CH826

It didn’t take long to convince the demidemons; their god believed it was for the best and so did Ben, with both of their words carrying weight with them. Regardless of how he viewed the deaths that had taken place as a product of his own lack of thought and consideration, to them he was still their savior, someone who had appeared when their old gods had betrayed them and argued for their fate to all of the ones who really ruled the world and who had come once more in their time of need. Death was a part of life but those who lived were grateful.

It was when they were all told the details and had given their consent that Myriad began placing restrictions on them, creating a small bit of room for him and Thera to do what they’d need to next. Manage the transportation. The way there had been quick and messy, with Thera basically making a giant stone cup to carry the two of them but the way back would need more care considering how many they were taking along with a sizable group being both children and elders and with that in mind they worked together to create a solution.

While Thera felt the earth around her and ripped what she needed from it, Ben gave her a design to build, something both long and sleek to hold so many while gently gliding through the air and ending with something that almost looked like a plane, only missing a roof to leave a view as they went on their way out of the woods around them.

“You going to be okay flying all of us for so long?” Ben asked her. “This is a lot more than usual.”

“I should be fine. If it starts feeling risky at all I’ll just take us down and get you to top up my mana for a bit.”

“Okay, sounds like a plan. In that case, everyone! If there’s anything you want to grab, get it quickly but otherwise come on in!”

With how their village had been left in ruins there really wasn't much to take but with some taking a few minutes to look around first it wasn’t long until they parted that land, up in the air and on the way home.

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The demidemons watched in awe as they flew, getting to see the forest below pass by so quickly when up until then they’d always been limited by the strength of their own two feet and that feeling didn’t disappear as the hours passed, only growing as they reached the edge of the gate city they’d need, being brought down and carefully led through it under both Ben and Thera’s watchful eyes, getting to see them gawk at the strange new sights but mainly making sure none got lost as they went from there to the magic towers, passing through to the guild and finally arriving in Stonewall.

They’d gotten looks along the way but none that had caught on to their heritage, only curiosity at the large group passing through of a race no one immediately recognized, with the dark streets of Stonewall being the final step.

It was so late that the rising sun had to be no more than an hour away but that didn’t mean they’d get any rest soon with work still to do as they made it to the edge of town where Sachel and Ceselee waited, the latter letting out a low whistle.

“So you really did bring an entire village with you, huh?”

“Yeah, it’s a long story but shouldn’t there be one more person here? Pretty sure I asked to meet the mayor too, given we’re about to alter the town and all.”

At that, she only shrugged. “Not like you haven’t done it before and when I tried to get him he just delegated to me again.”

“Seriously feels like this guy just doesn’t want to meet me at this point.”

“You do have a rather unique reputation, don’t mind it. For now, what are you going to do?”

“God, so much,” He sighed. “To start, I’m going to mark out the area. Ceselee, these are the demis, worshipers of Myriad. Mingle a bit while I do this.”

While Thera would be doing most of the heavy lifting magically, there was planning that needed to be done for where things would be placed while he walked away to mark it out, pulling mythril from his rings and enchanting pieces of it with different coloured lights to begin showing what all needed to be done. Stonewall’s wall needed to be partially torn down and rebuilt which was the most obvious issue but the ground in the surrounding area needed to be packed down and leveled too and roads needed to be added and marked. Add in the houses that needed to be built at the end of it all for each family and what that meant was that there was plenty of work still to do.

Once he was finished though, Thera’s turn was up as she reached out, extending her magic all around before pressing down evenly on everything, changing the landscape as hills vanished in an instant and continued down further until Ben waved her to stop. They couldn’t have it fall so deep that it would flood when it rained and if any issues popped up then they’d work to solve them later. Next came the roads themselves, being made as she felt the stones hidden within the dirt and gathered them into the marked places, smoothing them out to create walking paths.

With those made, the tasks turned to housing as more stone and earth were pulled from regions beyond where she’d already worked, letting Ben create models of buildings in her mind that she put together, leaving only the final task that would be in her domain as she took the town wall and brought it to life, the stone structure breaking free of itself to slither across the land and wrap around the new portion of land before she once more grabbed from the world around her to extend the rest, reconnecting with the rest of town with the extension completed, letting her slump on Ben’s shoulder.

“Other than the time I actually fell into mana exhaustion, I think this is the closest I’ve ever come.”

“It feels like you have tens of thousands of points left.”

“Your point?”

“Incredible jealousy I guess?”

“Mmh, well now it’s my turn to feel some of that so go show off your own strong suits already.”

“Ha, you got it. I guess I have the benefit of being able to take things a bit slow in comparison.”

There was plenty he needed to make them all but given what every one of the demidemons had just been put through, he focused on helping them get the main thing they’d need. Namely, rest, as he used what he knew of plant biology to materialize fibres woven into thick bedding, giving them all something they could use to sleep in for the time as he moved from house to house to make sure there was enough for all of them, stealing mana when he had to but getting it done just before the sun rose, letting him turn back to address them all.

“Alright everyone, you’ve all been through a lot and there’s plenty still to do but for now, take an hour or two to try and sleep. I’ll be back then myself to help out more but there’s some things I need to set up first so until then please try not to go off exploring. I don’t think any of you will be in any danger but this is a new environment and I want to help you all get settled a bit first. Now, Sachel, could you do me the favour of hanging out in the area until I’m back to help if they need anything and to make sure everyone here is safe?”

“Of course, you can count on me.”

“Thank you. And Ceselee, could you swing by again later? There’s more I want to get your help with but I want to get them all settled first.”

“Alright, I could use a small nap first too so I’ll come back when I wake up.”

“Fantastic, which means all I have to do is talk with the gods, make a whole bunch, figure out how I’m going to incorporate Delair’s lessons into everything I have to do today on top of all of my other tasks and… Ugh, I’ll figure out the rest as I go. For now, you all heard me, try to get what sleep you can but otherwise, you all know Sachel so if you have any emergency come out and ask her, she’s here to help.”

He got nods as he said it with many feeling the exhaustion catching up with them from the long day that not even the experience of watching a village grow around them could rid them of and after a few bows from the group they slowly moved to their new homes, with Toltho staying last.

“If it’s all the same, I’d like to stay to talk with the oracle for a bit.”

“I won't stop you but are you sure? Today’s going to be busy too; it would be better to get whatever rest you can while you can.”

“I’m sure. There’s plenty of time to sleep tomorrow. For now, it’s better I try and get a headstart on learning to help the rest wherever I can.”

“Alright, you heard him Sachel, looks like you’ve got some company.”

With that done though he felt his own exhaustion catching up to him while he and Thera walked home, looking forward to the brief bit of time he’d have to close his eyes and talk to the gods.