CH62

Another week passed without any major changes. Ben was still making resistance braces each morning and going to the craftsmen’s guild to read in the afternoons, though his book selection now included how to enchant with magic as well, while Thera trained with her father, Glob, and Karly. Really there was only one noticeable difference.

“I can’t believe you’re wearing that.” Karly said as Ben brought out a meal for everyone.

“What are you talking about? I’ve been wearing it all week?” Ben told her, loving her reaction to his chef hat/kiss the cook apron combo.

“It is a little odd Ben,” Thera told him with a questioning voice. “What’s it say anyway? That’s your world’s writing right?”

“It is but don’t worry about it. Think of this as the customary cooking garb of my planet.”

Karly rolled her eyes but didn’t bother correcting him since she would rather eat what was being served. The day after Ben discovered that he could enchant with other people’s skills he grew concerned he wasn’t doing anything to train his crafting skill at the moment. Given that his current job was craftsmen it didn’t feel right to neglect it like that, especially when he was progressing so quickly through it. With everything he’d done, from learning to keep staves from breaking by using his crafting, to creating the braces, to learning he could enchant with other people’s skills, he had flown through it far faster than he had expected, with only a few months putting him at level 80. It seemed the system rewarded discovery, or maybe it was just that what he had been discovering was rather complex. He did see a pretty massive jump in his level each time he spent an entire night to improve on Theras armband.

Nonetheless he wanted to make something that was a little more tangible, and when he discussed his concerns with the queen she suggested working under the castle cook while he was here. Apparently Thera had spoken about their time cooking together and the cook had level 7 in the skill, making them an excellent resource to take advantage of while he had the chance. Not to mention it meant he could learn some more succubus recipes.

He would normally take off his cooking gear while still in the kitchen, but the maid who would usually serve was off ill for the day, so he decided to bring it out while it was fresh before sitting down to eat himself.

They filled the meal with the usual small talk, each of them discussing their plans for the day, though there was never much different. At least there usually wasn’t, though it seemed the queen felt it was time to change that.

“Thera, your training seems to have stalled.” She said offhand, and the mood of the room immediately dropped as Thera became more distant.

“My level improved not too long ago you know mother. You can’t expect me to raise it again so soon.”

“You possess basically unlimited mana. If you could improve your control some more there’s no reason you couldn’t already have awoken your skills to the second tier. Maybe it’s time to admit you don’t have the skill to be a mage.”

She ground her teeth and did all she could to keep the anger and frustration from her voice. “I fail to see what that has to do with anything. I’m working at it on my own, whether I succeed or fail is nobody’s concern but mine.”

Pelenia let out a small huff. “Hardly. You have Falk and Ben making you staves constantly, and taking Ben out hunting with you when his time could be better spent on training his own skills is a waste.”

“Hold on,” Ben interjected. “Falks insisted that I get used to gathering my own supplies to save money. He says being able to procure your own materials is imperative to any beginning craftsman.”

“That may be true for most,” The queen rebuked. “But then most beginners wouldn’t have such a profitable patent to their name. Look at how much you’ve made and tell me your time wouldn’t be better spent buying materials and refining your skills?”

He had no response for that. Ben had already been unsure of how to handle his newfound wealth after the first day of work, as the days passed and he made more bands he’d accumulated more money than he knew what to do with. Investing that money into himself and his training wasn’t a bad idea at all.

“Don’t try and talk Ben into quitting working with me, besides, Falk’s fine with making me staves so what’s the issue?”

“True, he is and likely will continue to be, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s a drain on his resources. A drain we’ve been helping curb.”

“What?” She asked in shock.

“Thera please, do you really think we’d let our friend put so much time and effort into supplying you without properly compensating him? Of course, since there’s barely been any progress over the past of couple years we’re going to have to ask him to stop. It’s been a waste of his time.”

Thera couldn’t look her mother in the eye while everyone else was sitting awkwardly trapped in their family squabble. She got up and was about to leave the table when her mother threw her a lifeline.

“Of course, if you could prove that you’ve improved enough to make it worth everyone’s time and effort, I have no issue with you continuing on as you are.”

She let out an angry, defeated sigh before facing her mother. “What do you want?”

“It’s simple really.” The queen said with a smile. “I want you to conquer the trial of Anailia.”

It looked like her father was going to say something to that, but Pelenia raised a hand to silence him, though Thera had her own objections.

“Why in the infinite hells would I do that? People die in there every year, are you trying to get me killed?”

“People also die adventuring constantly and you end up without a weapon far too often as you do that. The risk feels rather comparable I would say.”

“Okay, but I’m also not close enough with any other succubi or incubi to fulfill the conditions, and you know it can’t be done alone. Are you just giving me an impossible task to do?”

“The conditions say nothing of race. Any species can participate in any trial, though some are going to be significantly less equipped to succeed than others. Given that I’m sure there’s at least one person in this room you could partner with.” She said, throwing a look Bens way.

“You literally just gave me trouble for having him hunt with me!”

“Yes, and if you’d developed any bonds with other adventurers I’d say to party with one of them, but as it stands your options are limited. Of course I don’t expect him to do it for free. He already seems to have no problem with his level of wealth, so I have an alternative suggestion for our young apostle. I’ll get you ten converts if you’re willing to help my daughter.”

<Ben->

No worries Myriad I got this.

“Sounds like a deal to me.” He told her enthusiastically, trying to ignore the awkward atmosphere that filled the room.

<…Not what I was going to say.>

What? Myriad had been on him to find new followers for months now, and here he was just straight up being offered ten of them on a silver platter. He wanted to ask about the change of heart but it wasn’t immediately important. He would have agreed to help Thera out anyway, this was just a bonus.

Thera didn’t seem pleased to see how everything went herself, but it looked like she’d given in. “Fine. If that’s how it’s going to be it looks like we’ll do it. When do you want us to start then?”

“How about a week from now? I’ll put Ben’s work on hold for the time being so you both can focus on your upcoming trial. Now that that’s sorted, let’s finish eating.”

The queen resumed her meal but Thera got up and started walking away. “I’m not hungry.”

She left the room and Ben was about to follow her when Karly spoke up and caught his attention.

“Completing the trial is the qualification right? We’ll do it too.”

“What do you mean we?” Glob said indignantly. “I’m not dying for your political ambitions.”

“I personally don’t think you and Glob are close enough for it to be a good choice, however as our country’s heroes I won’t stop you.” Pelenia said, completely ignoring Glob’s objections.

“Um, sorry but what do you mean by qualification?” Ben asked. He wanted to check on Thera, but he didn’t want to pass on information for whatever dangerous trial he had just agreed to.

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

Pelenia explained for him. “You’ve been told we’re an elected monarchy, correct? The condition to become a candidate is to complete Anailias’ trial. Everyone who does has the right to lead our people.”

Interesting, but not immediately important. He decided he could get any other information from Thera and went to follow here.

When he got to her room and knocked on the door he didn’t hear a response, but not one to let something like that deter him he let himself in to find her face down in bed.

“… Want to talk about it?” He asked. There wasn’t much need to try and figure out what was wrong since he was there for the whole uncomfortable exchange, and he took a seat beside her before he got an answer.

She pulled her head out from a pillow and looked at him, asking something that took him by surprise. “Would you have agreed to help if mom didn’t offer you a reward?”

“What? Yeah of course. I wasn’t going to turn it down since it was offered but I wouldn’t want you to go alone on some dangerous trial anyway.”