16 The Adventures of Jym (3) (Edited)

Kages gleeful smile was terrifying to anyone else that did not personally know the mysterious man. 

His smile would grow wider as he would chuckle quietly that made anyone who heard his maniacal laughter to feel like their eyes and ears were being pierced by shards of glass, repeatedly. 

Kages natural actions and behaviour would typically leave a bad image of himself in the eyes of all enemies and even allies when they would come across one another for the first time.

Currently, Jym and Val were experiencing the dreadful presence that followed along with Kages appearance in a new place, paralysing the whole bodies of both Veteran Adventurer and Legendary Smith. 

Jym felt his mind was melting from the millions of eyes staring down at his mortal existence from the deep shadows throughout the interior of the workshop walls.

Even as a Veteran Adventurer, Jym struggled to tear his eyes shut to compose himself from the presence of invincible monsters in the shadows. 

The nightmare his body experienced was clear as day for everyone to see, with his face dripping with sweat, his clothes drenched filled with his bodily fluids, and even his knees were shaking so much that he stumbled down to one knee and had to use his hands to grab onto the ledge of the counter.

He struggled to steady his posture even after gripping onto the ledge tightly, praying he didn't fall completely onto his knees. 

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'WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS! 

WHAT FUCKING DEMON BITCH FACE ASS RUINED ME DAY! WHY ME! 

I JUST WANTED MY DAGGERS AHH!!!'

Jym screamed in his mind, tears were close to falling down his face as he felt his death imminent, if those daggers weren't his by the time he left the store. 

That was until he heard the most holy words in his life and existence that saved his life… and they came for the most annoying being in Jyms mind.

"Kage why are you violating Master Vals rule of no violence in the store!"

Then the most unholy words came for the annoyed brat, making Jym wonder why he had any hopes for the foolish man.

"Plus, Master was close to scamming Jym out of a lot of money… hehehe you should have seen his face, all red and angry." 

Ben innocently giggled, as his childish side became ever present, showing those around that he still was a young child.

Jym, on the other hand was close to screaming at the top of his lungs at the injustice happening to him, with his eye's bright red, the frustrated Jym was close to strangling his newest nemesis. 

He had probably lost the damn daggers to the terrifying stranger at this point, and Val, his old buddy, was trying to scam him as much as possible.

The adventurer gave up and thought to hell with it, what else did he have to lose. 

Before he could enact 'justice', Val spoke up. 

"That's enough Boy… 

Jym…

Don't worry those daggers were made specifically for you, so you don't need to look so constipated old friend… hahaha…!!"

Val laughed aloud heartedly before turning his gaze from Jym towards Kage.

"As for you sir, I apologise that I cannot sell those daggers, however our talented Blacksmith here will be more than happy to craft something for you." 

Though he heard his student had some relationship with the man in black, it still didn't stop the sweat from forming on his bald head, only to drip down his face.

Val wasn't struggling like Jym to stand; however, the Old Smith still had some pressure on his body to keep him from standing strong and tall before Kage. 

He did not want to lose his mind like Jym, especially in front of the Boy, as it would damage his prestige as his Master.

More so in front of the man in black that'd been easily berated by his student. 

Kage could see sense the fear from the two individuals, their temperaments had completely changed with his appearance. 

His ability to create fear and terror by his presence alone caused many strife's over the years while living in Alynthn.

In the end everyone decided it would be best if Kage reduced his interaction with anyone outside of his Highness followers. 

Therefore, this was his first interaction with Val and Jym, even though he had his shadows constantly watching them from the moment Ben made contact with them. 

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"You do not need to apologise; I was the one to rudely barge in without any consideration of what was happening. 

For that I am very sorry.

Young Master Ben… you are very much correct. 

I shouldn't be behaving in such a crude manner. 

Forgive me for my indiscretions…"

Kage said with a slight bow to show his earnest apology, hoping his unfortunate interaction with everyone present didn't leave a bad impression, especially Val, who was very important to his Highness. 

