Acanthus

Acanthus watched emotionlessly as Freyd dragged the cat to its death. The thing bucked when the meathook sunk into the monster’s side, dragging it closer and closer to Whisper. It fights so hard for something that isn’t really going to die. Its cries for help are just the result of some conditional programming. None of it is real. Turning away as Freyd struck the final blow, she saw Morningstar down a bottle of something purple. “You weren’t hit during the fight,” she remarked. “So is that a potion to help you collect olives? I should be able to help find some.” She started picking throug

Acanthus looked up to see Typhoon standing above her, shield raised. “Th—thanks, Ty,” she coughed as she stood back up. Collecting herself, she took stock of the battlefield one more time. Freyd’s last attack had done substantial damage to the shark, but it still held on, running after him like a rampaging bull. The shark was galloping toward Freyd again. However Cardinal decided who to attack, it was working overtime; Terra Firma was locked in on Freyd, and no one else. She and Ty might have been nothing more than sand in the area. It hadn’t even tried to step on her as it ran past last

Crafting for 9/16/2024 Langue de chat consumed (Ambition). +1 EXP per craft (+2 total from Trinket | Tuning Fork) 1193/2559 EXP. Crafter's Respite used! (ID 230277-2). Daily resets attempt. EXP 1239/2559

A short notice is tacked on the front of the bulletin board. It is written on the back of a piece of staff paper in a tight, neat script. The message is simple: Hello, this is Acanthus. I have a shop on floor 24. I would like to embark on a longer foraging trip, and need to leverage every asset I can. This includes having access to a greenhouse. I currently do not have enough funds for a house, so I am hoping that somebody will permit me to rent their greenhouse for a week. My initial offer for rent follows: If the greenhouse is already built, I will provide the user the first demoni

Acanthus thanked NIGHT and took one of the unlabeled bottles. She popped the lid, treating it like a health potion. Sure enough, the contents vanished and Kumaki was covered in a soft green light. “I guess it worked,” she said out loud. “Sometimes I miss real life, but one thing I’m grateful for is how simple healing is here. I’m not very good at treating wounds. I don’t enjoy the sight of blood at all.” The light disappeared, and the bear cub seemed a little more energetic. It rolled into Acanthus’ lap with the same blank, goofy stare it had in the meadow. Acanthus giggled. “She’s really a si

She looked at Freyd, then Morningstar, then back to Freyd again. When Morningstar cancelled the trade, she simply nodded. “Come by my shop anytime, I will be sure to have some performance crystals in stock for you, free of charge.” Freyd led the party to the Bastion wall, all while Acanthus silently thumbed through her menu. She didn’t remember seeing a posthole digging profession. It was probably just another custom skill. “Given my performance profession, I decided to lean into being able to supply myself with performance crystals. Ideally, the goal is to land as many 'dots' as I c

Typhoon managed to score a critical hit on the stampeding shark, and it became noticeably more agitated. It careened off to the edge of the bowl before turning around and pawing the sand with a snort. “Freyd?!” Acanthus yelled nervously. “I think it is about to get angry again.” Terra Firma bellowed and charged the group, jaw hanging wide with a mouth full of broken teeth. This isn’t real, none of this is real, she told herself in a near panic. So it’s not going to matter if I do something drastic. As Terra Firma came closer, she took one deep breath. You’ve had your moment to worry, now

“It’s not fair to Omen to say I know him. More accurately, we’ve met once before.” Her face remained impassive despite Freyd’s playful comments about their previous quest. “I don’t think we literally *grow* in this game, but I have leveled up.” She looked over her new armor. “How long ago was it, anyways? Everything feels a little timeless when it’s all ones and zeros. At any rate, I won’t be dead weight like last time.” Acanthus nodded in understanding. “We’re asking a lot for you to come down here just to catch us up to speed. I can spare the money, and I don’t intend to stay a chari

