In truth, the arrival of the [Blessed Seeker] didn't involve Vittorio or Gloria, but they were curious so they followed her around while she was in town. After all, it wasn't every day you got to see one of the Blessed, the people who did deeds in the name of their God. The [Blessed Seekers], servants of the God of the Lost, were especially famous. Vittorio and Gloria followed her into the temple just in time to see her finish a swift prayer to Lidas by their alcove in the vestibule, and then hurry in to see the [Priest]. The two spoke briefly about what had happened and then the two left to go to the missing [Hunters] house.

Another brief conversation followed, and Vittorio found himself very impressed by the [Blessed Seeker]. She spoke kindly and optimistically to Pietros wife but still got information from her without seeming the least bit rude or even hurried. A personal effect was asked for and received, a small knife he used often. With barely a word to the [Priest] asking him to see to her horse she set off towards the woods, moving faster than a human should be able to. The whole thing took less than 10 minutes.

The [Priest] turned to them and gave them a smile. "It seems the Gods have blessed us. If Pietro still lives she will help him back to us."

"How was she moving so fast?" Gloria asked following along as the [Priest] headed back for the temple.

"Well, it's hardly surprising that she has travel skills, is it? The Seekers need to cover large areas and every minute counts. She probably left Pogna just this morning."

"You know, I didn't realise followers of the different gods work together so much", Vittorio said. "My parents always made it sound like you were rivals."

The [Priest] raised his eyebrows. "Why would we be? We look to different things, as do those who seek us out. I would not want a [Blessed Nurturer] to find Pietro, but neither would I want a [Blessed Seeker] to enrich the soil. We all have our place."

"Even Meromernax? I didn't see an alcove to her."

The [Priest] stopped and looked very seriously at Vittorio. "Meromernax is not a god, whatever the dragons and droxi say. Just listen to how we speak of her - the gods do not have genders, nor do they live in the world. Meromernax does."

Vittorio wilted. "I'm sorry, it's just- I'd heard that there were shrines to her in temples."

The [Priests] expression softened. "There sometimes are in the big cities, but only to placate any visiting droxi. Why are you staring like that?"

"Oh! It's a class thing, sorry. I'm not actually staring, it just looks that way." Vittorio turned his head.

"That's odd. Some kind of perception skill?"

"I'm honestly not sure, but it is a bit awkward."

The [Priest] nodded and went to see to the horse. Gloria and Vittorio returned to their bench after that brief moment of thrill.

"Vee, I've been thinking."

"Yeah?"

"Your pacts. I think we can work with them, but it might be a good idea to talk to Master Kahe. See if there are any more tanky or ranged ones you might be able to approach. Neither of those you have have any armour, so you'd be relying on dodging or enemies not going after you."

Vittorio nodded. "That makes sense, though I don't know how hard it is to find new ones. Their requirements aren't very clear. For now I was planning on using {Strength of Weakness} - it has some defensive stuff and I can at least stand behind you and poke with a spear."

They stayed in the square the rest of the day, chatting and talking about what they were looking forward to in Pogna. Gloria had talked to travellers who regaled her with stories, and Vittorio had met several merchants from the city. His parents had lived there before he was born, but had little interesting to say. They knew it was a moderately big city as well as the center of the city state with the same name, which Imone and their own village belonged to.

As evening neared the [Class Guides] emerged from the town hall. Spotting them, Master Kahe gave a little wave. "I take it you decided to join us?"

"If that's still alright", said Gloria.

"Of course! The carriage should arrive any time now and we'll set out bright and early."

"Master Kahe", Vittorio said. "I was wondering if I could maybe trouble you for a little bit of advice? Just a little bit. Just to see if there's something in the book we're wondering about my class."

"That should be fine. A little extra work today before two days of travel won't be a problem, though I will insist on Zenovia joining us." Vittorio nodded. "But first! Dinner. My guess is stew. It's the only thing he's served all week."

Master Kahe was right, it was more stew - no doubt the same as yesterday, and the whole week for that matter. 'Perpetual stew', Master Kahe named it: You make a stew, then just keep refilling it day by day. The broth gets a fair bit of flavour, but you run the risk of an old chunk. They all avoided that fate this time. Master Kahe was positive and complimentary to the [Innkeeper], though once they all went to his room to have a look in the Tome he was less enthused.

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"It's not that I mind having the same meal several days in a row mind you, but that stew is less than stellar. But!" he said, pointing from Gloria to Vittorio, "always be polite and thankful to people you rely on, whether you're eating their food or travelling in their cart. It makes everybodys life easier and better." The carriage driver had arrived while they ate and Master Kahe had thanked the man profusely.

"Now", he continued, "what is it you're wondering?"

"During our meeting you said the Tome mentioned more entities I could come into contact with, including ones that give elementalist-like skills. I was wondering if you could have a look and we could see if we can figure out how I can meet their demands?"

Master Kahe nodded. "That doesn't sound too strenuous! Let's have a look." With that he reached inside his shirt and somehow produced the enormous book. "I highly recommend dimensional storage spaces, makes things a lot easier." He placed the book on the bed - the only surface large enough for it other than the floor - held his hand over the cover and muttered 'Pactmaker Unique'. Once more the Tome opened itself to a late page. Master Kahe began skimming the text.

