Ruler

Kotoka did much more than she might have expected. She let go of her hug and got so serious as to drop the honorifics completely. From what she knew, that was something completely serious for Japanese culture. Only really close friends and family would call each other by them by names without a denominator.

”K-Katsumi. I-I don’t know. I’m... Im..” Ruler moved to the side, hiding her face through the curtain of beautiful golden hair. She didn’t want to show weakness, but she couldn’t resist the innocent charm of the other girl. ”I don’t want to get attached... I-I can’t...Please don’t get me into something Ill regret. I’m worried to death.”

Ruler seemed to start shaking in her seat, this might have actually broken her. Getting this close to another friend was worrisome. If something happened to her while they were bonding and becoming better friends, she wouldn't be able to handle it.

Alicia was pretty quiet, making sure not to disturb her friend while she was sleeping. She was getting rather content with her silence and the feeling of another person being close with her.

"Alicia-chan, do you think I can get strong enough?" Ruler yelped again as Katoka spoke up without even moving. At first she had assumed that the girl would at least sit up before speaking to her, yet again she had caused her to let out a surprised gasp. Before Ruler could even get out a word, Katoka was already asking a lot of her. Was this the moment where she broke? The moment that she needed to decide just how she was going to handle this relationship with the girl. "Can we stay like this? For just a while longer? I'm sorry if this is too embarrassing for you."

Ruler turned on her knees and met with Katoka's adorable face. She wanted to tell her to calm down and that everything would be fine, but her body outpaced her brain power. The blonde pulled her into a tender hung, making sure not to pull her in too close just yet. "Katsumi-san, you are obviously a little worried, or feeling lonely. I'm going to guess lonely. Please don't push yourself too hard alright? If you stress too much, you'll end up with wrinkles." She chuckled awkwardly, trying to lighten the mood, running her hair across the smaller woman's back. "If me being here as a crutch is what you need to move on, then I will be here for you until you no longer need me. Stay like this as long as you need."

Ruler looked off into the distance, keeping a vigilant watch until Katoka could regain her energy. There were boars around, but none of them were nearby and likely they wouldn't be a problem as long as the girls didn't bother them. Her brows were stern and watchful, yet when the other girl began to snore quietly and edge closer to her, Alicia's face blushed up.

Moving quietly over to her backside, Ruler put her back against Katoka's. They were less than an inch from being in contact, back to back. The younger blonde's quiet snores could be heard over squealing boars. Ruler did her best not to look down at her friend while she slept, yet she couldn't help but sneak a peak at her face: She was adorable.

Alicia's face soon contrasted the golden hue of her hair. She kept her spear on hand, ready to jump into action if anything tried to attack them. 

"Oh, um-" Ruler yelped a little as Katsumi pulled her along. Her heels almost forced her onto the ground as she stumbled over her longer legs. Alicia blushed as the made it underneath the shade of the tree.

"I hardly have any more combat experience than you. We are the same level. If we weren't, I wouldn't be able to do this quest with you." She said, thinking that subject would be kind of depressing. Even if she was a little different from others, Katoka was rather charming in her own way. Whether or not she was actually teasing her to show that she was attracted to her, or just to have some fun, Alicia was pleased that she got the chance to meet the younger blonde.

"I'm glad to see that you are fine." Alicia said with a soft smile, taking a seat in the grass on her knees. She always came off so posh. Hopefully the other wouldn't find her rude as a result.

Ruler heard Katoka's voice reached her, however, her mind was enveloped in battle. She was calm and focused like usual, but to her friend, she probably looked angry or too serious.

The boar charged her to which Ruler brought the rear of her spear into the side of the boar knocking it on her side. With a helicopter blade like movement, Alicia launched the boar directly in the air. The spears end tore the grass and sent the giant lump of bacon into the clouds. Soon, it came back down, still not finished from her attack. With her last attack, Ruler stabbed the weapon into the skull of the beast.

With a huff, she pulled her spear loose and sighed. It was then she remember that Katoka was still here and staring at her, either in awe or fear, or maybe both. She hurried over to her and ushered her away from the battlefield. "I-I apologize. I got a little carried away. Are you injured with a status effect? No lingering damage?" She looked over Katoka's frame to ensure that all her wounds were accounted for.

