompt and indication that she wanted to listen to whatever he had to say.

"I can hardly claim to have been the most conscientious on health care myself, though a certain degree of relentless parental badgering impressed some useful habits..."

There's the stuffy vocabulary, she noted. It wasn't condemnation, just an earnest observation.

 "My dad was a real drill sergeant about routine, including a mandatory exercise regimen.  I might as well have been in boot camp from the time I could walk...", he declared.

Elora's lips drew to a line as her mind recalled a similar upbringing. In a lot of ways, her mother had been the same way. There was rarely a time when missed lectures and failing grades had went without a screaming match. Her father on the other hand, he'd hardly even acknowledged her in the shadow of her scholarly sibling.

"If I'm honest with myself, the sense of order it carried likely drew me to it by default." 

Another remark that bolstered conflicting memories. She could see her childhood bedroom, it's warped wooden floorboards carelessly buried beneath a sea of trinkets and clothes. It was almost gratifying to test them, to embrace was she'd become. "stupid", "lazy", "a waste of potential". Her eyes drifted down to the concrete well below. Now still in the aftermath of their familiar's swimming sessions, it seemed almost unworldly, devoid of any indication that it was influenced by the lifeforces that surrounded it. Not even a single leaf dared to disrupt it's pristine surface.

"...Whatever is happening, society simply couldn't move fast enough to find, let alone care for all of the afflicted players in the short period since we became trapped..."

Elora's focus snapped back to the conversation at hand. Freyd had a point. Surely, they would have seen a percentage of players drop off from the perils of their parallel dimension. Then again, maybe would have never woken up to begin with.

"The other possibility is that we're not even us at all...", suggested Freyd. Her body had involuntarily begun to lean it as it considered the possibility. "...Think of it this way: do we even actually know that we can die in here?", he continued, "...We don't even really know if we are the 'us' each of us thinks we are from that world..." 

"Huh.", she remarked, her body eventually reclining as the realization washed over her, "I never even considered that..." It could all be a lie. Just like a dream. We could do anything we wanted... The sentiment carried a certain lightness to it, a kind of peace that permitted her to to abandon her identity of the past.

"Your friend's...Elora...Róisín... do you believe that you are here by mistake?"

The illusion dissipated.

A once callous smile was now laced with regret. "No -- not a mistake.", she corrected, "It's what I deserve." The thought of being coddled by misguided sympathy made her feel sick to her stomach. "I heard she'd won the sweepstakes, it was all that our class could talk about.", she explained through terse words, "She was such --" A bite of her lip swallowed a burst of resentment. "I wanted to take it from her, watch her cry about how she couldn't get something handed to her for once in her life." Anger seemed to swell within Róisín as her freckled cheeks deepened from gypsum to crimson. "So -- I broke into her house -- they were all out to dinner anyway, celebrating another one of their children's stupid achievements. The thing hadn't even been turned on yet", finally, a crack in her voice, "I wanted to know if it would start --" She remembered the welcome screen, the invitation to claim her identity, the opportunity to become someone better. "Elora always did have a golden horse shoe up her ass."

"Has this only been since the raid, or did you have these dreams before?"  

"Before.", she answered succinctly, her hand finally releasing its grip under his.

"I don't want to dredge up more bad memories, but that sounds a lot like what I would have imagined Shadow's flood to have felt like.  We never really talked too much in detail about that."

"Yeah...", she started slowly, allowing her mind to drift back to that dark day, "A lot of the sensations are similar. Except, instead of drowning, I don't know -- I feel more like I'm just...deteriorating." Is that the proper word?, she wondered as her mind struggled to articulate. Another noticeable pause prompted Freyd to suggest a relation to her life outside of SAO.

 "...Is there maybe some connection?"

"Hm", thought Elora. Considering the possibility, she spent some time sipping away at her tea. "Well, I didn't exactly treat my body well back then...A fair amount of smoking, more than a fair amount of drinking." She shot him a sarcastic smile. "Maybe my liver's finally just kicked the can." Her attempt to alleviate the situation was thinly-veiled and ineffective. "If that was even the case --", she continued more seriously, "Why would I be dreaming of it now?"

Reassessing Freyd's features made her wonder if she should change the subject. Unlike before, he seemed to fidget and divert his attention away from her. Was this topic especially hard for him? In actuality, it was probably his shift away from stoicism that made her second-guess what she shared. In some ways, he had become even more difficult to read than in the early days of Aincrad. "I'm sure you've thought about it", she said looking his way, "So what's your theory? Has time stayed the same? Are we sitting right where we were when we logged on?" Elora's eyes seemed to light up as she listed off each question. It was as if the proposals were more playful thought-exercise than potential morbid reality. "Or do you think the world is moving on without us? Like we're all just stuck in comas?" A faint spat of indifference followed her final guess. "Maybe they found me at my friend's, using her NerveGear." The remark caused Elora's hand to shoot up and anxiously scratch at the back of her neck.

A call of encouragement warranted another step forward as Elora pretended to be taking her sweet time with swimming out to sea. "I'm just -- adjusting to the temperature." It was a pretty flimsy excuse, given that this world had a way of moderating one's exposure to any uncomfortable element. Luckily, you could always rely on the mind to reinforce years-long aversions to anything it deemed 'uncomfortable'.

"Are you alright in the water?", Freyd seemed to be catching on, "I should have asked first."

"Best to just dive in and get over it all in one go...", he offered as a suggestion.

"AH, No -- I'm -- I'm not actually...the best at swimming", she admitted with elbows frozen above the water's surface, "But I can just start some sort of swimming sequence, right? They couldn't possibly expect every player to know how to -- what if I grew up in the desert, or the arctic circle, or something?" Even they can have swimming pools., she reminded herself.

Her sights turned upward to follow where he was looking, both in the direction where Katoka was suiciding, and vaguely toward the horizon. For a split second, Elora thought she could make out the shape of something bobbing out there. The thermal vents? A geyser of water rocketed into the sky, sending a shower of sea spray over the shore. Elora squealed and shielded her head as if the water displacement alone would be enough to send her straight to Davy Jones's locker. "Oh --", she quickly realized her overreaction as curses from her friend could be heard over the sound of the resulting waves.

As the droplets disintegrated from a veil into a fine haze, she could finally distinguish...

"Boats!" Her hand motioned toward a small fleet of fishing vessels not much further the the opposing shoreline. "A boat would do.", Elora excitedly confirmed to Freyd, "I -- we could take a boat out to the coral reefs." A smile seemed to return the understanding.

"KAT!", she proceeded to holler through cupped hands, "SEE ANYTHING OVER THERE? A DOCK OR A BOAT THAT WE COULD BORROW?!"

Elora's brows rose in curiosity, then furrowed with concern. "Well...", she began with fidgeting fingers, the mug-full of tea now planted firmly beside them, "It's been all sorts of things...A lot of times, I can't see or hear, I just feel...paralyzed." Her blue eyes grew colder for a moment as they recounted something distant. "There's always a sense of dread, some sort of wrongness that I can't shake." A steady breeze caused ashy willow branches to billow and sway overhead. "Once and a while, I hear voices, or see a shadow. It's like someone is there, but I can never make out who." 

