Private Eastern Brisshal What a normal day, nothing unusual could happen, not even meeting a sword that can talk

[Aroda]

As was typical for the area, it was a nice, pleasant day in Honeyhome, with all the liveliness and general positive energy that these small fantasy towns tended to have. Most of the time, anyways.

It was here that Aroda was spending a bit more time - more specifically, she was looking around town at every vendor and salesperson, searching for more things to buy. Both practical tools, and random junk that she might be able to use if she applies her 'magitech' skill. She was honestly still not sure how far it could take her, but she'd already managed to accomplish a bit with the tools and scrap she'd found here - mainly some small modifcations to her weapon and armor to personalize them, though she'd also made it easier to channel her aeromancy through her gun. A very cool effect, she had to admit.

And now, she was taking a moment of pause as she leaned against the wall to another merchant's place, focused on a small journal she'd acquired and had been keeping notes in, buried deep in thought. She didn't know if there was some digital way of making notes in this game, but she found using pen and paper much more novel in a virtual world. ...It also tended to work better for remembering what you wrote, she'd heard, but who knows, really.

@Solaria

 

[Solaria]

Not far away, a greenish-haired elf was walking with a large katana strapped to her side, seemingly talking to the air around her. "So I was thinking, maybe I should get a wooden sword to practice my stance with," she said to seemingly no one in particular. "It'd be better for me if you could give me pointers more hands-on, don't you think?"

Kelly, I hate to tell you this, but people are beginning to stare... It was a voice only she could likely hear- the sound of her sword's soul, Hawnell.

"Fine, fine..." The woman grumbled, pulling her sword out in an alley. A light glowed in the general vicinity, and soon a tall man in black appeared before her, her sword disappearing into thin air. With the man in tow, she began walking down the busy street of Honeyhome once again, this time talking to the man instead of her missing sword.

"It'd also help if I got a journal," She soon said. She noticed a blonde woman leaning against a wall with a pen and a small journal. Running to her, the elf smiled broadly. "Excuse me, miss. Can you direct me to a store that sells journals like that? I finally bought one in another town, but I need one specifically for one subject, and I forget where you can buy them here."

The man followed her with a wary smile, tugging on Solaria's sleeve. "Oh relax, Hawnell. She's got just the right kind of journal I need to take notes on my swordplay practice!" She turned to the woman. "Ah, sorry. This is my partner, Hawnell, and I'm Solaria. May I ask your name and where you got that nifty notebook?"

@Aroda

 

[Aroda]

Aroda doesn't immediately look up, not quite realizing that it's her that's being addressed for a few moments. When she hears 'journals', though, she does take notice that something is being directed at her, and lowers said journal to check who's talking to her.

"Ah...yeah, I suppose I could show you. It's not too far."

She affirms to the at-present stranger with a nod, closing the journal in her hand with a notable thud, which she seems to have not intended as she glances down at it - evidently still adjusting to using her metallic, robotic-looking hands.

"...Anyways, it's good to meet you, Solaria, Hawnell,"

With another nod to each of them in turn as she says their names, she extends her free hand to the one standing in front, Solaria.

"I'm Aroda. I'm guessing you two are pl- er, 'starcalled' as well?"

And she gives her introduction with a smile, only briefly forgetting the 'setting' of all this starcalled stuff. It'd be rough if she asked an NPC if they were a real person, or so she'd heard.

@Solaria

 

[Solaria]

Solaria gave a cheerful grin when the woman agreed to show her the way. She accepted the offer of a handshake merrily, giving a firm grip and shake. Hawnell sighed, reminding Solaria not to be too firm when shaking hands with someone- she wasn't dealing with a sword at the moment, but a living being, even if she was artificially made by the look of it.

Pulling her hand back worriedly, Solaria frowned. "Sorry about that. I'm more used to gripping him than a person, I guess." Then, she was asked if they were 'starcalled'. With a giggle, she nodded. "Well, I am. This guy may look normal right now, but he's actually my sword. He uses a mixture of our soul bond and my magic to take this form so others can see him talk to me. Because if we don't do it this way, I look like I'm talking to myself."

