[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/v45jtPZ.jpg?1[/img][/center]
[hider=Morning]Dawn broke over the city once again.  The thin, gray strands of light gave way to pale, golden rays that filled all Genesis.  Sunlight bathed the hills and prairies, warmed the walls and buildings--and filtered through a set of half-open shutters to fall gently upon a pair of sleeping maidens.  Feeling the sun caressing her face, Alisea’s eyelids fluttered open in welcome.  Another new day began, and she was still alive to greet it.

Aster, too, was still alive.  This particular morning Alisea found her companion’s calves laid across her abdomen.  That proved much less of a challenge for the magess to extricate herself from than yesterday’s; quietly sliding toward the edge of the bed, Alisea moved out from under the swordswoman’s legs and stepped onto the floor.  [color=ec338c][i]’That was remarkably easy.  Her skin is so smooth… Is that natural, or part of being in the game?’[/i][/color]

The magess rubbed the sleepiness from her eyes, then stood and stretched.  The muscles in her shoulders groaned, reminding her of the work she had done the day prior.  Frowning at the annoyance, Alisea set to work loosening the muscles.  Before long she had started into a familiar routine of light exercises and stretches--a mini-workout she had worked out for basketball season.  Arms, legs, core, cardio--each set of muscles in turn flexed, extended, and relaxed.  After a few minutes she had a light sheen of sweat coating her body.

Aster awoke slowly, almost as though she were rising out of a pool of warm, soothing water: little by little, and with a reluctance that hinted at how comfortable the inn’s beds must be. Simulation or not, the warm covers made a cozy trap which she was loathe to escape. Rolling over a bit, she sat up, rubbing at her eyes blearily and realizing that she had once again managed to sprawl herself across the entire bed. Well, c’est la vie. Alisea seemed to have survived. In fact, she was apparently thriving; going through some exercises, presumably to loosen up for the upcoming dungeon. Aster tried not to stare, though it was an effort, given Alisea’s impressive posing and lightly-clothed form.

“Heya, Alisea. ‘Morning.” She slid out of the covers reluctantly, sitting on the edge of the bed and rubbing at her eyes. “Ugh. Why did I agree to wake up so early? This is supposed to be a game. Survival or no, I should get another couple hours.” She realized she was rambling to herself, and looked back to Alisea, this time less surreptitiously. “I’ll… uh… go get us some breakfast. Do you want anything?”

[color=ec008c]”No, thank you.  I plan to grab something with Reylan when we drop off the Guild Registration papers.”[/color]

“Alright. I’ll be back in a little, then. I think I saw that they had a scone on the menu, that sounds pretty good.” She started out the door, eyes still adjusting a bit to being awake. Behind her, the magess broke off her workout, but the reaction was too late; Aster had the door open.  As she stepped into the hallway, she realized that she felt a bit cold. Her feet, particularly. Looking down, she warmed up almost instantly with embarrassment as she realized she had failed to re-equip her shoes and clothing. It was a strange step to matter in a game. In most video games, sleeping in armor was normal. As it was a bit uncomfortable here, off it came, at least for sleep. Hmm. She’d have to invest in some pajamas at some point.

With a few hurried taps at her menu, and after ducking back into her room, she equipped her clothes and, as an added measure, her armor, as some sort of over-compensation.

The bar was a bit busier than Aster had expected, but even so, she managed to purchase some mediocre peppermint tea, and a warm scone, as well as some additional provisions in the form of dried meats and biscuits. It set her back a whopping 60 renn, but it would make her much more comfortable in the coming dungeon.  She turned to head back to the room, but stopped.

Walking out the door were Reylan and Alisea.  Again she had arrested his arm, holding onto it as they left. Aster was once again a bit confused, but didn’t want to address it either way. Best to leave things be.[/hider]

[hider=Journey]Thoughts were racing around Alisea’s head faster than horses around a derby track.  Reylan asked her to act as his Vice-Commander; that would mean responsibility to the party, to the Guild.  She was no stranger to it, but did she want that?  She might have to stop teasing Reylan--not because she thought it improper, but because she suspected certain new members actually thought she was serious.

Then there was the portrait Reylan had drawn.  If it was anything like what he had shown Alisea at breakfast, it had to be stunning.  Aster had certainly been impressed when he showed her last night.  And she had seemed really happy with it, too.  The magess really wanted to ask about it.

Dub and Karma were both still here.  That was good; Reylan would be happy.  They were never close to each other, but they were both still in the party.  Hopefully there wouldn’t be any more incidents--so long as Dub didn’t claim he was an elf, he couldn’t have any lies bigger than last time that would surface.  Then Karma wouldn’t have a reason to open his mouth.

