Chapter 0030

Altreyes’ mother, May LIn Darnetel, a half Chinese half Caucasian, no nonsense woman who raise her children with the upright yet strict morals found in China hundreds of years ago always said this phrase when she speaks (nag) to her children, “I want to cry but I have no tears!” Matthew tells her American speaks English, Laurie looks at her mother as if her soul flew out of her body because of her long lecture and John ignores her.

Altreyes loves her mother, although they do not get along and probably never will since her mother expect her to adhere to an outdated notion sense of proprietary while Altreyes live her life according to her own rules. The short Perrian Let never understood her mother’s feeling when she speak to her children nor all the idioms she spouts at the end of each conversation.

Until now.

Weapon Smith I - No requirement

Weapon Smith II - Required Strength 75.

“Waahh… mommy, you are so right, I want to cry but I have no tears. Wait, I do have tears. Waahhh.” A certain Perrian Let was crying her heart out while she stared at the profession trainer as if he was the devil incarnate created with idea of tormenting her as his sole purpose in life.

“Quit with the ruckus you baby.” Between her two companions, Altreyes expect sympathy from Sylphie and whining from Erica so it was a surprise to hear Sylphie admonishment.

It didn’t help that Altreyes sound like a child tattling to her parents, “Syylllphhie, the profession trainer is bullying me.”

The red eye Tajin Nost stared at her cousin with an amused yet exasperate look. Sylphie was used to Altreyes particular brand of whining. Her resistance to Altreyes’ big sad eyes with a hint of tears at the corner, pouty lips and defeated posture is at an all time high. Her brothers gives in to her pleading in their own way. The epic staff she wanted, early birthday present, the legendary ring she wanted, early Christmas present, the pretty robe she wanted that serve no purpose other than it looks really really cool on her character, early Christmas present. She received an early Christmas present already? Christmas is the spirit of giving, there is nothing wrong with getting two present from the same person.

Luckily, Altreyes isn’t demanding aside from the weird food craving she gets. The short Perrian Let is worse than a pregnant woman with her cravings. Matthew and John tease her all the time about her dumpling Thursday, her secret stash of beef jerky she specially ordered and hides so no one realize she has them when everyone knew it is behind her underwear drawer and her caramel apple cider concoction stored in the back of the refrigerator.

Damn Starbucks and their expensive yet yummy drinks. This cheapskate will make her own.

“What bullying? It’s normal for black smith to be strong and brawny. How do you expect a scrawny midget to lift the 200 pound hammer and temper the weapon?”

“This is a game. It isn’t meant to mimic reality. A weaponsmith doesn’t need 75 Strength to forge a sword.”

“The rationale is sound.”

“Syylllphhie, don’t side with the enemy!”

“What exactly is the problem? When you play Dark Drake Kingdom, you conform to the rules of the game. You even said some of the mechanism is necessary to balance the classes, so why are you complaining now?” High Altreyes’ resistance comes in handy at times like these.

“Oh wow, who is the adorable baby here? Look at those big round eyes with a hints of tears, pretty pink cheeks like a child going overboard with the blush when she plays with her mother’s makeup and those big fat botox injected lips. Such a doll. I bet the squirt has a pair of lungs in her. Loud children do the best crying. That postures screams tantrum incoming with those deflated shoulders, protective stances with hands raised for a fight and the feet slightly aparts, like she’s getting ready to run. If she stands up she might look taller than she is but with her scrunch up body wound tighter than a spring make her look smaller than a five year old. Crying babies are ugly but pouting babies are adorable. They make me want to cuddle up to them and soothe them. Of course those oversized clothes gotta go. No wait. She needs to wear bigger adult style clothes. Children playing dress up is so sweet.” Erica jumped into the conversation at an inopportune time. Erica recognized Altreyes. She just wanted an excuse to call Leviene a baby without interference from the nanny.

“Don’t provoke Altreyes.” This is from Sylphie. Although Erica had a valid reason to knock Altreyes off her high horse, she didn’t expect Slyphie to be so protective even a snark comment get a warning.

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“Ha! Take that you big bully.”

“I don’t want to deal with the temper tantrum of the adorable baby. It gives me a headache.” Sylphie ignored Altreyes’ jab towards Erica while softening the warning previously given.

Altreyes wanted to wipe the rage inducing smirk off of Erica’s face, but sadly, she can’t. It isn’t a matter of skill. Based on Altreyes’ gaming sense and experience, she can beat Erica before the Ruse Marren knew what was happening, but she didn’t dare since Sylphie laid down the law in the tavern earlier. The guild members of Slaughter told horror stories of Sylphie’s punishment toward those who broke the rules.

