Chapter 42

As some of the guards pulled a screaming Roan off to a cell somewhere, the rest gathered with the adventurers to form a plan, leaving Thera and Ben alone.“This is all my fault,” She said. “I drove that asshole insane and now people are going to die.”

He didn't know what he could possibly say, so he didn’t even try to raise her spirits, instead asking more important questions. “Thera, are you alright with facing a bit of danger to try and help save the town?”

“There’s nothing I can do. Maybe if my magic was better, but I’m a level one earth mage Ben. I can’t save anyone.”

“That's not what I asked. Are you willing to try?”

After a moment of silence she gave him a nod. “Yes.”

“And will you trust me?”

A longer silence. “Yes, I trust you Ben.”

He smiled. “Alright, come with me,” He took her hand and led her over to where the group of adventurers and guards were arguing over what to do.

“Let’s just wait them out.”

“For how long? They wouldn’t obey their tamer, why would they just leave?”

“If we attack now we may be able to catch some by surprise.”

“Sure, some. But how many of us will die after? And what if they make it through the gate?”

“We don’t know how long we have until they attack,” Said a woman who appeared to have the most authority among the adventurers. “If anyone has any options, say them now. Otherwise we try to attack while we still have the light.”

“I have an option,” Ben called out from the back of the group.

The woman eyed him for a moment, as well as casting a more complicated look at Thera next to him. “And who might you be?”

“Ben, sixth rank adventurer. Let me and Thera go around one of the other gates and try to draw as many as we can towards us. We’ll bury as many as we can with Earthwave, while we’re doing that any mages and archers can fire from the walls at the stragglers.”

“An interesting idea, but can you do it?” She asked. “The young woman is known to have poor control over her magic, unless you’re also a competent earth mage?”

“Nope, just a humble Craftsman. But unless you have any other viable options better than just attacking you have nothing to lose from letting us try.”

The woman let out a sigh and rubbed her head. “Does anyone have a better idea than letting these two idiots get themselves killed?”

“Let them die!” Yelled one of the adventurers. “It’s the girl’s fault we’re in this mess anyway.”

The moment the words left his lips the man was on the ground, a large rock having struck his chest and knocking him over. Ben had been looking at the woman the entire time, but was barely able to see her throw it. “Listen up and listen well. The guild has already admitted responsibility for what happened with Roan. It’s our fault for not taking the passive magic effects Thera warned us about seriously. As guildmaster of this branch if you have a problem with that decision you have a problem with me. Do I make myself clear?”

A variety of yesses, yes ma’ams, and other confirmation of her statement echoed from the surrounding adventurers.

“Good. Now as I was saying, does anyone else have a better option?” Silence fell amongst the crowd and the guildmaster let out a sigh. “That's what I thought. Alright then try your plan. When it fails, hightail it back to the gate, hopefully you won't die in the process.”

“Not to worry ma’am, we got this.”

“Ben, what in the infinite hells did you mean we’ve got this?” Thera yelled as they made their way through the western gate and headed south where the monsters were prowling. “There’s no way we can do this.”

“Then why didn’t you speak up?”

“You were talking with the guildmaster! I couldn’t just say anything in a situation like that.”

“Well it doesn't matter. Thera I asked you to trust me. Can you still do it?”

“I will, I just really hope we both don’t end up dead for it. Especially since earthwave is a high-level spell. You know there’s no possible way I can cast it right?”

Ben shook his head. “Wrong. The only reason Earthwave is a high-level spell is because of its mana cost, an issue you don’t personally have.”

“How can you possibly know that?”

“I’ve read up a bit on the ten basic magics at least.”

“Okay but regular earth bullets break my staves, there’s no way it can survive an earthwave.”

“They break the staves I can make. The last one Falk gave you hasn’t suffered any wear and tear yet, and as much as I hate to admit it, it’s the only reason this is an option. You should be able to manage, I’ll just need to help. You focus on preparing the spell, I’ll focus on making sure the staff won’t break. There’s just one more thing.”

“Oh gods, what else could there be?”

“I’ll have to connect with you.”

She could only sigh. “Fine, compared to everything else it’s not like that matters much.”

“Well we’ll see,” He said awkwardly. "This will be my first time using the skill on a person since it leveled up, so it may feel a little weird.”

“If it will keep us alive I’ll deal with it,” They got within view of the monsters, but it didn’t look like they had been noticed yet. Many of them had gotten fairly close to the main gate though. “Should here be good, do you think?”

“Yeah, I think it will be good. Let's get ready and once you’re about to start the spell, pull off your hood to attract them, okay?”

“Alright let's do this. Gods this is crazy.”

She held her staff forwards and Ben wrapped one hand around the staff and the other around Theras hand. He took a deep breath and connected.

The feeling was intense. Like he was about to be blown away. The moment he connected to her he felt a more extreme pressure than he had ever felt in his life, Like he was trying to push off a car that was driving into him, and he realised he was feeling the force of her mana. He couldn’t let it distract him though, and he pushed his focus skill to the limits to keep his attention on everything. Thera’s mana, which was nearly overwhelming, her emotional state, which was horribly scared from the situation she found herself in, as well as just enough trust in him to go through with his crazy plan, and something else, moving out of her and into her staff. Her earth magic skill.

Ben felt it pass through the staff he was holding, more aware of the enchantments Falk had laid on it than he had ever been before, and knew that if he tried to lay a single strengthening spell on it that it would probably break, that was how many enchantments he’d forced into it to help make it manageable for her magic, so instead he didn’t use his enchanting. He used his crafting, Passing mana through it at the same time as Thera, and doing the opposite of what he would usually do as he forged something. Instead of making it easier to work with using his mana, he made it harder, selectively strengthening areas he felt becoming more fragile as Thera prepared her own spell, and draining his mana in a way that his low-intensity skills normally never would.

She tore off her hood and all the monsters turned at once, and as if they were a singular herd moved to run towards them, hunger in their eyes. They were far enough away that it would be a minute before the fastest one got to them, and they passively watched as the seconds ticked by, Ben remaining calm and focusing on the task at hand, ensuring that the staff would hold for the spell, but felt her panic begin to spike from the approaching hoard.

“Thera,” He told her with as much confidence as he could convey. “You can do this.”

Her panic dropped slowly and the burden on him to hold the staff together eased up as she got a bit more control of her magic. When the nearest of them was a short fifteen feet away she finished activating her spell, the earth rose up.

Tens of meters of earth around them lifted from the ground and started to roll into itself like a wave, dragging each beast it caught in an ocean of dirt with it, and it didn't stop. The waves continued, flying out and devastating the land around them, altering the landscape and even reaching the town walls, tearing chunks out of it as it went.

As dust filled the air and a scene of chaos and destruction appeared before them, the last staff she had gotten from Falk shattered in their hands, and no monsters could be seen amongst the carnage.

“Oh gods Ben! My earth magic level just increased, and we’re alive, and we did it!” She had him in a hug before he knew it, completely catching him off guard, but he hugged her back weakly.

“That’s fantastic news Thera,” He said, only barely getting the words out before falling into her and losing consciousness.