After their day out Norbert returned to their residence with Martitia, his coin pouch lighter after his shopping trip. Going inside placing them on a table, Norbert had another look at them. Going with a black aesthetic, Norbert picked up some boots, a spare top, pants and gloves.

Picking up some leather clothes, Norbert was assured by Martitia that they would offer the same protection as before, but raising her eye in suspicion with the colour choice he went with being the whole black aesthetic. Around the shop, Norbert saw enchanted items but was quickly told by Martitia not to select them due to his magic deficiency and them needing to be charged up constantly by the user.

Any dreams of being able to fly with armour, strengthening his body or whisking into the shadows evaporated, only getting items that had natural sturdiness and would move the force over a wider area, allowing Norbert not to get pulverised so hard.

Confirming all the items, Norbert presented the last one, a mask that could hug his face and obscure his identity. The mask itself just a constant black, hiding all his features, only his eyes showing. The beauty of it, and the reason why Norbert picked it, was the voice changer. Having it set to make it into a monotone, taking all hints of emotion out of his voice, in case he ever wanted to go out somewhere and not be recognised, remembering his little soiree last night.

Placing some of it in his backpack, not halfway filled, Norbert went upstairs for the first time, being shown by Martitia into her room. Going down the back of the hallway, passing doors on either side, Norbert saw the last door at the end, a window allowing light to come in next to it.

Opening the door, Norbert looked inside, seeing the bed to the side. A chest next to the other wall, seeing a wardrobe as well, one of the doors open and filled with clothes of all sorts and several blades and weapons that he could see.

Martitia pointed to a smaller chest by the door. Opening it up and seeing it empty, Norbert placed his extra clothes inside and the extra coin he wouldn't need. Closing the lid, Norbert, a flash of light came off it. Norbert tried to open it and was able to; closing it again, the light flashed on the chest.

Turning around, Norbert heard Martitia say, "That's for security; the person that closes the lid is the only one that can open it. Though, as usual, someone can always force their way in if you are persistent enough. Just adds an extra peace of mind."

Norbert nodded in response and stood up. "Thanks for showing me around the city today and stopping me from getting completely swindled by prices."

Walking towards the door, Martitia laughed. "Just part of the job. And anyway, I want to show you a couple more places."

Norbert followed, walking out the door and down the stairs. He did not take his backpack, but Martitia indicated to take his sword. Wondering where he could be going, Norbert just put it on; better to have it than not. Walking out of the place, Norbert followed Martitia as she walked across the main street, going along the lines.

Seeing the people go about them on their day, Norbert gets lost in the tight turns and alleyways. "Did you grow up here?" Norbert asked, thinking that was the only way someone could easily navigate this place, as well as wanting to show it off to a stranger.

"Yeah, I grew up in the house we are staying at. Keep this place for me, and it's busy enough that I always return on the off days. It also helps to have the rest of the leaders stationed here. No disagreement for spending the time here or other cities."

Norbert just nodded; if they had the portal network but still used airships and other means to travel around; it wasn't widely used or was a private system. Shaking his head, Norbert continued asking questions, trying to find the best place to get food, places to stay away from, and just having idle conversations about things.

Passing through, Martitia took a left turn. Norbert sees no more buildings packed tightly ahead, spaces out in the open.

Walking forward, Norbert saw people closing their eyes, kneeling or bowing, and others walking by and tossing coins. Robed people walked around talking to people, praising them; others talked to large crowds spouting about their god.

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Norbert turned, looking to Martitia. "What's all this about?"

"Well, this is the gods’ quarter of the city. Thought you would want to have a look, maybe pray to the one you follow; hard to do it out in the wilderness."

Norbert just stared at her, thinking about what she said. As he turned to the crowd, Norbert saw someone approaching one of the priests. Saying words she placed her hands on the person, saying words to her. Suddenly a light came up and filled her hands; the person in front of her bowed forward before exiting the area.

