*

wiktopher.md

@@ -629,9 +629,9 @@ Having finished all deliveries, and now armed with a tall bottle of plumpkin[^41
 translated, grinning.  
     Both Eka and Lupen laughed at this. Nono went on to say that they were both grown on the same plot of land, because of this Gree tink dat dey are close. "Wen young, Nono travel on sandfin, but Gree stay in Tiu'va, talk much, make mapa tink Nono useless! Say Nono waste time, dat only good job is Beobug job. Komororo..." Nono said, cursing at the air, "Beobug do scam. All profit, no work. No one know dis, but Beobug sandfin need no captain, only fiendling to do scam." After saying this, Nono leaned in to whisper to them. "Nono follow Beobug sandfin always. Ponopo follow Beobug II, anodder wot follow Beobug I, Beobug III. Nono go to village after fiendling leave, and Nono correct misdeed!"  
 
-As the evening went on Nono began to tell sandfin stories, like the one about the notorious Dorake's passage, known to have buried countless sandfinners over time. While Nono was talking, a small creature flew over to them, and landed on the table. It had short antennae, and delicate yellow hairs all over its body. "Ara! Dis Ponopo. Ponopo carry message for Nono, have good memory and know desert well."  
+As the evening went on Nono began to tell sandfin stories, like the one about the notorious Dorake's passage, known to have buried countless sandfinners over time. While Nono was talking, a small creature flew over to them, and landed on the table. It had short antennae, and delicate yellow hairs all over its body. "Dis Ponopo. Ponopo carry message for Nono, have good memory and know desert well."  
     Ponopo fluttered off the table and landed on Eka's head.  
-    "Wow! A woth! Yora'nae Ponopo!" Eka said, watching Ponopo hover back
+    "Wow! A woth[^42]! Yora'nae Ponopo!" Eka said, watching Ponopo hover back
 down onto the table, landing near a puddle of spilled plumpkin ale. The woth began to mop it up, its antennae wiggling as it drank.  
     Nono pulled out a small wooden box, laid it out on the table and opened the lid. Six round eggs sat in it, laying over a soft tan blanket. "Wot egg," Nono told them, "Nono carry many." Nono's hand reached into the box and picked up an egg. "Dis wot egg ready, but wot only come out when it find someone it like. Woth is loyal, it follow you always." Nono reached over the table, grabbed Eka's hand, and placed a single woth egg in it. As soon as the egg came into contact with Eka's skin, the white egg turned sky blue.  
     "It's blue!" Eka said, amazed by the unborn woth.  
@@ -644,13 +644,13 @@ down onto the table, landing near a puddle of spilled plumpkin ale. The woth beg
     "What should we name it?" Lupen asked Eka.  
     "Ianae! You no choose name! Wot choose," Nono said, waving a finger at them, "is no easy to guess name!"  
     "Yea, I mean, the name could be anything! How long did it take you to guess Ponopo's name?" Lupen asked.  
-    Nono took a long sip of plumpkin ale. "Five annum, but only after Nono take bad, bad erb. For Nono friend, is long time. Take fourteen annums."  
+    Nono took a long sip of plumpkin ale. "Five annum, but only after Nono take bad, bad erb. For Nono friend, take long time. Fourteen annums."  
     "Fourteen?!"  
-    "Orae, orae! Mu-mu-mu-mu-mumford. Wot stutter, make guess difficult," Nono paused, "wot listen wid or widout name, but name make connection strong strong! Some tink wot no choose name, dat dey wait to ear name it like."  
+    "Orae, orae! Mu-mu-mu-mu-mumford. Wot stutter, make guess difficult," Nono paused, "wot listen wid or widout name, but name make connection strong! Some tink wot no choose name, dat dey wait to ear name it like."  
     Eka hoped it wouldn't take that long, a fourteen-annum long guessing game did not sound fun. "You've got an easy name, isn't that right Tom-tom?" A finger traced along the soft hairs on its back. The woth went about its business, and joined Ponopo on the table to get some of that sweet plumpkin juice.  
     "Tom-Tom?" Lupen said with a laugh, "it looks more like a Pino."
 
-After an evening of unsuccessful name-guessing Eka and Lupen said goodbye to Nono, who gave them a map with areas marked in red of the desert between Tiputa and Montore. "Dis place. Many floater. Many, many danger. Take care when near, fleshies."  
+After an evening of unsuccessful name-guessing Eka and Lupen said goodbye to Nono, who gave them a map with areas marked in red of the desert between Tiputa and Montore. "Dis place. Many floater[^43]. Many, many danger. Take care when near, fleshies."  
     They raised their tent in a clear space outside of town. Bou had given Eka an extra length of fabric to extend the size of their shelter. They had sown the two pieces together, and now two and half travelers could lie under it—Hush agreed to laying halfway outside of the tent, so the other two could have room.  
     "I would have loved to keep traveling aboard the sandfin," Lupen said, watching the unnamed woth tracing shapes through the air. They wondered if this was its way of communicating its name, they spent a long time trying to decipher it, but it turned out to be complete gibberish.  
     Eka agreed. "They're wonderful aren't they? Wish the cabin was taller though, I hit my head on the cross beam too many times during the voyage."  
@@ -670,7 +670,7 @@ After an evening of unsuccessful name-guessing Eka and Lupen said goodbye to Non
     Lupen lent Eka a vest to wear, and together they cooked up a pot of bobonion soup. They ate it with some slices of toasted muckwheat bread. Then, they recited poems about the sweater-verse until they fell asleep.  
     Lupen did not dream of death, but dreamt of a world where everyone was made of fabric, their skin and clothes knitted together. Children made a game of unravelling each other's arms, while the adults scolded them. Lupen was in this dream, and there, hanging from the side of everyone's wrist was a thread, connecting Verido to Aodals, to Finikus, to Terins, to looma roots, to every grain of sand, and to skyrocks too. This thread bound all things, both known and unknown.    
 
-The next day, Lupen and Eka spent time with Bou. They had finished their tasks early, so Bou closed the store for the day and introduced them to some of the locals. They ate plenty of muckwheat bread, a local specialty. The bread was served with fermented sagery[^] jam and thin slices of sun-dried totomites[^].  
+The next day, Lupen and Eka spent time with Bou. They had finished their tasks early, so Bou closed the store for the day and introduced them to some of the locals. They ate plenty of muckwheat bread, a local specialty. The bread was served with fermented sagery jam and thin slices of sun-dried totomites.  
     One of Bou's friends had Vennec babies and insisted on showing them off. Vennecs were large, humpbacked, furry beasts with thin snouts, large pointy ears and a long slender neck. The vennec babies were asleep in a pile, it was hard to tell where one started and another ended. Soon, the babies were on their feet, and ran circles around them. Eka laughed, stroking their soft hairs. Lupen's face was buried in the fur of one of the larger cubs.  
     "Vennec too young now, but in one annum you come back. Vennec become strong,
 make good travel companion." The vennec grower said.  
@@ -700,7 +700,7 @@ The following morning, even before Eka had time to slip on some day clothes, Ori
     "Vo-vo-vo-lare isilk?" Orin said, voice high with emotion.  
     Lupen nodded. The thread of the sweater was re-bundled and bound with a matching blue ribbon.  
     "Now you can make something for yourself with it," the Verido said.    
-    Just then, Orin began to bawl, fingers curling around the precious bundle of thread. "T-t-this is t-too much," there was no stopping those tears, "y-you be t-too k-kind."  
+    Orin began to bawl, fingers curling around the precious bundle of thread. "T-t-this is t-too much," there was no stopping those tears, "y-you be t-too k-kind."  
 
 \newpage
 
@@ -776,9 +776,9 @@ Lupen and Eka made a detour to a hollow, despite Nono's warnings that the place
 That night, the skin around Lupen's burn had become red, swollen and sore. Eka prepared some tea laced with herbs to prevent infection, but lacked many key ingredients. Staying out here was not an option and the next town was too far. Tomorrow, Eka would try and search the land for the missing herbs.  
 
