Day 2 Midday

Tailpin finally awoke after the lunch rush had already ebbed. He was still stiff but pulled himself from the comfort of the bed to face the rest of the day. He had learned years ago that the time to get up was when he first woke up. Otherwise he'd stay groggy all day. There was an alert hovering in his vision. A message from Emperor. Well, that guy didn't need much sleep. Tailpin hadn't planned on company today. In fact, he wanted to make up the money that he had handed off to cover that stupid wager so he was going to be hunting his way for this afternoon. Still, he at least had to reply.

"Just woke up, thanks for the offer but I'm planning on solo hunting this afternoon. I have something I need to practice." He messaged quickly. They had worked well together but there were weaknesses in his own fighting that he couldn't ignore.

Now that that was taken care of, with some quick steps to help him regain his alertness, the tired archer headed downstairs. The common room was mostly empty and service was very quick, though he really didn't look around much with breakfast on the way. But, cool milk, mild chilled wine, and bread with beef sausage weren't the only things occupying his thoughts.

He popped his menus open and started to page through the windows looking for any changes from last night's industry. Sure enough, there had been quite a bit that changed. His skills list had changed. In addition to Impact Sidewinder he now had Overdraw, a skill that increased shot damage by 50%. He also seemed to have a couple other skills that he hadn't noticed, Soft Soul and Refining. So, he would be harder for enemies to notice and he could improve the quality of component items. Well, Refining was interesting but he could practice that one tonight or tomorrow. Soft Soul seemed to be a passive skill, always active. He'd see that one at work as soon as he got out of town, most likely. He was right when he thought that he had gained a level. He was level three now. Good. He allowed a small smile between bites. Between that stat boost and his new skills the hunting he planned to do today would be all the easier.@Lightbox

@DestinyStar@pockets@Sif@Zelosse
@Lightbox
----Day 2 still morning----
Ikanus hears the ding that signifies a private message and hopes that the group he is watching is far enough away to not see him still. With a flourish he opens up his map getting his coordinates before closing it and opening the message. He smiles somewhat and starts typing a response.: Sure I attached my coordinates so that you can find me. Be quite since I am currently watching a group of four fellow players who have a rather odd way of fighting. I can't really explain it more then saying... you have to see it. If i change position I will update you if you still want to join me." He gives a nod and sends the message actually hoping that Emperor does join him. He looks down at Anubis and pets his head before crouching down to try to stay out of view of the group. His bright blue eyes seem to show no emotion, but he does recognize the mess of orange hair from yesterday. He gives a small head tilt as he watches how they fight.

@Zelosse

Day 2, Morning.

Cinera nodded as he explained, feeling a bit relieved to hear this. "That sounds good. Lead the way." She was unfamiliar with the pattern of other VRMMO games, but this one seemed to be fairly similar to those that she played - which meant she had some time to build up her skill before they would encounter too many large groups. Of course, the hunting prey would be different than the bosses, but even a pack of wolves wouldn't be more than three or four, maybe five max; it was unusual for regular monsters to gang up on you, even if you have a big party.

With this in mind, she followed Delcastle to the hunting spot, noting that they were heading in the complete opposite direction from the rest of their party. She was beginning to learn how he and his brother liked to do things, and it was honestly like a well-oiled machine. They were working with them separately to find their strengths and weaknesses, and then they would form the group as a whole to make it function. It was a pretty good strategy, but it did require a lot of trust from those involved. Cinera felt herself suddenly become a bit nervous that he was leading her out into a dangerous area, like this; it would be an ideal way for him to trick her, if he wanted to, since he knew that she was fairly defenseless out here. It may have been a mistake to tell him all of the important details about herself - was it really smart to tell a stranger her biggest weaknesses?

Shaking her head, Cinera continued to follow him. No, this wasn't the time to doubt. She had already made the decision to trust him. He knew what he was doing; her life was better in his hands than in her own. And honestly, considering the circumstances, she couldn't see people trying to ambush one another. This game was them against the GM and the bosses, not against each other. Hopefully any player battles would cease until the end of the game; people wouldn't be stupid enough to actually fight other players when they could die for real, would they? She had no idea at the time, but she severely underestimated the insanity of people in this world.

Soon, they arrived in a small meadow near the forest where they encountered a pack of three wolves. Level 2, huh... This should be okay. I fought these on the way to this town. When he asked if she could handle all three by herself, she nodded. "It should be okay. They move quick, but if I remember their attack power isn't very high." I just need to slow them down... She remembered what he had said about hitting their limbs as she removed her cloak to place in her inventory. This was the first time she had revealed herself in this game, showing her black leather bralette, shorts with white belts, fingerless gloves, and boots. It was an outfit that did not have much protective power, but it allowed her to move fast which is what she had originally been aiming for. Agility was always my strongest suite... but if I can die based on my HP, I might want to save up for something more protective.

She also revealed a deep, black katana resting on her hip in its sheath. This little gem had been something that she discovered during the beta test when she wandered into a secret cave. It had contained a secret boss that was pretty low-level, and she was sure to challenge the monster again as soon as the full version released. It was a rare sword in title only - its abilities were pretty average, but Cinera absolutely adored it. The weight was fairly light and easy to control, but it still had a decent strike power; it fit perfectly with her agile nature. Severance... An oddly fitting name for a sword like this. She smirked at the thought and quickly drew the long, black blade from its hilt and held it above her head at a downward angle, ready to fight.

Okay. Here we go!

As the wolves targeted her, she quickly lunged forward, her orange hair sparkling in the sun as it flowed behind her. The first wolf lunged at her, to which she dodged and sliced her sword toward the one on the left, instead. It left a mark, but not much damage. She was too worried about Delcastle watching her - she needed to focus. Another wolf jumped at her and she turned to block, her blade coming into contact with the wolf's teeth as it pushed her back in the dirt. Cinera struggled, grunting as she tried to keep her ground. Come on... I need to be stronger! It was no use, though, as her back slammed into the tree behind her. A bit of a cry escaped her lips as she fell to the ground, still squaring off with the wolf as the others began to growl. The pain level in this game was surprising... almost realistic. She could practically feel the scratches on her back from the bark of the tree.

