(A/N: Hi guys (and girls) I've been struggling over something in my story for a while, what should the name of Kirito's guild be? I don't plan on it following the stories title but I can't think of anything catchy. Please review with ideas if you have any and are willing to share I will site you as the 'owner' of the name Thanks! Also while Kirito may be immune to Argo's 'greeting' there are many things he has not yet become immune to. Argo will exploit this endlessly.)
-2 and a half weeks earlier-
The sun was just beginning to peak over the horizon in the world of Aincraid when a figure scurried out the front gate of the starting city. The second floor had been cleared around 2 days ago without a casualty this further reinforced the belief that the illustrious guild led by the black swordsman was the only hope people had of ever seeing the outside world again. The figure continued into the fields outside eyes set on a particular destination.
For the past month and a half this figure had been one of the many hiding on the first floor of Aincraid huddled inside the city. She had been hopeless and scared hiding in the inn paranoid beyond belief, until 2 days ago that is, when she had first saw them. As the blue pixels of the teleportation fading she caught sight of the rumored guild, and was stunned into silence. Many of the players in the guild we're her age if not younger, this included their leader.
He was a black haired boy dressed in the dark clothing that seemed common place in his guild. His golden eyes were tinted with a few faint touches of onyx along the outside of his irises. But beyond his good looks his aura was breathtaking. His aura was kind but firm accepting yet superior in his own way. He looked more like a prince than anything else and she whispered in a shadow of a voice "wow he looks like a prince or something."
"You're right" someone on her left agreed before mention it to the others in her group. They all agreed and started swooning about him shamelessly
Sighing the girl began to walk away from the obvious fan girls focusing her attention on the backs of the black garbed guild. As they slowly walked away, she felt belittled and disappointed about her actions; here were people her own age bravely risking their own lives to help free everyone while she hid. Determination rushing through her veins, she teleported back the first floor and ponder her course of action.
She had eventually decided she would not be able to join with just the ability to fight. Not to mention she was not confident of her ability despite being a beta she was a novice mmo player and had only reached level 7 by the end of the beta. The only thing about her character she had been proud of was the fact that her crafting skills had been relatively high. A determined look on her face she resolved to train her crafting skills till they were top of the class.
- Present day-
"Hey Kirito" Argo called looking up.
"What's up" the effeminate lady killer asked curiously "you find some good crafters?" He said hopefully
Argo sighed "that's the problem" she said "almost everyone who's not cowering in the starting city is a warrior of some type."
Kirito sighed "Damn, well I guess we should have someone train up their crafting skill if we can't find anyone." He said "I have enough money to supply the materials needed to level up quickly. It'll cost a pretty penny though."
"And until we get that guild portal gate up we won't be able to get to town easily, not to mention if that wall falls we'll lose the safe zone bonus." She agreed
"Hm?" Argo said suddenly reading a message "I think I might have something" she said
"Really?" Kirito asked hopefully.
"Yup," Argo replied "apparently there's been someone whose been grinding their crafting skills nonstop for the past few weeks."
"Can you get in contact with them?"
"Yeah it's a girl going by the name of ….."
-A few hours later-
It had been 2 and half weeks since she had started grinding her skills and she had reached a reasonable level for that time. One of the benefits about being the best smith/ crafter around was that everyone came to her for business. Well almost everyone anyways she had unfortunately yet to see a member of the black swordsman's guild grace her store. She had begun to worry that they already had an exclusive crafter or something. So day in day out she had toiled making sword after sword item after item. Despite selling and crafting all types of items she had decided to officially be a smith shop since it sounded nice. She was torn out of her line of though by the sound of a bell ringing signaling someone had entered her small yet cozy store on the second floor.
"Hello and welcome to Lizbeth's smith shop." She said in a friend and thoroughly rehearsed voice. She looked up and was met with the face of a girl around her age maybe a bit younger. Her hair was shoulder length and she had excitable eyes that seemed to sparkle in the dim lights of the store.
"Nice store you got here" she said smiling before continuing "but can your skills match up with it?"
This irked Lizbeth's slightly "What are you implying exactly."
"Hmm?" the girl replied airily "Oh nothing I was just wondering if you we're good enough."
"I'll have you know I have the highest crafting levels in this area" she said confidently
The other girl just shrugged and said smirking again "1 is still higher than zero you know"
At this Lizbeth clenched her teeth and said in retaliation "fine I'll have you know that my smithing, construction, and miscellaneous crafting skills are all at around level 80."
At this the other girl raised her eyebrow and said in a slightly impressed voice "nicely done" then smiling she continued "you'll do just fine" she then brought up her menu and began typing.
"What are you doing" Lizbeth said questioningly.
The girl finished sending a message and then opened her equipment menu and quickly tapped an item in her inventory. In a flash of polygons face paint appeared on her face creating the image of whiskers "I was wondering if you'd like to join a guild? Our illustrious leader is going to be here rather soon to invite you if you wish."
Lizbeth's eyes widened in shock and she whispered "Argo the rat" swallowing she said "you're part of …." She was interrupted by the sound of the bell at the front of her shop. Whirling around her voice caught in her throat. In walking calmly in to her shop was a boy with golden eyes tinted with touches of onyx along the outside of his irises. Swallowing she forced out three words "The Black Swordsman"
-A few hours earlier-
…Lizbeth" Argo said glancing up a Kirito she spoke "I don't know her exact skill level though and I'd like to find out before we extend and offer"
"Why?" Kirito asked frowning slightly
"Because I don't want her to know what guild the person recruiting her is from." Argo said simply "If she knows where were from she'll act all nice and shit and then later we'll find out she a manipulative bitch or something" Argo explained "plus you got to make a badass entrance" she muttered under her breath
"What?" Kirito asked
"Nothing," Argo assured "be on standby if I send the conformation."
"Got it, I'll wait outside in a bush or something" Kirito sighed.
Argo just smirked.
-Present-
Lizbeth just stood there mouth opening and closing like a gold fish as the black garbed youth walked closer step by step. He stopped around 4 feet away and Lizbeth shook herself out of her stupor "wait, you don't mean…" she said stunned
"If you don't wish to join we'll respect you decision" the only badass pretty boy swordsman in the room said calmly.
"Yeah if you don't want to just say it and were gone" the only dru- I mean information dealer in the room agreed.
Lizbeth's eyes widened "no no no, I want to join its just I'm a bit surprised, I mean you guys are.." despite her goal there was a little part of her who never really believe she had a chance and yet.
A message popped up in front of her face, she froze, it was a guild invite. Looking at it intently she slowly lifted her finger up hovering over the yes option. Then she looked up and around as if wonder if they were seriously inviting her or if they we're going to burst out laughing and say just kidding. Seeing no sign of it being a joke she took a breath and accepted the invite.