@Aroda

 

[Aroda]

Aroda shakes Solaria's hand gently, perhaps a bit too gently, having gone the opposite route of trying overly hard to avoid giving a shake that was too firm with her metallic hand. Fortunately, she doesn't even notice if Solaria's shake is too firm, because...metal hand, so she gives her a curious look at the apologies.

"Oh, it's no matter. Though these hands can feel - somehow - they are pretty sturdy. I'm more worried about being too firm, myself. That sturdiness makes it a little harder to gauge my force than, well, my original hands."

Sighing after delivering an assurance that she's okay, and also delivering some more info nobody asked for, she retracts her hand and moves to pull out her pen once more.

"...More importantly, you say this man is a sword? Is that for real, or are you just messing with the newbie?"

Though she asks that, she does already seem to be writing a small note about that 'sword person' claim.

@Solaria

 

[Solaria]

A soft sigh of relief left Solaria's lips as the woman explained that her metal hands didn't break easily. She glanced to Hawnell, then back at Aroda. It was only natural the other woman would think Solaria was kidding around. Heck, Solaria could still barely believe it herself. So, she decided it best to prove she was being honest.

"Hawnell, back you go." The man took a step back, looking around. No one else seemed to be paying much mind to them. With his own sigh, he allowed her to turn him back into a sword by command, glowing with a divine light before dematerializing into his sheath at her hip. "I noticed I'd managed to get the Weapon Arts mastery fairly recently, and it turns out that was part of it. We have a soul bond or something along those lines."

Scratching the back of her neck, she asked, "So, which way is the stationery store again? I only really remember where the bakery is. Well, that and the weapon shop."

@Aroda

 

[Aroda]

Aroda watches the process with wide eyes - she wasn't completely sure whether this girl was telling the truth, but seeing a man turn himself into a sword, she had to say it was a pretty convincing argument. What a strange ability. Then again, it wasn't that outlandish...she was pretty sure she'd heard of something like this somewhere before, but she couldn't put her robotic finger on it. Ah well.

"That's, pretty interesting, actually. You said this is magic and a...soul bond? I guess that's something you can only get from a mastery, huh..."

She brings her fist up closer to her chin as she thinks about the transformation of person to sword, wondering if maybe there's something similar she could accomplish with magitech, but...Transformers seemed a little far off from her current level of skill or experience. She'd have to consider it much later, she concluded with a final bit of jotting in the journal.

"Ah, right, the store. Yeah, I can show you the way. And uh...Hanwell's free to come back out, if you guys prefer that."

The lady finally starts to straighten out from her 'perch' leaning against a wall, and moves to lead the way through the small town toward a similarly small store of simple supplies. On the way, she decides to turn and ask the girl,

"So, how long have you been...I mean, er, how long since you were 'star called'? I've only been here a few days, myself."

@Solaria

 

[Solaria]

"It helps that he's a holy sword," Solaria replied with a simple smile. "I found him surprisingly on a bandit I defeated. I've always loved swordsmanship... and I thought, 'this sword and I would get along nicely'. So... I kept it instead of selling it like other loot. And then one day, poof! He was talking to me."

With a skip in her step, Solaria stood just a few feet away from Aroda. When given permission, Hawnell returned to his human form, mostly because he wanted to talk with the two women without either of them looking strange. "It's rare he's socially interested in people. I'm impressed, Aroda!"

Her grin was as big as the sun in her name. Unlike Aroda, though, she didn't try to correct herself when treating this as a game- even if she knew it was far from it. "I've been playing for about a month now. I've made some really nice friends, present company included. Though, it feels weird having to be cautious in a game... But I'll do what I have to do, I figure."

Hawnell mentioned it wasn't a game to him, and Solaria apologized to him. "Sorry, Hawnell. Let's just say, it's how I was raised." He retorted that she was raised poorly, and she puffed her cheeks. "I'll have you know my parents worked themselves to raise me, and my dad still does. And just like them, I'm going to work hard to help people... and to raise my brother to be strong, just like those before him."

@Aroda

 

[Aroda]

She listens intently, but is clearly a bit concerned at the mention of her sword friend being found off a bandit. So, it's definitely something her mastery is doing to the sword, for one. But that wasn't really in question. For two...a bandit had it? Bandit?

