Under The Cherry Blossoms Part Five

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#5 of Under the Cherry Blossoms (NEW)


(Nakishodo)

Trade Request from Romulus

Will You Accept? (Y/N)

"Yes." I replied aloud and saw that exactly 20G were transferred into my Inventory. Satisfied enough at the moment I moved to sit down by him and he threw up his hands shying back. "I'm not going to hit you...yet." I muttered as I swiped the air to bring up my player menu. "You stay right here and keep lookout. Whoever tried to kill you obviously is not done yet. I've got some things to assign so your going to have to keep lookout."

"Things to Assign?" asked Romulus as if I were speaking in tongues. I took pity on him. "Just keep an eye out." I somewhat barked at him. Maybe I was turning into a Canine Kin. Well whatever. I mentally shrugged my shoulders and performed the gestures to pull up my menus so I could assign my skill points and stat points.

Apparently it looked like I was stabbing thin air to Romulus. Though thankfully he turned his attention to making sure no one was trying to kill him at this moment.

_Remain skill points: 6

Unassigned Attribute Points: 6_

_Ok so I get two AP per level and 2 SP per level. Easy enough to remember. _

Looking at my skill window and knowing that I would be forced now to cook and gather ingredients I looked through the basic skills listed there.

_Skill Name: Fox's Eye

Description: Using the naturally discerning eye of the fox your able to more easily find an opponent's weak spots as well as any valuables they are carrying. _

_Higher Chance For Quality Loot : 3%

Critical Chance Increase : 3%_

It would only cost me a single skill point. So if I went hunting and this increased the quality of the drops I should be able to make some good meals.

I made sure to grab the basic cooking skill for another point and the one labeled seasoning.

Since that left me with 3 skill points my eyes glanced over the skill tree again and I chose Basic Blacksmithing.

Now I needed some attack spells or abilities for my next two choices. I chose Parry and finally Swords Lv.1

I glanced over my skill window a final time. "I got stuff to survive. I've got a way to defend. I've got a way to attack. And of course I now have my Purification. I can now also craft.

I opened the AP window and glanced over the listed stats.

Wisdom 10

Intelligence 12

Vitality 10

Constitution 10

_Dexterity 10

Strength 10_

Charisma 10

Remaining Points to Assign :26

Why do I have so many? Oh wait. I probably had some initial points from starting the game. I just hadn't paid them any mind until now. Well if I'm going to be a healer It seems that I'll need Intelligence and Wisdom. Probably not a bad idea to buff up Dexterity as well as it seems to govern avoiding hits.

Decisions made I started to assign my points by the end my stats were like so.

_Wisdom 20

Intelligence 18_

_Constitution 10

Vitality 10

Strength 10_

Dexterity 20

Charisma 10

I closed out the window and then I stood up and paid better attention to my surroundings activating Fox's eye just to be safe and the world around me resolved into muted gray with flashes of orange here and there as the NPCs and other players walked by.

I figured that using the skill would increase it's effectiveness so I kept it on even though it was admittedly giving me a headache. I chose however to not enlighten Romulus to this little tidbit.

"Let's go." I said to him and stood up and pulled out my simple wooden cane. Maybe I could use the shepherd's crook on the end to strangle someone.

"Go were?" asked Romulus still looking terrified. "Away from here for starters." I replied figuring Ms. Coral was giving us the stank eye from somewhere. I grabbed Romulus' arm and frog marched him to the door...which considering he seemed to weight a ton was saying something. I guess I was just to pissed off to notice. At least that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Once outside it seemed as if he were still anxious and the gears started grinding in my head. "Adventure's Guild is where?" I barked at him and he looked at me as if I was speaking a foreign language. I repeated myself albeit more slowly. "Go down this street and turn right then go straight and take a left. Why in the blazes are we going there? " "Because I need help keeping you alive and as I'm not a healer yet I'm having to improvise."

"How do ya know we can trust em?" he objected. "I don't. However I'm far more willing to trust a "Greedy" adventurer that is only in it for XP over risking your health and safety trying to do it myself when I don't have the skill." I replied with a sigh. "Now get along with ya." I added not even trying to keep my voice down as I somewhat more successfully moved him along at this time.

The Adventure's Guild building was...loud. At least that's only explanation I can think of for the color scheme of so bright it's painful pink and Neon Green. "If we go inside and there is a rave going on I sooooooo blame you." I said to Romulus before moving to head towards the door.