 Eka prepared nuni nuggets for everyone. Nuni was a starchy stuber with bright yellow flesh, it had a taste and smell that could best be described as being robust. Lupen loved nuni, more for the manner in which it stained the inside of your mouth yellow than for its flavor. They ate many on the trip, and made bets on who's mouth would be most yellow. Eka placed the leftovers, the skin and tips of the nuni into a jar along with some brine to pickle for a few days.  
-    The food was divided into three plates, but before breakfast could be served, a plump leaf-tailed orange hound appeared at the entrance of their tent, mouth agape, gushing with saliva. Eka wondered where this leafhound came from, but glancing behind the hound, Eka's eyes locked onto a distant point of colour, a spot of green.  
+    The food was divided into three plates, but before breakfast could be served, a plump leaf-tailed orange hound appeared at the entrance of their tent, mouth agape, gushing with saliva. Eka wondered where this leafhound[^44] came from, but glancing behind the hound, Eka's eyes locked onto a distant point of colour, a spot of green.  
     "Is that where you came from?"  
-    The hound barked, triggering a series of faint yaps and yips, all coming from the faraway green smudge. A pool of clear slime had accumulated at the animal's feet, dripping from its long purple tongue. Eka cut a piece of nuni, tossed it over, and watched as their visitor gobbled it up, and waited for more, its antennae-like ears twitching in anticipation. 
+    The hound barked, triggering a series of faint yaps and yips, all coming from the faraway green smudge. A pool of clear slime had accumulated at the animal's feet, dripping from its long purple tongue. Eka cut a piece of nuni, tossed it over, watched as their visitor gobbled it up, and waited for more, its antennae-like ears twitching in anticipation.  
     "You really like that, huh?" Eka said.  
     Breakfast was served, although Lupen was in a feverish state and couldn't eat. Hush had no problem eating, and despite Eka's warnings helped itself to Lupen's portion.  
     "Yea, yea. I know. I know you've got two stomachs," Eka said, caressing the hyroo's fur, "right now you're the mapa okay? You take care of Lu while I'm gone."  
@@ -801,7 +801,7 @@ the rest, and more!"
     "I love your green place!" Eka said, brightly.  
     "Leave! This is my property!" The Terin said, getting ready to push the group back, but then noticed the hyroo and froze mid-step. "A hyroo? Rare creatures, very few grow... hyroos need lots of moisture, a temperate climate. How is this possible?"  
     Eka could see the farmer's fascination for Hush, but right now they had more pressing matters. "Those things out there attacked us, my friends are hurt."  
-    The Terin was distracted, eyes fixed on the hyroo still. "There has been talk of receding genes, of young ones hibernating in the soil and awaiting the proper conditions to grow. Yes, yes. This is what must have happened..." but then a frown replacled the expression of wonder, "staying here? Impossible. You'll have to go somewhere else."  
+    The Terin was distracted, eyes fixed on the hyroo still. "There has been talk of receding genes, of young ones hibernating in the soil and awaiting the proper conditions to grow. Yes, yes. This is what must have happened..." but then a frown replaced the expression of wonder, "staying here? Impossible. You'll have to go somewhere else."  
     Eka removed the scarf, revealing a red head of hair, "time, shelter and medicine, in exchange for 3 questions about my friend Hush."  
     "How will I know your answers aren't lies?"  
     "You can trust me."  
@@ -812,22 +812,21 @@ the rest, and more!"
     The Terin took a deep breath. "You can stay until your friend's condition improves, but you can't wander around my grounds without me saying so, and you can't touch *anything* unless given to you. Is that clear?"  
     Eka nodded in thanks. Lupen breathed out a weak, but heartfelt thank you. The Verido was sweating profusely, eyelids heavy, drawn down by many tiny invisible hands.  
     "I need some medililly herbs to treat my friend's wounds."  
-    The Terin promised to bring some fresh sprigs over later, returning to the house atop the hill. 
-    Hush started to whine then, with Eka nodding to every grunt and growl, "yes I agree. Our host seems overprotective, but has a big heart! I'm glad you picked up on that."  
-    Eka raised their tent, helped Lupen inside and sat down to watch the orange dogs walking through the fields. They looked at every single crop, their antennae prodding them gently, as if they were asking them about their health. The oasis was divided into many parts. The front had fresh produce, like karonins and babams, teaweet and other grains sat in between the vegetables and the small house atop the hill. Eka could see a space contoured by tall hedges behind that, but the green fence made it impossible to see what was inside.  
+    The Terin promised to bring some fresh sprigs over later, returning to the house atop the hill.  
+    Hush started to whine then, with Eka nodding to every grunt and growl, "yes I agree. Our host is overprotective, and has a big heart! I'm glad you picked up on that."  
+    Eka raised their tent, helped Lupen inside and sat down to watch the orange dogs walking through the fields. They looked at every single crop, their antennae prodding them gently, as if they were asking them about their health. The oasis was divided into many parts. The front had fresh produce, like karonins[^45] and babams, teaweet and other grains sat in between the vegetables and the small house atop the hill. Eka could see a space contoured by tall hedges behind that, but the green fence made it impossible to see what was inside.  
     Waldek would come by their tent often to check on them. A very good mapa, Eka thought.  
 
 Later that day, the voice of the Terin sounded outside of the tent.  
     "Hello Zucca!" Eka wandered out, "you can call me Eka, and that trumpet-eared invalid in there is Lupen."  
     "How do you know my name?"  
-    "Oh, your leafhound Waldek told Hush and Hush told me because I don't speak
-leafhound, not *well* anyway. I always mix up the subtleties in the yaps. Don't get me started on the yips! It's a very tonal language, not easy to master, and there are *so* many dialects!"  
+    "Oh, your leafhound Waldek told Hush, and Hush told me because I don't speak leafhound, not *well* anyway. I always mix up the subtleties in the yaps. Don't get me started on the yips! It's a very tonal language, not easy to master, and there are *so* many dialects!"  
     "I don't like lies, or jokes. I'm going to apply your friend's medicine. I don't want to hear any more nonsense." Zucca prepared two medililly poultices. The soft, moist mass was applied to Lupen and Hush's wounds, and wrapped carefully with a clean strip of notcott cloth. "What is the name of the mountain you spoke about, where the hyroos grow? It's within the Central Rim isn't it?" Zucca asked, eyes locked on the hyroo. The large-eared creature was resting now, coiled into a tight ball with its head hidden. Its body expanded and contracted with every breath. Zucca put a hand to the hyroo's side, inspecting its fur.  
     "It hasn't got one, places without names remain strangely unseen."  
     "You won't say. You think I'll tell?"  
     "I'm telling you the truth. It *hasn't* got one."  
     "Okay. Fine." Zucca was displeased with this answer. "So then, how long do hyroos live for?"  
-    "Two haty'annum[^]? Maybe? It really depends."  
+    "Two haty'annums? Maybe? It really depends."  
     "And how old is Hush?"  
     "Less than an annum old, Hush is very green," saying this, Eka turned to caress the back of the sleeping hyroo.  
     "They grow that big in just one annum? Remarkable."  
@@ -863,11 +862,10 @@ The next day, Hush was sitting outside the tent with Waldek, healthy, gnawing co
                                             ~  
 
     "I made you some toast! Eka style!" Eka said, presenting this tasty creation to the bed-bound Verido.  
-    Lupen was awake, and was looking much better. "Whoa! Fresh
-mapples! Zucca let you take them?" With eyes now closed, the patient took a bite, as if the momentary absence of one sense could heighten another.  
+    Lupen was awake, and was looking much better. "Whoa! Fresh mapples! Zucca let you take them?" With eyes now closed, the patient took a bite, as if the momentary absence of one sense could heighten another.  
     "It was a gift from our friend Waldek. Our little secret! Oh! You're going
 to *love* this place Lu! It's full of greens and oranges and purples and—"  
-    Yesterday, Lupen had been too sick to take in the details of the oasis, but now beyond the fragrant poetry of the mapple toast, this nose detected hints of sweet norcorn and teaweet in the air.  
+    Yesterday, Lupen had been too sick to take in the details of the oasis, but now beyond the fragrant poetry of the mapple toast, this nose detected hints of sweet norcorn[^46] and teaweet in the air.  
     "—and blues!" Eka finished.  
     "Looking forward to seeing that," Lupen said with a smile, before taking note of the poultice, "thanks for taking care of me."  
     "Sure Sure! Zucca made that poultice for you though, that's what healed
@@ -884,10 +882,10 @@ Under the midday suns, Lupen and Eka sat in front of their tent, playing the gam
     Lupen took the jar in turn, and frowned. "Popmeg? Yea *right*! It's dilly."  
     "You know, it's okay to make the same guess as me." Eka said, grabbing the last jar to smell it, "dilly."  
     Lupen was going to start complaining about how unfair the game was because Eka knew everything about everything always, but then they heard Zucca yelling outside. They peered out through the opening of their tent, spotting the Terin chasing pale winged insects out of a plumpkin field.    
-    "Oh! You have mosslings in your produce!" Eka said.  
+    "Oh! You have mosslings[^47] in your produce!" Eka said.  
     "Can't get rid of them. They hate lemilim grass so I planted some to keep them away, but I'm beginning to think they've developed a taste for it. Curse these things, they make everything rot!" Zucca said, breathing hard, tired from chasing after them.  
     Lupen had stayed near the tent, sipping tea, content despite the ever-present chest pains. The oasis had a voice, speaking through the rustling of the various plants. A concerto of greenery. There were not many around to listen, a handful of hounds, the caretaker, and Eka. Zucca and the hounds were producing all of this food for themselves, with no one else around to feed, that is unless there was a village of tiny people over there in that walled garden by the house. Lupen brought up the topic later that day, when tasked with peeling babams for their meal.  
-    "Let's ask the vegetables!" Eka set the peeled babams down in a pot and wandered over to the fields, stopping near a mossling-infested karonin patch, "hey there, how are you all feeling?" Eka paused, then laughed aloud, "yea, those mosslings are relentless aren't they?"  
+    "Let's ask the vegetables!" Eka set the peeled babams down in a pot and wandered over to the fields, stopping near a mossling-infested karonin patch, "hey there, how are you all feeling?" Eka paused, then laughed aloud, "yea, those mosslings are relentless, aren't they?"  
     Lupen watched from afar, frowning. "Stop it. You do not speak vegetable."  
     Eka responded with a quick shush, then resumed the conversation. "So what's the deal with Zucca anyway?" Eka pressed an ear against the side of a karonin, listening for an answer, "oh! A *secret* you *say*?"  
     Lupen watched, resisting the urge to ask about what the karonin was saying. Asking would mean giving into this prank, but then again Eka knew a lot about the world, perhaps there was such a thing as Vegetable Speak, a language of light and vibrations. After a short conversation, Eka rose and wandered back over to Lupen.  
@@ -910,7 +908,7 @@ most the village had two children growing at once, this place had many more. A n
     Lost in thought, Lupen had only just noticed a figure moving inside the house. It was time to leave. The Verido hurried back towards the bushes. Precipitated by the fear of being discovered, Lupen kicked dirt over the footprints, threw the broken branches back into the hedge, and pushed through the dense thicket before emerging on the other side.  
 