Rather than admire the game's level of detail though, she noticed that the wolves only attacked one at a time, though it was in quick succession. So they won't gang up on you... I'm sure that's not the same with every creature, but this makes it easier! I just need to calm down... After a moment of struggling, Cinera managed to push the wolf back with her blade and then kick the wolf as hard as she could. It whimpered as it fell back, and she managed to regain her footing while the other wolves were distracted. Once she was up, another wolf lunged and she jumped to the side, simultaneously swiping her katana to wound its back leg. One was slowed. Good. This was the one she needed to focus on. One at a time.

As she began to regain her confidence, the fight moved very quickly. She dodged the way of another wolf and managed to strike the wounded one, killing it instantly. Then she blocked another one as it lunged, this time digging her heels into the ground to keep her footing. In a more confident manner, she firmly grasped the katana with one hand to hold off the wolf and pulled her other hand back to punch it hard in the snout. It wasn't much damage, but enough blood gushed from the wolf's face to keep it distracted. Cinera once again dodged the other wolf and drove Severance hard into the wounded one, killing it. This last wolf was the easiest, not requiring much except a dodge to the side and a few strikes from her blade. It was finished.

Cinera glanced around before lowering her stance and letting out the breath she had been holding in. The fight took longer than it would have for a normal player, but once she got a rhythm going she made sure to fight carefully and pace herself. Her defensive skills were better than she though, and she credited that to the confidence Delcastle had begun to give her. Quietly, she returned Severance to its sheath and looked over at her new friend, breathing heavily from the battle. "So... H-How was that...?" She gave him a nervous smile as the blood from the wolf she had punched dripped from her fingertips.

@DestinyStar
Day 2: Morning
Delcastle watched the fight with in every detail in an attempt to see what he could of value and stow it away for later. She had poor form, her attacks were straight forward, but she had a good head to her and quickly learned from the slightest mistake just as he had always tried to do. Cinera took to combat like a bird to the skies, her pattern was a mesmerizing dance to the momentarily stunned warrior. It wasn't long before he noticed her figure instead of her fighting and blushed, reminding himself this was no time for something like that! He stood straighter and composed himself as she finished off the last of the wolves and turned for an approval.

"Very good, Cinera, very good! You learn quickly!" he gave her a nod and a thumbs up flashing her a grin and a wink for a job well done before motioning for them to go a little further. "Now I think its time to teach you about combat swap. Simple matter, really." He found another small wolf standing alone in the area and told her to keep close but not attack. He started the fight off with a simple kick, hitting the turning wolf in the jaws as it turned to attack the one in its aggro range. He took out his weapon and held it across his chest defensively and waited for the leap. "At a distance, some enemies will try to use a leap or dash to cover the ground and attack." The wolf did as he assumed and performed a running leap to bite him but clamped down hard on the lucerne handle instead. Deftly he pivoted and threw off the wolf to land at Cineras feet. He held up a hand to stop her attack. The wolf paid her no attention what so ever, getting back up to focus on Delcastle again with a growl. It made a few more attacks but he swatted it away with a few jabs from the butt end of the lucerne to keep it off balance without taking hp. "A monsters actions towards another player are almost entirely based on aggro. Whoever has done the most damage tops its priority and will force it to ignore any others who have not attacked or done enough damage." He booted it again in the side as he dodged to the of another leap, sending the creature into a roll once more at Cineras feet and the same result, where the wolf simply got up and attacked him again. "Now the simplest way to abuse this is a combat switch. When I send it to you or you get an opening, deliver a strong attack while it is focused on me."

The wolf growled and made another leap, its claws tangled with the polearm again as it tried to get to its attacker through his defense. "Switch!" He shoved hard and sent the wolf like a sack of potatoes rolling to Cinera who struck with a sword skill straight down its back but not killing it. At once it turned to regard her as a target and leapt at her from the short distance only to be met with the hammer of Delcastles weapon shattering it to dust.
"Simple stuff. Attack and defend, keep moving, and always keep your attacks in sight." He gave her a pat on the back before once more resuming the trial. Three more camps of wolves, all level 3 and in a pair of two, attacked them evenly but were met with similar results.
Delcastle used his speed and weapon expertly, deflecting attacks or diverting them harmlessly to the side before delivering a soft hit to stumble them while Cinera used her speed to slash and stab to fatal results. They focused one at a time and switched targets the moment real damage was dealt. The last monster they fought to complete was a Denmother, a much larger wolf with two wolf Alphas guarding her.
Delcastle started the fight like the others leading with a large swipe. His Lucerne glowed an angry blue as it struck all three in the sweep, the Den mother took the most damage and was tossed back while the other two only took a fraction of the damage. He followed the rotation in a spin and dropped to his knees as the other two wolves retaliated, one scoring a glancing blow on his shoulder while the other overshot the mark. He took one more swing with his spike and landed a clean hit on the leg, slowing one wolf while the other turned to attack. Cinera blew through them like a hurricane, two slashes followed by another overhead swing that shattered the non-slowed wolf to light motes.
While she fought off the remaining wolf, Delcastle turned and tried to block the Den Mother. She struck hard, teeth catching the pole but her front claws raked his chest and dropped his HP down to 2/3 but he grimaced and fought through the pain. He threw all his weight into turning his polearm to the side and flipped the Den Mother onto her back momentarily. Instead of striking her he turned and struck the last Alpha, just as Cinera deftly swapped targets trusting Delcastle to watch her back. Her katana cut a deep line through the Den Mother as it struggled to rise.
It's hp dropped to the red as it reared up and snapped at Cinera with frightening speed aiming to score a hit on her neck.
Delcastle stifled a scream as he pushed her aside and took the hit instead, his Hp dropping down to yellow and nearing the red as the wolf shook side to side drawing a gasp. Cineras katana cut through its neck and shattered it, dropping Delcastle from its hold as he held his shoulder. Instead of cursing, or blaming, he laughed instead. A deep laugh from his belly as he took to his feet again. "Damn good fight!" He hugged Cinera briefly before taking a step back blushing. "You were amazing! If we can do this on our own, so just imagine how good we'll be with Bulwar leading the charge!" He took out a healing potion and chugged it back, wiping his mouth with a smile.

@Zelosse

Day 2, Morning.

Cinera countered him with a sort of breathless grin, relieved that he seemed to be satisfied. Apparently, he had learned all that he needed to know from that fight so she felt like she could relax, a bit. Now out of danger, she allowed herself to plop down on the ground in relief. However, Delcastle just seemed all the more excited as he immediately began to explain combat swap to her. This was something she was very unfamiliar with, as it would be a difficult tactic to carry out with nothing more than a controller. So we just switch in the middle of a fight...? I thought we were all fighting as a team?

