[Vlast looks askance with a sharp, guttural scoff.]

Do not disparage yourself. There are enough here wary of rifters, and they will be more than happy to do it for you.

[He pauses, quiet for a while. He's not good at this, not people. It's so obviously the wrong thing to say, but he cannot fathom the right one that isn't a saccharine half-truth.]

Your mentor. Does she teach you how to find things? Are you...

[A brief, distant stare as he tries to recall all the many overly specific professions of humans.]

...a detective of some sort?