Faerie

Fae nade her way quickly through the streets of the unfamiliar town, she had been walking through the streets of Ronbaru for over an hour running in circles as she tried to make her way to the theater that the information brokers told her about. Through the brief conversation she had had with the man, she had learned of a meeting taking place in this town with all of the leaders on this floor to talk about some recent developments in regards to the floors stability.

Clutching a piece of paper tightly Fae made her way into the theater, sitting down quietly she caught the ending of a speech asking for the members at the table to keep conversations civil. The tension on the air was palpable as Fae read through the paper she received from the broker, detailing a quest chain that dealt with the divide of this floor into five separate countries and information on the floor itself. Deciding that she would first collect herself and listen to those around her Fae sat silently, listening intently to the murmers around her.

Event? I should check the discord more. Sign me up!

The shadows were beginning to darken as the light of the moon and stars quickly diminished. The large boulders and rocky crags breaking up what little moonlight there was, casting menacing and jagged shadows to fall over the entire clearing the pair were standing in. Fae stared into the blue eyes of the shorter woman, not breaking contact as they spoke.

"There were ten thousand people who first joined this game. And there are probably less than fifty who go to these raid parties, who go to the frontier and find these labyrinths, and fight these bosses. You may not be special because if the things you've accomplished, but your actions are. Not many people would be willing to put their lives on the line for other people, especially when those people aren't willing to do that themselves." Fae looked around as the eerie sounds of a dark night surrounded the pair in earnest before looking back to her companion. "You are willing to put on this mantle of a reaper, and fight a fight for people who can't, and that's special. I can't imagine myself or anyone else carrying that burden alone like you do." Fae let herself trail off, the embarrassment starting to set in as she looked away from her friend.

Fae looked where Nari's eyes had landed, it was clear that it was time for them to leave before the monsters took advantage of the deepening night. "I don't know how I'll be helpful to the effort of clearing this game, but I don't need to find that out right now, it will come with time. Right now I just want to focus on moving past everything I've seen and living up to my own expectations. Thank you again Nari, I can't explain what this all means to me. Fae didn't know what she would be able to do If she ever reached the frontlines, but she knew, if she could gave half the conviction of the woman beside her, she'd be fine.

Fae accepted Nari's outstretched hand, trying to will the red on her face to go away as she was pulled to her feet. Sheathing her blade Fae listened intently to her current partner as she stared into the cave that the troll had first come from. Nari was right and Fae knew it, she had seen what happened when the death game first began. She had been living at the wayward inn for almost her entire time in sword art online and she watched as so many children with no place to go gathered by the day, and more and more people set off to change their fate, she hadn't heard from any of them for a long time, and deep down she knew why.

Fae was silent for a moment looking up into the night sky, the stars shining brilliantly, it was beautiful, even if it was fake. "My friend always told me that when you die, you become one of the stars in the sky. It hurts to lose him, but I know he's watching me from up there. And he'll never be gone so long as I remember him." Fae gave a soft somber smile as she broke her gaze from the sky to look at Nari "And I know no one else will be forgotten when there are people like you fighting for them, fighting for those who can't fight anymore. I'd like to follow in your footsteps there, but I don't know if I'm strong enough. I look at you, and there's just,' Fae trailed off for a moment seemingly at a loss for words before picking back up stronger 'something about you. You, Nari Lanreth, are truly something special to behold." 

Fae let the silence overtake the pair as she stared into the sky once more, the silence wasn't deafening, it was a comfortable silence, shared by two individuals who kept the same ideals. Today would mark a change in Fae's life forever, and she could already tell. Looking over again at the woman beside her Fae made up her mind, she would follow this woman's lead until they escaped this world, living by the beliefs that were shared between them today.

Fae watched as the troll standing menacingly above her exploded into glittering shards, leaving just Nari standing before her, blocking out the sun, the scythe she twirled finishing its arc to rest gracefully. Fae knelt staring up at the woman who had killed the troll in one final swing, staring, cheeks still wet with tears. The paralysis from fear was gone along with the troll, and was now just replaced with awe for the reaper in front of her.

