[SP-F01] The First Few Lessons

[Miyukii 0]

The gentle breeze rolling through Tolbana’s cobbled streets carried the faint scent of fresh bread and the distant clamor of metal striking metal. Miyuki stood just inside the southern gate, her hand resting lightly on the hilt of her curve sword, eyes scanning the new surroundings. This town was different than the crowded Town of Beginnings — smaller, quieter… yet still unnervingly real.

She exhaled slowly. It had been weeks since she entered this world. Weeks since she'd lost sight of the friend who'd dragged her into it. The longer she waited in safety, the louder that whisper in her heart grew:

"You're wasting your strength."

Her fingers tightened on the sword’s hilt.

"You're not a scared little girl anymore," she whispered to herself.

Before she could take another step, a voice called out across the plaza.

“You there! Stop, please!”

She turned to find a man — prim, proper, with a monocle that gleamed like glass caught in sunlight — hurrying toward her with long, deliberate strides. His mustache twitched with each breath, and as he reached her, he adjusted his coat like a merchant preparing for a performance.

“Pardon me, but I am in need of some assistance, and you appear quite capable,” he began, his voice refined, if not a little theatrical.
“My name is Dorian, and I am the mayor of this town. I issued a loan a few months ago, and... well, it seems I’ve misplaced the name of the borrower.”
Seriously? Miyuki blinked.
“Should you be willing to track down the recipient and collect the col, I would be eternally grateful,” he added with a sheepish look and a dramatic mustache twirl.

A quiet moment passed before Miyuki responded.

“…You’re asking a samurai to become a debt collector?” she asked, half-sarcastic, half-intrigued.

Dorian chuckled nervously, “A noble samurai’s duty is to serve the people, is it not?”

She narrowed her eyes at that. "You’re lucky I’ve read too many Edo-era novels to say no to that line."

With a small nod, she accepted the quest.

“Excellent! You might begin with Zackariah, the alchemist. He’s been dabbling in many town affairs lately — might’ve been him. His shop’s just down the east alley.”

As Dorian turned to leave, Miyuki muttered, “Of course the alchemist is involved…”

She stepped forward with purpose — not because she wanted to play errand girl, but because this was the start of something. A lesson, maybe.

But more than that… a test of whether the warrior in her stories could truly survive in the world of Aincrad.

 

Spoiler

Name: Miyukii
True Tier: 1
Level: 1
Paragon Level: 0
HP: 20/20
EN: 20/20

Stats:
Damage: 3

Equipped Gear:
Weapon/Armor/Trinket:
- Beginner Curve Sword
Armor/Trinket:
-
Shield/Armor/Trinket:
-

Combat Mastery:
-

Combat Shift:
-

Familiar Skill:
-

Custom Skill:
-

Skills:

Extra Skills:

Inactive Extra Skills:

Addons:

Mods:

Inactive Mods:

Battle Ready Inventory:

Housing Buffs:

Guild Hall Buffs:

Scents of the Wild Totem:

Wedding Ring:

Crafting Profession:

Gathering Profession:

 

Edited Wednesday at 10:47 PM by Miyukii

[Miyukii 0]

The sign outside the alchemy shop swayed gently in the wind, its iron chains creaking above the door. Miyuki hesitated at the threshold. The faint scent of herbs, boiled mushrooms, and… cheese? …wafted through the cracks of the door.

Smells like something between dinner and disaster, she thought, wrinkling her nose.

Pushing inside, her eyes immediately widened.

Shelves upon shelves of vividly colored potions lined the shop’s interior — glowing greens, soft pinks, misty blues. Every bottle seemed to hum faintly with digital life, a coded heartbeat in this artificial world. A cluttered counter sat at the center, behind which a bearded old man hovered over a bubbling flask.

“Oh, hello!” he called out absently, not even looking up as violet steam billowed past his face. “If you’re here for an order, I’m afraid I’m rather swamped today…”

Miyuki stepped forward, clearing her throat gently. “Dorian sent me. Said you might’ve borrowed something.”