Pinball and Morningstar followed up with a practiced ease that made Acanthus envious. She wondered how long it would take before her fighting seemed so effortless. She told herself to be patient, reminding herself that she would level up and learn how to fight in good time. Acanthus also noticed how Morningstar alternated between punches and sword strikes. She did her best to observe him in the heat of battle, hoping to catch something to apply to her own fighting. Acanthus charged in, trying to mimic Morningstar’s movements. But without the <<Charge>> skill assisting her, she

Crafting for 9/14/2024 Langue de chat consumed (Ambition). +1 EXP per craft (+2 total from Trinket | Tuning Fork) 1112/2559 EXP. Crafter's Respite used! (ID 230277-1). Daily resets attempt. EXP 1150/2559

"If she is anything like me she would put you in your place for implying a woman my age could have a child of yours." Acanthus almost started the say that they were really nothing alike (aside from their height), but she realized that she was dangerously close to another thump on the head. She decided that the prudent course of action would be to simply shut her mouth. "Forgive me for outbursts. I'm not good with words... or controlling my anger." Acanthus waved her off politely. “There is no forgiveness necessary. Sometimes I say odd things. It doesn’t help being trapped in this ga

@RaidouAccepted! Time to get cracking on some Catalyst songs.

THREAD SUMMARY EXP: 1500 + ((3731/10) * 1 * 4) = 2,992 * 2 = 5,984 EXP Col: 400 (page) Haru Gemini slain. <<Disguise>> Unlocked.

The Gemini stared up at her blankly, waiting for a decision. Acanthus knew she wasn’t talking to it. She was using the fragment of Cardinal to talk to herself. To Haru. “It isn’t fair to you, to be trapped in this game.” Her eyes welled up with tears. “You deserve to be home. You deserve happiness, despite the cruel things you say to yourself.” The sword dangled loosely from her fingers, nearly tumbling into the snow. “Haru, you deserve so much more than I can give you right now.” Acanthus blinked, fighting back the urge to cry. “But the only thing I can do is get you to the frontlines, m

Haru lay on the ground, exhausted and defeated. “You’ve bested me. Make your choice.” Acanthus rested the tip of Meteor’s blade on Haru’s neck. She fought for the right words. “I… You’re right. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without all the kindness I’ve shown. I’m only here because you’re here.” “Part of me clings to it. You’ve made me into who I am. And what’s my purpose if I’m not providing for others? Part of me resents those that encouraged me to fill that role. After this fight, I think… I think that resentment runs deeper than I thought.” “But that resentment… Right

Planting her feet firmly, Acanthus summoned all of her remaining energy. One strike was all she would need. The sword art felt familiar as always, until she refused to release when the system demanded it. The pleasant hum turned into a buzz, then a vibration, then a SCREAM. When she felt like the energy she held would kill her, she released the sword art. Meteor collided with Wormwood, and light erupted in the snowy meadow. The concussion caused Acanthus to lose her hearing for a brief moment, and the snow exploded out from under the two, revealing the plain digital grid underneath. Acant

As the fight wore on, Acanthus chipped away Haru’s health. This isn’t the answer, Acanthus, Haru pleaded with her. To her surprise, Acanthus found herself begging back. Then give me one. Give me an out. Tell me how to beat this game with kindness. Her onslaught slowed. Tell me how, and I’ll do it. I don’t want to leave you behind… I’m scared to leave you behind. Haru remained silent. Locked in battle, the weariness was showing in both of their movements. But little by little, Acanthus was gaining the upper hand. "If this isn’t the answer, and you don’t have the answer, then what am I

I’m not happy with this. But those are the thoughts that slow me down. Acanthus brought her fist down, aiming for the back of Haru’s neck. Haru shifted, and the fist bounced off her armor instead. As Haru stumbled away, Acanthus walked over to collect her own sword, shaking off the snow. I’m not happy to be doing this to you. But it’s not about what makes me happy. It’s about what I have to do. Then you’re just like me. Every time I gave up my own happiness for others. Acanthus merely approached, flourishing Meteor. You think it’s different now. I know what’s happening. You’re terrif

