That will be especially useful. We can't be sure they grow here, but if they don't we can make a request from Ydalir.

One moment, please.

( books, books, where are her books... )

It should be on my desk over here, don't worry... I don't believe I left them at the lab, I haven't needed herbalism there in a while.

( oripathy is not something you combat with herbal remedies, unfortunately. )

Oh- thank you, Vanny.

( there's the first! and the second should be close by. while she keeps looking, she'll pass the book to clive. quest time, boy. ... there's annotations in green ink about candy-like comparisons and notes as well.

including a few lilies marked 'its me!', but one gets the feeling she forgot about this little joke and didn't think anyone would see it. )

... Oh, his staff can see for him. Often they'll take turns looking, so to speak.

You'll find that a lot here. Like... Vanilla's daughter is a Star.

Oh- if it helps, I've a pen and paper if it will help keep track of what you know.

( you'll be quizzed on this later- no. )

It can be, if you take it all in at once. But that's like trying to view a world map and a star map in one, all at once, I think...

( she pulls the second book off the shelf of her desk, but waits. )

Instead, try to think of it as... individual pages, not unlike a book. Some will intertwine, like chapters, yes, but one page at a time is still the way to go.

We are cookies. This world's magic made us human. This world's magic gave us blessings. Bit by bit... and then the whole will be easier to understand.

...

( lily is... quiet, gripping the book in her hands tightly for a moment. )

Before he gave up his power to empower this world's kinder gods, my husband had the power of Truth on his side. He could see through any lie and deception, quite literally- all truth was laid bare before him.

He found letters. Between myself and him, between our friends, and more. Notes and journals, research. Echoes of an elderly married life.

It was all True.

( how long is he processing what she says? or is she just prepared? regardless, she presses a glass of water into one of his hands. ... there's been a pitcher and empty glasses on the desk this whole time, actually. some mint leaves float in it. nice. )

Take your time. ... But regardless of the good that comes from it, we must not thank that beast in the forest. I have watched it kill and maim who it pleases for whatever reason it desires. I will not give it gratitude, and neither should you.

To toy with us, as it had centuries ago. We're it's second favorite toys, after all... with Nene, the child in the floral cottage, being it's first favorite.

Yes.

( bluntly. ... for all she's pulled back in the forest, she's also grown harsher in a way. )

I imagine the centuries upon centuries of isolation, stripped even of his identity, did not help in it's madness. But the goal is the same. And so is the shortsightedness.