Monarch

Yasu would watch as the player who had taken his order walked back to make it, taking note of the care she would put into the brew. As she worked on the press, the player would flip his journal to a blank page, sketching out the general shape of the player and the press. As Kagami continued to work, Monarch would add more and more detail to the drawing, adding more detail to the french press than anything else, like that’s what he cared about the most. Kagami’s form would appear rough but still recognizable, the rest of the shop would be just general shapes. But the press had almost every detail, and in the glass of the press, a reflection of the shop took form, distorted yet detailed.

As Kagami approached the kid at the table and placed his drink in front of him, he would turn to face the woman, taking every word she said into account as his plan for the deal had altered and he tried to figure out how to proceed. Taking a sip of his coffee, Yasu would gently set the mug down and say to the girl. ”It’s good. Since you’re in charge, I’ll be dealing with you.” His voice was quiet and raspy, as if he rarely ever used it. He would flip the journal to the deal he had made with Kofi, pointing to the amount of materials he owed the owner for the day, and a pouch of roughly the same size as his journal would appear in his hand.

”This should be enough.”
 

@Shin Kagami

An empty field, wild hare running amuck in the grass. The sun was rising, and yet Yasuhiro hadn’t slept. A light rustle would escape as the boy emerged from the shadows. The rabbits wouldn’t even turn their gaze as a sword as black as the night sliced through them. Picking up the meat Yasu would turn towards the town so far from where he was. A little light gathering was all he needed, as his wealth grew he stepped ever closer to his goal. Checking his inventory, the boy would write in his journal everything he had acquired that night before closing the book and hooking it to his belt.

The players in the field just now getting out for the first time, mixed with stronger players taking strolls through the grasslands they once fought so hard to conquer, it was hard to believe this was all a game sometimes. How different would this experience have been for everyone if they hadn’t been forced to fight for their lives? The boy would shake the thought from his mind. Not worth the effort to think about it. The kid would carry on.

Finally crossing through the gates as the sun fully appeared, Yasu would make his way through town. He would pull his scarf up over his face as he cut through the back alleys, less people there, and made his way to Un Noir. A quaint shop with a pretty good cup of coffee. Today was different though, the energy in the place felt like it had shifted. Locking his eyes on his usual spot, Monarch would place his journal on the table and turn to the nearest person and mumble, ”I’ll have a coffee, black please.” His inventory would open once more, his finger gliding over it as he makes sure everything he had agreed to bring was there, before looking around for the owner.

@Shin Kagami

stats: non combat, start at level 6

Yasu hadn’t been sitting long before a player approached him, asking if he would like anything. He didn’t like the taste of alcohol, and from what he had heard, the taste was just an unfortunate part of getting the effects of it, which also were not in the game. If he had to guess, the only reason one would use alcohol in this game was to simply hold onto a world they can’t get back to on their own. A remnant of a past better off let go of.

”I’ll have a coffee, black please.” Despite not talking to many people, Yasu had a generally good demeanor, and his voice was gentle. Quiet, sure, but gentle nonetheless. The kid would continue to draw, hoping no one would approach him. There appeared to be a few more customers as is, but all in all it was still quiet enough for the boy to enjoy his time.

That thought crossing his mind would twist, if it’s this slow all of the time, perhaps the boy could try to get a job here, make some col on the side while he saves up to build his tavern. Hell if he could sell his house, he would. Slowly, the boy would raise his hand to attract the attention of one of the workers, in hopes they would approach him.

Monarch’s plan had gone to crap pretty quickly. After being scooped up and carried away, he’d thought his teammates would follow suit as these creatures forgot to do the most important thing when capturing somebody. Why didn’t they come with me? Perhaps they hadn’t thought of this. Yasu had come up with a semi decent plan, though he probably should’ve run it past the team before getting himself into danger.

From where he could tell, the guards carrying him had no great features. They both looked the same as far as equipment goes, and neither had a unique weapon. Guess they’re just grunts. The sound of commotion would shake Monarch free of his thoughts, as he heard a guard yell about a fire. Must be those two. Monarch’s arms would twist, his leg shooting up and hitting one of the fae in the jaw. The surprise caused him to let go of the boy’s arm. Using the opportunity, Monarch grabbed his sword strewn across his back and removed the arm that was still holding his. Before he and the now severed arm hit the ground, Monarch pushed off of the fae he hadn’t kicked and placed his blade firmly in the chest of the other one, looking into its eyes as it disappeared.