Freyd could feel a faint stinging in his knee as Elora's fingers had inadvertently clenched around it. "The most unsettling part about it all is the feeling -- it's -- it feels more real then here. Almost as if I was back." Eyes finally turned to make contact with his as she searched for a reaction. He's going to think I'm crazy. "I don't know how to explain it -- but, there's so much pain --  Her opposing hand lifted to rest above her heart. For a moment, she could almost feel the sting of this morning's dream. "I try to get away, and that's usually when I wake up." Despite her efforts to remain calm, her voice had begun to shake with a palpable fear. "And that's when it goes away, the pain.", she tried to conclude on a more dismissive note, "I don't feel it anymore after that."

Having described the details as best she could, Elora hastily redetermined to continue consuming her drink.

"Is something bothering you?  Maybe keeping you from sleeping?"

Elora could feel a worry swell within her chest as fingertips twitched in response to his touch. For as outwardly as she expressed her more volatile emotions, she had a surprising tendency to hold those most vulnerable close to her chest. Where she had previously struggled with admitting her weaknesses, she now needed to consider the wellbeing of those who cared for her. It's nothing different than before., she tried to rationalize, I didn't want them to know how much I sucked at things, but...they accepted me anyways. I'm sure they'd want to help me with whatever I'm struggling with... An unwitting sigh was enough to indicate that she was overthinking again. They'd probably rather know, even if it's weird.

"A good friend of mine recently put me on to this particularly soothing blend of tea,", Freyd followed after her notable hesitation, "Maybe she'd appreciate a taste in return?  I might have sought it out and stocked up on the stuff since I last saw her."

As if summoned by the sound of the glass, Elora rose up from the patch of grass to assume a seat beside him. "I'll never say no to tea", she accepted with a more sing-songy attitude. Just like that, her mood seemed to swing back to its perkier disposition. At least, to a superficial degree. It was still evident that something weighed on her mind as she sipped from the cup that brimmed with a steaming antidote.

After several motions quickly drained most of its contents, she shifted to place a hand atop his knee. "I don't know how to explain it...", she began with tensed features, "But I've been having...these really weird dreams." A nervous swallow offered more time to consider her explanation. "I've had plenty of dreams before...but nothing like this...they come almost every night, and I'm worried they won't go away." Her warm touch grew clammy as she retreated to cusp both hands within her lap. "I think -- maybe I'm just having a hard time after the boss fight." 

Another administration of tea found her eyes meeting with his. "Have you...had anything like that before?" There was a strong possibility that it was all just an overreaction. Maybe her mind was still adjusting to the stresses of newfound responsibility. Surely that was enough to cause any fighter a handful of sleepless nights.

"I used to think it might be possible to train yourself to ignore sleep in the game.  To an extent, it is possible, the effects inevitably catch yup with you.  Everything has a price."

"Can't say I've done the same intentionally, but yeah, I've only been able to stay up a couple of days before it got to be too much." A few weary blinks welcomed memories of multi-day questlines when rest could only be achieved after hours of searching, sparring, and other at times, escaping from their exhaustive objectives. She smiled as echoes of 'FIND THEM! I WANT THEIR SPLEENS!' seemed more like cartoonish satire than an actual lived experience.

That was one of the things she loved about this world. Every day was so different. By contrast, her earlier days now left her feeling remorseful. How much time did I waste hiding at the Hummingbard? How many more people could I have met, adventures I could have had, if I had the confidence to leave? The thought had begun to sour her already-sinking spirit. She moved to ask him about his work.

"There's always work.  Never.  And, always?"

"So...yes?", she concluded after delayed sputtering attempted to decode that answer.

"So, what's up?", Freyd started to ask, "Just out for a stroll, or hoping your familiar will drown himself so we can go hunt for another?"

Elora laughed at that assumption, her mind struggling to search for a feasible way in which Borris could actually die. "No", she finally answered, "I just...needed somewhere to go. I haven't been sleeping very well, so it was no use going back to bed." The reason served as a reminder for Elora to rub her tired eyes. "You know how it is though", she thought it best to add, "Most people hang around until the early hours. Things don't usually quiet up until morning." With another viable explanation, there was no reason to worry him about the recurring nightmares.

They're only dreams, and sure to go away., she reminded herself, And besides, I'm not a child.

Borris briefly bulked up in pride before promptly rolling forward and plummeting into the pool below. He liked to test death like that.

"Oh gosh --", Elora chimed up as feet carried her to the rim of the recess, "Did he just dive in --? I'm gonna have to collect him later..." For a moment, she'd adopted the semi-frustrated, but mostly haggard, expression of a parent with a runaway toddler. Plopping to a seat beside her partner, she belatedly recalled his greeting. "Hi", she replied succinctly. He'd only said 'hello', hadn't he? "I'm glad that I can rely on you to be up during any time of day" The observation was made in earnest. Sometimes she worried about whether or not he was getting enough rest, but most of the time, she was glad for the opportunity to call on him at a moment's notice. 

With an exaggerated groan, Elora stretched back to sprawl across the grass. Her legs extended, then swung into a series of gentle kicks as they came to drape over the ledge. "So, no work today? Work already finished? Work...about to begin?" She thought that'd cover all the options.

A series of plunks and splashes resonated through concrete tunnels below, a sure indication that Borris had begun the endeavor of attempting to skip himself across the pool's surface. Never a quiet moment with that one.

The world was spinning. Elora's mind felt scattered, suspended in a sea of staticky sensations and nauseating frequencies. A dull hum thrummed through her ears, compressing her head like a severe congestion. She could feel her form crumble as it morphed into something piercing, a violent cacophony of needles and screeches. Why am I here?, she pleaded as her conscious tried to pry itself from the painful nightmare. Before she could escape, her chest seized with a sudden constriction. It was as if a hundred stitches had synched shut from a single tug. She gasped for air --

and clawed off the blanket that covered her. Blurry sights failed to clarify as she stumbled forward, her legs soon meeting with the cross-beams of a small wooden chair. She buckled forward, weight failing to find support in the wobbly piece of furniture. It quickly clattered to the floor beside her. Surroundings gradually stilled as the startled elf began to regain her faculties. 

Room -- I'm back in my room -- 

She laid for a moment and examined her vitals: heart racing in her chest, lungs feeling winded with every breath, limbs shaking in a cold sweat. I'm alive --, she assured herself, I'm ok -- 

It was more than she could confirm a moment ago.

A stream of tears prompted a swipe of her eyes and the visitation of a tiny familiar. By now, Borris had already rushed to fulfil his supportive roll. In a series of seconds, the rock golem plunked off the bed and rolled across the room to assist in whatever way he could. Usually, this meant spiraling around in a panic until she managed to get a word out.

