CH609

“Looks good,” Ben said as he examined the set of carefully forged carving knives, patting Delair’s head as he did. “Do you think you’ll be able to use them comfortably?”

“I will, I made them for me after all.”

“Ha, good answer. In that case, put them to use and let’s see how you handle them.”

He handed her a piece of soft wood to work, watching as she slowly shaped it into the form of a simple yet lovely flower, one he recognized from her home village before she handed it to him.

“Yep, looks good,” He told her brightly as he looked it over. “You’ve got a talent for woodworking in particular I’d say, but the strength of having a general crafting skill is its broadness. You haven’t had much time at the forge or doing alchemy but you seem to be picking both up pretty well. Have you enjoyed trying them out?”

“I have, it’s been fun. I wish I could do more when I get back home.”

She sounded depressed as she thought about it, with her time practicing her skills with Ben already nearing its end despite only just getting to try those new activities, leaving her wanting more. Even if she intended for it to be her means of work one day in the future, for the time being it was fun and a distraction from the world, not something she was in a hurry to end.

It was a feeling Ben understood as well, the desire to throw oneself into their projects to escape the world around them, but the future wasn’t that kind. All things were going to need to come to an end with the battle that was on the horizon, putting a time limit on everything.

But at least she seems a bit better than she did before the first wave. I guess a year can change a lot for kids.

Still, it wasn’t a topic he wanted to dwell on, for either of their sakes, so instead he moved to focus on a different task for them.

“Okay, well since things look good here, let’s focus on something else. After all, when I’m not around you’re in charge of practicing by yourself so what sorts of things would you like to make?”

She thought for a moment as her mind flashed across anything and everything she’d like to try creating, ending with an answer that surprised him.

“I want to learn how to make sheds.”

“Sheds?”

“Mhm. Not everyone has one and grandma’s been trying to get everyone to make and preserve more food to be safe but there’s not much room for storing everything so I want to help out.”

“Well then, we’ll have to get you set up. It’s gonna be a lot of work though, sure you can handle it?”

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