Chapter Two: Chrysanthemum

It's now February...Now at floor 10 Eydis was still alone. Party hopping had helped him gain levels, now sitting at level 19 he was still a bit behind. Still without Varnell or Haineko he had spent more time focusing on finding them. Asking parties and information brokers to find them but only finding out most people were out for themselves.

The tavern he was currently sat in was quiet. Menu open in a dark corner Eydis mixed ingredients together carefully. His skill in Medicine mixing was higher then most. Pasting the point of potions but into poisons as well. Adding the paralysing mixture to his needles it would give them an extra sting. The sound of footsteps alerted him Quickly closing his menu he looked down feeling self conscious. Now in male armour he still felt self conscious when people approached. Tensing when the man sat down he flicked his eyes up still shadowed by his fringe he could take in the man. Tanned skin, Tall with warm green eyes and chestnut hair sleeked back slight but curled near the tips. Slowly standing to leave the man's hand grabbed his. "You know...it took me a while to find you Eydis..." He tensed more. How did the man know his name? Looking back to him he saw the man's HP bar and name. Varnell...he was here. "Varnell!" He cried out before hugging the man tight.

Tear's gathered in his eyes but didn't spill as warmth surrounded him. "I looked for you and Haineko everywhere!" He all but whined. Smiling as the man's hand reached up rubbing tears from his face. Both him and Haineko treated him like a younger brother. He didn't mind, He loved them dearly. "I know...It was hard getting from the front lines..." Eydis gawked. "The front lines!" Eye's widening he hadn't realised they had gotten so strong. "We were looking out for you but they only just let me have leave, Haineko is still fighting with out guild." Then again he couldn't be mad. He hadn't know if he would be able to join them in sao. Clearing the game was top priority. "I'll join you...like a team we always are...but...I'm only level 19..." He looked down. The man smiled. "We'll level you up fast. I was looking for a good apothecary then I heard your name." He ruffled the youngsters hair. "Lot's of people are praising your skill." Eydis blushed and laughed. "I'm not that good...Anyway...do you have somewhere to stay tonight? I have a room upstairs?"

Soon they were both tucked together in the large bed. Eydis already a sleep arms wrapped round the pillow. Varnell sat watching him softly. Before laying down next to him. Wrapping a protective arm over the smaller.

Over the next few weeks they had been levelling. Eydis now at level 35. Sometimes they joined parties or worked together on quests and sometimes just went out onto the field alone. "Soon we be able to join the front lines." Varnell said ruffling the other hair. "You may have to stay at the back and work as support healer but I'm sure you'll catch up in no time." He grinned before smiling to the other. "Before we go and meet Haineko...can we do one last quest...I want to get this rare flower."

They planned out the quest taking as much precaution as needed. Stocked up and weapons checked. The pair headed out heading to the cave in the deep of the forest. The flower bloomed in the deep of the cave on level 18. It should be easy for both of them but they took there caution when approached the cave. An enclosed area could easily spell a trap.

There fights had been going well. Taking breaks to recover after long one with the strange cave monsters that spawned there. "Ah I raised another level..." Eydis chirped as he sipped his lemon tasting water. Varnell chuckled before looking to Eydis. "Eydis...while were here... is something wrong...it seems like something is bothering you?" The boy sighed as he was confronted. Typical Varnell catching him in the act. "Do..you think that the staff of Argus knew the plan?" Taking a bite of his roll before continuing. "My Father...he's a marketer for Argus...I got the game as an reward for passing my scholarship tests... But...do you think he knew what was going on?" He felt cold even thinking it but the taught haunted it. Varnell frowned thinking it before shaking his head. "I doubt it...come on let's go." He said standing gathering himself. "That flower isn't far from here."

They walked on taking only half an hour to reach the end. The flowers illuminated the chamber making Eydis's eyes go wide. "Wow they look like Chrysanthemum's!" He ran forward looking round for a good one to take as a sample. Gently tapping the air above one getting an info screen. "Ah what I needed. I can make a counter paralyse from these mixed with other plants I have." Gently pulling at the stem of a few he soon had several in his pack. "There!" Turning to take a step out though he froze. "Varnell..." Panic eating away at him.

There stood several beasts snarling and growling. Targeting the one who just plucked the plant. "There's so many of them!" He squeaked drawing his weapon. A hand clamped on his shoulder before shield and mace were drawn. "We'll get out of this together don't fear Eydis...I will protect you." A fire lit in the man's eyes as he charge forward smashing the mace head into the skull of a beast with a sickening crunch before watching it shatter.

The battle was cruelling more just kept coming. Maddened by the smell of flowers that had been stolen. "This isn't ending..." Eydis panted keeping close to Varnell he was exhausted. It had been two hours of nothing but wave after wave. In the moment he took to breath a creature knocked him back with it's tail before pouncing. Fang's sinking into his shoulder making him cry out. The knock back and bite alone had taken half of his remaining health sending him into orange. The creature reared it head it putrid breath flowing onto his face as it snarled aiming to attack again. But the knock of a mace to its side knocked it back. Varnell stood above him dropping a potion on him while taking on 5 beasts alone. His shield long since broken. "The last one..." He panted trying to push them back. "Varnell... leave me and get out of here! You'll die!" He screamed tears forming as he cowered in the small alcove shielded by the man.

