[COMPLETE][PP-F1] Knight & Squire (Lessa)

[Lycan 0]

"Nothing?" Lycan repeated. He turned to look back ant her only to catch the guard of her blade to his nose as she briskly passed. The teen reeled a step back and cupped his nose as she continued out into the fields. She didn't look back. She didn't say another word.

Lycan struggled with human interaction, especially starting out. He was a terrbile read of character and even if the message were tied to a rock and bashing into his skull, he'd still slip up. Close friends were a different matter, for he usually had enough time to learn the rights and wrongs. Close friends, however, were few and far between.

"Hey, wait!" he called to Lessa, reaching out for her and crossing over from the safezone. "Hey! What do you mean, 'nothing'?!"

His tact translated as stupidity, his mind filled with nothing but pleasant small talk and the desire to learn more about his acquaintance.

"If anything, you're a really nice person," he assessed without true knowledge of her, just the past events. "I meant what do you like to do? If you're not fighting up there, do you like hunting treasure, do you like helping people, or are you just... you?"

Lycan finally matched her pace, still rubbing at his nose. Instead of the usual pain he recalled in the real world, it felt more like a numbing tingle. He scrunched his nose with the urge to sneeze, but it never came. Meanwhile, he became oblivious to the boars and other players that fought in the field around them.

They were in the fields now. People died here.

Edited March 7, 2016 by Lycan

[Lessa 1]

The boy's rushed questions seemed to fall upon deaf ears. She kept her gaze ahead, and her strides long, forcing the younger player to scamper after her. By the time he fell in step beside her, his breath was slightly more labored, and the questions had seemed to slow. Good. Lessa heard them, but she elected to remain silent. To open her mouth might be bad news for both of them.

"Look over there," she commanded suddenly, slowing to a halt. Her hands were still bare as she pointed about fifty feet away. A boar had only just spawned, the ribbons of light only just falling away as the virtual monster came into being. Immediately, the pig's sharp hooves began to paw restlessly, striking the dirt with more force than any new player might recognize. These beasts were dangerous, and she hoped that Lycan recognized that. A sideways glance revealed that his face had lost some of its color. Good, she thought again.

"We'll focus on one boar right now, since this is your first time. We're also just going to work on the basics, so don't try to activate any sword arts, okay?" Briefly, she wondered if she was giving the boy too much credit. Even after being trapped for over a year, it had taken Lessa weeks to even activate hers. But it was worth mentioning. The last thing that she wanted was for him to mess up a sword art and exhaust all of his energy.

"The system is meant to help you, and guide your hit. Right now, I just want you to close the distance between yourself and the boar, and try to land a hit. One hit from this thing won't kill you, but stay away from the hooves and the tusks."

Spoiler

Lycan: 12/12 H | 3/3 E | 0 H

Boar: 4/4 H | 3 DMG | 1 MIT

 

[Lycan 0]

Lycan frowned at her coldness. His shoulder's slumped and head hung. He never was good at this sort of thing. Perhaps he should just be grateful she wasn't feeding him to the wolves. She was strictly business, like his old chemistry professor, Mr. Aston.

Lycan took a deep breath to shake off his incompetence as a sociable human being. Maybe this world changed people. Maybe this world didn't permit good will.

The young swordsman drew his blade from its sheath with a hum.

"Yes, ma'am," Lycan replied with a flat, defeated tone.

He gripped the steel in his hand and threw away his cheery demeanor. Lycan buckled and the knees and broke into a sprint, blade to his side like he was taught in the real world. As he closed the gap between them, the animal perked its ears at his approach. Black beady eyes lit red, and a snort emanated from the boar.
 

Spoiler

Rollbot Engaged!

ID# 49283: -- BD: 7 -- CD: 2 -- LD: 7 -- MD: 2 --

"Ai!" Lycan shouted as he planted his foot firmly into the grass, blade risen above his head with both hands. "KEN!"

The blade swept smoothly across with a sweet and faint song of steel in the wind.

Edited February 25, 2016 by Lycan

[Lessa 1]

His form, though not altogether the worst she had ever seen, was still lacking. He did not muster nearly enough speed as he closed the gap, and his handle of the weapon was shaky. He has a flare for the dramatic, she observed in muted amusement. He would have dealt the same damage without the enormous slash of his weapon and all the shouting, but she certainly would not be the one to tell him that. If her years in the college of education had taught her anything, it was not to mess with a good thing. If her pupil could still land the hits, and do so safely, he could yell all he wanted.

