The old man pushes the box toward Aya with a smirk.
"I think you'll like this, granted it's ain't brand new but it's pretty damn good." he says.
Aya swallows nervously, knowing anything could be inside the box, she inspects the packaging, finding it a bit worn but still kept well.
Perhaps, out of sentiment?
The brand is the same as the ones that made the Icarus but, the name of the device is still too worn to be read. She opens it, picking up the headgear with the sleekness of the Zephyr and the old style design of the Icarus.
The VR gear was in excellent condition, not a scratch on the pristine surface, whoever had it must have loved it dearly.
'It's just a cycle of inheritance with me isn't it?' Aya thinks, just like the game probably came from her parents and the mantle of Harvest Guardian from Rael before her.
"Allow me to introduce you to the Revista." the old man says. Aya's eyes widen in surprise.
The Revista was just two generations above the Icarus but still miles behind the Zephyr or even a Gaming pod.
The name 'Revista' emblazoned in chrome glints in the light of the junk shop. Aya turns it around in her hands, inspecting the device with care.
How the mighty fall.
She could still remember when this first came out, similar to all the other VR Headsets she knew but could never afford the Revista was one of the greats—praised for its immersion and beginner friendly nature.
And like the Zephyr, all the player needed to do was lay on their bed. A grin splits her face, she jumps, leaping into the air with such mirth the shop owner could only laugh.
It wasn't the Zephyr but it was as close as she would get right now and Aya was thankful for it.
"You know what since you're a friend of a friend. I'll let you off with a discount. Since you returned Daichi's old Icarus I'll let you have the Revista 300 Lue." the old man says.
"300!" Aya shouts. The man throws his head back in laughter.
"Trust me missy, no one's putting the old Icarus back together at the rate. As much as I'd love to scam ya, it just won't sit right with me."
"Thank you so much." Aya says, hugging the Revista to her chest.
She pays for her new VR gear and hefts the box back to her apartment, but not before finding out the junk shop owner's name is Renard.
----------
Aya rushes into her apartment, avoiding Lydia as she does. She places the box on the table before pulling out her phone to check the compatibility with her PacBook.
"Okay, it'll be fine." she says, opening the box and taking everything out. The VR gear along with its manual sit in good condition within the box. Everything looked to be the original packaging, right down to the plastic bag and charger wrap.
The girl wastes no time plugging the gear in. The laptop beeps, recognizing the headset and soon a configurations screen pops up.
Using the manual and the internet Aya sets the Revista up to Mooon Valley's specifications.
A sound plays and the VR Gear lights up establishing a connection between the device and the game.
It's a bit of a challenge carrying the connected PacBook and VR Gear to her bed, but soon Aya locks the door to her apartment and turns down the light ready to enter the world of Moon Valley.
----------
Similar to her experience with the Zephyr Aya feels herself falling through a void until she hits a grassy meadow. The lush greens and animated animals make her recall the Bloom meadow.
Excitement builds within her.
"This is different." Aya says. "Menu!"
The menu pops up allowing her to select her profile. Aya closes her eyes and soon she's back in the world of Moon Valley as Yvlena.
----------
Yvlena opens her eyes to find herself in the Rose Manor. She jumps with excitement feeling the weight of her physical body once again within the world of the game.
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
"I'm back!" Yvlena says, pulling tools from her inventory she slashes the weeds gaining some fibre in the process. After a bit of weeding, Yvlena wipes her sweat and decides it's a good time to see Risel for the Adiri specs.
As Yvlena runs through the Floral districts, she notices the main differences between the Revista and the Zephyr.
As she runs through the artisan district, the smell of fresh bread and pastries fill her nostrils as she moves closer to Risel's shop.
She could still smell and feel within the Gear but it was faint, like the memory of a smell.
"I wonder If eating will make me taste the food?!"
Yvlena ignores it for now, walking into the apothecary to see her favorite merchant.
"Yvlena! Happy to see you." Risel says, turning away from a customer who just paid.
[Affinity with Risel increased +2]
"Hi Risel, I came for the Adiri specs."
[Class Specific Quest unlocked]
A menu bubble says to Yvlena.
"That's interesting." she says walking to the elven girl.
"I kept them for you." Risel says happily. Yvlena smiles at her, noting Risel looked happier than usual.
"Some good news Risel?" Yvlena asks. The elf shakes her head, ruffling her blond locks as she does.
"I'm just always happy to see you Yvlena, you're the only friend I've had since my brother and he's on the other side of that miasma." Risel says, her ears droop, betraying her sadness.
Yvlena can't help but feel for the elven girl, if she knew someone she loved was on the other end of a despicable fog, saving them would be the only thing on her mind.
"Don't worry Risel, I'll find a way to tear that miasma down, you can count on me." Yvlena says.