Without any hesitation, Delcastle had engaged the small wolf, making Cinera immediately jump to her feet. Looks like this wouldn't be a time to rest and discuss, after all. Her hand carefully rested on the hilt of her sword as she watched him demonstrate with the wolf. She proceeded to draw her sword as soon as the wolf landed at her feet, but he had stopped her. Why? The wolf had been engaged - as part of the same party, she assumed anyone near the wolf would be in danger. Much to her surprise though, the wolf paid no mind to the girl who was only two feet away and leapt for the man who was a good couple yards back. "Whoa..." She sort of admired the way Delcastle held off the wolf, as if it were nothing to him and this creature was just a plaything.

"I think I understand... But does that apply to all monsters? Or just wolves?" Cinera thought back to the many games she had played and recognized aggro as something common among the creatures who fought in packs. Other solo-fighting monsters, such as large bosses, would always give their attention to the entire group, seeing them as a whole rather than as individual people. Was it the same with this game, or would this technique he was explaining be a huge advantage for their party during the entire game?

At his instructions, she nodded and stood at the ready. Their first switch was a bit shaky on the timing, as she hesitated for a fraction of a second in her insecurity. As they practiced, though, she began to really get the hang of it. With Delcastle serving as a distraction and dealing some light damage, these beasts moved slowly and were much easier to strike down. In this moment, she felt like they were invincible... and these new wolves were level 3! On the way here, she had struggled with level 3 monsters. Did teamwork really make this much of a difference? She played most of her games solo, so this was a new adventure, for her. It was exciting! The way they moved together to take out the enemies became, in itself, a well-oiled machine. Perhaps that wasn't just how the brothers worked... Maybe, just maybe, that was what she had always been missing with these games. Of course, none of her friends would ever play video games, but it would have been neat to try those games with a partner or two. She felt a sort of thrill inside her that she only felt when she was playing her favorite games - a sensation very similar to opening a present on Christmas morning. This game, even if it was trying to kill them, was pretty kick-ass.

However, that confidence didn't last very long. As they approached a much larger wolf, Cinera felt a strange sort of queasiness in her stomach that made her very uneasy. These opponents were obviously much stronger than the level 3s, but they felt a bit cocky with how well their fights had been going; even Cinera wasn't level-headed enough, at the moment, to speak up about her nervousness. The thrill of killing these strong monsters would be that confidence she needed to get through this game - and maybe survive. Delcastle took the first hit, as usual, but the alphas attacked much quicker than Cinera was expecting. Her eyes grew wide when she saw his shoulder get hit, so she quickly pushed herself forward to defend him. They went down fairly easily as she fought her hardest, now feeling that fear from before build up in the pit of her stomach. Delcastle hadn't been hit during any of their battles, so far... Were they in danger, now? Suddenly, she wasn't having fun anymore.

Her hunches were right as the largest wolf began to eat at Delcastle's HP. He was growing weaker by the moment, and she found herself trapped as she blocked a leap from the remaining alpha wolf, digging her heels into the ground just like before as she tried to hold him off. Her teammate was in trouble and she couldn't do anything about it. Cinera grunted as she managed to shove the wolf off of her, only to turn and try to get to him. By the time she did, though, he had flipped the Den Mother off of him and moved out of the way - a switch. Her good instincts kicked into gear as she rushed forward to slice the large wolf as hard as she could. A battle cry escaped her lips as she struggled to pull her katana through the wolf's flesh; she wanted to make sure her attack was as powerful as possible, so that its HP would drop into zero.

She must have still felt cocky, though, because she let down her guard as soon as she had pulled her blade through. That was when the attack happened. Everything happened in the blink of an eye. The growl behind her came as a surprise, to which she turned to see the face of death right in front of her, teeth bared in a mid-air strike. The Den Mother had recoiled from the attack, almost instantly turning around to kill Cinera, who had fallen into the trap. Fear encased her small frame as she gaped, practically seeing her life flash before her eyes. This had been stupid. They should have never come to fight, at all, especially not monsters this huge. It was only in this moment that she noticed the beast was a level 6 - not even a four or five - and way out of their current range. Her eyes closed as she waited for the sharp teeth to sink into her flesh and turn her into pixels.

Instead, she felt something hard slam into her side, shoving her to the ground and making her slide across the dirt to safety. She winced at the motion, but in surprise immediately opened her eyes to see the horror before her - Delcastle had taken her place. His HP bar sunk into the red as this large wolf clamped onto him, shaking him from side to side as it attempted to rip him apart. He had saved her...? In this moment, Cinera's heart stopped and she just gaped, staring at the scene with wide eyes. He was dying... because of her. Not just in the game, but in reality. Fear kept her frozen as tears welled up in her eyes. Her friend was going to die. He's going to die... He's going to die!

"D.. Delcastle! NO!" She shrieked at the top of her lungs as her body moved on its own, lunging forward to stab the Den Mother in the throat. Her hands shook as she screamed, pushing with all her might to obliterate the damn beast. As it dissolved into pixels, she stumbled back, gripping her katana tightly with both hands. Every ounce of Cinera's body shook as she gaped at Delcastle. He was alive, but her eyes couldn't quite see that through the fear. That had been too close for comfort. What if something had happened to him? It would be all her fault. I got reckless... I was careless...

Her companion stood and seemed thrilled by it all, but she could hardly hear him. The looming thought of how real death was in this game hung over her like a dark cloud, and she barely felt his tight hug. His embrace did bring her out of her fear-filled trance, but tears immediately fell down her cheeks as she broke into sobs. This would be the second time she broke down in front of him, but she couldn't help it. Death was something she had always feared, and being so young she was even more afraid of losing those around her to it. Though he probably wasn't too aware of it, Delcastle had grown on her as a friend and someone she felt like she could thrive with in this game. More than anything, he was a good person, and the thought of him dying because of her own cockiness was too much to handle. It was one thing to get herself killed, but it was another thing to endanger another person. She might feel more confident, but Cinera had not yet come to terms with what death would mean, even as she nearly saw it happen right in front of her. She was not prepared to see someone die for the first time.

