"Crystals and potions. How many do you think we actually need?" Harry asks, placing a handful of strength potions in his inventory as Asuna buys potions and crystals for herself from the vendor. Dale shrugs.
"I doubt that there is a set rule, but I wouldn't want to play around with my life. You can never be too careful." Dale replies, inspecting his inventory as he counts how many of each type of crystal and potion he has.
"Yeah, and I'll end up not using any. Keep insisting to myself, 'I might need them later' and end up just going through the entire game without ever using a single one." Harry replies, chuckling. I step up behind Asuna as she finishes her own purchase and steps out of the way.
"So, do you think the search party has had any luck finding the floor boss today? It is getting relatively late." I ask, looking back at the others as I complete my purchase. Dynamm shrugs.
"I hope so." Dynamm replies, looking up from his inventory inspection.
"That means a boss fight soon though. We haven't been in a boss fight before." Artoria replies. I look at her. She didn't seem scared, but then again, she was a master of not showing her true feelings. I frown sympathetically as Asuna glances at Artoria but says nothing.
"I'm sure we will be fine. We're a solid team, we have a speed focused DPS now, and we'll be fighting alongside the rest of the most elite fighters in the game." Harry states confidently, thumping his chest and grinning.
"Careful. Confidence is fine but overconfidence is fatal." Dynamm responds, looking at Harry. Harry slumps his shoulders.
"A real spoilsport you are." Harry replies, pouting.
"He's right though. We will need to be aware of what to expect and our own weaknesses." I comment as I head for the door.
"Agreed. It's unwise to make light of such a dangerous situation." Dale affirms, following me out the door with the others in tow. Harry sighs.
"No sense of levity here." He complains, shaking his head.
"Time and a place, Harry." Dynamm replies, looking up at the late afternoon sky as we walk over to the fountain in the town center.
"So, what should we do now? We've been around town already, we've bought everything we can buy. But it's a bit too early to eat." Dale asks, looking around the area, at the other players milling about.
"We could grab a few drinks at the tavern." Harry suggests. Dynamm and Dale nod in response.
"True, too early for dinner but not too early to grab a beer." Dale replies, chuckling, eying the bar across the square. I look at the others, and shrug.
"Fine by me." I respond, glancing over at the quiet Asuna, who remains unreadable under her cape. As expected, her emotions were unreadable. I look back at the others and follow Dale as he begins to walk towards the tavern.
"Hey! Hey! Hold up!" A familiar voice calls out to us from behind. I pivot around to look, as do the others, as we see Klein running over. I raise an eyebrow.
"Klein?!" Harry explaims in surprise."
"What are you doing here? Are you all back?" Dale inquires, curiously, watching as Klein catches up to us, resting his hands on his knees as he catches his breath.
"I… I was coming to… inform you th-that we found it." Klein wheezes out between breaths.
"Found it? The floor boss?" I ask curiously. Klein nods furiously.
"Yes! We are… holding a meeting in the… amphitheater in 2 hours." Klein states, standing up.
"Final strategy meeting?" Dynamm asks. Klein again, nods.
"Yes, to arrange roles for the different teams forming the raid. Anyone interested is to be at the meeting." Klein reports, looking at me. I nod.
"Brilliant. We'll all be there. Now, let's go get something to drink and a quick bite. Where are the others?" I look at Klein, inquiring as I don't see Kunimittz or Issin.
"They are eating with Agil, then going to the amphitheater. I split to inform you all." Klein responds. I cock my head, not recognizing the name he had mentioned.
"Agil? Who is that?" I ask, curiously. Klein smacks his forehead.
"Right, sorry. I forgot that you two hadn't met. Agil is another player focused on clearing the game. My party worked with his party closely in the dungeon." Klein replies bowing his head apologetically as I nod.
"Gotcha. Well, let's get some food and drink before the meeting." I reply, patting Klein on the shoulder and turning towards the tavern as the others move to follow. I notice Asuna staring at Klein, mouth parted faintly in surprise. She must have been caught off guard by the news of the boss being found.
