Joe cocked his head and shrugged, bringing up his status window before asking, “Why?”

Joe’s quick reaction seemed to both surprise and relieve Kukurnal and he opened his mouth for a quick reply before he seemed to stop, a bit shocked, “You’re a scholar?!” Kukurnal exclaimed before he gasped in a sharp surprise.

Joe blinked his eyes, surprised, “Well… I’m not sure I count myself as a scholar, but we have talked every night for quite some time. I am a deep thinker, but you already know this.”

“Ah… no… I mean, you have a scholarly job!”

“Oh… yeah. I do. How do you know?”

“Oh… uh… well, your status is a yellow color!”

“Oh… yeah! I forgot, the status changes color based on the job?”

“Yes. It is the only and best way we are able to know the jobs of others. Sky blue are commoner jobs. Tan is metropolitan. Light green is citizen. Crafters are dark blue. And criminals have a black status window. There are many others, but some I cannot say, and others I do not know. But two others I do know are dark green for party jobs and red for combat related jobs.”

“Well, you know one other, the priest / faith jobs, but you cannot say?”

“No. I am bound against such.”

“Huh… I wonder why, but,” Joe shrugged and let it go, “That’s fine. What you have shared is quite amazing for me. Thank you. Is there more you can tell me about criminal jobs specifically?”

Kukurnal looked at Joe after here his response and seemed to pause in consideration before speaking, “You are truly not offended?”

Joe cocked his head to this side, “Why would I be offended?”

Kukurnal sputtered, a laugh escaping from deep in his chest as surprise shocked the laughter out of him. “Most people would be deeply offended! Look!” Kukurnal pointed to the other three and Joe quickly noticed that his three apprentices seemed quite angry.

Joe smirked at this and looked back at Kukurnal, “See! This is exactly what I am speaking about. I do not know such a thing is offensive in the least. What if I had asked strangers to show me their status, people could easily become angry or offended and I would never know! I even asked Garnedell, Zilnek, and Kilniara to show me their statuses. I do not wish to offend anyone!”

Kukurnal chuckled and shook his head even as the other three quickly began to reassure Joe they were not offended. Kukurnal waved the three off and explained, “Masters are expected to look at their apprentice’s status, especially before accepting them as apprentices. Fear not, you did nothing to offend them. In fact, asking to see a status of a young one will likely greatly excite them as they are hoping to become an apprentice.”

Joe began nodding as Kukurnal explained, quickly grasping the concept, “That makes sense. But… then why would people be offended in other circumstances?”

Garnedell quickly interjected, a bit angrily at this point, “Master! He was accusing you of being a criminal! He wanted to see if your status was black!”

“Ahh!” Joe replied, understanding immediately, “But that would make complete sense. Why would I be offended. It is only wise to be certain and cautious.”

Kukurnal once again fell into deep thought, his eyes pinning Joe under his thoughts as he seemed to try peel away a mystery, “You are… very … considerate.”

Joe shrugged and said nothing, “It’s only wise. Could you … would you be willing to offer me more explanation on criminals?”

“Well, criminals gain status as criminals when they do a criminal act. Their job is forcibly changed to the criminal job and their status turns black. Criminal jobs can be quite strong, but once a criminal is a criminal, they are criminals forever.”

Joe interrupted in shock at this point, “They can’t change their jobs anymore?”

Kukurnal took a deep sigh at this point, settling back in his seat before shaking his head, “No. They… are able to change their jobs, only… no priest would ever do so.”

“Why?”

“To do so would also make the priest into a criminal.”

“The priest becomes a criminal if they change a criminal’s job?!”

“Yes.”

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“That… that seems… um… wow.”

“Yes. It is a harsh punishment.”

“But then, can the priest become a priest again?”

Kukurnal became quiet at that point, saying nothing, before shaking his head, “This is… a subject that is… disquieting for priests and those of the faith. If there is knowledge of it, I do not know.”

Joe considered for several moments, mouth opening a few times to ask, but then stopping to reconsider until Kukurnal finally interjected.

“Ask. I will not be offended.”

“Please, and thank you. I truly know nothing of what is offensive or not. I do not understand… many things here and it is… confusing to me. I do not understand much of this as among my people… we know… we have none of your gods. They are not… we… I … this is the first time I have seen or heard of them.”

“Truly? That is… wonderfully strange! I would love to know more.”

“Uh… you want to … talk about religion now…” Joe trailed off in some worry.

“I would love to share ideas of such!”

“Politics and religion. I’m really stepping into it,” Joe muttered under his breath but quickly waved Kukurnal away when he saw him leaning forward to hear what he had to say, “Ah… never mind. Um.. OK. You said you don’t know anything. Are there any rumors of priests changing criminal jobs or priests able to maintain their jobs despite changing a criminal’s job?”