 "You *do* realize I was making fun of you. Zucca *does* have a secret though, that much is clear," Eka said.  
-    "There's a nursery in there! Full of tiny people like we said! A nursery encircled by hedges. There's tons of grains, and rows and rows of growing  children!" the Verido paused then, "think Zucca's raising an army?"  
+    "There's a nursery in there! Full of tiny people like we said! A nursery encircled by hedges. There's tons of grains, and rows and rows of growing children!" the Verido paused then, "think Zucca's raising an army?"  
     Eka laughed at this, "definitely. They'll be carving swords from karonins, and helmets from hollowed-out kyabe!"  
     Just then, they heard barking outside. The hounds were likely chasing away another floater, but then there were strange voices, followed by Zucca's classic line: "Get off my land!"  
     Lupen and Eka poked their heads out of the tent to look at the scene, Zucca was at the edge of the oasis with a band of leafhounds, barring entry to a vennec-pulled wagon and three travelers.  
@@ -930,7 +928,7 @@ angry eyes moved to Lupen. "You're with *them* aren't you? They sent you ahead d
     "I like to think I am, yes."  
     Zucca's face was warped with rage. "You were in my nursery today. Don't deny it! I know you were there! What did you see? You stole from me didn't you?"  
     Lupen knew it was dumb to think that their host wouldn't find out, only a blind person could have missed that large hole in the hedge. "I'm sorry. I *did* go, but I took nothing."  
-    "I'm sick of this! Of people like you coming in here feigning kindness to steal from me!"  
+    "I'm sick of this! Of people like you coming in here, feigning kindness to steal from me!"  
     Lupen was afraid of what Zucca would do in this heightened state, then Eka landed back in the oasis with Hush and the injured traveler. "Why did you bring that filth back in here!?" Zucca's voice was becoming shrill with fury.  
     "We need to care for these wounds," Eka said, carrying the injured traveler, which did not help to suppress Zucca's growing anger.  
     "I made a mistake letting you come in here." Zucca's hand dove into the side pouch again, but Lupen grabbed the Terin's arm.  
@@ -954,12 +952,12 @@ Zucca, Lupen, Eka were in the tent. The Terin decided not to rest until all the
     "You have so much produce, more than enough to feed yourself and those hounds for annums. I just wanted to understand. Besides, you can't know that people will want more, the travelers just wanted a bit of help."  
     "You're right, I can't know, so I prefer to assume that they're false, it's safer for the children and I." The Terin dipped a finger in some of the pipe ash and drew a symbol on the tent wall, a circle with a diamond shape in its centre.  
     Lupen eyed the symbol carefully, but did not recognize it.  
-    Zucca took another long puff from the pipe, before exhaling again. "You Verido live very sheltered lives, don't you? It's the Irideri city emblem," then sighed, exhaling yellow smoke. "Iridi people are obssessed with chloromyce shroos, a plant with unique properties. They discovered it about a ki'annum ago. Harvesting them was hard work, Iridi workers had to spend days in the dark, digging. They didn't want their people to do grunt work, so they began to enlist workers from neighbouring cities to do the harvesting for them. At first, there was promise of compensation, they would be housed and fed and allowed to live in one of the fastest growing cities in the Soronan Desert. Empty promises. Workers were confined to the caves, they were not allowed to mingle with the Iridi people in the city. Evidently, as news of the horrid work conditions traveled, few enlisted. The Iridi then decided that their only option was to capture workers. Their first target was Ministe, where I lived at the time. The city was quickly overrun with Iridi soldiers, and many of my friends were taken. Those who could fled to nearby villages, they soon became overcrowded. Many were forbidden from planting their young, but it was just as well because malnutrition was rampant, and not many could produce healthy seeds." Zucca paused to refill the pipe with fresh bonan leaves.  
-    "The Iridi had a steady flow of chloromyce shroos, but their leader Moera was greedy, and tired of dealing with Terin workers. My people work hard, but we're stubborn." Saying this, Zucca's hand rolled into a fist. "Moera decided that they would have to grow their own workers instead, only then, would they be fully submissive. Myself, along with a handful of other Terins, built the Suvalba Sanctuary, where a mapa could come and sow their young in a protected environment. It was a secret location, and it worked well for many annums, but then a group of Iridi soldiers got word of it. They raided the sanctuary and took all of the unsown seeds, and detroyed the rest. I escaped with a collection of seeds, and some of the resident leafhounds. Losing the sanctuary was... hard, harder on the parents that had trusted us with their young. We weren't soldiers, we couldn't fight back."  
+    Zucca took another long puff from the pipe, before exhaling again. "You Verido live very sheltered lives, don't you? It's the Irideri city emblem," then sighed, exhaling yellow smoke. "Iridi people are obssessed with chloromyce shroos, a plant with unique properties. They discovered it about a ki'annum ago. Harvesting them was hard work, Iridi workers had to spend days in the dark digging. They didn't want their people to do grunt work, so they began to enlist workers from neighbouring cities to do the harvesting for them. At first, there was promise of compensation, they would be housed and fed and allowed to live in one of the fastest growing cities in the Soronan Desert. Empty promises. Workers were confined to the caves, they were not allowed to mingle with the Iridi people in the city. Evidently, as news of the horrid work conditions traveled, few enlisted. The Iridi then decided that their only option was to capture workers. Their first target was Ministe, where I lived at the time. The city was quickly overrun with Iridi soldiers, and many of my friends were taken. Those who could fled to nearby villages. They soon became overcrowded, as a result many were forbidden from planting their young, but it was just as well because malnutrition was rampant, and not many could produce healthy seeds." Zucca paused to refill the pipe with fresh bonan leaves.  
+    "The Iridi had a steady flow of chloromyce shroos, but their leader Moera was greedy, and tired of dealing with Terin workers. My people work hard, but we're stubborn." Saying this, Zucca's hand rolled into a fist. "Moera decided that they would have to grow their own workers instead, only then, would they be fully submissive. Myself, along with a handful of other Terins, built the Suvalba Sanctuary, where a mapa could come and sow their young in a protected environment. It was a secret location, and it worked well for many annums, but then a group of Iridi soldiers got word of it. They raided the sanctuary and took all of the unsown seeds, and destroyed the rest. I escaped with a collection of seeds, and some of the resident leafhounds. Losing the sanctuary was... hard, harder on the parents that had trusted us with their young. We weren't soldiers, we couldn't fight back."  
     "Alone, I searched for a place to start fresh, somewhere far and hidden. While on the outskirts of Montore, I met two strangers in the desert who told me about a place that was still invisible to the world and that could host such a project. Tired, and desperate, I followed their instructions. I found the place. It was perfect. There was a great recess in the land, surrounded by large irinwood trees, and rows of fragglebush on the ground. This was no mirage. It was a miraculous remnant of the old world. The trees and shrubs would protect the new sanctuary from sand dunes shifting in high winds and from the eyes of curious onlookers. In the hollow, I found a boundless waterstone pit. But there was nothing growing there, getting it to the state it is now took a long time, and a lot of work."  
     "I'm glad they never found this place," Lupen said, relieved.  
     "The Iridi might have expanded much further, if it hadn't been for the
-loss of The Luminary. No one knows what happened, but it was enough to stop the armies from advancing further. The next leader, Bao The Bright, put an end to it, with their newfound source of workers, they stopped the raids and closed their city to the world." Zucca's eyes had burned through the tent wall, parted the row of irinwood trees, shifted the sand dunes and split whole mountains to better watch Irideri, to make sure that the Iridi city was still dormant, still closed to the world. "May those brutes never leave the Andenuis again."  
+loss of their Luminary Moera. No one knows what happened, but it was enough to stop the armies from advancing further. The next leader, Bao The Bright, put an end to it. Now with a reliable source of workers, they stopped the raids and closed their city to the world." Zucca's eyes had burned through the tent wall, parted the row of irinwood trees, shifted the sand dunes and split whole mountains to better watch Irideri, to make sure that the Iridi city was still dormant, still closed to the world. "May those brutes never leave the Andenuis again."  
 
 The next day, Zucca allowed Eka and Lupen to view the nursery, while Hush and the hounds were left in charge of the patient in the tent. Everyone on this dust ball was born in the earth, from seeds. A willing, and healthy parent could sow a seed, and eventually the seed would grow into a child. This could take a long time, depending on the state of the soil and temperature. Some could only grow in the dark, others in high-moisture environments, even altitude played a part in the growing process. On their birth day, a carer would sever their roots, helping each child out of the ground. The children needed protection and good nutrition to thrive. The leaves on their heads would fall in time, and like the roots, they left no marks behind.  
     Zucca pointed to the markings on Lupen's face, "those lines are a remnant of when everyone lived in the wilds. The Verido didn't have colour on their faces then. The colour segregation of your people is unfortunate Lupen, I rather liked the subtleties of the patterns from before, like veins on a leaf. These colours are so vulgar."  
@@ -974,7 +972,7 @@ always end with Lupen feeling terrible.
     Eka had wandered to another part of the nursery, accompanied by Waldek
 who was excited to show how big the leaves of the children in the far end of the field had become.  
     "I guess I don't really want to sow seeds either." Lupen said to Zucca,
-eyes on a leaf, part of a row reserved for Aodal children. "My reasons are selfish. I've always had pressure to do it. Because of my connection with the Ilk and to Volare... it was always expected of me. I would have to sow a seed, to raise another Voice. It's kind of a big deal. Now that I left, my branch of the family has ended. I feel bad to say it, but I'm sort of, you know... relieved."  
+eyes on a leaf, part of a row reserved for Aodal children. "My reasons are selfish. I've always had pressure to do it. Because of my connection with the Ilk, and to Volare... it was always expected of me. I would have to sow a seed, to raise another Voice. It's kind of a big deal. Now that I left, my branch of the family has ended. I feel bad to say it, but I'm sort of, you know... relieved."  
     "Don't dwell on it. You would make a terrible mapa,"
 Zucca said, looking at the leaves of a nearby growing child.  
     Lupen laughed, Zucca's honesty was brutal at times, but correct in this case. "Yea. Maybe."  
@@ -982,7 +980,7 @@ Zucca said, looking at the leaves of a nearby growing child.
 Lupen returned to the tent midday, to check on their patient.  
     "Can you help us?" The patient was awake and sat up, despite the wounds being fresh. A pair of thin hands shot forward and grabbed onto Lupen, saying it again again, but with more confidence this time. "Help us."  
     "To do what exactly?" Lupen wanted to look away, but couldn't.  
-    "We need food if we hope to make it back to Kippu. All the usual places we went to find cactubs or gingin root, were empty... it's never happened before."  
+    "We need food if we hope to make it back to Kippu. All the usual places we go to find cactubs or gingin roots, were empty... it's never happened before."  
     "This annum's been tough, I heard. I'm sure we can convince Zucca to part with some produce."  
     "That would be wonderful. By the way, my name is Laris." Laris began to relax, releasing the Verido and melting back into the bed. "You've been here a while then? Have you seen the nursery?"  
     "Why do you ask?" Lupen replied, unsure if it was a good idea to speak about this.  
@@ -1004,7 +1002,7 @@ Lupen decided to go and speak with Zucca again, walked around the property, past
 their time begging for food. They should try gardening, or learning to forage, instead of living like parasites."  
     "Laris told me the harvest was poor out there," Lupen said, "I thought you cared about all life."  
     "I do," Zucca replied, irritated, "I'll give
-them food and they'll ask to stay, then they'll ask to see the nursery. The nursery makes everyone lose their minds. Many feel that this world has too many unfed mouths. Mouths. What about minds I wonder? No one wants to learn. Hardly anyone can name all of the plants that grow where they live. Yes, I could teach the younger ones how to sow and care for food. I could do that, but I can't teach adults." Zucca's voice was gentle, even if the words were harsh, the farmer knew better than to be angry in a nursery. The children slept in the ground, their leaves swaying from side to side as they dreamed good dreams. "Nowadays most prefer the comforts and conveniences of a town, rather than finding their own food in the desert. There's plenty out there, but it takes time, it is difficult, and you can't be picky. The absolute guarantee of comfort and safety is all anyone ever cares about now."  
+them food and they'll ask to stay, then they'll ask to see the nursery. The nursery makes everyone lose their minds. Many feel that this world has too many unfed mouths. Mouths. What about minds, I wonder? No one wants to learn. Hardly anyone can name all of the plants that grow where they live. Yes, I could teach the younger ones how to sow and care for food. I could do that, but I can't teach adults." Zucca's voice was gentle, even if the words were harsh, the farmer knew better than to be angry in a nursery. The children slept in the ground, their leaves swaying from side to side as they dreamed good dreams. "Nowadays most prefer the comforts and conveniences of a town, rather than finding their own food in the desert. There's plenty out there, but it takes time, it is difficult, and you can't be picky. The absolute guarantee of comfort and safety is all anyone ever cares about now."  
     The Soronan Desert had plenty of nomads, but every annum, more and more settled into towns, lured by the promise of stability. Lupen spied a sign on the back of the house.  
 
