CH603

Once that plan was made, Ben first used the beginning of the day to focus on his more regular tasks. Just because the gods were going to be reducing his load in the next couple days didn’t mean he could slack on his orders and he devoted as much effort as he ever would to getting each weapon produced to the best of his ability, informing the gods of his plans as he worked.

It was only once he was done with his quotas that he went to find Thera and dragged her along, through the mini-gate to Anailia and from there past the main gate network to Nare’s main city, off to see the many magic materials that Ben had helped to bring into existence.

“And while I’m here I suppose I should see those three,” He muttered, not really wanting to visit Nati, Xilly, and Zallith but feeling a sense of responsibility. “I can take an hour or two when we’re done to judge their work and try to squeeze another level of connect out of them.”

<Er, I appreciate the enthusiasm but you don’t have to this time.> Nare chimed in. <They’re still emotionally recovering from seeing you last time.>

“What? It’s been months, they need to chill.”

<Still, perhaps after the next wave.>

“Alright, it’s your grandkid so if you’re sure, just no regretting it later.”

<I’m sure I won’t. Anyway, you’re about here.>

The god had led the two of them through the streets to a large yet nondescript building, with an older woman already waiting outside, giving them both a smile and a bow before reaching out a hand for Ben to take.

“Welcome, apostle of Myriad. I am Rench, Nare’s oracle. I’ve heard plenty about you.”

“Nothing but good things I’m sure.”

“Ha, as far as Nare is concerned which is all that matters. I’m very sorry about the reception Zallith gave you when you had the chance to meet him, I hope I can act as a better bit of company for your brief time here.”

“Well, I have high expectations. Lead the way.”

When they were taken inside, what they passed were numerous busy halls, with what caught Ben’s eyes the most being the many grey among them, not any of the summoned though, but instead projections from across the veil of reality, just like he was used to with his meetings with Quilith.

Just as they drew his eyes though, he drew theirs as well, with the many they passed turning to glance his way before continuing on to talk with their compatriots about their work and research.

I guess it makes sense, I know they talk and help with more people than just me, I just wasn’t expecting to see them here of all places.

It didn’t seem unusual for any of the workers though, all of them acting as if that was the norm so he didn’t question it. After all, it seemed like the sort of thing that was sure to capture their curiosity as well and who was to say what discoveries were going to come with it all as time went on? It was the sort of thing that deserves eyes from numerous worlds.

Still, it was something he resolved to talk to Quilith about when their next meeting came around to get some opinions from the grey’s perspective as they continued on through, ending up at a shelf of written records as Rench spoke up.

“I believe this is what you’d be interested in first and foremost, but afterwards I can guide you around to any particular materials of interest if you’d so desire.”

“Sounds good, give me just a couple of minutes.”

With those words, Ben held forth his hand, pulling books and notes from the shelf and letting the pages flutter through the air as he took them all in, reading months of research in a matter of moments as the oracle watched on, not used to the display the way Thera was who simply waited for him to finish up as he processed everything.

Interesting.

Of everything there, the researchers were confident they knew about half of the effects present, with some of them seeming to be repeated across different materials while others were wholly unique.

It seemed as though every affinity had its own version of mythril and mana crystal tied to its element, knocking away two of the five that each affinity would get, with other research having its discoveries and holes.

The great air spirit appeared to have been thorough in looking after each of the more gaseous elements, discovering and recording all of their properties, both magical and mundane, even if they’d be difficult for Ben to personally make use of, but there were other things too.

That reality’s version of mercury seemed to be changed by the fire affinity, resulting in a substance that would neither heat up nor cool down regardless of the temperature around them, creating something that would act as a constant in a way that Ben was already imagining uses for and a non-affinitied element that seemed to increase in density when exposed to mana without increasing mass.

Really, there’s a lot to go through here and now that I know all of the material properties at least it will be easier on my mana for whenever I want to materialize the non-affinitied ones. Plus anytime I shove my brain into someone else’s so they can materialize it too which is really just going to be Thera and Jake. Oh, what the heck, Falk too. With his level of skill, I can get his help replenishing my deathstone. This does leave a few questions though.

“So why haven’t you guys named any of these?” Ben asked as he flipped through one of the books, with every one being listed with both the original element and the affinity that changed them but nothing else, while still having a clear spot for a real name.

The question got him a smile though, with Rench looking at him kindly. “We were told that as the discoverer of all of this, you’d be receiving the naming rights.”

“What, really?”

“Really. We wouldn’t be here if not for your work, it’s best you be rewarded for it.”

It was unexpected but he wasn’t going to turn it down, especially when Rench seemed to be eagerly anticipating whatever he’d choose, so he pulled out twenty books and quickly added new names to each cover.

“Earth mythril, earth crystal, fire mythril, fire crystal, death mythril, death crystal…” He went on till each of the twenty was done, much to the disappointment of not only the two with him but also the listening gods.

<Really Ben?> Myriad sighed.

“What?”

It was Nare who answered, sounding underwhelmed. <It’s a little…>

“Accurate? Descriptive? Exactly what each one of these things is and conveys as much without making anyone look it up later? Not named freaking moribusial of all things?”

<That’s a fine name.>

“It’s objectively not.”

Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

<Can you at least give the rest a bit more thought?>

“Ugh, fine. I’ll take some time to consider what to call the rest. Except the mercury. That’s getting called temperate mercury and there’s nothing you guys can do to stop me.”

<Fine.>

There was resignation in the voices of the gods in his head but he didn’t really care, he honestly would have been fine if they had just wanted to call each one the element plus the affinity that had altered them. It would be descriptive enough to get the job done as far as he was concerned but since it seemed he was alone in that assessment he resolved to think of some more names for the few properly studied ones later as they instead moved to look around the facility, off to see the few examples that had caught Ben’s eye in his reading, starting with one that seemed to have grown a new, secondary substance in the time since it had been created.

Situated atop a small pedestal, covered by a glass case in a room with only a few others working, Ben eyed the mysterious substance he remembered creating with the aid of Jake.