I wait until the radiance spread by the lanterns carried by the nightwatchmen has passed and no others are in sight either. Then I go back into motion. First I back up a little. This last jump is the most challenging one so far after all. I''ll need a little running start to make sure I''ll make it with room to spare.


    Not even the road at the back of the temple is wide enough not to be jumped though. The temple''s roof is a little more accommodating than the ones I have traversed so far too. It is not nearly as steep as some others.


    I''ll try to resist the urge to use any of the ornate gargoyles as handholds though. They probably are just ornamental statues, but I don''t want to risk it anyway. Even if they are just statues they probably are not as solid as the rest of the walls. And one of those crashing onto the street below is sure to bring the watchmen running. No doubt about it.


    Just as I push off an anticipated divine whisper brushes my mind.


    [*Ding!* Your skill Running has leveled up to level 4!]


    There is no notification for [Jumping], but I feel I''m getting close to another increase of the skill''s level.


    As I land on the other side with plenty of room to spare, I stumble along for a few steps, but I manage to catch myself before I can either slip or stumble into anything. Apparently that is good enough to earn me another notification.


    [*Ding!* Your skill Balance has leveled up to level 4!]


    Well, I sure as hell won''t turn a reward like that down. I''ll take whatever I can get. No questions asked. I''d be a fool to do anything else. So far this trip to the temple is paying off nicely already. Too bad that it''ll be another while until my next level up.


    Now I need to figure out which spire the shrine of my divine patron is situated in. Is it the tall central spire? There certainly are more than enough windows that could lead to a hidden shrine. Or is it one of the smaller spires at the four corners of the grand structure? They don''t have nearly as many windows, but overall still more than enough room for a hidden shrine each.


    Maybe I should have asked beforehand? Nah, somehow I doubt I would have received a proper answer. This is a test after all. I''ll have to figure it out. I crouch low to reduce my cross section, just in case, and begin to study the options in detail.


    As I think about it I rule out the central spire. The interior of the temple is well lit, even now at night, and all the windows of the central spire shine with the radiance that floods the temple''s interior.


    On one hand the shrine of Fox supposedly isn''t accessible from the temple''s interior. Thus the temple''s light shouldn''t shine from its windows either. On the other hand a well lit shrine doesn''t really seem appropriate for my divine patron. I only met her briefly, but she didn''t exactly strike me as the radiant kind. I can''t help but grin to myself. No, she seemed rather shady.


    Anyway, that is why I rule out the central spire in the end. That only leaves the four smaller spires on the corners. I can''t easily rule out any of those, which in turn means that I''ll just have to check them all. It isn''t like I have any other plans for the night anyway.


    My [Balance] skill improves a little more as I make my way across the temple''s roof. The same is true for [Climbing], as I have to do some more of it to reach the windows on the first tower I check.


    There are two slight disappointments. First, neither skill levels up. Second, this tower is not the one I''m looking for. It houses no shrines I can see. Instead there are a number of bells to be found, some larger than others. Since I have not heard any of them rung yet, they probably are not for telling the hour. Considering the different sizes, they probably are for various signals. Signals and possibly alarms. That is my best guess anyway.


    Not like it matters right now though. I''ll probably find out if there ever is a real emergency while I''m around. Well, hopefully not while I''m up here though, since I suspect that these bells can be quite loud.


    I climb back down and head to the next tower. This one, as it turns out, is not it either, although there is a hidden shrine built into it. As I find out quickly though, this one is not dedicated to Fox. No, it most definitely isn''t.


    The centerpiece of this little shrine is a statue that doesn''t sit well with me. Not because it is an eldritch horror or a stomach turning abomination or anything like that. No, the statue is one of a rat of all things.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    I don''t even want to find out what divine being it is dedicated to or what this deity is about. I''m just too loaded down with prejudice regarding rats to care. I just shake my head and turn around. If I ever need to know I''ll just ask someone else.


    Instead of wasting my time thinking on it, I focus my attention on the next spire. This time I''m lucky. Beyond the arched windows of this spire I find a small room unreachable from anywhere within the rest of the temple. And sitting on a pedestal opposite the window, as if it is waiting for the sunrise, is a statue of a magnificent fox with fluffy tails.


