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[SP-F1] <<The Second Lesson, Is Also Free>> Oh NO it IS a fetch quest


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"Right...onto the fifth one I guess..." Ceres said absently as she pushed disheveled hair away from her face. This would be easier, far easier if she had something that helped boost the stats of drop-rate. But... Ceres didn't count on herself being in too many battles. So why invest anything in such a skill?

So far the close-combat and attack-first strategies were working well for her. Why change what wasn't broken. Ceres would use these two on the next Boar Pup, and the next - till she had to change and adapt to anything that was quite literally thrown at her.

But for now...all she could do was continue fighting. "I'm not a big fan of the actual fighting part..." She mused to herself. Especially now that it was getting a tad repetitive.

The next Boar Pup was a little more alert. It's beady red eyes set on her as Ceres charged forward - It whinnied at her before stepping out the way - but much like its predecessor the boar tried to retaliate with a bite. Ceres was ready for it and had managed to dodge it just in time. So, would close combat result in more biting? Or headbutts? Her brows furrowed. Ceres wanted to avoid getting any more slobber on her, she wanted to end this stupid quest.  "Tiresome."
 

 



CERES ATTACK
ID#131688  BATTLE: 5
MISS!

BOAR PUP ATTACK
ID#131685 MOB: 3-1
MISS!

BOAR PUP #5   5/5
CERES: 71/80




BOAR PUP STATS
Health Points: 5
Damage: 3 (does not gain bonus damage on Criticals)
Boars drop Tusks on LD 11+

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Perhaps Ceres was too comfortable in her position - or too bored. She was barely paying attention to the battle now. Normally the woman was observant - stubborn, and kept her eye on her surroundings because she found a form of enjoyment from studying the world and creatures around her. But when the creatures around her were just carbon copies of each other, and just did what everything else did.

Why Bother?

Ceres rose her dagger to strike down into the Boars head again - but this time, she missed. Her eyes widened in mild shock. "Oh?" The boar retaliated with a short but hard butt into her torso. The electric shock that spread through her torso woke her up and snapped her out of her bored stupour.

"Oh...yeh... adaptive AI's right?" She asked the Boar as she tilted her head to the side. "Does it learn from the death of its predecessors? Or just from the actions of our single battle?" Ceres mused to herself.

The Boar backed away from her whilst she was distracted by her thought process. Ceres blinked. Watching as it gained enough distance to prepare a charge.  So if it were to charge.. that would be....three charges then two bites....right?

"Fine..." Ceres said.

"Let's try to finish this quickly."

 

 



CERES ATTACK
ID#131708  BATTLE: 4
MISS!

BOAR PUP ATTACK
ID#131709 MOB: 9-1
HIT!

BOAR PUP #5   5/5
CERES: 68/80




BOAR PUP STATS
Health Points: 5
Damage: 3 (does not gain bonus damage on Criticals)
Boars drop Tusks on LD 11+

Edited by Ceres
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Just like the time before, and the time before that - The Boar Pup gave a strained noise akin to a garbled growl, scratched at the ground with its hoof then started to run right at her. Yup. Predictable.

"Well...If I wanted to be an information Broker at least I could write up some information on how Boar Pups work..." She muttered. Not that anyone would really be interested in that. Hell, even she wasn't interested in it. This particular one was specifically bothersome - normally she'd have managed to kill it off by now, but it was being as stubborn as she was.

The only positive Ceres saw from this situation is that if the battle was continually being drawn out maybe, just maybe the damn thing would change up its moveset.

With A solemn sigh Ceres stepped out the way of its charge and struck it in its side. And - as expected the Boar gave a mighty cry of pain, and veered off to the side.

"Good!" Ceres muttered. "Now, let's just repeat that exact same thing again and get it over with, shall we?"

 

 



CERES ATTACK
ID#131710 BATTLE: 8
Hit!

BOAR PUP ATTACK
ID#131711 MOB: 3-1
MISS!

BOAR PUP #5   3/5
CERES: 68/80




BOAR PUP STATS
Health Points: 5
Damage: 3 (does not gain bonus damage on Criticals)
Boars drop Tusks on LD 11+

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And repeat the same thing they did...