"Morning, Borris...", she greeted after a strenuous heave separated her back from the floor, "Sorry for the commotion..." Downplaying the incident did little to quell the companion's nerves, or at least, whatever it was he had that generated such a concerned response. "Just gotta get up a little slower than before...", she reassured with a sigh.

Ever since the raid, her night terrors had only gotten worse. At first, it had been easy enough to wake each morning, drink her tea, and begin her day like any other. Now, it seemed like their effects were becoming harder to shake off. She felt more exhausted, more anxious than before.

A screeching kettle called to her attention.

When had Borris lit the fire? Gathering her wits, she stood up fully to remove the vessel from the heat. Boiling water swirled spices into a sienna-colored concoction as Elora considered what to do next. "I think I'll visit Freyd today.", she remarked as the fragrant tea drew close to her lips, "He always has a way of making things better."

Finishing her beverage, she embarked on the familiar path to his residence on Floor 13. 

***

Elora | HP: 700/700 | EN: 104/104 | DMG: 26 | MIT: 98 | EVA: 3 | ACC: 8 | BH: 35 | LD: 3 | AA | BLGT: 32 | FLN: 8 | REC: 8 | STK: 40

The screeching sound of metal grating against metal comendiered Elora’s attention in an instant. Her feet fumbled in search of a foothold as she was suddenly thrust off-balance by the combined momentum of Bahr’s shove and her retreating spear. With little time to correct her course, the emerald-haired player followed the weapon’s trajectory. Its braided hilt planted into the stone below, haphazardly breaking the fall of her buckling knees.

A shout of alarm was immediately overwhelmed by the Titan’s hulking swing. In a rush of gleaming titanium, Bahr was practically wiped from one end of the arena to the next. She’d already lurched in his direction, summoned by an uncharacteristic need to make sure he’d survived the attack. Before she could reach him, he’d reciprocated the favor.

"Are you okay?", came the misplaced concern. 

“Y-yeah!”, she replied quietly, then louder so he could here. I’m fine — He should be worried about himself. Her eyes flickered to the boss, then back to him.

"Now's the time to rack up more damage, while it's off-kilter. Let's move."

“I’ve got it!”, came her hasty assurance. She couldn’t afford to let him down again. Scrambling to her feet, she initiated a second siege. This time, her focus had shifted to the colossal’s wrists. Coursing like lava were veins that traveled the length of its armor. Whether actual lifeforce or aesthetic sinew, Elora intended to let them dry. 

There was little to evade as the determined woman wove beneath the hunched-over Warden. For as formidable as it seemed, there were floods of molases that had managed to move faster. Finally perched in an opportunistic position, Elora slashed into the aforementioned artery. Gobs of fiery goo sloshed out from above, narrowly scourging her as they fell and extinguished on the stones below. For all she tried, she couldn’t avoid the sting of its vengeful thorns. 

“I’ve cut it’s arm!”, she alerted her comrade through a flash of pain.

***

"So smack it, but not too hard -- I think I can manage that", she resolved between careful steps. The intricate weapon materialized into her grasp as Elora prepared for her attack. Gone were the days where she carelessly rushed into combat without hesitation. Instead, she spared a few moments to inspect her surroundings and to still her breathing. The later proved to be a challenge. Swallowed by the shadow of such a hulking figure stirred moths in her stomach, making her second-guess whether or not she was truly capable of kicking its shiny metal ass. "Right -- I'm just gonna --", she undertook a stationary hop before breaking into a clumsy sprint forward.

Elora's feet felt like they were moving at a different frame rate than the rest of the world as her body carried her to the base of the titan. With a jittery slash, the tip of her weapon ricocheted off the thing's metallic armor before planting itself between plating and the ball joint of its knee. "Oh, shit --", she cursed as hands fumbled to dislodge the weapon from its mechanistic prison. For as much as she loved her spear, it had an impressive knack for getting stuck in whatever it happened to shish-kabob.

***

Elora shook her head in befuddlement, "Guess so -- he just gets that way sometimes." A smile between bites of fruit suggested that she didn't mind the sentiment, nor his discomfort with transparency.

 "He's a dork, but I wouldn't have it any other way. See you in the water?"

"Totally", she finally added, "Just don't get a cramp --" Elora stopped herself after remembering they didn't need to worry about such things here. Who even gets cramps, anyway? I've never had one from swimming after eating. Must be some sort of parental conspiracy. By the time she'd reached the end of that thought train, her friend had long since sprinted down the beach like a goddamn ninja. Katoka really had a way of making flamboyant performances feel perfectly her.

"Let's go girl! Get those cheeks out here!", she quickly called out.

An unnecessary and sloppy attempt to cover the foods was all that separated her from the shoreline. After a cautious stroll to the undulating seam of seafoam, Elora anchored her heels to be lapped by the cool water. This was the perfect invitation to relax. With an awkward shuffle forward, she allowed her ankles, then her calves, and finally, her stomach to sink below the surface of the waves. "That wasn't so bad", she commented from beneath her breath before remarking, "I feel like getting in is always the hardest part."

From where she was standing, it was easy to become mesmerized by the way sunlight seemed to shimmer and reflect off of a limitless number of invisible edges. By now, the nuclear orb had already begun its steady decent toward the horizon. I bet this will look absolutely magical at eventide.

"Oh yeah", she recalled with a thumb to her chin, "I always forget these things exist. I should really start packing one with me -- it's convenient you have two." Teleport crystals were something she rarely used. It seemed a lot more natural, no, more real just to walk everywhere she went. Still, it would be reckless for her not to keep some in her inventory. Just in case.

"I've had my share of companions in this world,", Bahr soon began to tell her, "but sometimes it's necessary to tackle a quest like this alone. Keeps things simpler, less room for distractions. Besides, it's not often I find someone as determined as you to accompany me through the darkest depths,"

Elora cracked a dismissive smile at his compliment. "Really?", she sounded somewhat surprised, "I feel like it's so much easier to do stuff with other people. When I'm alone, I just feel so unmotivated. Sure, the UI will lead me through the objectives, but it feels so boring to slog between them without any kind of entertainment. Not to mention -- what if I come across a puzzle I can't solve or a ton of annoying little mobs? I guess I just don't see the fun in doing quests for the sake of doing them." It was easy to count on one hand the number of times she'd attempted to do as much. No matter the rewards, it never felt worth it to spend a day with herself.

The air around them seemed to chill and become clammy with moisture as the two of them finished descending the stairs. By now, a faint-but-distant cerulean light had crept up the walls to saturate the chamber in color. Much like the structure itself, it seems to twist and refract an unsteady projection. 

"And what about you?", he finally goaded in return, "No bullshit this time."

Was it really that obvious?, she sighed with a silent regret. "My guildmates were busy.", came a blunt response, "The other group didn't want me, so I tried to chase after them. They'd already entered the maze...and I didn't realize -- I got separated from the exit before I could leave." The digits of her free hand twitched as she felt the urge to cross her arms, to curl up into herself. Luckily, an external reprieve readily presented itself.

