CH778

Sitting in the guild that morning, ignoring the eyes of the few others around who recognized who he was while he did his best to pass the time, it wasn’t long until the three he was waiting on arrived, with Jake, Amy, and Yuzu joining him.

“Good to see you guys, hope one of you is ready for what I have in store.”

“Ah, Vasta gave me the rundown,” Jake laughed. “Hope you’ll take it easy on me buddy.”

“…”

“Buddy?”

“Anyway, let’s get back to Stonewall and get started,” Ben said with gusto, ignoring Jake’s request in a way that wasn’t lost on the others. “Just come this way for a shortcut and we can get started.”

“Why do you have a gate in here?” Amy asked as they were led into the guild master’s office, seeing it connect to his shop and getting a shrug as they walked through.

“Long story. First things first, I’ve got dark resistance amulets for all of you so put them on because this isn’t our last stop.”

He was handing them out as he said it before taking them through a different one he had set up to his personal workshop in Anailia, with his young apprentice waiting and hard at work practicing her art, as one of the few disciplines he was comfortable getting her to practice completely unsupervised. Even if Delair had been working on her own in her home village, now that she was his responsibility he was insisting on being more careful as a result and only interrupted her for introductions.

“Alright Delair, we’re putting a pin in that for now, time to meet the people who are going to be with us for a few days. Guys, this is Delair, my first official apprentice. Delair, these are my friends Amy and Yuzu, along with my fourth official student as of today, Jake. Hope you all get along but if you don’t then just remember, Delair has seniority in here so what she says goes if I don’t say otherwise.”

“Really?” The girl asked, her eyes lighting up at the prospect.

“Really really, you just probably won’t get the chance to use it, especially not today, Jake’s going to be busy. And on that note, let’s get started. Jake, say goodbye to Amy and Yuzu. I’m willing to give you guys a couple of minutes on it if need be.”

“Um, why? Aren’t you teaching me whatever you need to in here?”

“In a sense. Just say a quick goodbye for now.”

“Ben, buddy? You’re scaring me here, what’s about to happen?”

“You’re about to be educated, try not to resist.”

Looking in Ben’s eyes, Jake instantly had second thoughts about receiving lessons from his friend but it was too late. Ben was already in his mind and before Jake could try to make any sort of escape, Ben had pulled him into his own, materializing a new circlet on his friend’s head while the other went limp.

Let’s see, he was able to control four clones by himself comfortably enough so if we’re just going to make things a little uncomfortable then six minds in his head should be fine.

“Uh, Ben? What’s going on?” Amy asked, with the discomfort of seeing her partner slumped over and unconscious clear while he explained.

“You guys were told he was coming to learn from me, right? Well, here he is, learning. It’s fine.”

A sentiment Jake might have wanted to disagree with but wasn’t given the chance. Six instances of himself were all in Ben’s mind, under the effects of his knowledge skill while being forced to think as fast as Ben himself could while the lessons began, with plans to stretch them out for the rest of the day. As for how long it would feel to Jake…

Well, he should’ve used his chance to tell them goodbye. Oh well, I’ve got enough dark spells built in to protect his mind, it’ll be fine.

He’d planned on dedicating that first day entirely to lessons before changing the next to something far more hands-on, in essence keeping himself free to manage his own work as well as take advantage of Jake’s soul and he slipped on his own jacket to do exactly that.

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

“So from here, things aren’t going to be the most exciting for you two but I could at least use your help a bit while you’re here Yuzu if you don’t mind?”

“Um, sure, what?” She asked, looking particularly hesitant about what she was seeing happen to her husband while Amy appeared much the same.

“Decided I’m going to strain my soul a bit today and might do the same to Jake, if you could keep the damage to the minimum that would be great.”