10 Because you're my friend (Edited)
"Agh… Great…
I finally woke up…
God… I hope a stupid amount of time hasn't passed again because of the stupid broken System."
Ben groaned aloud, as he turned his body slowly to gaze out the hazy tinted windows to see the light of dawn.
The morning light slowly appearing over the sea of trees in the distance beyond the tall city boundary outer walls as the morning light brightened up Bens bedroom.
He was lost in his thoughts as he looked out towards the scenic view for a moment and the shit storm that possibly awaited him.
Ben had sworn to his new Master, even promising he would return at the crack of dawn, eager to being his apprenticeship, but now Ben's System had possibly screwed him over before he could even get started.
Last time he was out for roughly 9 months, and he was banished from his family.
This time he hoped it was less dramatic, with most of his thoughts focused on the System and his unfortunate luck to receive unreliable junk that was probably pushed along to be formed by a shoddy craftsman praying some idiot would eventually be stuck with its creation.
.
Unfortunately, there was not anything he could do now.
There was no refund option, nor was their anything he could do beside wait till the System upgraded itself.
He would have to hope his new Master might understand some of his problems and consider it as a part of the 'curse' that was attributed with his true identity.
As bad as it was to use that as an excuse, Ben was going to try everything he could in his ability to ask for his master's forgiveness.
Ben continued thinking of ways to deceive his master, however he soon noticed his body felt much heavier than his typical lightness, not only that it felt like it had grown slightly.
As he stumbled out of bed and dragged himself before the lengthy bronze mirror, Ben immediately noticed his body had grown by a hand's width in overall height, however this also made his body stockier and more defined with muscles, that were startling to see on anyone's body roughly his age.
The young Prince was ecstatic to find his height had grown, having always been afraid that his height might be stunted.
Because of the coma Ben was confined by the System, he was worried his height would remain short forever, even though the System assured him it wouldn't happen, but nothing was certain with the broken System operations.
Just the thought of his height made Ben feel real fear that his foes wouldn't be able to take his position serious because a defect.
Therefore, Ben had a bright smile on his face as he noticed the huge growth.
He couldn't believe some parts of the System were capably of improving his body this significantly overnight.
Ben was about to praise the system for a moment but remembered he hadn't confirmed how much time had passed till now, so Ben held off on the praising… for now.
As he was about to leave his room, Agatha and Alfred entered carrying a tray of food.
Right when the two were about to greet Ben, Alfred spoke up first, utterly confused.
.
"Your Highness, you have grown… a lot, I might add…"
He looked at Ben as he spoke, puzzled over the changes to his Highness body.
Agatha suddenly gasped as she noticed the stark changes to Bens body.
"Ahhh!
Look at your body!
All this muscle and fat.
What happened to my cute cuddly little brother!
Why did you suddenly change like this?!
If I knew you were going to become this hideous, I would have cuddled you more before you ran off to bed last night…"
Agatha cried and moped, hugging Ben with all her strength as she screamed 'why lord why!' repeatedly.
Ben was trying to process the good news while trying his best to push the immensely strong Agatha, who suddenly had the strength to rival his own might.
'Huh, so I wasn't in a coma for months or years or anything crazy light that.
Mm… I'll ask the system later what happened, I've got to get to the workshop early.
Shame, I won't get to use any of my brilliant excuses.'
He thought while his life was being choked away by the ungodly strength the crying Agatha possessed.
.
"That's enough Agatha, please let go of his Highness, he has to get ready to meet his new Master for training… isn't that right your Highness?"
Alfred smiled as he placed the tray of breakfast down by the table.
"How did you know Alfred…?"
Ben shocked by what Alfred said.
He was worried by that smile, as Alfred eyes remained as sharp and daring as always.
Ben didn't wish to inform either of his current Masters, because he felt they might stop him from going, saying it might affect his other training with them.
"Hehe, I know everything, your Highness."
Alfred chuckled as he left the room with the still sobbing Agatha, while Ben stood still, quaking in his feet silently by Alfreds devious words.
"I'll send someone up to get your measurements and quickly arrange some new clothes before you head off."
Alfred spoke as he shut the door to the room and headed off.