"Nice hit," she called out. Though she still stung from their earlier exchange, she knew that she would need to shelve those emotions for the time being. To not do so, and not allow Lycan her full attention, might spell out disaster for him.

The boar, on the other hand, was not giving Lye his full attention. Though the damage that the boy had dealt it was minimal, the blow was enough to fluster the low-level beast. It snorted furiously, shaking its head as if to rid itself of some virtual pain. By the time it had rounded on the snow-haired warrior once more, he was ready for his next attack.

Spoiler

 

{[49300] MD: 4. Boar's attack misses.*}

Lycan: 12/12 H | 3/3 E | 1 H

Boar: 3/4 H | 3 DMG | 1 MIT

 

 

Edited February 26, 2016 by Lessa

[Lycan 0]

The compliment reached his ears and for a moment, he felt a sense of pride. He turned his head to see if she was smiling at him. Instead, her face remained stern, brow lowered and arms crossed. That flight of muse and whimsy died immediately. She wasn't here to make friends. She was here to teach a lesson.

"Back to business."

Spoiler

Rollbot Engaged!

 ID# 49309 results: -- BD: 5 -- CD: 8 -- LD: 12 -- MD: 6 --

Lycan faced the swine as it prepared for the attack. The boy ran at it with the same tenacity as before. This time, he came low and swung skyward in a sweeping diagonal. Telegraphed as it was, Lycan kept his focus on the animal.

Edited February 26, 2016 by Lycan

[Lessa 1]

His second attack, though equally dramatic, was far less successful. From where she stood, Lessa deducted that the boy had plenty of power behind his swing. Even his form, from what she could see, was decent. Considering all of this, she decided that his problem had been timing. It had been a good swing, but the boar had not been in the right position for the attack to be successful. That came with practice, and the blonde was just thankful that he would have her protection as he trained.

He had brought his sword up in the empty space just in front of the boar. That meant that, by the time the beast reached him, his midsection was exposed, and his position left him vulnerable. Unsurprisingly, the boar raked a tusk across Lycan's stomach before galloping past. Lessa winced, but did not move to draw her own sword. No one survived in Aincrad without taking a couple of hits, and she had to let him learn the hard way. It was a bit like riding a horse - if you fell off a few time, you'd learn how to do it right. Lye had to learn the same.

"You're fine," she called out to him, allowing some of her concern to creep into her voice. "It was a small hit. Just wait a second or two longer before striking this time. Let the boar get in range."

 

Spoiler

 

{[49300] MD: 6. Boar's attack lands.}

Lycan: 9/12 H | 1/3 E | 1 H (takes 3 damage)

Boar: 3/4 H | 3 DMG | 1 MIT

 

Edited February 28, 2016 by Lessa

[Lycan 0]

Spoiler

Rollbot Engaged!

 ID# 49597 results: -- BD: 3 -- CD: 4 -- LD: 8 -- MD: 6 --

Lycan staggered back from the blow. His hand, involuntarily grasped his stomach to check for blood. Instead, motes of red light drifted from his hand and fell from his wound. It wasn't blood, and it didn't hurt as much as he expected, but it was the equivalent. The teen overheard Lessa's reassurance and put his hands back on his blade. He listened to her advise and nodded.

He kicked back into action and charged the boar. He swung his sword at the beast, waiting a extra moment in hopes of connecting. 

Edited February 28, 2016 by Lycan

[Lessa 1]

Another miss. This time, the boy over-swung, most likely compensating for the previous mistake. He reached too far with his attack, trying to close the gap rather than waiting the way she had advised. The young woman frowned. She understood how nerve-racking waiting was - watching a boar barrel down on you, and waiting until it was within range, was terrifying. Lessa understood how much she was asking of him, so she kept her frustrations reined in. "Nice try," she commented instead. Some of her nerves were alleviated when the boar missed as well. It seemed that Lye's sudden movement had thrown the monster off as well, and it trotted wide. "Take it a little slower this time."