I’m just glad the game has given me the opportunity to *literally* cut you out of me. You can’t. Cut me out, and you’ll only be half a person. Then I’ll be half of a happy person. …Are you happy? With this? Acanthus faltered. Haru’s sword lit up and struck her in a vicious, pointed combo. Acanthus landed on her back in the snow, sword landing just out of her reach. She rolled as Haru stabbed the ground, pinning her cloak; Acanthus quickly tore away, leaving the gift from NIGHT in tatters. Haru closed in again as Acanthus scrambled to her feet. But this time, Acanthus w

Lectured?! Am I being lectured by a cardboard cutout of myself? She cackled maniacally. This is rich. Acanthus ducked under a measured sweep, shoulder rushing Haru off the ground and into the snow. She landed with a dull cry before rolling quickly onto her feet. Try and lecture me with the wind knocked out of you, fake. Acanthus brandished her blade menacingly. Why don’t you educate me, Cardinal? Tell me more about myself. Her voice dripped with HATRED. Does that little scanner on my head tell you about the responsibilities I left back home? How I was forced to be my mother’s mother, how

The measured response infuriated Acanthus. “What did you ever do for me?! All those years of calm, quiet submission. What did being quiet and kind ever earn me?!” Her face streamed with hot, furious tears as she struck blow after blow. “Nothing! It. was. NOTHING!” Acanthus punctuated each word with a vicious swing. Haru was doing her best, but began to relent under the onslaught. It was just like her. Go on, give up, she sneered. That’s all you’ve ever done. You gave up caring for Koji when you moved. You gave up ever confronting your dad when he dug his heels in about college and about f

“What I see?” Acanthus spit out. “Let’s talk about what I see.” She cornered Haru against a tree. “I see a girl—no, a mirror made of code. She’s designed to reflect the person that entered this game, but not the person created by the game. No, Cardinal’s failure was creating a person that doesn’t reflect the person it *actually* created.” Acanthus swept Haru’s feet, then jumped on top of her. She could hear each of the imitation’s exerted breaths as she forced Meteor down to her throat. “Cardinal made us both, Gemini. But it made me better.” With a grunt, Haru brought her knee up and threw Aca

Haru struck her again. “Your defenses are sloppy. You never would have let yourself get hit before.” “I didn’t take a hit for two years, Haru. And that was because I never left the safe zone.” Acanthus threw her body into Haru, looking to unbalance her. Haru carefully readjusted her weight instead, pushing back against Acanthus. “You know that’s not what I mean.” Haru sidestepped, letting Acanthus tumble past her. “You’re losing control of yourself. It’s—” “—unbecoming?” Acanthus choked out a half-laugh. “Never heard that one before. It was Dad’s favorite word to chastise me wit

Locked in battle, the two versions of herself struggled to break through each other’s defenses. “What about all the good she did? Was none of her kindness worth your pain?” “It never was. Never.” Acanthus cried. She pressed the attack, desperate for an opening, some way to hurt Haru. She fought ferociously, greedily unleashing sword art after sword art, with no regard for her energy bar. Haru’s stance remained strong. “I know you don’t believe that.” Acanthus channeled all her frustration into stamping out this twisted version of herself. No, it wasn’t herself—it was Cardinal.

Unsettled by her own appearance, Acanthus hesitated. The Gemini stepped confidently toward Acanthus, charging a familiar sword art. Rather than fall back, Acanthus held her ground and attempted to parry the figure. The Gemini's approach had been too slow to truly catch her off guard. Acanthus snapped to attention, deflecting each part of the combo. “I won’t indulge this.” Acanthus launched herself into combat, eager to exploit any opening she could find. “This—this navel-gazing philosophy handed down by some programmer. You’re nothing but a quest objective.” Haru parried the first st