The boar, as expected made a loud snarling sound - a warning to players that it was going to attack. Then, once again...its stupid cloven hoof scratched at the ground. Ceres watched with a bored expression as she counted. One, two, three, scratches. Then it dipped its head and finally - it charged. The entire set of moves took mere seconds but for her it felt like a damn lifetime, especially as it was something she had seen time and time again.

Hell, if Ceres wanted to - she could almost do this blindfolded.

"You're going to miss." She predicted, then stepped to the side. This time to shake things up a bit - she shifted to the right instead of the left. Hey - gotta get some entertainment out of this - right? Her arm lashed out at the Boars side, and once again it made some animalistic noise...and veered off and away. Ready to now doubt charge again.

Ceres rolled her eyes.

"I really wish this had some sort of automation...."

 

 

 



CERES ATTACK
ID#131713 BATTLE: 7
Hit!

BOAR PUP ATTACK
ID#131714 MOB: 5-1
MISS!

BOAR PUP #5   1/5
CERES: 68/80




BOAR PUP STATS
Health Points: 5
Damage: 3 (does not gain bonus damage on Criticals)
Boars drop Tusks on LD 11+

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Round and round the Boar Pup ran. This was very similar to one of the first few she had fought - It circled her to gain speed. Probably an attempt to land a critical attack. Didn't they do this before when they were low on health? She probably shouldn't have let it gain so much distance from her. Ceres still had a substantial amount of health.

Just like before she dug one of her feet into the ground for support- and pivoted, round and round - following the Boar. It may not have been the smartest strategy, as she was growing dizzy, but it was better than letting her enemy get behind her. Always keep the adversary within sight. RIght?

The Boar Pup did its typical battle cry - lowered its head and charged- and of course - having been through this countless times before, Ceres was ready for it. The redhead easily stepped to the side, missing its attack- this time however - it veered in the opposite direction. Causing her to miss her strike.

Dammit...

It only needed a single hit to die.


 

 



CERES ATTACK
ID#131721 BATTLE: 4
MISS!

BOAR PUP ATTACK
ID#131722 MOB: 5-1
MISS!

BOAR PUP #5   1/5
CERES: 68/80




BOAR PUP STATS
Health Points: 5
Damage: 3 (does not gain bonus damage on Criticals)
Boars drop Tusks on LD 11+

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Ceres decided to do something different - if she didnt she'd go insane. Instead of waiting for it to veer completely away - she decided to grab onto one of its ears - it squealed in pain as she used it to haul herself onto its back. It may have been a baby, but it was still big enough to ride. The fur was bristly and uncomfortable. Not at all like a cute fuzzy dog, cat, or even fox.

"Gross creature...." Ceres mumbled. She tried to swipe at it whilst on top of it - but missed- Ceres was having a hard enough time holding on let alone doing that and attacking. The Boar kicked her off and went to stomp on her - but Ceres rolled out of the way - just in time.

At least this was better than charging and dodging constantly.
 

 



CERES ATTACK
ID#131723 BATTLE: 5
MISS!

BOAR PUP ATTACK
ID#131724 MOB: 3-1
MISS!

BOAR PUP #5   1/5
CERES: 68/80




BOAR PUP STATS
Health Points: 5
Damage: 3 (does not gain bonus damage on Criticals)
Boars drop Tusks on LD 11+

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Still on the ground, Ceres barely had time to hoist herself back up before the Boar Pup struck again - this time it stomped on her a second time. Sending a static jolt through her body. At this rate - the woman would almost want to be hit - just for the sake of it giving her a rush of adrenelene and waking her up enough to strike back, especially in such a monotonous quest.

"Ommmff...."

Ceres lifted herself up off the ground and tried to swipe at the boar in retaliation but it had already ran off, veering away. No doubt to create some distance so it could charge at her again.
 

 



CERES ATTACK
ID#131725 BATTLE: 4
MISS!

BOAR PUP ATTACK
ID#131726 MOB: 8-1
HIT!

