"Animals have chi, yes? I can catch a bunch of pigeons and let you test things on them if it might help."

"They only have it in low quantity, and it's still hard to manipulate, but maybe?"

He shrugs. "Anyway, I have a ship to fly."

Nod.

"I'm gonna go get more sleep," says Akien. "Let me know if we have a second encounter."

Yawn.

"Pirates are rare, I would like to point out."

"Then hopefully there will be no need to let me know." Sigh. "Anyway, see you later."

Evara waves.

And Nick sets to running the ship. Evara can follow him if she wants he supposes.

Sure, why not.

Does he seem talkative? (She's guessing not.)

Yeah not really. He mutters about pirates and violence under his breath.

She stays in his sight for the most part, then.

After a short while she goes looking for the starglass book.

His study is locked.

But he deliberately left it out in the kitchen for her, apparently.

The first chapter talks about what Starglass even is, how to tell what's star- and what's regular- glass, and the most common uses it has. The second chapter appears to be about chemistry. Or maybe physics. Seems to be about why Starglass is so special.

The third chapter starts listing tools and materials you'll need to work with Starglass.

Third chapter seems good!

It's all rather complicated, apparently.

Darn.

She tries anyway, hoping she'll be able to derive some of the practical concepts involved.

There's... Heating! And mixing. And careful timing, and lots of math.

She feels like she needs to make notes.

Is Nick still busy? She'd like to ask him for some paper and writing utensils.

His busy-ness seems to have settled down to a low constant of piloting the ship and making notes in his logs. Though he looks sleepy.

"Hey," she says, trying not to startle him. "… I don't suppose you have any paper, something to write with?"

"Paper's not free - but fair enough." He pulls a sheet out of a binder and hands her a pencil.

She takes it and shrugs. "I'm sure we can pay you, if it's that expensive."

"Five pages for a gram of copper's the going rate, generally. You won't necessarily break the bank."

She shrugs again. "See you later."

"Yep."

And back to flying the ship.