Swamped

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SpoilerSuggestions given by a52 in Discord.

Vadren means Wood. Which, you suppose, is not that far off from Paper, which would make perfect sense for an author. A little odd, but far from inscrutable.

Alleste is a bit odder, as you recall it means Club. You can't really see what such a weapon has to do with this book's art - at the least it suggests a lack of subtlety that's the opposite of what you see here. Perhaps your memory's off on the meaning?

Well, regardless, you're eager to see more of the art. So you dive back into the book.

The prose isn't half-bad for something written for children, but the art continues to be exceptional. Gale's journey into the mountains is exquisitely drawn, and the mountain troll they encounter halfway up looks so real you could imagine it giving you nightmares when you were younger.

You're just at the part where Gale finally arrives at the palace when Eve comes back in.

"Good to see you're enjoying it," she says. "But I've got to check if you're ready to leave now. How many fingers am I holding up?"

"Four," you say, only glancing up briefly. "The art in this is incredible."

"What's your name?"

"Tom Sixth," you reply, just as you come across a drawing of an enormous eagle. Alleste's work impresses you more and more with every page.

"How many years ago did you join the Bogknights?"

That gives you pause.

"Six, I think? I always have trouble keeping track of years."

"Well, you look to be thinking about it rather than confused," she says. "So it looks like you're well enough to get to your room. You can feel free to hold onto the book, though."

She pauses a moment.

"But don't go waving it around, keep it in your pouch or something. That's one of those books that's banned in Kandria, damned if I know why, and we've got a few Kandrian knights who take that sort of thing seriously. I don't care what they think, but we don't need you getting your nose bloodied again."

She's in a rush to get rid of you. Still, you're never one to pass up an opportunity to ask a few questions. Never know what someone might say that they shouldn't.