BOAR PUP #5   1/5
CERES: 65/80




BOAR PUP STATS
Health Points: 5
Damage: 3 (does not gain bonus damage on Criticals)
Boars drop Tusks on LD 11+

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With another growl, and another one- two - three scratches at the ground the Boar Pup lowered its head and charged at Ceres. This was a very predictable move, and she was ready to dodge, it almost too ready. Ceres anticipated the attack, and managed to avoid it with a quick step to the side.

 

Ceres threw herself out the way of the charging boar- with perhaps a little too much gusto - she didn’t get a chance to strike back. Ceres was too far away for that. There wasn’t even a point in trying. By the time she had turned around the Boar had already veered away and began circling her, ready to strike again.  The woman slapped her face with a loud groan. “Just. How. Much. More. Can. This. Damn. Boar. Take.

Ceres wasn’t sure how much more she could take, if she weren’t so damn stubborn she would have walked away from this quest, and come back to it later, but no - she wouldn’t let it beat her. Not something stupid and inane like this.

 

 

 



CERES ATTACK
ID#131728  BATTLE: 5
MISS!

BOAR PUP ATTACK
ID#131729   MOB: 3-1
MISS!

BOAR PUP #5   1/5
CERES: 65/80




BOAR PUP STATS
Health Points: 5
Damage: 3 (does not gain bonus damage on Criticals)
Boars drop Tusks on LD 11+

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"You know what? I'm done. Come at me however the hell you want. Dumb pup." Ceres yelled at the monster. She was sick and tired of them both hitting and missing each other constantly. It was just a stupid dance - her luck was terrible when it came to this sort of thing. At least the material gathering was simple. At least it didn't require her getting hit - or drooled on.

Ceres huffed as she sat down, sitting cross legged and her arms folded over her chest. Let the stupid boar come. Let it kick her, let it bite her - whatever. She was done with strategy, with rolling out the way - and with tip-toeing around the stupid thing. It was Just a damn Boar Pup

As she expected, it charged at her. Ceres didn't bother moving from her seated position. Instead- as it drew closer she lifted up her knife and held it steady, outward toward the boar. The dumb thing charged straight into it. Then exploded into a sea of red pixels. "About time..."

Much to her surprise...the Boar Pup Tusk fell promptly into her lap.

"About f**king time..." She mumbled as she picked it up, letting her hands run over its smooth surface. The woman wasn't expecting this boar to be so bothersome...the first four had been more or less a walk in the park but this one? This was three times as hard. Weren't battles meant to get easier the more you did them?

Ceres drummed her fingers against the bone of the tusk. "I suppose it wasn't exactly hard....just...tedious...." She mused. "As long as the other one isn't as tedious as this, I should almost be done..."

Ceres opened up her menu, double checking the quest requirements. She only needed 3 of the tusks, and she now had two of them.

"I think I need a break..."

 



CERES ATTACK
ID#131730  BATTLE: 7
HIT!

BOAR PUP #5   0/5
CERES: 65/80


LOOT ROLL
ID:#131731  LD:14
SUCCESS!


BOAR PUP STATS
Health Points: 5
Damage: 3 (does not gain bonus damage on Criticals)
Boars drop Tusks on LD 11+

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And a darn break, is exactly what Ceres took. She sat right down on the grass with a heavy 'pompf' Blades of grass flew up and around her, before being carried away with the wind. A small smile fell across her lips as she watched the blades dance further and further away. This was...nice...Ceres should attempt to take more breaks like this, especially on long quests. Otherwise she'd go mad.


She took out a loaf of bread, stale, nearing the end of its durability and picked at it. Placing pieces into her mouth. After this...she’d need to try and buy herself a hot meal. Or just take the next quest, pending on how hard that one would be. For now - this flavourless lump of bread would have to do.

The woman relished the moments of rest - and felt better with food in her belly. “I should probably get back to the grind…” She mused, and, as if the game was responding to her - a single Boar Pup wandered into her line of sight. “Perfect.”

Ceres threw the last half of the bread loaf at the Boar Pup, it shook its head and gave a surprised snort. Blinking as it searched to and fro, trying to figure out just what happened.

