Ben was awoken by the delectable aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the soft pattering of footsteps against the hollow floorboards in the living room of their temporary residence. He opened his eyes a sliver and saw the pale grey light of an early cloudy morning cast its rays through the opaque window, illuminating the form of his Keeper and her mute helper, Issa, the Fisherman’s son. After gaining permanent access to his domain, Ben still hadn’t gotten used to the fact that he would wake up feeling lucid, without a sleep-fogged mind, as his consciousness didn’t technically ‘rest’ in the traditional sense.

The previous evening, he had expected Ann to press him for details on his plans for the next few days; yet, she only inquired once and immediately accepted his answer of ‘We’ll talk about it in the morning.’ It wasn’t that he had hoped she’d be more adamant about him explaining himself, but rather, the manner in which she blindly yielded to his implied refusal to elaborate. He chided himself for not expecting complete obedience, as she had been molded for the very purpose, and that was all the reaffirmation he needed to dispel the feeling of uncertainty that had nagged him regarding his decision.

“Good morning, darling,” Ann said in a sing-song voice.

Issa turned to face Ben, who stood from the bedroll he had shared with his Keeper and bowed stiffly. The young man found himself grinning at the boy’s formal greeting.

“Morning, Ann, Issa,” he said as the hypnotic fragrance drew him closer to the table in front of the hearth, where he sat on a chair before the pair. “Is the coffee… ready?”

The blonde woman bent over a smaller table beside the fireplace, met his gaze over her shoulder, and smiled, her soft blue eyes meeting his. Ben stared at the woman.

She’s gorgeous. I wouldn’t mind waking up every morning in some cottage near the seaside with the smell of coffee and that… smile.

A bitter taste in the back of his mouth soiled his musings as he recalled the thoughts that plagued him during the first ‘day’ of two in his domain the previous night. His training had mainly consisted of him refining his forms due to the inability or unwillingness of his Avatar to manifest a sparring partner for him —not that he hadn’t complained to the massive feline regarding the matter. The entity had simply refused to acknowledge the repeated requests, and Ben didn’t feel right about demanding or ordering the being to do his bidding. He had grappled with what would happen after they resolved the Speaker problem.

Would Ann still feel the same way she did about him after her free will was returned to her? Would her free will even be returned at all? He understood that she had been conditioned for over ten years to fill the role of the Herald’s Keeper, and he also acknowledged that Ann had genuinely believed in the doctrine prior to her being chosen. He decided he needed answers from the people who did this to her.

If I break each of their fingers before slowly pressing my thumbs into their eye sockets, will they tell me what I want to know? No, they deserve a slower end for touching what belongs to m—

Ben frowned and shook his head before closing his eyes after seeing the expression of his Keeper shift from a blissful smile to that of consternation.

That’s enough. I told you I don’t want you influencing my thoughts.

He willed his thoughts to the beast within him. After a heartbeat without a response, Ben decided he’d try a different route in engaging with the ancient entity.

I’ve been willing to settle into the ideal; I think I’ve proved that. Sure, I’ve been a bit slow… but I’m going to draw the line there. And you WILL acknowledge me when I address you.

A hot breath caressed the back of his neck, causing the hairs to stand on end. He felt a growl, and the thought of amusement brushed his mind. Satisfied, Ben nodded and opened his eyes.

“Sorry about that. You’re looking stunning, by the way,” he said to the blonde woman.

Ann’s frown evaporated, and her pale cheeks flushed a deep shade of pink as she abruptly turned her attention to the copper cylinder. “I should make black brew more often…” she muttered under her breath, and Issa seemed to blush at the interaction.

Ben felt a tinge of guilt knot his stomach despite the words being true; he felt strange speaking them aloud. It was as if he subconsciously knew how to divert her attention from a topic he wasn’t in the mood to talk about. His callous manipulation of his companion soured an otherwise perfect morning.

The trio sat at the table and enjoyed a quiet, rainy morning, sipping hot coffee in front of the cozy hearth. Ben remarked on Ainsle, Kieran, and June’s absence, to which Ann informed him that the Berserker had left before sunrise and the Apprentice and the Magus’ daughter hadn’t returned yet.

The young man learned that Issa’s Father had passed away the previous year and that the boy had been living in the fish shop alone since then. Bertram and some of the Guardsmen who had, unsurprisingly, been a part of Ainsle’s band in the old days would periodically check in on him, yet Issa fished down at the docks and ran the store himself without any help. Ben regarded the silent boy with a newfound respect. Issa left shortly after on an unknown errand.