The sobs shook her body as she found herself collapsing to the ground. Her breathing was quick and ragged as she buried her hands in her face. "I-I'm s-sorry... I-I'm s-so s-s-sorry... I-I'm s-sorry..." She choked out over and over through the sobs. Another panic attack. This one was worse than the first, as it happened almost immediately and suddenly from the high emotions she had felt during the battle, rather than building up from a small feeling. It also was a lot more difficult to control, as she bent over and cried much louder than before. Her body shook with the ever-lingering fear, and it became the worst experience she had ever had. Her ears hadn't even heard his comment about how "well" the fight had gone. All she could hear was the sound of death. Immediately, she clamped her hands over her ears, unable to control the violent tremors throughout her body. Reckless... That was a reckless way to fight... Damn it... She stared at the ground with wide eyes. I knew it... I can't do this...

Day 2: Morning @DestinyStar

Delcastle figured the fight had gone well but a single glance could tell just about anyone of Cineras mental state. Gone from a high of victory after victory to the bitter sweet kiss of death that she would likely think of as her own fault. Poor girl was so innocent and caring that his heart ached to try and help her but for a few precious moments all he could hear was the sound of her sobbing breaking against his body like a wave upon the cliffs. Delcastle picked up her sword and strapped it on his belt before leaning down and scooping her up in his arms, calmly escorting them away from the Den for when the monsters respawned.
The poor girl is devastated and it is all your fault, fool! Fix it. Fix it! he thought frantically, but kept a warm smile as they made a short distance away before he gently lowered her to the ground, kneeling beside her on one knee as he placed his Lucerne and her Katana side by side. I promised to protect you, and I will. I pray I can protect you from yourself. Gently he cupped his fingers on her gin and raised her head to look in his eyes, orbs of infinite light and potential stared back with a soft expression that spoke of great sadness and immense joy. His lips touched hers as his other hand grabbed her own. It was a fleeting moment, a kiss of someone who cared and respected the rights of others, but was lost to its own self. Delcastles voice was even as he spoke in a low tone trying to get through to the trembling girl. "If you give in to your fear, if you lose your will to fight, then you have already died, Cinera. I do not wish that fate on anyone and especially not on you. Fight this fate with everything you believe in and every ounce of what it means to be you. No matter what happens."

@Zelosse

Day 2, Morning.

Cinera barely felt the touch of his strong arms as he lifted her up from where she was curled up on the ground. Her body was tense, almost resisting the movement as the fear swirled and turned within her stomach. I-I can't breathe... I think I'm going to be sick... Something in her mind had registered that Delcastle was alive and well, and that he had taken a potion to restore his HP, but her emotions were far out of her reach at this point. Relief seemed impossible as she kept her eyes squeezed shut, shaking wildly as she expelled the tears from her eyes. Her orange locks clung to her damp face, and she looked and felt like a mess. Everything hurt - her back from the tree earlier, her eyes from the burning tears, her chest from the hyperventilating. Once again, she was diminished to a useless state.

This wasn't what was supposed to happen, today. When Cinera had sought out Delcastle and Bulwar, she had done so with the intention to get stronger and find people to support. That had only lasted for a few battles, obviously. It made her feel pathetic, worthless, a burden, everything that she had been afraid she would be when she first joined the World Walkers. None of this was even comprehensible to her as the world seemed to spin around her in her panic. The only solid image she could see was that fatal moment over and over and over again: Delcastle's blood spewing everywhere (in the form of pixels, of course), the wolf's teeth digging deep into his skin, that HP bar dropping from green to yellow, then yellow to red... and in her mind, from red to empty. She could see her own failure, and nothing else.

She was mildly conscious of being propped up against a tree, somewhere, though she had no sense of safety or danger. There was only this pain; any area would be no different. Her chest heaved as the tears kept coming, and her eyes slowly opened to try and get a grip. Everything was blurry, and the fear was so extreme. Cinera managed to look down at her hand, where the blood from that wolf earlier had dried, and that only made her cries louder and more painful. If she had been stronger... If she had been a better teammate... If she hadn't been so cocky... If... If... If...

Cinera wanted to give up. She really did. Dying would be better than endangering others who were working so hard to help everyone else survive. Her hope was all but shattered when she first felt his warmth on her face, pulling her face up from her hand, where her gaze had not broken. His eyes were the first thing she was able to focus on, and they were soft and kind... not the eyes of someone who deserved to die. The eyes of someone who would fight for others. The eyes of the person who had saved her sorry ass when she screwed everything up. Worthless... The sobs never broke as she tried to look away from him, her body shaking with her cries of fear and shame. He deserved a much better teammate. I should have never come here. He wouldn't have gotten hurt if it wasn't for me. Maybe it would be best if I just dis-

Her thoughts were interrupted by an unexpected sensation. At first, she didn't quite process what was happening, but as her tears slowed she began to gain a bit more focus on the world around her. When she realized what was happening, her eyes widened. W-We're... We're kissing...? She was really unsure of what to do, in this situation. Why was he kissing her? Cinera didn't understand what Delcastle was thinking or feeling, at all. What she did know was that she liked this feeling... It was warm and soothing, like a wave of calmness was washing over her body from that little touch. She had initially tensed at the unexpected touch, but she slowly began to relax as the fear seeped out of her. His kiss seemed to fill her with the exact calm and level-headedness that she needed, and their fingers slowly became intertwined. He was so warm, so full of life... She was so happy he was alive. The tears did not stop falling down her cheeks, but her breathing had slowed and the shaking stopped in the midst of this. When he pulled away, her anxiety attack had almost completely subsided.

His words were soft like velvet as their eyes bore into one another during this very serious moment. He was absolutely right... She knew he was right. But even so... fighting it wasn't as easy as he thought. Cinera had never had to fight anything this serious, before. A game was one thing, but this was playing with people's real lives! It made her sick everytime she realized where they were. It took all of her strength not to break down like this constantly. How could she not be afraid? There were so many things she had left behind in the real world, things that she hadn't finished, people she never said goodbye to... She hadn't known that people could die so instantly, without any kind of farewell to the world. It felt unfair, and now that possibility loomed over her shoulder every day. For almost a full day now, she had to fear for her life.

