She blinks. "I don't want to do anything about it, I just want to know. That's the whole point."

Wryly: "Somehow I doubt that 'curiosity' is the entirety of your motivation."

"Well, I may use any new knowledge I get to build a jutsu or two," she says, waving a hand dismissively. "But mostly, fox spirits—and their jewels—well, they're mysterious where I'm from. There are stories about them, and rumours about what the jewels can actually do and it would be incredibly exciting to figure out more about them, find out who's right."

"And what reason do I have to indulge your curiosity?"

"Well, I'd been kinda hoping you don't know much about the artefact yourself so my being from its world and knowing its world's magic could prove a useful asset in figuring it out. That's... less likely, now, if you've inherited it."

"She didn't exactly teach me her magic system, so I do not know the underlying mechanism. Perhaps you can be a help to me. But first, tell me, have you by any chance met a fox by the name of Reim?"

"...no?" She peers at him, a bit suspiciously. "Why?"

"He seems to think his status as Yuuyake's son overrides her stated will, and has been a - problem - over the issue of inheritance. If you haven't met him, though, then that's no matter."

She becomes suddenly interested. "So there is a fox that's interested in getting the jewel back! I've never met one! I don't suppose—well, if he's been a problem you probably aren't in the best of terms, are you..."

"He never had it in the first place. And, no, we are not on good terms. An introduction from me would be quite amiss. If you haven't met a fox, why do you think you'd have any unique insights?"

(He seems to find her wording mildly suspicious.)

"I don't think I'd have any unique insights on the fox himself," she explains as if trying to avoid sounding like she's doing so to a small child. "I know about the magic and the jewel, being presumably a part of the same magic system, is also presumably analysable by same. But like I said, the stories say these foxes would do anything to get the jewel back, and, well." She smiles a bit apologetically. "I am ever so curious to find out why."

"Why don't you make an appointment to come see it, for a day when my mages aren't busy with it themselves."

"Sounds wonderful! When are such days?"

He names a date a few days out. "Of course, some of them will want to be there anyways, to talk to you."

"Great, they probably have a lot more information about it from very different perspectives."

"I'm sure."

"I think that's all, then. It's been a veritable pleasure talking with you," she says, standing up and bowing in the same way Tetsuma does.

"The pleasure has been all mine." He inclines his head in something almost like a return bow.

Off she goes, then.

The secretary confirms time for the appointment, then writes her in.

When she gets back to the forest, Tetsuma's waiting for her, only a bit anxiously. They smile when they see her, and, after a quick hug, ask, "How'd it go?"

"Pretty well! And I think I was right to think Reim was hiding a lot of the whole story. The lord said that Reim's mother left the jewel for him in her will..." She relays the whole conversation to Tetsuma.

"...How does inheritance even work here? Back home you'd either give things away during your life, or it would all go towards your named heir on your death. By that system, Reim would have inherited it, as her son... We really should've brought Reim with us, he could've hidden out with me. And then answered questions."

"Yeah. I think I'm gonna have Sadde resign in a couple of days, and after Kaede examines the jewel it might be a good idea for us to go talk to Reim. I want to get this story straight, the lord gave me the heebie jeebies but so did Reim."

"That's an annoyingly long trip, too. I wonder if there's any way to convince the lord to return with us, have this arbitrated properly."

"Mmmmnot my read on him. I don't think he'd want that at all—he already has the jewel, he has no reason to come with us and risk losing it."