Chapter 244

Chapter 244

Despite the long night dealing with the issue that was Helori’s competition, Ben woke up feeling refreshed and energized. Not only had he won the contest and presumably gained his god a new source of faith good enough that he’d move past the fact that Ben had agreed to it without his consent, but he could now count Helori amongst his teachers. He was always working on doing his best to learn more, and he was already thinking of how he was going to put this new source of information to use.

Let’s see, obviously I’ll be taking her from time to time while in Myriad’s realm to answer any question he can’t, but there are other places I can use her too. I have so many freaking mind skills that I can devote myself to reading through a book at the same time that both she and Falk give me lessons. Heck, I could get Myriad to as well if he has anything useful for me. If I had all three focused on teaching me about plants then couldn’t I speed through my plant knowledge skill at an unbelievable rate? Maybe I should save that for if I ever take the scholar job though. Who knows how long it will be until I get out of my current one, I have plenty of time to figure this out.

He was positively giddy as he prepared breakfast for both Falk and Thera, making up plates and knocking on their doors to draw them out to eat in the hallway with him.

“You seem to be in a good mood boy, feeling that ready for today?” His teacher asked in reference to the main reason they were there, the crafting competition, starting that day.

“Or did you actually manage to get a magic skill from whatever god you decided to compete against?” Thera wanted to know, curious about how it had turned out.

“Well, I did win and I got her blessing, but no magic. Myriad was right in that regard sadly. On the plus side though, since she couldn’t fulfill the promised reward I get to use- I mean learn from her.”

Thera only shook her head as his teacher gave him a sympathetic pat on the shoulder. “You know boy, as much as I didn’t want you when you first showed up in my shop, I’m going to miss you when one of the gods decides to throw your butt into the infinite hells.”

“Not happening,” He said as he brushed off his teacher's touch. “Admittedly Eneth isn’t a fan, but he can’t just do that to another god's apostle willy-nilly. Hell, I’m pretty sure he couldn’t even do it to one of his own believers without good reason. As for Helori, she’s fine with it.”

“Sure, but one day you're going to manage to piss off the wrong one and things are going to go downhill fast,” The yeti said with a laugh. “But let's not worry about that for now. Got everything packed?”

“In a few bags, yes.”

“Good, in that case let’s start heading out.”

The streets were more packed than they had been on any of the previous days and it was clear to see why. This was the start of the competition that brought him there, with plenty of people who’d gotten out earlier than they had already setting up their tables and displays as they tried to sell their wares while making something that would do well, at least for the regular part of the competition. Ben wouldn’t be participating in that section though, instead devoting his efforts to a group that existed through invitation only.

As they reached the signup desk, Falk handed over that very invitation, making clear in no uncertain terms that it would be Ben alone who participated for the shop.

“But are you sure sir?” The attendant asked nervously. “He’ll be the only person participating on an invitation that will be working without a team. Shouldn’t you be helping your apprentice?”

From the way he was acting, Ben couldn’t help but wonder if the attendant had been told to keep an eye out for that invitation, as well as the skills of the yeti holding it, but Falk was having none of it.

“Neither of us could care less about winning. Since the opportunity came up we’re using this as his graduation exam. If he does well enough then he’s officially done being an apprentice. If you have an issue with that then we can leave.”

Threatening to leave seemed to do the trick as the attendant directed them to a group of larger stands, their table clearly marked with a forge and other supplies already prepared by it for use as they made their way over, Ben joking with his teacher as they went.

“Just want you to know that even if I take home the gold you aren’t getting rid of me so easily. I’m going to steal every bit of knowledge you have, just you wait.”

“Please, if I thought telling you that you’re good enough to go off on your own would give me back my freedom I’d have done it over a year ago. Just wanted to make sure I didn’t have to explain why I’m not helping.”

He laughed as they got to the table and began setting up, pulling out the tools he’d made sure to bring as Falk set up a display for the items he’d prepared, making signs with their price to put beside them as he went and leaving Ben’s eyes to bulge as he caught a look.