 > *Wherever you tread, greenery will follow.* 
@@ -1013,7 +1011,7 @@ them food and they'll ask to stay, then they'll ask to see the nursery. The nurs
     Zucca noticed the Verido's wandering eyes. "My people used to find all they needed out there. We'd walk from garden to garden, sow as we go. Many don't like what I do because it is so laborious, but as I said, their lives matter more than mine, I'll do it even if it means I don't have time for anything else."  
     "But if you had help?"  
     Zucca's hands were gripping so hard at a waterstone that clear liquid was seeping out of the hard skin, from tiny cracks zigzagging on the sides. "Everyone is false."    
-    Lupen swallowed hard, "Eka told me that those who grow up in Montore aren't taught these things anymore. If they don't know what's important, then how is it their fault? I mean, I  didn't know what a cactub was until someone taught me. You said it yourself, you'll teach the children to care for themselves. Why not teach travelers?"  
+    Lupen swallowed hard, "Eka told me that those who grow up in Montore aren't taught these things anymore. If they don't know what's important, then how is it their fault? I mean, I didn't know what a cactub was until Eka taught me. You said it yourself, you'll teach the children to care for themselves. Why not teach travelers?"  
     "You would have me care for this land *and* a school for inept gardeners? I've got no time for it. Besides, grown adults do not change their ways... they just don't. They lie, they come to steal, and I won't give them any more of my precious time." With this, Lupen was ordered away. At least the hounds couldn't talk, they only yipped and yapped to report a problem. "You will leave with that vagrant tomorrow. I'll deal with my own problems. I always have."  
     "You know not everyone is like this. I'm sure you can all live here together. You'll need help to raise all those children, right? Give them a chance," Lupen insisted, in a near-begging tone.  
     Zucca eyes darkened then, lines formed in places where there had been
@@ -1021,17 +1019,17 @@ none previously. "You understand nothing. Get out. Gather your things and go." W
 
 Lupen returned to the tent and told Eka everything that had happened, the conversation with Laris, and the one with Zucca too. Eka was running fingers over Laris's face, even in sleep, the traveler looked worn-out, near-spent.  
     "Zucca wants us to leave," Lupen said, hurt by the Terin's indifference.  
-    "Then, we will do what Zucca says." Eka replied. "You know, back in the old days, Terins used to do check-ups on the Ilk. They did this every annum, back when Ministe was still standing. The Voices would report to the Terins on the annum, on the pains the Ilk may have mentioned. When Ministe fell, a Terin, Melanza, boarded the Ilk of Volare, taught your people how to care for Vol, and helped to create the Hands, as you know them. Terins can see sickness and health in others, it's second-nature. They're the carers of the world."  
-    Lupen swallowed hard then, "when the carers are as spent as Zucca, as near-extinct, what does that say of the state of the world?"  
+    "Then, we will do what Zucca says." Eka replied. "You know, back in the old days, Terins used to do check-ups on the Ilk. They did this every annum, back when Ministe was still standing. The Voices would report to the Terins on the annum, on the pains the Ilk may have mentioned. When Ministe fell, a Terin boarded the Ilk of Volare, taught your people how to care for Vol, and helped to create the Hands, as you know them. Terins can see sickness and health in others, it's second-nature. They're the carers of the world."  
+    Lupen swallowed hard then, "when the carers are as spent as Zucca, what does that say of the state of the world?"  
     "Get some rest," Eka said with a smile, "it's late."  
     All went to sleep, but not Laris, who had overheard their conversation. In the dark, the patient left their bed and went over to the house atop the hill. The strong scent of the medililly poultices covered up all smells, no leafhound could smell Laris. Laris pushed through the hedge, like Lupen had done, and arrived on the other side, where slept, row after row, unborn children with green tops sticking out of the soil. They looked beautiful under the moonlights, casting tiny shadows. To Laris, this field was a thing of cruelty, this land would not keep its promise and would not stay green. Panicked, Laris's hands dove into the dirt, fingers wrapping tightly around the stem of a child. "You won't suffer like I did. I won't allow it."  
 
 Zucca awoke to tend to the usual early day chores. Walking into the nursery, the Terin froze, Laris was sitting in the nursery, hands full of dirt and head hanging low.  
     "Why are you here?"  
     There was a long silence, but eventually, Laris spoke up. "I wanted to
-rip out every single one. To spare them of all misery, but I couldn't. I couldn't do it."  
+rip out every single one. To spare them of all misery, but I couldn't do it."  
     Zucca stepped forward and looked around to make sure that all of the children were safe. Laris had done nothing, all swayed gently in the early first sunrise breeze, calm and content.  
-    The Terin was relieved, and could resume breathing again. Zucca grabbed hold of the intruder's arm, but the fingers found a food patch, "you've been living off of this crap?" Upon close inspection, there were other food patches decorating this stranger's skin, all expired, all sucked dry. The Terin took a seat down in the mud, in-between rows of greening leaves, and began to peel the patches off one by one, careful not to hurt Laris. Like a leafhound searching for parasites on a plant, Zucca's fingers searched around for patches. "No one ever tell you you can't live off patches? What a ridiculous invention, these are no substitute for real food..."  
+    The Terin was relieved, and could resume breathing again. Zucca grabbed hold of the intruder's arm, but the fingers found a food patch, "you've been living off of this crap?" Upon close inspection, there were other food patches decorating this stranger's skin, all expired, all sucked dry. The Terin took a seat down in the mud, in-between rows of greening leaves, and began to peel the patches off one by one, careful not to hurt Laris. Like a leafhound searching for parasites on a plant, Zucca's fingers searched around for patches. "No one ever tell you that you can't live off patches? What a ridiculous invention, these are no substitute for real food..."  
     Zucca's tranquility surprised Laris. Despite being handled by gentle, 
 caring hands, these limbs could not stop trembling. "Everyone in Montore uses these."  
     "These," Zucca began, removing yet another patch "are expired. They can help a little when fresh, but not like this."  
@@ -1057,7 +1055,7 @@ It's something new, something I didn't know." A rush of emotions overcame the Te
 aboard their wagon. Before leaving, the Terin looked at Waldek. "You're in charge. And as for you Lupen," the Terin smiled at the Verido. A first. "Don't. Touch. Anything."  
     Lupen laughed, and did as told.  
     Hush disappeared into the distance, and later
-returned, leading the wagon back into the oasis. A meal transformed their faces completely, the three looked less translucent, solid and warm. The Terin agreed to teach the travelers to grow food, in exchange for help around the fields. To start, they would be fed and housed for an annum. It was difficult for Zucca to commit to longer than this, the Terin did not trust others yet, but one annum seemed reasonable and after perhaps they'd be granted an extension, or better yet, permanent residence. The travelers accepted, they had no ties to any city.  
+returned, leading the wagon back into the oasis. A meal transformed their faces completely, the three looked less translucent, solid and warm. The Terin agreed to teach the travelers to grow food, in exchange for help around the fields. To start, they would be fed and housed for an annum. It was difficult for Zucca to commit to longer than this, the Terin did not trust others yet, but one annum seemed reasonable, and after perhaps they'd be granted an extension, or better yet, permanent residence. The travelers accepted, they had no ties to any city.  
 
 The next day, with Zucca's permisson, Eka and Lupen filled their bags with fresh produce. They all stood over a mapple bush, picking the fruit by hand. Lupen grabbed hold of an oversized mapple, its ribbed skin glistening under the suns. The Verido peeled off part of the outer layer and took a big bite. "This doesn't taste anything like that other mapple I had, it's so bitter," Lupen said, nose wrinkling, resisting the urge to spit out the piece, "it hurts my face."  
     "You really know nothing of the world," Zucca said, reaching into the
@@ -1066,8 +1064,8 @@ mapple bush and picking out another fruit, checking the underside of the fruit,
     The Terin glanced at Eka then. "You're also a carer aren't you?
 Do you think that making green places and growing children really matters? On a grand scale I mean... say, you were flying over this rock we all inhabit, or if your head reached high above the clouds."  
     Eka, mouth full of mapples, couldn't answer right away, so Zucca
-decided that this is something that would be better left unasked. "What is your favourite food?"  
-    Eka swallowed the bits of mapple, smiling. "I like noranges a lot, bit
+decided that this was something that would be better left unasked. "What is your favourite food?"  
+    Eka swallowed the bits of mapple, smiling. "I like noranges[^48] a lot, bit
 rare though."  
     The Terin disappeared inside the house, and returned with a small pouch
 made out of weaved norcorn leaves. Inside the pouch was a single seed. "Plant this seed in a
@@ -1100,7 +1098,7 @@ leaf a day, got it. Thank you."
     "It's the law."  
     The clerk reached under the desk and pulled up a durdle, a creature with long ears and a spiked shell, it had a tag stuck to one of its spikes with the writing 'D-126'. "See. Even D-126 here has an ID."  
     "Okay, *fine*. Say I want to get an... *ahy- dee*, where do I get it?"  
-    "You'll need to visit the next stall, Specter. Next!" the clerk called, eager to move on to another customer.  
+    "You'll need to visit the next stall, Specter[^49]. Next!" the clerk called, eager to move on to another customer.  
     "Specter?" Lupen stormed off, looking for that next stall the clerk had mentioned. The stall was easy to find, it had a long line of people standing in front of it, a long, long line, snaking around Montore's outer wall, and lined with colourful tents.  
 
