The hangover pounded against Eric’s skull like a caged gorilla, waves of pain stretching from his head down his body. But that wasn’t the real reason Eric stared blankly into the mug of juice he held in front of him, or that he hadn’t finished the eggs and mystery bacon of his breakfast. 

I will never escape this hero, will I? Eric thought. People will see in me what does not exist and will try and use me…

A firm hand slapped Eric on the back, jolting him out of his thoughts and making him spill some of his juice, which was a sort of citrus type of fruit that tasted like a sweeter variety of orange. 

“You won’t find anything that interesting in your mug,” Bearick said. “The hangover got you that bad?” 

The party sat at a fine table in a common area of their shared quarters in the king’s castle. The room was finely ornamented with gilded crown molding, golden accents across much of the exposed stone, extremely fine couches along a far wall beneath vaulted windows, and most of all the incredible tapestries that hung along the far wall that had no windows. It wasn’t a terribly large room, but had doors into separate rooms that they each had claimed, Clanker deciding to spend the night time in the common room.

“No stomach for ale, it seems,” Sophia said, foot up on the table, having long finished her meal. 

“It’s not all the hangover’s fault,” Eric said, eyeing Sophia for her comment. “But King Arelgore…makes me nervous. Makes me afraid that all the kings will be like him.”

“What do you mean?” Bearick asked. 

Eric set down his mug and leaned back in his chair, lacing his hands together and looking out one of the vaulted windows. 

“He warned me about how finite his patience is,” Eric said. “He pulled away his mask, so to speak. That made me realize that he’s a man willing to do whatever to get power, choosing to deceive everyone, his people included, about who he really is; he’s a psychopath. He saw in me an opportunity to perpetuate that, to gain power over the other kings and rulers in the free lands. What will other rulers do when they see me coming?”

“Perhaps they will wish for you to throw meat at them,” Clanker said. The group turned and stared at him, Eric groaning a bit. “It may even become a tradition for future generations across the free lands to welcome the highest honored guests. I can see it now, ‘Fling the meat! Fling the meat!’ That would likely cause meat supply and demand to grow, meaning you, by accident, could have potentially inflated the fragile economy and altered royal culture on the continent.” Clanker smiled, then noticed the blank stares from the rest of the party. “You don’t think so?”

“Uh…” Bearick said, looking at the party awkwardly. “Does the skeleton always say strange things?”

“I am Clanker, thank you very much,” Clanker said with a huff. “This bag of bones has a name.”

“Don’t worry about it, Eric,” Sophia said as she lowered her leg and stood up to strap on a thin blade to her thigh. “Eventually, your own will of what people think of you will stick, not to mention your actions and deeds while you’re here. You’ll likely become a legend all your own, prophecy aside. Otherworlders have always gained a great deal of recognition throughout history as far as I know it.”

“And with that kind of name going around,” Bearick said. “You’ll be able to influence how the kings and rulers treat you, setting the rules instead of feeling like you have to pander to them, as any great religious figure should do.”

Eric grunted at Bearick’s comment. 

I am not a prophesied hero, Eric thought. Or whatever…

“What’s the plan for the day, Eric?” Sophia asked, throwing a small pack over her shoulder. Eric quickly finished his breakfast as she got ready to leave. 

“I don’t really have a plan,” Eric said. “For now, we have some free time, I guess. But eventually, I’ll want to go and take a hunt or two before we move on from Bracharest, probably.” 

“I’ll head to the hunter’s hall and see what jobs would suit you,” Sophia said, then walked to the main door to their shared quarters. 

“Return here later,” Eric said. “We’ll just meet up again after all is said and done for today and make a plan for the rest of our time at Bracharest.” 

Sophia nodded as she closed the door, her footsteps echoing down the stone hall outside their quarters. 

“I would very much like to see their library,” Clanker said. “I have heard the king keeps quite the collection.”

“I’ll go with you,” Eric said. “I very much need a stronger understanding of Auron if I want to survive.”