“Oh damn, you’re actually going to let me price these correctly?” He asked as he gawked at what was written.

“You don’t have to match my prices here so we’re going with proper market rates right now, or at least around them. You know damn well I can’t have my apprentice selling things at a higher price when your items aren’t as good in the shop.”

He could only sigh. He couldn’t deny that something would look funny if the apprentice’s stuff was selling for more than the teacher’s, especially since it was obvious to anyone with the eyes for such things that Falk's items were superior to his own to a shocking degree.

After going to the trouble of saying hello and introducing himself as a friendly competitor he couldn’t help but probe them with questions too, getting a surprising answer.

“Each one is a carefully created feeling,” They explained cheerfully, clueing Ben into the fact that at the very least, dark magic was involved. “Feel free to touch one and run some mana through it, you’ll get the idea.”

He did exactly as suggested, picking one at random instead of learning what it was ahead of time and passed some of his mana through it, feeling barely any change, but what he did was familiar.

“Not the strongest effect, is it? Though my dark resistance is way too high so that could be the reason,” He thought aloud, intrigued nonetheless as the octopus chuckled.

“Well, we’ve enhanced it with empathy magic so your resistances couldn’t be doing too much with something non-affinitied making up the base of it. If it’s a feeling you’re used to it doesn’t stand out as much, I might suggest trying another.”

“Um, sure, in that case how can I tell what feeling it’s supposed to be ahead of time?”

“We inscribe the feeling’s on the bottom. Give it a look.”

He flipped it over to read it as Thera tried to peek over his shoulder, only for him to flip it back fractions of a second after to keep her from seeing the words ‘young love’ carved into its bottom.

“Hey, what was it?” She asked in curiosity, drawing another laugh from the octopus.

“Why don't you try it out yourself and find out? See if you’re as used to the feeling as your companion?”

“Ah, I’d love to but it would break if I did,” She said, sounding disappointed. “My mana control is pretty rough on things like this.”

“Ahem, well why don’t you recommend one for us,” Ben ask the clerk, trying to draw attention away from the one he’d grabbed. “I can stick a few sacrificial enchantments on it so you can use it Thera.”

“Hmm, in that case I would suggest ‘a pleasant memory’, it typically creates good results, but I’ll give you a discount if you show me whatever enchantment you’re adding to it.”

“Deal.”

He tapped his card and transferred the funds before picking up the suggested crystal ball and running his mana through it, feeling the exact emotion described. It was the sort of warmth that came with thinking of his home and family, only without the crushing sadness that came with the knowledge he’d never see them again.

After experiencing the effect himself he began modifying the enchantment for it, explaining sacrificial enchantments as he went and how they could be used to keep other enchantments from breaking if too much mana was passed through them, gaining not only the close attention of all of the other octopi at the table, but also the table of ant-people and hecatoncheir as well.

Once he was done he handed it to her to try, and though she was cloaked the smile could be heard on her voice. “Well that’s lovely.”

“Isn’t it though,” The octopus said cheerfully. “Why not get your companion to modify the other one he tried for you too, see how it turns out?”

“No thanks, this is already plenty,” Ben said in the face of their meddling, waving them off as they laughed to go back to his table.

Thera could see he was doing his best to avoid whatever the first one he’d touched was, provoking her curiosity. “What was the other one? Come on, don’t go keeping secrets from me.”

“It was ‘experiencing good company’. Since I’m with you I’m obviously in good company, and if you felt anything from it you’d be breaking my heart,” He joked, a statement she could immediately tell was a lie as she decided to drop the matter for the time being while making a note to go back and ask later.

“You’re obviously good company Ben, I wouldn’t have come all the way out here if you weren’t.”

“Ha, so you would have stuck in Stonewall’s heatwave?” He teased.

“Well, even if there wasn’t a heatwave I would have come,” She told him, giving his hand a squeeze as they both got back to the table, seeing Falk talking with two unexpected visitors when they did.