Melodie le Breton

"There goes the plan of letting you hit them till they were near death and I swoop in at the end." Melodie joked nervously, not taking her eye off of the boarlet in front of her. Okay, it was just a basic slim monster in reality. After all, she had killed dozens if not hundreds, or even thousands of basic starting monsters in other games. The only difference here was the fact that if she screwed up, game over. Game over for her life. 

"You make it sound so simple." The brunette said, tightening her grip on her sword and trying to will her body to fight. Run away, said a voice in her head, run, run, run away. After all, why was she doing this? It was just a game, she need only sit it out at the beginning and wait to be rescued. She tried to crush the voice, she was no coward, no fairy tale damsel waiting to be rescued. If there was going to be any rescuing, she wanted to be one of the rescuers, not the person being rescued. 

Melodie leapt into the attack, striking at the boar, but did not use a Sword Skill. 

ID: 203451    

Battle Dice: 10

Level: 6
Tier: 1
HP: 120
EN: 30
Dmg: 8 (R5 Weapon Skill)
Acc:  2(Gear: weapon)

 Mel decided to accept Astreya's offer of cards, not that she knew how to play a card game to save her life... Besides surely saying no might draw more attention to herself and it may even hurt her friend's feelings. Melodie never had that many friends to begin within in game to afford just being able to upset them, thus risking the friendship. Forming friendships happened to be a lot more difficult than it looked. "Er... Sure." Melodie said, making her way over to Astreya and trying to work out how this card game thing worked. 

"If it is all the same I'll try to not get chewed on if possible." Melodie said, not really wanting to see herself being snacked on by some monster or worse the in game sensations it might bring. True, it could not cause any real pain, save for the terror of being closer to death as her health bar ticked closer to zero. But the idea of having her arm in a beast's mouth, unsettled her quite considerably. Though not as much as being labelled a coward. She was going to be a hero, she would reach the frontlines and from there be one of the top players in this game, complete with good armour, fancy steed, powerful sword and maybe a good big house somewhere, with a sign saying 'no admittance except on party business.' 

"Oh okay, I'll let you know if I see any." Mel tried to not sound too put out by this news. Her strategy largely relied upon using Astreya to kill the monsters and get the needed EXP that way. Sadly, it was not going to be possible. She should have known better really. "No time but the present to do it then." Melodie told her new best friend and gritted her teeth, tightening her grip on her sword as the first of the wild boarlets came into view. 

Level: 6
Tier: 1
HP: 120
EN: 30
Dmg: 8 (R5 Weapon Skill)
Acc:  2(Gear: weapon)

 Mel, awkward as ever and not really having the confidence or social skills of Astreya, managed a thin smile and a nod of greeting. She mentally kicked herself for not being adept at these types of functions, but then again her standard operating procedure for parties was either, not go or escape to her room at the earliest available opportunity. Neither of which were options for the present. 

Yet all too swiftly her friend abandoned her with some near total strangers and dashed off. Melodie wanted to call her back, but held her tongue. Things were awkward enough without her saying, don't leave me alone because I don't know anyone. "Hey." Melodie le Breton managed to say after a nervous smile at the other much higher level girl.  

"It's almost like it's a game." Melodie muttered sarcastically more as a result from nerves, rather than anything her friend had said. "I'm sure you will one day." Mel attempted to encourage her, though personally she would prefer to stick with surviving the game. Yet, part of her wanted to be more than a mere survivor, she wanted to be a hero, prove to herself and others that she was not some coward. She had taken the step to put her life on the line and fight back, but it was not going to be enough. She needed to be more... She, would have to do more if she wanted to be seen as brave, as strong, as a hero. She might have made a name inspired from a famous fantasy hero, but she hoped now that such a name might imbue her with some of their courage and strength. 

Heroes, particularly at the start surely felt as though their quests were all but impossible right? Could she really help to beat this game? Fight bosses? Slay monsters? Save lives? Or was she fooling herself with delusions of fame and grandeur in an attempt to ignore the grim reality of this nightmare situation they all found themselves in?  

Melodie felt her cheeks grow warm at the sudden contact as Astreya helped to adjust her stance. In the real world and the game world, Mel tended to dislike being touched, hugged, cuddled or even high fived. She quite enjoyed her personal space, but she gritted her teeth and let Astreya do her thing to help her. After all, such things might one day save her life and Astreya was the first real friend she made in this place. "Thanks. I think I have it." She said, trying to sound more confident than she in fact felt. With that she leapt into the attack. 