"Big place -- I'll take this side", remarked Elora as the dank hallway opened up into a bioluminescent aqueduct. With careful steps, she carved her chalk across the slippery walls. A staggered pathway of squared-off stones was enough to allow her across the rumbling river. "I'm guessing we'll have to find a way past this massive door", she shouted from across the room, "It's locked, but there's probably a key nearby -- maybe some kind of puzzle" Perhaps the greatest indicator was that both of their trails had wrapped around the room, placing them directly across the stream from one another. 

"Yeah, we're completely enclosed.", she decided, finally deeming it safe enough to lift her chalk from its canvas. The echo of Elora's boots thrumming dully against the tiles was nearly indistinguishable under the static of the current. After pacing the length of the ravine, she crouched beside it and dipped her hand into the glowing water. Much to her surprise, the tips of her fingers barely submerged below the rushing surface before scrapping the basin below. "Huh...", she marveled at the discovery, "It's really shallow" 

Her attention turned to the hand that pinched the chalk. Could this...? Lowering the pigment into the water elicited a soft and soothing melody that preluded a stream of pure white light. Stretching from the source of contact, the beam rolled down the stream and spilled across its eventual retaining wall. The previously-opaque surface seemed to ripple from the light, revealing the ethereal river's eventual continuation.

"I think we're supposed to follow it --"

***

Elora laughed nervously from their adoration, sand spilling between her toes as she awkwardly shifted her weight from side to side. Her attire was, admittedly, outside of her comfort zone, but she did her best to wear it with confidence. 

"Let's just enjoy it and take it easy for awhile."

"Don't have to tell me twice!", she proclaimed before plopping onto the checkered picnic blanket. Quickly helping herself to the appetizing assortment of snacks, Elora spared a moment to fully inspect Freyd's features. His muscles were so much larger than before, though still flattering for his more slender frame. Unlike so many of the other male players, Freyd seemed more subversive in his appearance. Under his disheveled cowl and worn-down tracksuit was a formidable strength.

Her cracker crumbled in her hands.

"Ah, shit --", she muttered as her fingers scrambled to collect the ejected slices of cheese. By now, parts of the biscuit had been crushed to the size of sand. "Come on, sit down!", she invited before dusting away the crumbs. "Have either of you been in the water yet? It looks so warm --" She sat up and shaded her eyes to look out at the ocean, "In Ireland, the sea is always cold, so I didn't swim often."

"Alright. I get it. But you gotta cut it out with those eyes and the self-deprecation."

As if by instinct, Elora's pointed ears swung back up in concession. "Right!", she agreed with two determined fists, "I'll save those for anyone else who tries to fuck with us!" Who knew that womanly wiles actually worked!

And so, the reinvigorated player diligently paced behind Bahr's heels like an imprinted duckling, making sure not to become too fixated on the way each wall seemed to ungulate around them. The place definitely had a sense of majesty that both complemented and contrasted its bleak atmosphere. Elora still wasn't sure whether or not she should be intimidated by the dungeon or scoff at its edgy aesthetic.

She nearly slammed into her escort a second time as Bahr suddenly stopped to propose she utilize a piece of his chalk. 

"Sure, that seems like a good idea.", she agreed and accepted item. Tracing his line proved to demand more focus than she'd expected as her hand maneuvered around cobbled protrusions and cracks in the stone. At least the exercise had a way of keeping her grounded. "So...What's the plan when we get to the boss?", she spoke up as the pair rounded their umptieth corner, "Is one of us just supposed to keep holding this stuff against the wall, or are we gonna be granted some sort of magical exit?" Maybe it was a stupid question to ask, but Elora had never been in a dungeon like this before. All of her previously-pursued quests had lead her to open spaces or shallow caves, not remote boss rooms that stretched into the depths of Satan's asshole. "It'd be kind of dick move for them to make us walk all the way back."

Finally, the towering walls tapered down to prelude something more interesting, a sunken corridor. The warm glow of dozens of torches speckled the steep descent ahead. 

"Oh boy --", the green-haired player remarked sarcastically, "Stairs. Nothing says 'you're getting close to the boss' quite like hundreds of steps." With sluggish steps, Elora began to slink down the passageway, her chalk lazily bobbing across the stone in a series of waves. Guess this means we'll have some time to kill. "Why are you here alone, anyway?", she took a crack at initiating some small talk, "Don't you have some guild mates or friends you could do this quest with?"

***

Elora could feel her body become reinvigorated with the help of Hirru's spell. Although her exhaustion was far from cured, she felt strong enough to administer one final attack. "Thank you!", she shouted over to her green-haired companion. "I think we're gonna need to buy you a drink after this", she soon added with a weary chuckle. Elora could only hope that the battle would be over after this barrage of attacks. Otherwise, the next best thing she could contribute was a thumbs-up from the sidelines as the others carried on with the assault.

Setting her sights on the belly of the beast, she once again lashed forward to deepen the serrations she'd previously carved. Even if she couldn't deal a huge amount of damage to Wushen, she would still make it hurt where it counted. Feels like I'm doing more damage to myself at this point., she thought as she staggered back from his form. 

***

Post Action: [x15] AOE-I (11 + 2(Enemy) + 2(Shift)= 15 EN)
Free Action: N/A

ID# 218228 | BD 6+8= 14 Hit | DMG: 15*38=570 - 15 MIT = 555 DMG to Wushen

ID# 218227 | CD12 Success +8 EN, +4 EN recovered passively = Elora recovers +12 EN

(15) Freyd |  HP: 1334[250]/1334 | EN: 97/150 (103+4+8-18) | DMG: 24 (0/1) | MIT: 188 | EVA: 6 (5) | ACC: 5 | BH: 73 | REC: 8 | THRN: 40 | FLN: 16 | HLY: 16 | V.D.: 146 | HELL: 80 | STNG[x1] | LD: 8 | PRS: 3 | DOTE: 1/3
(0) Hirru | HP: 1104[250]/1104 | EN: 89/104 | DMG: -19 (0/1) | MIT: 182 | ACC: 2 | BH: 55 | REC: 8 | THRN: 76 | MENDING: 2 | HB: 44 | LD: 5 | DOTE: 1/3
(9) Katoka | HP: 720[250]/720 (699+31) | EN: 31/106 (+4) (-20) | DMG: 32 (0/1) | MIT: 98 | EVA: 4 | ACC: 7(8/AA) | BH: 31 | REC: 8 | BLGT: 32 | P.V.O | STK: 40 | HELL: 80
(10) Morningstar | HP: 844[250]/851  | EN: 32/106 | DMG: 32 (0/1) | MIT: 142 | EVA: 1 | ACC: 6(7/AA) | BH: 18 | STK: 40 | FRB: 40(-1) | VO: 140 | HELL: 80 | LD: 6
(13) Elora | HP: 700[250]/700 | EN: 6/104 (+12)(-15) | DMG: 30 (0/1) | MIT: 98 | EVA: 3 | ACC: 7(8/AA) | BH: 35 | REC: 8 | FLN: 8 | BLGT: 32 | STK: 40 | LD: 3
(8) Tricolor_Mina | HP: 720[250]/720 | EN: 10/106 | DMG: 31 (0/1) |MIT: 78 | ACC: 7 | BLGT: 32 | BRN: 56 | FRB: 40(-1) | V.D.: 72 | TXC.: 32

Elora was momentarily taken aback by Mina's drastic shift in demeanor, but soon appreciated the metaphorical olive-branch to opening up. Honestly, this version of her seemed a lot more palatable than the one previous. There were only so many superficial niceties Elora could handle before she'd become frustrated or bored. Another spoonful of soggy rice prefaced the following conversation.

