With the break of dawn, the protagonist, now dressed in a "skirt" of dried grass, flew over the treetops until he spotted an elven camp near a forest trail.
From above, he quickly identified eight elves. The eldest among them, distinguished by his mature demeanor, immediately signaled the three other adults—a pair of mages and an archer—upon hearing something flying overhead.
Fortunately for the protagonist, the senior elf, a level-three adventurer, quickly deduced he was not a flying reptile and stopped his companions from firing their weapons in haste.
Interesting. Are they really cautious about dragons here? Well, no matter. What's a fantasy adventure without dragons, anyway?
When the protagonist landed on a tall coniferous tree with sparse foliage—its name eluding his memory—he noticed that the elves were now within range of his wind perception. To his surprise, he realized he could understand more than 80% of their words. The language they spoke was a blend of dialects strangely familiar to him. While he couldn't pinpoint exactly why these languages resonated with him, it felt like a distant memory he couldn't quite grasp.
The adult elves were deep in conversation, particularly a white-haired mage with icy blue eyes. She scrutinized him from afar, furrowing her brows in confusion before murmuring something about him being a "High Elf." Her words introduced an air of strangeness to their initial discussion, especially questioning why a young elf would be traveling alone—and capable of flying like a "dragon."
Oh, and those two young elf girls who whispered something about me being "cute" and blushed while asking, "Why is he naked?" Well, they don't need to know I heard that, do they?
After carefully assessing that these elves, who seemed far weaker than him in norms of magic, posed no significant threat, the protagonist decided to make contact.
He leaped down from the tree, landing gracefully on the forest floor, and walked toward them until he was at a respectful distance.
"Um, good morning, ladies and gentlemen," he said with a hint of doubt, unsure if his choice of words was appropriate for the situation.
Hmm, it seems my voice has a mildly hypnotic effect—or maybe it's just the special effects of being a Sylph, he mused, noting how his tone sounded mysteriously pleasant, almost ethereal. Definitely worthy of a premium skin.
"What an antiquated and formal way of speaking. Do all High Elves talk like this nowadays?" murmured the white-haired mage softly, only to freeze as the protagonist turned his gaze toward her. A faint blush crept across her cheeks as if embarrassed to have been caught.
"That's enough, Mira," the older elf interjected firmly, stepping forward with two deliberate strides before offering a respectful bow.
"Thalor Everoak, my lord, leader of this escort group of the White Ice Forest Fanache and acting captain of the Ullr Familia." He straightened, locking eyes with the protagonist, clearly expecting a formal introduction in return.
Familia? This reminds me of something—Dungeon harem, no, Dungeon ni Deai?
Interesting. It seems I've hit the jackpot, being reincarnated in a world with powers that fit me so perfectly, haha.
A faint smile escaped his lips, though he hadn't realized it. Unbeknownst to him, his default expression—the "mysterious pretty boy smirk" of the Sylph premium skin—was already taking effect.
"Aether-Ou," he stated with an air of seriousness. Using the nickname he had given all his Sylph characters since obtaining the skin seemed to have triggered some atmospheric special effects. The unseen Sylphs in the air stirred in excitement at the sound of his name. (Nickname: King of the Invisible Wind, inspired by Fate's Artoria Wind King Barrier.)
Switching to a more lighthearted tone, he asked if they could guide him to the nearest city.
Of course, this only led to them insisting on escorting him the entire way while introducing themselves one by one. By the end of the exchange, everyone was addressing him as "Aether'Ou-sama."
Thalor Everoak was the first to introduce himself, his voice steady and respectful as he gave a slight bow.
"As I've already mentioned, I am Thalor Everoak, leader of this escort group and acting captain of the Ullr Familia."
He straightened his posture, exuding the presence of a seasoned warrior. His gray hair, tied back in a ponytail, and his golden eyes spoke of years of experience. His reinforced leather armor, inscribed with magical runes, looked practical yet sturdy, and his longsword was a perfect example of balance and precision.
The very picture of a veteran. No unnecessary embellishments, just pure expertise, I thought, impressed by his demeanor.
Next was Kaelen Frostvale, the archer, who stepped forward with a casual grin.
"Kaelen Frostvale at your service. I'm the archer of this group. Rest assured, no arrow will be loosed without your leave."
His short blond hair and bright blue eyes gave him a relaxed yet confident aura. The enchanted ashwood bow slung across his back looked expertly crafted.
Relaxed yet deadly when it counts—classic elven archer, I mused, noting his easygoing demeanor.
Mira Snowgem followed, tilting her head slightly in a gesture of politeness.
"Mira Snowgem. It's an honor to meet a High Elf. I specialize in ice magic."
Her voice was as elegant and cold as her appearance. Tall and slender, her straight white hair matched her piercing ice-blue eyes. She held an intricately carved crystal orb in her left hand, moving with a graceful, almost regal, air.
She's intimidating… or maybe it's just the way she scrutinizes everything. Either way, she's not to be underestimated, I thought, meeting her gaze briefly before she looked away.
Eryndor Silverspruce offered a short, composed introduction, nodding slightly.
"Eryndor Silverspruce, also a mage. It's a privilege to meet you."
His short silver hair gleamed faintly in the dappled forest light, contrasting with his tanned skin. The staff he carried, adorned with a radiant emerald, seemed both practical and powerful.
Calm and reserved, but there's a quiet confidence about him. He's the type you'd want on your side in a tight spot, I noted, intrigued by his composed demeanor.