Ruler | HP: 80/80 | EN:6/8 | DMG: 6 | ACC: 3 | LD: 3
Katoka | HP: 78/80 | EN: 1/8 | DMG: 4 | ACC: 0 | MIT: 18 | LD: 6

Boar Pup: 5/5 | 3 DMG

Alicia was faster than light the moment that he new friend called for help. Her spear had been readied and already glowing with an unnecessary sword art to end this boar. The moment that the boar touched Katoka, the Ruler slammed her spear down where the boar was, cracking pieces of dirt that only repatched into the surface of the ground. The chunks disappeared into light and polygons of data that soon faded away.

"Move back! I won't let it hurt you any more!" Alicia called out to her fellow blonde, taking a stance that a seasoned fighter would know. The game was feeling her emotion and in-turn, was the system taking over her movements? Or, was it really just her own movements being overtaken by the want to protect her. "Fiend! You will pay for causing this girl distress! I'm going to put you down!" She yelled at the boar, who really couldn't understand her.

Ruler | HP: 80/80 | EN: 8/8 | DMG: 6 | ACC: 3 | LD: 6
Katoka | HP: 78/80 | EN: 1/8 | DMG: 4 | ACC: 0 | MIT: 18 | LD: 6

Boar Pup: 5/5 | 3 DMG

Ruler seems to sweat a little, even though she can’t necessarily sweat. Katoka’s words cut deep into her skin but sow the wounds shut. “Please stop saying things like that.” She whispers, hushing her voice behind her wrist.

Katoka missed her attack yet again and she was feeling bad. Should she rush in and help her kill it off so that she can rest? N-No, maybe she should just ask this time.

”Uh, Katsu-chan? Maybe you should take a rest. Th-This is your first time in a fight, don’t strain yourself okay?” She asked quietly as Katoka came back in to fight some more. Her hand was firmly placed at her weapons side. The moment that she asked for her help, Alicia would be there like a flash of a golden streak. Maybe she was becoming a softy with this girl, but she was just about the most innocent person she had ever met. An exception could be made.

Ruler herself looked less than quiet. Her stance was firm and serious, her hold on her blade tightened as the two clashed. She was going against her word where she promised that she wouldn’t get too attached or coddle her friend, yet she couldn’t help it. The system could fool people, this tiny boar could do more damage than it looks like. Ruler threw the boar of to the side and kicked it in the other direction.

She was stuck posing in the position that she had smacked the boar off in as her eyes met with Katoka. In her mind, she was protecting the girl from a fatal blow, acting on instinct. What if... she could have ended up like her old fri-. No she had to get over. Remember, don’t dwell, Alicia.

”I-I apologize.” Ruler says sheathing her blade and backing off, her face still red.

"K-Katsumi-san?" Alicia's face burned hotter than it really should be. This was bothering her so much, why couldn't she just keep her composure? Was she already falling for someone she just met? She knew that her interest lied in women over men, even only Connor and Riley knew that about her. It's why they were so easy to get along with because they didn't constantly try flirt with her. Now she was actually being flirted with by another woman. Strangely enough, she had never really met anyone appealing up until now. Katsumi was a bubbly and innocent personality that made her want sacrifice life and limb for.

It was then that Alicia noticed the approaching enemy coming towards the dancing little upbeat. She called out to her. "Watch out Katsumi-san!" Ruler said as she charged over to her position to attempt to block the attack of the boar before got hit this time.

"P-Pretty?" Ruler asked as the boar exploded into pixels around them. Not even very many boys had called her pretty in high school. Was Katsumi trying to hit on her now? What was this? She had only just met this person yet her blush couldn't be controlled. She couldn't keep her mind straight with this.

"I-I am pretty? Really?" She asked, although not so voluntarily. Her mouth spoke before she had time to think about whether or not that was good thing to be asking. Maybe it meant nothing. Maybe she was just attempting to compliment Ruler on her looks because they were new friends. Though no matter what she got her mind on, it always led back to the question of if this girl was actually trying to flatter her. She seemed like such an innocent person, but she either really speaks her mind, or she is doing her best to make sure she win's Alicia's approval.