    There are a few stone benches around the outer wall and a simple offering box in front of the fox statue. That is all. It is a pretty simple shrine overall and not some grand pretentious sanctum. At the same time it seems well maintained. One might expect dust and cobwebs in such a hard to reach place, but there is none of that. Someone obviously stops by regularly to keep the place clean and well maintained.


    That is all secondary right now though. I''m here for a scroll and there is a scroll nestled in between the paws of the fox statue. This has to be it. Especially as I can find no other scrolls anywhere, and I spend quite a bit of time to check rather thoroughly, just in case.


    Even after my rather lengthy search, which earns me a little advancement for my [Spot] skill, I don''t go for the scroll right away though. No, instead I sit down on one of the stone benches first with a little sigh.


    How am I supposed to go about this? How do people in this world commune with their gods and goddesses? Should I mimic Aila and her prayers to her patron goddess Simja?


    I can''t help but grin. It somehow wouldn''t be entirely inappropriate at least. Mimicking others is my thing after all. And in a way it is part of Fox''s portfolio too, since they are the divine guardian of natural shapechangers according to their own claims.


    I decide for a little more informal approach though. I''m not a cleric after all. Not yet at least. I pull a penny, one of my few remaining coins, from my purse and drop it into the offering box. As I do, I almost drop the lid of the box in surprise as the response is very much immediate.


    [*Ding!* You have unlocked the Sacrifice general skill at Level 1!]


    [*Ding!* Your Karma increased by 1!]


    I blink as I sit back down on the stone pew by the wall and as I open my eyes again a little child playing a string game with a decidedly non euclidean string is sitting on the bench next to me.


    Fox flashes me a joyful, childish smile and even as I look on her shape changes to that of handsome fox with too many tails. And although the details differ, her voice is still very much the one I''m used to.


    “I see you are doing well for yourself. You are getting used to your special power too. Very good!”


    Even as they says this, they morph again. This time they take on the shape of a young man just as handsome as the fox before. They proceed to pat me on the back.


    “You have some questions, don''t you?”


    Of course I do. Where should I even begin? I have a hard time organizing my thoughts. In the end I decide to start with one of the most recent things that were on my mind.


    “Rat? Are they some other divine being I should be aware of?”


    The youngster grimaces as he nods.


    “He is an unpleasant fellow. I like a good bluff, a proper sneak and even a good cheat. But Rat … they are the patron of traitors. So, yes, they are someone you should always be keenly aware of. And at the same time you should try to never associate with them. They aren''t just a little trouble like me, they are heartbreak and anguish. And of course they can never get enough, damn greedy little Rat!”


    I nod. Fox really dislikes Rat. Their tone alone, above and beyond their words, tells me that much. Then I gesture in the direction of the offering box. I don''t even have to voice my question this time.


    Fox is back to wearing the shape of a playful little fox cub chasing its own tails. It stops just long enough to giggle.


    “Well, we divine beings are not above a little bribery, you know. Karma for coin, or anything else of worth really. Make enough sacrifices, earn enough Karma and you can ask for a miracle in return every once in a while.”


    I frown as I think about it.


    “That isn''t what clerics do though? Or is it?”


    Fox decided to mimic the shape of Aila this time around as they answer.


    “Oh, most clerics most certainly can ask us for miracles. That isn''t what they do most of the time though. Most of what they do is just plain regular spell casting. Their flavor of spell casting counts, in part at least, as a sacrifice too. That is why they can afford to ask for miracles more often than most regular people.”


    Fox giggles again.


    “Miracles are a little pricey after all. People, even the ones who can afford them more freely than others, thus tend to save them for special occasions. Anyway, I think this is about as much interference, as I can get away with right now.”


    Fox hands me the scroll that before lay nestled in between the paws of the statue. When did they get it? Before I can even begin to ask the question though, they turn into slowly fading sparkles of starlight.


    I sigh. I guess this is enough to get me started. Maybe I can ask other people for more details. And I still wanted to ask my divine patron other questions too. About that giant mushroom for one. And of course the lack of underwear concerning my starter gear.


    I roll my eyes once more, unfurl the scroll and move over to the window to read it by moonlight, which is surprisingly hard. Well, at least it earns me another skill increase.


    [*Ding!* Your skill Syld (Language & Script) has leveled up to level 3!]


    I just hope this is worth the headache I''m developing. Sure, the calligraphy is as beautiful as it is fancy, but it really doesn''t make this any easier to read.