Sword Art Online: From Spark to Flame

Part 4 - Oxen and Alchemy

----- December 10th, Aincrad 9:00 -----

A week had passed.

<Hikari> walked the savanna fields of the Floor 2, pushing passed the tall waving grass and keeping a careful distance from a small herd of large tan-colored bull-like creatures that huffed in the dirt, puffing up small clouds of dust that floated away in the dry environment, one of the creatures possessing more vibrantly red and tan colored fur and larger horns. There was a small collection of boulders, the largest in the center a meter tall, between the oxen and <Hikari>, which she was slowly creeping toward.

For the past two days, <Hikari> had been collecting a series of different herbs and mushrooms scattered throughout the two floors of Aincrad. The boulder ahead of her possibly contained a small savanna flower, thin and carefully camouflaged in the environment. 'Just two more,' <Hikari> thought, crouching low and steadily creeping forward. 'Two more and I can try it again.'

Four days before, <Hikari> had been hunting around on Floor 1 for potential skills to level after mostly recovering from her crash into depression when she had come across an information broker. After a short exchange of words and Cor, she learned about the recent discovery of the Alchemy skill, a skill similar to the cooking skill, thought this skill combined a series of plants, herbs, mushrooms, and ground dust to a small pot of water over a fire, which was then mixed and produced a potion. The information broker told her that, from the different materials and plants of the first floor in Aincrad, the only potions currently available through Alchemy were a small health potion and two weak poisons, both of them requiring indigestion for proper use, and making very little difference a player or mobs hit points. As <Hikari> finished the transaction with the information broker, he added that a small number of players were investing in Alchemy, and that she may want to consider a different skill. <Hikari> respectfully rejected his advice, and made preparations to begin Alchemy.

The small pot <Hikari> required was a simple portable metal pot players often used to make quick meals on the go. <Hikari> already had on in her inventory, but decided it would be best carry along a separate pot, just in case cooking and alchemising in the same pot could produce conflicts.

The wind picked up, kicking up small clouds of dust, causing <Hikari> to lift her grey-tan cloak with her right arm to shield her eyes from the dust and dirt. The grass around her swished, the soft sound of the wind pushing passed matching the wave of the savanna. Peaking passed her cloak with her left eye, <Hikari> noted the small herd of oxen or bull monsters moving slightly closer to the collection of boulders, grunting as they slowly plodded. She walked faster, eager to avoid unnecessary conflict with the beasts.

It took several minutes of slow careful forward paces before <Hikari> reached the boulder. The herd had drawn closer, but was slowly retreating, as if respecting the fact <Hikari> wished to avoid a confrontation with them. <Hikari> quickly knelt down next to the boulder, muttering phrases of encouragement to herself as she nimbly searched around them. She came across a few small clover-like plants, which, after hesitating, decided to pick them, receiving the items titled '<Dust Runner's Foot>' and '<Abori Tum>'. Both of the plants were used to create a stronger healing potion, <Hikari> had discovered, though the experience turnout was a little more than minimum.

<Hikari> moved counter clockwise around the boulders, peering into each nook and cranny, picking out each of the plants she found. So far, she hadn't come across the savanna flower, but was sure she would be able to find one. She had been able to with each boulder collection so far, so why would there not be one here? she had thought.