CH42

As some of the guards pulled a screaming Roan off to a cell somewhere, the rest gathered with the adventurers to form a plan, leaving Thera and Ben alone.

“This is all my fault,” She said. “I drove that asshole insane and now people are going to die.”

He didn’t know what he could possibly say, so he didn’t even try to raise her spirits, instead asking more important questions. “Thera, are you alright with facing a bit of danger to try and help save the town?”

“There’s nothing I can do. Maybe if my magic was better, but I’m a level one earth mage Ben. I can’t save anyone.”

“That’s not what I asked. Are you willing to try?”

After a moment of silence she gave him a nod. “Yes.”

“And will you trust me?”

A longer silence. “Yes, I trust you Ben.”

He smiled. “Alright, come with me,” He took her hand and led her over to where the group of adventurers and guards were arguing over what to do.

“Let’s just wait them out.”

“For how long? They wouldn’t obey their tamer, why would they just leave?”

“If we attack now we may be able to catch some by surprise.”

“Sure, some. But how many of us will die after? And what if they make it through the gate?”

“We don’t know how long we have until they attack,” Said a woman who appeared to have the most authority among the adventurers. “If anyone has any options, say them now. Otherwise we try to attack while we still have the light.”

“I have an option,” Ben called out from the back of the group.

The woman eyed him for a moment, as well as casting a more complicated look at Thera next to him. “And who might you be?”

“Ben, sixth rank adventurer. Let me and Thera go around one of the other gates and try to draw as many as we can towards us. We’ll bury as many as we can with Earthwave, while we’re doing that any mages and archers can fire from the walls at the stragglers.”

“An interesting idea, but can you do it?” She asked. “The young woman is known to have poor control over her magic, unless you’re also a competent earth mage?”

“Nope, just a humble Craftsman. But unless you have any other viable options better than just attacking you have nothing to lose from letting us try.”

The woman let out a sigh and rubbed her head. “Does anyone have a better idea than letting these two idiots get themselves killed?”

“Let them die!” Yelled one of the adventurers. “It’s the girl’s fault we’re in this mess anyway.”

The moment the words left his lips the man was on the ground, a large rock having struck his chest and knocking him over. Ben had been looking at the woman the entire time, but was barely able to see her throw it. “Listen up and listen well. The guild has already admitted responsibility for what happened with Roan. It’s our fault for not taking the passive magic effects Thera warned us about seriously. As guildmaster of this branch if you have a problem with that decision you have a problem with me. Do I make myself clear?”

A variety of yesses, yes ma’ams, and other confirmation of her statement echoed from the surrounding adventurers.

“Good. Now as I was saying, does anyone else have a better option?” Silence fell amongst the crowd and the guildmaster let out a sigh. “That’s what I thought. Alright then try your plan. When it fails, hightail it back to the gate, hopefully you won’t die in the process.”

“Not to worry ma’am, we got this.”

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“Ben, what in the infinite hells did you mean we’ve got this?” Thera yelled as they made their way through the western gate and headed south where the monsters were prowling. “There’s no way we can do this.”

“Then why didn’t you speak up?”