After helping Carthex get the antidote, Ben had to stick around for a while longer. Someone had to explain what happened to those attracted to the commotion after all. Citizens who had taken on the roles of patrolling peacekeepers were the most interested and asked numerous questions. He answered them all honestly for the most part, but also covered for the former assassin. Contrary to what he’d threatened earlier, nobody else needed to know how dangerous their town’s doc could be. Not when he was on Benjamin’s side anyhow. Once done with his posturing, he wished the surgeon well in his recovery and left.


    Not really sure what else he had to do today, he found himself heading to the recently finished training area. It was a very practical building, looking like a layered cube. The bottom floor housed two large gymnasium-type rooms for dragons. The second and third floors where he was headed had facilities for more reasonably sized people. He observed people practicing various martial arts and magic as he passed by the doors. Soon, he found an unoccupied room and entered, sitting on a bench. There he rested, elbows resting on his knees accompanied as he decompressed.


    It was just his luck. He makes peace with one threat, only to have a knife aimed at his back by what was once the lovable scamp. While it certainly sounded like something his brother would make happen, it didn’t feel like he did. Somehow, the roles he’d set for them had been totally inverted without any intervention. The irony of it all wasn’t lost on him; it just wasn’t all that funny.


    Maybe he should count himself fortunate. Had he been somewhere else, he’d probably be right back in his study, murdered out of his own book. And why is that? Because he’s weak, fragile, vulnerable. He has magic, but it took too long in those initial moments to do anything. And by the time he did he had to watch out for friendly fire. The armor he wore wasn’t infallible and there were too many spots that weren’t covered at all. If he stayed like this, he’d be as good as dead.


    Looking over his armor, he briefly wondered why he hadn’t enchanted it yet. Kinsoriel’s voice echoed in his head as one of those lessons reared its head. ‘There is no going back once it is done. Any spell imbued into equipment is a permanent fixture, so it had better be a useful one.’ All he could do after that point was recharge it or get himself new equipment. Being in a budding settlement meant that wasn’t a luxury he could afford. He thought he’d have time to find the perfect spells to suit any situation, but it just wasn’t in the cards. The next time he was caught with nothing could very well be his last.


    Looking up at the dummy sitting in the middle of the room, his thoughts drifted more to his time relearning his magic system with his protagonist. As sad as it sounded, it was probably the most he’d consistently interacted with anybody in ages. Even sadder was that he found himself missing those days. At least then he didn’t have so much work to do. He just had to focus on fixing the plot, a goal that was impossible now with everything that had happened.


    Raising his finger and thumb, he pointed at the dummy and cast the spell. “Bang,” he said in a mellow voice as the magical bullet slammed against the fake body. A spark of an idea caught as he looked at his hand then down over apparel. If he couldn’t find the perfect spells, he’d just have to make them himself. He pulled out his notepad and started to jot down whatever he could try to make.


    As the list grew bigger, he heard the clinking and clanking of metallic footsteps come into the space. Raising his glance, he saw what he would have mistaken for a short golem. The feature that broke such a perception was a pair of dull grey wings jutting out of its back, each ending with an arm.


    “Moira?” he asked with a note of surprise. The kobold-angel jumped at the sudden use of her name. Jerking her helmeted head in Ben’s direction, she let out a sigh of relief upon seeing him though kept a tense stance.


    “Lor- Benjamin,” she corrected, “you just about scared the scales off of me!”


    “Sorry.” This was happening far more often than it really should. He wasn’t that startling, was he? Shaking his head, he got back to his initial point. “What are you doing here in all of that?” He moved a hand up and down at the set of armor more fit for a roided-out dwarf. Even her tail was covered in thick metal plating.


    Looking over herself, Moira gradually relaxed. “It is part of my training regiment. This body of mine must be ready. Should the time come, I need to be able to… take action.”


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    That pause tickled Ben’s ears but he thought nothing more of it. “Kind of wish you’d been around a bit earlier,” he muttered, “but never mind. I’m doing much the same, coming up with some new spells.”


    Nodding respectfully, Moira turned to leave. “Then I will give you your space.”