“Oh… there is one way that is known. If the victim of a criminal forgives the criminal, he or she is able to be returned to their former job and the priest suffers no retaliation.”

“Hmm… but without forgiveness? It is impossible.”

“I know of no way.”

“And any rumors?”

Kukurnal took some time to consider this before looking around the room quickly before leaning in close, “Please do not speak of this to others, but I have heard of a … different kind of priest who is able, but I am uncertain … I know nothing.”

“Ah… uh… I’m am… please accept my apology for making you so uncomfortable, but truly know I am grateful. I do not know such things and do not wish to offend any.”

“It is nothing. You are a true scholar. I can see such easily.”

“Then, thank you. Please continue to advise me. It seems religion and the gods are important. Could you tell me of all the gods and anything you would advise … I be cautious of?”

Kukurnal considered carefully before nodding and quickly beginning. Joe quickly realized he’d opened the flood gates and hid a sigh as he listened to a fervent believer. Joe still took the time to listen carefully, and quickly categorized what he learned. The most interesting piece of information Joe learned at the end, after Kukurnal leaned forward once again and lowered his voice.

“There are nineteen… uh… there are currently nineteen gods and goddess, each related with a specific sphere of influence and ability. You know of our god, Mimir. He is the god of knowledge. Then there is Othen, the god of leadership, Sigyn, the goddess of mercy, Freya, the goddess of family and birth, Plutus, the god of money, merchants and business. Frer is the god of nature and Eros the god of intimacy and love, although more in a … sexual sense, than Freya’s familial love. Fenrir is the god of monsters, Frigg the goddess of death and Tyr the god of war. Sors is the god of luck and Baldur the god of justice.”

Joe felt himself kind of start at this point. Wait… I’ve heard some of those names before, I think? But Kukurnal did not stop speaking and he quickly focused back on what he was saying.

“Idunn in the goddess of healing, Angrboda the goddess of magic, Bragi the god of artisans and crafters, and Saga the goddess of wisdom. Enki is the god of the ocean while Thur is the god of the sky and Joro is the goddess of the earth. Those are the nineteen gods and goddesses.”

“Well, succinct and specific. Thank you. Is there more I should know?”

Kukurnal dove deeper into specifics for each of them, and Joe quickly lost himself in his own thoughts, mostly ignoring what Kukurnal was saying but trying to politely listen in any case. He allowed the conversation to continue on for several more minutes before he turned it back to what he wanted to know.

“Thank you, once again. May I then ask a … little more dangerous question?”

Kukurnal quickly nodded, and while his smile didn’t fade in the slightest, he settled himself and grew more serious.

“You said there are currently nineteen gods and goddesses. You also said before that there are … other… priests.”

Kukurnal’s smile quickly dropped to sadness as he shook his head and sighed, his shoulders dropping and his entire posture seeming to fall into a dilapidated despair, “There… were… originally twenty gods. The … twentieth god turned to apostasy and his church, name, faith, and priesthood were corrupted and destroyed beyond all repair or return. They are no more.”

Joe considered, nodding before continuing cautiously, “And they are the… other… priests who are rumored to somehow … with criminal jobs?”

“Wha? Oh no! Not that I have ever heard. They were always orthodox and true. A great crowd of believers and leaders until their god went corrupt and fell. No… the other priests are of a different… kind.”

Joe didn’t reply to this, only considering carefully and decided to let the matter drop. He’d learned as much as he could, and Kukurnal still seemed quite happy to converse with him, although he was decided less enthusiastic. So, a dead or long gone but orthodox, originally, god and another group of … somethings… that can also change jobs. Hmm… lets… leave this and move onto happier things.

“Thank you, Kukurnal. You have made me… much more relaxed. I feel quite a bit more certain in my place in these lands.”

“Certainly. I am grateful that I was able to be of help.”

Joe smiled, nodding to his reply, “May I turn this conversation to more… pleasant and easier topics?”

“Please, do!” Kukurnal perked up at that.

“Great! Could you tell me how to unlock combat jobs, party jobs, magic jobs, and priest jobs?”

Joe smiled, his face smug as he looked at Kukurnal with a smirk. Kukurnal looked back with wide eyes before laughing uproariously and seeming to flow back into his seat completely relaxed. “I knew it! I knew it! The cunning of Saga, the greed of Plutus, and avid thirst for knowledge of Mimir!”

Joe allowed the smugness to drop from his face and replaced it with a genuine smile, nodding and joining Kukurnal’s joy. Kukurnal seemed to fall into the laughter with relief and let the stress and worry sweep away with each chuckle.

Finally pulling back from being lost in his laughter, Kukurnal looked up to Joe and smiled warmly, “You truly are as cunning as a snake. Fine, in the spirit of free knowledge, as you say, I will share. Combat jobs, party jobs, magic jobs, and the faith. This is what you seek?”

“Yes, I would be incredibly grateful.”