Culture is a new concept to Kukurnal… really? That… Joe shut his thoughts down but pondered that interesting tidbit before returning to the conversation.

Joe nodded to Kukurnal and replied, “Then, an obvious and easy way to respond. How should I interact with those of higher status in the temple as a simple faithful. I have no desire to offend them.”

“Ah! I see. I can see such a thing. You will have no concern with this, given your status and power, but normally it would require great subservience on your part, with proper speaking and appropriate titles offered. But you have no need to do so.”

“Power forgives much.”

Kukurnal’s eyes widened at this, nodding slowly before quickly becoming ever more excited in agreement, “Yes… yes! Truly. Power forgives much! Such an interesting turn of phrase.”

“Not mine,” Joe chuckled, “But no less true. Then, of taboo subjects; are there such things?”

“Subjects?”

“Knowledge that is considered unacceptable.”

“To Mimir? No knowledge is unacceptable.”

“Or unacceptable to ask after?”

“Nothing is unacceptable.”

Joe stopped, pondering slightly before continuing, “Truly?”

“Truly!” Kukurnal replied firmly with some pride.

“And our conversation only a few days ago?

“Exception… only exceptions!”

Joe snorted, a devious grin slowly coming to his face before it quickly faded. He grew thoughtful and a bit worried. Kukurnal quickly caught on to Joe’s concern and replied, waving away his concern.

“Please. Have no fear. Knowledge is only that. You have no need to fear.”

“Then, please do not be offended, but I ask this not because I wish to know. Please do not tell me. I only say these things to make sure such things are acceptable, as I worry they are not, despite your reassurance.”

“You wish to test my sincerity.”

“Not so much sincerity. I wish to not test Mimir’s kindness.”

Kukurnal waved without a response, offering permission and Joe nodded before he continued, “So, then, the weakness of believers of Mimir? Or the weakness of Mimir and his followers? Or how to corrupt the temple of Mimir from within?”

Each question drove Kukurnal’s eyebrows higher before he began to cough slightly, “You… truly do not hold back on your attack.”

“These are the tamest of questions.”

“These are tame? What would you think taboo?”

“Loki? The temple of Loki? What is it, where is it, and why is it gone? Dark priests? Criminals? How to change criminal jobs? What happens if a priest changes to a dark priest’s job? There are… many others I could seek knowledge on.”

Kukurnal’s eyes bulged even at the first question before he began coughing violently and waved Joe off with sharp gestures. Joe did not stop and finished his list and Kukurnal took some time to get himself calm enough to reply, “You… where did you… no… Yes, you… it would be wise you do not seek knowledge of such things.”

“The first list or the second list?”

“Both!? How… where did you learn of these things.”

Joe chuckled and shook his head, “The first were only thoughts I had to push beyond your comfort. The second I know nothing of beyond whispers and coarse jokes and curses from those I’ve passed in dungeons or in moments when dungeoneers have been pushed to the brink of death. The latter I’ve heard curse Loki and the dark priests quite a bit.

“I knew nothing of such things and sought information from my apprentices. Their shock was enough to keep me silent on such things, but… I do not understand or know their place, purpose, actions, or reasons for the fear they engender. Of criminals, I know such things as they exist amongst all people, but their place, purpose, work, and effect here are unknown to me, as well as what is even considered criminal,” Joe ended with a shrug.

Kukurnal stayed silent for some time before shaking his head with a deep sigh, “I… do not know how to reply, but yes, you have found something that is taboo. The first mostly because of the unwelcome attention it would bring you. The latter just because they are truly taboo. Hmm… maybe I could offer my services in screening any topics you wish to pursue. I can offer some hints of what would be dangerous or acceptable. I think it would be nigh impossible to offer a comprehensive list of dangerous topics to pursue.”

Joe quickly nodded, his smile brightening, “Then I will take you up on such offers, although I may ask my apprentices as well so as not to overwhelm you.”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Kukurnal quickly began to laugh before he shook his head, “I will take you up on such an offer. Then, do you have other less stressful questions I may answer.”

Joe smiled and continued, “Hmm… truly only one last one. I have seen the extra system displaying new members of Mimir’s temple and I was confused with some I was seeing. I saw several messages as you described with a photo of the person’s face and then a generic body for them. There were six throughout today, five with a commoner’s clothing, but I saw one with a white robe with a black belt and I’m confused. What is the difference?”

“Ah! Did an acolyte join today?” Kukurnal quickly replied, excitement in his eyes as he obviously brought up his messages from the extra system before continuing in surprise, “And a monk! Praise Mimir! We’ve had a blessed day!”

Joe watched on, a bit confused but waited patiently as Kukurnal continued to look through his list before finally returning to Joe’s question.

“Ah, yes! Apologies. I was much too excited for your joining and did not pay much attention to new members. What you saw was five faithful and an acolyte joining us today. The acolytes wear a white robe with black belt, although such practice is now of an ancient time and acolytes are allowed now to wear their own clothing as they desire. The system simply remembers the old way.

Joe’s eyes rose a bit at that before nodding, “So, we saw when a new member joined the temple?”

“Truly. It is a glorious day.”

“Hmm… then why didn’t I just… what is the difference between a faithful and an acolyte? And why can I not see the monk?”

