It was almost cute seeing Kajin backtrack when he realized he was acting without his friends' pre-approval.  Alisea smiled kindly at his consideration.  [color=ec008c]"If you will have me, I want to work with you.  I will be in your care."[/color]  Behind her smile, the magess was already running probable scenarios.  When the table was full she felt confident in exploring, if not conquering, a beginner dungeon.  But what had been a large group for dinner had now dwindled to half of what it had been.  Most shocking to her was that it was the size of the group--the very advantage Alisea was seeking--that seemed to drive most of them away.  [I]'The most ready to act are all "lone wolves," is that it?'[/I] she thought.  It may have been an unfair thought; but if all those players had nothing back on Earth that they had lost, it made sense they would be prepared to embrace the world of Talrae--death-battles and all.

[I]'And what does that make you?[/I]  Again she found her thoughts pulled to that first boar.  Trampling... him.  Squealing in pain.  Flagging and falling under her attacks.  Its body caving under her fists.  Even now Alisea felt a small burst of adrenaline as she remembered that fight, and the following fights alongside Fyaira and Jack.  [I]'That makes me... broken, I guess.'[/I]  But all the better to live in this world.

[color=ec008c]"I am a mage, so it wouldn't be fair for me to decide where we risk our lives.  I don't believe grinding is a good way to gain more power, though--and that's our first objective, right?  Growing strong.  And the two routes I see are to increase the risk and thereby increase the reward; or to pursue the remaining quests, none of which state how much reward they bring."[/color]

Alisea paused to look around the table, evaluating whether or not she should say what was on her mind.  It would be best, she decided; if she was to remain with this group (and there wasn't any other option at present), not expressing her goal would only result in frustration--for her and for them.  [color=ec008c]"I know we could grow slowly and safely; but if we're overly cautious, we will be bumping into ninety-nine hundred other players doing the same.  I want to grow as quickly as we can, even if it means some measure of risk.  In this new and unknown world, I can't guarantee our safety; however, I promise to risk my life alongside you, and I will use my full strength to preserve us."[/color]