Alric's head was splitting. The sun felt like a fire spell was directly shot into his eyes. His body felt sluggish, like it wasn't even his. Turns out there was a hangover after being drunk, the dreaded hangover. He used to make fun of Hector and the others for this, and to think he'd get like this so soon.
He got up from his bed quickly, only to take a knee again once he's up. From the outside of his room, he can hear clamor and noise.
"I hear he's the legendary hero."
"Is it true? That Sunbringer is in this inn?"
Alric let out a sigh. Leave it to the city people to spread gossip like wildfire. He moved to change himself into something more presentable, armor and all. He grabbed Sunbringer and slung it across his back.
With a click of the door opening, the clamor died down, anticipation lingering in the air. Alric stepped out of the room, and the townspeople gasped.
"So young!"
"The legends are true! Sunbringer has met its chosen!"
'So loud, is this the hangover's fault?'
Alric tried his best to mask his hangover, fighting with the liquid trying to climb up his stomach. He excused himself and walked down to the restroom to throw up the alcohol. He opened the door to a crowd of people, again still impressed, even though he knew they heard him throw up his insides.
"People of Valtherisl, make way!" A voice boomed from the entrance of the inn. There was Cherry.
"The great hero needs his time in the morning, please don't crowd and trouble his greatness, come now, break it up now!" He shooed the other
The crowd parted, murmuring about Sunbringer—not Alric. He sighed, realizing he meant nothing to them.
Cherry walked to Alric and bowed, "Your royal retainer has arrived."
"What the fuck are you-"
Cherry shushed him, "Play along, will you? I'm trying to help you here."
Alric nodded and followed Cherry to a back alley. "Pulling off a performance first thing in the morning," Cherry muttered.
"Royal retainer? Really?"
"Like you could come up with something better." He mumbled as he threw Alric an Aether Converter. "That's set to relay your location to all of us; it'll lead an Aether Trail for all four of us."
"You really know your converters, do you, Cherry?"
Cherry just shrugged, "Simple stuff really, Aether goes into the input cartridge, processed in the actual converter, and adjusted according to the spell cartridge. Simple stuff, really."
Alric just nodded; he won't even pretend to understand, but he thinks he understands the basics. A voice from one of the nuns rang in his head. Aether is the essence that all humans are born with. However, not all humans are able to use their Aether naturally, which is why these Aether Converters are created, so humanity won't have anyone left behind. Those who have a natural tendency to Aether become specialized mages in their fields and are respected far and wide.
Aether behaves like a unique organ to all humans in Aetheris. Each person has different Aether Attributes. Composition, the types of Aether they have in their bodies. Fluidity, how the Aether flows and behaves on casting spells. Harmony is how well a person can naturally control their Aether without tools or external help.
These are just the basics that the nuns have drilled into Alric; he's sure that there's more to unveil in his journey now that he's entangled with people like Cherry and Elfie.
'Come to think of it, I still don't know my attributes yet.'
"Well, I've got some other business to take care of today. Can you give this to Elfie? I saw her in the center library, but I can't be bothered to give it to her myself."
"Why?"
Cherry shrugged, "I think she hates my guts."
"Who doesn't at this point?"
"Eos doesn't. That's why I'm gonna go look for him. Don't forget tonight at the Smiling Solari!"
Alric sighed. Great, another errand. He thinks that maybe being a hero is just an overglorified errand boy. Even his 'royal retainer' is treating him like this. He started walking, but he didn't know where since Cherry didn't even have the decency to tell him where the center library was.
After asking around while getting asked about the sword behind his back a few times, he finally found the center library. There, he asked the receptionist, a sharp-looking young woman with jet black hair, if she had seen an Elf inside the building. The receptionist pointed upstairs, and Alric was on his way.
The center library was nothing like the libraries back in Alric's hometown. The halls here were so abundant that it was almost winding. There were topics on everything, even on things that he didn't even know existed. After walking for a bit, there Elfie was, hidden in the corner of the library with a fortress of books around her. The sound of a quill scribbling can be heard; it seems she's working on something. She had a serious yet neutral expression on her face. A bit unfamiliar since he's mostly seen her scowl or frown.
"Hi Elfie,"
She looked up, and the neutral expression before turned into a frown, 'There it is.'
"Ugh, even in my free time, this debt doesn't escape me. What do you want?"
"Cherry wanted me to give this to you, a converter that has a tracking spell in it for the four of us."
"Hmph! The nerve he has to give me a magical item. Does he not know that elves are more capable in magic than humans?"
Elfie snatched the converter from Alric's hands and inspected it. Her earlier frown and disdain soon gave way to something else. She was learning the mechanics of the spell and actually taking down notes.
Alric received sharp looks from Elfie as she activated the converter. It whirred for a bit, then released 3 lines of Aether, one of which is aimed straight at Alric. Elfie took her fingers off the input cartridge, and the line disappeared.
"A handy tracking spell, I must admit." Elfie gritted in anger as she took the Converter.
Alric nodded. When he was leaving, he noticed a book on Aether basics in Elfie's pile. He picked up the book and studied the cover, 'Aether Basics. Know your Aether, know yourself!'
"Are you interested in that?"
"A little bit, the nuns who raised me didn't have many books on Aether. I don't think I know my Aether Attributes yet."
Elfie hummed in acknowledgement. She stood up from her seat and pointed at the mountain of books. "Help me return all this to their shelves, you're strong, right. Let me help you with that Aether Attribute."
They left the library and moved to an expensive-looking cobblestone building. The attendants greeted Elfie, but received only a hand and a nod in return. They climbed the stairs until they got to what seemed to be a lab.
Elfie waltzed into the empty room and snatched a circular tube item with handles on the side. The handle was made of the same material as the input cartridges of the Aether Converter, and the circular tube was made of clear glass. Elfie held the handle with both hands as a demonstration and handed Alric the device.
"Release your Aether until the circle is full."
Alric released his Aether, and the tube filled up with the color of Gray, then Yellow, then a little bit of Crimson. Once he's finished, he feels drained. Elfie took the device from his hands and took some notes. She spun the device; the Aether moved like fluid. Then she shook it; the Aether crashed into itself, mixing a little but mostly staying separate.
"70% Base Aether, 25% Energy, and 5% Fire, that's your composition." She jotted down some notes before continuing, "Aether fluidity is normal, nothing to note, and harmony is also normal, no harmony or discord in particular. Congratulations, besides your measly 5% fire affinity, you're dully average."
"Not very befitting of a hero, I must say, I was expecting something more interesting."
"Well, in a way, being this average is special in its own way. The composition is so mundane you'd see it in textbooks."
'Ouch, that's a hurtful thing to say.'
"This is great information. I'll bring this device to the Smiling Solari to get intel on the others."
She handed the machine back to Alric to make him absorb the Aether, and she shooed him away.
Alric made his way out of the building. Knowing his attribute was something he always wanted to know, but knowing he was completely average, he felt sad. Angry? Frustrated? He honestly couldn't tell.
He made his way to the town plaza to walk off his hangover and wait for the sun to go down.
'At least I'll see Sunny today.' Clinging to the one person who saw Alric, not Sunbringer, he wandered aimlessly, the sword's weight the only remarkable thing about him.