"The plan is simple. You travel, you observe, and then report back."

Inclining my head I gripped my hands on the haft of my mighty weapon. It seemed that I did not need it after all. It was a waste, perhaps, of a restoration for now. Slowly I blinked but held onto the naginata all the same with my fingers desperate. It was one of the things I had died it and did not seem to rot in my touch. I felt no pain and I was directly having claw to wood contact.

"What are you thinking?"

Frowning slightly, I glanced up to the half-god. I was confused for a moment, but then I saw the uncertainty in his mind. He was asking what I thought ... Which meant only that he could not see my thoughts. The idea made me become astounded. I had presumed he was near all powerful but it seemed that his half-mortality meant not.

"Well?" He repeated the question inpatiently. Clearly this was an issue that bothers him as much as me.

"I was considering the generosity of you returning my naginata," I lied fast. "When my mission is not a combative one."

"Do me good service and you will have particularly strong weapon after. I have material set aside."

I paused. "But ... Sir ..."

"What?" He asked impatiently.

I ducked my head immediately, not sure of what form his anger brought. Possibly more deaths of sudden value. More experimentation into my ability to constantly survive? Or the scent of death I was beginning to notice. Interestingly I was noticing the smell did not apply to me. Otherwise I would be stinking full time and not able to sense the others.

"Will I be able to use it? I can only safely touch the ones I start with."

"We will see. You seem to be perfectly fine with the new leather laid on that," he gestured at the naginata.

My thoughts considered as I glanced down. True enough some of my claws rested on new leather bonds and they suffered no premature aging yet.

"My theory is that as long as part of essence of the thing remains the same, you are able to touch it. The pole, you see, is still the same."

My brie rose wth confusion, but I admitted it made everything easier. As time went on I would rent to improve my armour, my weaponry. As they were the only items that I could safely hold without causing myself great pain and others discomfort. I thought about my katana and other blades, how they would fit into the pattern. It meant I could afford to swap their blades for stronger ones so long as the handles remained intact.

And then there were my gloves. A life saving pair that I had been able to pass on with. They would allow my contact with general others without ill side effects.