[F02 | SP] Dark Caves | <<Let There Be Light>>

[Sakura 0]

Let There Be Light

Aoi had found herself roaming the second floor after hearing it had been cleared and considered relatively safe. Even so, she’d taken care to prepare for her adventure onwards and upwards, marking a collection of items that she knew she would need in the future for occurrences just like this one. Unfortunately for her, the order hadn’t been filled prior to heading up onto the second floor – though she’d been told her current setup would more than work for what she had planned.

’It’s beautiful, but I’m not so sure it’s me, if you understand.’ Aoi smiled at the merchant that had been trying to sell her a unique vase – one which came sporting a price tag that would cost more than her entire week’s inn stay. The merchant sputtered, trying to convince her that it was a worthwhile investment, a fact that Aoi knew to be untrue. A few more passing words, and she disengaged herself from the merchant, moving back into the flow of traffic that passed through the city’s streets.

She’d spent the last half hour browsing the various street vendors, looking for anything of use that might be worth grabbing – both for her adventures into the wildlands, as well as for the shop that she had planned on opening. Though her success had been limited, she’d continued onwards, not quite ready to head beyond the safety of the walls that surrounded Urbus quite yet.

’Help! Please help! Help!’ The cry cut through the din, and Aoi turned to see a swathe of people moving away from a frantic looking woman. Dressed in pink and blue, with long brown hair flowing crazily around her, the woman moved through the crowd begging for help. Those few nearby stepped back and away, averting their eyes and pretending she didn’t exist. ’Pl-please…someone…’

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Sakura | Lv. 8 | P. 0 | HP [160/160] | EN [34/34] | ACC [3] | DMG [6] | EVA [0] | MIT [12] | LD [5] | SD [2]   Hide contents Notes [Theme] Tier 1 | Tier 1 Equipment Hand Crossbow [Hand Crossbow | Tier 1] Enhancement: Accuracy [1 Slot] Combat Uniform [Clothing | Tier 1] Enhancement: Loot Die [3 Slots] Raven Pendant [Trinket | Tier 1] Enhancement: Accuracy [3 Slots] Battle-Ready Inventory Starter Healing Potion {5} [Potion | Tierless | Heals 50 HP] Big Bertha Braciole {4} [Snack | Tier 1 | Vitality II] [ID-NIL] Zackariah's Special Draught {1} [Potion | Tierless | HP Recovery III] [ID-NIL] Teleport Crystal [Crystal | Tierless | Post Action to Teleport to nearest Town.] Spyglass {3} [Reduce Posts to Locate Dungeon/Familiar/Field Boss by 5.] Skills   Hide contents Utility Skills Searching [Rank: 2. Active: Passive. Effect: +1 LD per rank, +1 Stealth Detection per rank.] Night Vision [Rank 2 Searching Mod. Active: Passive. Effect: Ignores any penalties from low light or darkness. Negates the bonus Stealth Rating from low light or darkness.] Combat Skills Skill [Active: -. Effect: -.] Weapon Skills Projectile Weaponry [Rank: 3. Active: Passive. Effect: +5 DMG] Armour Skills Cloth Armour [Active: Passive. Effect: 12 Mitigation.] Extra Skills Skill [Active: -. Effect: -.] Combat Mastery Skill [Active: -. Effect: -.] Familiar Skills Skill [Active: -. Effect: -.] Sword Arts   Hide contents [x8] ST-I (8 EN) | A single-target sword art. [x11] ST-II (11 EN) | A powerful single-target sword art. Only available for use when ST-I was used and successfully struck an enemy the previous turn or if ST-II had been used and had missed the previous turn. [x7] AOE-I (7 + [2 * targets] EN) | AOE | A sword art that strikes multiple targets at once. [x8] TECH-A (9 EN) | STUN | A single-target sword art that stuns an enemy. Housing Buffs   Hide contents   [Home] Room [Effect.]

[Sakura 0]

Aoi shifted her eyes around the crowd, confirming no one else was approaching, before pushing past the nearest of players. She could see a few eyeing her as she approached the woman, and found herself not caring about their judgemental gazes. Reaching the woman – who at this point had collapsed to the ground in a desperate heap – Aoi knelt down, placing a hand upon the woman’s shoulder and looking into her eyes. ’What is it you need help with, miss?’

’I’ve…I’ve been trying to find someone to help me…all day…My child-my daughter…‘ Tears seemed to well at the corner of the woman’s eyes, a pleading in them that pulled at Aoi even more than she’d already felt when being pulled into the confrontation. She waited calmly, not moving, for the woman to speak again. ’…She…she was playing in one of the caverns in the mountains…with her friend. I-I’d told her…not to go there…but she didn’t listen to me! Neither of them listened to me!’

Aoi waited a few seconds, nodding as the woman seemed to look at her for permission or confirmation. She kept her thoughts about the situation to herself, knowing they would be no help here. A brief pause, and then the woman continued her story, the words flowing faster as she realised Aoi was still listening. ’Her friend…came back just a moment ago and said…said that they were attacked by monsters! Monsters! The b-beasts…they’re still in there with her! Please…please I don’t…I don’t know how long my Koko can survive…’

The words faded away as the woman seemed to lose strength. Aoi waited to ensure there wouldn’t be any more information, before nodding and speaking for the first time since she’d prodded the woman’s dialogue. ’Would you like me to go retrieve her?’

’R-really…? Yes! Thank you! Thank you so….you have no idea how much this means to me!’ Aoi gave another quick nod before standing up, as much to relieve the cramp growing in her legs, as to head off on the quest. She could hear more words coming from the woman, but her attention was drawn away as the quest dialogue box appeared. A quick tap and she accepted the task, turning towards the gates that would lead beyond Urbus’s walls, and into the wilds where a young girl awaited.