[F01 | SP] Companions Adhere | <<Feeding Your Enemy>>

[Sakura 0]

Feeding Your Enemy

Familiars. They had become the newest discovery and requirement for any and all players. Aoi had heard talk of their existence within the communication and information lines she maintained, their presence within the game nothing short of a necessity for any player looking to expand upon their own growth and development. Anyone who desired faster skill development, or easier grinding, or even just a less lonely time in Aincrad had taken to finding and accepting the companionship of a familiar within their homes and parties. Aoi hadn’t put off finding one, but rather been unlucky in locating the mobile gypsy woman who provided the beginning of the quest itself. For days she’d searched the various areas of those floors open and available to her, though no sign of the woman had appeared during her various explorations.

It was this lack of success that had driven Aoi back into the wildlands of the first floor once more, hoping that she would somehow come upon the woman’s encampment by pure luck. She’d received notice earlier in the day that the camp had been spotted by players passing the eastern frontier of the floor. The rumour had urged her out of the city, and into the wilds in search of the gypsy, hoping to finally come across the beginning of the quest itself.

Somewhere out here I’ll find her, and get this out of the way. She can’t avoid me forever – if for no other reason than she’ll run out of other players to assist. Aoi waved as she passed the guard at the gate once more, heading off with a determination that bespoke of pure stubbornness and a small measure of desperation. The guard gave no response to her passing, though Aoi noticed that his eyes tracked her until she was beyond his area of concern – whether that was simply a natural reaction of the NPC, or something more personable to this individual’s behaviour, Aoi couldn’t say for sure. She did, however, tuck the knowledge away for further review and consideration, making a mental note of the behaviour and the almost human likeness of it.

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Sakura uses Spyglass {1} [Reduce Posts to Locate Dungeon/Familiar/Field Boss by 5.]

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]

Half the day had passed before Aoi had located the gypsy woman’s encampment. A single trailer, sitting beside a low-burning fire and a collection of seats, became visible as she approached the area with a caution that was born of having traversed the fields of the floor many times over. Aoi had long since learnt not to trust anything out of the norm, and this area was of no exception – newly arriving creatures, obstacles or other items within the game could more oft than not be a danger to the player coming upon them, even if they were expected to magically appear where nothing had been times previous. It was that caution that led Aoi to watch the camp for a time before approaching, confirming that the gypsy woman – and she was for all appearances designed to look like a gypsy – was the only thing in camp. Only once she was feeling somewhat more confident, had she made her approach to the woman.

’You’re not hiding very well, you know.’ Aoi froze at the sound of the voice. She’d been approaching from the side, but she’d thought that her movements and general presence was subdued enough to go unnoticed for another few steps at least. Instead, the gypsy woman had clearly noticed her before Aoi had anticipated, and she found herself waiting to see what would happen next – her crossbow arm twitching slightly in anticipation of use. ’Come now, take a seat with me. I assume you’re hear to find yourself a companion, yes? Let us speak about it, then.’

[Sakura 0]

The woman waved towards a seat across from her, and Aoi moved towards it with the same tension in her body that had appeared the moment her presence had been pointed out. She was poised, as much to run as she was to fight, should the moment of its necessity arrive. Whether the woman before her noticed it or not, Aoi couldn’t tell, but the gypsy woman continued speaking and acting as though everything was normal and fine. ’I can help you. With finding a companion, that is. But first…you must convince me that you deserve one. Why is it that you need a companion? What is their purpose in your life, and what is your plan with them?’

Aoi found herself speechless for a time as she considered the questions. She’d never heard of this portion of the quest before, though she knew that it was more than plausible that no one else had bothered to mention it as they found it simply another mechanic in the system. When she did speak, her voice was low, as though she was trying to keep the answer to herself. ’I’m…looking for someone who I can have at my side, to help me succeed. Someone…or something, I guess, who I can rely upon more than anyone or anything else in this world.’

[Sakura 0]

She was surprised by her own answer, the words sounding closer to the truth than Aoi had originally intended. She’d left out the portion of her answer that declared the desperate need for someone, something that she could feel close to – and yet she had a feeling that the gypsy woman was able to see that thought within her features. Seconds passed as silence reigned, before the gypsy woman suddenly leaned to the side and produced a small pouch. She held it out for Aoi to take, speaking as she did so. ’I have this bag of treats, which has proven to be useful in calling and taming the various creatures one can find within this world. You may borrow it for this task, but I ask that you return it as soon as you are capable of doing so – more than just you require access to this, and it would not do well for them to go missing in the event that others need it.’

Aoi reached forward for the bag, hesitating as her hand came close to grasping it. She wavered for a few seconds, before pulling her hand back and asking the question that had burned in the back of her throat. ’Do I…deserve to take these?’

The gypsy woman seemed shocked at the question, tilting her head slightly and considering the words for a few moments. She’d lowered the bag in response to Aoi’s own movements, having seated it on her lap while she spoke in response. ’Within your words I see a desire that goes beyond that of simple mastery. You are not looking for something to obtain and abuse, but rather a partner to work alongside you. Something that you may eventually call friend, if you are given the chance. I do not see the desire to harm within you, but rather the desire to survive. Perhaps it is clouded by darkness, but it is not inherently evil. I cannot say if you deserve this, but I can say that you should not be kept from it.’