"...Its why he uses knuckle dusters and handwraps instead of bladed weapons."

Huh, just like Salem, she recalled her interactions with the unusually introverted new player, Seems like knuckle users really are a type. The observation made her wonder about polearm users. She didn't encounter them often, but they seemed a lot more common.

"I push people away because I don't want them to come closer. ", she tuned back in to their talk, "The last time I did that, it crippled me in a way I'll never recover from in the real world." 

Now that's interesting. Elora eagerly wanted to pry into whatever incident the boy was harkening back to. Whether or not it was justification enough for his distrust was still left to be decided. Unfortunately, his attention had returned to his papers as readily as it had been pulled away. It seemed the point was probably moot.

That said, I believe I haven't Properly introduced myself.", her focus was demanded by an intense set of rosy irises, "I am Tricolor_Mina, otherwise known simply as Mina, or Violet depending on whom I happen to be speaking to. I'm effectively an investigator, for a lack of a better term, and my preferred specialty is investigating people. Right now, I've been taking a vested interest in you two, especially Freyd and his shadowy lil friend, I believe he called himself Montjoy?"

That's a lot of names, considered Elora as she tried to decide which would be the most appropriate to use, Well Freyd's been calling her 'Mina', so I'm gonna go with that one. "I don't think he was that little --", she interrupted matter-of-factly, "Not like a tiny demon on your shoulder kind of of shadow -- more like a whole-ass guy." If Mina hadn't encountered him before, it was important to set the record straight. "Actually...", she added with a pause, "Is that right?" Elora turned to ask Freyd. After all, if anyone was to explain the mostly-doppelganger but not-quite-identical phenomena, it was probably him.

"Oh -- yeah --", she scrambled to set down her silverware before clapping her hands together and saying, "Eat a donkey mass!" She was still getting used to that custom.

"Forgive me for saying so, but I'm not sure that's the best idea..."

Elora's expression gradually shifted from one of excitement to dejection as the lone player began to discourage her accompaniment. With drooping ears and a deflated posture, the small elven woman started to look more like a wounded puppy than a confident combatant. He's right,, she regarded in response to his observation, Even if the Shadow increased my rank, I'm still just an inexperienced player who doesn't know how to handle a fight. Eyes drawn down to her weapon, Elora considered what the verdigris spear symbolized to her; a promise. Before Freyd gave me this, I was using the spear I started the game with. She could recall many adventures, shish-kabobing monsters and dismantling trebuchests with the glorified twig. It had always seemed fine, until recently. Suddenly, she was expected to handle all of the responsibilities of a tier four fighter. I'm supposed to be stronger now, to join The Frontliners in defeating the floor bosses. Worried hands traced the twisted metal vines that clambered up the weapon's hilt. I don't feel ready -- but I promised him that I would try... A hesitant gulp proceeded her reply.

"I don't want to hold you back.", she stated bluntly, clearly struggling to hide the hurt she felt at his dismissal. "But I want to join this battle. I'm --", she stammered for a moment in search of the proper explanation, "I'm not as experienced as the rest of the players -- The Frontliners, I mean. I wasn't -- expecting to be put in this position so quickly." Gaze still glued to her staff, Elora seemed to be avoiding Bahr's eye contact as she spoke. "When everything got changed, I jumped up an entire rank -- It shouldn't make a difference, but I just feel so behind. I wasn't meant to be here. I'm still -- I'm just trying to figure things out, where I fit in." She was doing a piss-poor job of advocating for her use, but it was the truth. All she wanted was to be good enough to deserve her new title.

With a weighted sigh, she admitted, "I'm probably being a dumbass, but that's not on you -- I want to do this, for myself. Otherwise, I'll never feel ready to face what lies on the floors ahead."

***

Vanity tag: @Freyd

A blur of shadow streaked across the battlefield as Freyd dashed forward to slash Wushen. Elora watched in awe as her partner's swing delivered more power than any she'd witnessed before. It was moments like these that she felt truly special to have been trained by him, and to have taught him inner strength in turn.

"I'm right behind you--!", she promised through a shaking voice that morphed to one of determination. Katoka was right, this was their opportunity! It wasn't long before a phantom head predictably arose to shield his form. Even if she didn't have the stamina to attack their boss, she would at least ensure its puppet's destruction. 

Absorbing what little recovery her armor had to offer, Elora rushed to sever the searing head. The swift zigzagging motion of her spear sliced through her opponent's stomach, neck, and snout. It was hardly enough to defeat the thing. Nonetheless, she hoped that her contribution would expedite the fight. With only one health bar left, Wushen could only attack them for so much longer. 

"I'll do what I can from here", she reassured her teammates, "It might not be much -- but I'm not giving up. Let's show this thing its maker"

***

Post Action: [x20] ST-B (20 EN)
Free Action: N/A

ID#218123 | BD 4+8=12 Hit | DMG: 20*26=520 - 55 MIT = 465 DMG to Brimstone

ID# 218124 | CD9 Success +8 EN, +4 EN recovered passively = Elora recovers +12 EN

(10) Freyd |  HP: 1334[250]/1334 | EN: 105/150 | DMG: 20 | MIT: 188 | EVA: 6 | ACC: 5 | BH: 73 | REC: 8 | THRN: 40 | FLN: 16 | HLY: 16 | V.D.: 146 | HELL: 80 | STNG[x1] | LD: 8 | PRS: 3 | DOTE: 1/3
(0) Hirru | HP: 1104[250]/1104 | EN: 104/104 | DMG: 1 | MIT: 182 | ACC: 2 | BH: 55 | REC: 8 | THRN: 76 | MENDING: 2 | HB: 44 | LD: 5 | DOTE: 1/3
(8) Katoka | HP: 668[250]/720 | EN: 47/106  | DMG: 28 | MIT: 98 | EVA: 4 | ACC: 7(8/AA) | BH: 31 | REC: 8 | BLGT: 32 | P.V.O | STK: 40 | HELL: 80
(9) Morningstar | HP: 844[250]/851  | EN: 38/106 | DMG: 28 | MIT: 142 | EVA: 1 | ACC: 6(7/AA) | BH: 18 | STK: 40 | FRB: 40(-1) | VO: 140 | HELL: 80 | LD: 6
(12) Elora | HP: 700[250]/700 | EN: 9/104(+12)(-20) | DMG: 26 | MIT: 98 | EVA: 3 | ACC: 7(8/AA) | BH: 35 | REC: 8 | FLN: 8 | BLGT: 32 | STK: 40 | LD: 3
(7) Tricolor_Mina | HP: 720[250]/720 | EN: 24/106 | DMG: 27 |MIT: 78 | ACC: 7 | BLGT: 32 | BRN: 56 | FRB: 40(-1) | V.D.: 72 | TXC.: 32

