Ben is the protagonist and first-person narrator of This Was Our Pact. He is a middle schooler who lives in a small town. When the story begins, Ben is prone to pessimism and is rigid in his ways, though he is also curious about the world and determined to see his ideas through. He is eager to set off on the journey to discover where the town’s lanterns go after they are dropped into the river during the fall equinox festival, and he is the only one of the original group of five friends who continues with the journey past the bridge the boys’ parents have warned them to never cross. Ben’s single-minded determination means that he can sometimes struggle with Balancing Perseverance and Flexibility. However, his strong sense of perseverance keeps him going even after his friends have abandoned the quest.

Ben’s relationships with Nathaniel and the fisherbear evolve as the events of the journey slowly change Ben’s understanding of himself, Nathaniel, and the nature of the quest. At first, Ben is resistant to Nathaniel’s presence and scoffs at Nathaniel’s easy appreciation of the wonders of the journey. Ben is sullen, negative, and fearful.