After the second cup of divine liquid, Ben left the table to take care of his morning ablutions in the basement full of corpses. Ann had told him that the musty room had a drain connected to the city’s sewer system, so the young man gave himself a thorough scrubbing. He was getting used to his ‘new’ legs, although they were still porcelain-white and covered in black veins. He got dressed into comfortable traveling clothes, consisting of a thick white tunic, black trousers, and his new, tan gambeson, before joining the pair in the living room.

The city was eerily quiet despite the cold autumn wind that murmured through the streets and clattered shutters of the abandoned neighboring houses. Ben heard a muffled conversation approach the dwelling, and he felt the familiar presence of his mentor with several others that he couldn’t place for certain. The door swung open to reveal the short old woman dressed in the pure-white plate of her basilisk armor —a thick black cloak, similar to Ben’s own, was draped over her shoulders— and her great mace was clasped to her back.

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“…relax, when your Mum showed up, the pair went at it like bloody rabbits. Every. Fucking. Night.” Ben heard Ainsle’s raspy voice mid-conversation as she stepped inside out of the cold. “The tent walls were pretty damn thin, and Ol’ Ain needed her beauty sleep.”

A flustered Kieran and a seemingly unabashed June followed the Berserker into the living room before closing the door.

“Ah, you are a sweetheart,” the old woman said as she turned to Ann. “Is that the same black brew I smell?”

The Keeper smiled and prepared three mugs of the mesmerizing brew. Kieran nodded at Ben and handed him a large parcel wrapped in rough grey fabric.

“Good morning,” he said to Ben before leaning closer and continuing in a whisper. “I finished the enchantment. Also, I noticed you found an exceptionally well-crafted pouch. I applied the same treatment to it as well.”

Ah, I forgot to separate his gift before handing him the bag last night.

“Thanks, Kieran,” he unraveled the parcel and found all three items —the traveling clothes for Ann, the leather pouch for Kieran, and the garishly pink… literature for his mentor— neatly packaged. He handed the Apprentice Necromancer the pouch, who accepted the item with a tilt of his head. “This was for you, actually. Sorry, I meant to keep it separate from the other two.”

The bronze-skinned man’s eyes widened, and his mouth hung agape to reveal rows of sharp teeth. “I… Thank you, Ben,” he said with a dip of his head. “I’m grateful that you thought of me.”

Ben held his free hand up and shook his head. “No, Kieran. I’m grateful for everything you’ve done. I realize I’ve been a bit of an arsehole by not saying thank you sooner. Please take it as a thanks and an apology.”

The red-haired man’s expression grew solemn for a heartbeat as he nodded, gaze fixed on the gift Ben had given him. “Thank you.”

The young man noticed June’s impossibly wide, mocking grin as she stood behind Kieran, and Ben suddenly felt silly for the serious tone in which he had addressed his newest companion.

“Hi, Ben,” the albino woman said cheerfully.

“Hey…” Ben replied.

“Master Jaste,” she teased the bronze-skinned man. “Do you think our Old Worlder would be up to join us for some fun later?”

Kieran glanced at Ben with a frown before addressing the woman. “I’m not certain Ben is interested in those sorts of activities.” He paused and flicked his gaze to Ann, who was busy pouring coffee at the table. “I think Miss Blackwood would take issue with it, in fact.”

June exaggerated a pout, and Ainsle cackled. The Keeper seemed oblivious to the conversation as she softly hummed an unknown tune. Ben had no idea what the pair were referring to, and the look in his mentor’s eye told him that he’d have to run a gauntlet of teasing and sassy jabs before he got to the bottom of it. He sighed, eliciting a chuckle from June, and decided his energy was best spent on more prudent matters.

He approached Ainsle, who sat at the table blowing the steaming mug of bliss. “Miss O’Seighin,” he teased, and the old woman raised a brow —feigning annoyance. “A gift for your most dreadfully ravishing majesty.” He mocked a bow and handed her the tome titled The Sinful Desires of the Cobbler’s Daughter – Volume I.

The Berserker froze and slowly placed the wooden mug on the table with a soft tap. She took the pink book, emblazoned with the figure of a muscly man holding a slender woman in his arms with both hands. Ben almost thought he saw her lip quiver before the familiar grin returned as she regarded the young man with an eye that conveyed more than her smile.

“You bloody bastard. Come here,” she embraced him and kissed his cheek, squeezing him tightly. She sniffed as she released her apprentice to gaze at the shocking pink novel on the table. “I thought Ol’ Ain would be ash on the wind before the bugger released the new series.”