"No...I won't fail another person." Varnell growled. Then Eydis knew. Why Varnell never mentioned Haineko...or any conversation on her dropped instantly. "Haineko...Haineko died didn't she..." Eydis sobbed hugging himself. Varnell grunted and nodded. "Yes...during the boss battle on floor 22...For one moment I looked away...I failed to protect her...and my fiancée died..." A monster bite into his shoulder and his health depleted more. With a shout he knocked them back before grabbing the small under his arm. Forcing the shorter to his feet. "I was dismissed from the guild to recover." He ran pushing himself to his limit. Ignoring the clawing at his legs. "When I found you...I promised to myself...To Haineko that I wouldn't fail again." Glancing back he could see them following while more pushed through to stop them. All after him. "I'll get...you out of this!...You will live Eydis...you will see your family again."

With a grunt as more of Varnell's health depleted he stumbled to the ground near the exit dropping the boy as his image flickered. "Go...you need to run." Eydis shook his head sobbing. "No...not without you...Varnell." He clutched at the other hand. "Please...we only just found each other...we can win this..." He felt hysterical as his voice rose. A hand on his chest pushed him with a hard shove. "GO!" IT shouted as he tried to stand clutching his weapon as more came towards him. "Stop sitting there and run idiot!" With that Eydis turn and ran as fast as he could. Tears following down his cheeks as he ran blindly away through wood until he reach field and collided into someone.

"Hey are you okay?" The person he ran into was a man. But all Eydis could do was scream and cry as he broke into more hysterics. The sound of snarling approached behind as two of the creatures had clearly not been satisfyed by Varnell's blood and followed him. Swords and weapon drew but he didn't watch as he kept screaming Varnell's name and other words that became nothing more but a jumble of nonsense in his mind. He had killed Varnell...his quest...his weakness... he was nothing but a murder. His hand felt for his the hilt of his sickle as in his madness he grabbed it lifting it to his neck. Choked sobs drowned out the voices of panic as he went to slice it but a strong hand grabbed his wrist the other pushing to the ground as he felt pinned. Struggling he screamed profanity after profanity at who ever was trying to stop him from just ridding himself from this nightmare. Tears blurred his eyes as he sobbed heavily almost hyperventilating before suddenly he felt his body go limp. Unable to control or move his joint. Tears cleared his vision as he saw red armour. Gold eyes and red hair tied back by a bandanna that was a foggy memory.

"Sorry kid...Don't want you hurting yourself." He blinked before swearing. "You drugged me!" He screeched as the man gently lifted him. "Sorry...your clearly a little hysterical...We don't want to see you do something you'd regret." With that he was gently placed over a shoulder and carried back to a town. If he could he would scream and kick the whole way there.

After the affects of the paralysis had worn off he had been ordered to handover every weapon potion and poison he had. He done so with much fuss but in the end he was to tired to fight. He was rewarded with food that smelt as good as it looked. But he didn't deserve to eat. After all...Varnell...More tears brewed as he clutched to himself. Gripping tight he would of bleed if he could. The man who saved him sat beside him. "I'm sorry...we were so rough...My name is Klein...what's yours?" He asked kindly extending a hand. Eydis glared at him but something about this guy was familiar in his mind. Slowly he took it and grumbled back. "Eydis..." Klein chuckled before laughing. "Now that you know my name is not some of those rather colourful things to come from a ladies mouth." "I'm a boy!" Hissed Eydis, normally he didn't mind but he just wanted to find anything to get angry at that came from Klein's mouth. Klein blinked before staring. "But...your so pretty..." He said his expression a little sad. "Pretty...pretty..." Snarled Eydis before glaring at the man. "I'm not pretty and I want to be alone! My closest friends are dead! I killed one of them myself! Now give me back my stuff or let me out so I can go!" HE shouted knocking over the plate that had been left for him. The object shattered into a million little polygons and he broke.

Varnell... was gone...and all he could do was cry and throw fits like a child. He sank to his knees and sobbed heavily into his hands. This game had taken away the closest friends he had ever had. A soft hand touched his shoulder as he heard a heavy sigh as Klein sat beside him. "Don't blame yourself...Traps keep popping up...That man...Varnell...must of really loved you to protect you." Eydis sniffled muffling his voice behind his sleeve as he rubbed at his eyes. "But the quest was my idea...All I wanted was these stupid flowers!" Klein blinked before opening his pack and summoning out a flower. "This?" He asked gently.