We weren't the first ones at the amphitheater. There was already two dozen or more people, sitting all over, looking down at the blue haired man on the stage as he talked to another man with blue hair. I looked around to spot Kunimittz and Issin sitting with a very bulky, darker skinned man with a beard and three similarly bulky men, talking among themselves. I walk over to them.
"Hey! Long time no see!" I call out to Kunimittz and Issin, who look over at us and grin. Issin waves. The darker skinned man looks over at us and smiles. He stands up and waves at me.
"Hello! You must be Kazemaru!" The man calls out to me. His Japanese was a little off on the accent, so I assumed he must be a foreigner, albeit one who had lived in Japan for quite some time, as his Japanese still sounded very smooth. I wave back and smile.
"Correct! Are you Agil?" I ask, walking over and offering my hand to shake. Agil grins and nods. His handshake was firm, intense.
"That I am! Pleasure to meet you. Klein told me you were the de facto leader of your party?" Agil asks for confirmation, as I nod.
"Yes, something like that. Though there were eight, now nine of us, so we were running two parties of four and just collaborating closely." I reply, stepping aside to introduce my party members.
"Firstly, the pint sized blond is Artoria." I point to Artoria who flushes at the term 'pint sized' and glares at me before smiling at Agil.
"Hello." Artoria responds politely. I then look at Asuna, pointing to her.
"This is Asuna. Our newest member, a rapier user." I introduce her. She bows her head politely, but says nothing. Agil nods.
"The gentleman with the shady mustache is Dynamm." I point to Dynamm who laughs.
"Shady? It's dashingly roguish." Dynamm counters as Agil laughs.
"Pleasure to meet you three." Agil responds before looking back at me as I point at Harry.
"Baby face there is Harry One. The class comedian." I introduce Harry who grins.
"Howdy." Harry interjects, making his best attempt at an American impression. Agil grins and laughs.
"Howdy, Harry." Agil responds as I turn to point to Dale.
"And this is Dale." I introduce Dale, who bows and smiles.
"Hello." Dale says.
"Well met." Agil responds. He looks back at his group and points to a man with a goatee and a bandana around his head.
"This is Wolfgang." Agil introduces Wolfgang who gives a firm nod towards us.
"Well met." Wolgang states simply. I smile and nod in greeting. Agil then points to a dirty blond-olive haired man with a beard and pale skin.
"This is Lowbacca." Agil introduces the man, who smiles and nods his head.
"Hello Kaze, hello all." Lowbacca greets us. His accent is also slightly off. I nod.
"Lowbacca is like me, from out of the country. That's how we met. Fellow transplants who were looking for someone we could game with." Agil explains. "Lowbacca is from Germany." Agil adds as Lowbacca confirms with a nod. Agil then looks at the last man, with reddish hair.
"And this is Naijan." Agil introduces Naijan, who waves politely.
"Hello." Naijan greets us, smiling politely. I nod in greeting, as do the others, bar Asuna, who offers more akin to a polite bow.
"Nice to meet you all." I smile, sitting as everyone else sits down. I look down at the stage as one of the blue haired men turn to face the crowd and grins. By now, the amphitheater had filled up more, there was easily close to 50 people here.
"I see the word got around! So I shouldn't have to explain too much! I am Diavel! Today, my party found the room for the First Floor Floor Boss!" Diavel introduces himself, quickly broaching the topic of the meeting as people listen and nod and grin or frown in fear. I lean forward to listen closely. This was it.
"It is our intention to organize parties for a raid against the boss tomorrow!" Diavel explains as some people whoop and cheer. Others talk among themselves.
"Regarding the boss itself, Illfang the Kobold Lord starts with an ax before proceeding to switch out for a Talwar. Those with parties willing to participate, please come here so we can organize roles!" Diavel calls out as people begin to talk among themselves. Agil is one of the first up, heading down to the stage with his party in tow. I look at Klein. Klein looks at me.
