Haru: Apprentice 10/Acolyte 5
Haru sprinted across the arena, narrowly avoiding being hit by Vernal’s dive-attack. Even though she brought him below half health, it was as if the fight had only just begun. His 50% mark was a trigger to double up on his ability spam. She was having trouble finding the time before his next attack to counter.
As the cat slammed into the ground, tremors rocked the area.
Haru had him targeted. She tried to cast Ice Bolt as fast as possible. But as soon as the spell got to 25%, he had already spun around and readied to use his dash attack. Abandoning the spell cast, she ran out of the zone just as the red rectangular indicator on the ground disappeared.
Vernal hurled himself along the path where the thin, long rectangle once was. Then he started marching again, slowly aligning himself with Haru.
The apprentice tried for another attempt to cast Ice Bolt. Just as it hit the halfway point to completion, Vernal leaped into the air and a wide orange circle appeared under Haru’s feet. She canceled the cast and ran away. As the cat slammed to the ground once more, she noticed he was facing in the same direction in which he took off when using his ability.
That’s when she realized there was an opening where she might be able to start casting, but it would be risky. She would have to run the long way through the dive-bomb circle to get the maximum amount of time needed to complete casting an Ice Bolt.
Haru decided to wait until the cat’s follow up strike to attempt another cast. She stood near the very edge of the arena in order to give herself as much time as possible to react.
Vernal marched to turn and then advanced at the same measured pace toward her. Just as he got in range, the dash attack indicator displayed on the ground. Haru then sprung her trap. She would need to run outside the indicated area and stop just next to the cat. If she did it right, he would dash past, but because she was outside the zone, the hit wouldn’t land on her.
As Haru ran to stand next to him, Vernal launched forward with his sword tip facing the direction of his strike. Then she took two steps back and waited for him to follow up.
The circle appeared beneath her feet. This time, instead of running away from where Vernal stopped before jumping, Haru rushed toward the same point, taking the long way through the attack zone. Just as the ground trembled, Haru was able to target the cat and began casting Ice Bolt.
Vernal recovered and started marching. At 75% spell charge, the cat prepared his dash attack ability. Haru abandoned her cast and decided to try again. This time she would take a few more steps back, to force him to march longer in order to close the distance. She rushed just outside the attack indicator and stood next to Vernal. Then she waited for his ability to finish, took three steps back, and prepared for another try.
Once again, the cat marched around and launched himself into the air. Haru ran the long way through the orange attack area. Just as Vernal slammed into the ground, Haru started casting.
At 90% completion, she had to abandon her casting to avoid the incoming dash attack. And then Haru decided to try five steps. So after another round of avoiding the strike and aligning with him, she then backtracked the five steps.
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Vernal launched high into the air.
After he slammed into the ground, Haru immediately started casting. In tandem, Haru’s Ice Bolt completed the moment Vernal’s dash attack indicator ignited below her heels. The strike put him at 10% health. She just needed to do it one more time.
Haru continued the dance with her former cat companion until finally, he slammed down and she started casting. But she found out her cast was too slow on the draw and at 90% spell completion, the dash attack indicator illuminated beneath her feet.
But she decided to stick it out.
At 99% spell completion, the indicator disappeared with Haru still within the boundaries.
As the Ice Bolt left her staff, the cat’s sword shrieked as he swiped at the air, then lunged at Haru. As he soared toward her, the length of ice bonked the cat in the head.
He lost all momentum and fell flat on his tummy near the center of the arena. His sword spun end-over-end in the air for a moment before falling and lodging itself in the ground. Vernal stretched as if reaching toward something.
“Gunther will be… displeased.” Vernal recited his defeat line before falling limp, still.
Haru breathed a sigh of relief and put away her staff and watched as, from above, the chest containing the job sphere descended and landed only a few steps away from Vernal. She walked over and squatted next to her kitty pal and stroked his neck, right behind his ears, his favorite spot.
“I know things are hard right now. Just keep being my brave boy, and I’ll make things all better soon enough.” She spoke with a soothing tone. “Things will be back to normal in no time, I promise.”
As she stood up, Vernal continued to play dead but she heard a faint purring coming from his direction. She tapped the top of the chest to open it and retrieved the job orb. Then as Haru moved toward the exit portal just behind the wooden platform, she stopped only a step away from the gateway. Then she turned around to check on her friend one more time, still worried about him. Purring echoed throughout the arena. Hopefully she cheered him up, even just a little.
After stepping through the exit, the garden just outside the tower came into view. Haru wondered how long she was going to have to wait for Opti to finish. Last time, he was the third one to exit. But now he had a subjob, so perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad this time.
Haru got ready to go sit down at the fountain in the middle of the garden, when she spotted Opti kneeling in recovery at 20% health.
“You got done quick this time.” Haru called out as she exited.
Opti looked up at her. “It was faster, but not easier.” He grumbled. As he readied to return his head back to the bowed position, he looked up once more. “I see the boss didn’t have much trouble with her own encounter.”
Haru walked up next to him and started casting Mend. “It got a little dodgy at times.” She looked away, shifting the weight on her feet as she waited for the spell to complete. “Um…”
Opti hummed, looking up at her.
“About before,” Haru started, “Before we entered the fight,” She looked around, unable to make eye contact with him. “I didn’t mean to bring that up again and make you upset.” She raised her hand as Mend completed and brought Opti back to 100%. But she continued to look away.
Opti stood up and chuckled then shook his head. “I would have done the same thing in your shoes. Heck, I am in your shoes but with no one to give me any answers about my past.”
Haru folded her hands at her waist. “Well, I won’t ask about it anymore. It’s not nice of me to pester you like that.”
Opti let slip a belly laugh and he wagged his finger at her. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”
Haru exhaled sharply, worried now that Opti thought of her as overly impulsive.
The legionnaire beckoned. “Don’t worry about it, ask me anything you’d like.” He took a step toward the gate to enter the Plentiful Glade.
Haru shook her head. “I’m not sure that’s such a good idea. I’ll keep my questions to myself.”
Opti huffed, overly exaggerating the motion of placing his hands on his hips. “It’s a long walk back, what else are we supposed to talk about all the way to Fairbank?”
Haru looked around once more, trying to come up with ideas but finding no inspiration. “Uh, well…”
“Besides, who else am I going to divulge my inner most design secrets to? Other players wouldn’t care about such things anyways. They just want to play the game and be immersed.” Opti started walking around the fountain and toward the road to Fairbank.
Haru rushed to catch up, still not liking the idea of upsetting Opti, but the concept of sating her inquisitiveness started to grow on her.