That got his attention. The man blinked rapidly and lifted his goggles, squinting at her as if she’d just insulted his potion-making.

“Dorian? Loaned me something?” He let out a short laugh. “No, I don’t think so. I give, I don’t borrow. Though… hmm.”
He paused, then smiled. “Tell you what, while you’re here — I could use a hand. Running out of supplies, and my knees don’t exactly sprint like they used to. If you could gather a few things from the outskirts, I’d consider it a personal favor.”

Miyuki raised an eyebrow, arms crossed. “You want me to pick flowers for you now, too?”

Zackariah merely pointed toward the back of the shop. “Help me out, and I’ll show you how to make your own potions. Oh, and try the fondue. Helps with gathering — trust me.”

She followed the gesture, finding a small bubbling pot perched over a low flame. The smell hit her stronger this time — rich cheese and something oddly floral. She stared at it. Was it safe? Probably not. But this world wasn’t built for comfort.

“Samurai adapted to survive,” she murmured, recalling one of her favorite quotes.

With a steady breath, she dipped a crust of bread into the fondue and took a bite.

The warmth surprised her — not just the heat, but the odd sensation of her senses sharpening just slightly. A system notification blinked in the corner of her vision:

You have consumed Zackariah’s Fondue.
(+3 LD bonus active for remainder of quest)

She wiped her hands and turned back to the alchemist. “I’ll get your supplies. Flowers. Herbs. Whatever else you need.”

Zackariah nodded with a gentle smile, already turning back to his concoction. “Be safe out there, young one. The fields may look peaceful, but this world doesn’t take kindly to hesitation.”

Miyuki’s grip found her curve sword again as she exited the shop.

No hesitation, she repeated to herself.
The only way forward… is through.

[Miyukii 0]

Miyuki knelt in the tall grass just outside the protective walls of Tolbana, a light breeze teasing the loose strands of her hair. Her eyes narrowed as she scanned a cluster of overgrown plants in front of her. The fondue from Zackariah still lingered on her tongue — warm, creamy, and oddly comforting — but it did nothing to help her tell one weed from another.

“Broad leaves. Blue stems. A little sparkle. Sounds easy,” she thought, reaching into the greenery.

What she pulled out, though, was nothing short of embarrassing — a scraggly twig coated in dry mud, with a single wilted leaf drooping from its end like it had already given up on life.

She stared at it in her hand for a beat.

“…Seriously?”

With a flat sigh, she dropped the stick and wiped her hand on her skirt. Her first step into the wilds of Aincrad, and she’d already struck out.

“Great samurai instincts, Miyuki,” she muttered sarcastically, standing up and brushing her knees.

The fields stretched ahead of her, dotted with rocks, low shrubs, and mysterious patches of color. Somewhere out there, useful herbs and rare woods were just waiting to be found. But clearly, they weren’t going to jump into her hands.

“Okay… reset. Breathe. Try again. You didn’t learn kendo overnight either.”

She took a long look across the horizon, letting her breathing slow, her fingers rest on the hilt of her katana for grounding. Then she turned toward a new cluster of plants, determination flickering back to life in her chest.

 

Spoiler

Roll ID: 248278 LD: 1 + 3 (Fondue) = 4 (Fail)

 

 

Edited Wednesday at 10:40 PM by Miyukii

[Miyukii 0]

The wind shifted as Miyuki moved through the uneven terrain, her boots pressing softly into the mossy earth. Ahead, a cluster of fallen logs lay in a half-circle — likely remnants of a past storm, or maybe placed there by the developers to look “natural.” Either way, it was promising.

She crouched low again, eyes narrowing as she spotted a patch of pale green sprouting from beneath the shadow of one of the logs. The leaves were wide, with faint blue veins trailing through their surface — and when she looked closer, she saw it:

A shimmer.

Not much. Just a tiny glint of light reflecting off dew-covered edges. But it matched what Zackariah had described. Her heart skipped slightly as she reached out, steady and slow.