During that time, Ceres kicked up off the ground and charged - feeling much, much better after her short reprise. The dagger tore through the Boar’s side - landing a powerful critical it. The boar fell onto the floor squealing as it tried to right itself back up.

“Ha!” Ceres exclaimed triumphantly.

 

 



CERES ATTACK
ID#131733  BATTLE: 10
CRITICAL HIT +2 DAMAGE!

BOAR PUP ATTACK
ID#131734   MOB: 3-1
MISS!

BOAR PUP #6   1/5
CERES: 65/80




BOAR PUP STATS
Health Points: 5
Damage: 3 (does not gain bonus damage on Criticals)
Boars drop Tusks on LD 11+

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The beast rolled around on the floor, to and fro as it tried to right itself up. After the ordeal with the previous Boar Pup, Ceres had to admit she felt pretty satisfied watching this one squirm. But there was no time to sit back and watch - She bought the dagger down into its stomach before the Boar Pup had a chance to get back up. Thanks to teh Critical hit earlier - it exploded in a flurry of pixels.

"Didn't drop another Tusk....dammit I only need one more...." Ceres lifted her fringe out of her face with her hand and let it sit atop her head for a moment. Her lilac eyes landed on the closest Boar Pup, happily munching away on some tall grass. "At least this one went down quite quickly. No doubt thanks to that short break I had...well, back to the drawing board..." Ceres said as she drew her weapon and approached the what was this now?

SEVENTH BOAR PUP!?


 

 



CERES ATTACK
ID#131735  BATTLE: 7
HIT
 

LOOT ROLL
ID#131734   LD: 6
FAIL

BOAR PUP #6   0/5
CERES: 65/80




BOAR PUP STATS
Health Points: 5
Damage: 3 (does not gain bonus damage on Criticals)
Boars drop Tusks on LD 11+

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The seventh Boar pup's head shot up the moment Ceres took a step toward it. Pointed ears swiveled around to her followed quickly by its head. The red glint of its eyes narrowed and the blur fur on its back bristled.

Oh

Was this gonna be a tough one?

The Boar Pup charged without warning. There was no tell-tale screech, no three scratches at the ground just a quick and angry charge. Oh? Was it actually trying to get the first attack in?

Not a chance.

Ceres wanted to get the first strike, make the first move - it gave her the higher ground - the better opportunities. More chances to strike down her opponent. The woman knew the attack would probably fail, it had twice before when she did this - but hey - that stood equally true for the Boar Pup.

Ceres charged at the Boar Pup, and just as his tusks barely grazed her, her dagger barely brushed against its bristled hair. The both of them had missed.

 

 



CERES ATTACK
ID#131737  BATTLE: 5
MISS
 

BOAR PUP
ID#131738   MOB: 4-1
MISS

BOAR PUP #7   5/5
CERES: 65/80




BOAR PUP STATS
Health Points: 5
Damage: 3 (does not gain bonus damage on Criticals)
Boars drop Tusks on LD 11+

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Seven…

Seven DAMN stupid slobbery, ugly, slimy, snot-nosed - bristle furred gross BEASTS. And they were considered ‘Pups’ Babies? Hah! That was a laugh. Ceres didn’t for a single second believe these creatures deserved to be called Pups. Nasty creatures.

At least Ceres had a second wind, thanks to her break.

The Boar Pup, despite its initial surprise attack - had fallen in line to the pattern Ceres expected from it. It gave a loud bellow from deep within its haunches then scratched at the ground three times with cloven feet. The Boar Pup lowered its head and snorted before charging.

Now this is where Ceres would usually wait for it to come close enough for her to dart out the way, then scrape it. But she kinda had enough of that. She’d done it enough times already.

So, instead- Ceres charged. Flimsy dagger high above her head. And BAM- The Boar hit her square in the chest and knocked her back, right back onto her butt. She landed with a a heavy ‘OMph’

But the charge had been a success, the lowered green bar above the boars head suggested that her strike had been equally successful.

“Just one more hit...one more hit and for the love of all that is holy let it drop a damn tusk.”

