"Trial and error, I think. Though the histories from that time are often false, so I'm not certain."

"Are the demons - intelligent? Do they ever do something like refuse to torment their person for a while to get more powerful?'

"I believe some speak, but I haven't heard of them doing precisely that, though they can be particular about the conditions under which they will torment their victim."

"I imagine that's also a mystery."

"Unfortunately, yes. Empowered also tend to be private about the details and so the literature on the subject is sparse."

"Did this happen all over the world?"

"Yes."

"And everybody figured out how to stabilize the situation in plenty of time?"

"Only after society collapsed, but eventually most places did, and those that didn't aren't around anymore, unfortunately."

"And their out of control demons... what, die when their people do?"

"No, they are a persistent problem afterwards and kill quite a lot of people. Empowered fight them off their land regularly, and there are large campaigns to kill troublesome ones permanently."

"Oh. What should I be on the - metaphorical lookout - for?"

"Demons come in a variety of forms, all dangerous. However, there aren't any that have settled near York, so I am not overly worried."

"Okay. If it ever comes up I can't run. I fall down if I try."

Nod.

"It probably won't come up."

Nod.

"-it would probably be very silly to ask you whether everything is okay given the circumstances and you are by no means obligated to share anything, but if you do have additional questions you'd like answers to, I am happy to provide those answers."

"Mostly I'm wondering what I'm going to... do."

"In what time frame?"

"Well, today I assume I join you for any meals that are still on the schedule and then I sleep in the room I just picked out, but - this week? This year?"

"If your question is about lodging... well, you are welcome to stay here, I think indefinitely, but worst case, you can stay with my parents if my grandfather changes his mind. If it's not about lodging, I suppose it depends on what you would like to do?"

"I mean, at some point presumably I have to get a job."

"....no? I suppose if you were trying to support yourself without getting married and you were a commoner, that might be the case, but given you're abilities you'll be read as a noble woman, so that won't be an issue."

"Being... read as a noblewoman... does not cause me to have money."

"It will mean someone will provide the essentials, and indirect access to money via whoever is supporting you, as well as smaller amounts of direct access - I can request an allowance of pin money for you if you'd like. Unmarried noblewomen can't work jobs, unfortunately. If you get married you can work with the permission of your husband, though it's frowned upon to do so outside of working with him directly."