Cinera knew that she had to fight. He had told her that before, and he was helping her, but was it really worth all of this...? The risk was great... She didn't know how to fight, anymore. As he spoke, her eyes gazed up at him, sad and broken, as much quieter sobs still escaped from her lips. She felt so lost... All she could do was search for a path in Delcastle's eyes. "I-I know..." Her voice was quiet and meek as she spoke to him for the first time during this whole ordeal. "I-I don't know... H-How to fight..." The pain welled up in her chest, again, as she gripped his hand tighter. "I-I don't want... a-anyone... t-t-to die because of me...!" The tears came a bit faster, but she used all of her strength to suppress any other attack that might be ready to rise up inside of her. "I-I'm just going... t-to get everyone... k-killed... I-I knew I would... b-be in the way..."Everything ached as she poured her heart out to Delcastle, completely trusting him, by this point. He could see her like this if he needed to - orange hair tangled and matted against her face, puffy red cheeks and swollen eyes - but she knew that she couldn't go on with this guild, anymore. Not if this was the result on Day 1.

"I-I'd rather d-die than... than put you in d-danger... D-Delcastle..."

The two fighters seemed to work well together, after the first couple wolves fell away, the dance between the boxer and the shield user was nigh impeccable. In a few short minutes, the last of the wolves shattered into thousands of pixels. Bulwar grinned. "Good fight man, we synced up quicker than I expected!" He stood up straight and stretched with a groan, then pulled up his menu. "Decent bit of loot from them too, small amount of cash, some crafting materials. Oh, an uncommon crafting material too." He said, tapping on the item and causing it to appear in his hand. "Elder Wolf Fang, eh? Probably something to do with a knife or an amulet." He offered it up to Mai'lo. "Well, do you want it? Or shall I just hold onto it until we're done with our training excercise?" He asked, completely content with giving up the fang.

While waiting for Mai'lo to reply, he opened up the messaging system and shot Delcastle a message.

COMBAT TRAINING IS GOING WELL WITH MAI'LO.
SWITCHING IS VERY SMOOTH, VERY LITTLE HP LOST.
ALSO FOUND UNCOMMON CRAFTING ITEM, MAY GIVE IT TO MAI'LO THOUGH.
HOW GOES TRAINING WITH CINERA?

-Day 2 later morning-

Emperor read the two new PM's. It looked like he had one choice. 'Well he seems a good fighter so definitely someone i'll be safe fighting alongside...' he thought to himself reading Reapers message. Emperor then popped to some shops to buy a couple of health potions and some throwing picks, he figured a little range wouldn't hurt.

Emperor rushed to Reapers position, panting a little once he reached him at the vantage point 'Why did i run? Now i need to take a rest before fighting... so dumb...' he thought as he upnodded at reaper between pants.

"Hey man... I stocked up on some more potions, just in case y'know." he said, still a little obviously worn out.

@BlackPanther

@Lightbox
Ikanus chuckles then points to the two groups he is watching. Considering they appear to be on a hill the two groups of two are visible in the distance.
"While you rest you need to check out how the guy with the tower shields fights. It is so...interesting" he looks over at emperor and tilts his head. "When you are done resting we can either follow them around and see what they are up to or pick some fights with some animals" Ikanus seems to be in a rather good mood this morning. With a small flurry he opens up his inventory and two sandwiches appear. He hands one sand which to emperor. "We can eat and watch"

Day 2: Morning

Delcastle could only smile warmly as Cinera had her melt down. Words did nothing, action did just enough, so maybe action was what she needed most at this time. There was nothing to it but to sit down and wrap his arm around her, pulling her in close while she wept. His polearm lay beside him, while Cineras sword was infront of her. On an impulse he pulled the sword in and planted it in front of them, the blade gleamed in the light and revealed them both on its edge, her eyes were puffy and red but Delcastles face was the definition of calm. His stomach did not agree with him but that was a matter for another day.
"It is ok, Cinera, to cry. You are one person faced with the whole world, not just ours but your own. But you need not do it alone." He pointed to the blade which reflected their every move on its beautiful edge. Though the blade was black it was still capable of reflecting them on its surface. "Do you see that charming woman with the bobbing shoulders? Your parents do. They see you even now praying for you to have the strength to come home. But it will not be a fast journey, I fear. Just as in life we will be challenged every step of the way. But you are as smart as you are beautiful and if I would give my life for any it would be you. My brother is even now willing to throw his life away to save even one single person the harsh reality of death. But we do not fight because we know death is coming. We fight because every monster killed is a spit on the face of our captor. Every drop of experience we gain sharpens the edge of our blades, and every slash of your Katana brings you one cut closer to beating him. Every step you take is one closer to being free." He hugged her close and rested her head on his chest, gently stroking her hair to try and calm her down. The girl was frightened and so was he, though he dare not admit it, the bite of the wolf mother was mildly traumatizing but the knowledge he had done right to save her that pain sat well with his morals. A thousand times would he throw his life away if at all possible.

"You are strong, Cinera. So am I. So is Bulwar and if my hunch is correct so is Mai'lo. We will fight, and we will know pain, we will know defeat, but never will we give in to deaths finality. Never will I give in to the fear so long as my destiny is my choice, with blade in hand and head held high. For family back home I go to this war and for friends here and now I find how I can be of use. It is what we must do to be free." He stood up and dusted off his pants before grabbing his polearm, lightly placing it across his shoulders with a customary grin before snatching up Cineras own blade. He flipped it in the air and caught it by the handle before flipping it to the flat of the blade, its handle now in front of Cinera. "If you grab that handle you must promise to use it for your family, to show them they need not worry about you here. Prove you can be stronger. Or you can give it to me, and I will use it to make sure you are looked after. Nobody would think any less of you."

@Zelosse

Day 2, Morning.

Delcastle's soft touch was comforting, just like this kiss. His arms around her shoulders made her feel more grounded and secure, giving her more of a focus on the things around her. She didn't have them often before this game, but these attacks would make her head dizzy and her body so tense that it would ache; each time, she would fall asleep after. That wasn't an option here, especially since they weren't quite in the safety of the city yet, but everything did feel heavy and disoriented. It was nice to have something - someone - stable beside her. He was being very sweet to her, and she felt a bit guilty that a complete stranger was having to do so much for her. I really am the worst kind of person...

As he spoke, her gaze fell upon her sword, Severance. This weapon had been the best thing about this game, to her, even in the beta test. It was perfect with her personality, and it even had relevance to a time in her life when Cinera wasn't quite so... needy. Maybe not strong enough to face death, but at least she was once able to be there for others in their time of need. Delcastle had been the one to nearly die, after all. He was already willing to give up so much for her, when they had only met the evening before... Were he and Bulwar really willing to go so far as death for a single, insignificant person such as herself? She hadn't ever liked herself, anyway - what was it that Delcastle saw in her? She gazed into the reflection of the blade, staring at her own pathetic eyes as they peered back at her.