"Let's see, let's see... Here's one, {Absence and Abundance}. Gives skills related to light, heat, dark, and cold. Prerequisite: 'Abstain or indulge', not very clear... The discoverer met the requirement after spending several days lost in the dark in a cave.

"{That Which Gnaws} is a swarm-type summoner, and requires 'Gorge thyself on the secret feast'. Nothing on how it was found.

"This one is interesting: {The Still Wind} gives skills to make parts of the air solid or immovable. Prerequisite is 'Feel the wind, feel its lack'. It was found when the [Pactmaker] was caught in a storm with only partial shelter."

There were a few more, but they were discarded due to the requirements seeming too dangerous or difficult. They did test if a drop of Vittorios blood on a wick would be enough for 'Alight thy blood', but it wasn't. The one who discovered it had done so when engulfed in flames.

Vittorio suggested that perhaps sticking his hand out of the carriage would be enough for {The Still Wind} if it moved anywhere near as fast as the [Blessed Seeker] had. They decided to try it, despite Gloria arguing for blindfolding Vittorio for several days.

Early next morning they set off for Pogna. The carriage was very spacious for two people and decidedly less so for four, but hardly cramped. The [Transporter] didn't mind the extra passengers. Happily, they did have a skill for increasing travel speed, if not as much as the [Blessed Seeker]. What would have taken three days to walk would take half that by carriage. As they were picking up speed Vittorio gently eased the door open and stretched out his hand - to find there was no wind. Master Kahe said it was likely there was a small protected bubble around the carriage. Disappointed, Vittorio settled back into the soft seat.

Of the four of them only one had something t occupy their mind: Master Kahe had lent her a practice tool called a Noheat. It was a small, plain rod of wood which, when held, made the mind think it was very warm. The goal was to make your mind see through the deception. Gloria asked if she could borrow one but Master Kahe did not have a Tier 0 version.

Instead, they and Vittorio chatted - though in truth, it was more Gloria and Vittorio asking Master Kahe things. He told them of his travels, such as visiting the dwarven homeland Moapale, but mostly they wanted to know about his time studying in Kara.

"There's no city like it", he said. "Standing in the center the city spreads to the horizon in every direction. A city like Pogna would be barely more than a neighbourhood. The people! The food! Everything and everyone moving between the continents stop in Kara, and many don't continue the journey. There's enough to do and see to live a dozen lifetimes and not get bored."

"So why did you leave?"

"I got bored!" Master Kahe said and laughed. "While you can meet people, see things, and eat food from all over the world, you're still doing it in the same city. There's something special about seeing all the places people live, the wonders they've made, and really be surrounded by their culture. Meeting a minotaur in Kara is very different from walking the streets of Namyeol, let me tell you."

Vittorio paid the price of his pact early that day. That evening they stopped in another town and Master Kahe was kind enough to pay for rooms for all of them. Dinner was a simple dish of boiled oats, sausage, and cabbage. The [Class Guide] was overjoyed.

Vittorio took the opportunity to talk to the [Transporter], a man who liked his job and took it seriously. He was happy to talk about his travel skill which he said he'd picked for comfort and security over speed. As Master Kahe had said it created a bubble around the carriage and the horses, keeping the wind off them. It extended about a meter above the carriage.

He was more than a little confused when Vittorio asked if he would drive it for a bit with him sitting on the roof. A few coins and a sincere promise to be careful later and he agreed. Gloria was thrilled when he told her about it, and the two went out into town to buy a bit of rope.

As such, it was a strange sight that greeted the locals the next morning: A young woman helping a young man tie himself to the top of the carriage, laughing nervously as they did. A [Transporter] who seemed to be having second thoughts, and a dwarven man and a human woman speaking softly as they watched.

"Are you sure about this?", the [Transporter] asked. "You can have your money back if you've changed your mind."

"I'm sure." He wasn't.

"I think this will go just fine", said Master Kahe. "And if it doesn't, I will attest that it was done against your recommendations."

That didn't seem to be the mans concern, but he seemed mollified and climbed up on the drivers seat as the passengers took their places. They set off, the carriage quickly picking up speed. Vittorio rose to his knees, feeling the wind ruffle his hair as it reached beyond the bubble. He quickly realised they weren't moving all that fast - faster than he could run, but not by much.

"Can you go faster?"

"Not for long."

"I think I only need a moment."

"Well... I have a skill to escape danger. Bandits and the like. It'll speed us up a lot for a little while."

"Perfect! There won't be any bandits this close to Pogna anyway, right?"

"True. Alright then, hold on. Flee!"

The carriage shot forwards, moving three or four times as fast. The shock of it pushed Vittorio back, but he struggled up until his head once again met the wind. His eyes watered and he struggled to breathe, yet it was the strangeness of the sharp line of wind / no wind on his neck he focused on. The [Transporters] skill ended and Vittorio sat back.

"That's as much as I can do for you. Would you mind getting inside for the rest of the trip?"

Vittorio didn't and joined the others. He brought up his class screen and found that he had, indeed, found another entity to commune with.