Fae realized suddenly that she was staring and grew red in the face with embarrassment, getting up quickly she brushed the dirt off her pants and cloak making a point not to look Nari in the eyes. "Thank you for your help Nari, I feel a huge weight of my chest with that thing gone. I couldn't have done this without you." Fae braved a look at Nari hoping that her embarrassment and awe wasn't too obvious in the somewhat awkward silence that followed the intense battle, at least intense for Fae.

Date: 07-31-23
[19/20 EXP] Rank 1 - Beginner Cook: Able to craft Tier 1 equipment. 2 crafts per day.

Leveled to | [20/40 EXP] Rank 2 - Apprentice Cook: Able to craft Tier 2 equipment. 3 crafts per day.

Crafting Tier 1 [Snack]:
ID214566 | CD: 1 | LD: 14 | Fail! (Lose Materials)
ID214567 | CD: 8 | LD: 6 | Salvage! (Lose Materials)
Result: +3 EXP (1+2) [22/19]

(Third Roll was made in error, I did not have the mats to make the roll)

Fae got the notification that her newly weapon had been commissioned later that week. Making her way back to the shop on the twenty-first floor Fae smiled faintly, it was going to be a huge change to use a weapon so fundamentally different to what she was used to, but she couldn't get the graceful sight of Nari out of her head, and she couldn't not have this weapon at this point. Making her way into the shop Fae quickly went to the main counter making small pleasantries with Ren before grabbing the scythe he held out to her. Fae just stared in awe for a moment it was perfect and he had improved on the designs she had already made. Fae thanked the shop keep profusely before quickly leaving with the new pole arm strapped to her back.

Items Received:

Date: 07-28-23
[16/19 EXP] Rank 1 - Beginner Cook: Able to craft Tier 1 equipment. 2 crafts per day. 

Crafting Tier 1 [Snack]:
ID214348 | CD: 4 | LD: 18 | Fail! (Lose Materials)
ID214349 | CD: 7 | LD: 17 | Salvage! (Keep Materials)

Result: +3 EXP (1+2) [19/19]

Date: 07-28-23
[12/19 EXP] Rank 1 - Beginner Cook: Able to craft Tier 1 equipment. 2 crafts per day. 

Crafting Tier 1 [Snack]:
ID214282 | CD: 7 | LD: 10 | Salvage! (Lose Materials)
ID214283 | CD: 6 | LD: 8 | Salvage! (Lose Materials)

Result: +4 EXP (2+2) [16/19]

It hadn't been long since Fae and Nari had fought and killed the Stone Troll on the first floor, and she couldn't get the beauty and grace of her party member out of her mind, picturing the way the she twirled and moved with the scythe in her hands as she killed the creature that had been haunting Fae for years. Fae was lost in thought as she found herself coming to a blacksmith that had been highly recommended to her, someone that did quality work for a reasonable price. "Hey, is Ren in?" the sound of Fae's voice rang out through the seemingly empty building before she found the man she was looking for "Hello, I was hoping to commission a new weapon, if you think you'd have the time or ability." Fae pulled out a sketch of the weapon she was looking for and passed it over to the man, glad to hear that he would be able to do it.

Fae couldn't help but let out a laugh as the troll seemed to easily dodge Nari's attack, she knew that it was probably just blind luck based on how easy the combat had been for the higher level player so far, but the timing couldn't have been more perfect. Trying to hold in the laughter Fae heard the request for her to distract the hulking beast "Hey ugly, Why don't you pick on someone a bit more your size." A rock sailed through the air from Fae's hand bouncing off of the thick hide on the back of the troll's head. It was when the troll turned around, eyes a deep red and nostrils flaring through a snarl that it really hit Fae what distracting the behemoth meant.

