Nari-Lanreth

Nari let her hand fall away from NIGHT’s face, the smile still shimmering, if dulled slightly at the reminder. She nodded slowly, her eyes still locked on NIGHT’s own. “Yeah…yeah you did…” Her eyes lingered on the other girl for a few seconds, before she turned her attention back to their surroundings. Her gaze roamed over the area – realising suddenly just how far they had come from Ronbaru. As much as she didn’t want to break the moment, she knew that they still had some grinding to do – but perhaps later they could pick up where she had left off. She felt there was still more to say, o

The sudden grasp on her wrist, the tone of the other girl, the scowl and look in her eyes. Everything caused Nari to pause, to wonder…She cocked her head again, trying to get a new angle on the situation, trying to understand what had shifted – what had changed. She couldn’t quite figure out the sudden emotion, the aggression coming from the other. “Name…on your head? What’s that about?” She stared at the other girl for a moment, trying to figure out just what she was saying. “NIGHT…I don’t planning on falling. I can’t just give up anymore. I have…people waiting for me. To return. I…”

“What’s gotten into me? I’ve…found purpose. In life, I guess.” Her head tilted backwards as she stared up into the ever dark sky, contemplating the changes in herself. She’d been…different, since she attended the waterfall. Even Onóra had commented on it. Shrugging it off and smiling at NIGHT, she’ll add, “I guess it’s just…for once, in a very long time, I have something to look forward to. It…makes a huge difference.” Walking in silence again for a few moments, she’ll ponder the little bit of information that NIGHT had given. She didn’t enjoy the thought of not being able to teleport out

“It was…revealing. About who I’ve been, and what I’ve done…and who I should be.” Her voice took on a hushed tone, the smile dropping away. “My Sempai used to teach me that to look into oneself was to find the true enemy. I always thought it meant that we found that which we hated in ourselves. But after the whole waterfall thing, I think it was more about we see the faults in ourselves, and learn how to truly face them…” A few steps of silence, before she glances over at NIGHT. The girl didn’t talk much – Nari could understand, and even empathise with that. Some people just…preferred sile

“I’ve been…keeping busy. Between attending to a few quests – do you know Oji? We recently trained…well, I retrained, but he trained…our familiars. Yuki’s learning to be more protective.” Her left hand rose to scratch the little fox on the head. She’d dropped back beside NIGHT, facing the direction they were facing as they exited the city. The moment they had passed through the gates, she’d brought up her menu, donning her armour, shield and spear. A quick smile tossed towards NIGHT, before she continued her words. “And…well, I spent some time with Ir-Astreya, in Nemo’s garden. Did some fo

Nari listened as Oji talked, relishing in just the words. She found herself smiling – even as he spoke of the horrors of the world around them, and beyond. The ideas were something similar to her own, words that she herself had thought, if not spoken, before. Hearing them from another was comforting, even if she had reservations. “I look forward to the day when we’re both on the frontlines together, Oji. I made a promise to another once – one whom I need to make amends with, to show that the promise I made still stands.” Her eyes close again for a moment as her head rolls backwards, the

A quick nod, and then Nari will turn and begin leading the way out of Ronbaru proper, waving at an NPC as they passed – a elegant looking woman in a longer dress, with a consistent scowl on her face. The NPC seemed to pay Nari no mind, but the entire encounter seemed to bring a smile to her face. Spinning as she walked, she turned to look at NIGHT, the smile still on her face as she wandered backwards towards the gate, her head cocked slightly. “Hey, so uhm…I know it’s been a while since we last talked…how have you been?” The words are calmer now, the hysteria upon her appearance se

Letting her head fall backwards, she’ll close her eyes. Considering the words that Oji had said, she’ll toss a few responses around in her head – none of them quite capturing what she wanted to say. Eventually, settling on a single phrase, she’ll speak the words aloud – a tone as of one reciting something heard long ago on her tongue. “Fear not that which stands in your way, but rather than which drives you backwards.” Her eyes still closed; she’ll sigh a bit before continuing. “My Sempai taught us that phrase many years ago – that we shouldn’t allow fear of the thing before us to hinder

