CH855

With food and drinks out of the highest calibre for all to enjoy and decorations to raise the atmosphere even higher, the atmosphere of the party had been good from the start but it was only as one guest joined, forcing Ben to his knees in penance, that couldn’t help but raise the moods of every person who’d wanted to see as much for the chaos he was so prone to cause, with Steph standing above him.

“Ben,” She asked,” Sounding more like an angry mother than an old friend. “What’s this I’ve heard about you having your heart destroyed?”

Who’s the jerk that ratted me out to Will while I was busy getting us through the tower? I thought I’d managed to deflect away from that after everything that happened in there.

“Okay, well you see, it’s kind of a funny story,” He started, only to stop as he looked up and felt the weight of her glare.

“There’s nothing funny about almost dying! Honestly, we both know you’re stronger now than when you first got here but the two of us still worry about you. None of us that came want to see any humans die but why are you the one who keeps coming closest? How do you think the rest of us will feel if you end up getting yourself killed just because you want some power?”

…Yeah, I can already see this day ending up bad for me.

Far too many of his plans were at least somewhat self-destructive and considering the endpoint was something he still expected to die for, it was only going to get worse for him if she kept being told every time something happened.

But on the plus side, if I die before any of that I’m free of any future scoldings so that’s a silver lining, right?

“I can feel you thinking something dumb right now Ben,” She told him, glaring down and tapping her foot in displeasure.

“As the only mind reader in the room I’m comfortable saying that’s just your lack of trust speaking but just as importantly, do you really, really want to spend the first bit of time we’ve had to hang out in ages being mad at me?” He asked her, giving her the widest, most innocent eyes he could and finally getting her to relent.

“Fine, fine, get up already. I’ll save my real scolding for the next time you almost get yourself killed.”

“…How about the time after that instead?”

“Don’t push your luck.”

Still, everyone else had enjoyed the show and with her small piece said, she walked off, grabbing Thera’s arm to catch up with her while Will came to his side.

“You had to have known she was going to say something.”

“I didn’t know anyone explained what happened to you, you traitor.”

“Ha, don’t shoot the messenger. Besides, she’s not alone in worrying about you. I think everyone in this room just wants to see you live a nice, long life.”

“Hey, if that was an option then I’d be the first to take it but look at the world we’re stuck in man, strength and safety go hand in hand. You need the first if you want the second.”

“And that’s part of why we worry about you,” He said, flicking Ben’s nose. “Your supernaturally bad luck on this planet has seriously warped your perspective on just how far you need to go to get that strength.”

“Then that just means I need the strength all the more to handle that luck but seriously, don’t worry so much. Attribute-wise, I think I’m going to be higher than most of yours by this point.”

“And yet despite that, I’ve never had my heart destroyed.”

“Which is for the best,” Ben laughed. “You’re a lot less equipped to deal with it than I am.”

“Ha, doesn’t matter, I wouldn’t end up in that sort of situation to begin with. Anyway, I’m going to say hey to Karly, see what she’s been up to. Join me?”

“Ah, maybe later, there’s a few others I want to talk to first.”

With a party going on it was important to mingle and so he made his way over to Lux and her partner Writ, the first watching the other absolutely devour a plate of food.

“Ben my boy, this is probably the best thing I’ve ever had,” The satyr told him before thinking better of it. “Actually, scratch that, it without a doubt is. I’m going to be remembering this meal for the rest of my life, did you really make all of this?”

“Ah, I just whipped it up quick but glad to see you’re enjoying it so much,” He laughed. “I just got a new level to my crafting but the difference in skill is already showing.”

“If you opened a restaurant you could charge a fortune per plate and people would buy it. I’ve gotta believe this is how people who’ve tasted the divine chef’s meals feel.”

“God, I’m not there yet but maybe one day. And Lux, you’re having a good time as well?”

“It’s lovely Ben. A bit of normalcy among everything else going on, it’s a good chance to take the edge off, a party was a splendid idea.”

“I’m glad you’re liking it, hope you don’t plan on leaving too early now, I know Thera at least would love the chance to talk with you.”

“Oh, we’ll stay for a while. How could we not when he’s enjoying himself so much,” She said, her gaze back on Writ, filled with love while he unceremoniously stuffed his face.

“Ha, great. I’ve got a few more people to say hey to for now but I’ll be around so if you get bored come back to me, I can introduce you to a few others here too.”

She nodded as he said it, seeming perfectly content to watch her lover eat his fill and leaving him to make his way to the next group, with Jake and Yuzu just parting from their own conversation, perfect for him to swoop in to get some of their time for himself.

“Hey guys, Amy isn’t with you right now? Not making sure she’s feeling the love?”

The events of the non-affinitied tower had left Yuzu in particular clinging to the other girl when he’d last seen them together but they both shook their heads.

“Ah, she’s catching up with Karly and Will I guess right now and she’s told us to cool it on the public displays of affection,” Jake shrugged while Yuzu giggled.

“She can be so shy when she wants to be, she’s such a cutie.”

“I’ll take your word for that. And Yuzu, big thanks for not shaking me the second you saw me.”

“You can thank Amy for that,” Jake laughed. “We knew something big happened in the tower so when she arrived she was already holding her back. Speaking of, can we finally learn just what the skill you had awakened is for?”

“Let’s place that on the backburner for just a little longer. And Yuzu, mind if I borrow you for a bit? Something I wanted to talk to you about with Thera.”

“Oh, sure. Jake, go mingle too. You can’t just be stuck to me and not see any of your other friends.”

“Yeah, you got it.”

“And make sure you eat your fill,” Ben chuckled as he offered his hand. “My crafting went up and I wasn’t limited by poor-quality ingredients. If you thought my food was good before then eating this is going to practically be a religious experience.”

“Can’t wait,” Jake laughed as he took it, his face changing to subtle confusion as he felt Ben place something in his palm but not getting the chance to say anything as he immediately turned away, bringing Yuzu with him.

“So what did you want to talk about with me and Thera?” She asked him as they walked over to where she was sitting, chatting with Steph on one of the couches in the room.

“Oh, it’s mostly that I want you to talk to her for a bit while I deal with something, don’t worry,” He said. “Only for ten minutes or so.”

“Hmm? Okay, but why?”

“Well…” He connected to her as he trailed off, making a request and watching as her eyes widened, a question immediately on her lips that she didn’t get to ask as he placed a finger to his own. “Trust me.”

“I… Okay, yes I can do that.”

“Thank you, I owe you one,” He told her, looking serious for just a moment before they reached the couch where the two were chatting and put a bright smile back on his face as he picked Thera up from her seat in the middle of it to put her on the other end, getting a golden blush in return.

“Ben, we’re in public.”

“Ha, yeah, sorry I just needed some space,” He said as he materialized a thick blanket to place on her lap before laying down between them, resting his head on her thighs while kicking his legs up onto Steph’s. “Try not to mind it too much, I need to deal with some apostle stuff is all, it won’t be long.”

“Ah… just make it quick,” She gave in. “I can feel my parents watching.”

“Ten minutes, tops,” And with those parting words he pushed his mind up to his god’s realm, finding only two there, both of them hard at work as Myriad noticed his arrival.

“Ah, Ben, finally finished working yourself to death, have you?”

In the two days since he’d finished the tower, he hadn’t made time to go up, finding excuses to put it off as he placed a focus on spending time with Mora during the nights and training Delair during the day on top of some other chores and leaving him to shrug.

“What can I say, I’ve been busy.”