Brimstone | HP: 1463/2000 | DMG: 250 | MITI: 55 75 | ACC: 4 | EVA: 0 | Scorch{H.M} [0/+20] | STK [40/1] | BLGT [32/1]

The exhaustion that gripped her body was undeniable in its subjugation. By now, buckled limbs and belated gasps had become a phantom of the past. Elora couldn't recall a time that she had felt this haggard, not since her fledgling days in SAO. Back then, every swing seemed to fully deplete her stamina in a moment's notice. I'm supposed to be better now., she reflected remorsefully, I need -- I need to prove that I'm meant to be here, that I can handle everything a boss has to throw at me. Or else, how could I even call myself a 'Frontliner?'

Bright flashes commanded her focus once more -- The battle!  While she was once again spiraling in self-doubt, Mina had, blessedly, mowed over the remainder of Serration's noodley body. The thing wriggled and writhed around before eventually dissipating into an array of pixels. Thank god..., Elora tiredly observed, I wasn't paying enough attention -- someone could have gotten hurt...We can finally wail on this edgy lizard again. That means--

"This is my turn", Elora told the rest of her team with a determined expression.

Reading her stance, she charged foreword, unleashing the next AoE attack in her sequence. With a somewhat-tipsy pirouette, Elora carried her weight forward, then plunged her spear into the abdomen of the beast. The serrated blade of her spear carved through Wushen's scales like butter on a hot knife. Or maybe, was it the other way around?

For what felt like an average attack, Elora was surprised to see that it had done more damage than any previous. "Guess I've been saving the best for last", she joked through a sequence of staggered steps. It was always her nature to save face during moments like this, times when vulnerability rose to the surface, threatened to cannibalize what little self-worth she'd scavenged together over the previous days, months, years. "And next round -- I'm gonna kill this motherfucker!" She needed to put up shields and prove to them that she was impenetrable. If she didn't, who knows what they would say, what they would do. Any fissure of weakness could be pried open just like the scales of their serpentine friend. 

Blurry vision framed the battlefield like a watery vignette. She raised a rattled hand and smeared it across her eyes just in time to regard the oncoming retribution. Wushen, still giant, but exponentially more pissed, had finally come to rest his sights on her.

Just. Her.

A heavy heave caught in her throat as she stood, clutching her spear like some sort of pathetic toy soldier. Ohhh...fuck me..., her mind immediately rebounded from its previous standoffishness. Sensations of searing flesh returned to her conscious, twisting up her skin and causing all of her hairs to stand on end. Try as she might, her fear of being targeted again had begun to overwhelm her.

So, there she was, communing with judgement through an unbreakable stare of terror. Rather than running, she felt completely immobilized in her position. There was no where to run. No, this was her role -- You fucked up. This is what you deserve.

"I don't think I've got much more in me, guys...", she quietly admitted in leu of her fate,  I'm sorry to leave you all hanging like this..."

***

Post Action: [x18] AOE-II (14 + 2(Enemy) + 2(Shift)= 18 EN)
Free Action: N/A

ID#217921 | BD 8+8=16 Hit | DMG: 18*35=630 - 35 MIT = 595 DMG to Wushen

Blight and Static applied to Wushen! CD 11, ST-B unlocked for next round!

ID# 217922| CD6 Failed recovery check, Elora recovers +4 EN passively

(8) Freyd |  HP: 1334[250]/1334 | EN: 121/150 | DMG: 20 | MIT: 188 | EVA: 6 | ACC: 5(6/AA) | BH: 73 | REC: 8 | THRN: 40 | PHASE | FLN: 8 | FRB: 40(-1) | ENV.O: 32 | V.O.: 146 | V.D.: 146 | HELL: 80 | STNG[x1] | LD: 8 | PRS: 3 | DOTE: 1/3
(0) Hirru | HP: 1104[250]/1104 | EN: 104/104 | DMG: 1 | MIT: 182 | ACC: 2 | BH: 55 | REC: 8 | THRN: 76 | MENDING: 2 | HB: 44 | LD: 5 | DOTE: 1/3
(8) Katoka | HP: 668[250]/720 | EN: 63/106  | DMG: 28 | MIT: 98 | EVA: 4 | ACC: 7(8/AA) | BH: 31 | REC: 8 | BLGT: 32 | P.V.O | STK: 40 | HELL: 80
(8) Morningstar | HP: 844[250]/851  | EN: 44/106 | DMG: 28 | MIT: 142 | EVA: 1 | ACC: 6(7/AA) | BH: 18 | STK: 40 | FRB: 40(-1) | VO: 140 | HELL: 80 | LD: 6
(11) Elora | HP: 700[250]/700 | EN: 17/104(+4)(-18) | DMG: 26 | MIT: 98 | EVA: 3 | ACC: 7(8/AA) | BH: 35 | REC: 8 | FLN: 8 | BLGT: 32 | STK: 40 | LD: 3
(7) Tricolor_Mina | HP: 720[250]/720 | EN: 24/106 | DMG: 27 | MIT: 78 | ACC: 7 | BLGT: 32 | BRN: 56 | FRB: 40(-1) | V.D.: 72 | TXC.: 32

Wushen, Elemental Warlord | HP: ????/???? | DMG: 200 | MITI: 35 75 | ACC: 4(+3) | EVA: 0 | Shatter 2 [2/3] | FOCUSED [1/2]

Elora seemed to brighten as the intricate wine glasses materialized in front of them. Eager to get to drinking, she poured herself a portion of the wine and brought it to her lips. It was such a pleasant taste to return to. Shame it doesn't get me drunk, nagged a passing thought. She could only hope that good company would elicit the same effect. 

"...We're here to eat and chat about things, not talk about murder~", percieved Elora as her focus returned to the conversation at hand.

Ironic that she just killed a crab, her mind seemed to refute. 

"...And murder, really?", Freyd soon teased, "A bit gauche for the dinner table, no?...Whatever else she does on the side is not for tonight's table..."

Oh -- that kind of work?, she found herself musing between sips of wine, I guess that makes sense. Plenty of people around here do that, especially at 'The Fur and Tackle'. Speculation was suddenly cut short at the sight of Mina slashing toward her brother with the better end of a knife. Doesn't she know that could make her go orange?! , worried Elora as sights shifted to Freyd in anticipation of a reaction. He seemed surprisingly nonchalant about it all -- had she just missed the joke? I guess, that was a long time ago, she reasoned with an unpleasant memory of the time they'd battled Nepents.

