Grimlock's Stall
You think for a moment before answering the man's question.
"A toy, that brings delight to young and old alike," you state, before turning a question onto him. "Why might you ask?"
The man looks at you for a few more moments before shaking his head. "I thought you were someone else," he admits, "who is known by my family for making kaleidoscopes. We've never met the man, but we have heard of him. You have his name as your username, so I'd thought I'd ask."
It is likely that Grimlock before you is a magus, and he was seeing if you were actually the master of the Kaleidoscope rather than just a regular player who managed to get lucky. Still, you have no need to reveal yourself to him; you have enough on your plate right now, and you don't need to add a connection with him yet, if at all.
Although, this version of Grimlock there brings up an interesting possibility; if Grimlock is a magus, and Kayaba is a magus, who else in Aincrad are magi from the outside? You doubt that you have met all the magi from Earth in Aincrad yet, but surely they can't number more than a couple hundred.
But there is another possibility of why you are holding back; in most versions of Aincrad, around the fiftieth floor, Grimlock had his wife killed because she was too outgoing, taking a shine to the role of a leading warrior, when he was used to her being the traditional passive wife. Assuming that the timeline doesn't change too much, that was something that you could look forward to.
…Assuming you decide to not personally intervene before that point, that is.
You lift up the steel scimitar, eyeing it closely. "I see," you state. "Sorry for the confusion. How much for this scimitar?"
"300 Col," Grimrock states. "And that's a special price for you. If anyone else confuses you for the kaleidoscope maker, send them my way."
[X] Accept
[X] Decline
[X] Write-In
After thanking Grimrock for his time, you wandered around the Town of Beginnings continuing to explore. There were a couple of other things that caught your eye, but nothing to really keep a hold of your interest, yet.
Eventually, after about an hour, you returned to the Dancing Hag Inn. While Homura could very well help out in Aincrad, the only methods she knew how would wind up drawing attention very quickly.
The creator looked at the newcomer in surprise.
She was used to working with few, if any, people, and if she was forced to work with too many when she didn't think of it herself, you doubt she would take it well.
"One of Zelretch's pranks?" he asks himself, examining her equipment.
When you approach your room, though, you see Asuna standing outside the door, a hand on her rapier.
"How many guns does she need?" the creator asks in surprise.
"Zelretch-san," she states, looking in your direction.
"******** is going to have a field day with this…"
"Yes?" you ask.
The girl looks at you for several seconds, before closing her eyes and taking a breath. "You're… not working with the Incubators willingly, are you?" she asks.
You raise an eyebrow in surprise. "They told you?" you ask.
"You knew too much about Mi-Madoka," she nervously explains, opening her eyes with some fear in them. "When you… talked with her, you told her of what had happened in reality. She told me what happened herself, and now a friend of hers is backing her up."
"Big Sister, let me take control of your next floor."
She stares silently at you for several seconds before backing away, letting you head to the room you have claimed, where Homura is hugging an uncomfortable Miyaka on the bed.
"They have weapons from a much later floor now."
"Homura," you state. "You cannot stay here. It's time to return to Mitakihara."
"And I might be able to get rid of the biggest imbalances if I do this right…"
Slowly, Homura detaches herself from the other girl, holding her hands for a few more seconds before letting go.
"Kaname-san…" she says, "please, stay safe…"
Madoka leans forward to hug Homura before letting her go again, allowing Homura to stand and face you. "I'm ready," the girl states, lifting her shield up.
Nodding in understanding, you turn towards Miyaka. "Thank you for coming, Miyaka," you state with a joking smile on your face. "Although I can't remember why I called for you in the first place. It couldn't have been that important in the first place. Why don't you and Asuna go out and do your own thing for the rest of the day, all right? Perhaps study some cooking?"
Madoka bids you and Homura farewell as she leaves the room, allowing you to close the door behind her.
"If anything happens to her," Homura warns, "I don't care how powerful you are, I will try to shoot you before I go to my next world."
"I wouldn't blame you for trying, but I don't think I'll let myself be shot," you reply, before twisting the Kaleidoscope.
Asuna: -1 Max Mental Stamina
Homura: +2 Mental Stamina
Miyaka: +1 Mental Stamina
Zelretch: -1 Physical Stamina
, ********'s Wrath gained
Mitakihara Town
You appear with Homura on a roof of a building near Mitakihara Middle School.
"Earlier this morning," you state, "a demon appeared in Mitakihara while you were asleep. While you would probably be the best for the job, it would be a good idea to have Hitomi and Kyousuke fight it for them to get some practice."
Homura nods in understanding, looking down at the school with you.
There should be an hour before school gets out for the day. What do you want to do?
[X] There is a limousine down in the street near the school. Perhaps you should check it out?
[X] Wait by the front gate. You probably should meet up with the two children as they exit.
[X] Best wait where you are, just to be safe.
[X] Write-In?