Roll ID #203191
Battle Dice: 8

Level: 6
Tier: 1
HP: 120
EN: 30
Dmg: 8 (R5 Weapon Skill)
Acc:  2(Gear: weapon)

 "I've heard it helps though." Melodie countered quietly, if she were but tall and powerfully built it might be enough to keep away any potential Pkers and serve to discourage people from talking to her. Sadly, she was neither tall or powerfully built and generally felt as dangerous and deadly appearing as a cuddly puppy. "I... I think I'll save the dragon fighting till I am a higher level and have a mount of some kind." Mel said, half frightened by the idea of fighting a dragon, half interested in the idea. 

Mel shrugged at the mention of outfits. "You'd be better off by yourself than involving me in that one." She commented with a small smile. Fashion whether it was too appear good or to look more like a character from Star Wars was not her strongest subject, probably one of her more weaker areas. 

"Me neither." Mel said though till recently she had been all but content to remain securely at the start of this game. Had she not had the thought that if the game ended sooner rather than later and her contribution had been little more than cried in a corner, thus outing her to the entire world and herself as little more than a poltroon... Well... Perhaps death in combat was a far more braver end to go, at least no one then could claim her to be a coward. Even if she strongly desire to live. 

Mel watched uncertainly as her friend attacked the target, she made no move to strike it again herself though. "Can you check my stance before I attack?" She asked nervously, though she had yet to adopt the fighting stance or attempt to queue up the sword skill. 

Level: 6
Tier: 1
HP: 120
EN: 30
Dmg: 8 (R5 Weapon Skill)
Acc:  2(Gear: weapon)

  Melodie felt distinctly out of her comfort zone at the party. A large part of her wanted her to move, to say something, to just start talking to someone, whilst another considered only leaving and escaping the awkwardness. Yet the thought of spending Christmas alone held her back, so she naturally found herself gravitating towards a corner, where she might observe the festivities. Astreya, the only person she really knew at the party appeared to be in her element in the social setting. Mel envied her confidence greatly. 

Almost as if the thought had attracted her friend's attention, Astreya called out to her in order to try the food. "Oh okay." Melodie said nervously, quickly making her way over. She hovered uncertainly, near Astreya as she reached out to have some of the dessert. It was good, very tasty though not her preferred flavour, but still good. Though given her awkwardness in social situations, she managed a friendly smile at the other party goers, taking a step closer towards Astreya more for reassurance that her friend was still there and not about to abandon her in a crowd of unfamiliar people. 

 She shook her head at that, amusement clearly written across her features. "I'm many things but I'm not exactly big or scary." Melodie responded quietly, normally she got labelled shy, sometimes cute but usually awkward. The latter she seemed to have perfected to the point it might as well be an art form for her. "Chewbacca." Mel informed her, finding it funny that Astreya did not know who he was. If they made it out of this game alive, she would have to sit her friend down to watch some serious sci fi, Star Wars, Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica and probably some others. Maybe a few fantasy shows as well, but since they were trapped in a fantasy game of death, it might be a little too soon for those sorts of shows. 

"Can you get sunglasses in this game?" Mel asked, genuinely wondering if such a vanity item happened to be possible. She doubted it, since the world was more a fantasy themed one but who could say for certain? She had not really stopped to study the none armour or weapon related stuff. After all, whether she wore stylish clothes or not was irrelevant to those who might seek to do her harm and the AI simply would not care of how she was dressed when she closed into range with them. 

Seeing as she had little choice but to follow her friend, since she grabbed her hand Mel went with her. She suspected, even if she had resisted Astreya's higher stats would have enabled her to be dragged along regardless. The training dummies were a good idea, as much as Melodie liked to imagine herself a powerful swordswoman, she knew she needed to practice, to train, to get to grips with the motions. Besides, a dummy would be unlikely to try and kill her. 

"That's good. I'll give it a few quick swings and we'll be on the way." Mel attempted to sound confident, almost cocky. "Besides, I quite like the sound of pork chops for lunch." She added as she marched over towards the target dummy. She tightened the grip on her sword, letting the game queue up a sword skill before lunging into an attack on the target. It was far from a very successful attack. 