Kukurnal chuckled as he shook his head, “Always noticing the discrepancies so quickly and easily. You are a faithful, so you can see new faithful joining. You cannot join as acolyte till you have grown and proven yourself to Mimir after some time, but when you have done so, you will be able to become an acolyte. You cannot see the monk as it is too high for you and you cannot become a monk. You will likely never become a monk unless you offer service to Mimir for almost a century, it may be possible to become a Mimir monk. I can see those becoming monks as I am a priest.”

“Hmm. Then, you can see faithfuls, acolytes, monks, and… anyone up to Priest?”

“Abbot, as I could one day attain the title of abbot.”

“Huh, so faithful, acolyte, monk, priest, and abbot. A scaled system of jobs…” Joe trailed off when he heard Kukurnal’s shocked expletive.

“By Fenrir! How! Truly, you have discerned … it matters not. You have not found this through trickery and only wise questions, so I will not penalize you, but be cautious of speaking about this to those above you.”

“I would get penalized for doing so?”

“It is not… heretical, but those of higher station may find your observations… disturbing them and bring you hardship in their own way.”

“Right… don’t talk about the hierarchy of the priesthood.”

Kukurnal chuckled before shaking his head, “You did well to guess such things, although you are missing some few.”

“Between monk and priest then,” Joe added with a nod.

Kukurnal blinked a few times before shaking his head in a bit of wonder, “I’ll not ask how you knew.”

“I could tell you, if you wish?”

“You are willing?”

“It is a matter of simple logic and a single guess. I am faithful, and I can see acolyte as it is what I can become, with time. You are a priest and can see abbot as that is what you can become, with time. Therefore, faithful leads to acolyte and priest leads to abbot. Between these two things must be the other jobs not mentioned.”

“But then, how did you know the position of the monk?”

“I was not certain until you told me now, but…”

Kukurnal interrupted with a grimace and a curse, “You… you are viper bastard of Sors and Plutus!”

Joe chuckled and shook his head, “Like I said, I was not certain until you spoke of it now, but even if you had not said, I was still quite certain as you told me that I could possibly become a monk after much service. Doing so would require monk to be quite close to my current job. It might be possible for an average person to grow through two jobs to a third if they lived to quite an old age, but to do so to a fourth job?”

Kukurnal began nodding more firmly as Joe explained, “You have quite the wit.”

“My people call it logic, but…”

Kukurnal leaned forward, excitedly, “Then, please, teach me of this logic!”

Joe nodded and began but then stopped, eyes wide before they thinned in cunning, “And, what compensation will the temple of Mimir offer me for this sharing of knowledge as a faithtful of Mimir. Surely, sharing knowledge gains me merit?”

Kukurnal’s eyes widened greatly before he began to grimace, shaking his head, “Of course, you will be given merit.”

Joe nodded, thankful, “Excellent. And what will you give me?”

Kukurnal’s eyes narrowed at this, “I believe we had a free exchange of knowledge? Is this no longer acceptable?”

“While I was a common adventurer, I had no way to gain merit with the temple of Mimir for the exchange of knowledge. Merit, I’m sure, you have gained in surprising amount since you have spoken with me. Now, you gain my knowledge without paying merit to gain it from me or Mimir.”

“But you said knowledge should be free!” Kukurnal replied bluntly and viciously, already conceding Joe’s points.

“Certainly. I will offer my knowledge freely when the temple offer’s theirs freely!”

Kukurnal opened his mouth in reply before clicking his mouth shut and grimacing, his teeth grinding before returning to the conversation, “A true bastard of Sors and Plutus! You haggle for every gain! What would you have of me!”

Joe and Kukurnal leapt directly into verbal battle, heated exchanges flying back and forth as the two ground down the details both found acceptable. Joe found the battle exhilarating, and began smiling delightedly at their play and counter play and soon both were laughing in joy in their camaraderie.

The intense negotiation ended quickly, but the discussion continued deep into the night as they took a deep dive into Joe’s understanding of logic and thought. The time went quickly, the thoughts deep, provoking, and exhausting Joe much more quickly than he’d expected before he cut off Kukurnal and begged for retreat; sleeps call for him growing ever greater.

They gave their farewells and Joe slipped back up to bed to find Kilniara cuddled in his bed and he sighed before kicking her out; politely and kindly, but still kicking her out. I thought … wasn’t I clear?

“Kilniara…”

She looked up at him, her teeth clenching enough he could see her jaw moving. She sighed deeply and then turned away from him. She headed to her room in such a morose fashion Joe almost went to her for a hug. He took a step after her, then stopped. He sighed deeply and returned to his bed, his own jaw now clenching in turn. He closed his eyes and scrubbed his face with a hand before standing and lethargically washing himself.

He sighed as he tumbled into bed, looking over to find the boys’ beds still empty and he decided to practice releasing mana one more time. He went through cycle after cycle of clenching and releasing before finally finding himself too exhausted to start another tension cycle and he collapsed into bed, ready for sleep. Nice! Just need to change my job to acolyte tomorrow and I’ll be ready for my next thing! Job change, here we come… and I guess my nice shiny new white robe and black belt. Joe chuckled to himself, snuggling into his bed before his eyes suddenly shot open and fear spiked through him.

Shit! I can’t change to acolyte! Kukurnal will recognize me instantly and he’ll know my leveling speed! He’ll know I can level an entire class to open the next job in a single day! That…

Joe found himself taking much longer to fall asleep that night.

* * *