Of course Alisea couldn’t leave out thoughts on the new party members.  Paralyze and his friend (she needed to quietly ask Reylan for his name) looked to be front-line fighters.  The protection was a good thing; yet the magess felt a little disappointment that now it would be less likely for a wolf to break through that she could engage.  The final arrival was Chari.  A girl.  That was a tremendous relief.  Better yet, she was a rogue; and Alisea could see in her demeanor the same playfulness that had first drawn the magess to Fyaira.

For now, Alisea was walking with Aster.  [color=ec008c]”Can I see it?”[/color] Alisea asked suddenly, without giving the swordswoman the slightest bit of context.

The lack of context caught Aster off guard, and she mentally scrolled through her inventory. What did she have that was of interest? Her sword, her dagger and blindfold from the chest, and… Oh.

“Sure, no problem.” She glanced at Reylan momentarily, before pulling up the painting he had done of her, pulling it into being out of her inventory, right in front of her. The painting was quite large, and she carefully caught it as it fell from midair. “Here it is. This is what you meant, right?” [i]What else could she mean?[/i]

[color=ec008c]”Yeah.”[/color]  Alisea didn’t take it from Aster’s hands; rather, the magess pressed up against Aster, even wrapping an arm around her back, so they could look at it side by side.  The magess was stunned.  The work was beautiful, the likeness remarkable.  Most of all, though--the feature that immediately captivated her attention--was Aster’s face.

[color=ec008c]”The eyes,”[/color] she amended aloud.  [color=ec008c]”The way he drew your eyes… is perfect.”[/color]

Aster blushed, though the painting was not her own work. She scolded herself for the involuntary action, which was becoming almost reflexive. “Ah… well, thank you. Reylan did an excellent job, though I think he may have embellished me a bit. My hair never behaves that well…” She tried to keep up a serious face, but a giggle slipped out, and she shook her head at the weak critique she had afforded. “I never thought I would find myself laughing before risking my life. I guess having friends agrees with me.” She looked up at both, and cheerily asked “Shall we see about clearing a dungeon?”

Alisea couldn’t deny it in the slightest, nor would she want to:  Aster’s expression was surpassingly cute.  Though the magess had brought up the question for another reason--in addition to seeing the portrait (she really had been intensely curious)--seeing her friend look so happy, Alisea let it go for now.  She cast a quick glance over at Reylan, then back to Aster, and finally just smiled contentedly.  [color=ec008c]”Yes.  We shall!”[/color][/hider]

Health: [color=00aa00]400/400[/color]
Mana: [color=0072bc]1250/1600[/color]
[hider=Level 2 Mage]
[b][u]Attributes[/u][/b]
Strength: 2
Agility: 7
Intelligence: 18

[b][u]Skills:[/u][/b]
Acupuncture: 4
Linguistics: 14
Smithing: 9
Unarmed Combat: 30

[b][u]Equipment:[/u][/b]
Cloth Armor
Cloak
Air-Walker’s Sandals - Grants user the ability to take up to 5 steps in the air.
Clothes (Cheap)
Wooden Talisman
[/hider]
[hr]

Entering the dungeon once more, Alisea could feel that short moment of [i]shifting[/i].  It wasn’t spectacular, but it was enough to alert a player she had entered an instance dungeon.  And by all rights it should have been the same dungeon they had gone into before.  In most respects it was; but the most important one, the one growling at the party right now, was vastly different.  There were, not three, but six hill wolves staring them down, with a white wolf at their center.

Alisea’s mind raced.  [color=ec338c][i]I need to contain that white wolf.  Freeze.  Reylan is a good leader.  Why so many?  I should burn what I can; the fire would undo the ice.  Is it because our levels went up?  No, that would be ridiculous.  There would be no point in making multiple dungeons if every one scaled with your level.  Then why?  Because the party is larger?  That is certainly possible.  But it would mean larger groups do not inherently make dungeon runs easier.  If anything, the additional players will make this harder.  Then the rewards will be greater?  Otherwise there was no purpose in gathering a party.’[/i][/color]

An Icicle Shot against the White Wolf.  A Fire Strike against Wolf 4 to give Dirk some support.  Then a crazy idea crossed Alisea’s mind.  [color=ec008c]”Chari!  Heads up; I will bring the wolf to you!”[/color]  And calling upon the Darkness magic she had learned, she did exactly that; reaching out with a Nether Pull, Alisea yanked the large lupine off its balance, past the frontline fighters occupied with the smaller wolves, and within a dozen paces of herself--in prime position for a lightly armored brawler to begin dissecting it.  Not to mention easy range for more casting, starting with a Frostbite.

Now if Dubstepp would stop wasting his mana on something he should have done before coming here, they might be able to capture this beast.
[hr]
Summary:
Icicle Shot (Int 18) on White Wolf
Fire Strike (Int 18) on Hill Wolf 4
Nether Pull (Int 18) on White Wolf
Frost Bite (Int 18) on White Wolf