The Price of a Unique Ability

The comfortable silence that had settled over us felt too pleasant to break, but I shattered it anyway. “Should we be heading back down?” I inquired. “It feels as though we’ve lingered up here for quite a while.” Following our lengthy discussion and the bewildering, instantaneous leap from Terra, the time had come to return to the reality we had left behind—specifically, the eatery just below our feet.

“Yes, but before that…” Kyoto began, a strange, twitchy energy seizing him. He was practically humming with it, vibrating on the spot.

“What is it?” I sighed, a wave of exhaustion washing over me. “And please, stop fidgeting. It’s a profoundly unflattering look on you.”

“Could I perhaps receive an ability or two?” he asked, his fidgeting somehow escalating as he crossed his fingers in a desperate, hopeful plea. Please, for the love of all that is holy, just stop, I thought, wincing internally. If it were Zephyra or Amara doing that, it might pass for cute. But on you… it’s just plain bizarre.

Uncertain of the proper procedure, I cast a questioning glance at Zephyra, arching an eyebrow. “Is that possible?”

“I’m afraid not, at least for the moment,” she stated, her tone firm and leaving no room for negotiation. “Although you possess the authority to bestow such a gift, your aggregate personal aether is far from sufficient to undertake such an act.”

The brilliant, anticipatory smile that had illuminated Kyoto’s face instantly collapsed, replaced by a mask of utter dejection.

“You heard the lady,” I said, softening my voice in a small gesture of pity. “Maybe later.”

“H-how much later?” he stammered, clinging to a fragile shard of hope. It was a desperate desire for a special power that was destined to be swiftly crushed.

“Accumulating one’s aggregate personal aether is a gradual process,” Zephyra explained gently, her voice like a soft balm. “It is much like physical growth or the slow building of muscle. It could require months, or perhaps even years.”

“Alright, let’s put a pin in that for now,” I declared, asserting my role as the group’s leader. “The ability-granting enterprise will have to wait. For the time being, let’s concentrate on our next moves. We need to spend some time in the city, orient ourselves, and acclimate to this new reality. Since we’ve found ourselves in the capital, it should be the ideal place to gather information.”

“I concur,” Amara remarked without a hint of protest. “It’s not as if we are on a strict schedule to be anywhere.” Voktah offered a slow, deliberate nod in agreement, but Kyoto remained immobile, a living statue carved from disappointment.

“Okay then,” I continued, laying out our immediate agenda. “The primary goals are to secure lodging, learn the ways of this world, and establish a means of earning currency for our future travels.”

“EXPLORER’S GUILD!” Kyoto suddenly bellowed, the force of his voice shattering his melancholic stupor. “If that’s our plan, then our first stop must be the Explorer’s Guild! It’s the perfect place to find work and gather intelligence. Then we can start leveling up and go fight some monsters!”

I stared at him, completely bewildered. “What in the world are you rambling about? How could you possibly know about an Explorer’s Guild? Have you been to this place before?”

“I just… I just know, okay?” he retorted, a defensive edge to his voice. “It stands to reason that an organization with a name like the Explorer’s Guild would be the central hub for job postings and local information.”

Common sense? How could he possibly frame it as common sense? And yet, I had to admit, he had brazenly guessed Zephyra was a Goddess, and he’d been correct. Perhaps, for all his ridiculous antics, he possessed some innate understanding of this world. Her divine beauty and magnificent aura made it a fairly obvious conclusion, to be fair, but it was still a point in his favor. I made a quiet mental note to query Caelus and Farhan about this Explorer’s Guild later, just to verify his claims.

“Job offers, you say?” I pressed. “You mean like a recruitment center?”

“Well, that’s not an entirely inaccurate description,” he elaborated. “Typically, one can find a wide range of jobs, from mundane tasks like delivering parcels, locating lost items, or gathering herbs, to more combat-focused commissions like monster subjugation or guarding caravans. That’s the essential function of an Explorer’s Guild.”

“Whoa, now that’s a concept I can fully support,” I said, a wide grin spreading across my face. “I was a handyman back on Terra. I took on all sorts of odd jobs: plumbing, patching leaky roofs, walking pets, even some auto repair. Hell, I’d even do pest extermination if the pay was right.”