The messages came in, dinging in succession. She read them quickly – the words condescend in what Nari could only assume was a means of saving time. She rolled over and immediately fell off the counter – forgetting that she hadn’t been laying on her bed at all. “Ow! Shit! Ugh. Fifteen minutes?! I…need a shower…” Rushing up the stairs to her bathroom, she made sure that her shower wasn’t already in use before quickly running through her cleansing cycle. Twenty minutes later she was out the door and rushing down towards the teleporter, her armour currently stored in favour of the black legg

She’d spent the last few days… or had it been weeks?...scrounging around Aincrad, looking for better gear, for better drops, for better… well, everything. She felt tired, mostly. But she knew there was still more grinding to be done – that’s how it always went with these games, didn’t it? ‘Just when you think you’re ready… another surprise and you need to restart everything.’ She smiled at the thought, realising that once she had relished that exact play style. Now though… well, she still enjoyed it, but a break once in a while would be nice. Shifting herself more comfortably on the

Nari nodded from her spot on the ground, rolling over onto her stomach and placing her hands beneath her chin. Staring at Astreya, she’ll smile for a moment, before speaking again. “Completely understandable – honestly, I would say it’s fairly rare to make those sorts of connections with someone in a game. It’s…well, most people are well reserved in games. Either placing a façade around their identities by playing their character, or simply refusing to speak about themselves.” Her eyes will glance upwards towards the sky for a moment, before looking back down, her left hand snaking out an

Nari glanced backwards at the squeal from Astreya, spotting the moment that she rushed forward to bother Oji about the sable hidden away in his shirt. She had caught the tail end of the conversation about the fight – reminding her of the events that had occurred there, and bringing a slight reddening to her ears in turn. Deciding that she couldn’t hide away, she turned back around – continuing her walk, unaided by her vision – smiling, and waving a hand towards Astreya. “Careful Oji, if she’s of the right mind she may decide she likes Soup so much she’ll want to keep him.” A slight

Nari watched as the giant slowly formed from the very snow in the air, shifting into place even as the winds slowly died away – as if they were only there for the drama of the entrance. The creature towered over them, large enough that Nari had to crane her head back slightly to see the face atop the body. Her eyes gazed up, then down – noticing as Astreya rushed forward to greet the thing, not hesitating in her assault against it. She saw the strike against the creature hit true, something slamming outwards and impaling the girl for a moment. “Astreya!” The word escaped her lips before s

It was her very first time entering the bar, let alone this floor. She had only come here on the request of another – a broker, who had called in a favour that she owed him. She’d never heard of the player making the request, a man named Morningstar, apparently. All she knew was that Jakail had requested she help out this player whom had put up a request – a notice stating they needed help clearing the caves on the seventh floor. She’d tried to argue at first – she had far more important things to do, but Jakail hadn’t given any ground. And so, Nari found herself wandering into a bar with

Nari settled down next to Oji, leaning back to enjoy the warmth of the day’s sunlight – something she didn’t normally get to do on her own home floor. She wondered if she missed it, enough to move somewhere with a nicer climate. But the thought didn’t last long, she knew the twenty-seventh was her home, at least for now. “The front lines are indeed my goal. And you’re right – we are definitely one step closer, to helping those already there. I…well, I’m both excited, and afeard to make my way there. I know that it’s my goal, and I want to be up front, protecting those beside and behind m

Nari’s face turned a light red colour at the mention of Onóra, however Asterya quickly fell into her ploy, calling her bluff regarding the sunbathing. She watched as the girl stood, removing the heavy armour and weapon, leaving only the black sundress. Nari quickly followed suit, pulling her menu open and letting everything but her violet long sleeve and black shorts disappear, before throwing herself to the ground. Sighing contently, she’ll nod as Astreya mentions the weight of the armour. “It’s spectacular in a way, isn’t it? I would almost hazard to say that if it weren’t for the risk

Nari was still considering Astreya’s obvious lack of understanding of the basics of game lore, trying to figure out how someone got stuck in a game like this and seemed so…disconnected?...from the standards of game play, when suddenly the sound of arriving individuals drew her attention. She took one look over the individuals – most of the group wielding straight blades of some sort, adorned with armour that signified connections with what she assumed would be some sort of major political party. It made her realise how little she knew about her home floor – something she would rectify aft