 The city of Montore sat on a hilltop enclosed entirely within a single, continuous wall, made from rammed earth and decorated with geometric motifs. The tops of large hempa sails were visible from the ground, raised high on a ledge atop the wall so that nothing could disturb the wind. The sails lay over a rotating circular track, following the whole top of the city wall. The orientation of each sail changed depending on the wind, their motion was slow, but constant, powering the city.  
@@ -1116,7 +1114,7 @@ The city of Montore sat on a hilltop enclosed entirely within a single, continuo
     Lupen estimated that it would take at least seven days to reach the front desk, "seven days is too long."  
     "Yea, it's long long, but it's the only way any of us can afford kavava root. I just ran out, I'm usually careful to have some left for my time in line, but you know, it is difficult to reason with yourself when you're on kavava," Kuzi said with a laugh, "can't believe I went through the whole thing..."  
     Lupen noticed a root laying in the hand of the person standing ahead of them in line. The Terin was in another world, body swaying slowly from side to side, mouthing nonsensical words.  
-    "Every surrogate in this line is here for Kavava." Kuzi said. 
+    "Every surrogate in this line is here for kavava." Kuzi said. 
     "So everyday, you wait in line to earn coin for kavava, the wait is so long that you consume your entire kavava supply purchased with the coin earned from your previous time in line, so when you reach the front desk you get paid and spend it all on more kavava, then you find someone else to wait in line because you know you'll run out again waiting. That is psychotic Kuzi."   
     "You don't know anything about anything."  
     Lupen frowned and was about to leave but then asked another question. "I was wondering, do you know a Zucca?"  
@@ -1194,7 +1192,7 @@ Every house, or business in this city had thick yellow walls made from a mixture
     "It's just like having the real thing! Try it!"  
     Eka gave the patch a sniff, followed by a quick lick. "Um," Eka thought, giving it another lick, "I can sort of taste it."  
     Lupen licked the babam cake patch too, "yea, I mean. It's fine?"  
-    The tour leader continued to talk about the factory. "Our grand leader Monty had the idea for this wonderful product! It has saved countless lives, and propelled this city to fame!"  
+    The tour leader continued to talk about the factory. "Our Grand-Leader Monty had the idea for this wonderful product! It has saved countless lives, and propelled this city to fame!"  
     "Monty?" Lupen said, loud enough for others to hear.  
     The entire group turned to look at the Verido.  
     "You mean to say you don't know the Grand-Leader's name?" One of the tourists asked.  
@@ -1217,7 +1215,7 @@ Outside, the main city square was filling with people, who gathered around the c
     "Dot! Dot! Dot!"  
     The crowd cheered. Dot smiled and raised two arms to the sky, causing the cheer to become even louder.  
     "Monty! Monty! Monty!"  
-    The character standing on the little rotating platform wore a bright green ensemble with the familiar Montore emblem in the back. "Monty love you all! And dey tank you for your hard work! Montore can no be great as ees widout you!" The crowd cheered once again at these words. "Production of food patch ees at all-time high!" The crowd cheered again, as Dot began to list their yearly accomplishments aloud. Lupen suddenly remembered Gree's coin, and pulled it out from a side pocket to look at it.  
+    The character standing on the little rotating platform wore a bright green ensemble with the familiar Montore emblem in the back. "Monty love you all! And dey tank you for your hard work! Montore can no be great widout you!" The crowd cheered once again at these words. "Production of food patch ees at all-time high!" The crowd cheered again, as Dot began to list their yearly accomplishments aloud. Lupen suddenly remembered Gree's coin, and pulled it out from a side pocket to look at it.  
     "Oh! How did you get this?" Eka said, eyeing the coin.  
     "Gree gave it to me, I don't know what to do with it though. My spirit doesn't feel elevated at all."  
     Eka smirked, grabbed the coin from Lupen's hand, and disappeared into the crowd.  
@@ -1333,22 +1331,22 @@ Later that same day, Kuzi had sold the last of the kavava in exchange for coin t
 
 \newpage
 
-"Irideri," Eka said, "home of the Iridi! That's where we're going next. The Iridi monks there make the *best* chloromyce shroo noodles. The noodles glow in the dark! Plus if you eat too much the soles of your feet become iridescent. Lasts about five days, it's great."  
-    "Monks who make noodles?" Lupen said, while caressing the spot between Hush's ears. The hyroo had carried them much distance and now demanded payment in the form of a head massage.  
-    "Ooh yes! At the end of every annum, Iridi monks go deep underground, into the chasms of the Andenuis and spend ten days there, alone, meditating. When they emerge, they prepare the noodles and eat them together to celebrate the new annum. It symbolizes a renewal of the self, a shedding your old skin kind of thing."  
-    "Alone? In the dark? For a ten days? Oh no no no I could *never* do that." Lupen's hands came around Hush's neck, seeking protection from an invisible threat. "I mean, it's scary isn't it? You're in the dark, there's no one around to talk to, or to touch you. It's like you're not really there." Lupen paused then, swallowing hard. "If I don't feel or see anything, how do I know I exist?"  
-    "Oh Lu. Precious, precious Lu. If you're thinking that you're nothing, you are something. You are a *thinking thing*."  
-    The Verido made a face then, processing these words carefully, "I'm a thinking thing. Thinking things are not nothing." A reassured smile formed on Lupen's lips then. "Having iridescent feet would be fun. I still don't want to go meditating in a cave alone though, hope that's not required to eat chloromyce noodles."  
-    "We shall see!" Eka said, tearing away from Lupen for a moment and reaching into Hush's saddle bag for a book. The book was a dark colour, the pages bound by banabo thread with silvery writing on top. "This book is going to tell us everything we need to know about Irideri."  
-    "Where d'you get that book?" Lupen asked, having no memory of this book ever being around until now.  
+"Irideri," Eka said, "home of the Iridi! That's where we're going next. The monks there make the *best* chloromyce shroo noodles. They glow in the dark! Plus if you eat too much the soles of your feet become iridescent."  
+    "Monks who make noodles?" Lupen said, while caressing the spot between Hush's ears, who had carried them much distance and now demanded payment in the form of a head massage.  
+    "Oh yes! At the end of every annum, Iridi monks go deep underground, into the chasms of the Andenuis and spend ten days there, alone, meditating. When they emerge, they prepare the noodles to celebrate the new annum. It symbolizes a renewal of the self, a shedding of your old skin kind of thing."  
+    "Alone? In the dark? For a ten days? Oh no no no, I could *never* do that. I mean, it's scary isn't it? You're in the dark, there's no one around to talk to, or to touch you. It's like you're not really there." Lupen said, swallowing hard. "If I don't feel or see anything, how do I know I exist?"  
+    "Oh, precious Lu. If you're thinking that you're nothing, you are something. You are a *thinking thing*."  
+    The Verido made a face, processing the words, "I'm a thinking thing. Thinking things are not nothing." A reassured smile formed on Lupen's lips. "Having iridescent feet would be fun. I still don't want to go meditating in a cave alone though, I hope that's not required to eat chloromyce noodles."  
+    "We shall see!" Eka said, tearing away from Lupen for a moment and reaching into Hush's saddle bag for a book bound by banabo thread with silvery writing on top. "This book is going to tell us everything we need to know about Irideri."  
+    "Where d'you get that book?" Lupen asked, having no memory of it ever being around until now.  
     "Borrowed it from the Alkarawin library in Montore." Eka said.  
-    "How we going to return it? I've got no plans to go to Montore again... couldn't even if I wanted to. Remember my walk of shame?"  
-    "I'll woth it back over there." Eka said, smiling at the woth, asleep in the glass ball on Lupen's belt.  
-    "Is that something people say? 'I will *woth* this letter to you?' It is ever used as a verb?" Lupen asked.  
+    "How are we going to return it? I've got no plans to go to Montore again... couldn't even if I wanted to."  
+    "I'll woth it back." Eka said, smiling at the woth, asleep in the glass ball on Lupen's belt.  
+    "Is that something people say? 'I will *woth* this letter to you?'" Lupen asked.  
     "It's something I say, and that others ought to say." Eka said, showing  Lupen the cover of the book, it read *Habitants of the Dark*.  
-    "I had a long talk with Zucca about the Iridi, they ruined a lot of lives. They raided all those villages for workers, destroyed the Suvalba sanctuary, all that just because they didn't want to harvest the chloromyce shroos themselves. It's horrible. Why are they so dependent on them anyway?"  
+    "I had a long talk with Zucca about the Iridi, they ruined a lot of lives. They raided all those villages for workers, destroyed the Suvalba sanctuary, all that because they didn't want to harvest the chloromyce shroos themselves. It's horrible. Why are they so dependent on them anyway?"  
     "That's because of The Luminary, Moera, the first ever Sovereign of Irideri. Moera loved the stuff." Eka opened the book and began to turn the first few pages. It was an old tome, the pages, like the binding thread, were also made from banabo fibers. "I'm going to read the story out loud! I'll make voices and everything."  
-    "I don't care to hear it, I already how it ends." Lupen said.  
+    "I don't care to hear it, I already know how it ends." Lupen said.  
     "Shush, shush, this is not for you, this is for Hush and Wormple the Woth." Eka said. The woth stirred inside its glass ball, but did not rise to the name Wormple. Eka flashed Lupen a smile and began to read aloud...  
 
