Aqua hurriedly chased after Shin, calling out to him to wait up.
"Shin, come on, wait up!"
Shin, with his usual detached demeanor, paused. "Hm?"
Aqua stopped to rest on her knees, exhaling heavily at each breath. "I... Told you... To wait up... Hah~ Hah~" she continued to pant heavily.
In truth, she didn't run too long a distance, but her class as a Mage came with some physical limitations. So, what might seem like a small jog for a Warrior class, thanks to their high STR, would be a marathon to a Mage as they usually had more INT than STR.
"Are you okay?" Shin asked her.
She took another deep breath, then exhaled. "I'm fine, gah~"
They began walking side by side. As they strolled along, Aqua finally decided to speak.
"So, uh, Raiden's offer... Why didn't you accept it?"
Shin glanced at Aqua, his expression impassive, and replied, "Because I believe you and I make a sufficient team."
Aqua's face flushed with a touch of embarrassment as she averted her gaze, her elven ears turning a faint shade of red. However, shaking her head frantically, she composed herself again.
"But we have more chances of survival by teaming up with them."
"No," Shin replied quickly.
It got a little frustrating for Aqua. "Even if we don't join Raiden's party, we need to join at least one of them..."
Even with what she said, Shin simply shrugged. "Sorry, I'm not interested."
"Well, what about me?" Aqua finally mustered the courage to ask. "What if I want to join Raiden's party?"
Shin's expression remained unchanged. He looked like even if she joined, he wouldn't object in anyway or react in a destructive manner. And in that same manner, he responded, "If that's what you want, then go ahead. It was my decision to have just the two of us, so I have no right to complain."
Aqua's face lit up with a sheepish smile. "Don't worry about me. I don't plan on joining them if you aren't there," she assured him.
It wouldn't be wise to leave the only person she currently knew in the game and in real life, and join up with a group of players she'd never spoken to before today. She could tell that Raiden didn't seem like the type of individual to betray someone, but she had to be cautious nonetheless.
"Now you're talking," Shin calmly remarked.
He then suggested that they go and find some new gear for Aqua.
"Alright!" Aqua exclaimed.
...
2 hours later,
The duo had made all the purchases concerning Aquaʼs new equipment.
If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.
The equipments purchased were,
• «Blue Mage's Robe»
- Robe
- DEF: 8
- Bonus: +3 INT, +2 VIT
- Required Level: 9-10
- Price: 700 MG
• «Blue Tower Wand»
- Magic Wand
- Attack Power: 45-50
- Bonus: +3 INT
- Required Level: 9
- Required INT: 12
- Price: 400 MG
• «Minor Healing Potion» (×5)
- Consumable
- Restores 200 HP
- Price: 50 MG
• «Minor Mana Elixir» (×2)
- Consumable
- Restores 100 MP
- Price: 125 MG
With the addition of new equipments and discarding of old ones, Aquaʼs current information were,
Basic]
HP: 420/420
MP: 202/202
EXP: 60/1,125
Stats]
Strength: 8
Dexterity: 7
Intelligence: 25 ( +6 )
Vitality: 8 ( +2 )
Agility: 8
In Elden Online, aside from base stats, the stat points gained through leveling and equipment had bonuses on HP and MP. For every +1 VIT, the player gained 8 HP, and for every +1 INT, the player gained 2 MP.
Shin made the decision to sell the «Golden Adept Staff» because it lacked a core socket, despite its stat bonuses. A core socket was a random feature that any equipment could have, regardless of rarity. It allowed for the insertion of a magic core, a type of corundum that added a new elemental attribute to the equipment, even if the player didn't possess it.
They sold the «Golden Adept Staff» for 200 MG.
Currently,
Shin had 900 Miyolorian Drachma (MD) which was 100 MD short of 1 Luminary Crystal (LC).
Shin and Aqua left Silverhaven Market Square.
By this time, the sun was about setting.
Aqua was wrapped in her «Blue Mageʼs Robe». It was flowing, cerulean-hued robe, embellished with intricate golden threads that shimmered under the sunlight. Her slender waist donned a trim belt that held her brand new wand, «Blue Tower Wand». Gazing at her transformed appearance, she looked satisfied.
"I feel way more comfortable now," she sighed happily, now no one would look at her strangely. That was how she felt. "Still," a small frown appeared on her face. "I lost a fair amount of stat points by losing my previous gear."