Nari stared in pure amazement for a moment as the health bar and threat indicator appeared above the crystal. She had assumed that the pieces would be immortal objects, purely untouchable through conventional means. Shaking her head, she pulled her spear back, slamming it into one of the blue crystals that hadn’t been hit yet, watching as it exploded beneath her sword art strike. Slowly, she turned to look at Cleo, a mixture of annoyance and surprise on her face. “I…can’t believe it’s this simple. This is not like Cardinal at all…usually it’s something far more complex, far more…well, dea

“Did you pack your lunch?” The question was followed by a squeak of laughter, and a thump as Nari threw a pillow across the room – barely missing its mark and dropping to the floor harmlessly. She threw a scowl at the woman, following the missed projectile. “Yes, mother.” Onóra continued to giggle in response, eliciting another scowl from Nari. She checked over her collection of goods once more – realising that where once she would’ve headed out with a simple collection of pre-made goods, usually junk like food. But Onóra had prepared – or bought, she still wasn’t one hundred percent sure

“I’ve been thinking that maybe I would take a break from-“ The incoming alert interrupted her words, and Nari glanced down, realising she had received a message from another NPC – this one named Poseidon – bringing a groan from her. “Trouble in paradise?” Onóra asked from her spot on the counter. She had leaned up against the wall, her one leg hanging over the edge, while her left leg curled inwards. She’d donned a simple black turtleneck, and brown leggings, with emerald green socks – an outfit that Nari wouldn’t herself be caught dead in, but that somehow fit the other woman perfectly.

Nari approached Abdullah, half listening as the NPC spoke about the creature terrorising the area, and the need to defeat it – and how he was graciously not charging them for the information he was providing. ‘How kind of you…’ As soon as the dialogue for the quest appeared, she pawed the accept key, before turning back to the group. “Any final questions for the generous man who’s not charging us to help the town?” Her eyes passed over the three quickly, before realising she probably looked rather imposing, and forcing a smile upon her face. She waited a few moments before turning an

Nari blushed at the older man’s words. She hadn’t considered those words to be filled with wisdom, they had just seemed logical to her – obvious, in a way. Bowing her head slightly, she’ll nudge Yuki, bringing the fox to wakeful attention before nodding towards the open area beyond the front porch. “Ready for this?” She’ll pull another treat out of her pouch, holding it up towards the fox’s nose. Giving her a moment to sniff it, she’ll wait until the fox begins to pull its head forward in an attempt to grab the treat, before tossing it into the grass. Watching as the fox goes to collect i

“I don’t think we’re meant to keep up with them. I think that’s the key, to the familiars. They correspond with our personalities on exact opposites – fitting, in a way. I don’t know that I could ever relax like Yuki does, she sleeps most of her days away – or pretends to. All the while, I’m about doing something, either working in the forge, questing, levelling…anything to keep myself moving.” She’ll reach up and scratch the fox on the top of the head, a squeak of annoyance, followed by a chirp of acceptance the only response from the fox. “But I think that’s why we work so well together…I le

Nari could tell that there was something holding back Koga’s normal politeness – he still gave her a nod, but nothing more. She thought for a few moments, listening as Astreya spoke, taking in the information and placing it aside for review in a few moments – first, she knew there was something she needed to do. As soon as the girl had started moving towards the lake, Nari let herself lag back ever so slightly, waiting until Astreya had begun to call out to the individual on the lake itself. Holding up a hand, she turned to Koga, stepping in his way and blocking his route forward. Immedia

Nari’s gaze roamed over the room in question at Cleo’s question. She had no idea where they were, only how they had come to be here. It took her a moment to catch sight of the alert that appeared above the pylon, but as soon as she saw it, she stood and wandered over to read it. Cocking her head, she’ll turn to Cleo, waiting for the girl to right herself and join Nari. “Any ideas? Clearly, we need to turn off…something. I assume the pylon, or maybe the crystals? I’m guessing mechanism hidden somewhere around here. Hopefully not under that.” She’ll point back towards the collapsed ceiling