"Quite the story. So there's bandits here, too? Are they, like...realistic? When you fight them?"

Aroda can't help but ask with some trepidation, not really able to come up with a way of asking it without it sounding 'odd' from the point of view of an NPC.

"Er...sorry, nevermind. Uh, so Hawnell...can you turn into other things than a sword? Other weapons, or other appearances as a person? ...Also, what's it like being a sword? Can you, feel things while you're a weapon?"

She manages to distract herself from the previous line of questioning so well that she's not even really registering that their walk is already bringing them quite close to the store that Solaria was looking for.

@Solaria

 

[Solaria]

"Bandits are pretty common in these parts. I don't know how he got his hand on a holy sword, but... It's mine now, right Hawnell?" Solaria turned to the man walking behind the two women, who nodded silently. "Jeez, you're only talkative in sword form. You're so weird, Hawnell."

Shaking off her distress that her sword wouldn't talk anymore, she turned to Aroda with a nervous laugh. "The realism is... unreal, incidentally. Fights get bloody quickly, and the pain is real too. If you're new to fighting, you're going to want a party with you- at least one other person. Just to be safe. If you ever need a healer, let me know. I may not look it, but I'm at least decent enough in Divine Magic and Alchemy."

Hawnell would then discuss his life as a living sword. He could take on other forms in terms of weaponry, but was most at ease with his current appearance or his regular sword look. He could feel the blood of enemies, and the impact of piercing skin and hide. Basically, he was a lot like a living creature in the form of a weapon. Or so he told, at least.

"He's always complaining when he gets blood on him. I get blood on me too, but you don't see me complaining."

@Aroda

 

[Aroda]

Aroda listens quite intently - not taking any notes this time, because the three of them are walking, obviously, but she is obviously interested.

"Huh...well, it's, a bit creepy to know that things are so, graphic. But uhhh, it's interesting to hear about the life of a sword! I didn't really think I'd run into a talking weapon when I found this...place."

She hesitates at the end, stopping herself from calling it a game. Man, that was weird. She really was keenly curious about not necessarily why NPCs were so upset at the implication their world was a game, or that they weren't real, but just...the fact that that was the case. Was all of that really just programming? Things in this game didn't act like you were talking to a robot, or even a one of those chat AI. It was absurdly curious...

In all her contemplation, she suddenly perks up as she realizes she's reached the doors to the coveted store.

"Oh! Well...here we are. It's honestly more of a discount store with a bunch of simple things than a 'stationery supply', but I found a lot of useful stuff here, including a couple of those journals. ...Might grab another one myself, actually. Since I'm already here, and all."

She moves to open the door, stepping aside to hold it open for Solaria.

@Solaria

 

[Solaria]

Solaria laughed heartily. "Yeah, I was pretty creeped out by the realism myself. Felt like I was watching a violent movie, but... You get comfortably numb to it in time. Luckily for me, I'm a nursing student- or I'm going to be after my first couple years of college are done. I've read a lot of medical books, so I know the right places to nick for the least painful deaths."

Hawnell sighed at his master's ignorant words. A death was a death, and she was the cause of some herself. Then again, Hawnell knew he wasn't innocent either. As her tool of the trade, he took just as much blame as Solaria for the deaths at his point.

Solaria stepped inside with eyes full of wonder as she looked around. Hawnell had to remind her what she was looking for, which she quickly ran to find. Hawnell apologized to Adora for his master's excitement over foolish things, before following behind the elf with a weak yet warm smile.

"Aha!" Solaria chimed, picking up a couple of notebooks. "I should get one for plant study and such too. I've memorized some of my potion recipes, but it was pretty trial and error trying to get them just right. If I study plants properly, I should be able to make medicine more easily. What are you going to use your next notebook for, Aroda?"

@Aroda

 

[Aroda]

Well, as creepy as graphic violence was, it wasn't much better to hear a prospective nursing student cheerily talk about how to commit murder most efficiently. With a thin smile she answers,

"Ah, a nurse? I've heard getting through those schools is rough, but the pay can eventually get pretty good... Hope that all works out for you."

