This place has been better than last vacation. After helping Father Thompson, we left the camp on the outskirts of the city and headed for the cathedral. It served as an orphanage too, so there were a lot of children. Seeing them play and laugh filled me with joy. I wanted to spend some days trying to inform myself in the small library there, but I discovered a horrible truth.

I cannot read!

This is the worst that has happened to me since… I don’t know! I’d say my divorce, but my wife and I agreed it was a good thing.

God, this is so frustrating, I don’t understand a single word, not even a single character to begin with. The letters in this world are like nothing I have seen before, even when all my skills and stats are in my mother tongue. Speaking of skills, I now know why I can understand and speak their language.

This skill sure came in handy. But, since this is only for oral conversations, I’m unable to read a thing. I’d need to study it normally. This is a huge hindrance in my progress.

I talked to the Father to see if there was some way to learn to read fast. I know a language and a half, technically, and I used to read a lot, so I'm confident this will be easy. The disgust in his face was on another new level when I asked him, though.

"You can ask one of the brothers teaching the kids, I'm busy," was his answer. I should have seen that coming.

There were two Frails and one Sister in the church, all of them quite busy. I started cleaning, cooking and other stuff so they could have some time for me, and after a few days, the younger Brother, called Nicholie, decided to teach me the basics. He was a really nice boy, couldn't be more than 22 years old. Had black and short hair, with beautiful bluish eyes. His attitude towards the children and myself was ever radiant. He liked to teach at the orphanage, and the kids loved him. He took his time in teaching me how to read. I couldn't help but feel his condescending voice as he taught me, but I didn't mind it. He is used to teaching kids after all.

I learnt at an exorbitant speed, Brother Nicholie was utterly impressed. At the end of the week, I knew almost all the character pronunciations and memorized all the rules for writing. To be honest, I was quite impressed too. The perks of having a young, good memory. After this, all that's left was to submerge myself in the books of magic to research any clue about the summon.

At least, that's what I wanted but one of the kids intercepted me with an urge in his voice.

"Mister, mister," she shrieked in tears. "We need your help!"

Oh, boy. What kind of shenanigans I'm getting into.

"Help with what, little one?"

"We found a Jouchou in the yard," a... a what? "But it's hurt! We don't know what to do."

I'm guessing a Jouchou is an animal, a harmless one, since we are in the city. Perhaps some lizard?

"Ok, where is it? I'll help as much as I can."

The little sunshine grabbed my hand and guided me where the rest of the kids were, looking at the ground in a circle. They let me pass as soon as they noticed my presence. That's when I saw it, a black patch on the floor. I noticed the beak and feathers.

It was a bird! Not that different from a raven. It was barely breathing, and didn't move at all... Should I use my regen skill on it?

"Light," I whispered. "Regeneration."

Unowned, huh? Wait, can I own this bird?

So, it is possible... How do I?

Yes, sure.

Acknowledged. Give a name to your new creature.

Oh, God, I'm bad at naming. Uhm... It's a male bird so...

In the chest of the creature appeared a sigil, something like what the priest graved in me when I arrived in this world... I hope it is not as painful. Now that I own him, I can use my skill.

"Light," I repeated. "Regeneration!"

This time, the shiny energy came out of my hands and into Hermes. It wasn't as nearly draining as when I healed Hansel, so I didn't feel the fatigue after that.

The bird woke up after a few seconds, and the kids started screaming and celebrating. Since I can now use the blasted talent I need to know what having a creature at my service entails, but for now, I'll join the children in their party.