Eyes wide Fae watched as the troll's club came down in a split second, though it felt like it was moving in slow motion to Fae. The crack of the club reverberated off of the cliffs and stone that surrounded the three combatants, knocking Fae to her knees as she stared up at the troll, readying another attack to send directly at her. The fear crept back into Fae's heart in an instant as the sun silhouetted the creature, the scene of Lightbringer's final moments playing in her head, and the sound of the thud as his body hit the floor behind her as she ran. Fae didn't realize that a tear was running down her face as she sat frozen staring at the troll that had been a joke just moments before.

Fae was oblivious to the pause and hesitation in her friends voice as she got ready to face the troll again not looking as she kept up the conversation. "Definitely not, I have respect for them, a deep one, I couldn't imagine having to go to a new beginning after life all on my own. Sacrificing their own eternal rest to guide others through an otherwise perilous journey. They really are the unsung heroes in a lot of folktales." Fae smiled widely at Nari from the other side of the troll before swinging her sword at it leaving a streak of bright red across its back.

"I can't imagine that he would survive you even using a sword art, though I think I'm spent, and my regular attacks won't go through its hide in any meaningful way at this point." Fae dodged back as the troll turned to face her a snarl on its thick misshapen face as it realized what dire straits it was in. "Why don't you show a low level player like myself what a real frontliner is made of?" Fae wasn't sure if her attacks would be able to slice through the creature's hide in the first place, and even if they did, they wouldn't do enough damage for it to matter at all.

Skill(s) Being Dropped: Straight Sword R1
Mod(s)/Addon(s)/Shift(s) Being Dropped: N/A
SP Incurred Towards Limit: 4
SP Refunded: 4
Cost: 4,000

Fae listened to Nari as she explained her thought process, interested in what the woman had to say making sure to dodge any attacks that aimed their way. "I definitely agree, I don't think reapers deserve the bad credit they get all the time, I can't imagine the kind of loneliness that would come with ferrying the dead to the after life." a somewhat somber expression passed briefly over Fae's face before she shook her head "Well Ms. Reaper, thank you for helping me ferry this wayward soul to his rightful place in the after life." Another strike of the club landed close to Fae and she took this opportunity to jump on it, running up the arm of the troll and flipping over its head, bringing her sword streaking down to leave a red line over its bulbous nose. 

Fae landed gracefully on the ground behind the troll, running a few more steps before turning around to face the troll flanking with Nari who was on the other side. Fae brought her sword up, blocking her body as she stared down the large creature before her, ready to attack in tandem with her current partner.

Fae slipped narrowly out of the way of another downward club swing, the green fabric flowing behind her, giving her the visage of a tall, lean fairy. It was clear that Nari wasn't fighting as strong as she could, and Fae was certain that if she was the troll would have met its untimely end long before now with how much damage she could do so casually. The thought was comforting, the troll that was so strong and scary to her only this morning was beginning to feel like a distant memory, replaced by the sight of purple hair and glinting metal spinning, making the troll look weak in comparison. 

"I have always thought of reapers as guardians of life, not the takers. A reaper doesn't end one's life, but acts as a companion in the transition to the end, a support. I like to think of them as not the harbinger of the end, but the bringer of something new. I guess everyone sees things a little differently." Fae looked at the woman fighting alongside her affirming her opinion, if Nari was a reaper then she knew that she was right. Nari was here bringing Fae a new beginning not marred by the thoughts and inferiority that the past brings. "He definitely looks angry, and I would be too if you kept hitting me so casually." 

Despite the situation Fae couldn't help but let out a small chuckle as Nari looked around for her, before her eyes finally landed on the prone Fae on the ground. "You know, I don't think I ever thought of that, I'll have to try that next time." Fae shifted all of her weight onto her back and swung her legs up quickly flipping herself back onto her feet in a crouch watching as Nari easily swept her curved polearm through the air into the troll, doing almost as much damage as her without even using a sword art. Fae stood in her crouch eyes wide mesmerized by the casual way that the purple haired girl in front of her swung her weapon making the act of fighting look like a work of art. 