The entrance was guarded by a rather gruff looking Bovine. Though for the life of me I couldn't figure out the species. They grunted at me which I took as a chance to state my business. "Here to seek a party." I nodded my head back to Romulus. "He's with me." I added. Another grunt before they cleared their throat.

"Go to the big table and find the Owl. She is the guild receptionist and will get you registered." His voice was like gravel being ground up and sprayed out.

"Alrighty. Thanks." I replied and somewhat dragged Romulus inside. I will admit it took way to long for my eyes to adjust to the gloom inside. I had forgotten that I still had Fox's Eye active so I was expecting color and while orange was prominent everything else was a monochrome gray.

I rubbed my eyes briefly and for some reason that seemed to help clear my vision. I made a mental note to try that more in the future should the need arise. Though honestly I had to admit I was impressed that the game was able to deal with my normally shitty eyesight without my glasses.

Oh I didn't mention that before huh? Well in reality yes I wear glasses though due to the bulky nature of the VR headset I couldn't have them on. I've tried contacts. Me and them don't get along. They think my hair is to long and I just don't like their attitude.

Anyway I'm off topic and I have to apologize for that. I made my way to the counter and had to stop myself short finding myself almost running into a mouse maid. I apologized quickly and she performed an emote at me which left me a confused expression as I didn't quite understand what she was implying. Before I could ask however she was already on her way past and out of my sight.

I finally made it to the counter with Romulus and found the receptionist to to be A bunny woman. Ok so either most of the players in this game were female in regards to customer service and hospitality type positions or the game was just enforcing the stereotype. Then again maybe they truly enjoyed the role in which case who am I to judge?

Any back to the matter at hand the Bunny Girl who introduced herself as Teresa quickly registered me for the guild but when finding out that I would need a 100 gold to post a request for help I just shrugged lightly and said "Ok and if I just ask around? Will that incur a penalty of the financial sort?" I got a look for that answer but she did nod her head in the negative.

Romulus who was acting as if this were the most boring thing on the planet huffed at my efforts. I rolled my eyes at him again before moving aside from the counter. I looked around the room at large and debated on my options.

There was a sort of shy looking wolf in the corner and it looked as if the mouse maid had already left. There was another brown wolf nearby but I couldn't determine his class from the gear he had on. It looked like he was wearing a house coat actually. However his expression seemed to be quite kind.

I decided to take my chances and approached the wolves. Both glanced up at my approach and while their expressions ranged from bored (silver) to attentive (brown) they at least weren't openly hostile.

"Hello gentlewolves." I bowed to them both before straightening up. "I've run into a bit of a problem." here I hauled Romulus in front of me who cringed. "I've gotten stuck guarding this one for a few days. And I can't do it myself cuase I'm a newbie. Would you be willing to form a party with me and keep him guarded? We can split the rewards evenly."

Both of them looked me over and then I saw a shrug from them both. "Sure." replied the silver wolf. "I'm Zen." he added offering his paw to shake.

"I'm in. Call me Verac." said the brown wolf doing the same. When I shook their paws I noted a party invite which I accepted. Romulus' name was grayed out with a weird Icon next to it but I assumed that was because he was a person of this world.

Actually now that I think about it the people of this world weren't called NPCs. I forget their name but that certainly wasn't it. Maybe I should just think of them as Beastkin and be done with it.

Still it seemed the other two accepted the quest prompt as well as they had both made mid air clicking motions with their claw tips. I found myself smiling easily back at the pair before being reminded by Romulus that we needed to get going.

"Do you have a hidey hole ya can slink off to somewhere?" I asked of the Merchant who glared at me. I easily just shrugged. "It's a logical question." I replied. "I got someone that owes me a favor out in the country were the farms are. It won't be the cushy high life your used too." he replied to me.

In response I just looked down at myself still wearing the basic adventure gear. "Ya. I'm living it up." I remarked which only seemed to further antagonize Romulus. Thankfully Verac took that moment to speak up. "Where are we going?" Romulus instead of answering gestured for us to follow and began to head off. I sighed dramatically before moving to follow him.

Before I could move more than a few feet somehow Zen was in front of Romulus or at least at his side before I could blink. One second he was beside me the next by him. "Well then." I remarked eye brow raised.

_This was going to be a hell of an escort quest. _I thought as I moved to follow the pair with Verac at my side.