Kyoto blinked at me, a look of confusion on his face. “Umm, I don’t believe we’re quite envisioning the same thing here.”

“I must agree with Mr. Kyoto,” Zephyra interjected smoothly. “I have heard that the Explorer’s Guild is an excellent establishment for one to train and earn some coin. While I am not privy to the specifics, eliminating monsters to increase your personal aether seems like the most logical course of action. Ms. Amara wishes to return to her home world, and Mr. Kyoto is eager to receive the Deity’s Boon he feels he is owed.”

“And why is that the ideal course?” I asked, seeking clarity.

“The more aether you possess, the longer you can maintain your physical presence in your former world,” she explained. “With a sufficiently high level, you might sustain your visit for hours, possibly even days. And, of course, by that point, Master will be more than capable of performing the ability blessing as desired.”

So, that was the crux of it. Raising my aether level was the key. I mentally promoted it to the very top of our to-do list.

“So, what are we working with at present?” I asked. “What’s our current aether count? I must have at least some, given that I can use that space-hole magic, but what is the actual quantity?”

“That’s right!” Kyoto puffed out his chest with a theatrical display of arrogance. “And how much aether do I have? I haven’t squandered any like Sempai here, so my reserves should be quite high, shouldn’t they?”

Zephyra’s attention remained fixed on me. “Master does indeed possess a minuscule amount of personal aether within his body, but it is far too small to register on the standard scale of Volts. As for the three of you…” She paused, her gaze sweeping over Kyoto, Amara, and Voktah like a clinical scanner. “There is absolutely no aetheric presence emanating from your forms.”

“Eh? Don’t tell me…” A deep furrow formed on Kyoto’s brow, his confidence beginning to crumble.

The final, devastating blow was delivered by Zephyra’s next words. “You currently possess no personal aether power whatsoever.”

“NOOO!” Kyoto’s cry of despair echoed through the quiet rooftop space as he crumpled to his knees.

Zephyra regarded him with an expression of pity before offering a plausible hypothesis. “It is likely a consequence of your recent arrival. Your bodies are still entirely devoid of aether,” she mused. “Ordinarily, those transferred to this world already bear a measure of personal aether from their home world. However, since your original world is fundamentally different in its composition, it is logical that you would arrive with none.” She turned her gaze back to me. “Master’s body has likely been passively absorbing the natural aether from the atmosphere ever since his own supply was depleted. That would account for why his personal aether, however small, is not at zero.”

“Next stop, the Explorer’s Guild,” Amara declared, a faint, unreadable smile playing on her lips. Kyoto, in a whiplash-inducing emotional reversal, was now beaming with pure, unadulterated joy.

It was strange. Amara had been so desperate to return home, yet the prospect of a clear path forward didn’t seem to thrill her. Was she objecting to the idea of leveling up through the annihilation of monsters? It certainly sounded intimidating; perhaps she was feeling apprehensive.

“Are you alright, Amara?” I asked gently, my voice low.

She started, as if pulled from a deep reverie. “Eh? What’s the matter?”

“You don’t seem particularly excited about the plan to get you home,” I observed. “Or are you worried about the prospect of fighting monsters? You don’t have to be. I have a plan; it’ll be fine.”

“That’s not it,” she said, averting her gaze. “Don’t worry about me. It’s nothing, just my own thoughts.”

“Okay, if you say so.” I decided not to press the issue. “For now, let’s head back downstairs. They’re probably waiting for us.”

With a subtle shimmer, Zephyra once again faded into invisibility as we began our descent back to the restaurant.

When we arrived, Elara and the other girls had already finished their meals and were immersed in an animated conversation.

“Oh! Sir Axel, you’ve returned!” Elara exclaimed, hopping to her feet the very moment she spotted us.

“We have indeed,” I said, offering a warm smile. “What’s all this? You all seem to be in remarkably high spirits. Did something good happen?” A celebratory atmosphere was palpable among them.

“Yes! The big brothers Caelus and Farhan introduced us to the owner, and we’ve been hired as waitresses here!” she announced, her smile so broad it looked as if it might split her face in two.

