CH874

“So, I guess I should probably ask now before it matters. How many people already know I’m a third tier? Has some announcement been made about it?” Ben asked the gods as the night wore on, all of them still looking exhausted from the conversations before and leaving Myriad to answer.

“I personally haven’t made the rest of my believers aware, considering how many live in town with you and in Anailia too, I’d assumed you’d want some privacy on the matter until you’d said otherwise.”

“I do, thanks.”

“No problem, however I also wouldn’t be surprised if the matter comes out of your hands. All of the gods are aware and they all have opinions on it, let’s be clear on that. I wouldn’t be shocked if at least a few of some of their more core believers are already aware, especially the ones you have your problems with.”

“Mmh, fair. Do you think I should expect some trouble then?”

“I don’t see how you could,” Helori shrugged. “Your authority is higher than any of theirs now and it's not even close, although I suppose I could see some with slightly stronger values having words for you. If anyone tries anything then just make the difference between you clear and be done with it.”

“Or, you could attempt to deal with it after consulting me,” Myriad cut in. “I’d rather not learn secondhand how you think it would be appropriate to deal with it.”

“God, the lack of trust hurts so much.”

“I’ve watched you blow up Eneth’s church.”

“Yeah, and? What does that have to do with anything?”

“It’s the fact that you don’t know that’s the problem, but… Oh, that’s interesting?”

“Hmm? What?”

“Hopefully, something that will be enough of a shock to you to make up for all you put me through. You should go down and wake up. Probably wake Thera as well.”

“...Am I about to be murdered down there?”

“Ha, not this time, although perhaps that would be less shocking.”

Narrowing his eyes, Ben considered just reading the cube’s mind before thinking better of it. If it was dangerous then Myriad would have let him know and since it seemed like he’d see soon enough himself, he could let his god have his surprise.

And if it’s bad enough I’ll just go get revenge, nice and easy. He told himself as he dropped his mind down to a lower layer of reality, feeling well-rested as he gently started shaking Thera awake.

“Mmh, what?” Thera groaned, keeping her eyes shut. 

“Think we might need to get up.”

“It feels too early and I don’t even smell breakfast yet.”

“Yeah, and I’ll get on that but Myriad said there’s something going on and he told me to wake you too.”

“Are we going to die?”

“He said no.”

“Then can I go back to sleep and you can deal with it?”

“What?” He teased. “Thera ignoring the will of a god? That’s not like you.”

“Ugh, that’s because you’re a bad influence on me,” She said as she finally opened her eyes. “Plus, I think you reaching the third tier might have permanently shaken my faith.”

“That sounds hurtful.”

“Did reaching that tier make you feel worthy of being worshiped?”

“No, but that’s a trick question, no gods are really worthy of worship. So, are you getting up?”

“Ugh, fine.”

It was nothing in their room at least, nor the living room either. The kitchen was untouched and so was the washroom, with few options left as they looked between each other.

“Can't your god tell you what we’re supposed to be looking for? This is starting to feel spooky and if I find out we have someone living in our walls or something then I’m going to lose it.”

“He won’t tell me but I’m pretty comfortable saying it’s not that one. Come on, maybe Mora did something.”

A thought that couldn’t help but tense them just a bit, they walked over to his room next, knocking on the door.

“Mora, it’s me and Thera. Is everything okay in there? Can we come in?”

“Yeah,” A voice called back, sounding off as it spoke and leaving the two to look at each other once more, left with a suspicion that they’d found whatever they were supposed to as they opened it, both of them shocked by what they’d discovered.

“You’re both awake early,” The child within said, for it undeniably was a child, with dark hair and a pale complexion, the thin tail of an incubus wrapped around his waist making them almost look like one proper, barring a few minor details. Clearly male, Ben couldn’t help but take note of how some of the features he was seeing resembled his own and leaving one detail to stand out more than any other. His eyes, light and ethereal didn’t seem to be made of flesh, instead being made of the same essence of a ghost that lingered in the world.

Or a soul spirit.

 “Mora?” Thera asked, sounding unsure of herself even as she said it. “Is that you?”

“It is.”

“Uh, what happened here, buddy?” Ben questioned next. “You’re looking a little different.”

“Ah, well, that,” The boy said, scratching his head but looking unused to the action, the flesh and form undoubtedly feeling vastly different from what he was before. “I decided to make myself a body.”

“Okay, I see that, kiddo. Why though?”

“I thought having something I could actually age in might help me mature.”

“I feel like he’s learned to give answers like that from you,” Thera muttered, leaving Ben to go on.

“Alright Mora, is there a reason you wanted to mature?”

“...No, not really,” He said, his face screaming that he was lying now that he had one in proper. “I just didn’t know if I’d be able to really grow up as a spirit, I thought having skin and a brain might help.”

“...”

It was a lot to process but regardless of if he was hiding something, what he said wasn’t entirely wrong. His unique nature did leave the question of whether he’d grown and mature with time, trying to think with a brain might have been the exact structure he’d need for it.

“And you’re not permanently trapped in there?” Thera asked, looking worried. “You can get out if you need to?”

“I can,” He nodded, raising his mana arm out of the physical one and letting his new flesh fall limp to his side before putting it back in. “I’m just acting as a soul for a homunculus, that’s all.”

That’s all.

He had a lot of comments for that in particular but held his tongue. Figuring out how to respond appropriately was already a challenge when he felt like he was still missing details of why the boy had decided he’d wanted a body but there didn’t seem to be much harm to it, even if both he and Thera were left with one question still.

“Alright Mora, I’m still not really sure I get it but if you want this then that’s fine,” Thera told the boy as she looked him over, beginning to notice what Ben had seen in the beginning. “But there’s still one thing. Where did you get this?”

“I made it.”

Not a completely surprising answer given the life and death affinities that had birthed him had power over flesh, it wasn’t the most shocking that such a thing was still considered within the realm of soul magic despite that affinity’s name but it wasn’t entirely the answer either was looking for, with Thera prompting him to go on.

“I more meant how.”

“...With my magic.”

“Mora, sweetheart, I’m not upset but you’re very clearly avoiding a question I’m already guessing the answer to.”

“...I just took a couple of cells from you and Ben and smooshed them together,” He said with a pout. “You already have spaces in your biology that fit your spirit nature and Ben’s male. Combining the two gave me exactly what I needed for a comfortable vessel that I thought would match me.”

“...Do I want to ask where you took these cells from us?”

“Hmm? Oh, I pulled out a couple of your hairs,” He explained, looking even more embarrassed. “I’m sorry.”

“Okay, no, hair is fine but…”

She trailed off, having no idea how to approach any of that and turning to face Ben for some help, getting a small shrug before he took over.

“But, since you now officially have your own flesh and blood body, I guess I should start breakfast. Your first meal on the planet, huh? I’ll have to make it a good one.”