 

 



CERES ATTACK
ID#131741  BATTLE: 7

HIT
 

BOAR PUP
ID#131742   MOB: 9-1
HIT

BOAR PUP #7   3/5
CERES: 62/80




BOAR PUP STATS
Health Points: 5
Damage: 3 (does not gain bonus damage on Criticals)
Boars drop Tusks on LD 11+

Edited by Ceres
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She had fallen flat on her booty, but so had the Boar Pup. If Ceres acted fast she should abe able to take a good swipe at it before it was up again. It was almost amusing really - the Boar Pup rolling to and fro - struggling to right itself. It reminded her of a turtle. Except it was far less cute.

The redheaded woman wasted no time in pushing herself up off the grass. She was a little out of breath, her hair completely disheveled, messy and tangled - looking akin to a birds nest. Her face covered in dirt and grime, and her once clean clothes were covered in scuff marks, and grass stains. But that wouldn’t stop her.

Hell, she’d have to loose an arm to even contemplate stopping. Ceres as a terribly obtuse woman.

She approached the Boar Pup and managed to strike it, just as it had righted itself up. The Boar Pup retaliated in its usual way - a short snap - a bite on her forearm.

“UGh…” Ceres lifted her foot and kicked ot off and away. An inward shiver at the feeling of slimy drool on her arm didn’t stop her - nope.

THere was that rush of adrenaline again - and Ceres was gonna ride it out. Cleaning could come after.

 

 



CERES ATTACK
ID#131743  BATTLE: 6

HIT
 

BOAR PUP
ID#131744   MOB: 7-1
HIT

BOAR PUP #7   1/5
CERES: 59/80




BOAR PUP STATS
Health Points: 5
Damage: 3 (does not gain bonus damage on Criticals)
Boars drop Tusks on LD 11+

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The Boar Pup kicked up and away, leaving flurry of dirt and grass in its wake as it tried to gain some distance between itself and Ceres. She knew why, the attack patterns were so terribly obvious now - hell even after riding one of the beasts - they held the same moveset.

It wanted to charge at her. “I’m not going to let that happen this time.” Ceres hissed as she gave chase. No. Not with her second wind keeping her going - adreneline could only keep the body going for so long and she wasn’t about to let that high disappear and turn into another tedious battle with another several boars.

“Ha!” Ceres caught up to the Boar - only just. She grabbed onto its tail and yanked, as the Boar turned around to bite her - Ceres drew the tiny dagger across its face and just like that…

Just like that it was gone….

Exploded in a flurry of red crystals and data.

Ceres sunk to her knees with a relieved sigh. “Good… at least that one is dead…”

Now to see if it left a....

YES

The third and FINAL tusk she needed.

 

 

 

CERES ATTACK
ID#131745   BATTLE: 7

HIT
 

LOOT ROLL
ID#131746      LD: 18

SUCCESS

BOAR PUP #7   0/5
CERES: 59/80




BOAR PUP STATS
Health Points: 5
Damage: 3 (does not gain bonus damage on Criticals)
Boars drop Tusks on LD 11+

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Ceres picked up the Boar Pup Tusk and threw herself backwards into the grass. Landing on her back. "Finally...the third one..." She held it up to the sky, blocking the sun with it. "It's amazing how stupidly long this quest took compared to the other...It's almost too difficult to do this alone..."

Alone...

The small smile that Ceres wore disappered as she lowered the tusk, placing it safely into her inventory. Alone...yeh, she kind of resolved to do this entire thing alone, didn't she? Ceres had spoken to a few people here and there - but most of them were either asking for directions, or wanted to form a party to participate in a raid battle. At the time, Ceres had no levels. Hell, even now she had no real armour or weapons.

“To solo such a game…” Ceres rolled over onto her side. “Its kinda lonely.”

Ceres wasn’t one to dwell on such solemn thoughts. Instead, she pushed herself up off the grass. “Let’s just finish this quest first…” She opened up her map and scratched her chin. “Mmm….there’s another small lake on the way back to Town, I could scrub up there...then get back to the blacksmith before the late afternoon.”

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The lake wasn't anything fancy - none of the ones around here were - Ceres knew if she ventured further to the South-East there'd probably be more, as they opened up to a small marshland. That was the beauty of the first floor. There was a bit of everything here - one just had to be patient enough to make the trek to get there.