Norbert looked, seeing magic once more being performed, but no circle had formed, just blam; something happened. Shaking his head Norbert continued forward, walking through the area. Passing one statue, Norbert looked up, seeing a man in full armour, carrying a sword, mouth open in a war cry, sword pointed out at an enemy.

Staring up at the statue, Norbert looked; a presence formed behind him the hairs on the back of his neck prickling up everyone instantly fell to their knees around him. Norbert slowly turned around on his heels, seeing the same man in armour behind him. Leaning forward, the man whispered in his ear, "Have fun", before disappearing in a flash of red light, Norbert faintly hearing the sounds of battle in the air as the man disappeared.

Slowly everyone came to their feet, whispering about what happened. Before he could get his bearings straight, a priest came up to him, wearing a robe made of red, a piece of metal hanging around his neck in the shape of a sword attached to a chain.

Walking forward, he asked Norbert, "May you please tell me the words of Arstech?"

Norbert looked around, back at the statue and saw the same symbols on the base as what the priest was wearing, wondering if he just spoke to a god and not his first; Norbert leaned forward, saying, "Have fun."

A hushed silence filled the place; what was once a busy area was now deathly quiet as people stared at him. The priest in front just nodded as if understanding the words. "Thank you, you will always be welcome in the house of Arstech."

Norbert just nodded and began walking away; people once more began moving. Norbert just made his way away from the statue, looking around more. Seeing people around, Martitia went up to him, "Lucky, getting the audience from a god your first time." She said.

Norbert looked around, asking if the gods represented something. Martitia nodded in return. "Everyone follows at least one, a calling out to them. The one you talked to, Arstech, the god of battles and war. Him saying to have fun … what he calls fun others might not classify."

Trailing off, she pointed to another one. "That one there is Martura, goddess of fertility and new life." She said. Norbert looked to where she was pointing, seeing a woman statue, this one with green veins showing, vines wrapped around her, and a baby sucking on each breast.

Norbert looked to the priests. "And what about the robed people, the priests, I assume?"

"You are out in the boonies. A god has blessed the priest and receives a portion of their power. In return, they spread the word and beliefs of the god to others. This is another pathway to gaining power in this world that some people partake on for one reason or another." She said.

Norbert nodded, seeing that not everybody would want to go on an elixir binge and risk killing themselves before becoming truly strong. Remembering the bird he saw in the forest, seeing how long it would take him to take on something like that. He was shivering at the thought of what the superpowers of this world could do.

Walking further along, Norbert saw the rooms off the side of the statues, building with priests coming in and out. Assuming that was where they lived for a bit, Norbert continued walking forward; the further away from the entrance, the less busy it became. Out the back, Norbert just saw statues, cleaned, but no priests among them, just people stopping briefly before returning.

Looking at them, Martita responded, "These are the lesser-known gods, more specific than the previous, like getting marks in a test, picking the right clothes tomorrow, weird things like that."

Norbert just nodded, walking forward; off to the side, Norbert spotted a fountain with a statue in the middle, holding a jar open. Assuming water would usually be coming out, nothing was shown. Small puddles at the bottom were formed, some silt being seen in the corners. Looking, Norbert spotted a couple of copper coins at the bottom.

"What's this for?" Norbert asked.

"That is the goddess of luck. She is known to be extremely erratic in her dealings; most people avoid her. Better to make their path or follow someone else, for if you rely on it too much just when you need it most its gone." Martitia replied, staring up at the statue.

Norbert followed her gaze, staring at it. Something in the back of his head, seeing it as familiar. Standing on the fountain's rim, Norbert leaned forward, one hand on the statue, the dirt and filth making his hand slightly slick, cleaning up the statue as best he could, at least making the person he was intruding on for all this time slightly better from his presence. Staring at it eye to eye, Norbert realised who he was looking at. Lady Luck is fickle, able to go with the flow once, but immediately turn her back on you.

Norbert sat down, looking up at the statue. "What have I gotten myself into now," Norbert asked the statue. Looking, a mote of light came down from the sky; slowly floating down, Norbert caught it, cupping it in his hand as people slowly passed around him.