Spoiler

 

{[49300] MD: 6. Boar's attack lands.}

Lycan: 9/12 H | 0/3 E | 1 H

Boar: 3/4 H | 3 DMG | 1 MIT

 

 

Edited February 28, 2016 by Lessa

[Lycan 0]

Spoiler

 ID# 49626: -- BD:2 -- CD:6 -- LD:5 -- MD:6 --

The boy took a deep breath and steeled his nerves. He wanted so terribly to prove his competence, but his skills in the real word were only ever practiced against the occasional tatami mat. Sparing with bokken also didn't translate well to fighting with large animals. Lycan let himself calm, listening to the boar as it grunted and snarled. Cloven trotters padded against the soil and a faint breeze played with his white wisps of hair. 

This go around, he would forgo the assault. Instead, we would let the beast come to him. He relaxed his shoulders, let the tension fall from his arms. The boar saw him stand still and took the opportunity to attack. Lycan's eyes shot open and he prepared to dodge and retaliate.

Edited February 29, 2016 by Lycan

[Lessa 1]

Another attempt, another failure. This time, the woman's hand instinctively moved to Gram's wide hilt. That was too many misses in a row for her liking. To make matters worse, Lessa watched the boar pierce Lycan yet another time. A red gash shimmered from her new companion's midsection, the horror in his eyes matching the horror in her own. She bit down hard on the inside of her cheek, trying to decide whether or not to step in. It would be easy enough for her to end the boar, but that would not allow him to learn on his own. He needed to understand how it felt to fight under pressure. Furthermore, what might that do to his self esteem? Would he be embarrassed if she rescued him like that? Would it discourage him from trying again? 

On the flip-side, he could die. And she couldn't allow that.

"Lycan," she warned, her voice now dripping with concern. "Let me know if you need help."

Spoiler

 

{[49638] MD: 8. Boar's attack lands.}

Lycan: 6/12 H | 0/3 E | 1 H

Boar: 3/4 H | 3 DMG | 1 MIT

 

 

Edited February 29, 2016 by Lessa

[Lycan 0]

Lycan doubled over and staggered. His knee gave out and he found himself held up by the guard of his blade. The tip plunged deep into the grass. Though he was certain that the boar's tusk penetrated his gut, it only felt as if he was punched in the stomach. As he gathered the strength to rise, Lycan noticed the small green bar in the top left of his peripheral dip below 50% and turn yellow.

"Damn it..." he growled under his breath.

He stood, and readied his sword.

Spoiler

ID# 49641: -- BD: 1 -- CD: 11 -- LD: 8 -- MD: 5 --

"I can do this!" he called back to her. With that, the boy charged headlong into the combat. With teeth clenched he swung his sword like a baseball bat. He completely disregarded any form or restraint. This immediately backfired and before the blade could reach the roaring boar, the boy caught his foot against a rock. His balance faltered and his face found a mouthful of dirt and grass.

Edited February 29, 2016 by Lycan

[Lessa 1]

The man missed once more. Lessa felt her hand tighten around the Claymore's hilt, and she sucked in a deep breath as the scene unfolded. He could do this, he had assured her. Yet the more she watched, the more difficult it became for her to do so. A soft grunt of frustration gurgled from the back of her throat as her eyes shrunk to mere slits. Do something, her mind cried as the man's health plummeted into the yellow. You have to do something. You can't let him die. You can't let another one die.

Luckily, the boar had missed on that pass, but he was quickly turning on his haunches for a second go. That time, he may not miss.

"Lye," she cried again, more urgently this time.

Spoiler

 

{[49642] MD: 5. Boar's attack misses.}

Lycan: 6/12 H | 0/3 E | 1 H

Boar: 3/4 H | 3 DMG | 1 MIT

 

 

Edited February 29, 2016 by Lessa

[Lycan 0]

Spoiler

 ID# 49643: -- BD: 6 -- CD: 4 -- LD: 6 -- MD: 1 --

Lye groaned as he rose to his feet. Free from his dirt nap, the boy spit out the dirt and grass that found its way into his mouth. He rose to a knee and began to question what he was doing wrong. A few more passes and he would be lost. The thought alone gripped him with immeasurable fear.

"What am I doing out here?!!" his panicked mind ran, "I'm going to die! I'm not ready for this! All I have is this stupid sword and the clothes on my back! Why am I --"

"Lye!"

The boy gasped at her tone, reality slapping him across the face as the boar barreled at him. Lye put all his weight into his bent knee and pushed off. Two handed, his sword swung from his side and as the boar passed, it bit against its side. The swine unleashed a bellow of pain.

The teen took the moment to rise to his feet and ready his blade.

"No," he ecouraged himself. "Not today and not here.Not to some pig."

