CH426

When the two of them got to the magic towers, they found the other three exactly where they’d agreed to meet, waiting by the one representing the life affinity, each of them coming to terms with their own feelings on what they’d be stepping into as their internal thoughts were hidden away with determined expressions.

Thera’s dropped to a more comfortable look when she saw Steph as the two girls went to greet each other before Ben did introductions.

“Alright, Steph, this is Sonya and Sachel. Sonya and Sachel, this is Steph. Let’s all work really hard on not dying together, okay?”

“I’ve met Sonya already,” She said, giving a friendly smile to the two. “I was in Stonewall for a bit trying to help put you back together.”

Ah, guess I was too busy not dying to see that. Makes things easier though.

“Alright then, in that case just give me a minute and then I’ll give you all a rundown before we go inside.”

He hopped into the back of the cart where crates upon crates were being stored, all for the sole purpose of containing items that might need to be enchanted upon. He’d hoped from the very beginning he’d succeed in being able to see what the trial contained through the mind of Jake, and since he had, he got to work on making custom items for each floor to be thrown into his spatial bag, the amount it could store exploding after being remade thanks to the new way he could enchant.

It was as he worked that the rest of them mingled, with Sachel and Steph in particular talking to have a better idea of who they’d be putting their lives on the line with.

“So if you don’t mind, what level are you?” Sachel asked, getting to the heart of it and deflating with the answer.

“An awakened level one so don’t worry, I should be able to hold my own.”

“Wait, so I’m the worst one here?”

“Technically that’s Ben,” Thera chimed in. “You can’t get much worse than being completely incapable of the magic after all.”

Hurtful but true.

“It’s still ridiculous though,” Sachel sighed. “What are these connections? How does he know two different awakened life mages? Do you just meet these sorts of people if you awaken a skill?”

Shit.

Before he could say anything, Steph answered happily, having no clue he was keeping any secrets.

“Oh we’ve been friends for a while before coming to this world is all, I’m glad he was comfortable enough asking for my help.”

As Thera and Sonya kept their faces stony, Sachel was left looking between Steph and Ben as confusion changed to uncertain understanding.

“Wait, so you’re both…”

“Yes, I’m one of the summoned,” He told her, cursing himself for not thinking to tell Steph that Sachel didn’t know. “Do me a favour and don’t spread it around.”

“Um, I have a lot of questions.”

“Can they wait, or is this going to distract you when we’re busy trying not to die?”

“This is one hundred percent going to distract me!”

“Fine,” He sighed. “The cliff notes are that I was the one person who didn’t get an awakened skill or enhanced attributes from being summoned and as a result, no nations wanted to take me in. From there I moved to Stonewall, started my life, found a job and fell in love, and have been dealing with way too much of this world’s crap since.”

“But you’re an apostle!”

“Me and Myriad hit it off.”

“You could only have been here for what, three or four years?”

“That’s right.”

“And you came with no awakened skills?”

“I did just say that, yes.”

“Then how do you have two already?”

Seven, but I guess she doesn’t need to know that.

“Because I’m exceptionally good at what I do. Is there anything else or can we move on to the more important stuff now?”