A well-tanned boy sat on a chair, and looked intently at the smoking mound of dirt in front of him. While thin, he wasn't gaunt. His gloves, sandals, and shorts were all fresh and white. Nearby, a nearly-completed hat of the same material hung from the side of a lean-to. Clusters of odd-smelling, large shredded leaves hung alongside it, along with a couple of small looms. The devices were clearly primitive, yet expertly made.

"Three surprises," the youth ranted aloud to a nearby myna.

The bird found this far more interesting than usual for its species.

"That's how it always goes, isn't it? First, I'm off in another world again, rather than back on Earth."

"Second, I'm somehow in a different, far younger body, that clearly isn't mine."

The speaker then scowled, "And then, the third surprise - I arrive with nothing on me. Not even a stitch!"

"I like eyes," the bird replied. The young human looked up in annoyance.

The myna continued "If you knew to call me here, boy, you knew there'd be a sacrifice. Seeing what you need always comes with the same -"

"Its already been paid," the youth interjected.

The bird peered at him closely for a few minutes before finally asking, "... Surret?"

"Yes, Munin, it's me. I need my final Wisdom. A bargainer took a particularly skewed interpretation of a plainly-worded Deal. I need to know the justification for this, so I can have a few other acquaintances help him learn better business practices. Also, I need to help the poor kid whose body I'm currently in. If you can find anything out about him, I'll need to make that right."

The small creature flitted to a closer branch, then cocked its head. "Those are two Wisdoms, Surret, but the second isn't necessary. I know those clever orbs of yours. You're just smaller and a bit more brown. Also, smoother on the face."

The myna continued, "Say, under the circumstances, you know you could get another first, middle, and final Wisdom." As the creature spoke, it stared at the boy's face with fascinated hunger.

"Thank you, Munin. I'll keep that in mind," Surret answered. The smallest trace of disinterest crept into his voice. The diviner was fairly reasonable compared to other such beings, but his price was still unpleasant.

---

Faustian, in a different place that couldn't honestly be described as elsewhere, waited for the inevitable visit. It took longer than he'd expected, but he finally saw a winged figure. It diverted itself to greet the tempter before finally alighting on the ground by Faustian. They seemed happy to see each other, if cordial.

"I see you're working with my complement now," the myna began. "I hope you don't get he-and-she into trouble?"

"She-and-he has done well enough," the bargainer replied. "Any buyer's remorse is entirely my issue. Now, what might I do for you, diviner?"

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"The obvious,"the bird replied. "An explanation of the Deals that I can pass along to my seeker."

"Hmm. He seemed satisfied with the names and circumstances," Faustian considered, "It seems odd that he'd object to his own offer, but that must be it."

The bird paused, giving the impression that it was reading something. "You've avoided his family and world, haven't involved anyone else into the same. His objection must be his circumstances. Can you truly say what you had no bad intention?"

The bargainer shrugged. "I can see how he might have some misgivings about his circumstances. You can tell that I've stuck by our terms. He'll just have to live with it."

The diviner hopped up on the satchel, glaring up at Faustian. "It isn't that simple, Deal-maker. I have to give him something, or else I fail to deliver. Don't make escalation my only choice. Tell me something true that will satisfy him."

Faustian immediately smiled at the small bird. "Ah, easily done. The customer wanted to be sent on his way. As he himself made clear to me, this way inevitably leads him to many and varied worlds of magic. I've provided youth and health to aid him - you notice he sees clearly from both eyes now - and changed his complexion so that the sun on his island paradise won't harm him. He can relax and live out his life in comfort in his new home. No ugly rejection or reprisals from loved ones ..."

"Okay, that's enough," the myna interjected. The bird clearly wasn't happy, but was resigned with what he'd heard.

---

Surret scowled at the myna. "Munin, this is all stuff I've already figured out. Can't you tell me anything that can help with my situation?"

The boy was carefully collecting charcoal from inside the dirt mound, and was somehow managing to keep his clothing from getting sooty. Nearby, a few oddly-shaped rocks were piled up, along with a small mound of bright pink copper coins.

The bird hesitangly nodded. "I can, yes. Where did you get those?" he asked, the shiny coins catching his attention.

The boy smirked. "These are from hunting pigs. I thought this place might be an Earthsea, or maybe a Lord of the Flies. I was wrong, though. It's Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. The first sow I killed turned into eight of these. I killed a few more and got more coins, then finally coins and a couple uncooked pork chops from a boar. I can't tell if this strangeness is an incentive or a riddle. There's nobody here on the island to buy from. Regardless, it's a mystery I don't care to spend a Wisdom on. I expect I'll find out soon enough."

Munin blinked. Clearly, the myna had some thoughts on the matter. Moments passed, then the creature said, "I can tell you one of Faustian's secrets. It will help if you must deal with him in the future." Surret nodded, and so the bird told him.

---

The myna had delivered his Wisdom, and was free to go. Even so, he lingered a while. This particular mortal could sometimes be worth to listening to.

"It's the isolation," the boy said. "If he'd wanted to stop me from completing my journey, he could have sent me anywhere. I'm a social creature, and Faustian knows this. And still, he put me on this island without even a volleyball. As far as I can tell, there are no other people, no other nearby islands, and I don't dare set out to sea. There aren't even any stars at night." Surret clearly had more on his mind about that last detail, but whatever it was, he kept it to himself.

"Maybe there's something here for you to find?" Munin offered.

"There are no roads to follow once I find whatever that is," the boy pointed out.

"He must have some sort of plan for you, then," the myna considered. The bird then glanced at the glimmering coins. "Call me again on the third day from now if nothing develops, and I'll offer you one more Wisdom - for one of those."

The boy nodded, and the myna lit off, flying away again. Several minutes after the bird was gone, he plucked out a small cloth tinged of patina from under a loom. Next, he grabbed a small green fruit, then squeezed its juice onto the cloth. He began to polish his coins once again. The determined expression on his face brightened a bit. In spite of it all, he had to admit that he really liked his younger eyes.

He was lucky Munin was feeling generous.