Hoping Nari hadn't noticed the pause and staring Fae launched herself forward swinging her own blade through the air, the blue crystal like blade refracting the light around her strike as she cut through the troll's quickly thickening hide. Now that Nari had joined the fight, what inkling of fear had been in Fae's heart and throat all but disappeared, leaving her with a contentment that she couldn't fully name. "That's a little dark there Nari, We aren't torturing him, just showing him to a nice little dance." Fae punctuated the jest with a twirl that caused the fabric on her back to unfurl like wings bringing her sword down just inches away from the troll's body. 

The small cheer from the purple haired girl in the sidelines did a lot to raise Fae's confidence as she parried another of the troll's blows, and the encouragement that soon followed increased that feeling. A smile kept across Fae's face as she thought of the last time someone was cheering for her on the side lines, the picture of the blonde man in full plate jumping up and down at her first kill was an odd one, but one that made Fae happy. "You know, you remind me a lot of my old friend." Fae dove towards the troll slashing her sword through its thin taught flesh. "He was always a good cheerleader." Fae glanced over at Nari a smile on her face, something that Fae couldn't say she had had for a long time. 

The brief distraction was enough for the troll to swing its club at Fae, not leaving enough time for her to dodge out of the way. The club collided with Fae sending her flying through the air, the long strips of fabric on her half cloak fluttering in the wind like a pair of fairy wings before she landed at Nari's feet. Pain in Aincrad was dampened to an extent that most attacks weren't that painful though they still stung, and this was no different as Fae winced smile still faintly on her lips as she looked up at her higher level friend, the telltale red of embarrassment beginning to creep onto her face.

Fae listened to her friend's advice,  intently watching the large figure of the troll for any sign of an attack. Nari was right, calm and focus would be the difference between victory and death, and Fae had no intention of the latter. Letting her mind clear Fae didn't respond to the advice instead waiting for the moment the troll swung its large club at her horizontally. Taking the opportunity Fae brought her blue sword up to block the club, feeling it in her arms and legs as she nearly lost her footing from the heavy blow before running forward a similarly bringing her sword into a slash across the creature's gut, the blade passing through its hide with more resistance than she remembered. Fae could feel that with every blow on the troll's  green hide it was getting harder and harder for her blade to pierce.

Fae focused on her breathing as she sidestepped the troll's heavy attacks, making sure that it only met ground or air with every swing. She could feel how much she had improved since she first encountered the Stone Troll with Kas two years ago, she couldn't imagine having withstood any of the creature's attacks back then, but now she could take multiple hits and still be standing, and more so could actively avoid them. The revelation wasn't one that Fae knew how to feel about, she was stronger sure, but she wasn't feeling the same satisfaction from it that she would have expected, she was able to fight with this once monstrous creature, and yet there were still things out there so much more powerful than even it, and people who could do things that Fae didn't think she could ever dream of. Fae looked back at Nari taking in the higher level player, a mix of emotions playing on her face before turning her attention back to the troll, sidestepping another errant swing.

Date: 07-24-23
[10/19 EXP] Rank 1 - Beginner Cook: Able to craft Tier 1 equipment. 2 crafts per day. 

Crafting Tier 1 [Snack]:
ID213921 | CD: 1 | LD: 11 | Fail! (Lose Materials)
ID213822 | CD: 1 | LD: 8 | Fail! (Lose Materials)

Result: +2 EXP (1+1) [12/19]

Fae was gathering ingredients for her shop when she suddenly stumbled into a clearing a tent and a few easily moved tables made up most of the camp, but the stove and cooking gear all over the haphazard camp made it clear what its intended purpose was. The red haired man at camp was in the process of cutting something on one of the counters offering that she look around and buy some of his wares. Not wanting to be impolite fae picked up a small cup of gelato and purchased it, thanking the man before going back to her own cooking endeavors.

