CH95

“So I hate to ask this, but mind if I crash here tonight?” Ben said, turning to Sonya. “Since I gave up the room I was renting I need to find a place to stay, but your place is a fair bit comfier than the floor in Falk’s shop in the meantime.”

“Or instead of treating my shop like an option you could get a room from an inn.” His teacher grumbled.

“It’s no issue,” Sonya told him. “I was actually going to see if you’d perhaps be interested in renting the spare room. It’s been quite nice coming home to cooked meals, and I’m sure Thera would enjoy having more food options than whatever raw vegetables and leftovers are around when I can’t make anything.”

“You sure? I wouldn’t want to impose.” He was quite tempted by the idea. Their home was closer to the shop compared to where he was previously staying, and he was already storing his stuff there while he was gone. Aside from that, it would make adventuring with Thera more convenient if they could just have breakfast or dinner and go.

“Having you here for a month already went rather well I think, and it’s nice having the house so lively. Of course, this is all if Thera doesn’t mind.”

“Hmm? Will you give up on the marriage jokes if I say yes?” She asked, thinking she’d found a way to regain some peace.

Unfortunately Ben immediately shot her down. “I’m sorry, but I can only stop when I stop finding it funny. I’ll sleep in the shop tonight.”

“Gods, no sleep here instead of the floor,” She immediately gave in, not wanting her friend who she just went through a god’s trial with stuck sleeping on the ground, no matter how much he insisted on annoying her. “I can’t believe you’re enjoying it that much that you’d turn down having a place to sleep.”

“What can I say, it’s how I am. Can’t help wanting to talk about my beautiful fiancée and all,” he told her with a joking smile.

Thera could only sigh. “Anyway aunty Sonya, think I could ask a favour from you too?”

“Hmm? Of course Thera, what can I do for you?” Her niece typically didn’t ask much of her, she couldn’t help but be a little surprised.

“Well since Anailia said that my levels in all my magics will improve my magic control as a whole, and it sounds like it would contribute to my quest to gain levels, I was hoping you could take some time to teach me some life magic.”

Sonya wore a complicated expression when her niece asked that. “Thera, I’m not so sure that’s a good idea.”

“But I have the affinity at 22, I should be able to learn the skill even if it will be harder than getting dark magic.” All the women in her family had a decent compatibility with the skill, while she’d never considered it herself before the trial she knew it could be useful.

“It’s not that I don’t think you could learn it if you want, it’s just that if you don’t raise your control more it will be akin to someone going into the life valley, especially starting out. The effects could be rather severe.”

“Oh that. Don’t worry, I have a solution that will probably work pretty well.”

“You do?” Sonya asked, not sure what she meant until she pointed at Ben.

“Wait, you’re going to use me as a practice dummy for potentially dangerous life magic? Didn’t you say something about the life valley causing mould to grow on people while bacteria eat them alive?”

“You have a ridiculous life resistance, you’ll probably be fine. Besides,” She started as a playful smile formed on her face. “Don’t you want to help your beautiful fiancée?”

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Falk immediately burst into laughter as his niece got her little revenge, and Ben gave in. “Fine, I’ll help until you get the skill at least. The first time you succeed probably won’t be too rough on me, right?” He asked, turning to Sonya who wouldn’t meet his eyes.

Gonna take that as it might hurt a little. It will probably be fine. He tried to convince himself, hoping he didn’t agree to something that would get him confined to bed to heal again.

“Well as long as my disciple can still work I don’t mind too much what you do to the boy, but I should probably head out. Meet me at the shop bright and early tomorrow and we’ll see just how you’ve improved.”