With a gentle tug, she pulled the plant free.

She blinked.

“…Huh.”

A faint smile crept onto her face as she turned the herb in her hand.

“I actually got one.”

She slipped it into her inventory pouch, her fingers brushing over the strap of her katana out of habit. No celebratory fist pump. No dancing. Just a quiet, subtle pride warming her chest.

“Alright. One down.”

She stood again and brushed off her knees.

“Let’s see if I can make it two.”

Her eyes scanned the horizon once more as she walked toward another patch of trees. She was starting to enjoy this.

 

Spoiler

Roll ID: 248280 LD: 7 + 3 (Fondue) = 10 (+1 Mat)

 

Edited Wednesday at 10:55 PM by Miyukii

[Miyukii 0]

The deeper Miyuki walked, the quieter the world became. Grass gave way to soft earth, scattered with pine needles and the faint scent of damp bark. The canopy above her swayed gently, sunlight flickering through in golden shafts that danced over the forest floor.

Her boots crunched softly against twigs and pebbles. She paused near a leaning tree with roots twisted above the ground like skeletal arms reaching outward. Kneeling beside them, she spotted a patch of deep-green moss — and nestled within it, something caught her eye.

A cluster of pale blossoms peeked out from between two roots. They looked almost translucent, their star-like petals glowing subtly under the light, as if the morning dew itself had crystalized.

Miyuki leaned in, taking a moment to steady her breath.

“Alright… no rush. Observe. Respect the land.”

She reached out, fingers brushing the edge of the blossom with practiced grace. The plant came free with a soft tug, sliding into her palm like it wanted to be found.

A chime echoed in her HUD.

Gathering Success 
You’ve found [Starlight Bloom]
(+1 Material)

Miyuki stood slowly, holding the delicate flower to her chest for a moment. It wasn’t just an item — it was proof. Proof that her patience, her focus, her discipline… they still mattered in this world.

“Two out of three,” she said softly. “Not bad, Miyuki.”

Tucking the bloom into her pouch, she turned toward the path back to town. Zackariah would be waiting and with him, the next step on this strange new journey.

For the first time since she entered the game, she felt a flicker of pride not just for surviving  but for learning.

 

Spoiler

Roll ID: 248281 LD: 16 + 3 (Fondue) = 19 (+1 Mat)

 

Edited Wednesday at 11:50 PM by Miyukii

[Miyukii 0]

By the time Miyuki returned to the alchemy shop, her boots were caked with dust, and her fingers tingled from hours of combing through underbrush. Still, she pushed through the wooden door with steady steps and a faint smile on her face.

Zackariah was still there, buried in glass bottles and strange glowing mixtures. A faint pop! came from one of the beakers behind him, followed by a cloud of lavender smoke curling toward the ceiling.

“Ah!” he called without turning. “Back already? I take it you’ve braved the wild unknown and survived?”

“I did,” she replied calmly, stepping up to the counter. She reached into her pouch and placed two carefully-wrapped herbs on the table — one glowing faintly blue, the other pale like a star in early dawn.

Zackariah finally looked up, monocle sliding into place. His eyes widened slightly.

“Oho… a Glintleaf and a Starlight Bloom? Not bad, not bad at all. You have a sharper eye than most of the young ones.”

He examined the herbs with practiced care, nodding with approval before gently sweeping them off the counter into a separate container.

“I’ll put these to use right away. They’ll make fine ingredients… though next time, do try to come back with three.”

Miyuki nodded, though there was no shame in her expression — only quiet satisfaction.

“I’m just glad I didn’t bring you another stick.”

The old man chuckled, stroking his beard. “Progress, my dear. That’s the point of these lessons. Not perfection.”

After a few minuets of making a potion, he handed her the healing potion. 

 

[Miyukii 0]

Miyuki walked slowly through the streets of Tolbana, letting the noise and motion of the town settle around her like a warm breeze.