"So, we doing this?" I ask Klein, figuring it was best to double check. Klein nods.
"I think we are as good as we are going to get." Klein affirms and smiles. I nod. I look at Artoria.
"Artoria, I want you to stay here." I tell Artoria who looks at me with an expression of confusion.
"Huh? Why?" Artoria looks at me, bewildered by my decision. Though, it was a decision I had reached last night while I was cooling my head after talking with Asuna. I couldn't lose Artoria again. She needed to stay behind, so that she'd be safe. I wouldn't let the same mistakes as I had last time. I wouldn't fail this time.
"Because, you need to update your gear." I formulate an excuse as Artoria stares at me in silence, then she looks at the ground.
"You think I'm not capable enough, don't you?" Artoria asks softly. I stare at her. I hadn't expected her to give such a response.
"What? No, you just need to still update your equipment more." I respond. Artoria shakes her head and looks at me.
"My gear is the same level as yours! And I have one of the best swords in the party!" She counters defiantly, her green eyes glaring at me angrily.
"Artoria, you need to-" I respond back, but I am interrupted.
"I can fight with the rest of you! Stop smothering me! You're just trying to keep me out of the fight! I can look after myself!" Artoria snaps at me, her knuckles white as she grips the pommel of her sword angrily.
"O-of course I want you to be safe, Artoria." I respond after a moment. Where had this come from? I wonder to myself.
"This isn't… you aren't protecting me! You're stifling me! I don't need your constant protection or pity!" Artoria steps up to me, glaring furiously. The others stare at us in stunned silence. Even Asuna seemed a little surprised. Artoria looks down at the ground, standing before me.
" I thought you understood me." Artoria states, barely above a whisper. She turns around and looks at Klein as she brings up her menu, dropping out of my party.
"Klein, add me to your party!" Artoria looks at Klein, snapping out a demand as Klein flushes in surprise and nods.
"R-right." Klein responds, sending Artoria a party invite. I watch on as Klein, Kunimittz, Issin, Artoria, and Dale head down to the stage. I let out a breath I hadn't realized I had been holding.
I… don't understand… I just want her to be safe. I don't want to lose her again. I think to myself, watching them walk down to speak to Diavel. Artoria's outburst was completely out of the blue. I feel a gaze on me as I watch Artoria and look over to see Asuna watching me with an unreadable expression.
"What?" I ask her, my voice coming out sharply and curtly, more so than I probably intended. Asuna looks down and then away and shakes her head. I stare at her. Dynamm and Harry are also watching me, stunned into silence by the argument. Their gazes felt awkward and I couldn't help but shift uncomfortably.
Fuck it. I can figure out what Artoria's problem is later. I think to myself as I head down to the stage to meet with Diavel. Klein's group was just stepping out of the way as I walk up. I look at Artoria but she wouldn't look back at me. I look at Diavel who turns his attention to me.
"Ah, yes. Are you looking to join the raid?" Diavel asks, and I nod.
"Yes. I have a rapier user, two shield and sword users, and myself, a katana user." I reply, pointing to Asuna, Dynamm and Harry. Diavel nods.
"Alright. The previous group is covering the guards so… I'll have you all support Agil's group." Diavel explains. I nod.
"Sounds fair." I reply.
"Make sure you fill in any weaknesses or gaps in his group." Diavel explains.
"Will do." I respond, stepping aside as Diavel turns his attention to the next group. I watch as group after group joins the planned raid. By final count, there would be 47 people in the final raid group. I nod. I look around for Artoria, but she is already gone. I frown.
Where did she go? She didn't tell me where she is going. Just what the hell is her problem? I wonder, looking around to see if I had missed her. Still failing to find her, I prepare to run off to look for her when someone grabs my wrist, startling me as I spin around to look at the person who had stopped me from checking on Artoria.