Lostone looked at Leafa skeptically. "And you say this just dropped from the sky?"
"Don't look at me like that! I'm not crazy," Leafa said defensively. "Just hurry up and do the appraisal already."
With a shrug he did just that. Tapping the sword and holding, the timer came up as the skill appraisal skill activated. "What!" He yelled after the timer finished. "This has to be a glitch."
"What?"
"You're right, the stats are fairly low level, but it's cost is the highest I've ever seen. And for good reason if this is true." Picking it up for the first time Lostone didn't seem surprised in the least when it changed from the dark mirror of Leafa's katana to a dark version of the double bitted axe he favored.
"I'm guessing you've seen it do this when you picked it up?" At Leafa's small nod he continued. "That's pretty cool, but not worth the appraisal cost." Walking over to one of the walls of the inn they met at he swung.
Expecting the axe to simply bounce off the immortal object, Tifa jumped when it sliced right through. Lostone seemed just as surprised. "Damn. It's true." He looked over at Leafa. "It has the ability to damage anything in the game. Anything."
Leafa looked at the blade with new appreciation. "What skill level do I need to use it?"
"That's the best part. Level 1. Anyone can use it, and with it it's possible for a new avatar to kill even you." Lostone looked down at the weapon in awe. "And you say you just found it?"
In shock Leafa nodded again.
"You can keep it of course, but I'd take it to the nearest NPC and sell it. Once word gets out that you have this other players will be targeting you. Take the money and run."
Leafa saw the logic of that statement, but just couldn't accept it as the best course. Something about this item was off. Well beyond the obvious of course. Why would the game present it to her like some sort of gift? This wasn't right.
"Should I contact a GM you think? If it's a glitch I don't want to get my account banned for hacking or something."
"As glitchy as ALO has been since the Jötunheimr expansion? The GMs are having trouble just keeping players coming back. I doubt they'll care if you take some advantage of this... at least within reason."
Pausing to think that over, she had to qualify that Lostone was overstating things. The game was glitchy, but most of the PKers didn't care much as long as they got to fight each other. The game was just fine there, and that's who ALO had always been geared towards. Questers like herself on the other hand did take a nose dive. Even if the ice giants weren't a problem the area around the world tree would be scarcely populated.
Overstatements aside, she agreed that unless another play complained the GMs really wouldn't care. Well, she didn't think they would.
Sticking a hand out she decided to shelf thoughts on the sword. Lostone took the hint and handed the weapon back which she threw into her inventory quickly. 726Please respect copyright.PENANAPypRzupep2
"Thanks for the help though," Leafa said, faking a smile. Leaning in she gave Lostone a kiss, which he returned.
She was disappointed with the kiss, which was in no way Lostone's fault. The reasons why she came to ALO that night hadn't changed. The cold tears for feelings she dared not admit to were brewing just below the surface. It was eating at the comfort of his embrace and leaving it incomplete in her heart.
"This brother of yours..." Her virtual lover said cautiously, then stopped. She knew what he wanted to say. He had suspected her true feelings before she even came to accept them herself.
The sadness in her voice stopped him short as she said "Not now... please not now."
The warmth she looked for was incomplete as he held her, but it was more than she had found anywhere else, even in the air. He was wise enough to allow the silence to continue. After a few minutes, a few of the tears she hid worked their way free before again disappearing.
With a deep breath Leafa pulled away. It was late and tomorrow she had to compete in the national kendo championship semi-finals. She had hoped the game would allow her to clear her mind and heart so she could go at it without distraction but staying longer would have the exact opposite effect. 726Please respect copyright.PENANAZySIeQqiPk
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"I need to go Lostone. It's late and I'm going to be a busy day tomorrow. Maybe we can get together tomorrow night though?"726Please respect copyright.PENANAFdQGXFkdtx
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"Yeah, sure," he said as her fingers went through the menu to logout. "Get some sleep, and good luck," he finished just as she hit the button to bring her irl. 726Please respect copyright.PENANAr8CzqVy9Xv