.
'…Is he watching me all time.
Even during the loo… eww'
Ben was scorning over Alfreds words as he went through his morning ablutions before heading over to the workshop.
With a skip in his step, he rushed on over while humming his favourite tune, watching his beautiful city come to life in the morning.
He saw how it 'awoke' everyday, the merchants entering to sell their goods while trying to find adventurers with quality goods to sell.
Even the residents, mostly adventurers or citizens with businesses in the city were rushing to open their stores and begin their day.
But as he saw the liveliness of the city, he also saw the dying, sick, and struggling part of the city.
He could see the hunger-stricken peasants, begging for someone to give them even a dirtied piece of bread to just survive the day.
People begging for someone to buy their children so they could feed themselves...
It was disheartening to see but he learnt quickly this world was cruel, and he was too powerless to do anything right now, even if his emotions would build up over seeing such misery in the world.
He had many thoughts about helping these people… his people, that is why he was eager to begin his training.
He had to begin somewhere and forge his path for his people to follow his lead.
.
He still hadn't forgotten his original plans of heading into the Endless Seas of Forests, but Bens efforts to find suitable equipment his size meant he might have to delay his plans for some time.
However, as the disciple of a blacksmith and that of a legendary one as well, he was more excited to forge his own unique set type of equipment rather than purchasing something off the shelves of a rival Smith to his Master.
Ben wanted to shine as bright as the adventurers wondering around the city, as they had colourful amours and attires.
He wanted something that was unique for himself before he started his own adventure that would one day be the starting point of his legend.
As Ben finally reached the workshop and entered, he heard the distinctive voice of his new master call out to him.
.
"Your late boy…" echoed throughout the shop, as Ben sheepishly walked over to his master's side as he quietly replied.
"I promise it won't happen again master, I was just too excited last night that I couldn't sleep until late."
Ben lied, hoping to get some of this tension off him, worried his master might send him flying again from a deadly punch or kick.
"Mm I see… then do you care to explain how your body changed so much overnight."
"Umm, magic…?" Ben laughed even though Val smirked at the childs foolish comments.
"… Right.
Anyway, head inside, Tia will be training you for now."
"What!"
"What do you mean, 'What!' boy, she is my daughter and I have been training her also.
Don't think you're the only disciple I have in this world boy…
Now hurry up and head inside."
Val said as he returned to working on some equipment.
Ben on the other hand went to the backroom to find Tia sprawled across a heap of books.
As he glanced around the mess in the room, Tia jumped to her feet and ran over to Ben, grinning as if she saw her prey arrive.
.
"Finally, my young disciple, you have arrived!
Today your training begins, and I shall be your master!
Now call me Master before the world and let's get started!"
Tia joyfully shouted as she leaped into the air with her fist punched upwards, she tried her best to imitate her father, naturally with her own awesome twist to it.
It was her first friend, she wanted to show how cool and awesome she was.
"No" Ben said immediately shooting down Tias hyped mood.
"Why…?" she pouted as she froze up, feeling rejected by her friend.
"Because you're my friend, I wouldn't like it if you called me that, so let's work together to be the best disciples and make our Master proud!"
Ben said as he grabbed Tias hand and rushed over to the books, bombarding her with questions about blacksmithing and where to begin reading.
Keeping her spirits high, Ben enthusiastically dived into the knowledge of the books.
Tia couldn't stop smiling, that another like herself had been found.
Every time Ben spoke to her, she would pinch herself thinking it were a dream.
She never had friends.
She was always bullied and alone, other than her Papa, she had no one.
She thought she would always be alone and that her loneliness was her fault somehow.
She must have been too dirty for the other kids to play with, she must have been too ugly, she must have been…
So many thoughts would race around in her mind every time Tia wondered why she was so alone.
But there was this stranger who stood up for her.
Protected her.
He never called her names or beat her.
He helped her home, was nice and never said she smelled or was ugly.
Instead, the opposite…
And now he said they were friends…
If felt like the darkness and shadows of her misery in her heart and been lifted.
She finally had a friend, and a someone she was going to work together with to make her Papa proud!
…
..
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