The boy's features now possessed an air devoid of emotion. His eyes and expression remained serious. 

Edited February 29, 2016 by Lycan

[Lessa 1]

And then it happened. The fair-haired boy's expression was suddenly wiped, each sharp angle now hard with determination. His eyes were narrowed, no longer wide-eyed and frightened. Though she was too far to see for sure, she could imagine the muscles tensing beneath his starter gear as he clutched his sword tighter. He was getting serious. Hopefully he would quickly find his rhythm as a result. Fighting in SAO was a bit like a dance, and timing was just as crucial as speed or brute strength. All the best stats in the world could not replace the skills that came with practice, even if a player was armed with a perfect weapon. As Lycan transformed, she found herself growing hopeful that, maybe, he would be able to get that practice that he needed.

His hit had been successful, throwing the boar off-gait, and allowing Lye to line up for yet another attack. Slowly, Lessa released Gram's hilt. He can do this.

Spoiler

 

{[49743] MD: 4. Boar's attack misses.}

Lycan: 6/12 H | 0/3 E | 1 H

Boar: 2/4 H | 3 DMG | 1 MIT (takes one damage)

 

 

Edited March 1, 2016 by Lessa

[Lycan 0]

Spoiler

 ID# 49775 results: -- BD: 7 -- CD: 9 -- LD: 17 -- MD: 7 --

Lycan no longer felt like this was a game, and he no longer felt like this was a battle. The boy simply acted. He had a target, a purpose, and a blade. The fact Lessa watched him from a distance vanished from his mind and in the wide expanse of the fields, he felt alone. Strangely, this somewhat comforted and kept him calm. As the boar came at him, he gauged its speed and momentum. Short legs, low center of gravity, and large mass hindered mobility once in motion. Lycan firmed his grip, held his blade in front of him, and waited.

Closer, closer, and closer it came. Just a boy and a boar.

Not a moment too soon, nor too late, Lycan sidestepped, a full picture on the animal. Blade out in front, he dropped it on the beast's back and pulled down to the side as not to let the steel get caught by the swine's momentum.

The bellow of pain from the animal denoted success, but he didn't smile or cheer. Instead, he firmed his stance and returned the blade in front of him. As the boar shook off the blow, it started to show clear signs of fatigue. Regardless, Lycan kept his sights on target and matched the animal's strafing with his own.

Edited March 1, 2016 by Lycan

[Lessa 1]

The boar was so close to death. In a perfect world, the boy would continue to ride his wave of new-found good luck, keeping the rhythm he had fallen into. He would plunge his starter sword into the beast's side, and it would explode into data. And the two would celebrate Lycan's good fortune, perhaps exchanging a piece of advice or two before heading back to town.

But this was not a perfect world. This was Aincrad; this was Hell. Lye moved to line up for his next attack, but the frenzied boar did not allow him the time to do so. The sharp tusk seemed to shimmer in the sun like the metal on the edge of a blade as plunged into the boy's side. Her mouth opened, mirroring the gash that the boar left on Lycan's midsection. She wanted to cry out, but she couldn't. All she could do was groan pitifully as she watched her new acquaintance's health plummet. She thought for sure his health would diminish completely. She thought for sure that she had just watched another die before her eyes. But her heart nearly stopped when she saw the red sliver remain at the end of the bar. He was alive, if only for the moment.

And then she was running. Mid-stride, she opened her menu, and selected a health potion. The pots had remained in her inventory forever, but they did not expire, and they were all she needed at the moment. Before the red gash had faded from Lye's side, she was shoving the health potion into his hand. "Take it," she demanded breathlessly.

Spoiler

 

{[50311] MD: 10. Boar's critical attack lands.}

Lycan: 6/12 H | 0/3 E | 1 H (takes five damage)(receives 5 health from basic health potion)

Boar: 1/4 H | 3 DMG | 1 MIT

Lessa uses basic health potion. (You're welcome to attack again - I used my turn to give you the potion).

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 6, 2016 by Lessa

[Lycan 0]

Spoiler

ID# 50321: -- BD: 2 --

The teen's body reeled with pain as he felt the boar's tusk inside him. Were this the real world, Lycan would have been done for. One important organ or another would have been puncture if not disemboweled completely. When the beast retreated its tusk, Lycan's legs struggled to keep him standing and forced him to a knee. With his blade's tip buried in the soil to keep him upright, Lye gripped at the hole in his side. Meanwhile, he kept his eyes on target and focused. Red faded in from the sides of his vision and the bright red tick of health let him know he was a foul look from death's door.

