Yes, that was well thought of. I'm just not sure whether it's better to ask him to be nice, or try to get her off the mountain before he notices... I think I'll talk to him.

Okay.

Iri's gonna talk to Serik, she tells the newcomer.

Who's Iri?

Serik's daughter. He doesn't torture her either.

Torturing one's own child would be really really bad.

It's not fun for anybody when that happens!

--That sounds like it has context.

My parents had to torture me a lot while I was growing up so I wouldn't turn into an Elf and it sucked.

??? So you wouldn't turn into an Elf? Had to? What???

An evil god made them do it. My birth parents were Elves, but if you torture a pregnant Elf enough their kid comes out all fucked up and then if you torture the kid they stay fucked up and then we're orfs and can have orc kids. Like her. She inclines her head at Kat, who has a little wooden boat toy and is kicking it around the fountain.

I'm glad she's okay.

Orcs hurt all the time without anyone having to torture them at all but Serik fixed it!

Well, that's a point in his favor.

Yes.

Why's he have to torture people to do magic?

Dunno, that's just how it works here. I do magic by singing.

Singing sounds better.

I prefer it!

Will you teach me?

Sure, whaddaya wanna do?

Healing?

Okay! The healing song I know goes like this - And she starts singing.

Gosh pretty!

Lyrendi listens attentively. 

Meanwhile, Serik has been asked to be nice to the unexpected visitor and he doesn't see any especially good reasons not to do that. He spins himself into a breeze and goes looking for his orf.

Singing to the visitor in a garden while Kat plays in the water!