The sun had climbed higher now, casting golden light through the gaps between timber-framed rooftops and worn stone chimneys. Everything here had a rustic charm as if pulled from a history book she'd read back home. The buildings, though digital, bore signs of life: baskets of herbs hanging by doors, laundry fluttering from second-story windows, and carved wooden signs swinging gently in the wind.

A group of players passed her on the left, laughing loudly. One had a comically oversized axe strapped to his back, the other wore armor far too polished for someone still on Floor One. They didn’t notice her or if they did, they didn’t say anything. She didn’t mind.

Her boots tapped softly against the cobblestone streets as she followed the path northward, toward the outskirts of town where the clang of metal was rumored to never stop. The forge district.

On the way, she passed a small café with a chalkboard menu handwritten specials, today’s soup of the hour. The smell of roasted meat and herbs wafted out, and her stomach growled, but she kept walking. Time for food would come later.

A lone NPC child sat on the edge of a fountain, splashing water with a stick, while a cat — clearly another AI — circled its feet with practiced affection. Miyuki slowed her step, watching the scene.

“Everything looks so alive here…”
“But it’s still a game. Isn’t it?”

She adjusted the strap across her shoulder, feeling the weight of the two gathered herbs inside her pouch. They weren’t much — but they were real work. Her work.

The sound of metal striking metal echoed up the road ahead. The forge wasn’t far now.

She squared her shoulders, took one last breath of the warm Tolbana air, and stepped forward.

[Miyukii 0]

The streets grew quieter the further Miyuki walked. The laughter of players and chatter of merchants gave way to creaking wind vanes and the soft buzz of insects humming near ivy-covered fences.

Up ahead, the stone roads faded into well-worn dirt paths, with tufts of grass pushing through the cracks. Tolbana, though modest, felt surprisingly large when you walked it alone. Miyuki welcomed the quiet. After all, samurai walked in solitude.

“Two herbs,” she murmured aloud, just to hear her voice. “Better than none.”

She looked down at her hands. A little dirty, knuckles slightly scraped. Nothing serious — but proof she’d been out there. In the field. Not hiding.

“Dad would be proud…”

The thought came uninvited, but it stayed. She could almost picture him back home — pacing in the kitchen, probably worrying, not knowing his daughter was trapped inside a game. It wasn’t his fault. She’d insisted. She’d begged for the NerveGear. Said it was safe.

“This isn’t your fault, Dad. I chose to be here.”

And now she had to live with that.

She passed an old well tucked behind a cluster of buildings. Vines hung over its edge like forgotten hair, and the stone base had long been weathered by fictional rain. Beside it, a rusted sign pointed toward the forge: a single word etched in stylized runes — TEALEAF.

Miyuki paused, placing a hand lightly on the signpost. She let the silence settle again. Not the heavy kind, like when she’d first realized she was alone in this world — but a stillness with weight. Purposeful. Grounding.

“Alright. Time to move.”

She stepped past the well and toward the sound of steel on steel.

[Miyukii 0]

The rhythmic pounding of metal echoed louder the closer Miyuki came to the forge. Heat pulsed from the building in waves, and smoke curled into the sky like a signal flare. Inside, sparks danced across the air, and the scent of scorched iron clung to everything.

Lyle Tealeaf stood at the center of it all — a towering man with thick arms, a sooty apron, and a permanent scowl carved deep into his face. He didn’t look up as Miyuki stepped into the threshold.

“You’d better have a reason for being here.”

She stepped forward, dust clinging to her boots.

“Mayor Dorian sent me. He said you still owe him repayment for a loan.”

That got his attention.

The hammer slammed down with one final clang before he turned to face her, wiping his brow with a rag that looked more like a grease rag than a towel.

“Dorian and his damn memory. I told him I’d settle it when I was good and ready.”

He walked over to a heavy wooden chest, popped the lid, and pulled out two items. A clean, curved sword gleamed under the forge light — practical, balanced, deadly. Alongside it, a small cloth sack.

“You want me to square that debt, fine. But I don’t give things away.”

