CH293

Unlike the last time when he was trying to get somewhere without prior arrangements, this time Ben decided to do things properly. He went to the home of Amy, Jake, and Yuzu, told the guards at the gate who he was and why he was there, and waited patiently as that information was passed along.

“So you okay?” He asked Thera as he watched her fidget beside him, his hands busy making a circular tool he’d need later through his magic skills.

“Um, yeah. Things might just be a little awkward is all,” She admitted. “They had a little funeral for you and I didn’t exactly take it well.”

He rubbed her back and tried to ease her mind. “I’m sure it will be fine. In fact, if they think about anything other than how good it is to see me alive then I’m having issues with them too.”

She was going to speak, her worries not dying so easily, but before she could get a word out a hole in space opened up beside them, with Jake jumping out, tackling Ben with a hug.

“Haha man oh man is it good to see you in one piece,” He cheered as Amy and Yuzu both came out as well. “We all thought you were a goner. Ha, well not Thera, she tore into us for that-” He stopped as he noticed her beside him, not wearing her cloak, her face plain to see. “And should we be wearing those amulets you gave us now?”

“Ben managed to get my charm under control. I still can’t touch people but you’re all safe as is,” She said awkwardly, only for Yuzu to jump in her arms, bringing her into a hug. “Hey, what did I just-”

Before she could finish the soul mage was already smugly pointing to the amulet around her neck, thrown on as soon as she learned Thera was outside and getting her hug begrudgingly accepted for the trouble.

“We honestly didn’t believe it when we heard the news,” Amy told him, a big smile spread on her face as well. “And by the time we knew it was true, well, you know what happened so we couldn’t find you, but it’s great that you stopped by. Come on in.”

“Yeah, take the VIP entrance,” Jake laughed, leading them all through the hole in space he’d made into their living room.

From the way Yuzu was clinging to Thera, whispering in her ear since Ben was right there it was clear that her previous worries seemed unfounded and Jake called for a round of snacks and drinks to be brought as they took a seat.

Before anything else, Ben threw what he’d been making to Yuzu, surprising her as she caught it and making her whisper in Thera’s ear.

“Um, she wants to know what it is?” She passed along as Ben explained what he’d made.

“You were fine with me reading your thoughts before so this does the same, basically combining dark and sound spells to project them. Makes things a little easier than having to go through someone else right?”

He watched her eyes light up as she put the circlet on her head, words immediately pouring out. “Testing, hello? What, it really works? This is so cool you’re the best! Things are going to be so convenient with this, I love magic!”

All of it was rapidly said and all of it was spoken in a robotic metallic voice, not at all matching the image of the girl in front of them, but he didn’t care enough to try to give it a nicer sound than he’d been able to when he tested a prototype with Greed in the trial. To be frank, he thought it was funnier this way.

“And as awesome as that was, tell us everything man! I gotta know what you went through,” Jake asked, his eyes glimmering as he anticipated the story he’d hear.

“Okay, but it’s not the funnest experience…” Ben began, capturing everyone’s attention as he explained what he’d been through, the only part he left out being the mythic artifact he’d gained for the experience.

By the end, two of them were wearing deeply troubled expressions, with only Jake still seeming thrilled.

“So freaking cool! Man, so you awakened another skill and now you’re one of two people to ever get that blessing? Jealo-”

Amy cut him off with a swift flick to the head, the strength she’d gained upon arriving in the world making it a powerful blow. “Don’t be jealous about someone’s life and death ordeal! I’m sorry about this idiot Ben, I hope all that wasn’t too traumatic.”

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

“I mean, on one hand I’m probably going to have nightmares about this for the rest of my life, but on the other this is really just what I expect from the world at this point, I think I’m growing numb to a lot of it.”

“That doesn’t sound good either,” Yuzu pointed out, but Ben just laughed.