“I believe that we still have things to take care of at the inn,” Bearick said. “Not to mention whatever belongings we hadn’t brought with us to the castle. I should go and fetch them and settle any tabs with the innkeeper.”

“That’s a great idea,” Eric said. “See if you can find a servant that can help you since it’ll probably be a bit more than you can carry.” 

Bearick nodded, then left through the main door. 

A thought occurred to Eric about their belongings. 

“Rose,” Eric said. “How much can I carry in my inventory?” 

The blue ball of light blossomed in front of Eric before she spoke. 

“Mass and weight are not limiting factors,” Rose said. “But the number of objects that you can hold is. The current max is fifteen. This can and will change with more experience using it, as will other aspects of your inventory ability.”

“What other kind of aspects?” Eric asked. 

Rose did not share anything more of his inventory ability. 

“Alright then,” Eric said. “I suppose that inventory ability will come in handy.” 

Eric stood, nodding to Clanker.

“Let’s go read some stuff.”

***

Eric hadn’t seen a library so grand, so vast. The library, or perhaps more like a colossal repository, had one enormous study hall that stood three stories, vaulted stone walls, and beautiful ceiling murals of nature and the stars. 

There were three levels with small balconies that looked over the main study hall. The hall itself had rows and rows of tables and seating arranged neatly, as well as desks with a few clerks. Each level had rows and rows of tall shelves of books and tomes with more seating on the small balconies. 

Eric gaped, jaw slacking a bit as they entered the library. 

Servants and other workers moved quietly about the main hall, collecting left books from the tables and desks. There were some patrons sitting and reading, a few even seemed like some of the nobility Eric had seen at the feast and in the king’s court. 

A woman servant approached them and bowed with a smile. 

“Hello, hero,” the servant said. “I am Nialia. I was tasked with assisting you while you adjourn here in the castle. I was just about to go looking for you, but it seems you have saved me the trouble.” Nialia was in her mid-thirties and had long black hair that passed just below her shoulders. She wore a white robe that hung just above the ground. She had little jewelry other than a single golden necklace and a set of gold earrings. 

“Hello,” Clanker said. “You have a fine collection here, it seems.” 

“It is among the largest of the free lands,” Nialia said. “Only perhaps rivaled by those in the Empire of the southern continent. However, those claims have not been verified for obvious reasons.”

“Obvious?” Eric said. 

“Well,” Nialia said, shifting her feet a bit. “No envoy has ever survived the trip, nor any other way to communicate with the south, either dead by the desert bands, or the…dangerous people that live there.” 

“Makes sense,” Eric said.  “So what are we allowed to do and see here in the library?” 

“Oh,” Nialia said, smiling. “You have access to all tomes held here in the library. The king made that very clear, knowing your desire to learn of our world.” She leaned forward conspiratorially. “Might I say, it is a pleasure to have been selected to attend to your needs. I have believed a hero would be sent for much of my life, and to think…” she seemed to get slightly emotional before continuing. “Well, it is an honor. And you’re an otherworlder! What excitement for us here in Bracharest.”

Eric nodded sheepishly, trying not to show how awkward her comment made him feel.

“Is there a place we can gather books a bit more privately?” Eric asked. 

“Of course!” Nialia said enthusiastically while trying to keep her voice close to a whisper. “On the third level, there are private rooms with small windows that look out onto the city. Would you like me to requisition one for you?” 

“That would be very helpful,” Eric said. 

“Wonderful!” Nialia said, gently clapping her hands together. “Let me ask one of the–”

Another servant burst into the study hall, panting from running for a time it seemed. He bolted to Eric once he saw them.

After a quick breather, the servant stood tall and addressed Eric. 

“Hero,” the servant said. “The king urgently wishes your presence and opinion in a matter of his affairs and judgement. He asks that you come immediately.” Clanker folded his arms and seemed to mutter something under his breath. 

“Great,” Eric said. “Now what?”