Chapter 66

Chapter 66

He stood outside of a large gate, poles with snake-like statues coiled around them guarding the entrance to the trial he and Thera were about to face.

He was a little worried, he definitely could have tried to prepare more for what he was about to face, but he got tunnel vision at the thought of completing his previous job quicker. At least if things went wrong he’d get some experience from all the praying he’d do. Still he didn’t regret it; well, for the most part. If there was one thing he regretted it was Theras staves. He had completed two new ones for her right before he'd gotten his two level-ups to his crafting, and as with every level up he could immediately see where he could have improved. The fact that she was walking in there with such inferior products ate at him, even if it would have meant working through the day again without any rest.

His god interjected, worry filling his voice.

If it looks bad we'll run, don't stress too much Myriad. You'll rust or something.

I'm plenty concerned, it's just hard to fear some hypothetical mystery danger. Besides, how could I be afraid of something so beautiful? He was having his heart stolen by the trial, if he wasn't aware of his resistance to dark magics he would bet he'd been charmed from looking at the enchantments that filled the wall and gate that created the trial’s boundary.

Myriad lamented.

Really? When he gave it some thought it made sense, mythic grade items were like the trials, in that they were both created by the gods. The fact that they were able to make anything so incredible was enough to boggle his mind.

Wait, what do you mean? Why wouldn't it be able to exist in our realm?

Seriously? Does that mean if a mortal made anything powerful enough it would end up with the gods?

Myriad you can't just say that and not expect me to want more, come on let's hear the story.

Survival was always in the plans, don't you worry. I'll be holding you to this.

...What?

He couldn't see his god, but Ben got the distinct impression Myriad was shrugging, or at least the cubic equivalent of it.

I feel like I just heard something I wasn't supposed to know. So what do the gods have our odds at?

So bad then, gotcha. He tried to ignore the ominous feeling that came with knowing that various gods thought they didn't have a chance and turned to Thera.

"You all ready?"

"As I can be. Really wish I knew what we were going to face though." She faced the gate, her cloak covering her face making it impossible to tell what expression she wore, but her tone of voice made her sound ready for whatever they may face.The initial instance of this chapter being available happened at N0v3l.Bin.

"Same but we've prepared all we can, let's just do our best."

"A positive attitude." Pelenia cut in. "Just remember to run if you need to, there's no shame in it."

"We're going to beat this mom don't you worry," Thera said defiantly. "Then I'm going to get Ben and Falk to make even more staves for me. I'm sure you won't mind covering the costs since this will show it's worth the time, right?"

"Of course that will be fine, so you’re both prepared?”

“As we can be,” Ben had bought a variety of supplies on top of having his coat done and two other tools, A gauntlet enchanted with barrier magic as well as what he was lovingly calling charm bombs. He would have liked to get more items made up but he was happy with what he had managed, though in hindsight it would have been smarter to just buy some weapons and tools instead.

The rest of the day was spent dodging pits in the ground. Well, Thera dodged them, Ben was basically entirely dependent on her pushing and pulling him out of the way.

"I genuinely feel like I'm seeing a different side of you." He said admiringly when they stopped to make camp.

"Where did that come from? I don't know how many times we've come close to dying today."

"Over 20, but your reaction speed is great! How did you get so good at avoiding stuff?"

"Well you know, when I was hunting alone, having a quick reaction time was important if I wanted to escape if my staff broke." She told him with a small chuckle. "Also, don't laugh, but I used to be a dancer. It helped with my speed and reflexes."

"Wait really? That's super cool, why have I never seen you dance?"

"I'm not just going to dance for you, that would be super embarrassing. It was from before I decided I wanted to be a mage anyway. My parents wanted me to pursue something that would help me fit in more with high society so I got the job and a few levels in the skill, but when I got older I decided that as fun as it was, it wasn't going to be my career."

"Why not? I mean if you like it then I'd think that would be great?"

She shrugged. "I blame my spirit heritage. You know how I told you that spirits mostly just talk about their affinity? Well as boring as it can be I feel that. Earth magic is in my blood. Even if I'm terrible at it I could never be really content if I'm not using it. That's why I need to finish this trial." As she finished she got a hard look in her eye and Ben took her hand.

"We'll do our best. Now you get some sleep, I'll keep first watch."

Even if they hadn't encountered any living thing there they still didn't want to risk something attacking in the night.

"You sure? I don't mind going first if you need rest?"

"You're the one who's spent all day jumping around keeping both of us alive, besides I want to spend some time talking to this guy," Ben said, tapping the trunk of one of the giant trees they decided to set up camp against.

"You and your plants." She laughed with a shake of her head. "Okay thanks. Wake me in a few hours then."

As he got comfortable against its trunk he found the dark of the night to be peaceful in its own way as a soft breeze passed through the forest and rattled branches as it went. As he listened to the sounds of the woods he quietly spoke under his breath so as to not disturb Thera.

"Myriad, are you there?"

But he got no answer. Even though he'd been warned ahead of time that his god wouldn't be able to contact him, Ben had grown used to his constant presence. For Myriad to not be around to chat with just felt wrong.

Still there was nothing to be done for it, so instead Ben decided to pass the time training his connect skill like he'd told Thera he would. He placed his hands on the roots of the tree towering above him, and when his mind touched its own he felt as though he had awakened a sleeping giant.

Its mind felt old beyond compare. Ben was pretty positive some trees on earth would get to a couple thousand years if they were lucky, and he was willing to bet the one he was currently connected with would beat out any that could be found on his homeworld.

As his connect skill had grown it had become far easier for him to pick up on the emotions of plants. He wasn't sure if they could be described as having a true mind, but a conversation was certainly occurring between him and it.

He was doing the equivalent of small talk at first, introducing himself and making pleasantries, before getting to the heart of the matter, trying to get clues as to what lay ahead in the trial.

Unfortunately the tree lived on a different scale of time to him, with thousands of days blending into each other. Any other creatures would pass by in the blink of an eye, few having leaned against its trunk as Ben currently was, and without any way of telling if they were trial takers or monsters that lived within the forest. Without a sense of sight it got its information about the wider world through the detection of tremors in the ground and the sharing of pheromones between the various plants that made up the forest.

With that lead lost, Ben was content to spend the night chatting, creating one of the most interesting nights in the unmoving giant's life.