I close up the shop, but I don't head out right away. Instead I stop in the back to address Elzbieta and pet Sour Cream a little, as she sleeps curled up on the bed.

“I'll be down at the temple for a bit. Should I come back and pick you up for lunch?”

The cat barely cracks one of her eyes open and just purrs softly. Elzbieta in turn pauses briefly and nods.

“Or I'll drop by the temple to get you once you are done. Just in case your consultation with the divine takes a little more time.”

I grin sheepishly. It is unlikely that I'll take this long, but I can't exactly rule out the possibility either.

“Alright. See you later!”

With one last wave I'm off to the village temple. I'm not in a hurry though. Quite the opposite is true. I slow my steps a little and take some time to enjoy the rays of the summer sun. Maybe I should do this more often?

I reach the temple before I can make up my mind regarding that question though. I'll have to think about it some more later. Right now I need to focus on a different, much more serious, issue.

I take off my shoes as I enter the temple and wash at the basin in the anteroom, before I drop a few coins into the offering bowl. As during all my previous visits Wislawa is already waiting for me, as I approach the entrance of the sanctum with its blessed pool.

She greets me with a pleasant smile.

“Welcome, Valeria. What can I do for you today?”

I bow in response and flash her a smile as well. Has it really only been the other day that I have been here? Ah, never mind. I need to focus on the present.

“Wislawa, thank you for your help the other day. Today I would like to ask our divine patrons to grant me a boon or maybe even two. I would very much appreciate their guidance and advice regarding this matter too. Yours too for that matter.”

She motions for me to join her at the side of the divine pool.

“I'll gladly help you with any advice I can offer. I take it you amassed some Karma in one or maybe even several Arcana since you would ask for more than one boon?”

I nod, as I get comfortable at her side, gazing up at the elaborate artistic rendition of the night sky above us.

“I earned quite a few divine rewards recently and have amassed some Karma in several Arcana.”

I pause briefly to organize my thoughts before I continue. The priestess doesn't interrupt me either, as she seems aware.

“I most certainly have enough points in the Wheel of Fortune Arcana and the … uh … Dragon Arcana. Actually I might have enough Karma in the latter alone to acquire more than one divine. I have been gifted some Karma in the World and the Sword Arcana too. I might be able to acquire a low level divine gift with those as well.”

The priestess chuckles and pats my back.

“No need to be embarrassed. It certainly seems like you have been busy. Let me think about your options for a moment. I take it that your priorities still lie with your business?”

I only nod at first, but after thinking about it for a moment I feel the urge to amend this particular point.

“Maybe something that will help regarding the upcoming dance wouldn't be wrong either.”

The priestess raises an eyebrow but nods without objecting.

“Very well. The first thing that comes to mind would be to upgrade your Auspicious Aura with the Karma of the Wheel of Fortune Arcana. That is always helpful, both to yourself and others. You could use it to improve your Dexterity in general too. The Karma from the Dragon Arcana can be used to the same effect.”

She taps her chin and thinks for a little while, softly humming to herself in the meantime. Then she speaks up again.

“Both the Karma of the Wheel of Fortune and the Dragon Arcana can be used to acquire or improve the Persuasion skill too. The Karma of the Sword Arcana on the other hand you could use to improve the acrobatics skill or possibly your courage in general.”

I nod along with her suggestions. There is one point she hasn't addressed yet though, thus I ask.

“What about the Karma of the World Arcana?”

She looks a little torn at first, but in the end she shares her opinion anyway.

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“The World Arcana is the most versatile of them all. In my opinion you shouldn't spend any Karma you earn for it yet. Keep it, and if possible, earn some more. It might be the best bet to get you out of serious trouble if you ever end up in it well over your head.”

I bite my lip lightly, as I think on this suggestion for a moment. She probably is right. It sounds like I really shouldn't spend that Karma frivolously. I slap my thigh and take a deep breath as I get ready to get up.

“Any more insights you would like to share? Or should we get to it?”

“No, nothing else comes to mind. Maybe the divine can provide some more guidance. That is, if you haven't made up your mind already anyway?”

I shake my head and we get up and ready to enter the pool. The smell of salt hits me as I slip into the barely knee deep water.

The priestess steps into the water as well. Unlike me she hasn't taken off her clothes though. She lowers herself into the pool until she is kneeling at the edge.

I in turn lie down, only to drift on my back in the extremely salty water.

Wislawa grabs my shoulders and places my head in her lap. Without wasting any time she starts singing the praises of the gods and goddesses.

I barely hear any of it though as the world blurs around me. One moment my head is resting in the lap of the priestess. The next I'm drifting amidst a sea of stars alone. Alone except for the figure standing over me.

The figure is my mirror image, except it is radiating a kind and warm calm that is hard to describe in any more detail. It makes my heart feel light and my worries seem to melt away. Apparently I have caught the attention of the Sun Mother. Of course. It is pretty close to noon after all.

She greets me with a warm and welcoming smile.

“Welcome once more, Valeria. It has been a while. You would like to ask a boon of us? Or possibly even more than one? Either way, Wislawa already provided you with the guidance you need. It wouldn't benefit either of us, if I were to repeat any of it. Have you made up your mind?”

I nod and swallow hard.

“Yes. Yes, I have made up my mind. I would like to improve my Courage and my Dexterity using the Karma from the Sword and the Dragon Arcana respectively.”

My divine guide nods.

“That isn't all though, or is it?”

Of course it isn't. My cheeks redden in embarrassment.

“Right. I would like to improve my Auspicious Aura gift too. And, if possible, my acrobatics skill as well.”

The avatar of the Sun Mother flashes me a dazzling smile.

“With your Karma from the Wheel of Fortune and the Dragon Arcana? Very well.”

The divine avatar bends down and kisses me on the forehead.

Then my eyes snap open and I'm back in the temple with the priestess.

[The Sun Mother grants your wish! Your acrobatics skill has been upgraded to journeyman level in exchange for 5 points of the Dragon Arcana. This is a passive effect and improves all your performance whenever you perform acrobatic feats. You improved the Auspicious Aura gift in exchange for 6 points of the Wheel of Fortune Arcana! The strength and the range of this Aura have been improved. You can spend more points of the Wheel of Fortune Arcana to upgrade this gift further. Your Courage has been improved in exchange for 4 points of the Sword Arcana. Your Dexterity has been improved in exchange for 4 points of the Dragon Arcana.]

The divine whisper isn't really a whisper this time around. No, it is more like a dazzling song with a cheerful melody. It is almost too much.

I close my eyes and let out a groan.

Wislawa reaffirms her grip on my shoulders to keep me in place.

“Take your time. It can be a little overwhelming whenever you ask for several gifts at once. It is one of the reasons why I usually suggest that people drop by more often to ask for individual boons.”

I nod ever so slowly while still adrift in the temple's blessed pool.

“I'll try to keep it in mind for the future.”