    “Wait!” Ben called out without thinking. Moira halted and returned her gaze to him. “I mean, I don’t mind sharing this room with you. You don’t need to inconvenience yourself for me.”


    She turned her head to the side for a moment. The helmet obscured anything that could indicate what she was thinking, but she was thinking. Finally, she walked back toward the weapon rack and pulled out a training spear. “If it isn’t displeasing to you, I suppose I don’t need to leave.”


    Clapping his hands together excitedly, Benjamin expressed his contentment. “Great! If you need any help, just tell me.”


    Being truthful with himself, he didn’t know why he had stopped her. She could get along just fine if she was hefting that gear without any issue. Actually, maybe that was why. With threats lurking about, it was best to be around someone capable. That seemed reasonable.


    He returned to brainstorming ideas for spells as she trained at the opposite end of the room. After coming up with as many as he could, he went down the list and gave more consideration to each. The sides of his mouth curved down as he axed off more than he cared to admit. Some of them weren’t possible within the limits of the magic system. Others were impractical or not very helpful, like growth for instance. He’d break all his stuff and be a giant naked target.


    Sneaking a glance over at Moira, he marveled at her. She handled the spear with her wings while also brandishing a warhammer in her regular arms. It seemed that she was practicing her footwork and where she could sneak in hits with her spear. Her movements were fluid even with the weight of the armor upon her. And if that wasn’t impressive, she’d sent the dummy into the wall with a single blow from the hammer. Benjamin couldn’t help but gawk.


    Sensing his attention, Moira stopped and looked back over. “Is something wrong?”


    “No, nothing’s wrong. I’m just amazed is all. How are you so… good?” While not the most eloquent word choice, he couldn’t think of any other way to express his awe.


    She spun the spear around with disciplined grace. “I’m honored you would think so. I’ve spent much time practicing between assignments, even before I was reduced to this.” As the last of those words left her, her stance seemed to deflate.


    It wasn’t just off-putting to see the solid figure falter. Ben felt his heartstrings being pulled at to see her like this. She was only like this because of him after all, using up her energies on his behalf. Unlike the appearance of other gods, there was no ‘real’ Fayten to rejuvenate her. Whatever her place in his original story didn''t matter anymore; she was the first to be in his corner without any asterisks. He had to do something to lighten the mood.


    Looking over at the dummy she blew into the wall reminded him once again about his magical training. An epiphany crossed his face as the thought branched. He’d found his answer.


    “Could I ask a favor of you, Moira?”


    Standing up straighter, she replied, “Anything for you. What would you ask of me?”


    “Do you think you could teach me how to fight?”


    She looked from him to the hammer in her hands and back. “I… I am not certain I should.”


    Was she concerned she might hurt him? Perhaps she wasn’t used to holding back. “Don’t worry about me. If anything happens, I’m sure someone around here will be able to patch me up.”


    Shaking her helmeted head, she said, “That’s not-” before abruptly going silent. She took a gauntlet where her snout would be, deep in thought.


    “You’re the only one I’d trust to do this. You said you wanted to be able to act when the time came. Well, I do too. Help me to keep this world safe.” Placing a fist over his heart, he pleaded, “Please, Moira.”


    Ben groaned internally at how corny he felt, reminded of one of his very first protagonists. While he preferred to forget about those days, Steelheart Smith had embedded himself in his brain. So much so that his mannerisms sometimes came without thinking. Even if he was somewhat flat, the superhero would always linger with Ben.


    While a shade embarrassed at that slip, someone else didn’t think as much. Moira raised both hands to her covered mouth and let out a girlish, “Oh.” Her thick tail waggled and her wings shuddered before being stopped.


    Taking a breath to calm herself, she spoke up. “I’ll do all I can to help you, m’lord.” She sounded far more positive, similar to how she was before losing her divine power. She approached the weapon rack, putting away the spear and hammer for a pair of swords. Handing one to Ben, she added, “Let’s see what you can do first.”


    Taking the blunted sword from her, he smirked. It wasn’t going to be easy, but with this training, he’d be prepared for the next time Oslow showed his furred face. At least he only had to worry about one ex-cast member out for his head.