Ruler did her best to keep the boar in line, but it seemed to have noticed that Katsumi was a greater threat here than Alicia. She didn't have much time to react to the boar's pressing attack when Katsumi was open. She was really glad that she had lent her the armor. "Don't worry, dear." Alicia said, calmly, trying not to freak out, as she knew that the sun would fall before Katsumi took any meaningful damage from that boar. "I gave you that armor so you could make mistakes and not be so heavily punished for it. Don't rush yourself. Learn from your mistakes and become a better person because of it."

She was doing her best not to coddle the girl, as she wasn't a child, but she didn't want to sound harsh to her either. Hopefully she could understand. Alicia did jab at the boar with her rapier, however, to make sure that it didn't get an easy second hit on her emerald-clad friend.

Alicia giggled slightly as Katsu turned to find the banner that was indeed latched to her back now. She walked over and put her hand on Katsumi's shoulder. "Thank you for trusting me with your name as well. I will not infringe upon your courteous by disclosing it to others, without your approval of course. And, yes, the item is firmly holstered to your back. It will help boost your luck a bit, making sure these drops happen."

Another boar joined the fray after some time. Alicia pulled free her rapier and decided to move in front of her new friend. She turned and gave the bleached-blonde a slight pat on the head. How was she getting so easily attached to this girl even though she had just met her? "You do what you're good at and I'll ensure that it doesn't hurt you, does that sound alright?" She asked looking back at the boar with her secondary weapon in tow.

Ruler was busy, pushing back the boar so it wouldn't damage her when Katoka's sword cleaved it clean in half. Her precision was great, she knew that she could-

Ruler's face turned completely red as Katoka wrapped her arms around her body. The sweet smell of what she might assume was her perfume whafted into Ruler's nostrils. Beet red and slightly nervous, the golden blonde was about to wrap her own arms around the smaller girl when she pulled away. She rubbed her hand against her mouth, trying to hide her embarrassment. 

"G-Great job, Katoka, but it looks like you missed the drop on that one." Ruler takes her banner and offers it to the younger girl. "Here, this will increase the odds at which they drop. That's why I got all of mine in one go. I'm not allowed to help you, or they wont drop anymore. It's all on you." She did choose the name Ruler to feel somewhat regal, yet she felt like Katoka was a pretty innocent person and telling her her real name wouldn't be much of a problem. "Um, if you would, I would prefer you to call me Alicia, but please don't tell anyone else my name."

Ruler watched the boar effortless try to get close to the maiden. It reached in and tried to ram her, but she kept her polearm in its face, making sure distance could not be gained on her.

Even with her attention to the boar, Ruler could tell the younger blonde was faltering over something. Was she still scared? She looked a little blush in the face. "Katoka? Are you alright?" She asked, barely swooping out of the way of a strike as the boar found it's chance and wasted it. Somehow it felt weird to say that she couldn't dodge as well with her armor off as she could with it on.

"Ready your weapon and make an attack. Do not be afraid of fighting. You are strong and you can do this." The golden maiden affirmed. Ruler wanted to ensure that Katoka felt safe in her mind. If she doubted herself, she may not do as well as she could. "I believe in you" She said with a quick smile, still wrestling with the baby boar.

Ruler | HP:80/80 | EN:2/8 | DMG: 6 | ACC: 3 | LD: 6
Katoka | HP:80/80 | EN: 8/8 | DMG: 4 | ACC: 0 | MIT: 18 | LD: 3 

Boar Pup 4: 5/5 | 3 DMG

This is her first fight, as she imagined. Poor girl didn't look as if she had any enhanced gear yet. She herself had an extra piece... Maybe...

Opening her menu for a moment, Ruler smiles warmly as she pulls clicks the "unequip" button. All the armor of metal was removed from her person with a flash of light, and set in her hands. A warm smile greeted Katoka as her menu went down, along with a little gift. "Here. This will keep you safe. Don't go rushing into battle without putting it on okay? I'd hate it if you got beaten up too much."