Ben smiled and felt the warmth radiate through his body as he watched the sheer joy she experienced. He suddenly remembered the genre of the novel, and his smile twitched into a grin. “I’m glad you like it,” he said, and the pale woman let out an ‘Aww’ sound in the background.

Kieran stood with a severe expression, head perpetually nodding as he beheld the leather pouch in his hands. June approached the Apprentice Necromancer, and Ben heard her animated exclamations of: ‘Oohh, it’s so pretty,’ ‘It suits you!’ and ‘Is it enchanted?’ before he tuned out her voice.

He approached his Keeper, who had been silently observing the exchanges with a smile. Satisfied that the others were occupied, he leaned closely before speaking hushedly. Not that he was embarrassed or anything, he thought. It was primarily due to him wanting a bit of privacy for himself and his oldest companion.

“Annie,” he said, and the Keeper met his gaze with her soft blue eyes. “I know it isn’t as pretty as the robes you’ve been wearing recently, but I thought it would keep you warm during the winter and-”

He cleared his throat and handed her the burlap bundle. She unwrapped the gift, and Ben noticed the garment appeared much… brighter than he had remembered. Ann’s eyes widened as she held up the exquisite dress lined with grey fur. Her eyes began to glisten, and she cupped his cheeks in her warm hands.

“Thank you, my heart. You are too good to me,” she said, voice trembling.

“I’m really not,” he said, guilt at the undeserved praise gnawed at his stomach.

She stared into his eyes, almost questioningly. “May I?” she asked.

“Of course,” Ben said before being startled by the woman who stood on her toes.

Her lips pressed against his for a heartbeat.

The sweet scent of her breath lingered for a moment as she disentangled from him to caress the finely made enchanted garment.

“I will treasure this. Thank you, my darling.”

Ben stood, jaw slackened. His fingers absently touched his lips, and he tilted his head.

I thought she meant, ‘May I try it on.’

The blonde woman’s cheeks were positively smoldering if the particular shade of red was any indication. They sat together at the table, unspeaking, while Ainsle read, and the pair of Casters continued their one-sided conversation.

After several minutes, Ben gathered the fragments of his composure. His head had been lost in the moment for longer than he’d care to admit. He had only hoped that she would feel the same way after their incursion to the temple of Illephrre.

The sobering thought steeled him, and Ben spoke as he met his companions' gazes, “We’ll be leaving today if that’s all right with you?”

Ainsle cleared her throat, undoubtedly staving off the lump that had begun to bloom. “I’ve packed already; I don’t know about you sorry lot.”

Kieran nodded, yet Ben couldn’t tell if it was a nod of affirmation or if he was still in his trance. He turned to Ann, who dipped her head. “Annie, you’re okay?”

“Of course, my heart. I’ll follow wherever you lead me,” the Keeper said softly.

Ben’s eye twitched at the response, yet he held his tongue.

“Little Issa is coming with us till Skalt, Bertie's home village. He’ll be staying with the old boy while we’re out carving some cunts up,” said Ainsle.

“Sounds like a pla-” he began.

“Oh, I forgot to ask,” June interrupted. “You wouldn’t happen to have room for another stray, would you?”

Kieran seemed to snap out of his worrying cycle of nodding. “Miss Mwalenu. I don’t think your Father-”

“Master,” June corrected with a cough.

“Yes, very well. Your Master would disapprove of you gallivanting around the north with a party of strangers.” The red-haired man reprimanded.

“Oh, please. He’ll be fiiine. Besides, I’m old enough that he can’t keep me locked up in that city forever,” she retorted, yet Ben had the suspicion that it wouldn’t, in fact, be fine. She turned to face Ben once more. “Come on, Benny. I’m a really strong Caster, in case you didn’t know. I’m sure I can pull my weight if you want something —or someone— blown to the hells.” She grinned and wiggled her brows before nervously glancing at Ainsle.

Ben frowned at the pale woman and met her gaze. Her red-tinged eyes broke away from his after a few heartbeats. She was powerful. He was sure of that, as he had seen her relentless barrage against the flying monsters during the attack on the city, yet something was off.

“I’m fine with an extra body, sure,” he said as he looked toward his mentor, who nodded, and then Ann, who repeated the gesture. “If Kieran is okay with you joining…” he trailed off questioningly.

The Apprentice Necromancer sighed. “Very well,” was all he said.

Ben grinned at the energetic young woman. “Glad to have you.”