Side Story: Another day with the demidemons

Author's note

Given when this chapter takes place, Ben doesn't know they're called demidemons but you all do, hence why it shows up in the title but not the actual chapter. Hope you all enjoy!

Something’s missing.

<What could possibly be missing? You’ve already built a brand new village and you’ve got your other projects on the go, don’t tell me you’re still looking to make more?>

No, of course not… Well, maybe not. We’ll see.

Walking around the village, Ben couldn’t help but admire it all, the culmination of everyone's hard work, even if he was left trying to figure out just what was nagging at him. The houses were set up, the construction team having done an excellent job putting roofs and doors together so everyone would have some level of protection from the elements and privacy to go with it, and they’d even managed to build a well with minimal guidance from him after he taught them what little they’d need to know for it.

The other teams had been keeping busy too. He could see the alchemists he’d taught looking at plants that they already knew had some medical benefits, and the enchanter team was hard at work with practice in a desire to raise their skills to a greater level, and he wasn’t the only one taking in all of the changes.

Taltho caught his eye, the other man staring out into his home, wearing a sense of calm that he pulled off more than anyone else around as Ben went to him, hoping that maybe he’d have any idea as to what was scratching at his mind.

“Toltho, how was your hunt today?”

“Couldn’t have gone better,” The man told him, giving a happy grin as he did. “We found a herd of nathas so we’ll be eating well and it gives the cooking team a chance to try some of those preservation techniques you showed us, and we came across a patch of alth root too. We’ll be set for a few days, so we’re probably going to split the team for the next couple days so we can all have a break.”

“Sounds good, relaxing is the peak of life.”

<Then maybe you should actually relax from time to time instead of working yourself to death.>

“It really is,” Toltho agreed, not having heard Myriad with the man giving a content sigh. “Despite all that’s happened, things really do get better, don’t they?”

“They do,” Ben smiled. “And in the spirit of that, is there anything else you think might improve things for you guys that I can help with while I’m here? Obviously, there’s only so much I can manage, but I’ll do what I can.”

With the question, Toltho burst into a deep laughter. “How could I possibly know?” He asked. “Ben, you and Thera have already done so much for us, but we still know so little. How could I imagine improving the village beyond what you’ve already done for us?”

“That… is a very good point. Darn, okay, thanks for the chat at least Toltho, I’ll keep thinking on it.”

With a wave he went on his way, back to walking around until he thought of someone much better he could ask, so he let his ears guide him to Thera as she gave her music lessons to the children around her, letting himself sit off in the distance to watch a while as she taught them.

They were all still beginners compared to her but it was obvious they were trying their hardest, and it was surprisingly fun to watch Thera try to play the part of teacher.

She used to struggle with handling kids so much more, I guess the clinic’s given her some good practice.

<And we’re well on our way to her handling yours. Oh Ben, life is good.>

I’m so glad she can’t hear you.

He sat there and listened for a bit, bantering with his god and enjoying every missed note he heard until Thera noticed him and spoke up.

“Alright everyone, keep practicing by yourself for a minute, I just need to have a word with your silly apostle.”

A round of yesses went up as she put down her flute and walked over to him, leaning down to kiss his cheek as she did.

“Hey, I didn’t think you’d be done so soon.”

“Needed a break,” He told her as he shrugged. “Plus I was hoping to pick your brain.”

“Shoot.”

“Cool, it’s nothing major, I was just wondering if you felt like there was anything missing here? Something that the village could really use?”

She thought about it for a moment, casting her eyes around before seeming to deflate with the question. “I don’t know Ben, probably a lot. Society, trade, a decent library or some other way of making sure knowledge is passed along beyond word of mouth, and that’s just the big obvious stuff.”

“Hmm, no. I mean yes, all of that too, but it doesn’t feel like what’s bothering me,” He muttered.”

“Well, I wouldn’t worry about it. Sachel’s probably on her way already, right? If it’s not something you can do with whatever’s on hand then it’s too late to be worrying about it.”