Roll ID #203015
Battle Dice: 1

Level: 6
Tier: 1
HP: 120
EN: 30
Dmg: 8 (R5 Weapon Skill)
Acc:  2(Gear: weapon)

  Mel found herself chuckling at the thought. "What does that make me?" She inquired amused. "Hopefully not the princess in need of rescuing. I'm thinking perhaps a Han Solo type, daring smuggler in it for the money." She laughed lightly, the joke in reality probably was not particularly funny. But she happened to be nervous and the tension needed to be let out before the pressure built to the point she broke. She managed a smile at what Astreya said next feeling the other girl nudge her. "Well when I make it there with you, I'll finally be with the cool kids." Melodie joked, she had not exactly been rolling in popularity at school. To be honest it felt more as if she had been invisible in education, the bullies and brutes overlooked her, most people seemed to ignore her or look right through her. In the end her friendship circle had been an odd assortment of gamers and techies. 

"One at a time seems best." Mel agreed slowing to a halt. "Maybe I should practice the sword skill before we get to the monsters?" She suggested, looking at the blade held in her right hand. "I want to get it right so you know... I don't die horribly." Somehow getting killed by a pig would be just galling. She would rather die from standing on a camp fire or falling down a deep pit, a stupid death like that would be preferred than dying to the starting enemy. At least death in combat would prevent any accusation of cowardice, though given a choice Mel preferred the live hero option. 

"I'll try my best to. I made a choice to stand up and fight back, cannot do much fighting back if I won't take the fight to the foe." Melodie attempted to sound determined as she stared at her reflection in the blade. "Maybe it is better to practice the motion in actual battle rather than with no real target to face." She muttered quietly. 

Level: 6
Tier: 1
HP: 120
EN: 30
Dmg: 8 (R5 Weapon Skill)
Acc:  2(Gear: weapon)

 Melodie nodded in agreement, though she was unsure if she wished to waste a skill slot and all that time with a profession that probably had little to do with helping her survive a battle. True, becoming a world famous chef in SAO might not be too bad, but she would still need ingredients and it would give her the excuse to stay behind. After all, why should a chef fight on the front lines? She need only stay nearby in a safe zone to provide them with hearty food and a good drink when they returned. Yet, it still smacked of retreating, of giving up on being a hero. If she decided to learn how to cook, then it would be part of the battlefield and not another reason to stay behind. She had done enough of sitting this out whilst others fought and died. "We'll see. I'm going to get to the front first." She told her friend with a small, but uncertain smile. 

"Thanks, I'd share the loot with you of course. It's... It is more for the exp than the loot." She explained quietly. The sooner her level became higher the better, the more health she would have, the harder it was going to be for the Mobs and Bosses to take her out. But to get that sweet experience, she needed to go out there, to take the fight to the foe and complete the quests. "We can hope, fingers crossed they have not updated it with any unexpected surprises." Though given the fact this game was one of death, she knew the possibility of a sneaky new deadly update in the tutorial could not be ignored. It would just be like the designers of this horror to do that. Cut off the supply of reinforcements to the front lines, keep the players trapped in the lower levels and floors to the point where the conquest halted altogether. 

Mel looked quite surprised by the offer of a present. She accepted it cautiously as if worried this might be some manner of weird prank or joke she did not yet understand. She quickly equipped the item however, noting it's stats. "Thank you... I... I don't have anything to give you in return." She admitted awkwardly, not knowing that they were going to be giving presents to one another. "Yeah. Let's go get some pork chops." Mel attempted to sound eager, yet to her own ears she sounded hesitant and worried. It was one thing to pick flowers in this game, it would be another matter entirely to fight something capable of fighting back. 

She crossed the threshold from the safe zone and into the wilds, instinctively letting her hand fall to the hilt of her sword. 

Level: 6
Tier: 1
HP: 120
EN: 30
Dmg: 8 (R5 Weapon Skill)
Acc:  2(Gear: weapon)

  Astreya finally arrived, just when Melodie had reached the point of wishing she had brought a book with her to read or wondering if she should shoot her friend a DM. It was always difficult when messaging others, what if they needed some time to themselves? What if they were asleep? Or what if they did not want a message? However, she could push such worries aside for Astreya made it. "Hey." She called back, quieter than her friend, self conscious of the crowd and not wishing to draw more attention to herself than necessary. At the mention of the combat, her previous worries came back to the fore. Nothing like the prospect of imminent death to ruin the day. Still, the alternative was to attempt to back out and that would mean admitting that she was a coward, not to just herself, but publicly. The latter could not stand. Besides, wasn't bravery all about doing the right thing on a difficult day. 

"You know it. Shame I don't have a good cooking skill, we could have pork chops afterwards." She joked poorly, assuming of course she managed to survive the boar hunt today. "Please do, though I may have to try and get the last attack bonus if it is a high level creature." Another joke, Mel's real plan if someone truly dangerous to them both came across was to tactically withdraw, also known as run away as fast as her agility stat might allow. 