He was so focused on finishing what he started, that his nearly forgot about Lessa. When she ran to his side with potion in hand, he still kept his eyes locked. He did as instructed and downed the thick syrup quickly. His health pulled away from the red and settled at a yellow midpoint. Lycan cast the empty vessel to Lessa's feet and it shattered into nothing.

"Thanks," his tone flat and devoid of its previous joy. "I want to finish what I started."

He rose to his feet and pried his weapon from the soil.

"I needed this wake up call. Thank you."

Then, the boy took the fight to the boar, away from Lessa. His blade raised, he brought it down to return the favor. The phantom pain of his brain trying to cope with the pseudo reality of the previous wound sent a bolt up his spine and pulled his swing shy of the boar's hide. Lycan quickly recovered with a wince and held his blade at the ready for the boar's next pass.

Edited March 6, 2016 by Lycan

[Lessa 1]

Without thought, the woman's gauntleted hands clasped and pressed to her chest. Slowly, her gaze never wavering from Lycan's ragged form, she moved backward. Her strides were hesitant, a testament to the inner conflict that consumed her. She wanted nothing more than to plunge her own blade into the boar's side. It would take no effort at all, considering her level, and the boar's sliver of health. Yet the relief it would bring her would be immense. The threat would be dealt with, and she would be able to breathe once more. 

But at the same time, it was impossible to miss the change in the young man. His expression was etched in stone, and even his eyes seemed bereft of the light that had drawn her to him. He was finally in fight-mode. No, that doesn't do this justice, she found herself thinking. He's in survival mode. And just as Lye had mentioned a moment ago, that was exactly what he needed. Lessa watched the boar lope past, her own expression a copy of the snow-haired man's. She would let him be, but she would feel much better when it was all over.

Spoiler

 

{[50429] MD: 1. Boar's attack misses critically.}

Lycan: 6/12 H | 0/3 E | 1 H (takes five damage)(receives 5 health from basic health potion)

Boar: 1/4 H | 3 DMG | 1 MIT

 

 

Edited March 7, 2016 by Lessa

[Lycan 0]

Spoiler

 ID# 50439: -- BD: 10 -- CD: 3 -- LD: 9 -- MD: 10 --

The boar swept wide of the boy, clearly feeling some pain of its own. Lycan took the moment to root his stance and take a deep breath, the adrenaline coursing though his veins. He closed his eyes, listening as the hooves of the boar trotted further away.

Lycan steeled his nerves, gripped his blade tight and steady.

The sound of a squealing boar and pounded earth began to grow louder.

Lycan exhaled, his body still racked with the rush of a near death encounter, but he remained calm as a stone in the wind. His hazel eyes opened to see the boar barreling at him. Lycan lowered his brow and adopted a high, two handed stance with the pommel of his blade close to his chest.

Closer, closer, closer...

The boar was upon him. Then, without hesitation or fear, he plunged the blade's tip downward. It connected with the boar's skull, echoing a dull but moist thud as it pierced through. Lye drove it further, deeper, and with eyes never showing an ounce of emotion. No rage, no excitement, just life and death.

The blade drove clear through and rooted into the soil with only a little drag of the boar's momentum. Life left it's limbs and as its body gave way to topple, it shattered into digital ash.

Edited March 7, 2016 by Lycan

[Lessa 1]

And there it was. The end to the fight.

The thud of the blade piercing the boar's skull mingled with the pounding of her heart in her ears; the sounds were eerily similar, but both were drowned out by her sharp gasp. Lycan stood before her, unmoving, as the pixels fell like rain. He did not turn to face her. In fact, he made no motion whatsoever. The two stood in silence, Lycan staring at the ground, and Lessa staring at Lycan. She could only imagine the emotional rollercoaster that he was experiencing. What was it that kept him rooted to that spot? Was it fear, lingering from his close encounter with the end? Was it panic, considering this was only the first of many monsters that would have to fall? Was it disbelief, as the weight of his situation settled on his shoulders? Or did he simply not know what else to do?

The hand that rest upon his shoulder was bare, as Lessa had unequipped her gauntlets as she closed the distance between him. The squeeze she offered was firm, but the compassion in her voice was unlike anything she had experienced in a long while. "That's enough for now."

Edited March 7, 2016 by Lessa