“Mmh, you’re probably right, but still…”

He trailed off, not knowing what else he could do. Either it would come to him or it wouldn’t. He could only hope that if it did, it was at a time when he’d be able to actually do something about it instead of when he was finally home.

Thera squeezed his arm, trying to give him a comforting look.

“Well, we can brainstorm on it tonight, for now, let me just finish up… Or maybe we’ll bring things to an end now.”

When she’d looked over at all of her students she found them staring at the two of them instead of practicing their lessons and immediately knew what they were thinking, so she called things to a close for the day, letting them live out their desires as they all ran over, each of them wanting to get to Ben.

“Haha, okay just a couple at a time. I might be strong, but I still have limits,” He told them as he gave in to exactly what they wanted, picking one of them up to sit on his shoulders as two more sat in his arms before he began to run from the rest, hearing them laugh as he demonstrated all of the strength, stamina, and agility that came with having three awakened skills in their modified game of tag.

They all enjoyed it, himself included. The kids liked him because he was willing to put in whatever time he could to the play they wanted, and he got a kick out of entertaining them. It might not have been the most creative way of doing it, but out in the woods there were only so many options.

“This is so much fun!” one of the kids he was carrying screamed, and it was that small sentence that almost stopped him in his tracks as what was missing clicked into place.

Fun. That’s it, there isn’t enough to do for fun here!

It was so obvious in hindsight. He’d been working to raise their standards of living and knowledge the best he could, but he hadn’t done enough to make life worth living. On that ground, Thera was beyond him since she at least had decided to help bring music into their lives, but he knew he had plenty he could do if he put his minds to it.

After all, it’s that little extra spice that makes existence extra nice, and I think I have the perfect first idea for how to do it.

“Alright kiddos, we’re going to be having a quick break and then we can get back to this if you want after. I’ve just thought of something that will be even more fun for you all.”

He felt them deflate at the word ‘break’, only to pick back up again at ‘even more fun’ and he put the three he was carrying down to make it happen as he walked back over to Thera, whispering his idea in her ear to keep the children in suspense while she smiled at what he was suggesting before they all moved to the edge of the village, the two of them being badgered with questions as they insisted on keeping it a surprise.

They made sure not to leave the village completely, not wanting the kids playing anywhere that they might be out of the eyes of nearby adults and exposed to the dangers of the wild, but there was enough space to work within as Thera began, holding her staff tight and casting her spells to the best she could.

Dirt rose from the ground and was compressed into solid stone as a slide went up, Ben using his own magics to ensure the surface was polished and smooth as she made another, followed by monkey bars and a small jungle gym.

It was the beginning of exactly what the place needed as far as he was concerned, a playground, but he’d need even more beyond that to make it as good as it could be. Thera could probably manage a seesaw with only a little extra effort on her part, but something like swings would be another thing entirely as he planned a lesson on both rope making and tanning for some of the adults for the next day to put such a thing together to really finish it up.

The kids of course looked confused at first, not knowing what any of it was for, but it only took Ben picking up one of the smaller ones and placing them on a slide to go down for the rest to get the idea as they all went wild.

“You’re right, this was missing,” Thera told him, watching happily as she leaned into him.

“Well, I’m not done yet either. Need something for the adults too, right? So I guess I’m going to be spending the night making all of the board games I know and writing up the rules, maybe a few lawn games too. Plus we should probably make a little community building too for them to be stored in, along with a few other odds and ends.”

It would be maybe another half day of work total, but it would be fun and good for all of them. It didn’t take seeing all of the young so happy as they went about for him to know that, so he planned all the rest he’d need to make as he watched on, not feeling any of the lingering tension and instead grinning at the sight of that bit of peace.

Author's note 2

This was a fun one, a little more slice of life as well so hope you all enjoyed that. The next poll will be either tomorrow or friday depending on how my schedule works out so hope you all swing by to vote and otherwise have a great one!