Turning, he would see the only remaining fae draw his weapon. ”You’d better go see about that fire.” Monarch would say as he backed into a shadow, slowly disappearing. The Fae would look off in the distance and shake his head, saying something in their language before turning back towards where Monarch was. Suddenly a blade would appear in the faerie’s vision, as Monarch had stabbed through the back of his neck.

———————————————

ooc: Sorry I took so long lol, I’ll have Monarch search for y’all

Yasuhiro’s eyes opened from his little makeshift bed of a bench. The air around him was thick, and the ground beneath him wet. A rare sight for the boy, but as far as anyone else was concerned it was simple. Morning dew. Hiro would stand up, grabbing his journal he had used as a makeshift pillow and placing it in a holster he kept on his side.

The usually unmotivated kid had finally made a goal for himself, and now he was back to his old ways. Months had gone by and all he had to show for it was a packed sleep schedule and a huge pile of filled out journals for people watching sitting in his house. I can’t keep putting this off. The kid would pat his legs as if to knock off the dirt, before taking a few steps. Wait a minute… where am I? Trying to gather his bearings, his eyes would settle on a sign in front of a tavern mentioning a discount on beverages. A deal the lazy kid couldn’t pass up.

As the kid walked into the tavern, taking note of the older gentleman and the glaring lack of other patrons, Hiro would slink his way to the first table he could find before plopping down in the chair and placing his leather-bound booklet of sketches on the table, opening to a new page and starting to rough out the people in the room. His drawing would take shape, not only displaying a great deal of accuracy in the physical realm, but even with just a pencil and paper, Monarch had managed to capture the warmth of a tavern happy to serve its patrons. 

A place usually so full of life, its emptiness an echo chamber for its warmth.

The young boy, unfazed by the outlandish settlement placed in a tree, would step right inside and examine the path onward, noticing the hexagonal symbol and pulling out his journal and sketching it on a new page. ”Perhaps it’s the name of their settlement…” He would explain quietly to himself. His eyes would then float up to the dim light sources, he had to figure out what they were made of so he drew them as well. ”As much as I know about Fae, I can’t guarantee I’ll see through the lies. I won’t talk unless I can be sure no one will be captured.”
 

Yasu wasn’t lying, his extent of knowledge on the fae was simply information. He know you couldn’t let them know your real name, you couldn’t trust a word they said, and if you had to fight, you could probably kill them easily. His hand would float up and ask if either of them can speak sign language, in sign language. As he waited for their answer, Monarch would keep his eye on the way the shadows danced around the tree, hoping to see gaps in the light that he could exploit should trouble come their way.

Yasuhiro was a tired and lazy child, this game being about the most intense thing he’s ever done. ”I just know things.” He would explain, pulling his scarf over his mouth as he stood up and followed the pair. It appears the Fae had similar styles in folklore as they do in this game, which means Kayaba took this world seriously. Every ounce of detail poured into this world had its own complicated backstory based somewhat in reality. The Fae were never expert craftsmen but making do in the forests is an art in of itself.

The boy wasn’t so worried about their combat prowess. If they were anything like the fairy tales, their blades were the least of their worries. It’s all about their minds, a fae is more cunning than strong and just as evil. ”Watch their words. It’s likely these players were tricked rather than overpowered.” He would remark, avoiding any specific mentions of things he has done. This group had already decided to take on a group of devils, the least Monarch could do is warn them.

Monarch hated the idea of someone dying because he was saved. He had made no contribution to either world, and despite not caring too much about that, He thought someone who had actual value outside of information stored in a book that can be passed to anyone should deserve to live more than he does. That’s when Morningstar mentioned being the reason they’re here, and that he wouldn’t be able to live with himself if someone died for him. ”I agreed to help.” The kid’s eyes would burn with an intensity as if he was trying to stare a hole through the back of Morningstar’s head. ”I never said I would die. Like I said, I prefer hiding over fighting.”

His brain formulated plans for that situation, despite the likelihood of something happening being almost infinitesimally small. No harm in being ready.