Bought: gelato. | TIERLESS DESSERT | LD III [1] - 2 Mats

Fae found herself wondering through the first floor on a pleasantly warm day her eyes eventually landing on a small shop the smell of coffee and books filtering through the glass doors. Smiling to herself she walked into the shop exchanging small pleasantries with the owner of the business and perusing the wares. A small vial of what seemed to be a glittering paste caught her attention, the label explaining that the paste could sometimes catch the attention of small creatures and monsters. Thinking of the frontliners that she had seen with small and useful pets following them Fae quickly purchased the vial in the hopes that maybe she would have the luck to find such a creature before exiting the shop into the bright morning sun of the first floor.

Bought: The Stars Collide | TIER 1 PERFECT SALVE | PHERMONES [1] - 2 Mats

Date: 07-22-23
[6/19 EXP] Rank 1 - Beginner Cook: Able to craft Tier 1 equipment. 2 crafts per day. 

Crafting Tier 1 [Snack]:
ID213749 | CD: 7 | LD: 2 | Salvage! (Lose Materials)
ID213750 | CD: 8 | LD: 4 | Salvage! (Lose Materials)

Result: +4 EXP (2+2) [10/19]

Date: 07-21-23
[3/19 EXP] Rank 1 - Beginner Cook: Able to craft Tier 1 equipment. 2 crafts per day. 

Crafting Tier 1 [Snack]:
ID213570 | CD: 2 | LD: 20 | Fail! (Lose materials)
ID213571 | CD: 9 | LD: 1 | Salvage! (Lose Materials)

Result: +3 EXP (1+2) [6/19]

Fae looked towards Nari a feignt smile on her lips at the praise and encouragement. Nari was right, Fae was different than she was back then, and this time it would be different this time she wasn't in over head and this time she wouldn't be running. Setting her gaze back on the beast before her Fae held her sword out. The wave of confidence bolstering her stance, Fae watched as the troll shook its head snorting as it glared down at the much smaller figure. 

Fae kept here eyes locked on the troll, waiting for it to launch an attack. She would have more luck dodging her foe and counter attacking than she would going on an all out assault with her comparatively weak build. Fae didn't have to wait long as the lanky form of the troll rushed out, swinging its massive club with ease trying to flatten her. For what Fae lacked in strength she more than made up for in speed as she stepped lightly out of the way of the large club before leaping up at the troll to bring her sword slashing down across its face. The troll wasn't slow itself by any means though bringing its head rearing back at the last second to avoid the dangerous blow.

Fae looked at her energy as she landed and rolled back away from her spindly opponent, her face growing more worried she was close to being down half of her energy and she had only landed a single hit so far. With their speed being so evenly matched this fight was going to be one of endurance, and Fae wasn't sure who would come out on top in that match. Quickly glancing back up at her old friend all of the worry flooded out of her, she wasn't alone anymore, and while this was her fight, one that she needed to do on her own, she was comforted by the woman standing off to the side watching the fight unfold.

Fae leapt up as the large troll slammed its club down on the ground missing her as she planted her foot on the weapon, using it as a springboard to launch herself towards the beasts head. Bringing the flat of her blade slamming into the side of its skull making it stumble to the side as she landed behind it. The troll was very clearly shocked by the attack as it stood there, brain scrambled for a moment. Fae compared the amount of damage that she did compared to the troll and a wave of confidence rushed through her, this creature may have been super powerful to a completely green character who had nothing, but now, it seemed like she was really on par with it, if not better. 

Fae heard Nari speak as the troll stood there stunned from her blow. "I will." Fae paused for a moment before continuing. "You know, I always used to think that this would be more difficult, or even that I would be more scared. This thing killed my friend, I should be more angry." Fae looked at Nari no sign of anger or sadness on her face, just acceptance. Fae didn't have a chance to keep chatting as the troll came to its senses and swung its club towards Fae.