But, now they were together there was only one option left, to do the thing. "Let's get going then unless there was anything you needed to do first?" Melodie knew the sooner they started, the sooner they could be back in the comforting confines of the safe zone. She needed to reach the frontlines. However to do that, she needed to level up and get better gear, weapons, armour, equipment, more money etc etc. She might be late to the fight, but Melodie le Breton was finally mobilizing, riding out of the gates to answer the clarion call of battle. She would not let her entire contribution to beating this game be sitting around like some damned princess in a tower, awaiting to be rescued. Mel did the rescuing around here. 

If they were going to get out of this game of death then she would be a part of it, hopefully there at the finish to be able to claim her fair share of glory and acclaim too. 

Level: 6
Tier: 1
HP: 120
EN: 30
Dmg: 8 (R5 Weapon Skill)
Acc:  2(Gear: weapon)

 Melodie le Breton had slept poorly. All through the night she lay awake knowing that the very next day might well be her last. True, the tutorial enemies were unlikely to be particularly dangerous. But, the stakes were high since if she ran out of HP at any point, death would be here reward and her body would shatter. Game over in this world and the old one. Yet if she wanted to avoid any accusation of cowardice then she had no viable alternative. After all, if they ever made it out of the game and her whole contribution to defeating it had been crying behind a wall till the noise stopped then it would be rather humiliating. Death in a virtual world or life but social disgrace in the old one, though she very much preferred to stay alive, Mel supposed death might be a better alternative. At least none could say then that she had been a coward.

So with that rather grim conclusion in mind, she had set forth from her current lodgings to meet with Astreya near the town gate before embarking on this fateful quest. At least she happened to be a higher level now, with all the perks that contained. Same sword and gear though for the present moment, though at some point she needed to get hold of some armour. Yet for the moment, speed was going to be her ally, that and Astreya. Having a heavily armed, armoured and high level player hovering nearby would certainly help to keep her alive. Plus if anything managed to kill Astreya that was lurking on the top floor then... Well it would be game over for them both at any rate. 

She was the first to arrive, slipping through the crowds of NPCs and any potential players as she headed towards the meeting spot. Though if Astreya was already present, Mel could not see her due to her short stature and the crowd present. The sooner they met up, the sooner they might get on the road and start this quest to slay some boars. Besides, being out there might help prevent her from deciding against this whole adventure. Being with Astreya certainly would. It was one thing to be afraid alone, it happened to be a different matter to be afraid when in the company of another person. 

She sighed and leaned against the town wall, positioning herself near the gate so that she might manage to observe her friend and be somewhat out of the crowd. Mel folded her arms, resting her right foot against the wall as she waited. Would she be the next player to die? To fall before she even managed to begin to become a hero? 

Level: 6
Tier: 1
HP: 120
EN: 30
Dmg: 8 (R5 Weapon Skill)
Acc:  2(Gear: weapon)

"It really does." Melodie responded, though she was pleased with the result of the potion making lesson and quest. Plus she was still alive too boot, so silver linings and she made a friend. A high level friend with heavy armour. She turned to leave, grateful to Astreya for her help with this questline, even if she was not able to actively do the quest. Keeping the mobs away and keeping her alive happened to be an important enough role for Mel. 

"Time to get used to fighting." Mel attempted to sound determined, but she was immensely worried. What if she died? What if the boars killed her? Food first, worry later. "Yeah, cannot fight on an empty stomach. Lead on." She told her new best friend since she knew where she happened to be going. 

Level: 1
Tier: 1
HP: 20
EN: 20
Dmg: 4 (R1 Weapon Skill)
Acc: 2 (Gear: weapon)

Gathering herbs: 5/5

Roll ID: 202959

Crafting Roll: 8

 Mel nodded slowly, forcing a smile onto her face and put on an attempt to look convinced. "Yeah you are right." Though from the sounds of her voice, she had her doubts. Not that it would stop her from trying to get to the frontline and helping  to clear the game. It was probably her own paranoia talking, of her not trusting in the offered way out. 

Melodie went through the dialogue with Zackariah, before starting on making the potion. After a few more presses and motions, she had a potion. This she gave over to Zackariah and whilst he was examining it, she glanced over at her friend. "I'm not making potions as a profession." She decided adamantly. 