As he followed, Monarch would listen to the players speaking of traveling North. Nari was cautious, and Morningstar was cryptic, most likely unintentionally. Yasu didn’t mind either trait, everyone likes a mystery and safety is their number one priority. Pulling out his journal and flipping to his page on floor seven, opposite of a detailed map of the floor, the boy would read, ”Other than mountainous, to the North it shouldn’t be too dangerous from what I understand, depending on what path this cave is on or near.” His quiet voice would escape as he closed the book and clipped it back to the belt around his waist. If there was one thing Monarch was useful for, it was information.

Yasu generally only helped people when they asked him personally. And it was never out of the kindness of his heart, it was always to avoid having to deal with someone trying to convince him to help. This time was different, he had put himself in this position of his own free will, and as such he would have to go through with it. You see, while this kid was lazy, he would always keep a promise, so he rarely ever made them. ”I’m sorry.” The kid would remark, his voice much quieter than usual. As Nari stood, Monarch would finish his drink and stand as well, although it would look like he was already tired with how sluggishly he moved. ”If closure is what you want, then I hope you find it.”

In all truth, Yasu had no clue as to what loss feels like. The closest thing he’s ever experienced was cutting himself off from the people he cares for, so as to keep himself detached. But that wasn’t true loss, it was running away. He has no one to lose so he’s never lost anyone.

”I prefer hiding from danger.” In his mind it was true, because he couldn’t accept that the one thing he enjoyed other than sleep was so violent. It required so much energy to be at odds with everything, so why let yourself become addicted to struggle? Hiding away seemed like the better option, even from things that end up being utterly harmless, or good for you. He enjoyed his time with that girl, but pushing it further could tarnish the memory.

A risk the kid could not justify.

Turning to Nari once more to clarify his statement, the kid would open his mouth to speak, but stop. Clearly he was trying to pick the words carefully. ”Don’t feel like you have to protect me. If it’s a choice between me or him, save him.” Yasu would look to the floor, pulling his canary yellow scarf up to cover his mouth. ”He’s already lost enough.” A quiet addition, hidden to those around them yet not so well it couldn’t be heard.

Yasu couldn't help but feel like he was missing some important information, which coupled with Nari's question, gave him more information than he truly wanted. In fact, Yasu wanted to walk away as is. He had a feeling Nari was capable of helping, and Morningstar didn't look like he was altogether helpless. In truth, the only reason he had stepped up was simply because of Iris. In the off chance he ever saw her again, he wanted to be better than he was before. If for no other reason than to help those around him when they needed it. He didn't really care what most people thought of him, in fact he only cared what people thought of themselves. "I'm curious too." The quiet boy would speak up. If nothing else, he wanted to be sure he wasn't walking in to a trap.

As little as the boy cared about fighting to get out of SAO, he did eventually want to get out. Every moment spent here was one wasted in real life, one he could use to sleep. "I agreed to help, but if you can handle the cave by yourself, I want to know what I'm helping with." His pencil would continue to dance across his paper, finishing up the finer details of Nari's face before closing and clipping back to his belt.

Yasu would fall back to his prone position on the bench, but the noise of the players right beside him would not allow the kid to rest. He just wanted some sleep, and as the nightmare had interrupted his wish, the kid would fiddle with his hair, listening to the players speak. "Likewise." The kid would say, regarding Morningstar's comment. Oh well. I guess sleep is out of the question for now. He would sit up once more, standing and stretching with a remarkably low range of motion. "The fae are kidnapping players and keeping them in the Cavern of Faeries." He would say, before fiddling with the hair hanging in front of his forehead. "Allegedly." His eyes would float over to Oji and back up to Morningstar.

The kid didn't want to take part in this adventure, but if it got him some col he'd be that much closer to opening an inn. "Personally, I think it's an easily solvable issue." The kid's remark would be punctuated by him pulling out his journal. Flipping to the page of a map of the floor, Yasu's finger would trace over the roads until a certain point. Tapping the map twice, Monarch would then flip to a page of information on monsters he has come across. A fae's face drawn next to the info would appear, as Yasu pointed down at the bottom of the page where the rumor was written.

"And call me Nakata."