But this was all that she needed. Without bothering to remove her clothes or her shoes, Ceres wadded slowly into the lake till she was at waist height. She didn’t want to go out much further, in fear of underwater mobs - this would do.

The redheaded woman began to rinse herself off. It wasn’t a hot shower - or a nice warm bath, but it would do. Besides - it wasn’t like she needed soap. The water was enough in this world. It made her feel cleaner nonetheless.

Ceres dipped her head into the water, allowing it to wash through her hair….all in all it only took several minutes to clean herself of the dirt and grime of batte. So Ceres left the lake, and without worrying about drying off too much - headed back to town.

“Perhaps they should call me lady of the lake...been there twice already today…” She mused.

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The Town of Beginnings seemed....so quiet.

It usually was, but it felt even more so now - was it because she was out in the wilds fighting boars? After experiencing the adrenaline of a challenge the quiet pace of the town seemed...lacking. Ceres had been so very content here, for such a long time. In just a day and two quests, she was already begining to wonder if she should travel further up.

Ceres had been to the second floor before, but not much further. The Forth floor was a winter tundra - and the tenth? Nothing but a black cave. Why go to places that would make you feel uncomfortable? Wasn’t there also a volcanic floor?

“Ugh...No thanks…” Ceres mumbled to herself.

The sunny disposition of the floor had dried her off relatively quickly, and by the time Ceres had returned to Lyles workshop she was nothing more than slightly damp.

“Time to turn in this quest…”

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The smell of iron, soot and fire was welcoming as Ceres entered the front of 'Lyles Workshop' THe big burly man grinned, wide - a smile akin to that of a proud father who has just watched their daughter achieve something great. At least, that's what his smile reminded Ceres of. Her parents were divorced, but it wasn't like she never saw her father - he did live a few states over but they found time for each other when they could, via calls or visits. Or... at least they used to. A small pang of longing tugged at Ceres when she realized he wasn't just a phonecall away. No-one was. At least she knew they were all safe. No one, except perhaps her younger sibling would have had an interest in SAO - and a 7 year old couldn't exactly get their hands easily on the game without being the son or daughter of a CEO

"Ahhh, Lassie! What a Serprise!" Lyle bellowed as he came out from behind the workbench. "Aye, Tis such a sight for sore eyes." He quickly broached the space between them and gave her an unexpectedly warm, and very real feeling hug. "Uhm y-you're welcome?" Ceres said as she quickly pulled away.

"Bit damp there 'eh? No troubles?"

Ceres shook her head. "No, I just washed off some of the dirt from battle in a lake. Here..." Without wanting much delay, or to have too much discussion with the NPC because this felt way too real Ceres pulled out the boar tusks and handed them over.

Lyle gave her a hearty slap on the back. "Perfect. See? Piece 'a cake right lass?"

"...Right..."

'like hell it was a piece of cake...'

Lyle gave her a nod. "Jus' stay here' but a moment' I got a lil' somethin' fer yer troubles. Let me get it from mah workshop."  The NPC took the items, then disappeared behind the door leading to what Ceres could only assume was his fires and kilns.

At least this guy wasn't egging her on to be a Blackmsith.

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Lyle returned after several moments with two packages.

Uh oh...two, one for me and ne for...

Lyle’s next words finished voicing her concerns. “Actually lass. Yer seem like a stron’ an’ confident youngin’ I got a order fer someone. An Artisan by tha name o’ Hannah wants me ter deliver this.” He held out the small box to Ceres.

“Would yer mind?”

“Not...at all…” Ceres said. She wanted to tell him to shove the box where the sun would never touch it, but that was rude - and he was after all, just doing what he was programmed to. Ceres couldn’t really get annoyed at that now, could she?

Ceres accepted both boxes - the one meant for her - containing the quest reward items, and the one for the next NPC.

“Hannah, was it?” Ceres gave Lyle a smile. “Don’t worry - I’ll get it to her.

“Aye, I know yer will.” Lyle said with a friendly wave goodbye.

 

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