Ben spoke up before Val could say anything. 

"Kages its fine…

Could you tell me though… why did you rush over here so suddenly today then? 

Plus, how did you know about the daggers?" puzzled by Kages action, Ben straight up asked, annoyed that he was probably being watched by his followers. 

"Yes, young master." 

Ever since Ben could speak, he told everyone to stop calling him 'His Highness' but rather his name instead.

At first it led to a huge argument, as no one wanted to do such a disrespectful thing, however everyone eventually settled on 'Young Master' as it didn't feel as constricting to Ben. 

"I, as your servant, must protect you, Young Master, no matter what I will always be close by… in the shadows…"

Kage smirked with a huge grin, as he emphasized his last words. 

Ben understood immediately, realising Kage had been watching him from the shadows using his personal Shadow Force Guards.

But he still was not too happy being watched even if he tried to oppose it, Kage would probably setup he surveillance regardless. 

Ben waved his hand, indicated he understood and to move on the topic, with his turning to face Jym, who seemed impatient more than usual.

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"So… are we going to finalise this commission sale or should I just sel-"

Before Ben could finish what, he wanted to say, Jym threw a pouch with gold coins towards him and leaped at the extravagantly carved wooden box, embracing it close to his chest as he merrily bobbled in joy. 

"How much?!" 

Ben could feel the immense weight in the pouch, his instincts telling him it was far more than 100 gold coins. 

"250, no more or less…" 

Jym replied nonchalantly, as he cradled the wooden box with his smile growing every second. 

His face blushing bright red in excitement. 

"But this… it's too much. 

Master tell him."

But before Val said a work Jym raised his hand, staring straight into Bens unique coloured eyes.

"You don't know your worth yet, but I can say for certain that 1000 gold coins would still be too little for your daggers. 

Both Val and I think this Kid…" 

Val nodding in agreement with his friend, understanding better than anyone else how valuable Ben's work would become in the future once people became aware of his name as a credible Smith. 

Whether it was a good thing or bad would be all on Bens shoulders, but one thing Val was certain of, that his disciple would change the current stagnant flow of the world…

Ben saw his masters face with a bright smile, making his heart feel heavy with greater responsibility. 

The smile felt like it carried the guilt and pain of his long-gone disciples, though lightened by the prospects of his last student.

That smile which used to be buried underneath the cruelty of this world, felt as if it was finally breaking through the rubble of the cruel world, rising up to face the sun in the far horizon. 

He felt happy that his Master was moving through the trauma of his past, and Vals smiling face was the first step in a long journey.

but at the same time Ben felt sad knowing his Master had lost so many people and was constantly ridden with guilt for the deaths of his loved ones. 

They were everything his Master worked so passionately for, with a main goal in life was settling down with someone he loved and creating a family of his own. 

For it all to be taken away in a moment without the ability to do anything to settle the anger deep within his heart and mind, the mental impact he had to experience and the will to still fight to live every day was beyond commendable. 

In Bens eyes his Master was another father figure, someone he had to protect no matter what from any further anguish or pain that the world may have set in Vals fate. 

Bens whole body, mind and soul saw Val as family… as his blood. 

He never forgot his promise to get revenge for his master, but what about after that?

Would his Master just roll over and die? 

No, there was still Tia and even more, he still needed to help build the foundations for Bens own empire. 

He would need someone with great skill and mastery to teach the next generation. 

While Ben evolved his mindset ever so slightly to look ahead into the future, Kage noticed immediately that the change was far more than it seemed, watching the Young Master attentively. 

He wasn't aware of the Systems effect on Ben's mind, even if Ben himself didn't understand how grateful he should be to the Systems decision to stop his mind from further delving into chaos.

As the quietness flooded the front of the store, with the faint echo of Tia working in the background, a voice came from the entrance as the man struggled in, out of breath and covered in dirt, as if he had tumbled his way here to the workshop. 

"…Did I… make it…ahh fuck!" 

Lue yelled as he noticed Kage had arrived before him, absolutely furious as to how the creepy butler had arrived so quickly. 

