"- there are billions of us. Even if you learned to do it really fast just getting everyone to one place would be a nightmare," says Ruan.

There are less than a thousand Draak I would trust not to cause more harm than good with Enkindling. There are less than a million of us, total. Far less. That's part of why Amenta is terrifying.

"Would you like to see the water garden?" asks the docent.

If you want hopeful speculation or deep thought about the future, speak to the Seeker. He excels at that and my interests are much more narrow. I'd love to see the water garden!

The water garden has lilies and reeds and stuff like that!

...There will probably be more Draak soon, she offers halfway through the water garden. And thus more who can provide magical services like mine. One of Seeker's hopeful speculations is that when I am confident enough to press spring changes into hereditary permanence, which is riskier than non-hereditary changes, your greens may be able to pick apart the changes and scale them that way.

"That would be wonderful!" says Ruan.

I cannot know whether it will become truth, but there is always hope.

I think I would like to learn to read. Or try to, at least.

"In what language?" he asks. (The docent shows them through the arboretum section.)

...I had forgotten those exist. Perhaps I should start with Darktooth's symbols, our own language such as it is.

"As you like! I'd be happy to teach you our country's language if you ever want to learn it."

She notices that she's dithering again. Dithering is an annoying state to be in.

Yes, I think I want that. My decision is made, I will try to learn your language.

And now, having stated it to the world, she will.

"Would you like to pick it up by being around people talking aloud, or more systematically with a tutor or program?"

I listen in the Song, when you speak your minds shed intent into the Onesong. A systematic approach seems easier to actually learn than trying to not do that, I think.

"I can hire you a tutor, which might be easier to use than software."

It probably would. You are not demanding anything of me that I wasn't already going to do for the warehouse, the escort, the tutor, the miscellaneous accommodations?

"No, not at all. We've got a budget set aside for making sure you're happy here and a language tutor's well within its means."

That's surprising. But good, that will be a pleasing arrangement. I can focus on learning without the annoyances of needing to hunt for food or defend myself or find people to learn from.

"Why is it surprising?"

...I suppose setting aside resources to welcome and care for a visitor is not something I can imagine doing unless I want to have a child with them. Draak are self-sufficient. It is perhaps against Tradition for me to accept being accommodated to get more time to learn but I don't really care, at least not for a time as short as an Amentan year or two.

"I think Baravic citizens being the first people to benefit from your project is more than worth it to us."

I suppose it makes sense if I imagine I am Baravi. You have many, many warehouses and orange tutors and so on, and there is only one Enkindler here. Very well.

Back to questions about the plants! The garden continues to be lovely.

She can see the whole grounds, though there are a few places where the paths don't accommodate her and she has to skirt sections and get a look from a bit farther off.

Afterwards they can go back to her warehouse, bristling somewhat more visibly with security now.

And the next day she can check out a train station!

Train stations are loud and crowded and cramped. But she's determined to be unruffled. She demonstrates how small she can make herself and still be comfortable for a while then lets Ruan lead her to a good spot, since he knows where she'll be in the way.

They bring some greys along, who can set up a perimeter to give her some space. But on the stairs down into the station a two-year-old purple darts toward her and the grey who lunges for the kid slips on the stairs, letting her through, and she gets her hand on some feathers.