After successfully crafting the potions, Zackariah holds them up, examining your work. "You did a fantastic job," he finally declares, offering you the items. "Now, was there anything else?" Once she explain your real reason for visiting, Zackariah chuckles and shakes his head. "Leave it to Dorian to forget something so important. No, I'm afraid it wasn't me that borrowed the col. You might try Lyle, the blacksmith. I've seen him talking with the mayor frequently the past month or so, and he's just up the road. I wish you luck!"

Melodie groaned at the next quest step. "Yeah, I'm getting hangry so we need to have a break. Turns out being scared witless works up an appetite." 

Level: 1
Tier: 1
HP: 20
EN: 20
Dmg: 4 (R1 Weapon Skill)
Acc: 2 (Gear: weapon)

Gathering herbs: 5/5

Roll ID: 202959

Crafting Roll: 8

 Dying in game was something that filled Melodie with a nameless terror, but returning to the same reality she sought so often to escape also frightened her. The world would not be the same one she left when she logged into the game all that time ago. "What if they were lying to us?" Mel asked suddenly. "What... If we beat this game and then..." She trailed off, that they were merely stuck here. No way to ever escape, ever log out, trapped forever in an endless MMO. A world of swords and monsters, made of digital data their home till the limits of human technology on their bodies took their toll and it all came to an end. 

"He probably would not care or is programmed not to care." She responded, doubting the NPC was even aware. Just an automated quest line, though given the AI on the monsters in this game... She was not a hundred percent certain of that fact. 

"I understand that." Not that Mel had been very careful with her diet beforehand. It mostly considered of whatever could not get away fast enough and be dragged up to her lair to feast. Fortunately, her lack of sleep and high metabolism tended to balance out leaving her quite skinny and also small for her age. At least that was what her parents told her every time they caught her playing an MMO at three in the morning on a school night. 

She led the way as Astreya flung open the door. "Righto, I've got the herbs now how do I craft this potion"? Mel asked as she entered the familiar shop. "Let's hope we can make this quick then stop for lunch." She told Astreya, all the talk of food having stirred her appetite. 

Level: 1
Tier: 1
HP: 20
EN: 20
Dmg: 4 (R1 Weapon Skill)
Acc: 2 (Gear: weapon)

Gathering herbs: 5/5

"Yeah... I'm not looking forward to returning back to reality. It is going to be one heck of a shock to the system." Mel said, shaking her head. Going home would have it's great perks, such as not being killed by an Orc, but all the old problems were still there, waiting for her. No exp bonuses for dealing with those. "Oh." Melodie responded quietly. "I guess..." She was not really good with the people, but she guessed Astreya appeared to understand humans better than she did. 

"Thank you and yes, please do." She was fine with being left out of a song and also happy with there being a song out about this frustrating herb quest. She needed to get back now, with these herbs in order to finish the rest of it. "Yes, hopefully we won't run into too much trouble along the way." She doubted any hostile players would try to pester her with a higher level bodyguard. But still, the sooner she was back inside the safe zone, the better. "Fair enough, I plan to avoid picking one till I know for sure." Mel replied, there was plenty of time for that later. 

"Yes there is a lot. Some people like the cooking aspect of the game but it's not an avenue I'm going to look too much into." She said with a small shrug of her shoulders. "As long as I can find somewhere to have a nice pot of tea I'm good." 

She led the way back towards Zackariah’s shop, once there all she need do was craft the potion and then it should be simple as pie then. Give money to Dorian and next quest. Though, like everything else in this game and life... She doubted it might go so smoothly. No plan survives contact with tutorial quests. 

Level: 1
Tier: 1
HP: 20
EN: 20
Dmg: 4 (R1 Weapon Skill)
Acc: 2 (Gear: weapon)

Gathering herbs: 5/5

"At least life in a video game makes sense and you can do practical stuff to guard against anything unexpected." Mel countered, in short the higher their levels, the greater their chances of survival. She glanced at her own level, the sooner she managed to get that number to rise... The better. Right now it was far too small and thus far too close to a potential death for her liking. "Sounds like a good plan to me." She agreed with Astreya. 

She shrugged her shoulders. "Yeah... You are probably right." Mel returned the smile, though it was half hearted and nervous, as if she were already expecting for it to have to vanish in a moment. She happened to be glad that Astreya managed to understand her previous sentence. "I'm glad you weren't offended." Mel knew from bitter previous experience that it was all too easy to accidentally offend someone with a slip up on words. It was part of what made making friends so difficult, a single miscommunication or even a misinterpretation could resort in disaster. 