"That girl... There's nothing strong about her..." Cinera muttered, holding back another onset of tears. Her shoulders shook with the pressure as she seemed to struggle just to look at her own reflection. "She's ugly, and bitter, and tries to hide from the world... but when the world doesn't want her, she clings to the first person she finds to take care of her." As he pulled her close, Cinera relaxed comfortably against his chest. Something about this felt natural... It made her feel some sort of nostalgia, even, as if they had known each other for years. She was too upset to do so in this moment, but if she could have blushed she would have.

"Why?" She finally asked, pulling away a bit to gaze into his eyes. "Why would you and your brother go so far for people you haven't even met? How could you know if I really am this beautiful, strong girl you seem to think I am? What if... W-What if I'm not the person you hope I am...?" Her gaze trickled down to the ground, where her hands pressed into the soft dirt of their virtual prison. "Would you still die for someone like that?" As she asked these things, a sort of lightbulb seemed to click in her head; her reality shifted into a strange kind of self-realization. Surprised at herself, she quickly turned her gaze up to look in Delcastle's eyes. She saw him as this kind, helpful person who wanted to do good for others, right? But what made her see this stranger in that way? It was the same thing she had just asked him. For all she knew, he could be a completely different person. If he was, would she still want to fight with him? For him? Would she still... die... for him?

She knew the answer to that question immediately and relaxed next to him, pulling her knees up to her chest. Yes... I would. Cinera didn't know why that was her answer, but it was. Delcastle was the brave kind of person that she believed should never die, if it could be avoided. Her own self-esteem wasn't high enough to place her own life over someone whom she thought might even have the slightest possibility of bringing some good into this world. She had no way to really know, but maybe Delcastle saw her in the same light; even if she was this weak, pathetic girl, she was alive and hadn't given him any indication that she hated people - that gave her some potential. Even if it was only a little... Even if Delcastle never ended up saving anyone, there was hope. That was what she liked so much in this stranger. That was something she might be able to fight for, however small.

I might not be able to do much with my own life... but these people might be able to. We won't know if they don't have a chance - if this game kills them before they can impact the real world. I... I can't die, yet... Her eyes glanced up to see the handle of Severance in front of her face, from where Delcastle was now standing in front of her. He had given her a choice: to be protected and coddled as she always was, or to finally stand up and stop relying on others. To put her meaningless life full of games and comfort to good use. Hesitantly, she stood, looking into Delcastle's eyes as if there would be some sort of hint there to push her forward. This time, his expression appeared neutral to the matter. By this point her sobs had quieted, but her cheeks were stained with the still steadily-flowing tears. Then the image of Delcastle being ripped apart flickered in her mind, and her hand reached for the handle before her mind understood what she was doing.

For a solid, silent minute, Cinera stood and stared down at the katana she had now taken. Severance, the blade that had been there with her since the beginning... It had found its way back into her hands, even after such a frightening experience. She knew that was her strength - severing the ties she needed to, whether that be with enemies or with friends. Feeling the weight of the blade in her grip, she closed her eyes and lifted her face toward the sky, feeling the breeze cool her wet cheeks. I have to fight... She thought, solemnly. Delcastle is right. If I give up, I've basically died. And I can't die, yet... I'm sure he has many people to protect him, including his brother, but even so...

"I want to protect this." Finally feeling totally calm, Cinera opened her eyes and looked at Delcastle, a sort of solemn fire in her eyes. "I'm tired of depending on others... When I do that, others can't depend on me when they need to. I'm tired of severing ties I don't need to. And Delcastle..." Her cheeks flushed a bit of a bright red as she admitted this next part. "... I... I don't know what it is, but I feel a sort of strange connection to you..." She turned a bit away from him, awkwardly, to stare at the ground. "We've barely known each other a day, but I feel like we've been friends for life. You have been so supportive and kind since I met you at the tavern. Honestly... I just don't know where you see that strength in me; I've been searching most of my life to see myself the way you seem to. But I realized that you are that kind of person to me - the kind who deserves to live... the kind who will do something good with his life. I don't want to be the reason that something - someone - like you is gone from this world... so... I know we're still practically strangers, but... uhm..." She looked up at him, her face extremely red as she spoke: "I... I-I want to fight for you... I-I'll fight...!"

A sort of bravery shone in her eyes as she gazed into his, feeling thrilled and terrified and exhausted all at once. Cinera didn't know what would happen from here - but she wanted to try. That was the least she could do, in this moment. I don't know what I'll do if I ever see someone die... but... we'll cross that bridge when we get there...

Mai'lo glanced at the fang, considering it for a moment before shrugging. "I'm not really sure I could do anything with it," he admitted. "I've put most of my points into strength and speed. I don't have much skill for blacksmithing or crafting, so you should keep it. Make something good out of it."

He pulled the brass knuckles off his hands and tucked them back into his pockets, flexing his fingers for a moment once they were stowed away. "Those things worked out better than I thought they would," he muttered. "Might not need to break out Wodin for a while."

He stretched, joints piping and muscles straining for a moment before relaxing again and looking around. "How about we head deeper into the woods?" He asked. "We might find some better loot."

Day 2 Afternoon

Tailpin hadn't wasted much time with his breakfast... or was it lunch? Either way, he paid and left with a purposeful stride and headed straight for the west gate out of town. With his bow in hand and a level one arrow ready he headed out. He kept his eyes open for any signs of danger while he took confident strides toward a moderate hill that overlooked a number of spawn spots. He had marked the location on his copy of the mapping data before the group split up, along with the location of that nasty hollow that had claimed a life only yesterday. He really, really wanted to hunt those foxes. But, that was out of his reach for now. With an eye honed by his nocturnal experiences, Tailpin took position on the top of the hill and assessed the area around him.

There were a few other players out hunting the Wild Dogs in this field area but they were all using hand-to-hand weapons. They also looked at least ten years younger than him. Even though he hadn't really expected anything else he still felt a little lonely. Even when games were finally raised to such a height of quality as this, they were still seen by society as a simple toy for children to waste time with. The few who had the vision to understand how badly inaccurate that was were probably somewhere in here, lost in the masterwork of one like themselves. It would be wonderful if this world could let the players choose. Some could choose to stay. Others could choose to go. But, that would probably make this a very empty world indeed.