You receive:
T1 Perfect Curved Sword – ACC +2, DMG +1
Bag of Tranquilizer Truffles

He slapped them onto the table.

“There’s a field east of here full of boarlets. Little pests. Bring me three — tusks, whole, doesn’t matter. Knock ‘em out or take ‘em down. That’s your job. Then I’ll settle my end with Dorian.”

Miyuki picked up the curved sword. Not her style, but there was a satisfying weight to it. Clean craftsmanship. Efficient.

“Understood,” she said, securing the truffle bag to her belt.

She turned toward the open road again, adjusting her grip on the unfamiliar blade.

“Let’s see how this one handles.”

[Miyukii 0]

The heavy forge door groaned shut behind her, muffling the ring of steel and bark of fire. Outside, the air was cooler — clearer — but the weight of what came next hung just as heavy on her shoulders.

Miyuki reached into her inventory and materialized the curved sword Lyle had given her. The blade gleamed in the sunlight, simple and unadorned, but expertly balanced. She tilted it gently, watching the metal catch the light like a ripple on still water.

“This isn’t my usual style…”
“But a warrior should adapt.”

With steady hands, she slid the blade into the sheath at her hip and felt the familiar shift in her posture — the straightening of her spine, the awareness in her step, the quiet readiness blooming beneath her ribs.

[Curved Sword Equipped]
Temporary Weapon: T1 Perfect – ACC +2 / DMG +1

She adjusted the strap of the truffle bag Lyle had thrown in. Light, but carrying just enough weight to remind her of its purpose.

The dirt path leading east unfurled ahead like a story waiting to be told. Beyond the low hills, she could already see the tips of grass swaying. Movement stirred somewhere out there — small, harmless to some… but this was her first true hunt in Aincrad.

She took a breath, grounding herself.

“Control your pace. Control the battle. Just like Kendo.”

And with that, she stepped off the stones of Tolbana and into the wide, golden wilds of Floor One.

Edited 23 hours ago by Miyukii

[Miyukii 0]

The wind was different out here.

It swept through the tall grass in steady waves, bending it like the sea in a stormless tide. The cobblestone paths of Tolbana had long since faded behind her, replaced with packed earth and the occasional crunch of scattered stones beneath her boots.

Miyuki followed the trail Lyle had described  east of the forge, past a shallow ridge where the trees began to thin, until the ground opened into wide meadows speckled with flowers and brush.

This was where the boarlets nested.

From a distance, the place looked serene. Almost peaceful. But she knew better than to lower her guard. Nothing in this world  even the smallest, weakest creature  could be taken lightly.

As she crested a low rise, her eyes scanned the field ahead. Broken fenceposts jutted from the earth like old bones, half-swallowed by the grass. A few torn patches of soil marked where previous players had fought, their battles already swallowed by time and system resets.

She slowed her pace and dropped into a half-crouch, listening.

Snorting.

Soft, rhythmic grunts just beyond a cluster of tall weeds.

They’re here.

Her hand hovered near the hilt of her curved sword — not to draw, not yet. But as a promise. A reminder.

She shifted quietly, eyes narrowing, and began to make her way toward the sound, step by patient step.

[Miyukii 0]

The wind stilled for just a moment — and Miyuki moved.

Her feet pounded the dirt, curved sword flashing with a violet glow as a simple Sword Art activated. Her eyes narrowed, zeroing in on the boarlet ahead as it rooted carelessly in the grass.

“Strike with purpose. No hesitation.”

She brought the blade in from the side, aiming clean across its flank—

But the boarlet shifted at the last second, squealing in alarm and jerking just out of range. Her sword cut nothing but air, the MISS signal flashing red like a warning bell.

Too slow.

Before she could reset her footing, the boarlet retaliated. With a burst of surprising speed, it lunged forward — head down — and slammed into her shin with its thick skull.

A jolt of impact ran up her leg.

Miyuki grunted as she stumbled back, her HP bar flashing a shallow dent in the corner of her vision. The pain wasn’t overwhelming, but it was sharp enough to demand respect.