                                             ~  
@@ -1357,69 +1355,67 @@ Later that same day, Kuzi had sold the last of the kavava in exchange for coin t
 
 >      Moera rose to power in the early days and united the five villages built inside the protective ridge belt of the Andenuis. These villages were combined and named Irideri. Under the order of Moera, the townspeople spent ha'annums[^] digging at the mountain side, they built foundries, to make the tools necessary to erect a beautiful walled city, worthy of their ruler. The Iridi people lived in the light in those days, but everything changed when they found chloromyce shroo in the underground caves.  
 >      Moera was enthralled by their beauty. The Sovereign called upon the best artisan in the city and asked that the chloromyce be embedded into jewlery.  
->      Moera was having tea under the high midday suns when the artisan presented the gift of the crystalized shroo, wrapped in a silvery cloth and adorned with a bright yellow ribbon. Moera undid the ribbon, but once presented to the suns the shroo exploded in a thick cloud of spores, the spores entered Moera's eyes and flesh, rendering Moera blind.  
->      The chloromyce shroos, the kingdom learned, could not be exposed to daylight. On that day, Moera declared that the suns were a menace and decreed that all should seek the light of the chloromyce shroos instead. "For it is pure, and good." Moera believed that the chloromyce shroos would elevate their race beyond all others.  
->      The residents of Irideri began to sleep in the daytime, living in the dark. The only light present was the one emitted by the glow of the chloromyce shroos. Some think that the Sovereign asked everyone to live in the dark to conceal the disfigurement caused by the spores. When the spores had come into contact with the skin, the affected area became forever sensitive to sunlight, manifesting as a terrible rash and painful blisters.  
->      Ingesting dried shroo had stopped the inflammation from spreading to other organs. The Crown began to ingest chloromyce shroo powder, with the belief that in time these eyes would be healed. Eventually, the custom spread through the village. People mirrored the actions of their Monarch, they began to ascribe all sorts of benefits to it. They believed that it kept diseases at bay, or that it gave radiance to their skin. Ingesting chloromyce shroo powder permitted them to live healthy lives in perfect darkness, and their vision too adapted to the low light. Fresh shroo spores were dangerous, it is why Iridi people kept them in closed, glass balls, but when dried they lost their irritative qualities.  
->      The city of Irideri was lit with chloromyce, the Sovereign and royal family too wore clothes made with this shroo.  
->      Overtime, Moera developed sensitivities to loud noises. A servant could be executed for dropping a single object on the ground. From that moment on, all citizens of Irideri left their shoes at the entrance to the palace and walked barefoot inside. This practice of silence was widely adopted because all feared dying at Moera's hand. Eventually, the entire kingdom learned to make as little sound as possible, they kept their voices low. The Iri and underground workers too were instructed not to speak.  
->      Eventually, Moera left this world and the heir to the throne, Bao The Bright assumed the role of Light of Lights. The foot soldier army was disbanded, the mining sites outside of the city were shut, and the kingdom of Irideri shut its doors to all foreign visitors.  
->      Ingesting chloromyce shroos made the habitants of Irideri sensitive to light, causing mild phototoxicity, strengthening their hatred of the suns. Over just 2 generations, their skin greyed and their eyes darkened. Such is the story of the Iridi, the habitants of the dark.  
+>      Moera was having tea under the high midday suns when the artisan presented the gift of the crystalized shroo, wrapped in a silvery cloth adorned with a bright yellow ribbon. Moera undid the ribbon, but once presented to the suns the shroo exploded in a thick cloud of spores, the spores entered the Sovereign's eyes, rendering Moera blind.  
+>      The chloromyce shroos, the kingdom learned, could not be exposed to daylight. On that day, Moera declared that the suns were a menace and decreed that all should seek the light of the chloromyce shroos instead.  
+>      The residents of Irideri began to sleep in the daytime, living in the dark. The only light present was the one emitted by the glow of the chloromyce shroos.  
+>      The Crown began to ingest chloromyce shroo powder, with the belief that in time these eyes would be healed. Eventually, the custom spread through the village, where people mirrored the actions of their Monarch. Ingesting chloromyce shroo powder permitted them to live healthy lives in perfect darkness, and their vision too adapted to the low light. Fresh shroo spores were dangerous, it is why Iridi people kept them in closed, glass balls, but when dried they lost their irritative qualities.  
+>      Overtime, Moera developed a sensitivy to loud noises. A servant could be executed for dropping a spoon on the ground. From that moment on, all citizens of Irideri left their shoes at the entrance to the palace and walked barefoot inside. This practice of silence was widely adopted. The entire kingdom learned to make as little sound as possible, they kept their voices low.  
+>      When Moera left this world, the heir to the throne, Bao The Bright, assumed the role of Light of Lights. The army was disbanded, the mining sites outside of the city were shut, and the kingdom of Irideri shut its doors to all foreign visitors.  
+>      Ingesting chloromyce shroos made the habitants of Irideri sensitive to light, causing mild phototoxicity, strengthening their hatred of the suns. Over just two generations, their skin greyed and their eyes darkened. Such is the story of the Iridi, the habitants of the dark.  
 
                                             ~  
 
-    Eka read on. "They see well in the dark, like we do in daytime. It says here that the chloromyce shroos speak to them, they see words and colours in them!"  
+    Eka read on. "They see clearly in the dark. It says here that the chloromyce shroos speak to them, they see words and colours in them!"  
     Lupen laughed. "I can see words and colours too, all I have to do is eat some bad herbs..."  
-    "Ah! So you *did* listen!" Eka said. "I bet you'll be impressed with the Iridi once we see the city. Well, if we get to see it. It's hard to get inside I've heard." By then, they could make out the shape of the mountain in the distance. The second sun was setting, leaving room for the moons and stars to shine. "Things have to be different now."  
+    "Ah! So you *did* listen!" Eka said. "I bet you'll be impressed with the Iridi once you see the city. Well, if we get to see it. It's hard to get inside I've heard." They could already make out the shape of the mountain in the distance. The second sun was setting, leaving room for the moons and stars to shine. "Things have to be different now."  
     "I hope you're right." Lupen wanted to believe that the Iridi had abandoned their former ways. "Second sun is coming down, let's set up camp."  
 