Yasu sat at the table with these strangers, if for no other reason than to be off of his feet. He had agreed to help, but he had no idea what he would be doing or why, so he needed to save his energy or create a surplus. ”No thanks.” He would say, as a black coffee materialized in his hand and he would take a sip. His journal would slide off of his hip as it opened to a page with a sketch of Astreya on it. An almost perfect rendering at that. On that same page, Yasu would sketch the two players he sat with but would not write a description next to them.

”I’m not a good fighter.” Monarch would remark, his quiet voice devoid of emotion. His movements were slow, and only done when necessary. Hell, his eyes barely moved from the page he was staring at. ”I’m here to improve.” His pencil would fall as he looked up to Morningstar, then towards Nari.

”Call me Monarch.”

Monarch had found his bench. It was perfect, long enough to lay on and empty enough to not be bothered. There weren’t many shops on this street, just a nearby request board and the boy knew just how rarely those were actually used, so right here would be perfect. As he lay down, a gust of wind picks up, blowing his hair in a soothing dance across his head. A small smirk would appear as he drifted off into the darkness.

Through the darkness, a flame was lit. Footsteps fast approaching behind him, and yet the person before him remained still and undefined. An uneasy feeling rose to Yasu’s throat as he realized this was almost certainly a nightmare. His feet were planted in a foot of water, his body remained dry, but there was certainly a dripping sound around him. A ray of light shone from above revealing an unfamiliar face, but said face drove Yasu mad. He couldn’t stand to look at it. A grin would form, and his hand would raise revealing a large axe. “You followed the devil. Now can you blame me if you end up in hell?” Fear cause the boy to shake as the hand fell towards him…

The boy’s eyes would open slowly, the sense of fear still constricting his chest, and yet he seemed fine. His eyes would move to the back of the bench as he would notice a player crystal floating above it. Why would someone stand there? The kid would sit up to see a familiar face from a few days back. His eyes would barely change as he looked to this new player he had never met. ”This bench is double sided?” his tired voice would escape, completely against his will.

Yasu had found his way into a bar on the seventh floor, yet somehow he couldn't afford anything. All this time doing nothing and watching players really should've gone towards setting up a business that could run itself. A drawing of the tavern would be placed on the page of the journal the boy was always carrying on his hip. His button up short sleeve shirt and black pants with comfy sneakers would pull the eyes of people not invested in their own situation. Whatever, let them stare, he was comfortable.

The boy's ears would be pulled away towards a pair of players speaking of a guild, Yasu's eyes would trail up to find those who are talking. I forgot guilds were even a thing, I guess players do like to stick together though, it makes risking your life for eachother that much easier. His thoughts would trail back to that day he spoke to a friend. Would this count as evil? The boy knew there were risks anytime someone goes out into the field, but he never stepped up. Maybe Iris had lit a fire under his ass after all. "Such a drag." The boy would say, quietly.

Walking up to the pair, who had become a trio while the kid was absorbed in his own thoughts, Yasu would hold up a peace sign. The woman had mentioned a request and that a player named Morningstar needed help. This should be easy. "Hey. I'm here to help too."

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

Monarch's stats:

The boy watched for a moment, the wolf taking his paw up slightly higher than usual. This was it, the moment he had been waiting for. Yasu's sword would glow, his eyes fixed on the enemy before him as it charged forward once more. A snarl from the dog would throw slobber at kid and his blade would start to fall. Not quite quick enough however, as the yellow wolf's teeth would plant themselves firmly into the boy's leg. Holding it in place, Monarch's sword would fall on the monster's head, causing it to break its grip and pull back once more. The first exchange had gone swimmingly, and Monarch was already tired of this fight.

"You might be the beast who gets me." Yasu's tired voice tells the wolf. His health hadn't dropped quite as far as the monster's, but it still didn't make him feel all that great watching it drop. So about half of his health huh? Not bad, I should be able to take him on. The kid's eyes would dance across the beast as he waited once more.