"You'd think." She muttered grimly, recalling bitter memories from other games. "But then again this is not like any other game before." Not that Melodie was actively seeking romance. Survival, becoming a hero, beating this game were higher priorities in her mind, but all the same to experience love happened to be something she desired. Perhaps because so many of her favorite novels involved a romance plot. What she would not give for a good book in this game. 

"I'm sure you'll get it soon." Mel encouraged, wondering how long it might take in game to learn the instruments. At the mention of herself in a song, she shook her head. "No no, that's fine you don't need to make me a song." She had no desire to draw the attention of a crowd or others by suddenly appearing in a song. Suddenly, she leapt up into the air. "Yes! That makes five!" She declared. "Quick, lets get back to town before the boars try to kill us..." She paused before correcting. "Well me, but anyway let's go to Zackariah and get this quest over with."

Level: 1
Tier: 1
HP: 20
EN: 20
Dmg: 4 (R1 Weapon Skill)
Acc: 2 (Gear: weapon)

Gathering herbs: 5/5

Roll ID #202957
LD: 20

"Yeah... You're right." Mel said in quiet agreement. If they survived this adventure, or more accurately if she survived it, maybe the two of them would have a lot to talk about over a pot of tea. It might be nice to let out everything she had on her chest, she assumed it might be the same for Astreya too. "Yeah." She replied with a smirk. "So far as I know, the only rules life stands by is there are no rules." Even in this death game there were still rules, rules which restricted their talents and abilities. "You do?" Mel sounded quite startled by the fact. She just seemed so confident, so secure in herself, so certain. "You would be surprised by how many couldn't." She whispered sadly, everyone else believed making friends to be simple. But for Mel, she found it to be very difficult to do. With the exception of her new found ally, Astreya, who seemed able to get Mel to talk. 

She listened in silence as Astreya spoke. "I don't think I could deal with that. Heck, I'm still impressed you managed to get a boyfriend. Not that I am saying you couldn't get boyfriends. I... I mean I... I... I find it impressive that you are able to do something I can't." Mel awkwardly explained,  feeling as though she ere suddenly on the verge of a very large and very steep pit.

"You won't catch me performing." Mel assured Astreya with utter conviction. "I'm sure you are much better than you think. I'll even come and watch if you like. Though..." She glanced down at the ground before over to Astreya. "You might have to save me a front row seat." She chuckled at the joke at her own lack of height. "No such luck for that final herb yet." She confessed. 

Level: 1
Tier: 1
HP: 20
EN: 20
Dmg: 4 (R1 Weapon Skill)
Acc: 2 (Gear: weapon)

Gathering herbs: 4/5

Roll ID #202951
LD: 2

"Yeah, it was really frustrating." Mel admitted, having found it difficult to express to both her parents and to just about any other adult figure in her life why she preferred disappearing online into just about every game possible. From the sounds of it, Astreya had been an incredibly busy individual back in the real world. "I suppose they wanted to help. In their own way." She suggested with a shake of her head, whether or not it actually helped or not she could not say. 

She blushed, knowing the emotion engine in the game would easily give away the expression. "Maybe. I've got to make it through the tutorial  thought first." Assuming she actually managed to get the final herb and then survive the short trek back into town. It sounded so simple, but then logging out was meant to be a simple and easy affair, so she was not going to take anything for granted. 

At the question, Mel found something very interesting about her boots. "I... I... Wel... Well." She began uncertainly. "I... I find that a lot of people... Once they get to know me, they... Don't really like me or they act like my friend but... They aren't." She explained awkwardly to Astreya, somehow she felt as though she might understand. If she did not quite understand, being from the sounds of things a rather social individual, she might grasp it better than the handful of people over the years she had confessed these feelings too. Her flush deepened at her friend's compliments. "You're too kind." Mel finally managed to respond after an awkward silence as she searched for something to say. 

"Thanks, fingers crossed we'll get the last one in no time." Mel declared, as she knelt down to try searching for the final one. "Sounds like a good plan." At the mention of performing, she glanced over. "Oh? What do you perform?" The brunette inquired, wondering and hoping that it might be polite to ask. Sadly no such luck on the herb front, but they were so close now to the end. 

Level: 1
Tier: 1
HP: 20
EN: 20
Dmg: 4 (R1 Weapon Skill)
Acc: 2 (Gear: weapon)

Gathering herbs: 4/5

Roll ID #202944
LD: 3

"Yeah I get that. My parents and some of my teachers were always on my case. You need more sleep, you should spend less time gaming and all the rest." Melodie rolled her eyes, recalling the different lectures she went through. In the online world, she felt like she belonged, felt as thought she was a someone, a somebody, a hero. That she was more than this petite girl Lily. 

