“Aw, I barely got to see any of that,” Delair complained once they were done, looking up at Ben with big, expecting eyes. “Can you at least show me like you did before?”
“Yeah, I can do that. Abel, I’m going in your head.”
Using his memories and hers, he made dirt puppets and controlled them with his magic to replay the fight for his student, getting to watch as she moved around to look at it while Abel stared in curiosity as well, a question quickly coming up.
“So, how did you trap me? It didn’t seem like magic but I still couldn’t get out.”
“Good senses, it wasn’t magic. At least not exactly. It’s a bit weird to explain but I can create mental constructs and force them on the world. Think of it as being akin to illusions and barrier magic tied into one, only without a mana cost.”
“Is that another aspect of your mind skill?” Foast asked in his own interest, not having expected something so strange while Ben shook his head.
“No, it’s at least partially a mind skill but it’s not an aspect of eldritch mind, it’s just a different power I’ve managed to grow since coming here. Of course, eldritch mind does make it easier to use but having a powerful enough mind makes everything a bit easier.”
Even if it came with some questions given the results of his fight as well. He understood when he’d leveled his mortal realm actualization enhancement, it was a skill he’d expected he’d be able to get to the ninth level with ease and only hadn’t since he’d made himself focus on the work he’d been hired for, and while other skills were just a product of the practice he’d just been through, multiversal inclination’s level stood out.
Whenever word naturally leaks to the gods that I’ve raised my sacrilege, I’m really going to need to go bother Verbum about clarifying exactly what skills that inclination helps raise. Alien sense might be covered since I got the level for it after but that could just as easily be a coincidence too.
He tried to do a few small, subtle tests as he both materialized and actualized and felt both were now marginally easier, even if that didn’t tell him much about what it meant for something to be a multiversal skill but he left it at that. Even if he wasn’t certain, just that told him the skill was going to be obviously useful and even if those tests had failed, there was no harm in having more inclinations at his disposal for whatever benefits they would bring.
But with all of this done, it looks like I can get back to life.
“Alright, now with all of that absolutely done, is there anything else you guys need?”
“No, I’m fine,” Foast told him, more than satisfied with how things had turned out, with Abel nodding along.
“Me too, this was great!”
“Alright, cool. In that case, unless you need anything from your inn, Foast, I’ll take you back to the shop.”
“Ah, I’ll meet you there then, I need to go quickly pay for some, well, minor damage.”
He’d yet to refund them for how his dream shifting had ruined the sheets he’d been given and Ben waved him off as the other started to run to do that.
“Got it, meet us at the shop when you’re done!” He called out as he and the other two started making their way back, pausing only before re-entering town to look at those left lying outside of it, doing their absolute best to recover from seeing Abel’s skill and leaving Ben to take pity on them as he spoke up.
“If any of you want some treatment for that, speak up now.”
A groan went up among them, over a dozen of them suffering and not knowing how long it would take to feel better were eager to take the offer, even if their flipping stomachs muted the sounds of their enthusiasm.
After going into their minds and, extremely carefully, damaging their memories of seeing Abel’s outer ancestry to try and keep any long-term effects from popping up later, he and the other two walked through the streets, enjoying the bit of peace as they made their way back.
“So Abel, how’d you like Stonewall?” He asked, treating it more like she’d been on vacation considering she’d just wanted to come to hang out for a bit, with her request for armour being more of an afterthought after Foast had requested his own.
“It’s been fun,” She laughed. “Even being put to work wasn’t so bad.”
“Ha, I hope not,” He’d taken it far too easy on her for anything she’d been assigned to feel overworked, considering the point had been more to expand her horizons than anything else. “And training under my apprentice went alright?”
“Well, yeah,” She admitted, letting Delair puff out her chest with pride. “I got the skill so I guess she knew what she was doing.”
“That’s because I learned from the best,” Delair said proudly, getting him right in the heart and leaving Ben to ruffle her hair.
“Ha, you just happen to be an excellent student, kiddo. Couldn’t be prouder of how well you’re managing.”
She looked all the more proud for the praise but it left Abel turning her focus to him, having her own unsaid expectations that he picked up on as he patted her back.
“And you did a great job learning too, Abel,” He said, wanting to give out proper encouragement considering that, once she’d gotten started, she had in fact devoted herself to learning the skills he’d set out for her. “Think you’ll keep up with any of it when you go back?”
“Hmm, maybe?” She shrugged as she thought it over. “It was different and it wasn’t bad but it wasn’t really the best use of my time either, was it? I mean, no offense but I’m a fighter. That’s what I should be focusing on.”
“Ah, fair enough but still, if you ever need a quieter moment, it can be a good way to relax. Just something to remember.”
“Yeah, if I get the time, I might.”
He wasn’t sure if anything would come from it but he’d at least done what he’d set out to and tried to give the girl some new experiences rather than just continuing on the violence and death she’d lived through in her old reality and since she’d gotten at least a bit of enjoyment out of it, he was going to consider it a win, all things considered. She didn’t need to fall in love with any of the skills or hobbies he cared about, she just needed to know that there could be other ways of enjoying oneself beyond endless violence and combat. There were so many ways to grow and test oneself, he wanted to believe that she might be able to find a few more that she’d enjoy if she could only get the chance.
But that’s up to her now. He told himself. He’d done all he could and with the shop coming into view, Foast standing in front of it because of their small delay, he let them all inside.
“Foast, it was a pleasure,” Ben said, tapping his card against the shifter’s to take his payment. “If you ever want to hire me again, the easiest way to get in touch is to get someone to send a message through their god to Myriad, or you can contact any of his other believers to send a more direct message. There’s plenty of them in Anailia if it ever comes up.”
“I’ll remember that. And thank you for your work, Ben. Expensive though it may have been, it was worth every bit. It looks like I’ll be starting my hunt earlier than I’d been planning but I’m equipped and well rested, there’s no better time.”
“In that case, be safe. It’ll look terrible on me if you get killed wearing my armour.”
“Ha, then I’d best live. Until next time then.”
With goodbyes said, he passed through the gate, having his role as one of the world’s third tiers to fill and leaving only one more goodbye to be said, letting him turn his focus to the other godling with him.
“Abel, it’s been fun,” He told her, getting a happy nod as he did.
“Yeah, it’s been a blast.”
“So you make sure you stay safe too, alright? I’d hate to hear about anything happening to you and, well, like I just said. You’ve got my armour now so don’t let it go to waste.”
“Who do you think I am? Nothing’s going to kill me on my watch.”
“Good. Well, it’s been nice having you.”
“Yep, it’s been fun being here!”
Didn’t come for armour, you just came to hang out. Right.
“I’m having a blast, I’m not heading out yet,” She laughed. “I’ll stick around until I’m told I’m needed somewhere.”
…Okay, maybe I should have expected this. Looks like we might be hosting a bit longer and I’ll have to talk to Myriad about when she might be sent to handle one of this world’s problems.
A surprise but not a horrible one, it seemed he’d have a while longer still to look after the girl.