CH971

For a few minutes longer, Ben and Cheele spoke. It seemed like no more guests were showing up from there, giving him a bit of leeway to think and plan his next moves that were only interrupted with the arrival of two more, Thera and Saph joining them.

“Ah, it’s you,” Cheele said, not to his half-sister but to Thera by her side. “I never did thank you enough for your help in Allfaith. Should you ever require a favour that may be, let’s say, less than ethical, get the apostle to contact me. I’ll be sure to pay you back.”

It was something he’d meant to say the last time they were in the same room together, but at that time, he’d both been given a quest from his god while he’d also been in the presence of two soul mages. Through it all, he’d never found the chance to properly convey the level of thanks deserved for how she’d helped change his life.

“Oh, thanks,” Thera said, caught off guard and needing a moment to realize that she was before the one who’d once kidnapped Ben and Greed, before they’d been tossed into the dead god’s trial, and allowed Ben to take over.

“Ahem, Cheele, I don’t think you were ever formally introduced, but that’s my partner, Thera, as well as your half-sister by her side, Saph. Saph, this would be Cheele, your half-brother.”

“I can see that,” the girl said, anyone with a hint of ruby there practically certain to be a half-sibling she’d never met, leaving her plenty of options to choose from, even if she tried to be polite. “Nice to meet you.”

“Likewise, I would say it’s a pleasure,” Cheele told her, offering his claw to shake, which she hesitantly took. “The few times I’ve met up with him, father has spoken highly of you. It sounds like he owes you his attempt to be a better man.”

“Ah, no,” she tried to stop him, not having been prepared for the praise. “That’s Gennet. She’s honestly too good for him.”

“I suspect most people are,” Cheele chuckled, leaving Ben and Thera to listen in on the bit of badmouthing that was sure to be taking place across the field, with nothing like a common enemy to unite people. “Still, I hope his first attempt at proper parenting isn’t treating you too poorly.”

“He could be doing worse, I suppose.”

Not the best evaluation, but anything better might have been too much to hope for, with Thera breaking in to spare Greed, even without him there to hear it.

“I guess Gennet is all finished up so things should be starting in just a few minutes, in case you all wanted to find a place to watch.”

“Ah, then I suppose I’d best find my spot,” Cheele told them, one of the shortest ones there. “I’m sure this will make for an entertaining viewing experience at the very least.”

“Alright, good catching up with you, Cheele,” Ben told him. “Good luck with taking over the family business.”

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Goodbyes said, he felt two sets of eyes on him after the crab left, Thera speaking first.

“You really are willing to get way too chummy with people who’ve tried to kill you.”

“Actually, he only tried to kill Greed, I was just mistakenly brought along for the ride. Now, if there’s nothing else from you guys-”