Of course it's exceptionally pretty. This place is going to give her an inferiority complex if she doesn't up her game.

He is smiling delightedly at her. "There you go. Want me to walk you to the front door so you're oriented? There are a dozen ways out of the palace."

"Thanks, I'd appreciate it."

So he walks her to the front doors of the palace.

Right.

Running around the wilderness was much less intimidating than this, she's going to stand out so much, this place is so beautiful--Idaia what did you get us into--

She shakes her head to clear it, consults her map, and heads to one of the talk places.

A stunning stone lecture hall where someone's delivering a talk on chemistry.

She listens attentively and wishes she had brought paper and something to write with.

Next lecture's on fluid mechanics! There's one next door on algorithms for data handling in magic metalworking.

She's actually going to leave for a bit and see if she can find paper and a writing implement.

There are shops in King's Square and all down these two side streets; Maitimo circled them on the map.

Bless him.

And here are rows and rows of stunningly pretty shops!

...She doesn't have money, she doesn't even know what the money around here looks like--maybe she can just. Loiter a bit. And try to get a feel for how much various things are worth.

She is not going to have much luck with that. People walk into the stores, talk with the proprietors, and take things.

...Okay, well, if this is some kind of elaborate credit system or something she can probably acquire money later. She walks into one of the paper stores.

And the proprietor waves at her and introduces herself - Anduviel - and explains the different kinds of paper and inks and pens. What is she looking for?

Just something she can take notes with? There weren't a lot of different kinds of paper in Kilaiuossa, everything is much prettier and better-crafted here, she's a little overwhelmed.

This might be suitable note-taking paper! It's cheap to produce and holds ink well, won't smudge, though it's not quite as pretty and you wouldn't use it for letters or something.

...Right, she's also going to be writing letters at some point.

This is nice letter-writing paper! Requires more care but it comes out beautifully.

Hooray for penmanship practice.

Does she want some nice inks and pens, too?

Uh. Yes. (Do these pens work in a recognizable way...?)

They look like standard calligraphy pens.

Good. Well, there's probably not too many ways to get ink onto paper reliably, she shouldn't be surprised.