"That's where I need to be. I am going to be a hero." Mel told Astreya. "It is a job true enough, but it is a vital one." Without those players willing to risk death in battle and struggle, all of them would still be trapped within the Town of Beginnings, eternal prisoners in this video game world. Once she hit the frontlines, Melodie would finally start to prove to the other players that she was more than some petite girl, she was a hero. She would prove to herself that she was not a coward. 

"Maybe. Assuming you want to hang round with me still by then." She joked weakly, worried that by then her friend might have moved on, choosing to leave her behind. Melodie wanted to hope she and Astreya might still be friends by then, but her self doubt already busied itself making attempts to undermine Mel's confidence in this budding friendship.

"Yes please, I'd rather hope that I am not tasty." Mel admitted, feeling her cheeks grow warm at being described as tasty. "That is probably for the best..." She tried to not sound too reluctant about it, but it might increase her odds of success if she ventured out further. One small step for Mel, one giant hope to not get murdered in a video game. She advanced on, pausing to investigate a nearby clump of flowers. She closed her eyes with relief, letting out a quiet sigh of joy as the counter ticked that much closer towards five. 

Level: 1
Tier: 1
HP: 20
EN: 20
Dmg: 4 (R1 Weapon Skill)
Acc: 2 (Gear: weapon)

Gathering herbs: 4/5

Roll ID #202939
LD: 20

 Melodie shrugged her shoulders at that. Back in the real world there were far too many people who seemed to have a problem with her life revolving around video games. It was kinda funny now she happened to be stuck within a game. "Finding ways to relax and have fun is always important. Cannot always be all work and no play. You'll burn out." Perhaps at times, she put far too much effort into the fun part of life over work, but that could not be helped. She probably could class all that game time as training, preparation for this game, in hindsight anyway. 

"I trust you." Melodie told Astreya honestly. Perhaps for some it might be a little too soon for trust, but since if Astreya meant her harm she easily could have done it personally or waited for the Mobs to do their work. "Yeah this is a kind of fetch quest, but I find the escort quests are the worst ones." That was her opinion on it anyway, she found they restricted her play style and movements too much. "I doubt few games are worse than this one, at least in terms of consequences." She had not heard of any other games trapping and killing their players before SAO came out. 

"I cannot say I blame you. I would... But... I'm not one to draw all that attention by yelling." She admitted awkwardly, her self consciousness made her unwilling to let herself be the centre of attention. Mel chuckled and shook her head. "I'm sure you're not but just don't wander too far. I don't want to get blindsided by an enemy or anything." Another run of bad luck in the quest for this herb, but Mel needed only to take her time. Eventually, the odds would come into her favour, though she personally believed her life long look to not be merely bad, but worthy of an ancient curse. 

Level: 1
Tier: 1
HP: 20
EN: 20
Dmg: 4 (R1 Weapon Skill)
Acc: 2 (Gear: weapon)

Gathering herbs: 3/5

Roll ID #202936
LD: 5

Mel listening silently, nodding as Astreya explained it. "Maybe it is?" She suggested, though she sounded uncertain. It was not an aspect of the game she had researched beforehand, but even so... If a player decided to play the game as a mere farmer, how would that help them to escape the game? Not that she could judge a player for deciding to become one, especially since she spent her time till recently hiding in the Town of Beginnings chained down by her own fear and cowardice. "I was the quiet gamer girl back in reality. Go to school, do the best I can, come home, play games." She explained her own circumstances in return, now here they are, both trapped in this game together. 

"I'd appreciate that. Dying would really ruin my plans." Melodie responded with a nervous laugh. "I hope it is good. It's meant to be a rare weapon so we can only hope." In an ordinary game, the petite brunette usually loved the combat, the proper meaty challenge of a game. Yet, in this world, if she messed up with her sword skill, she might easily find herself dead, just another name stamped upon the wall. She could not die, but nor would she merely allow herself to be a prisoner, some damsel waiting to be rescued. She did the rescuing around here, not the other way around. 

"Who knows? Maybe I'll get lucky and manage to get them both soon." Mel suggested, turning her attention to the herbs. "I've encountered worse on other games though, even if this is the only one with perma death as a threat." She shook her head sadly as she failed to find another of the final two herbs. "You must have become really frustrated to take a profession around finding these things." Mel grumbled in her annoyance, to be stuck on one of the starting quests was just plain humiliating. 