Tailpin took aim at a Wild Dog standing at the base of the hill. He drew back the arrow past his ear and held it for a second. It sparked and began to glow a dull red. Compared to the more aggressive behaviors last night, the movements of the Wild Dog were sluggish and unmotivated. He loosed the shot. It impacted with a subtle flash. The Wild Dog dissolved into sparkling shards of azure. He didn't want to think about what could be or might be. He lined up another shot without using a skill. That Wild Dog took one more hit before it vanished. Two regular shots, one skill shot, two regular shots, one skill shot, the archer settled into a steady beating rhythm bringing one enemy down after another as hours passed. Twice, he outpaced all of the respawns in range of his position. Twice, he took a short break until he had a target.

Day 2 Night

It was only when the respawns quickened just after sunset that he realized how much time had passed. He also realized that he was hungry. He hadn't eaten more than a small snack in almost eight hours. He thought of heading back to town and buying something but stopped before taking a step. The venders were all closed for the night and if he had to go back to the Inn then he would just spend the rest of the night there. Still, he hadn't brought any more food with him. It was time to go back.

He ended up killing seven or eight more Wild Dogs on the way back, mostly because of respawns, but it wasn't a bad trip. Their aggression wasn't a surprise and their movements were still as predictable as ever. The biggest surprise came when he got back through the gate and checked how much money he had gained. That raised his eyebrows. It had been a productive afternoon. Next time he would bring several meals worth of food and a few potions just in case.

Tailpin returned to the Inn and settled down to a late dinner at a small, four chair, table that was empty except for him. He didn't pay that much attention to exactly what was served. It was alright and cheap enough. He had made a very good profit in just one afternoon, especially for it being so early in the game. He also saw that he had acquired several dozen "Rancid Dog Meat" and a similar number of "Torn Dog Hide". With names like that, he didn't pull them out to look at during a meal. But, they did make him think of his Refining skill. What would that skill do to items like these? He didn't know. But, he didn't want to showcase his skills in public. He kept paging through one menu after another while he ate absently.

Something was nagging him. There was a tickle in the back of his mind. He blinked and glanced around. There wasn't anyone there who was specifically staring at him. Rather, every player in the place seemed to glance in his direction every few seconds. The background sound of conversations had dimmed to a dull murmur. Nobody wanted to appear rude by talking about someone with them in the room. Tailpin's long hunt seemed to have garnered more attention than it should have warranted. He straightened his posture, closed his menus, finished his meal, rented a room for the night and then took himself off to it without another glance.

Unfortunately, that isn't enough to stop rumors from flying. The way gamers chat, he would probably have lost his precious status as another "unknown player" by the end of the week at the latest. The danger he was in from other players was about to spike. An archer alone was easy prey for an ambush.

With the door to his room locked behind him, Tailpin took a deep breath and unleashed a string of curses so vulgar, and corrosive that it was fortunate that he had no roommate. Otherwise, he would probably be holding their hair back and apologizing for the rest of the night. As it was, there was no player in the game right now who could have a Listening skill high enough to hear him through the door. He wasn't supposed to be rumor worthy yet.

Still, everything wasn't ruined yet. For now, he could continue to hunt the Wild Dogs. But he would have to either relocate or start running with a regular group within a week. His cost/time ratio would tank and it was all because people couldn't keep their noses out of each other's business and their mouths shut. He knew that some players would probably think him an easy target, either for exploitation or outright banditry. He'd have to keep his head down.

Tailpin sat in the tiny room's only chair to think. He would have to pack his food and eat on the move, no more common room meals alone. He'd spend all of his time in town either shopping or in a room at the inn. It would be harder for him to find a steady group but it would make him harder to hunt for red players too. Hopefully, that budding notoriety would attract the kind of group that he was looking for.

He pulled up his character sheet and looked again. He had gained another level during his hunting spree. He was level four. If he hunted intensively tomorrow from dawn to dusk he would probably make level five. He might even get to level six if he kept hunting after dark for a bit. Closing that window, Tailpin moved back to that component item.

"Rancid Dog Meat. Huh." He mumbled to himself as he pulled one out of his inventory. He took one sniff and started coughing. It was well and truly rancid. It stank, and badly. It took a few minutes to muster his will and wrangle his stomach. "Well, gotta try it sooner or later." Saying it with bravado didn't help.

He tapped the item, pulling up its data. There it was, a button that hadn't been there before. "Would you like to refine this item? Yes/No" He tapped yes and then confirmed his choice when confirmation was required. The chunk of ignoble filth glowed for a moment and changed shape. It didn't stink anymore. It hardly looked like meat at all. It was green and hard to the touch. It had a different name as well, "Poisoned Flesh". The toxic attribute of the Rancid Dog Meat must have been strengthened. He put this refined item into his inventory and followed the same procedure with a piece of the "Torn Dog Hide". It was well named, looking like it had lost a fight with a shredder and lacking any fur to speak of. The item that resulted from refining was "Dirty Dog Fur". While the fur was matted and filthy, it was intact and supple. It definitely looked like it had higher value for crafting.

It was getting late and Tailpin wanted to be up early to start hunting so he only refined half of his "Torn Dog Hide", leaving the rest for later. He would have to ask around for what uses there were for "Poisoned Flesh". In fact, after the heat built up a little, he might just spend a couple days or so working with the materials he had gathered. It might prove both entertaining and valuable. But, all of that could wait till after tomorrow's hunt. Tomorrow would be a busy day.

Day 2: Night

Cin returned to his room, at the inn, after seeing that it was still open for the night and paying for it use, of course. He liked familiar things, and considered paying for several days in advance, so he'd have the room to come back too. But the plan for tomorrow was to go scouting for good sites to collect raw materials from. He'd found a suitable and probably fairly profitable profession to explore in armor smithing, this evening while pursuing the market for a profitable skill. He'd made his decision and made his way back to the inn, where he grabbed a quick bite of super, before heading to bed. He reviewed the items in his inventory, there were plenty, since he hadn't bothered to sell anything off to the NPC merchants, He'd been quite serious about using the fox as his primary trading partner, though if Kip or Tsu needed something he wouldn't think twice about making a trade, since they'd be working together so much more now. Still, aside from them, he planned to take his wares to the fox first, so she could have her pick of the loot for her shop. He wasn't really sure what it was she was looking for, so he kept everything for now.

