"It's been a great pleasure!"

"I guess, goodbye for now?"

"Yeah. It was a good day and see you tomorrow!"

"'Bye!"

Terrana is basically done for the day. She cooks - again, but simple stuff - when they return to Kaede's apartment, and very quickly goes to sleep.

And the next morning they're going to go meet a spirit and Kaede will be a magical girl!!!!

...boy. Magical boy.

Terrana can't help but be more subconsciously embarrassed by being in the same apartment with Kaede than she was yesterday. She doesn't make a big fuss out of it.

Over breakfast, "...So, I think Nayalu is going to lecture you about riverine science and what PR stuff she expects you to do for humans, and what monsters show up which you might have to help fight - general consensus is that most monsters aren't any smarter than dogs. Named Beasts seem pretty intelligent, but goblins or lurkers or ogres? Not so much."

He nods. "That makes sense, thank you."

"Any questions at all, feel free to ask me. I'm - I still have a lot of background stuff. Feelings and expectations. It's episodic memories I'm having trouble with."

"Yeah. I don't really have any questions, now, I think. I'm just excited."

"Off to the river, then?"

"Off to the river!"

A fox barks at the pair as they approach the riverbank, then runs to the riverbank as if leading them.

They follow.

The fox dives into the river and disappears.

Nayalu's avatar appears again. Hello, healer. Hello, ambitious one.

"Greetings."

Are you still interested in my offer? If so, let us discuss what your duties would be in detail.

"I am, yes."

Have you studied biology and ecology?

"Some of both, but not in much depth—although I did learn a lot about it to catch beetles."

Beetles are surprisingly important. Healer, you need not remain. We will be talking for many hours in total.

"...You don't mind if I go do more of that paperwork stuff, Kaede?"

"No, it's fine. Thank you for coming with me!"

Terrana leaves and Nayalu starts on an obvious-expert's-perspective lecture of the basics of ecology. Seems to be aimed at 'this is the basic basics of what you need to know to know when to come ask me about something'.

He pays attention and is diligent and asks smart questions.

There is what looks like it's trying to be subtle probing in some of her questions.

She's making sure to emphasize the - commitment here. An average of four hours a day working for her, for ten years, and then being vaguely activist for another fifteen after that.

Unless Kaede mismanages himself and dies, they both lose then. But he doesn't seem like the type.