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

Action: ST-I on wolf

Monarch: 96/120 HP | 25/32 EN | 6 DMG | 1 Para

Wolf: 44/80 HP | 24 DMG

Once the distance had closed, Monarch's blade would glow yellow. The wolf's legs would leave the ground and the flat of the kid's blade would redirect the force of the beast's attack. "Caught me off guard." Both the wolf and the player would stand, locked in a waiting game. It would seem they both knew how to wait for an opening, and that if you move first, chances are you'll lose the exchange. Hearing a ruckus forming behind him as other dogs charged in, Monarch would grit his teeth. He had no experience fighting this many enemies, so he would have to find a way to kill them one at a time.

The constant barking and howling would distract him for a moment, but his eyes would never leave the wolf he was currently engaged with. He needed to figure out just how many there were, and that was easier said than done. Though as it stands, he definitely had enough time to take care of this one.

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

Action: ST-I on wolf

Monarch: 120/120 HP | 30/32 EN | 6 DMG | 1 Para

Wolf: 80/80 HP | 24 DMG

Monarch awoke on a bench, just outside of town. The field around him was unfamiliar, as blurry and misshapen it was. How did he end up here? Who knows? The kid's hand would fall to his side, pulling his weight forward and off of the bench. "I guess I need more stuff." He would say to himself, pulling himself up to a standing position. If I want to survive, I need gear to help me. A good sword, maybe some armor, whatever it takes to reach the top. If nothing else, I need col. His hand would hold his wrist and his eyes would scan the fields. Maybe there's something around here I can kill to get better weapons.

His gaze would land on a pack of wolves, and the boy would scoop up a small rock. Drawing his hand back, a particularly wimpy throw would drive the stone directly into the side of the largest wolf's head. A sharp turn would draw it and as it approached, Monarch's hand would reach up to his shoulder and his sword would fall forwards as he got ready for a fight. "I don't want to do this. I'm sorry it had to be you." He would say, spinning the blade in his hand for a reverse grip. The wolf had closed the distance in no time and as such, the boy had already steeled himself for battle.

A deep breath in, and a slow breath out.

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

Monarch: 120/120 HP | 32/32 EN | 6 DMG | 1 Para

Wolf: 80/80 HP | 24 DMG

After the boy sat down, he pulled out his journal and opened to a fresh page. He wanted to know why that woman held his attention for so long, despite every sign pointing to her being nothing but a pain to talk to. His finger would spin his pencil as he leaned in really close to the page and started outlining the drawing. Silhouettes of players walking through a blank town, just the outlines of buildings. In the dead center, the woman was placed, carefully drawn in full detail, looking like she was searching for something important up in the sky. As the drawing took its form, Monarch couldn’t help but feel frustrated, like it wasn’t quite right. He erased the eyes, trying to think of how they looked. Maybe they were a little…

Just as he thought he had figured it out, it slipped away once again as the owner of the shop spoke to him. His order? Damn… I just had it too. His hand would come up and push against the side of the table, turning his body to face the woman across the tavern, but half of his face would remain hidden behind his chair. A very sloppy attempt to hide himself considering his stealth skill.

His eyes narrowed, examining every curve of her eyes and making sure to take note of their color, their placement, everything. Hell, he even counted her eyelashes. ”I’ll have a black coffee.” His tired voice would practically fall out of his mouth as he turned back and got into his drawing once more. The eyes would fall into place and immediately the woman would become recognizable based just on the line work. Still though, Yasu had no idea why she had grabbed his attention. Maybe it needs color. His hand would reach out and only one color would come to mind, sakura. His pencil would very sloppily slide across the drawing, very little regard for the shape of the woman, as he colored her in.

By the looks of it, you would think a 4 year old did this, but this one sparked emotion in the boy, like he was saying she radiated a much more free spirit than her shape allowed, so it spilled out into the world in a mess of color.

After Monarch had left that cave, he spent days walking through the fields. He had tried sleeping but couldn’t quite settle his thoughts. ”Such a drag.” He would say to himself, stepping back into the town and looking around. Maybe he needed some coffee, that always helped.

Walking through the streets, the kid’s tired eyes swayed from sign to sign. All of his usual spots were packed to the brim, so he would continue on. The other players around him would spend their time socializing with those they cared about, but Monarch didn’t really have anybody. Whatever, he preferred to have time to himself. Can’t people watch with someone distracting you, so he learned to cut people off.

