"I don't know. It's been here a very long time, since before I first started sailing."

"Are there lots of places like that? We're talking because of your magic? What's that stuff?" She points at the mist.

"There's Cloudshear, an entire city built into cliffs, if you mean the architecture, and yes, there are a lot of ancient places I don't know the origin of, if you mean the age. It's very disappointing, I like knowing the stories of the people who built a place. And we're able to talk because of my magic, yes. I have very personal magic, that only works on me, but I can trade something with a spirit I know to get you able to talk to everyone you meet."

"That stuff is the ley, that connects the islands. Or, what we can see of it from the outside."

"I have so many questions."

They arrive at the base of the cliff. "Well, like what? And, here we are, the kitchens are all on the ground floor."

"What kind of kingdoms are here? How do maps work if there's just islands and Ley-mist-stuff? Is there a North? What's a spirit and what will you hafta trade them?"

She laughs a bit.

"Well, there's three big kingdoms - Bajilda, Madeza, and Frisland. The first two are on continent-sized islands, and Frisland is across multiple islands. There's also a bunch of medium-sized kingdoms, like Oten, which is on the same island as Bajilda. Bajilda is ruled by a king and queen, Madeza by a Speaker who's elected by the nobles, Frisland by an Empress, and Oten by a Council. But most of the kingdoms are really small, just on one little island.

"Maps can either show the islands and the connections between them, or can be just of an island. There's pathways between the islands, called ley-lines. Some of the biggest islands have colder parts that're a bit like going north in a normal world, but it's not really organized.

"A spirit's a type of person who's very magical and old, and usually either looks like an animal or doesn't have a set form. The one I know is a cat-spirit who owes me a favor - I helped her find something long ago. Spirits like stories the most, but will trade for most things humans will. Books, silks, spices, and flowers are common."

"Do you need to do anything special to fly between islands?"

Grenadine observes the kitchen hungrily as she asks.

Sarati sets down her bag and moves about the kitchen, familiarizing herself with it. There's no food already in it, but the pans and such stay put. "You need a ley-ship, like mine, or some very rare magic. Do you have any preferences on what to eat? I'm not sure I'll have anything you'll recognize, though..."

"Anything is fine." Compared to slightly rotting potatoes and wild acorns, and sometimes not even that, that refugees subsisted off of.

"Okay. I'll whip something up. Would you prefer tea or water to drink?"

The meal is a sort of fluffy, slightly sweet grain with different sorts of raisins cooked into it, served with dried salty meat of some kind that's been spiced lightly. It doesn't take long to prepare, luckily. "Ship's provisions, unfortunately, so not the most appetizing thing, but better than some manage."

"You'd give something like tea to me?"

"...It's really really good. Almost no good food left in south-east Europa 'cause of the demon war. Thanks."

"It's no problem. You can have some honey to sweeten it, too. I actually trade in rare teas and spices, and what's the point of being a tea-trader if I don't indulge every now and then?"

"The demon war sounds scary. Maybe when we find our way back to your world we can bring some food with us."

Gren shakes her head. "You'd need lots of food... Yeah, they're scary."

"Well, then maybe we can bring people somewhere here. Many of the islands have room."

"That would help. I heard getting people across the sea is what's taking so long...You really think I can go home? You said I couldn't earlier."

"I'm sure you'll be able to someday. Hopefully someday soon, we don't want your mom missing your childhood."

Gren nods. Oh look she's crying softly. Trying to hide it. "If we- Bring back things for the Witch-Knights. To help fight the demons."

"Do you want a hug? And I'm sure we can do something to fight the demons - there'll be people wanting to help, and we can bring back this realm's magic. Something the demons have never seen before."

Hugs from random people she met ten minutes ago - even if they're feeding her - are a bit of a dubious prospect. She shakes her head. "...Guess I should tell you what I know about them."

"If you want. It isn't urgent."

"People say they came from outer space. They're - big, black, flying things that blow everything up and breathe out poison gas. They live in a giant storm."

"There's bound to be a way to filter out poisonous gases with our magic. Possibly with items, that we can share with the Witch Knights."

"I don't know what the warriors actually need. Didn't get talk to them much. But I think that would help some."

"Yeah. And I'm sure someone who's had more experience with fighting than me would be able to come up with more. We'll be able to go back and forth, too, so if we don't bring everything they need on the first try, we can come back for more."