CH888

With Abel over the moon and wanting to test it out, instantly trying to get Delair to hit her with different things around the shop which his student was happy to do with gusto, Ben directed his focus to the shifter, Foast looking impressed despite himself.

“I have to say, I wasn’t expecting to see anything like that,” the third tier said. “Internal armour? Never even heard of something like that being suggested.”

“Well, what mattered was taking advantage of Abel’s unique constitution to make her the perfect piece but now that you’ve seen it, what do you think? Will something like that work for you?”

“It won’t,” Foast told him in immediate denial, even if he was no less impressed for that unfortunate fact. “I may be able to turn into different things and I may be able to blend the creatures I can transform into, but I can’t control my internal structure the way she can. I wouldn’t be able to keep something like that just beneath my skin and I certainly wouldn’t be able to move it around by itself. The main aspects of my skill are a fair bit more instinctual.”

“Ugh, yeah, that’s what I was expecting,” Ben sighed. “I just couldn’t resist hoping. Still, I’ve got some ideas for you too but-”

As he was speaking, Thera and Mora walked through one of his gates, returning from the day and getting to witness Delair hitting Abel with a hammer repeatedly before focusing in on him as he went on.

“Yep, they’re back so I want to end things here. Still, don’t worry, I’m confident I’ll have something for you by tomorrow or the day after.”

“Ha, despite myself I find my hopes raised. In that case, I’ll be off to rest and return in the morning. I look forward to seeing what you have in store for me.”

“I won’t disappoint.”

Seeing him off, by the time he turned back, Thera was already at his side, Mora dragged over to watch by Delair as she just kept trying to hit Abel with different things she could find, even if the boy’s own pacifism kept him from participating.

“Do I even want to ask?”

“Ahem, Abel just wanted some help testing her new armour so Delair’s lending a hand.”

“She’s smashing her head with a crowbar.”

“And doing no damage. I’m excellent at making things.”

Thera sighed. “If Fontesh has any complaints about how you’re raising her daughter, I’m not going to be able to defend you.”

“Excuse you, training, not raising. Besides, this is just doing some light stress testing on a piece of equipment, it’s fun for both of them.”

“Shouldn’t stress testing be done before anyone is actually using it?”

“No need to bring facts or logic into this, it’s unfair. On a marginally related note though, while everyone’s distracted I wanted to pick your brain now that you’re back.”

“About bad optics and how you keep falling into them?”

“No, about Abel. She’s broke.”

“Doesn’t she get money just for being a third tier?”

“Yeah, but she also comes from a post-apocalyptic hellscape that didn’t have a currency. Long story short is that she doesn’t really seem to know how to save or budget her money which is why she looked like she’d slept outside last night. She did because she couldn’t afford an inn.”

“And you want to let her sleep on the couch then?” Thera guessed. “I’m sure aunty will be fine with it if she’s home, so long as she can behave herself.”

“Eh, I was actually looking at discussing whether you think that would be better than just giving her money for an inn. It would be comfier than sleeping on a couch but I’m worried it would teach her the wrong sort of lessons about how to depend on people compared to letting her stay with us. I don’t know if it would give the impression that she can get a handout from me if she’s in a bad place instead of the idea that she can rely on the people she knows if she’s in need.”

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

“…Ben, are you genuinely thinking about how to raise her?”

“No… Yes. Kind of? It’s complicated. I’m not looking to adopt her, we’ve already got one kid-”

“You’ve got at least one and a half, Delair has to count for something.”

“I’m teaching her, not raising her. Anyway, Abel isn’t a bad kid and from what I can gather she doesn’t really have too many people who aren’t outright afraid of her because of well-”

“Her desire to get a bite out of anyone she meets?”

“Yeah, but you know she isn’t bad and knowing she’s generally pretty alone doesn’t feel great either-”

“Because of your own experience as one of the summoned and how it compares to hers is making you empathize?”

“Am I being psychoanalyzed here?”