“What’s his deal anyway?  He’s about as moody as they Jon fellow was.  Are all of the Arbiters this grouchy?”, her partner instead chose to comment on.

Why not just ask him?, she wanted to challenge, but the conversation continued. The guy seemed fine enough, just like he didn't enjoy rubbing elbows with strangers. It struck her as rather petty to whisper about that behind his back. In spite of her objection, she continued through the motions. Another sip of drink followed the delegation of her meal. In following suit of the others' platings, Elora added rice, then stew to her personal dish. They really like their rice, she determined, What a strange thing to have with stew...I guess it's worth a try -- Before long, the chatty duo lead the way to a decently-sized dining table. Elora attempted the precarious act of pulling out a chair while maintaining the contents of her bowl. The awkward success left her cautiously descending, then scooting in to her place. 

"...The other order of business, would be chatting about this young lady right here~", Mina continued after rattling through the itinerary, "And me trying to puzzle out just what about her caught your fancy, other than how pretty she is of course!"

Why does she keep talking about me like I'm not here?, Elora found herself ruminating through spoonfulls of broth. The vegetables were, realistically, the approximate temperature of molten lava.

"...After we do that, Elora and I can teach you how to cook something nice."

"Oh --?", was all she managed to utter before Freyd took the floor again.

“Elora and I met by accident, as I recall, while she was undertaking the tutorial quests for the first time.  It turned into quite an adventure, and then more followed.  We’ve gone through quite a lot together.” 

Determined bites mellowed into wistful stirs as she recounted some of their earlier adventures together. When they had first met, she was sure that Freyd and Kiluia were trying to rope her into a cult. She had, ultimately, decided to join Firm Anima, so maybe the suspicion was true. There wasn't really a time or a place that she remembered developing feelings for him. It had all seemed to come so naturally. Well, aside from Katoka. Katoka had definitely schemed to put the two of them together like some sort of edo-period Cupid.

Elora's fingers curled around his in turn. Of course, she continued scooping away at her stew like the two of them weren't just holding hands beneath the table. If Mina didn't notice, then there was no reason to give it away.

"Please, before we begin, allow me to thank you for the invitation and hospitality.", Freyd began, "I'm also going to apologize in advance for the many feet that I will unintentionally force-feed into my mouth this evening.  I'm really not very good at this sort of thing."

"Yes, thank you ", she finally spoke up, "And, yeah, same --"

***

Vanity tags:

@Kiluia Seiko @Katoka

A blush found its way onto her face in response to Mina's compliments. "Thanks", she smiled in a shy withdrawal. This woman was certainly chatty, and significantly more upbeat than she had expected. At least that meant she'd be easy to converse with. Honestly, she was surprised that Freyd could get along with her so well. Shuffling closer to the dishes, Elora suddenly seemed to perk up, "Oh! I love quail stew! It's been so long since I've had it -- and never with wild rice." She listened attentively as their host recalled her process between careful stirs of the pot. "That sounds like a lot of work.", Elora admitted as she imagined scenes of a nimble Mina chasing down and strangling the little creatures before sending them into a giant cauldron. It was a little bit morbid, but also kind of cool. "At least the game probably makes things a bit easier.", she concluded more optomistically.

"Rosa?"

Elora's ears perked up as she turned to acknowledge Freyd.

"I've... heard about her specialties." 

Oh, another player. Maybe an NPC? , she'd be disappointed to find the conversation was dropped as soon as it'd been introduced. As Freyd carried on with a different subject, she spared a few moments to investigate the other ingredients. Each counter was speckled with various spices, vegetables, and...crabs? Sure enough, a slough of tiny, scuttling crustaceans were making a break for one of the opposing ledges. "You've -- got a crabs problem --!", Elora blurted out as she struggled to catch each falling shell as it plummeted over the meter-long drop. Thankfully, their holding cell wasn't far, and she was able to dump the determined dinner back into the basket before it started pinching her.

"So, you wanted to teach me a bit about normalcy?", Freyd asked in spite of the incident, "I admittedly have no idea what that means, but I'm curious.  Where do we start?"

"Probably here", the still-scattered elf answered with the pop of his party favor. "I guess we'll need some glasses --", she suggested once she realized they'd be sharing the beverage.

Another head..., sighed Elora, How many more are there gonna be? She did her best to straighten her stance, recenter her wavering focus. The rest of her team seemed to be handling it well. She spared a moment to glance at each of them. Freyd was stalling for something, Hirru was doing his best to keep everyone alive, the rest of them were relentless in their attacks. They were back to beating on an apparition that didn't have a health bar. "Is this thing gonna die already, or what?", she spat in frustration. Hell, even when she had been able to see the boss's stats, the progress felt slow. It didn't matter how much energy she put behind her swings, the damage was negligible. Was she really contributing to this fight? You're the weakest member of the team..., her conscious was quick to remind, Gotta do more...

Again, she stabbed at Wushen -- Serration -- whatever it was. Her spear made contact with the thing's golden scales, slicing them open to unleash a spray of reflective pixels. The chime denoting a critical attack did little to alleviate her encroaching doubts.

***

Post Action: [x15] AOE-I (11 + 2(Enemy) + 2(Shift)= 15 EN)
Free Action: N/A

ID#217523 | BD 10+8=18 Critical Hit | DMG: 15*28=420 - 75 MIT = 345 DMG to Serration

ID# 217522 | CD6 Failed recovery check, Elora recovers +4 EN passively

(8) Freyd |  HP: 1334/1334 | EN: 118/150 | DMG: 20 | MIT: 188 | EVA: 6 (+1) | ACC: 5(6/AA) | BH: 73 | REC: 8 | THRN: 40 | PHASE | FLN: 8 | FRB: 40(-1) | ENV.O: 32 | V.O.: 146 | V.D.: 146 | HELL: 80 | STNG[x1] | LD: 8 | PRS: 3 | DOTE: 1/3
(0) Hirru | HP: 1104/1104 | EN: 103/104 | DMG: 1 | MIT: 182 | ACC: 2 | BH: 55 | REC: 8 | THRN: 76 | MENDING: 2 | HB: 44 | LD: 5 | DOTE: 1/3
(8) Katoka | HP: 668/720 (637+31) | EN: 63/106 (+4) (-15) | DMG: 28 | MIT: 98 | EVA: 4 | ACC: 7(8/AA) | BH: 31 | REC: 8 | BLGT: 32 | P.V.O | STK: 40 | HELL: 80
(7) Morningstar | HP: 844/851  | EN: 50/106  | DMG: 28 | MIT: 142 | EVA: 1 | ACC: 6(7/AA) | BH: 18 | STK: 40 | FRB: 40(-1) | VO: 140 | HELL: 80 | LD: 6
(9) Elora | HP: 700/700 | EN: 31/104 (+4)(-15) | DMG: 26 | MIT: 98 | EVA: 3 | ACC: 7(8/AA) | BH: 35 | REC: 8 | FLN: 8 | BLGT: 32 | STK: 40 | LD: 3
(4) Tricolor_Mina | HP: 720/720 | EN: 43/106 | DMG: 27 | MIT: 78 | ACC: 7 | BLGT: 32 | BRN: 56 | FRB: 40(-1) | V.D.: 72 | TXC.: 32

