"So, how long have you been a blacksmith?" I asked, the rain finally beginning to cease.
"Since I started playing," she replied. "I guess I sort of had a passion for it."
"Doesn't sound very surprising, there are a lot of warm-hearted players who enjoy helping out others."
"Not to mention that it really helps out when you need to save your own skin," she said, and we laughed.
As we made our way to her shop (a well-kept one at that), she told me that her name was Lisbeth, Liz to her friends. I asked her if I counted as a "friend" and to my surprise, she said yes.
"Really?" I had asked. "I'm a friend?"
"Is that so hard for you to believe?"
"Not really, I'm just a bit surprised, considering we just met and all."
"Look at it this way; you were trying to do me a huge favor and had the heart to help me out even though I snapped at you. That's pretty friendly, if you ask me."
"I suppose."
The inside of the shop was as well-kept as the outside. There were swords and weapons on display (no doubt her own creations) and a door behind the counter. I unequipped my armor and asked her how much I owed her.
"Don't worry, it's free of charge."
"Seriously? Even with the metal prices?"
She gave me a blank stare. "I'm not making you a sword, I'm just giving repairs. Stuff like that doesn't matter."
I gave her an annoyed look and turned my head towards the other displays. As I checked my inventory (something that became a habit pretty quickly), a friend request popped up. I brought my head around the message and looked at Liz, who had a look of frustration from behind the counter.
"What the hell are you waiting for?"
"Why are you sending me a request?" I asked. Small little cogs turned in my head (I wasn't the brightest SAO player) and a blush crept onto my face.
"Wha-? Ugh, not like that! It's just a request since I'm fixing your crap. Calm down!"
"Fine, fine, sorry." I pressed the "accept" button, ignoring the fact that I saw a blush on her face as well.
...
Five minutes passed as I waited for Lisbeth (I'll be calling her Liz for the rest of this tale) to walk back out of whatever was behind that door next to the counter with my repaired armor. The small, somewhat claustrophobic feeling of the blacksmith's shop became a bit overwhelming and I was about to step outside when she came back.
"Here you go, good as new!"
Damn it. Her childish demeanor was back, and I was still falling in love with it. As I received my armor, I noticed that my sword was also in need of repairs. Damn it. Again.
"Hey, uh, thanks, but there's something else that I-"
She sighed. "Your sword right?"
I chuckled. "Yeah, I forgot."
"Hand it over."
I followed her instructions, but this time, decided to follow her through the door near the counter.
...
The door opened to a staircase leading down into a furnace room. There were pretty common blacksmith tools, including a small billboard with a picture on it. As I examined the picture- one that showed Liz next to other blacksmiths- I heard her sharpening my sword. I turned my head, and my love for her began.
I donʻt know what exactly I fell in love with first as I watched her sharpen my sword. At first I thought it was how serious she was with her work; being so childish all the time yet so serious with what needed to be done. Or maybe it was that devious smile she gave me earlier that found its way into my head again. Either way, I was taken aback and could hardly speak, even when she was finished.
"There, that should cover everything!" She said, sheathing my sword. "No offense, but I thought you would have a stronger sword considering that you're part of a guild made to protect other players."
"Our guild leader holds on to all the rare drops and swords. I know it's strange, but I'm not too concerned about it considering that I know Joshua pretty well."
"I suppose that makes sense."
I thanked my lucky stars that she didn't notice the blush on my face as I thanked her for her time. I was also pretty grateful that she didn't charge me for my weapon repair, either. What she told me last was exciting:
"Since you're a friend, come by and visit sometime! Even if you don't need repairs, it would be nice to have someone to talk to if the shop is empty."
Yes. I could do that, most definitely. I made plans with my guild to patrol floor 48 the next day; no way in hell I was going to pass up a chance like this. I wasn't too good with girls back in the real world; of course, I had never fallen in love like that before, not even in real life. The guild approved of my absence, but not before Joshua gave me a gift and a bit of advice.
"Something is telling me that it won't be long before this game is beaten," he had told me. He was acting strange that evening, stranger than usual.
"Don't we all need to finish the last floor to get out of here?"
"I'm not sure... it's just a hunch. That's why I'm giving you all of your drops, including your high-level sword. That, and because I'm friends with you in the real world."
"Shiro..." I couldn't remember the last time I called him by his real name. Two years, I believe.
He placed a hand on my shoulder. "Good luck to you, Baraki." He walked outside and disappeared.
I never saw him again.