With that, Ruler turned around to look on the boars. There were four. Just enough for her to hit them all with an area of effect. "When you activate a sword art, draw your energy into your weapon and allow the system to take control. It will feel forced at first, but just watch." Ruler raised her polearm to the sky, the banner blowing elegantly in the breeze. Soon, the metal turned completely golden and shining with the radiance of the sun. Ruler moved fast through the battle field, piercing each and every enemy around her. The boars stood no chance. The all exploded into polygons, except for one.

The boar charged her and clashed against her weapon as the light faded. "Well, looks like you were lucky enough to live? I ran out of energy so fast. How sad."

(Not enough energy to attack Boar 4, using as a MD against Ruler)

Ruler | HP:80/80 | EN:1/8 | DMG:6 | ACC:3 | LD:6
Katoka [put your stats in here]

Boar Pup 1: 5/5 | 3 DMG
Boar Pup 2: 5/5 | 3 DMG
Boar Pup 3: 5/5 | 3 DMG
Boar Pup 4: 5/5 | 3 DMG

3 tusks found

Ruler remained silent as all the other players were introducing themselves and generally just having conversations. She did, however, take note of every player in the room. First off was Haine. She seemed like a pretty laid back sort. Kiluia and her seemed to be lovers to some degree base on what Freyd was saying. He himself looked like a calculated type of person. As he spoke to other two players, she could tell he had some good knowledge of the game. That would bring it back to other two. Based on their equipment and demeanor, it was safe to assume they both were around her level. Raidou was here a moment ago as well, she recognized that name. He was the guild master.

Katoka was the one that caught her eye the most, her and Vie. The three of them were likely around the same level, which made them all a good team to go questing with. More people benefiting from the quests at the same time, the faster they all level. Katoka's voice caught her ear. She wanted to use a katana. Perhaps when she had her profession, she could craft the cute girl a blade. 

After analyzing the entire crew in the room, Ruler walked forward to join them all. She merely offered a wave, not really the most fond of crowds. "Good day. I am Ruler. A pleasure to meet you all." The regal bearing she carried melded with her voice. It was polite, but stern; quiet, yet formed. "I think I'm the newest of the group here. You all seem to know each other, to a degree."

Ruler nodded, noticing the girls slightly reddened face. Something seemed a little out of place, but it wasn't necessarily her position to ask. The younger girl before her was rather cute. She remembered that all the player avatars got wiped when Kayaba introduced them all to their fate. Is this what she really looked like in real life? She looked like someone straight out of a J-RPG or something.

"Very well. I am somewhat experienced with these type of games, however, I cannot gaurntee that my knowledge of this one will benefit us. Do you're best to keep yourself out of harms way, and I will back you up." A warm smile continued on her expression as she began to lead the way into the blacksmith's shop. The conversation with him was short, but it seemed like another fetch quest for them. This wouldn't be her first time in combat, but she would surely do her best. Once they were finished with Lyle, Ruler began to lead them out into the wilds. "Have you participated in a combat situation yet? If not, I can demonstrate for you before you give it a go."

"I believe so as well." Ruler offered a warm smile while partaking in the serving of Mochi with her. She had been lucky to find the cook outside of Coral on her way to the Cathedral. She seemed to be one of the only places she had found so far that serves more traditional Japanese food. "The person who made this buffed food seems to live on the path towards the guildhall. It's pretty easy to pass, but you may have seen a Japanese style mansion. It is apparently also a restaurant. I can show you some time if you're free"

Ruler put the box that contained the mochi back into her inventory and sighed with a smile. Looks like she already was warming up to another person, but that still felt somewhat bad. She  worried that this would be another case with Conner and Riley. She definitely wasn't going to be leaving the girl all alone to fight by herself though. "The black smith we're meeting is right in here. Would you like to lead, or shall I?"

This was becoming too easy, and way too tedious though. The antsy feeling of having to do practically the same thing she had done in the beginner's quest was kind of belittling. She wished they had done something a little more for this quest, if only add a few little details to it differentiate it from the other one. Hopefully all these quests would feel a little more fun to complete when she gets to be a stronger level than what she is right now.

Another sparkle of light, another materials to add to her stash. The golden haired maiden made her way over to it and picked it up off the ground, moving it into her inventory without a second thought. She only needed one more and she had barely spent any time out here at all, at least compared to the last time that she had come out into the field. Perhaps trying out her new weapon wouldn't be so bad on some lower leveled mobs.