-As the second sun fell over the horizon, the people of Irideri were waking. The kingdom slept during the day and came alive at dusk. In the palace, Kurono, the Young Light of the realm, was already out of bed. A servant was tending to the royal's hair and clothes. Kurono wore dark robes of a material that shimmered in the light of the chloromyce shroos, with hair that flowed onto the floor, black and straight. Part of Kurono's hair was sculpted into a bun, held up by silver wiring and adorned with colourless jewels.  
-    Hair arrangements, as well as clothes, was important in Irideri. Your outer facade was a reflection of your inner self. Untidy hair would communicate to others that you had no discipline, that your thoughts were cluttered, but having a well-sculpted head of hair was a sign that your life was in perfect order. It didn't matter if you were ill of body or sick of mind, as long as the outer shell was intact.  
-    Iri, a servant, was helping the Young Crown get ready. The servant wore a tight hood, with the face covered by a mask from the nose down. This mask was a symbol of silence, of servitude, a reminder to others that Iri were not allowed to speak. Servant-wear was simple, with little skin visible, aside from the eyes and forehead. They had no eyebrows, no discerning physical traits or means of producing an expression.  
-    Iri always had a tall silver rod in hand, topped with a T. Dangling from one branch was a glass ball, and in it, a glowing chloromyce shroo. In public, Iri shadowed Kurono and made sure that no part of the Monarch-To-Be was left unlit. Most of the kingdom was kept dark, making the presence of a royal in the room the centre of attention.  
-    "Playroom Iri." The Young Light said with a sigh, knowing that being in a room designed for play without a playmate wouldn't be much fun at all. There wasn't anyone around to play with. Iri was a good servant, but a poor playmate because all who served Irideri could not talk unless spoken to. Iri had even fewer privileges, they couldn't eat, sleep, walk, or move without Kurono saying so. It was forbidden to assign them names, and so all servants of the Light shared a single one: Iri.  
-    Today nothing amused Kurono, not even the large collection of puzzles filling the room. These contraptions were more friend to this Young Light than any living person, but all had been solved many times over and held no more secrets.  
-    Life was a dull affair in the palace, and Kurono ached for things to be different.  
+As the second sun fell over the horizon, the people of Irideri were waking. The kingdom slept during the day and came alive at dusk. In the palace, Kurono, the Young Light of the realm, was already out of bed. Kurono wore dark robes that shimmered in the light of the chloromyce shroos. Part of Kurono's hair was sculpted into a bun, held up by silver wiring and adorned with colourless jewels, the rest was down and stopped short of touching the floor.  
+    Hair arrangement, as well as clothing, was important in Irideri. Your outer facade was a reflection of your inner self. Untidy hair communicated that you have no discipline, that your thoughts are cluttered, but having a well-sculpted head of hair is a sign that your life is in perfect order.  
+    Iri was helping the Young Crown get ready. The servant's face was covered by a mask from the nose down, which was a symbol of silence, of servitude, a reminder to others that Iri were not allowed to speak. Servant-wear was simple, with little skin visible, aside from the eyes and forehead. They had no eyebrows, no discerning physical traits or means of producing an expression.  
+    Iri always had a tall silver rod in hand, topped with a T shape. Dangling from one branch was a glass ball, and in it, a glowing chloromyce shroo. In public, Iri shadowed Kurono and made sure that the Monarch-To-Be was never unlit. Most of the kingdom was kept dark, making the presence of a royal in the room the centre of attention.  
+    "Playroom Iri." The Young Light said with a sigh, knowing that being in a room designed for play without a playmate wouldn't be much fun at all. There wasn't anyone around to play with. Iri was a good servant, but a poor playmate because all who served Irideri could not talk unless spoken to. Iri had even fewer privileges, they couldn't eat, sleep, walk, or move without Kurono saying so. All servants of the Light shared a single name: Iri.  
+    Today, nothing amused Kurono, not even the large collection of puzzles filling the room. These contraptions had been more friend than any living person, but all had been solved and held no more secrets.    
     "Will you dance with me Iri?" the Young Light asked suddenly.  
-    Speaking with Iri gave little distraction, but did offer some release. Having an ear to talk to with a mouth bound by law meant that anything could be said without fear of punishment.  
-    Iri flashed an open hand then. This gesture meant: Have no illusions about me. I am not worthy of language. I am nothing.  
-    "Would you deny a request by your crown-to-be?" Kurono asked with a smile. "Dance me with *now*, I demand it!" The Little Light stood up and went to take the servant's hands. Iri could not refuse such a request, or any other. For Iri, Kurono's word was law.  
-    Kurono lead the confused Iri into a waltz. "Do as I do." Iri followed Kurono's steps well enough. After a while it was difficult to tell that this Iri had never before danced a waltz. Iri had been part of Kurono's life for a long time and knew many secrets, like how this Young Light enjoyed overcooked peagram dumplings, the smell of Montimori flowers, and the feeling of a warm shawl on cold evenings.  
+    Kurono spoke to Iri often, having an ear to talk to with a mouth bound by law meant that anything could be said without fear of punishment.  
+    Iri flashed an open hand then, which meant: Have no illusions about me. I am not worthy of language. I am nothing.  
+    "Would you deny a request by your crown-to-be?" Kurono asked with a smile. "Dance me with *now*, I demand it!" The Little Light stood up and went to take the servant's hands. Iri could not refuse.  
+    Kurono lead the confused Iri into a waltz. "Do as I do." Iri followed Kurono's steps well enough. After a while it was difficult to tell that this Iri had never before danced a waltz. Iri had been part of Kurono's life for a long time and knew many things, like how this Young Light enjoyed overcooked peagram dumplings, and the smell of Montimori flowers.  
     "I've been thinking about this a lot," the Young Crown began, "you've never given me any gifts on any of my past Green Days. I am *very* upset about that."  
     Iri began to sweat, upsetting Kurono was punishable by death.  
     "Don't worry! I know what I want you to give me," both stopped dancing then, but Kurono kept hold of the servant's hand. "I want...no, I *need* to hear your voice."  
-    Iri appeared calm, but the organs inside were all twisted up into knots. Every breath caused this body great pain. Once again, an open hand came to pass in front of the servant's face to mean: I am nothing. I am the lowest of lows, and not worthy of your time and attention.  
-    "I know I'm asking a *lot*, but I promise you I won't tell. You're friend to me Iri, the only one I've got and I'm sick of doing all the talking. No one here listens to me, but you do! I know it's your job to listen, but surely there's more to us than this? Surely, there are some beautiful, unique thoughts in that head of yours. I want to know what they are. I want to know *you*."  
-    The servant motioned with a hand: I am nothing. Iri was lower than dirt and not worthy of Kurono's friendship.   
+    Iri appeared calm, but the organs inside were all twisted up into knots. With every breath came great pain. Once again, an open hand came to pass in front of the servant's face to mean: I am nothing.  
+    "I know I'm asking a *lot*, but I promise you I won't tell. You're the only friend I've got, and I'm sick of doing all the talking. No one here listens to me, but you do! Surely, there are some beautiful, unique thoughts in that head of yours. I want to know what they are. I want to know *you*."  
+    The servant motioned with a hand: I am nothing.  
     "I'm *ordering* you to speak to me Iri." The Crown-To-Be demanded, with mounting irritation.  
-    Iri was conflicted. The rules of the realm forbade servants of the Light to speak, but the Young Crown demanded it. The purpose of an Iri was to do what was asked, but doing it meant breaking yet another rule. Denying Kurono's request was unthinkable. Rules would be broken either way. Making a decision was impossible, Iri never decided anything, not for others and not for themselves.  
+    Iri was conflicted. The rules of the realm forbade servants of the Light to speak, but the Young Crown demanded it. The purpose of an Iri was to do what was asked, but doing it meant breaking another rule. Rules would be broken either way. Making a decision was impossible.  
     Irritated by this silence, the Young Light moved forward and tore the mask covering Iri's mouth. Kurono hated silence and rules, perhaps now with it gone Iri would speak.  
-    Even without the presence of that physical barrier, the servant's lips produced no sound. The servant followed the laws of Irideri. Now, with lips unmasked, Kurono could see the Iri mouthing the words. I am nothing. I am nothing. Iri, lower than dirt, of no value to anyone, anywhere, ever...  
-    Kurono's teacher Mura came at the door then, but could not enter, the door had been locked from the inside. "Oooh Young One! It is time for your history lesson!"  
+    Even without the presence of that physical barrier, the servant's lips produced no sound. The servant followed the laws of Irideri. Now, with lips unmasked, Kurono could see the Iri mouthing the words. I am nothing. I am nothing.  
+    Kurono's teacher Mura came at the door then, but could not enter, the door had been locked from the inside. "Young One! It is time for your history lesson!"  
     Kurono stuck a tongue out at the closed door. "I don't want to! Go away!" Then, went on to pinch Iri's nose, "you're going to have to open your mouth to breathe sometime!" Iri's mouth remained shut and the face contouring it turned a deep shade of blue.  
     Mura was in the hall still, muttering behind the closed door. "Our Brightest will *not* be pleased with you Young Light!"  
     "I don't care!" Kurono yelled, eyes fixed on Iri's face, watching it turn a deep and unsightly purple colour. "You're not going to die like *this* are you?"  
-    Iri had no death wish, this one could not serve Kurono, or The Realm if dead. Realizing this, the servant's mouth opened and Iri took a deep breath.  
-    Kurono gasped. Iri had no tongue. Back in the old days, those who knew things The Crown deemed unsavoury had their tongues and vocal cords cut out. Kurono thought that this custom was long gone, the previous monarch thought it was too barbaric. The Young Crown's eyes moved to Iri's neck and spied a number hidden under the collar, the number "10" written in flesh. "Ten? What is *this*?"  
+    Iri had no death wish, this one could not serve Kurono, or the realm if dead. The servant's mouth opened, and Iri took a deep breath.  
+    Kurono gasped. Iri had no tongue. Back in the old days, those who knew things the Crown deemed unsavoury had their tongues and vocal cords cut out. Kurono thought that this custom was long gone, the previous monarch thought it was too barbaric. The Young Crown's eyes moved to Iri's neck and spied a number hidden under the collar, the number "10" written in flesh. "10? What is *this*?"  
     Iri hurriedly pressed a finger to the Young Light's lips with a low, "shush!"  
-    Kurono had never seen Iri behave like this. The servant's face was warped by emotion, by fear. For the first time there was a semblance of personality inside of this Iri, something that had long been hidden away. The Young Light was happy to have witnessed it, but was also sad to have seen the stress so plainly.  
-    When Kurono tried to speak again, Iri put a whole hand over the Young Crown's mouth. They locked eyes, both were shocked at what was happening. Kurono did not try to stop Iri, and Iri was so tense that the arm attached to that hand felt like it was frozen in place.  
-    Mura's voice resounded in the hallway once again. "I am *very* upset with you Kurono. Now where is that key..."  
-    Iri's arm yieled then, going limp, panicked at the thought of having touched the Little Light without permission. Hearing the sound of the teacher fiddling with the door lock, Iri tore the mask from Kurono's hands and returned it to its rightful place.  
-    The door opened with Mura looking very displeased. "I will not ask again. Iri, walk Kurono to the study hall". With this Mura left, leaving them alone again.  
-    Iri walked to the door and Kurono decided to do as told, following the servant to the study hall, all the while staring at Iri's neck and thinking of the number inscribed onto it, wondering what it meant and why it was there.  
+    Kurono had never seen Iri behave like this. The servant's face was warped by fear. For the first time there was a display of personality coming from this Iri, something that had long been hidden away.  
+    When Kurono tried to speak again, Iri put a whole hand over the Young Crown's mouth. They locked eyes, both were shocked at what was happening. Kurono did not try to stop Iri.  
+    Mura's voice resounded in the hallway once again. "I am *very* upset with you Kurono. Now, where is that key..."  
+    Iri panicked at the thought of having touched the Little Light without permission. Hearing the sound of the teacher fiddling with the door lock, Iri tore the mask from Kurono's hands and put it back on.  
+    The door opened with Mura looking very displeased. "I will not ask again. Iri, walk Kurono to the study hall". Mura left, leaving them alone again.  
+    Iri walked to the door, and Kurono followed the servant to the study hall, all the while staring at Iri's neck and thinking of the number inscribed onto it, wondering what it meant and why it was there.  
 
-Today's events had left Kurono in a heightened state, focusing on today's lessons was impossible. It was hard having Iri in the room after what had just transpired. The number 10 was emblazoned in the Young Light's mind, obscuring all else. 10. 10 what...? Kurono wondered.  
-    After a while, Kurono's distracted brain conjured up images of 10 tiny workers at the crook of Mura's nose, getting ready to go on an expedition inside the left nostril. The teacher did not fail to notice that the only student in the room wasn't listening. After the lesson, they went to inform Demeri. Telling Demeri was not done out of concern for the young student, but to make clear that this was not their fault.  
-    After Kurono's lesson, the Light Of The Realm, Demeri, came to the study hall. Demeri was tall, made taller by an elaborate vertical diadem. The diadem kept the Light's hairdo together, pinned in the centre, like the knot of a giant bow. "Kurono, light of my life, what is the matter?" Demeri was followed by many servants, careful to keep their monarch well-lit. The light shone onto the set of robes beautifully, reflecting off the many superimposed layers of dark fabric. The layers were different lengths, fanning out in all directions like petals on a flower. Demeri's long hair draped down onto the floor, and because it did workers cleaned and shined the floors tirelessly all day to make sure that no dirt could corrupt the Light's gown, feet or hair.  
+Focusing on today's lessons was impossible. The number 10 was emblazoned in the Young Light's mind. 10. 10 what...? Kurono wondered.  
+    After a while, Kurono's brain conjured up images of 10 tiny workers at the crook of Mura's nose, getting ready to go on an expedition inside the left nostril. The teacher did not fail to notice that the student wasn't listening. After the lesson, they went to inform Demeri. Telling Demeri was not done out of concern for the young student, but to make clear that this was not their fault.  
+    After Kurono's lesson, the Light Of The Realm, Demeri, came to the study hall. Demeri was tall, made taller by an elaborate vertical diadem. The diadem kept the Light's hairdo together, pinned in the centre, like the knot of a giant bow. "Kurono, light of my life, what is the matter?" Demeri was followed by many servants, careful to keep the monarch well-lit. The light shone on the robes, reflecting off the layers of dark fabric, fanning out in all directions, like the petals of a flower.  
     "Your teacher tells me you had trouble focusing today. You must tell me if you need a replacement. There is no play of light that can rightly conceal Mura's growing collection of wrinkles, it's dreadful."  
-    "Isn't it true that Bao The Bright wrote a law forbidding the cutting out of tongues?" Kurono asked suddenly.  
-    Demeri, surprised by this question, glanced at the Iri before giving a reply. "It's an old law, is this what Mura has been teaching you?"  
+    "Isn't it true that Bao The Bright forbade the cutting of tongues?" Kurono asked suddenly.  
+    Demeri, surprised, glanced at the Iri before giving a reply. "Is this what Mura has been teaching you?"  
     Iri looked tense, in pain, as if burned by fire.  
-    "My Iri has a number. 10 it says," Kurono continued, sitting upright in the chair to appear more confident, "why?"  
+    "My Iri has a number. 10, it says," Kurono continued, sitting upright in the chair to appear more confident, "why?"  
     The Light of the Realm stood up. "Enji, take Kurono back to the playroom."  
-    Kurono wanted to scream, but in the end decided that it was best to sit on those feelings. Enji accompanied the Young Light out of the study hall. Iri followed, but before the servant could step out, Demeri shouted another order. "You stay here Iri."  
-    Kurono's misbehavings were often the cause of Iri's time spent in rehabilitation. Everytime the Young Light complained of the Iri, it resulted in what was commonly referred to as 'rehabilitation'. Iri always reemerged from this unharmed, transformed. Kurono was always happy to have Iri back, with things being as they were before. It was like hitting a reset button, but this time felt different. Kurono was scared.  
+    Kurono wanted to scream. Enji accompanied the Young Light out of the study hall. Iri followed, but before the servant could step out, Demeri shouted another order. "You stay here Iri."  
+    Kurono's misbehavings were often the cause of Iri's time spent in rehabilitation. Everytime the Young Light complained of the Iri, it resulted in what was commonly referred to as 'rehabilitation'. Iri always reemerged transformed. Kurono was always happy to have Iri back, with things being as they were before. But this time felt different. Kurono was scared.  
     "No! It was my fault! Don't do this!"  
     Enji shut the door and forced Kurono back into the playroom, as requested. "You have to stay here Young One, the Brightest In The Realm commands it," the guard said, before locking the door from the outside.  
     "Don't hurt Iri, please! It was *my* fault!" Kurono cried through the thick of the door.  
@@ -1429,8 +1425,8 @@ Today's events had left Kurono in a heightened state, focusing on today's lesson
     The way Enji phrased it stuck in Kurono's mind...  
 