His eyes landed on a player, a woman who was holding her stomach. The growl really held the boy’s attention as he squints. It’s not uncommon for people to skip a meal, but hearing a stomach rumble is rare. Especially in town, where it’s nothing but shops and restaurants. Stepping to the side to let someone pass, the boy would walk into the same store the woman did, perhaps she knew this place had good food, and the kid would find his own booth. One not too far from the woman’s, but not too close.

For all he knew, she could be annoying.

Monarch:

120/120 HP | 30 EN | 6 DMG | 4 Stealth

Yasu had fallen back into his low energy self once again. The conversation had all but died out as they crossed through the gates and reunited the lost child with her mother. A small grin would form on the boy’s face, seeing them hold hands and walk away after the woman had thanked the pair. The sun was falling behind them, and it made for a beautiful sight. Their silhouettes blocking out the brightest point, with a small beam shining between them. It was enough to blind the tired boy. Yet still he couldn’t pull his eyes away. Was that something he would ever experience again? Seeing his family? Them just being happy he’s safe?

Before Monarch joined the game, everyone in his family liked to poke fun or make passive aggressive comments at the kid’s schedule. All of them except for his mother. She didn’t like that he was a shut in, but she would never try to make him feel bad for it. She understood the only time the boy had truly felt happy was when he could sleep. There was no ill will from his sister, she just wanted him to go out and have fun. But nothing ever satisfied him. He’d tried his hand at most everything, sports, movies, TV. Hell, he even tried singing, something his whole family liked to try to convince him to follow through with.

But with singing came popularity, and with popularity, came people.

The kid would look over to the Tank who had protected him, and close his eyes as he turned and started walking away. Saying bye was always a drag, it seemed so painful for something that was so simple. Instead he chose to leave this encounter in it’s rawest form. Something he was sure Iris wouldn’t one hundred percent like. That’s why he hoped she wouldn’t notice. He wanted her to stop him, so maybe they could talk some more, but he had already taken enough of her time and caused her enough pain.

This was simply the best option.

As he walked away, his journal would come out, and he would draw something new. A pair of silhouettes, walking towards the sun. Their shadows hiding monsters but their faces still smiling. The taller figure took the shape of a woman, meanwhile the smaller figure looked more like Yasu. The boy would finish up the drawing, closing his journal and thinking on a name. Finally settling on one he normally wouldn’t like.

”Hope.”

Iris’s words, though not explicitly aimed at him, pulled tight at Monarch’s chest. His throat felt constricted, as his already blurry vision cleared for a moment, the tears dripping down his face. The streaks on his cheeks would glimmer in the light of the small stone he carried. His strained voice would escape as he looked through the opening of the cave. ”See Koko? Like I said, someone is always here to help.”

The young lazy boy hated that feeling, like he had someone waiting on him. It was his own special hell. In this world he cared about very little. His family was really the only thing that kept him going, and right now they were just waiting for him to get out of this game. I’m sure Tsu will be disappointed to hear I did basically nothing while I was here. And she’ll make jokes about how my first friend was a girl. Dad’s gonna give me a quiet hug, pat me on the head and go back to being himself. Working too hard to let himself get distracted. Mom’s never gonna let me out of her sight again.

It’s gonna be such a drag.

Once they had reached the field, Yasu would let Koko off of his back, taking his scarf and wrapping it around his own neck once again, making sure to wipe his eyes as he took a deep breath. ”Let’s get you back to your mom.” He would say, grabbing the little girls hand and walking on.

House Name: Spectator’s Rest
Location: Floor 3
Description: A small hut in the deepest reaches of the forest. Very little natural light reaches this house, to make it easier to fall asleep any time of day.
Plot Size: Estate
Room(s): Attic (Bedroom) (monarch), Herbalist Hut (monarch), Basement (monarch), Guest Room, Living Room (monarch), Storage Closet (monarch)
Room Upgrade(s): none
Total Cost: Donor [$25+]

The praise from the girl pulled Yasu’s eyes from the fight, with a surprised look on his face and a hint of blush. Immediately the boy would pick Koko back up and start walking towards Astreya as she killed the bat. His hands felt cold, his eyelids were getting heavy, and he was practically half gone. But his cheeks felt warm, warmer than they usually were. He didn’t even try to hide his pink cheeks as he hardly knew they were there. Right now he just wanted to get Koko to her mother.

