CH132

They discussed the details a bit longer before Falk got to work and Ben was able to direct his focus to Zandale.

“Sorry about that, didn’t mean to keep you waiting.”

“Not at all, as someone who only has the third level in blacksmithing, that was all incredibly impressive. But with that done, have you found a skill that has grabbed your attention?”

When Ben had been going through the book of skills, it had Zandale’s level in each too and Ben was sure his smithing had been lower but assumed it must have just not been updated recently. With so many skills to keep track of, nobody could be blamed if one or two slipped through the cracks. Besides, he had more important things to think about as a smile unconsciously formed across his face.

“I did, but you remember saying that if I had any other skills you didn’t I’d be able to learn more?”

“You have another skill?”

“Two others actually. Hidden mind and complex mind,” Technically he had four, but he wasn’t sure an apostle would be happy to have the chance to learn sacrilege, and he was pretty sure you needed a demon organ transplant to get partial demonic body so he left those two out, no need to risk scaring Zandale off because of them.

Hearing this, the tentacled creature took out his card, from where Ben couldn’t say, and started scrolling through the information on it, checking to verify that he didn’t have those skills.

“Oh my,” He said in astonishment. “I think it’s been around three years since I found someone with that many skills I didn’t already possess, but it looks like coming has been very profitable indeed. In that case, have you found three skills you’d like to acquire?”

“About that, there’s only one I really want,” There were very few skills that would be of more value to hold and train personally compared to just enchanting with them as far as he was concerned, but there was a different option he hoped to explore. “Would it be possible to get you to train two other people in a skill each?”

“Of course, I’ve done such scenarios before and have no issue with it.”

“Excellent, in that case, Falk! Did you hear all that?”

His teacher had been near enough to know what they were talking about and Ben gave him a wide grin. Even if he didn’t want to take him as a student initially, Ben felt he owed the man a great deal. He patiently taught him the best he could, helped him develop his ideas, and provided stability to his life when he was first making his own way in the world. Giving him the chance to learn a new skill was the least he could do.

Falk for his part seemed initially shocked, even slightly bashful from the offer, but turned his student down. “That’s mighty kind of you boy, it really is, but don’t worry about me. While we were waiting for you to wake up, Zandale already taught me a skill in exchange for some smithing and enchanting lessons.”

He was a little disappointed but didn’t let it get to him. There were other people in his life he cared about that he could help with this, and there would be other ways to show Falk his thanks.

He gave Zandale access to the connect skill so the other apostle’s time wouldn’t be wasted and ran off to grab the two other people he thought would be able to take proper advantage of a gift like this, stopping by the clinic first to tell Sonya she needed to take a break to go to Falk’s shop, and going back home where he knew Thera was studying dark magic in her efforts to gain it, dragging her along without explaining anything, much preferring to make it a surprise.

Once everyone was gathered he explained exactly why they were there. “Alright guys, christmas came early this year and you two lucky ladies get to benefit.”

“What’s christmas?” Sonya asked, not understanding what he was saying at all, nor why she’d been asked to come.

“A fantastic question! It’s a holiday from my homeland that involves giving gifts to the people you care about, with the gift you’ll be receiving is the chance to learn a new skill each from my fellow apostle, Zandale the skill master!” He said, directing his hands to the lovely tentacled figure in the back of the shop.

“Wait, you know the skill master!” Thera yelled out, while Sonya had a different concern.

“Ben, you can’t waste that much money on us!”

“Huh? What do you mean money?”

Zandale answered for him. “I sell my services as a skill teacher at a high price for those who don’t have skills to trade. A person can’t live on knowledge alone after all.”

“Fair enough, but you guys don’t have to worry about that. I have three skills they don’t and only one I want to learn so flip through this book and find something for yourselves.”

Thera happily took it and started flipping through the pages after thanking him, but Sonya was more hesitant. “Ben this is too generous, you really should at least take two skills for yourself, I don’t need one.”

“Nonsense. There are plenty of skills I just straight up can’t learn, and of the ones I can I either don’t want, am confident I could learn myself at a later date, or would make better use of by being able to copy an enchantment of it than actually having the skill myself. Rather than grabbing something I don’t need, I’d rather give this to you as a thanks for giving me a place to stay and constantly patching me up.”

“I’m still not sure…”

“Just give it a look aunty, I’m sure there’s something in here you would want,” Thera said, waving Sonya to her. “There’s so many options, I wouldn’t be surprised if you could find something to help you at the town clinic as well.”

“Well, I guess it won’t hurt to give it a look. Thank you Ben.”

“Of course, hope you pick something good.”

With that done, Zandale got to the main point with Ben. “So what skill would you like? I’ll transfer it to you right away and then we can focus on training it until you acquire it.”