[Quest Accepted
Risel the Alchemist Merchant wants you to help destroy the miasma for the good of Bloom Haven. She also wants to reunite with her brother on the other side of the Verdant Wood
***
Rewards
Elixir recipe (Rare)
***
Moon Point x2000
EXP x1000
Gold x15]
'Huh? It automatically accepted, is that because I said she could count on me?' Yvlena wonders.
'Or maybe Quests from friends are automatically accepted?' Yvlen shrugs.
Yvelna leaves the apothecary, contemplating tackling the Verdant Woods. She strolls out of the Artisan District, toward the entrance of the town.
----------
Finding herself in the Bloom Meadow Yvlena tries exploring the new mechanics she would have to deal with.
Being present within the virtual world meant relearning all the things she could do easily in her PacBook and while walking and interacting were easy enough, combat was another story.
Yvlena unsheathes her sword, swinging it through the air in a basic attack motion.
"It's...heavy." she says, narrowing her eyes. Would that mean her strikes would be slower now? She holds the sword up to her face and examines it, feeling the weight in her hand as it moves.
It wasn't as heavy as her mail cart but it certainly would need some strength to swing.
Yvelan doesn't have a moment to consider her strategy before a horned rabbit leaps at her.
She swings her sword missing the rabbit entirely.
"What?!"
Yvlena goes on guard, blocking with the sword just in time for the rabbit to attack. She swings again, slashing the rabbit right down the middle. It disappears in a beam of light.
"That was surprisingly hard." Yvlena says, rubbing the back of her head. She looks at her sword, taking her time to observe the details, from the orange carrot hilt to the gleam of the sword in the sunlight.
Yvlena walks through the meadow fighting any horned rabbit that dares cross her path.
"I'm no help to my summons if I can't even take down the weakest mob!" Yvlena says slashing through her fifth practice horned rabbit.
[Sword Proficiency +1]
The pop-up says before disappearing.
"Sword Proficiency? That's never come up before." Yvlena says. "Same game, different way to play I guess."
She heads deeper towards the Bloom Forest where the slightly tougher enemies lay, right off the bat a Fox slinks by, trying to be stealthy in its attack.
Yvelna strikes first, tussling with the fox. Getting some distance between them Yvlena slashes her sword, releasing a carrot-patterned orange blast that annihilates the fox.
[Yvlena cast Carrot Strike (10MP)]
"Wow." Yvlena gasps in awe. "This is awesome!"
The elf girl takes a deep breath, smiling at the serenity of the forest, sure there were still enemies running around but the feel of the Bloom Forest was so different from the city life she was used to.
Her feet fall on soft grass as she moves, careful to avoid any stealthy enemies, she pushes a large branch out of her face, wood brushing against her fingertips as it does.
"It's all so real." she says rubbing her fingertips together at the sensation of touch, she carries on heading deeper into the forest.
"If the Horned Rabbit Queen was the hidden boss, does that mean Bloom Forest has a main boss itself?" Yvlena says to herself.
Stumbling across a path in the woods, something bright and colorful catches her eye. A bushel of red tri-petaled flowers draws Yvelan towards them. She leads down to pick one, noting the blacktips almost like a fox's tail.
[Yvlena Acquired
***
Fox Tail (Herb) x1]
She holds it to her nose, breathing in the faint earthy and warm spice scent.
"Fox Tail." Yvlena says. She plucks the rest of the flowers, watching each disappear into her inventory.
[Yvlena Acquired
***
Fox Tail (Herb) x3]
[Subclass Skill: Herblore Leveled Up]
"Nice."
----------
The girl wanders deeper into the forest until she reaches the second level once more.
Now more foxes prowl the area, looking for a player to attack. Yvlena moves carefully, pushing aside thick branches as she walks through. She hears a squeak, turning around and coming face to face with a. pair of field mice.
She scoffs, making short work of them with her sword.
[Sword Proficiency +1]
"That's strange." Yvlena says tossing her sword from one hand to the other. "It feels lighter maybe?" she says thrusting the sword into nothing.
Leaves rustle behind her, and before she can react a large fox leaps out of the forest covered in the dark ooze of the miasma.
Yvlena gasps.
"Oh no! What's this doing in Bloom Forest?" she asks, going on guard. The fox growls, a harsh sound the cry of a battered engine.
"I don't think I'll be able to take this guy on by myself." Yvlena says.
In the Blink of an eye Rabbit Knight and Sprite are beside her.
"Wow, you're small!" Yvlena says, Sprite flits about, landing on Yvlena's shoulder.
"What do you mean small?" she says.
"I...mean adorable?" Yvlena says quickly, trying not to hurt the creature's feelings. Rabbit Knight leaps to attack, reminding them they had bigger things to worry about.
All three gear up, ready to attack.
[author]I'm sorry I haven't Updated in a while a lot of personal issues came up recently and I had to stop writing [/author]