Cin, rather belatedly, thought that he really should try to remember her name instead of just using the tag "fox" all the time. But that could wait till morning, it had been a very long and productive day and it was time to rest now. He'd look the fox up tomorrow, right after making sure he learned her screen name so he didn't make a fool of himself. Cin yawned as he slid under the covers, having checked the door's lock one last time, and laid down to sleep. He was soon snoring softly, and passing the night away as time slid by in this virtual world, that had become a reality all to suddenly.

Day 2 - Morning

Delcastle smiled so large it could have taken in his ears. He rushed forward to envelop Cinera in his arms and crush her against him as he laughed, his Lucerne tossed to the side without a care as he lifted her from the ground and spun in a circle before placing her back on the ground, a wry grin on his face. "That's the spirit! Fight for what your heart says to fight for, defend those who cannot defend themselves, and always try to do right." He kicked the lucerne at the butt end, the weapon head lifting off the ground as he grabbed the shaft firmly, standing with feet spread and fist on his hip he stood like a man waving his flag.

"repeat after me, my dear. Repeat it whenever you are afraid." He cleared his throat and stood taller with back straight. "I am a World Walker. That means I know no fear in the face of defeat. Mine is the choice to fight for the sake of others. To fight for the future of everyone." He recited his mantra with stoic determination.
He grabbed her hand and started to walk. In the distance, a familiar howl of the den mother could be heard clearly and Delcastle responded with a howl of his own.
"Are you ready to fight?" He flashed another customary grin and went into a sprint without checking if Cinera would follow. His Lucerne glowed a deep azure as he roared into the fight head on, the Lucerne smashed into the Den mothers snout with a CRUNCH that sent it flying away. The other two wolves charged him immediately but he merely smiled.

@Zelosse

Day 2, Morning.

"Oof!"

Cinera gasped as the sudden impact against her body, finding her feet suddenly lifting from the ground as Delcastle spun her around. It was an unexpected reaction, but she simply gave him a small smile and a laugh. He was very enthusiastic, wasn't he? But it was exactly what she needed. Honestly, she never received this kind of support in reality. It was the sort of thing she needed in her life, whether she was aware of it or not. A warmth filled her chest as soon as she saw that bright smile on his face. Yeah... This is what I want to fight for...

She had always admired people who could be endlessly happy. It was inspiring that there were people who, in a world full of so much despair and bleakness, could still manage to see the brighter side of things. She was one of the sorry pessimists who always saw the world for the crap that it was. For someone to make her feel hopeful in the world... well, it was pretty incredible. Her cheeks flushed red as she watched him strike another one of his hero-like poses. Delcastle truly was something else, and she felt very fortunate in this moment that she had been able to meet him, even under such embarrassing circumstances.

Cinera felt a new foreign spark in her chest - the warmth of a feeling she didn't want to lose. That was all she knew, and it was all she would need to keep fighting. Delcastle's words moved her, and she gave him a playful salute as she went to repeat his comforting words; as she said them, Cinera vowed to live by them and keep fighting for the small glimmer of hope she had found in the world. "I am a World Walker. That means I know no fear in the face of defeat. Mine is the choice to fight for the sake of others. To fight for the future of everyone."

The last of her tears dried up as she said these words, and suddenly she found herself lunging forward to embrace Delcastle. "Thank you..." She murmured, happily. And so began the most difficult journey of her insignificant life, full of such significant people. Her cheeks flushed bright red as they walked hand-in-hand into the new destiny ahead of them. I hope that destiny doesn't involve anymore wolves, she joked, though was surprised when Delcastle started running... straight toward the den mother. Cinera felt a pain grip her heart as she remembered what had just happened before, but she did all she could to suppress it. Fuck it. Let's do this thing!"

"Bring it on!"

She drew Severance from its hilt to gleam in the mid-morning sun, laughing as she charged behind Delcastle. His hit gave her the break she needed to leap gracefully in the air, pushing off of the den mother to rush another nearby alpha. Things were going to be different... Cinera wasn't going to let their fate fall apart. "Switch!" She yelled, leaping back. If it was possible, her movements were more coordinated than before - she had the confidence she needed to melt into these unfamiliar VR controls. She flipped as she moved backward, connecting her foot with the face of another wolf as she swung her katana around to plunge deep into its face. The sweat glistened on her forehead as she pushed forward, killing this one wolf all on her own. It was like a dance, full of grace and flow - that was how she fought best. But this time, there was a new sort of force behind her attacks that gave her sword a more devastating blow. Keep moving... Keep it going... Don't let the fire die...

Day 16 dawn

A lone figure fights several npcs. Upon closer inspection it is seen that a jackal fights with him. In these two weeks he had gone seperate ways with emperor...after watching the strange fighting technique with dual tower shields that is. The dogs seemed to give him resistance, but he had increased his skills with his scythe. Once they were all dead a menu pops up and he collects his loot. He was now a bit higher in level as well and pretty much finished with the quests in this area. This worries him to an extent. If others knew of his level they may react badly. That and his name didn't help matters any. He was fine with this though, figuring he could get pretty far on his own.
He had kept in contact with emperor and tailpin, but hasn't joined a guild or anything. He finds that he doesn't quite match well with larger groups, but still helps with short dungeon runs. He hasn't done a boss run with anyone.
With a look of tiredness and satisfaction clear in his visible features he makes his way into the inn and gets food. Not realizing that it is now 3:17. He has been out fighting all day. He doesn't notice the other player in the same room, being preoccupied with his own food. His jackal sits next to him on the floor yawning.

@Tracyarmav

Day 16, Afternoon
Edgar_Walther

I looked up as another player walked in, and slurped the noodles hanging from my mouth a little louder than I had been. I nodded in his direction, but he didn't seem to notice me. Oh well, he's not the first player to give me a cold shoulder. I do take some interest in his pet, a Jackal apparently, interesting choice there... He might be worth talking to at some point, but I wanted to go visit the major ore deposits around town. One of the PC Vendors had given me a map of places to collect ore, and what kind of mobs to expect at each place. It would take me a few hours to visit each site, and that wasn't counting fight times. I probably wouldn't get to see all of them today, now that I thought about it... hmmm, well I could just go visit that one place, it was secluded from the other sites, and seemed to have a guardian watching it or something. That would be interesting, I wonder if I should get a group together to go fight it, but I didn't know anyone around here... and the vendor hadn't said anything about needing a group, so I'd be okay, right?

@BlackPanther