"Nothing you can do about that now, I guess..." said Shin, his voice flat.
Aqua met his gaze before turning her attention towards their surroundings. Pondering for a moment, she tilted her head and asked Shin a question she planned to ask way before now. "Are you absolutely certain you don't want to buy any new gear for yourself?"
"Yeah, I'm good," he said.
Resuming their journey amidst the vibrant streets, they strolled for about half an hour until they finally reached a medium-sized inn.
Hands on her waist, Aqua looked up at the inn. "Wow, the inns here look way bigger than the ones in Eses."
Shin nodded knowingly, explaining the disparity, "Of course, the establishments in Eses don't require much development because players don't stay there for long. But Silverhaven is different... As a gateway to Myrridia, it has to look good."
Rubbing her chin thoughtfully, Aqua nodded and murmured, "Well, if you put it that way, it makes sense."
Shin surveyed their new surroundings.
Then, Aqua brought up a crucial piece of information she received.
"Oh, by the way, the locals who guided us here mentioned that staying at this particular inn would be much safer for us."
"Much Safer?" Shin repeated.
Clearing her throat, Aqua began her explanation in earnest. "Apparently, there's a notorious gang that preys on unsuspecting visitors as they enter the town."
"Okay." Shin nodded.
Without a second thought, he led the way into the inn.
As they crossed the threshold, they were greeted by a sight even larger than the exterior suggested. The expanse of the main hall had a distinctive aroma—hints of mellow beer, mingled with the warm scent of firewood. A couple of patrons lingered, engaged in lively discussion or leisurely sipping from their mugs of ale.
Steadfast in their purpose, Shin and Aqua navigated through the hall and approached the counter. The innkeeper, midway through a conversation with another individual, abruptly concluded their exchange upon catching sight of the duo. "I'll see what I can do later," he muttered, dismissing his previous conversation partner with a vague promise.
Eager to assist, the innkeeper promptly turned his attention to the newcomers. "How may I be of service?" he asked.
Shin wasted no time in stating their request. "We'd like a room for about week."
However, a blush tinted Aqua's cheeks, her elven ears twitching in discomfort. Summoning her courage, she softly interjected, "Actually, we can't share a room."
"Why?" Shin asked plainly.
Aqua blushed even more. "W... we're opposite sex aft... after all... isn't that the kinda stuff you do when you're married...?"
Perplexed, Shin's eyebrows knitted together as he sought clarification. "Uh, sure, but it'd be much more cost-effective to share a room," he reasoned, attempting to sway Aqua's perspective.
Aqua fidgeted with her fingers, her voice growing slightly higher in pitch. "Just no..."
Shin let out a weary sigh and turned his attention back to the innkeeper.
"You heard the lady," he said.
The innkeeper, a stout man with a welcoming smile, contemplated for a moment before responding. "Ah, for a week's stay in two separate rooms, it'd come to a total of 300 Myrridian Gold Coins," he paused for a bit. "That would be 150 Myrridian Gold per room."
Nodding, Shin mentally calculated the sum, as well as how much he'd have left. "Cool," he acquiesced.
The innkeeper swiftly retrieved a parchment, quill, and ink bottle from beneath the counter. "If you could please sign here, I'll need your acceptance of the terms and payment," he requested, offering the necessary tools to Shin.
Resigned to the necessary formalities, Shin took the quill in hand and left his mark on the parchment, confirming his agreement and initiating the transaction. The innkeeper, satisfied with the completed paperwork, accepted the payment with a nod of gratitude.
"Now, if you would kindly make your way to the second floor," the innkeeper directed, pointing towards the staircase. "The two rooms at the far end of the hallway are yours for the duration of your stay."
The duo climbed the stairs.
Side by side, they walked towards the far end of the second floor corridor.
Reaching their destination, Shin turned towards Aqua. "We'll meet at the main hall in the morning..."
He approached his roomʼs door.
Aqua's face softened, her eyes reflecting faint worry as she grasped Shin's sleeve, causing him to pause in his tracks. "Shin," she murmured. "Thank you... for everything."
"Okay," was all he said.
As he entered his room and shut the door, he was in darkness. Luckily, there was a fireplace that could provide some much-needed light. Just as he was about to ignite it, a mysterious transparent blue screen materialized before him.
"Well, that's unexpected."
The voice in his head spoke.
[ You have awakened your Dungeon Lord Talent! ]