She makes comments about real life as they enter the store, but quickly finds that Solaria is too energetic as she's already hunting down a journal. Aroda arrives and also picks up a simple, blank paged little article, when a question is directed at her.

"Ah, me? Well, I've been using them to take notes or write down observations about...most everything. It's all new to me, so there's a lot to learn and try to remember. But now, I was thinking..."

The magia briefly thumbs through the blank pages of the new one she's picked up, thinking how to word it.

"Well, I'm trying to get better with magitech, so I figure I may as well get a notebook just dedicated to notes and ideas regarding that. Things to make, how to make them, where to find parts...I've even become decent at making concept sketches for the mechanisms. These masteries are crazy, hah."

She finishes with a good natured huff of laughter, sounding quite pleased at the progress she's made with magitech so far - even if she's barely got any magitech devices to show for it. She then clears her throat, thinking maybe she's monologued a bit too much, and decides to ask,

"And uh, what about you? You said plant study...do you use plants for the potions and the alchemy you've mentioned?"

@Solaria

 

[Solaria]

"It's certainly not easy, but it's worth it," Solaria chimed, unaware just how creepy she'd sounded moments before. "My mom was sickly, you see. I grew up visiting the hospital a lot, and the nurses always inspired me with how they took care of my mom, and even me. I've wanted to be just like them since I was a little kid." She gave Aroda a toothy grin, thanking her for the warm wish soon after.

She listened carefully to the woman's explanation of what she used her journals for. "That's pretty smart, actually. The only book I've really kept with me is my grimoire for divine magic... Because memorizing spells is oddly hard compared to anatomy and equations. I've always relied on memorization, but maybe I should try taking notes more like you do."

When the magia explained her goal to work on magitech, the elf grinned especially wide. "That sounds amazing! I'm sure you'll make all sorts of neat things!" A soft giggle escaped her as she took a second to think if she needed anymore notebooks. One for swordsmanship training and notes from Hawnell, another for plant study and alchemy... Did she need to separate any of these? She was beginning to wonder for herself if one more notebook was necessary, picking one up and scanning it curiously.

"Oh- yeah, plants are a big part of alchemy! There are other kinds of components too, but alchemy is basically like making herbal medicine and such. It's probably silly I chose it considering I can heal people with divine magic, but I thought I could sell potions on the side for income and to make sure other pla- er, starcalled people- can heal themselves even if I'm not there."

@Aroda

 

[Aroda]

"I see..."

Aroda nods slowly, putting some thought mainly into Solaria's latter comments, about magitech, and about alchemy.

"Well, I guess you could say my ideas about magitech are somewhat similar to yours about alchemy. I hadn't really considered commercializing it, but I thought it would be interesting if I could make useful items and tools, things people could take with them and use whenever, so I'd be having an impact even if I'm not around."

But she cocks her head, growing troubled from her own train of thought.

"But the 'field' of magitech is just so, broad. There's so many things I'm sure could be done with it, but it's all limited so much by materials, expertise, imagination, and, I think...masteries. I'm pretty sure not having the right mastery can make some creation ideas difficult, or...impossible. ...So I think I'm going to have to start by just using magitech to help myself, until I've got enough money, expertise, and...stability? To branch out."

The robolady nods to herself, her monologue having satisfied...herself. Of course, she turns her attention more fully to Solaria now.

"Speaking of masteries, though. Do you wanna exchange contacts? I think if I at least know people who have the masteries I'm missing, and are willing to help out, it'll expand what I can do in the future. Divine magic, alchemy - they seem like things that could go a long ways. And it doesn't hurt to have more friends, anyways.

She asks her with the usual smile.

@Solaria

 

[Solaria]

Solaria stared at Aroda with wonder. She was such a deep and future thinker! Not only did they have a goal in common of being helpful to people even without being by their side, but Aroda's thought processes on the materials and skill level that went into the 'line of work' she was choosing was just exemplary. It made Solaria smile to see someone think that far ahead and strongly about something.

"I think I get what you mean. Crafting masteries take a lot of practice. To be honest, I should spend more time on my alchemy than I do- I spend a lot more time on my swordsmanship with Hawnell. Of course, that's because I love the way of the sword even in real life, but... All work and no play makes a person dull. It's important to vary life a little bit... I need to learn to do that."