”You know Koko, you’re doing better than I did.” he would say, his sword disappearing from his hand. ”We all get lost sometimes. But in those times we have to remember someone is looking for us. For me, it was my sister. She pulled me out of a play ground and pulled me back to my house. My mom was worried sick, as I’m sure yours is, so make sure you say sorry. And after that, make sure you stay safe. It’s hell on a mother to miss her child.” Yasu would say, his voice in an almost comforting tone once again. He wanted to make sure Koko didn’t get lost again, even if she was a quest npc and most certainly would. His thoughts would shift to how his mother and sister feel right now, and his empty eyes would fill with sadness, but he didn’t have his scarf to bury himself in.
 

”My mother was so happy to see me, we had ice cream for dinner. My sister cried because she was worried, and relieved I had returned. It may not feel like it sometimes, but Koko… people care. They want to see you again, no matter where you go. All you have to do is believe you will, and you will.” he would explain, trying to convince himself more than anyone else. His vision would distort as his eyes watered up. He hadn’t really thought about what his family is going through. His father was probably doing his best to afford medical bills, his mother was probably broken beyond repair.

And his sister, Tsu, was probably doing her best not to think about it.

Yasu stopped dead in his tracks, noticing Astreya get ready for the fight. Something in his gut twisted, his eyes dance around the cave. Setting down Koko, Monarch would draw his sword from across his waist behind his back, holding it in his standard reverse grip. "Stay behind us. Iris won't let anything hurt you." He would say, patting the girl on the head. Her tears hadn't even dried and now she was crying again. So that's what that feeling was. The boy's eyes would narrow as he turned his head and spotted the bat. Astreya had drawn its attention, so while Koko should be safe, Monarch would only leave her for a moment. The room would go dark for a moment, the kid bringing his blade across the gut of the bat. The room would light up as Lightning danced from the kid's blade around the monster, holding it in place for a bit.

He was already back by Koko as the light grew to illuminate the room once more. "Sorry, I had to borrow your magic spell for a minute. It's yours now." As he turned back to watch Astreya, Yasu's eyes would finally communicate with someone. Almost as if were written on his forehead. He had no remorse for this beast and only wanted one outcome in this whole situation. Normally Monarch hated killing. Be it monster or person, they all had lives. Right now these two were intruders in their homes. And while it was weird for someone to get so worked up over a bunch of code, in Monarch's eyes they were people too. Koko was just as sad for missing her mom as Yasu was that night he got lost.

"Make it suffer."

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

Monarch:

HP: 40/40 | EN: 18/22 | DMG: 3 | Para: 1

Astreya:
HP: 644/645 | DMG: 15 | MIT: 104 | ACC: 3 | BH: 32 | NRG: 95/99

Bat:
HP: 59/75 | DMG: 35 | Hate: A5, M2 [Paralyzed]

As the girl spoke, the edge of the light touched a small footprint, too small to be Yasu’s or Astreya’s. After the girl finished her explanation, saying she wants to protect the boy, Monarch would blush and look away, noticing the footprints leading up to a scared young girl. The boy’s blush would immediately disappear as his feet started moving and he popped the glowstone into his mouth. The boy was actually running, although he wasn’t very good at it. Sliding to a kneeling position by the child, Yasu would wrap her in his scarf. Giving her a gentle hug. Even without emoting, it was obvious Yasu felt for the girl. He understood her fear.

Pulling away from the hug, Monarch would pull the glowstone out of his mouth and wipe it on his shirt. Holding it towards Koko, he would say, ”Hey… you’re alright… we’re here to help you find your way back to your mom.” The boy’s generally cold unfeeling face had switched to a gentle and kind one. ”This Light is a magic spell, whenever you feel scared hold it out in front and say ‘Lightning’ and you’ll be safe.” The boy would explain as he grabbed the small girl off of the ground and held her in a piggy back. Looking over to Astreya, he would nod towards the door.

As the lazy child walked towards Astreya, he would remember her panicked exclamation that only one more bat was coming after they found the girl. His eyes would bounce around the illuminated parts of the cave, turning back to they’re bored glare he always had. ”Iris… the second bat.”