Reaching New Heights [Yami/Quest]

Was it weak for her to seek out others for company? She did often wonder if perhaps she should try solo’ing more once she boosted her stats to some degree but that didn’t really suit her personality. She was a social creature, especially in a place like this where she was not judged on her physical handicaps, she didn’t have physical handicaps in SAO. There were dangers in running solo just as there were dangers in joining with others, at least with other people she got to talk with them.

Vysin had been her first party member when she joined up, he had gotten her through more than a few panic attacks when the announcement had been made and he had urged her to fight. They had never met before SAO and yet they became close, even in those few short days before…

Her thoughts might have turned to that rather bleak subject had it not been for someone reaching over and tapping her on the shoulder. She blinked as she looked up at the young man who had roused her from her thought and she almost wanted to thank him for it. “You have impeccable timing.” She commented with a smile though looking at it now, saying that was rather silly.

He asked her to accompany him up the mountain, obviously someone else who believed in safety in numbers. “Sure.” She would open her menu and send him a party invite, hoping that she wasn’t overly eager in accepting. “I’m still on the lower end of the levels but I’m sure the two of us will be able to handle this.” She offered him a grin. “I’m Sissy, I know I can see your name and all but it feels weird not introducing myself.”

Sissy had a habit, whether it developed in game or not she didn’t know, of speaking her thoughts aloud even when she shouldn’t. Thankfully she hadn’t said anything embarrassing and the man who had asked her to join him hadn’t said anything about it either, so she could move on from that particular silliness. One quirk she had yet to grow out of was introducing herself but damnit she was going to stick with it, manners mattered after all!

Yami humoured the girl and introduced himself as well, a gesture that she appreciated since really he could have just rolled his eyes at her and walked away. It wouldn’t be the first time her sunny disposition and little quirks annoyed a person enough to make them walk away but that was their loss in the long run, she was lovely. Well, she thought so anyway. “Oh yes, I accepted the quest. I need as many rewards as I can get if I’m going to get anywhere in this game.”

This seemed like a simple enough quest but she didn’t actually know what it entailed. Was there monsters on the way there? NPCs?

Yami was quite a friendly player and she had no reason to think that she might be silly to not trust him. Player killing wasn’t a thing and as far as she could see, she had nothing that would make anyone want to target her. That being said, she might just be too naïve for a game like this. Either way, she was quite happy to have a travelling companion. “Off we go!”

She would let Yami lead the way if he liked, keeping a hand on the hilt of her sword at all times in case a monster appeared. “Do you think there will be any combat in this quest?”

Was it still a game or was it more just because of the ‘death’ aspect? Sissy knew that it was no mere game and yet she couldn’t bring herself to accept it as anything other than it, believing it to be reality felt like giving up on ever escape and she couldn’t do that. Either way, she would call it a game until convinced otherwise, it helped her cope with what had happened. This quest was supposed to be simple enough but she played games enough to know that sometimes the simplest tasks had the strangest twists to them and she’d sooner be prepared for whatever may come their way.

They set off towards the mountain at the center of this floor. She was sure that plenty of other people were doing the same since it was such a low level quest, people were desperate to level up in order to survive. Hiding away in the Town of Beginnings could only last for so long and if Sissy was honest with herself, she regretted making that choice after her friend’s death. She should have fought harder rather than cower in fear and grief. She would honour his memory by living on, he would have wanted it that way. Walking slightly behind Yami, Sissy had a bounce in her step as she took in the beauty of the world around them. She’d hold on to this as long as she could, whether she died in the game or made it back to the real world, she would miss this.

“True enough, best to be on your guard in this place.” One misstep and that was it. It was strange, while Sissy felt sad about those who lost their lives in this death game, she never felt anger towards the one who did it. Perhaps she should but she never gave him much thought. “Odd how menial these sorts of quests are. Climb a mountain and take in the scenery, not the most inspired.” Still, she couldn’t complain. “But if it gives experience and maybe an item, why not?” She was mostly talking aloud rather than following a conversation vein, she did it from time to time, a habit from spending so much time on her own.

His question caused her to slip back into talking with someone other than herself and she offered a shrug and a smile. “Mainly the quest, I’ve never been one for heights. I’m sure the view will be nice enough.” She hoped the mountain would come into view soon enough. “And you? Have you completed many quests yet?”

Sometimes it was conversation that made quests better, kept her from losing herself in her own head and kept her focused. Not only that but it allowed her to get to know other players which was important, especially as she was still coming to terms fully with everything that had happened so far. She wanted to be stronger and join the front lines, she knew it would be hard and incredibly dangerous but damnit, she wanted to do it just the same. She didn’t want to be poor pitiful little Sissy who hid behind others. She wanted to be a protector and warrior.

“Aren’t you afraid?” She almost regretted askin such a question, almost seemed too personal. The labyrinth scared her, she wished it didn’t but it did just the same. “I want to go to the labyrinth but it scares me, too many unknown variables.” She was too weak for it at the moment. She needed better equipment.

“I don’t mind grinding in most games though its hard here. Too many players trying like crazy to level up.” Grinding was a natural game mechanic and could either be fun or just really annoying depending on how one did it. Here, it involved killing pigs a lot and just trying to survive. “I’ve met a few people so far but it’s kind of hard. Maybe it’s still the shock of what’s happened but I’ve found it hard to integrate with people.” Maybe it was just because some people came into the game with others and thus formed their own close-knit groups or maybe she just lacked in social skills. Either way, she had a habit of feeling like an outsider whether she liked it or not.

Her plans? “My main plans are to survive.” She offered a slight chuckle, knowing that was rather obvious and shrugged. “I want to join the front lines but that isn’t going to happen for a while, if ever.”

The pair managed to reach the mountain after what felt like ages of walking. It was pleasant enough of a walk, a chill in the simulated air and Sis couldn’t help but stand in awe at the massive mountain above them. “Good thing we can’t feel pain or my feet would be killing me.” The idea of her feet hurting was more amusing than it should have been in a rather morbid way given her inability to feel below her waist.