Before answering Aroda's question, Solaria began working with her palm menu to send the friend request the woman's way. "It's an honor," she said smoothly. "I agree- it's always fun to make new friends. And if we can help each other out in the long run, all the better."

@Aroda

 

[Aroda]

Aroda's smile brightens a bit as friend request are received, exchanged, accepted, all that good stuff. It really was good to have more contacts, in such a strange game as this.

"Alright, thanks! Looking forward to...maybe working together, in the future. It might be some time before I ever get far enough to do things like that, though. I'll try not to bother you much if I ever do want help, though, hah."

As Aroda starts to consider moving on, maybe finalizing her purchase of this new notebook, or looking around the store for something else to buy, or just continuing to nerd out at Solaria about magitech and its various complexities, she pauses and rewinds her mind to something that was said a bit previously.

"Wait, 'in real life'. You...practice 'the way of the sword'...in real life? I mean, er...in the starwhatever?"

She asks her, curiosity readily apparent in her voice...and a bit of concern apparent in her eyes, considering the earlier 'nursing student good at killing' worry.

@Solaria

 

[Solaria]

"Oh please, it's no bother at all. You're welcome to message me just to chat even, anytime. I may be a student, but I always have time for friends." A toothy grin took over her face. Solaria was a very friendly person, whether offline or online. She was naturally social and extroverted, always needing time with the people she considered close to her to feel comfortable.

When she heard the worry in Aroda's voice regarding the swordsmanship, she laughed ever so slightly. "I take kendo as a sport. It's not like I go around hurting people with it. It's just good exercise for me." She had never used a real sword, just a wooden practice sword in class. "My parents found it surprising when I took to it too."

She wasn't sure if Aroda would accept her choice of sport, but it didn't really matter anyway to her. She liked kendo. That was just how she was. "What kind of exercises do you do? I'm always looking for more ways to take care of myself."

@Aroda

 

[Aroda]

The worry in her eyes disappears. For the most part. Kendo, while it wasn't exactly common - at least where she was from - also wasn't all that strange, either. As far as Aroda knew, it was like...Asian fencing, with bigger sticks. Not like practicing with real swords, or anything.

"Oh, so Kendo was all you meant. I see...that's pretty interesting. I've never really been into combat sports...but I was never into most sports."

As Solaria inquires about exercises, Aroda thinks on it a bit. She wasn't a fitness maniac or anything, so she didn't 'work out', but she was still pretty active.

"I did play softball in high school for a couple years...but that was just something to do, really. I quit once it was too much work. These days though...I guess I do a lot of walking, some running, and...climbing? Not much else. It's not really for the sake of exercising, though. I just move around a lot."

She shrugs, having presented her answer as completely as she was willing to. Idly, she looks at her hands and cracks a grin.

"And I'm not sure there's any point exercising in the game for me, either. I doubt a robot can build muscle."

@Solaria

 

[Solaria]

Solaria giggled a bit when she was certain Aroda understood what she meant. "I was never into combat or competitive sports either when I was younger, but kendo just put me in awe for some reason. I did always like samurai movies though, so maybe that's why I was drawn to it? But that's why I chose Slash Weapons as my offensive technique. I mean, you can use Divine Magic to attack sometimes, but... Why not use something I'm actually familiar with in a fight, you know?"

Listening carefully to Aroda, she nodded. "I see. I was never good at softball- or ball sports in general, actually. I mean, I'm okay at soccer, but the ball isn't as likely to hit you square in the face with that than, say, softball or volleyball. I got hit in the face by volleyballs a lot in high school..." She shuddered remembering it. There was a reason she stuck to kendo. At least she expected to get hit there... And she had protective clothing that stopped it from being painful when hit, too.

"A robot may not build muscle, but make sure to stretch regularly just to be safe, okay? I bet your joints can still get stiff. Stiff joints hurt like hell." With a soft laugh, Solaria began looking at other things around the shop. "Say, Aroda, what kind of pen do you use? I just realized I don't have a writing instrument. Since until now, my only book was my grimoire."

@Aroda