Yvlena squeezed her eyes shut and hit yes, accepting the quest.

Risel was her friend most of all and she was determined to see her quest done and reunite her with her brother.

"Okay Risel I accept, you might be able to tell me some things about the Verdant Woods since you've lived here longer,"

"Excellent!" Risel said, clapping her hands in glee.

Yvlena purchased the Purifying potion recipe needed for the lake and some bottles, leaving her unable to afford the potion for O'Leary's watch.

"One thing after the other," Yvlena said with a sigh.

"Yvlena you've been going at it for a while, I think you need to return to the Rose Manor and try to get some rest," the elf said. "Here,"

[Yvlena Acquired

***

Relaxation Potion x1]

"A little gift from me, I've been meaning to give it to you for a while." the elf said, her cheeks possessed a tinge of red as she spoke.

"Wow! Thank you Risel," she replied wondering what the potion could do.

Risel waved her thanks off.

"I should be thanking you instead," the elf said, "You've done so much for the town during your short time here, I wish I was able to do half as much,"

"Sometimes it is not our destiny," another voice said, intruding into the conversation. The elves turned around to see the blonde Librarian had walked into the apothecary and was now browsing the shelves for something.

"Laurent! It's been a while," Yvlena said.

[Affinity with Laurent +1]

"Likewise, it seems you've been busy," the bespectacled man said, adjusting his glasses. He looked her up and down taking note of her equipment change. "The dress suits you, something a noble might wear,"

Yvlena realized he was talking about the Willow Dress, it seemed most people of high standing within the town were able to recognize it.

"Thank you Laurent and you look as classy as ever," Yvlena complimented.

A cough resounded behind them.

"How may I help you Laurent?" Risel asked in a pointed, clipped tone. Yvlena noticed the elf had her lips pursed and her arms folded as if in annoyance. She didn't understand why her cheerful friend's mood had suddenly changed.

Risel was always happy to greet customers from what she had seen.

"Well if it's not too much trouble I would like to request a head calming draught of you," the librarian said.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Risel placed the potion on the counter for him. Laurent picked it up with a nod and paid for it instantly.

"Yvlena don't hesitate to stop by the library if you have any more questions about the town and its heroes long past," he said, turning to face the entrance and make his exit. Yvlena stopped him before he could go.

"Actually I do have a question Laurent, do you know of any Harvest Guardians that were of aristocratic origins?"

"I'm not too sure Yvlena, the Rose Manor is bound to have something on that, do you have any other clues? The Bloom Haven Library has an extensive list of nobles within the town,"

"I'll try to find out some more things," Yvlena said, a bit disheartened by the lack of information.

Laurent saw her sunken expression and tried to cheer her up.

"I think it's admirable you're continuing Rael's work," He said with a smile. "Not many are up to the task,"

[Laurent thinks highly of you]

[Affinity with Laurent increased +5]

Yvlena blushed at the words of the handsome Librarian, his surprise round of kind words warmed her heart, the game was really something else.

'The NPCs are actually growing as people, I remember when Laurent used to think I was a nuisance,' she thought.

"It's my pleasure," she said seriously, then with a mad dash she ran out of the store before the redness of her blush could overtake her features.

"I wasn't even able to offer her a potion discount," Risel said, hanging her head.

----------

"The AI in this game is really well designed," Yvlena said returning to the manor to meet more overgrown plants.

"I've got to take cleaning this place more seriously," she said.

[Yvlena Cast Harvest Skill: Wild Sweep]

The sickled gleaned in the sun as Yvlena swung it like her Carrot Sword, clearing the weeds in front of her and defeating a few Weed Mimics in the process.

[Yvlena Acquired

***

Wild Seed x25

Fiber x20]

"Better," she said, walking under her favorite tree to rest under it. She sat in the soft grass and rested her back against the tree's bark to ponder her next course of action.

"I've gotten all the ingredients for the Swamp Balm, and now all that's left is to brew it and complete Bavga's second task,"

"It might actually be time to log out, it's getting pretty late. A late night gaming session doesn't mean an all night gaming session," she laughed.

----------

Aya pulled the Revista off her head and rested her back on the mattress to think. With the distraction of the game gone, thoughts began to fill her mind. Slowly the burning sensation of tears stung her eyes as she thought back on the day's overwhelming events.

"You're strong Aya, this isn't the time for tears. Lydia is not your family and you know that," she told herself sternly.

Still, the battle to control her tears continued. The fact that the only other blood relative she might have was lost to her until she could find them through her connection to the game.

And with nary a clue Aya was fast losing hope that she ever would. Her maternal aunt hated her guts and only kept her around to steal from her and hold her as a prize she could use against someone else.

"You're stronger than this," Aya told herself again, and she was right. She would let nothing stop her from walking her new path.

----------

Mars listened to Aya soft weeping from outside the door as she poised her hand to knock. She wanted to check on Aya and see if the girl was still gaming despite it being past midnight.

Instead, she stumbled upon the sound of her roommate and friend weeping softly at the family she never had.

Mars frowned, laying her palm flat against the door and contemplating walking in. She shook her head.

While she had familial problems of her own, she couldn't compare her complicated situation to Aya's.

Aya would want to be alone now, to harden her resolve against Lydia and cut their ties as aunt and niece.

"That would be for the best,”