She lowered into a defensive stance, breathing through the sting, eyes locked on the little beast.

“That one’s mine now.”

The boarlet snorted again, ears twitching, bouncing in place as if ready for another round. It had no strategy — just instinct — but it had still drawn first blood.

Miyuki smiled faintly.

“Alright, then.”

 

Spoiler

Post Action | Basic Attack
Free Action | 

ID#  248285 | BD: 1+2 (ACC)=3 (Fail) | MD: 8 (Hit) 

Miyukii | HP: 17/20 | EN: 19/20 | DMG: 4 | ACC: 2

(0) Boarlet 1 : HP: 5/5 | DMG: 3

 

 

 

Edited 21 hours ago by Miyukii

[Miyukii 0]

Miyuki’s grip tightened as she circled to the left, boots grinding into the dirt. The boarlet pawed the ground in front of her, tail flicking, ready to charge again.

“I won’t miss twice.”

She stepped in low and quick, blade arcing for the boarlet’s shoulder with another clean slash — her timing sharper, her stance more focused.

But again, the beast was erratic.

A last-second jerk sent it stumbling to the side. Her curved sword sailed just inches wide, slicing through empty air.

MISS.

The frustration flared, but she kept her breathing steady. Discipline over emotion. Control over impulse.

The boarlet wheeled and lunged, tusks down, aiming for her ribs.

This time, she was ready.

With a short, efficient sidestep, the attack grazed her cloak but failed to connect. The air shifted with its passing, but her HP bar remained untouched.

MISS.

The two stared each other down — predator and prey blurring with every heartbeat. A slow battle of small mistakes.

“It’s adapting too. Even a creature like this.”

She reset her stance once more, sunlight catching on the blade’s edge. The field rustled around them, unaware of the war unfolding in miniature.

One would fall. Eventually.

And she had no plans to let it be her.

 

Spoiler

Post Action | Basic Attack
Free Action | 

ID#  248286 | BD: 3+2 (ACC)=5 (Miss) | MD: 1 (Miss) 

Miyukii | HP: 17/20 | EN: 18/20 | DMG: 4 | ACC: 2

(0) Boarlet 1 : HP: 5/5 | DMG: 3

 

 

Edited 21 hours ago by Miyukii

[Miyukii 0]

The dance had grown quiet the tension, loud.

They circled each other like mismatched rivals. One clumsy and snorting, the other refined, still, waiting. Her earlier misses replayed in her mind, not as failures, but adjustments. Lessons. She wouldn’t miss again.

The boarlet squealed and charged blindly.

This time, she didn’t retreat.

Miyuki inhaled sharply and stepped into the path of the attack. Her curved sword shimmered faintly, resonating with her movement. The Sword Art activated — not dramatic, not flashy, just fast.

She sidestepped at the last second, pivoted on her heel, and

“Now.”

Her blade arced cleanly across the boarlet’s exposed flank.

The strike connected with a satisfying thud, and a golden flash of system light exploded where steel met hide. The boarlet staggered forward, limbs locking, eyes wide then burst into a shimmer of red pixels, vanishing into the breeze with a flicker of data.

Silence.

Miyuki stood still, the blade frozen in its follow-through, heart steady in her chest. A moment passed before she let the weapon drop to her side.

Her HUD updated quietly. A small reward. A tusk dropped near where the body had been, left behind as a token of the system’s rules.

She knelt, picking it up, fingers brushing the warm digital texture.

“One down.”

The wind picked up again through the grass, rustling like a distant applause.

She sheathed the blade and turned back toward the field.

“Two more.”

 

Spoiler

Post Action | Basic Attack
Free Action | 

ID#  248287 | BD: 10+2 (ACC)=12 (Crit +2) | DMG: 4 + 2 (Crit) = 6 | MD: 8

Miyukii | HP: 17/20 | EN: 17/20 | DMG: 4 | ACC: 2

(0) Boarlet 1 : HP: 0/5 | DMG: 3

 

Edited 20 hours ago by Miyukii