The Assassin didn’t know the particulars of the punishment meted out, but she heards rumors that it was boring to the extreme, terrifying beyond measures and test the limits of a players sanity. The type of people who can endure the punishments are actual assassins or professional snipers. Not ingame assassins or professional snipers, but bona fide real life assassins or professional snipers.

From the comments Altreyes was able to glean from miscellaneous conversations here and there, the punishment requires the player to focus on the target for extended period of time.

It did not seem bad in theory, however, who can put into practise? Altreyes certainly can’t.

Wraith speculated about Altreyes state of mind, mostly about her attention span and her inability to focus. When Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, shorten to ADHD, became common knowledge Wraith and Kaleseze recommend Altreyes go see the doctors to treat her ADHD symptoms.

Laurie was not amuse at her brother’s teasing. The words hit too close to home and the symptoms too much like Laurie’s normal personality. It was like they were labeling the core of her very being a disease that needed to be treat. If the symptoms was treated, will Laurie still be Laurie?

The short Perrian Let didn’t want to be punished by Sylphie, so the direct commands were obeyed while hints about codes of conducts can be follow at a player’s discretion.

“Fine then. I’ll just mosey my butt over to another profession trainer. Who needs strength anyways.”

Baby, definitely a baby. Sylphie was ever so glad she perfected a poker face because inside she was laughing her butt off. The short Perrian Let is truly adorable when she pouts. Her eyes widen like saucers and glisten with unshed tears, her lips plump up and a rosey blush stains the pearly white skin. The shrewd Tajin Nost knew of a few manga artist who based their tsundere characters after seeing Laurie pout.

Given Altreyes adorably expressive face, Sylphie wanted to provoke the short Perrian Let daily to see her go from calm to flustered to crying, however Altreyes has her zombie personality which was hard to deal with and harder for Sylphie to see.

“Wait.” Sylphie called the aggrieved Perrian Let back, “Why don’t you put points into strength if you wanted to become a Weapons Smith II? Wasn’t one of your alt a tank class which could use strength as the primary stat point?”

“That’s the predicament I’m in right now. I’ve already assign the points into agility instead of strength intending to focus on evasive maneuvers such as dodge and evasion instead of the strength base tanking skills such as block and parry.”

Dodge and evasion are different conditions in the game. Dodge means the player was able to completely avoid the incoming attacks, thereby taking no damage while evasion implied partial damage to the player. Both stats are based on the player’s agility.

Blocking and parrying are strength based because the attack was met with a counterforce, either a sword or shield. If the player does not have high strength behind the counterforce of the attack then the player, the weapon or the shield get pushed back causing damage to the player depending upon the players assigned talent and mitigation abilities.

“What skills did your tank take?” As a guild leader, Sylphie needs to know the specialization of the main players in a raid.

“Ahhh, I forgot to assign points to Rayael!”

“Are you stupid?” Insults coming from Erica are harder on Altreyes psyche than Sylphie’s insult. Altreyes held a grudge against Erica ever since the dress incident which simmered down but never went away. Never get in the way of Altreyes and money. It doesn’t bode well.

Altreyes fascination with money is strange. Money can be taken from Altreyes after she earned it however during the earning process, Altreyes will attack anyone who get in her way.

For example, in Dark Drake Kingdom, Altreyes will spends hour running around farming ores, herbs and what not. If she see anyone take the herbs then she tries to kill them saying that a thief get their hand cut off in certain Arabian countries, so there is nothing wrong with killing a player who dares steals from her. However, when her brother ask her for gold she gives it without a qualm.

“You assign the points without looking at the talent beforehand? Why would you do something so presumptuous? You do know what they say about those who assume?” Erica’s brand of arrogance is hard to swallow, yet Altreyes can’t repute her logic. She can only divert her attention to the minor details.

“No, what do they say about people who assumes?”

“It makes an ass out of you and me. Ass-u-me.”

What idiot stands around waiting for a beating. Not Altreyes. The short Perrian Let does what any smart general does when they are outgunned and outnumbered, beat a hasty retreat!

“I’m gonna go assign the talent points for my alt. Don’t follow me.” The sentences trailed after the spokesperson fled for her dear life.

Erica can imagine the dust trails floating after Altreyes retreat. “I can understand why you like teasing her Sylphie. She’s so cute when she is flustered.”

Sylphie wasn’t suprise her hidden enjoyment was ferreted out by Erica. Erica has a touch with people when she puts her mind to it. Her skills with number is only a tad better than her people skills.

“Don’t push her too hard. She might catch on and get mad. It’ll be harder to see her pretty blushing face if she catches on.”

The duo wear identical smirks while they watch the back of their fleeing cousin.