Blight and Static applied to Serration

Serration | HP: 1146/2000 | DMG: 250 | MITI: 75 | ACC: 4 | EVA: 0 | Shatter [-20] | FOCUSED [1/2] (2000-509)

An exceptionally-determined hop was just what the elven player had needed to interlace her fingers between the fibrous netting of a looming mangrove. Dangling mere feet above the ground, Elora swung her legs until the moss finally ripped free from its host. She quickly plunged into the murky slosh below. With a panicked crawl, she was back onto moist land. "All this for a stupid ingredient -- you better cure BURN, you glorified vine!", she spat as she rose to her feet. A timely alert called attention to her interface. Eyes sparkled as she swooned at the scenery before her. Here? No way -- he's totally messing with us. Well, jokes on him, I'm already ON Floor 12!, she snickered at the thought, The pin says he's close by, so this should be an easy hike. Elora spared a moment to scan the misty mire around her, I wonder -- maybe he was that alligator I thought I heard earlier...Regarding herself, she let out a sigh, Eh, whatever. I look pretty nasty, so might as well change out now. A passing thought reaffirmed that decision. Yeaaah, if this place really does exist, I probably shouldn't hold off to change directly in front of him. Kat might get there before me, and besides, I don't think we're on that base yet.

After a slough of gestures, she was out of her soiled adventure's gear and into the synched fit of a complicated one-piece, tankini? She'd never bother with such a contraption in the real world. Swimming was meant to be done in its simplicity -- everything on, or nothing on. It was just so much easier that way. Hooking her thumbs beneath the straps, she slid each around until it adjusted into a snug, yet flattering hold. That'll have to do. She could have sworn that the skimpier the attire became in SAO, the larger her breasts appeared. It lead her to wonder whether male clothing faced a similar dilemma. Banishing the ensuing imagery from her mind, Elora was on her way to the rendezvous point.

Mistakes had been made. The coordinates that had been shared with her were remarkably deceptive. Sure, they were nearby, just at the exact top of a sheer, impassible, vertical incline. Who needed a vacation when she could just scale Mount Fucking Everest itself to take a load off? Boy, if she had any energy left by the end of this climb, she swore she would ring his neck. We've earned some 'down time'? Who is he to decide?, she found her frustrations spiraling with each slipping foothold. Admittedly, it was all a bit contrived. Ever since they'd met, Elora was sure that Freyd had been stronger than her. Still, there were many times where she had felt she was his equal. Especially now that her and Kat were Frontliners, was all this team captain stuff really so necessary? Finally, hauling herself over a sizeable outcropping, she spared a few seconds to rest. Even Kat now -- she's becoming stronger than me...am I just...not able to keep up...? A dull thrum through her chest told her it was time to move on.

A sharp inhalation sucked in enough of her ethereal gut to sidle through the crack in the rockface. Elora temporarily relaxed in the cool air, then recoiled at the sound something slithering off to her side. Before she knew it, she had bolted, then slipped out into the rays of seaside sunlight. The air around her swirled into a muggy, salty stew. Dry lips lapped sprays of ocean waves, carried by an ever-present tropical breeze.

Distinguishing dots on the rippling horizon as her dearest friends, Elora made haste to meet them. Freyd -- was he not -- even wearing a swimsuit?! Don't tell me -- there's no way he just swims in that?!, a nagging voice argued to recall, "Everything or nothing"

She turned a pouting gaze toward Kat. What a sight for sore eyes! Her adorable blonde friend was wearing the cutest, most flattering swimsuit imaginable. "KAT!", she squealed with uncharacteristic adoration, "Oh my gosh! Your swimsuit is so cute! Where did you get it? Was it custom made?" This must be what having close female friends was like.

***

Elora | HP: 700/700 | EN: 104/104 | DMG: 26 | MIT: 98 | EVA: 3 | ACC: 8 | BH: 35 | LD: 3 | AA | BLGT: 32 | FLN: 8 | REC: 8 | STK: 40

"Mina's a good egg and means well.  She's had her own share of troubles, in this world and before it.  I should warn you: she's been scarred by them, physically and emotionally.  She may wear a mask, depending on her level of comfort, and can be understandably sensitive about it, so be warned. You two will probably get along quite well as long as you both pick on me, so feel free to run with that." 

That seemed like a weird distinction to make, but she figured it made a bit of sense. She knew Freyd, Mina knew Freyd, -- he'd serve as a good buffer for both of them. Elora would consider herself to be somewhat of a socialite, at least, in situations where everyone was a stranger. Tonight felt different. Maybe it was being forewarned of Mina's especially dicey history, maybe it was because she was already a friend of Freyd's. Either way, she didn't want to sour her first impression. It was important that she got along with the people Freyd wanted her to meet. Nodding in agreement, Elora determined to make this work.

"Mina has it in her head to keep Rai and I from getting ourselves killed or dealing ourselves further psychological damage.  I have no idea where she got the notion, of course." 

"Probably from seeing you pass out before the start of every raid --", she offered in a half-serious tone.

Elora allowed herself to slip behind Freyd as he entered the home. It would be easier for him to handle the introductions. In the meantime, her eyes followed Persi into the rafters as the shadowy familiar claimed her new roost. The house was huge, but also welcoming. Each towering corridor seemed tidy, though dotted with various decorations that Elora couldn't quite distinguish. Her attention was drawn to the kitchen, abuzz with sounds, and saturated with the enticing scents of various spices. She couldn't recall the last time she had --

"Welcome to the Leblanc Chateau~"

Her mind snapped back to the present -- Before she knew it, they were being greeted by the bubbliest, pinkest-haired woman she had ever seen. Was this supposed to be Mina? Ever so slightly, she inched her way out from behind Freyd's shoulder until, "You must be Elora! Takeshi-kun told me about you~"

"Yeah, hi--", she confirmed coyly.

"I can't wait to learn more about you over the time old tradition of cooking with friends~! Oh, and don't mind Akame, she doesn't bite. She's just a curious lil' lady~"

Akame?, her eyes darted to the boy in the corner of the room, then to the dragon, then back to--

"Pretend like I don't exist.", the quiet player soon addressed her, "Not all that big on talking, just here to watch."

Elora simply nodded in understanding. Honestly, she envied him a bit for his earnest cop-out. Why did he come then if he's such a wallflower...unless... She spared a glance at Mina, who was busy accepting Freyd's contributions to their meal. Are they...related somehow...? It seemed strange to consider. They looked and acted nothing alike. Figuring it rude to ask, Elora floundered in search of something else to break the ice. "The food smells really good --", she piped up with her best impression at inoffensive small talk, "What did you make, exactly?"