The younger elves came next, starting with Lorien Frostvale, who stepped forward with a mix of confidence and respect.
"Lorien Frostvale, younger brother of Kaelen. I'm here to prove myself."
At just 17, his platinum blond hair and intense blue eyes gave him a striking appearance. He wore light leather armor and carried a well-maintained but simple sword.
Ambitious and determined. The classic younger sibling trying to step out of an older one's shadow, I thought, seeing a spark of potential in his stance.
Sylva Everoak, standing tall and disciplined, was next.
"Sylva Everoak, daughter of Thalor. I am a swordswoman-in-training, and I look forward to learning from you."
Her short brown hair and amber eyes reflected a no-nonsense attitude. Her practical combat attire and disciplined posture spoke of rigorous training.
She's clearly following in her father's footsteps. A serious one, but dependable in a fight, I thought, noting her composure.
Rhydian Snowgem, the youngest of the group, hesitated before stepping forward, his voice timid.
"Rhydian Snowgem. Apprentice mage… sir." He looked down briefly, clearly nervous.
With short white hair and light blue eyes, he had a delicate and youthful appearance. He held a small crystal orb in both hands, clutching it as if it were his most precious possession.
Timid now, but there's potential there. Young mages often grow into their power quickly. Definitely someone to watch, I mused, offering a reassuring nod.
Finally, Alicia Forestlight stepped forward, her voice steady but tinged with curiosity.
"Alicia Forestlight. I'm a mage, and it's truly an honor to meet you."
Her hazel eyes sparkled with a mix of excitement and nervousness. Her chestnut hair framed her youthful face, and her oakwood wand, delicate yet sturdy, seemed to resonate with her natural curiosity.
She's different from the others. There's a hunger to learn in her gaze that sets her apart. I'll have to keep an eye on her, I thought, noting her earnestness.
Maybe it's something about her past, I'm pretty sure I remember her becoming one of the main members of Loki familia, but with her age, I can tell I'm at least a few years before the cannon...
With everyone introduced, the group seemed more at ease in my presence. Though they continued to address me as "Aether'Ou-sama," their tones were lighter, their wariness replaced with curiosity and growing trust.
"Aether'Ou-sama, why aren't you wearing anything?" Alicia asked, her voice tinged with embarrassment, causing the entire group to freeze for a moment. The others exchanged awkward glances, unsure how to respond to such a direct and innocent question.
The young elf, cheeks flushed with color, quickly turned her gaze to the ground, clearly regretting her words. "Alicia, don't bother Aether-sama," Mira Snowgem, the ice mage, interjected, her voice soft but firm, a faint blush on her own face.
I guess even elven mages aren't immune to embarrassment, I thought with a quiet chuckle, watching the group shift uncomfortably.
After a few moments of silence, where Alicia's questioning gaze and the awkward tension hung in the air, she sighed in frustration, giving up on asking more questions that seemed to yield no substantial answers.
"You never wear anything... but how do you... I mean, how do you stay warm?" Alicia muttered, her curiosity still bubbling beneath the surface.
At least she's persistent, but I don't think I can explain this easily to her, I mused silently, glancing around at the other elves. They were all silent, unsure whether to give me a response or not.
The silence lingered for a while, thick and uncomfortable, but I could tell they were all trying to avoid any more embarrassing topics.
"Aether-sama, you... you must be used to questions like this?" Lorien Frostvale asked hesitantly, his voice quieter than usual. He appeared intrigued but also somewhat respectful of my apparent uniqueness.
They all seem so fascinated by me... I thought with a bemused expression.
"It's fine, don't worry," I finally said, my voice carrying a subtle breeze, as if my words themselves were gently calming the awkward atmosphere. "I'm not cold, and as for clothing, well… it's not necessary for me."
Alicia's eyes widened, but before she could probe further, Mira stepped in once again, "Aether-sama is different. Please respect his way, Alicia."
Different, indeed. Being a Sylph definitely complicates things here, It was clear I wasn't a typical elf, and there was no way I could fool a god about being one. That would be a disaster in the making.
Of course, she didn't have to act like I was a deviant, I'm not using Bacchus premium skin from the second game after all, it would be fun to steal Dio's familia from him if it was the course.
The group's curiosity didn't seem to ease, but they quickly shifted their focus to the journey ahead, which was probably a relief for both of us. I would need to tread carefully here if I wanted to integrate into their world without raising suspicions.
The biggest problem is that the truth, even a partial one, becomes even more absurd. In this world, I'm equivalent to a high spirit of wind. Given what I know about other high spirits, letting them know that wouldn't do me any favors—it would only bring trouble.
But as long as they don't know I'm a "high spirit of wind," it should be fine. And even if they find out, it's not like they're going to build a temple and hold festivals to worship me, right?
I shuddered at the thought.
Over a thousand years since the "gods" descended and bestowed the Falna upon mortals, at least 90% of the temples had been abandoned, simply because the gods were now walking among the mortals and wielding less raw power than most adventurers.
Meanwhile, there were at least three legendary tales about high spirits that everyone knew. One of them even had a temple dedicated to the legend of that spirit—so much so that the goddess of love and fertility, Freya, had come to pray there, seeking success. I couldn't help but laugh at the thought.
Anyway, the other two legends were far more important to me, after all, it was about my comrades' high-spirits and the "heroines" n° 3 and 4 backstory in the order of sequence.
AN: (Finnegas and Aria but the first may be a Tornitrus).