Taka was at a crossroads. The grimoire was right in front of him, but he had no way to flip the pages. He could sit on Rhoz's shoulder and ask her to flip pages for him but that didn't seem like a practical solution for as long as he had this body, which would be... Taka needed to gain some independence; he was already getting sick of not being able to get around on his own, and the pace of inching to get somewhere was not how he wanted to live his life.

  "Is this what you were looking for?" Rhoz asked, breaking his train of thought.

  Yes, thank you. Taka sent back.

  "And you can read it?" Rhoz asked skeptically.

  Taka looked back to the book's cover: General Magia: Psychic, Volume One. There was some scribbling towards the bottom that he presumed was the author's name, but the lines made no sense to him. But the words of the title did, even though he had never seen that language before.

  Yes, why? Taka asked, not bothering to add another thing to hide from Rhoz.

  "It's written in Celestial, I think..." she started, her voice unsteady. "Sir Filo, Celestial isn't a language that is able to be learned, it's, it's passed down? That's what His Majesty says."

  Passed down? Taka thought to himself, from who? The only creatures he'd had even semi-meaningful interactions with since he arrived in this world were Syla, Rhoz, Vanz'goran, Bick, and Zirko... but none of them had mentioned anything about passing down knowledge. There was that voice, Taka thought to himself, and Vanz'goran seemed to think that it could've been some sort of deity talking to me, who might've blessed me, but when? When I first arrived in this world? Or could it have been before I woke up, maybe it's related to why I'm a High Worm rather than just a normal one, that pissy god who brought me here definitely wouldn't give me a boost after calling me a pest. Taka thought back to his list of questions:

  The immediate questions:

  - How would one go about learning magic? How can I flip pages?

  - Are the defined skills I have common, or is that part of the system unique to me?

  - What's the history between the retired demon lord and the god that summoned me?

  The big questions:

  - What was happening in that dream? How do I make sure that doesn't happen?

  - Why am I a High Worm and not just a normal worm? */ did some god bless me?*

  - Is the god who summoned me going to try to kill me?

  Taka had a feeling that the first two questions might be linked, or at least, adjacent to each other. He could start investigating the stange vision/dream and the pissy creation god after he had a better understanding of his own capabilties, and Taka would bet his kidney, if he even had one anymore, that his being a "High Worm" was related to one of those other 2 questions. He didn't like that his big questions were getting messier, but for now, better to have it on his radar than not.

  Taka opened his status window:

  The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  He had completely forgotten about his new title, Prince of Dirt. It exuded the same feeling as his Eyes of the Worm Mother ability, but for now, didn't seem to be anything more than a new part to his name. It was interesting that his Earth Magic had a symbol next to it now, but no new skills had been added...

  Taka looked up at Rhoz: she was staring at him. Her gaze wasn't as harsh as it was before, more curious now, but the lizard women's presence was intimidating enough to make Taka nervous. She was here and seemingly willing to help, so maybe he could cross a question off his list finally.

  Rhoz, Taka began, as you're aware, I am still without most of my memories.

  "Yes, I'm aware."

  What you may not know is that I come from a distant land. I cannot remember where, or why I left, but I found myself here in your domain with my head jumbled.

  Rhoz stayed silent, so Taka went on:

  I'd like to ask a few questions of you, to see if the... if my understanding of magic, its general mechanics that I can remember, align with this kingdom's.

  Rhoz bit her lip as she took a moment to think, then said, "I'm no mage, but I have studied as much as all lizard folk do." She settled into her chair and took a deep breath, "I'll answer the best I can."

  Okay, a conversation where Taka wouldn't be the target of an attempted murder in the middle. Hopefully...

  Where I come from, magic is separated by its typing, he sent, knowing that much would sound normal from his prior conversation with Zirko. But we also have, had, abilities referred to as "skills." Is that common here as well?

  Rhoz looked up as if searching for an answer, but she didn't seem baffled by the question, which was a very good sign.

  "By skills, you mean something you can do in an instant, like playing a card in a game, yes?"

  Yes! Taka sent back excitedly. They had skills!

  "Then, yes, I think, but... they're known as Divine Arts," Rhoz explained. "They're not magic -- well, they can be magic, but they don't have to be. Your, telepathy, yes? That is something you refer to as a 'skill.'"

  Yes, it is, Taka agreed.

  "How do I put this... Divine Arts are blessings. You don't 'learn' an art, a god graces you with one. Most who possess divine arts have a patron deity, myself included. If you earn the favor of a deity and do something to please them, they may bless you with a Divine Art. They're not reliant on magic, or physical ability, they just... are."

  Rhoz stopped there, looking to Taka for a response, but he had no words.

  "I'll show you one of mine," Rhoz offered.

  The lizard woman got up from the chair, chuckled at Taka, and then disappeared. Taka couldn't see her, and her mana was gone. He was alone. He looked around, and felt panic swelling up from within him.

  Rhoz? Rhoz?! He called out to her, and she suddenly reappeared at his side.

  "Hey, I'm right here," Rhoz said soothingly, sensing Taka's alarm.

  Taka felt incredibly embarrassed. He didn't know why he had gotten so worked up over her disappearing for a moment. They sat in silence for a moment both awkwardly looking away.

  "That's my camouflage divine art," Rhoz said, saving them both from discomfort. "I have a few, most are combat related."

  Understood, thank you, Taka sent back in response. That answered my question.

  One question off the list! Although in finding the answer, Taka found himself wishing Rhoz was lying. If she was correct and telling the truth, which was likely the case, at this point, then that was as good confirmation as any that a god had been watching him closely since he arrived in this world, a different god than the one that summoned him. Taka didn't like the fact that he had no idea who or what this god was, and that he was basically at their mercy. Sure, they had helped him out so far, but... that didn't mean anything. He was tired of being thrown around.

  Rhoz, I need your assistance with something, Taka began. Taka felt embarrassed to ask, but he didn't have any other options: will you help me navigate this grimoire to find a spell I need?

  Rhoz chuckled, and Taka turned away from her. He had never felt as powerless as he did in that moment.

  "Sorry, I just didn't think I'd spend my page flipping pages for a worm," Rhoz teased. "No offense." Taka turned back to see the lizard woman looking at him warmly, "Sir Filo, I'll help."

  She picked him up and placed Taka on her shoulder, then picked up the book and opened it.

  "Tell me when to turn the page."

  Thank you, Taka sent back, grateful to have met Rhoz.

  The first page was just the title again, in smaller text: General Magia: Psychic, Volume One.

  Next, please.

  The next was what he was hoping for -- a table of contents. He scanned the page, looking through the headings until he found what he had hoped would be there: Telekenesis.

  Okay, Taka thought to himself as he began to search for the threads of psychic energy between himself and Rhoz as he had with the threads of energy of the tree, thank you, weird skill system.

  In the back of his mind, Taka thought he heard a voice huff. But he was imagining it. Probably.