Quest Materials Found: 4

Burn out or not, she still couldn't be sitting around idle anymore. Even if she could just spend time making gear for others in the game, that would suit her taste. Whatever it took to keep things in the game going forward. The couldn't spend the rest of their lives in this digital world expecting someone to come and save them from their fate. No, they would make it through their own volition and hard work.

Another sparkle of materials could be seen out of the corner of her eye. The glow seemed a little more enhanced than usual thanks to her luck boost. That food really came in handy from that cook. Buffs in this game worked extremely odd, but she was thankful for them at least. Reaching down to the ground, she collected the material so graciously offering itself and moved it into her inventory, moving on to the next.

Quest Materials Found: 3

Two down and only three more to go. If she didn't get attacked by some random mobs, she would be safe at least. Hopefully this time she wouldn't go falling in any stupid holes that lead into caves with mobs. She had gotten her new weapon off of those enemies, to be fair, but she wasn't wanting to deal in too much combat today. It could get annoying sometimes and she was sure that once she made it past all these tutorial quests that there would be plenty of time to involve herself in combat. Sooner or later, she would start to hate it.

Her luck was already starting to run dry. Nothing to be found just yet, but there wasn't much of a rush anyway. She needed to learn how to pull herself back and relax so she didn't wear herself out trying to climb. Burnout is a real thing in video games.

Quest Materials Found: 2

Luckily enough, she found her first one in record time. Bending down to pick the small item up off the ground, the golden-blonde added it to her inventory without a second thought. She knew that at these low levels, she should just be relaxing and taking her time. Sure the front line was probably dry with able bodied players based on their slow progress to complete the game, but she still felt like she was worrying too much. A sense of duty was over taking her. She needed to do something to prove to her deceased friends that she wasn't just wasting her time here like a scared little girl.

Having barely even made it past the barrier's line of sight, Ruler was pretty surprised when she found yet another material just ripe for the picking. If she did this too fast, she might end up surprising that black smith with her capabilities.

Quest Materials Found: 2

Ruler turned to leave. "Ah yeah, good luck then, I'll be waiting for ya right here whenever you get that done." The black smith called to her as she stepped out and rounded the corner of his shop. The sound of her heels clicked over the commotion of the first floor's bustle. Heading towards the exit to town, she wouldn't waste any time on detours. There was too much for her to get done if she wanted to catch up with other players in her guild. Not everyone there was a significantly high level, but she was still one of the lowest levels of them all.

Passing through the safe zone barrier, Ruler made a look around for any useful materials that would work with smithing. As far as she knew, any materials of any kind would work with any profession. You could use boar meat to make swords if you wanted since everything just came into your inventory as a basic material.

Quest Materials Found: 1

"Well young lady, it's pretty simple to make weapons, but I can't just spare you the materials that I have. Got to keep them available for any guards that might need weapons made. If I run out, it would look pretty bad on my image. If you go out and get your own, I will teach you how to make your own weapons strong enough to split a fat boar in half!" He chuckled, slamming the hammer on the weapon laying across his anvil. Sparks flew off the sword as it connected.

Another stupid fetch quest. There were so many of these early on, she had never realized it. If this is how it meant to teach the mechanics of the game, then so be it. Although, she wished she could have the chance to actually fight a boss monster for once. "Then you have a deal, sir. I will return before the end of the day with your materials as you ask."

Cedric greeted her the moment that she opened the door to his smith. It was hot inside, the smell of a white hot forge taking up her sense as the air waft out the door. "Learning the blacksmith trade are you young lady? You don't look necessarily like blacksmith material, but really, no one does when they begin. Besides, I'm here to teach everyone. Just be careful that long hair of yours doesn't get caught between the hammer and the anvil."

Ruler felt like his greeting was a little more rude than he intended, but she would just shrug it off. The NPCs wouldn't really remember them for very long. She nodded in response to the trainer's remarks and walked forward and gave him a soft smile. "Yes, good day. I'm looking for training to the profession of blacksmithing so that I can create my own weapons and armor, and for others as well."