“Wow, that’s fantastic news! Congratulations,” I said sincerely, then turned my attention to the two men. “Caelus, what’s this I’m hearing?”

“It was nothing of consequence, really,” Caelus said with a humble wave of his hand. “They seemed like good kids, so we simply helped them find respectable employment. We only made the introduction to the mistress of the establishment. They earned the positions on their own merit.”

“Still, that was a truly commendable thing you did.”

“Rylan,” Amara began, her expression tinged with concern, “regarding our search for a place to stay… would it be possible for us to lodge at this inn?”

“I was thinking the exact same thing. It seems like a reputable place,” I agreed, then allowed a knowing smile to touch my lips. I reached out and gently patted Elara’s head. “It’s because of them, isn’t it?”

Bullseye. Amara nodded, pulling the nearby Elira into a soft, protective hug. It was clear she had already formed a bond with the girls.

“Well, they are sweet and adorable kids. Anyone would grow attached,” Kyoto chimed in, attempting to pat Elira’s head himself, only to have his hand deftly swatted away by Amara.

We all shared a laugh at his comically disappointed expression. After taking our seats, Kyoto ordered a fresh lunch, while Amara and I requested that Mona simply reheat our earlier meals. It seemed a terrible shame to let them go to waste.

Speaking of waste, Kyoto’s previously untouched Grokk steak had vanished. In the short interval we had been conversing, the platter in front of Voktah’s seat had been wiped clean. That sly old man was both a fast and voracious eater. How he had managed to devour a 300-gram steak in less than a minute remained a profound mystery.

As we ate, I took the opportunity to ask Caelus and Farhan about the Explorer’s Guild. Bizarrely, Kyoto’s claims had once again been mostly accurate. I truly had to wonder about the source of his information.

According to Caelus, the Guild was bifurcated into two primary branches: the Worker Division and the Explorer Division. The Worker Division managed general requests and non-combat jobs, whereas the Explorer Division handled combat-oriented demands such as subjugation quests and guarding duties.

He also clarified that the Explorer’s Guild was a far more reputable organization than, say, a Sellsword’s Guild. Its members were held to a strict code of conduct and regulations, affording them a level of legitimacy and respect that mercenaries, who would perform any act for the right price, simply could not claim.

I also inquired about the function of identification in this world. To my relief, the system was relatively simple. While magic was involved, IDs issued by respected organizations like the Explorer’s Guild or the Commerce Syndicate were primarily for identification when entering or leaving cities and to certify membership.

My initial fears of obnoxious magical tracking or the remote broadcasting of personal data proved unfounded. All information on an ID could only be accessed through direct interaction, not skimmed surreptitiously from a distance. With that assurance, I was perfectly comfortable with the idea of acquiring one at the Guild.

Before our earlier departure, I had asked Elara if she would be willing to guide us around the city. She had been overjoyed by the request and had immediately agreed. The plan, therefore, was to finish our meal and then allow the girls to give us a proper tour of the capital.

As we ate, I noticed Zephyra observing us, her expression utterly mournful. She resembled a pathetic puppy sitting by the dinner table, yearning for a single taste of the delicious food its owner was enjoying. I tried offering her some once more, but her hand passed right through the morsel. It appeared the only things she could physically interact with were summoned beings like us, whose bodies were partially composed of aether. All else was intangible to her. She looked so profoundly dejected that I resolved then and there to discover if such a thing as spirit food existed in this world. We had to find a way for her to experience the sense of taste eventually.

Once we were finished, I settled our bill with Mona and informed her we would like to retain the rooms for a few more days. After another round of thanks for our patronage, we prepared to depart.

As we headed for the door, Farhan pulled me aside. “Be wary of that noble you provoked earlier,” he warned, his voice low and serious. “A man of his station will undoubtedly be plotting some form of retribution.”

I clapped him firmly on the shoulder. “Don’t you worry about it. I have my own methods for dealing with people like that.”

He and Caelus still looked unconvinced, but after I assured them I had appropriate countermeasures in place, they finally seemed to relax. With our goodbyes exchanged, we stepped out into the vibrant, bustling city, ready for our tour.