Chapter 114
Explore the latest events in "Chaotic Craftsman Worships The Cube" Chapter 114: âIs this what itâs going to be like every time I leave for a bit?â...
âIs this what itâs going to be like every time I leave for a bit?â Will asked after he finished delivering all of Ben's kills to Wedrow, only to find he was being healed again and his arm was covered in blood.âNever get engaged Will. Sure things may seem nice at first, but before you know it theyâre asking you to bleed just so they can test their skills on you. The whole thing is a scam.â
âPretty sure thatâs just you buddy.â
âAnd we agreed to finish when he came back anyway,â Thera said in her defense before turning to Steph and giving her a small nod of gratitude. âI think I was able to get a fair bit from that, thank you.â
âNo problem, Iâm going to focus on regaining my mana a bit more, but if you need anything else just let me know.â
At that, Thera and Steph both left to sit by themselves, Steph to relax and Thera to practice and reflect on what sheâd just felt from the connection. Ben was planning on going back to his carving but Will was still standing above him, looking like he wanted to ask something.
âWhatâs up man?â
âI was just curious about that mind skill of yours, wanted to see if youâd use it on me.â
âConnect?â He asked, getting a nod in response. âSure, but any particular reason?â
âJust curious.â
He didnât know why, but something about Will's attitude made it so he couldnât completely believe that, but there was also no harm. Any chance to practice one of his main skills was valuable after all and he didnât intend to pass it up. He held out his hand and when Will took it he connected.
Surprisingly, Will's mind seemed unusually disciplined, even more so than Theraâs, who at this point had plenty of experience trying to keep her thoughts under control. There were a few thoughts and feelings leaking from his friend, but he wasnât letting everything out like Steph. However, he was unintentionally letting Ben be completely aware of the main thing he wanted to talk about.
He stopped his train of thought for a minute and looked around to confirm something.
It was when Will asked that he felt part of his mind go blank, an effect of the covenant heâd made entering the trial. Even mind to mind he wouldnât be allowed to reveal information about the trial he took, not even its rewards.
At the same time, he didnât want to just not answer. This was his friend and it was obvious how he would use it if he could get it, the thoughts of the skills potential for keeping Steph safe were leaking from his mind. If he could keep the people he cared about safer by revealing a little, at least enough to be a hint, then he would do it.
As the moment stretched on in silence as Ben's every attempt to reveal it was blocked, Will spoke up.
Will could hear the determination in Ben's thoughts but couldnât understand the struggle his friend seemed to be going through, but resolved to patiently wait for his answer.
At this point, Ben had activated hidden mind around one of his minds, so that one could think clearly on how to give Will a hint as the other was disrupted each time. The fact he was failing bothered him deeply. He understood he would be kept from talking about things like this when he left the trial, but to be kept from even thinking seemed like a much greater violation of personal freedoms, especially considering that he wasnât trying to convey anything on the trial itself, just the reward it gave.
He thought to himself in a blocked-off corner of his mind.
More minutes ticked by as they sat in silence until finally, Ben found a single thought that made it through.
He pushed the level-up aside as he heard Willâs thoughts on what he had been able to tell him. It wasnât much, but it was enough to make his friend curious that he had to work so hard for so long just to give him such a small amount of information. He let Will reflect on what heâd been told a bit already before getting him back to the topic he originally wanted to discuss.
His friend's mind briefly froze as a variety of thoughts passed through his head, but he was able to quickly calm them.
Will thought as he shifted about awkwardly.
Ben didnât say anything, but he let a silent question hang between them in the feelings he was conveying.
Ben stared at his friend for a minute before sighing and speaking aloud. âYouâre an idiot.â
âHuh?â
He could feel that Will's concern came from a place of genuine care, so he did his best to not let any of his exasperation at the conversation leak out.
He thought, cutting his friend off.
Ben pinched the bridge of his nose. This entire conversation wasnât one heâd been expecting to have, and the fact that his friend was still oblivious to this when they were now dating was a pain.