Lue thought he was the only one to know about the young master crafting a new weapon and hoped he would be successful in picking it up before the rest. 

Other than Alfred catching Lue mumbling once to himself about Benedicts work, the Withering Rose party member felt his plan was fool prove, believing the weapon would be his in the end. 

As he straightened himself upright, Lue was sent flying into the wall as Roth suddenly barged in charging through the front door, slamming his body straight into Lues back.

.

"Ahh shit, sorry man…" 

Roth croaked on the ground; his body was aching from the sudden body slam hit of their bodies.

Looking over at Lues direction, Roth noticed his buddy was whimpering on the ground, winded from the impact against the tough and reenforced wall. 

"Didn't I say to be careful dumbass…" 

Drav said in an annoyed voice, as he made his way inside with Zio right behind him.

They walked in calmly, without rushing or charging in like foolish idiots. 

"Sorry Val didn't mean to barge in like this old friend." 

Zio said, before greeting Ben as he ruffled the Young Masters dark hair. 

He always felt that Ben should be treated as a normal kid, even fighting against the other Withering Roses members including Kage and Alfred, when he felt they pressured the young Prince too much. 

If he, had it his way, he would raise the Young Master as far away from the noble life, but he knew that would never happen. 

However, as long as he was still by the young Princes' side, he would always treat him as the child he should be rather than who Ben expected to be. 

Val greeted his old friends, rather to say they were repeat customers that had come to him for years now. 

However, for some time now he knew they were serving by his disciples' side, making him feel a little more at ease knowing a worthy group, as quirky as they might be, were protecting Ben. 

In the chaos of the Withering Rose arriving, Jym slipped away after say goodbye to Ben since he was eager to use his daggers and go hunting immediately.

But his fortune wasn't as lucky as he thought, having been swept up and taking from the streets of Alynthn in the night, vanishing into the shadows and surrounded by the endless darkness. 

Before he could even blink, he appeared in a random Training Ground that appeared far too rich for Jyms stature.

Far across from his own position stood the very presence that nearly broke his mind earlier in Vals Workshop.

'Why is he here?! 

Why am I fucking here?! 

Is he going to kill me and take the daggers?! 

Why oh why am I going through this crap…' were the thoughts runnning through Jyms mind as he watched Kage slowly walk closer over to his position, with his steps cracking apart the earth below his feet.

"I brought you here for one thing and that's to make you worthy to hold and wield those blades…" 

Kage said with a wry smile that felt murderous and ready to strip meat from bone. 

"Arm yourself or you'll die!" 

Kage screamed as he charged towards Jym.

.

"Huh, where did Kage go? 

I swear he was here just before…" 

Drav said puzzled as looked around but could not figure out how the butler in black had escaped. 

Drav quickly got over it and eagerly asked Ben a favour, noticing the Young Master was free.

"Umm Young Master… if you wouldn't mind…

Could you make us brothers some equipment and weapons?" 

Drav asked while fidgeting with his fingers.

His eyes were darting around the room, unable to meet Ben's gaze. 

The young Prince chuckled, agreeing that he would craft them all something, which made the others go crazy, throwing all sorts of items, ingredients, and metals into the air before settling down to explain their ideas and requests to Ben, entirely filling out several sheepskin scrolls. 

Val watched on laughing aloud, unable to help how he found the reaction of the Withering Rose members to be more childish than children themselves. 

Ben had just finished his first work and they all rushed over without even checking to see the quality of his work. 

Val still remembered how much they hounded him the first time they met that if anything went wrong with their equipment that they would hurt him, and now they were begging his disciple who just crafted his first work, and they'd yet to even see the finished products

Val couldn't help but laugh at the fortunes of his young disciple. 

Ben felt ecstatic that he received new orders straight away with the promise of payment, making himself deeply happy that he was finally making his way in the world.

Even if they were little steps inconceivable in the whole scheme of the world's actions, these few steps would be the foundation for Benedicts epic legend. 

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