Level: 1
Tier: 1
HP: 20
EN: 20
Dmg: 4 (R1 Weapon Skill)
Acc: 2 (Gear: weapon)

Gathering herbs: 3/5

Roll ID #202935
LD: 8

"I'm going to guess that you won't try to by a plot of land and farm then?" Mel suggested quietly, if Astreya disliked fishing then farming might be something else she found boring in game. To tell the truth, Melodie would normally find both quite boring and very tedious, but given the circumstances of perma death, boring might not be so bad after all. Unfortunately, for her there was no such escape from this realm of battle, not if she wished to prove herself to be a hero and finally shake off the belief or worry of her cowardice. 

"I suppose it comes down to personal preferences?" Melodie offered with a small shrug of her shoulders. If there were more fast damage dealers than tanks, then it might give her an excuse to not be picked for a boss raid. True, she would make sure she volunteered her name for them, but if there were loads of willing players then the chances of her being picked were going to be a small as possible. Mel drew her own sword at the arrival of a boar, wondering how best to initiate her sword skill, but it turns out she did not need to bother, Astreya slew it with impressive speed. "A fine kill." She commented, sheathing her sword before shaking her head at the failure to find a fourth herb. 

"At this rate I'll be here till night fall." Mel groaned, she understood her quest to reach the frontlines would not take place overnight. But still, the thought pained her about having to return back to the Town of Beginnings to hang out with the other cowards and waiters till morning allowed for another try at this quest. 

Level: 1
Tier: 1
HP: 20
EN: 20
Dmg: 4 (R1 Weapon Skill)
Acc: 2 (Gear: weapon)

Gathering herbs: 3/5

Roll ID #202920
LD: 5

 Astreya had noble aspirations, a dream to get everyone home and safe, back to whatever lives they once had before becoming trapped within Sword Art Online. Melodie's own reasons seemed increasingly selfish by contrast, her reasons were simple ones really. She wanted to get everyone out of the game, be the hero and prove to everyone, more importantly herself that she was not a massive coward. But there were other problems than merely, escape. The world they left would have changed in their absence, Mel knew as soon as she got out of the game she'd be online in another as soon as possible. She stayed silent, not daring to voice her own reasons, selfish as she felt they were.

She shot her friend a disbelieving glance, Astreya must have been going for a build which needed herbs she eventually decided on. Not that Mel would fault her for picking it, even if only to make a few quests easier. It was her first real video game, everyone happened to be new once. "It might be crazy but if it works, it works." She said to try and reassure her, diplomacy one-oh-one always be nice to your heavily armed neighbors. Astreya had a really cool pet bird, Mel decided she needed to get one of those when the chance arose, seeing it return to her. 

"Fast damage dealer I'm thinking, maybe some sneaky stuff in there too." Mel knew it was a hard choice for many to make, speed or protection. She would rather trust her reflexes and her agility stat than a suit of armour that may or may not be out of date for the very next fight. 

Level: 1
Tier: 1
HP: 20
EN: 20
Dmg: 4 (R1 Weapon Skill)
Acc: 2 (Gear: weapon)

Gathering herbs: 3/5

Roll ID #202918
LD: 6

 Mel gratefully stepped inside and into the lively holiday atmosphere. "Thank you, I was worried that I might be." The last thing she wished was to be the first or the last person to arrive. It was a generous idea of Koga though, to host such a gathering. She stood awkwardly, unsure of what to do now she was actually inside. Hearing the question, she turned to face the player who had let her in earlier, only now she held a plate of finger sandwiches in her hand. "Erm... Yes please." Melodie accepted one gratefully, though did not immediately get round to taking a bite. "I'm Melodie... Er... No I've not met him... But there was the ad for this party..." She trailed of, unsure as to what else to say. 

She jumped startled by the unexpected shouting, though it weirdly reminded her of when her distant assorted family relatives came round. Nothing like a Christmas argument or other festive disturbances of the peace. Mel adopted the usual strategy of not get involved and avoid eye contact with the various disagreeing members. She heard her name being called and looked up, pleasantly surprised to see Astreya. "Hey, I did not expect to see you here." Though if she had considered it, she should have guessed that Astreya would find herself in a party or several.  

Level: 1
Tier: 1
HP: 20
EN: 20
Dmg: 4 (R1 Weapon Skill)
Acc: 2 (Gear: weapon)