Thin white petals curled round and up like a sphere. Much like it's real world counterpart the chrysanthemum. "Yeah...It looks like a Chrysanthemum...here...it is a key ingredient to a counter poison...in the real world...they mean...wonderful friend...cheerfulness...and rest..." Staring at it with watery eyes he took it in. 'Varnell...my dearest friend...must had been so broken after Haineko died...the woman he loved so much and now she was gone. But now...he was with her again. After she died he hadn't gone hysterical and tried to kill himself...he hadn't let the guilt overcome him...he came looking for me. Not even knowing if I was here he came and found me.' Reaching out Eydis gently took the flower and held it close. "I'm sorry... I shouldn't of been rude to you." The boy muttered cheeks dusted with humiliation. Klein laughed softly. "It's al right...this place brings out the worst in us. I swear I cried so many times here I feel like a cry baby." The smaller looked at him and the image running through his head he couldn't help but laugh. Muffled at first before it bubbled into more. "There we go. That better." Klein grinned before standing. "You know...I still hold my invitation from the first day...be a shame to tell the guys that the cute girl is actually a rather feisty guy but you will fit right in." With that he left Eydis alone in the room puzzled.

Eydis lay on the bed blinking. "What did he mean?" Rolling onto his back he stared at the ceiling did he know Klein? He had to admit some of the party members he played with were nothing but memories he could barely call up. Putting the flower back in his inventory he sighed loudly. Deciding on sleep to cure the pounding headache his crying had formed he curled onto his side and soon drifted off.

Nightmares of watching Varnell die plagued him. Watching him just sit there cowering as the man was murdered. Clinging to him as the man helped him escape. He woke up with a scream panting heavily. Struggling to breath he threw the covers that had somehow worked there way over him off and stumbling from the bed. Managing to push the door for a moment he prayed Klein wasn't there on watch but the hall way was empty. Stumbling down the hall he got to the balcony of the inn and collapsed taking in lungfuls of fresh air. Trembling from cold and tears that threatened to swallow him whole. Choking on sobs Eydis looked up at the moon. He was the worst...he was part of what had tricked these people into this world. He had sat with his father as he designed posters and went over campaigned and had helped him. "Truly I am the worst..." HE mumbled softly. Maybe that was why Varnell didn't want to answer him. Disgust of being part of the trap. Maybe he sacrificed himself to let his memory haunt Eydis. Show him he was weak...disgusting and weak...helping trap these poor people here yet to selfish to go out to the front lines and fix it. At least the beaters tried.

He wanted to be sick and he sobbed into his hands. Maybe he should just kill himself. Heck at least if he died his father would be able to use his death as a way to clear his guilt from what ever involvement he had. But Klein...Klein had his weapons. "Why...can't I just rid myself...I deserve it." He cried to himself but a click of his tongue made him freeze like his blood was on ice. "Really...I taught we covered this?" Came the warm voice as Klein walked over. "You need to learn to shut doors if your going to sneak away." Slouching in a chair near by where the mess Eydis was currently in was as he summoned up two hot chocolates from his inventory with two sandwiches. The cream and marshmallows on the mugs made his mouth water as the chill of night air reminded him how cold it was out here. "Nightmares?" the warm voice said.

He joined Klein watching him not daring to touch the food. The man sipped the hot beverage not caring if cream clung to his skin as he relaxed. Eyes taking in his image as he saw him in just a red long sleeved shirt and black trousers clearly his sleeping gear. Hair stilled tied back by a bandanna Eydis frowned slightly. Why did he feel like he knew this man. "Not hungry?" The man questioned gently pushing both objects towards him. "No!" He snapped feeling grumpy once more but his stony front shattered after his stomach growled. Face flared as Klein laughed at him. "Sure...go on eat." Grumpily he took the sandwich and taking a bite. It wasn't too bad. He chewed slowly watching Klein. Still trying to remember me. "Guess it's been a while..." The man sighed. "Though last time I crashed into you and you only cried on me." Blonde brows shot up as he gave a quizzing look before he remembered. "Oh...From the first day..." His face went even redder as he hid it behind his hands. Every time he had met this man he been a broken mess. "Though last time I was thinking how cute of a girl you were... though now your just a cute guy." He laughed before yelping at the sharp kick to the shin he received.

"I'm not cute...I'm freakish..." He mumbled before finishing the sandwich looking down. Not wanting to see Klein's judgemental face. A hand fell on his head. "Well I disagree. When I first saw you I was stunned by those eyes." He said before grinning. "There eye catching...and imprint a good impression." Another kick before a smile. "You're strange." Klein laughed before ruffling the blonde hair. Eydis frowned as that was Varnell's thing...he shouldn't be laughing...he should be grieving or punished.

"Now negative thoughts aside...I mean it...join my guild...I...can't help but think if we leave you it will be signing a death wish on you. I can't watch more people die...I already know one suicidal solo-er with a guilt complex... I can't stand to image your name getting crossed out." Klein said seriously. Eydis glowered at him. "what makes you think I will agree." He lent back sipping his hot chocolate eyebrow cocked in curiosity. "Well...you won't get your stuff back if you don't." The other grinned leaning close Eydis's face couldn't help but heat up. His mismatch eyes staring straight into gold. The others eyes dancing in mischief as his black mail sunk in. sighing loudly. "I guess...I have no choice..." Whispered Eydis looking down at the dregs of his drink. He was trapped more then ever. Damn red heads... was all he could think.

End chapter.

Sorry this one was rushed. They will take a more slow approached from now on.

Yes Eydis blames himself a lot for Sao. After all he kinder had input into the marketing when he worked at it with his dad. After all if sao had bad marketing not many would buy it.