 The next day Iri was not there to brush Kurono's hair. One of Demeri's servants came to do it instead and answered no questions. Fortunately at breakfast, Iri stood at the door, unharmed, like all those other times after returning from rehabilitation.  
-    Demeri was sitting in front of a small table, covered with a dark cloth. On the table lay a simple breakfast of mugiko porridge and fresh nukaberries. The meal was served in dark earthenware, the material sparkled under the light of the chloromyce shroos. A servant was pounding an ear of dried chloromyce shroo into a powder using a large pestle and mortar. Once the shroos were pulverized the servant took the pestle away from the bowl, and caught the end into a cloth to brush the particles away in one, quick, sweeping motion before setting the tool down again. The servant bowed and backed out of the room. As soon as a servant left, another walked in to transfer the powder into a shallow serving bowl using a thin banabo scoop. Its thinness allowed the material to meet the curves of the bowl, catching every grain. The servant then set the serving bowl on the table with the breakfast. A long line of servants stood outside, each holding a different tool, waiting for their turn to exercise their role. Each Iri was good at doing one thing, and they practiced this one skill everyday until it was second nature. Each action took the same time, and was completed using the same number of moves, choreographed to perfection.  
-    "Ten," the Sovereign began, "is a marker given to some of our workers. That is all."
+    Demeri was sitting in front of a small table, covered with a dark cloth. On the table lay a simple breakfast of mugiko porridge and fresh nukaberries. The meal was served in dark earthenware that sparkled under the light of the chloromyce shroos. A servant was pounding an ear of dried chloromyce shroo into a powder using a large pestle and mortar. Once the shroos were pulverized the servant took the pestle away from the bowl, bowed and backed out of the room. As soon as a servant left, another walked in to transfer the powder into a shallow bowl using a thin banabo scoop. The servant then set the serving bowl on the table along with the breakfast. A long line of servants stood outside, each holding a different tool, waiting for their turn. Each Iri was good at doing one thing, and they practiced this one skill everyday. Each action took the same time, and used the same number of moves, choreographed to perfection.  
+    "10," the Sovereign began, "is a marker given to some of our workers. That is all."
     "You didn't like that I asked." Kurono said.  
     Monarch Demeri dipped 2 spoonfuls of powdered chloromyce shroo powder into a cup of warm water, then proceeded to gently stir it into the drink, drawing a swirl of light. "I did not like your tone Kurono."  
     "And the tongues?" Kurono insisted.  
@@ -1439,9 +1435,9 @@ The next day Iri was not there to brush Kurono's hair. One of Demeri's servants
     "If I hear that name one more time I shall erase it from the history books."  
     Kurono took a sip of tea as well, thinking hard, trying to find ways to get some answers without angering Demeri.  
 
-Ten went back to having a lackluster persona, muted, without worry or fear. This worried Kurono, afraid the Iri had been questioned and that all traces of personality had been hammered back in. The Young Light was suspicious, and so that morning when the servant was asleep Kurono went to look for the number on the Iri's neck. The number on the skin had changed to Eleven. This was not the same Iri.  
-    Kurono knew the ugly truth. Every complaint about an Iri resulted in an exchange. Iri would go to rehabilitation and never return, replaced by another of the same age with a new number carved into its neck. Kurono did not want to think about what happened to an Iri in rehabilitation, were they sent back in the mines? Were they tortured? Killed? 
-    "What have I done..." The Young Light whispered. Kurono remembered sending an Iri to rehabilitation because they breathed too loud, walked too funny, blinked too often, and sometimes Kurono asked Iri to be sent away out of boredom. Kurono felt like a fiend. "10 lives..." After that, no complaint was made of Eleven, in fear that this Iri too would be harmed. Going to Demeri for answers was impossible, and the guards and teachers were no help at all. Kurono felt more lonely than ever, with no one to confide in, with no way to know what had really happened to Eleven.  
+Number 10 went back to having a lackluster persona, muted, without worry or fear. This worried Kurono. The Young Light was suspicious, and so that morning when the servant was asleep Kurono went to look for the number on the Iri's neck. The number on the skin had changed to 11. This was not the same Iri.  
+    Kurono knew the ugly truth. Every complaint about an Iri resulted in an exchange. Iri would go to rehabilitation and be replaced by another with a new number carved onto its neck. Kurono did not want to think about what happened to an Iri in rehabilitation, were they sent back in the mines? Were they tortured? Killed? 
+    "What have I done..." The Young Light whispered. Kurono remembered sending an Iri to rehabilitation for breathing too loud, for walking too funny, for blinking too often, and sometimes Kurono asked Iri to be sent away out of boredom. Kurono felt like a fiend. "10 lives..." After that, no complaint was made of 11, in fear that this Iri too would be harmed. Going to Demeri for answers was impossible. Kurono felt more lonely than ever, with no one to confide in, with no way to know what had really happened to Iri number 10.  
 
 \newpage
 
@@ -2830,7 +2826,9 @@ The Iridi reside within the protective ridge of Mount Nui in the city of Irideri
 Leafhounds are orange, leaf-tailed and have a set of antennae on their heads. They live amongst Terins, there are less of them now because of the events in Ministe and Suvalba. They guard nurseries and fields of plants, keeping them safe, while checking on their health.
 
 ### Mossling
-Pale insects that like to burrow inside fresh produce, making homes of them. Their presence in the fruit causes them to rot, many farmers despise them for it. They hate lemoni grass, planting some near other produce helps to keep them at bay.
+Pale insects that like to burrow inside fresh produce, making homes of them. Their presence in the fruit causes them to rot, many farmers despise them for it. They hate lemilim grass, planting some near other produce helps to keep them at bay.
+
+[^47]:**Mossling** Pale winged insects that like to burrow inside fresh produce, causing them to rot.
 
 ### Mudbears
 Tiny little insects that burrow into waterstones, they ooze a substance that can be very poisonous.
@@ -2915,6 +2913,10 @@ The Kaba plant has a thick orange trunk, with thousands of stems growing from it
 
 [^40]: **Kavava** An addictive root that when chewed numbs the mind and body, it can also cause minor hallucinations.
 
+### Karonin
+
+[^45]: **Karonin** A fruit with a warty assymetrical shape and a hard rind. The inside flesh is crunchy, eatable raw, and has a pungent, slightly spicy flavor, varying in intensity depending on its growing environment. 
+
 ### Kavava
 Kavava is a leafy plant, but the roots is what most people choose to use. The roots are harvested, cleaned, dried and broken up into smaller bits and sold. It can be chewed as is, or pounded to a powder and made into a tea, although it loses some of its 'numbing' properties this way. If chewed, kavava numbs the mind and body from first sunrise to first sunset, it may also cause some minor hallucinations. Many become addicted to it.
 
@@ -2967,8 +2969,13 @@ A plant cultivated for its grain-like seeds. These seeds are rich in complex car
 ### Norange
 A sweet, and bitter fruit with a thick rind. It has a fragant smell, and can calm the mind. It pairs well with norcorn patties.
 
+[^48]:**Norange**
+A near-extinct, sweet, and bitter fruit with a thick rind. It has a fragant smell, and can calm the mind.
+
 ### Norcorn
-The leafy stalk of the norcorn plant produces inflorescences called nubs that yield bright yellow seeds. This plant is heat tolerant, its root system is deep and reaches deep underground. There are 5-6 seeds per nub, these can be ground up and made into flour to make Soronan Desert favourites like norcorn patties. The entire nubs and their seeds (which are held together by a stalk) can be grilled as is. With enough heat, the seeds explode into bright orange puffs which are eaten as a snack during special events.There have been events when the environing heat was too hot that an entire norcorn field exploded into puffs, referred to as the 'Puff Event'.
+The leafy stalk of the norcorn plant produces inflorescences called nubs that yield bright yellow seeds. This plant is heat tolerant, its root system is deep and reaches deep underground. There are 5-6 seeds per nub, these can be ground up and made into flour to make Soronan Desert favourites like norcorn patties. The entire nubs and their seeds (which are held together by a stalk) can be grilled as is. With enough heat, the seeds explode into bright orange puffs which are eaten as a snack during special events. There have been events when the environing heat was too hot that an entire norcorn field exploded into puffs, referred to as a 'Puff Event'.
+
+[^46]: **Norcorn** A plant on a stalk that produces inflorescences called nubs that yield bright yellow seeds. With enough heat, the seeds explode into bright orange puffs which are eaten as a snack during special events.
 
 ### Nuni
 Nuni is a starchy tuber with bright yellow flesh, it has a taste and smell that could best be described as being robust. If eaten, it stains the inside of your mouth yellow for a time.
@@ -3148,6 +3155,8 @@ A vessel for desert travel, that uses wind to propel itself forward. The sandfin
 ### Specter
 Name given to those in Montore who don't have ID. They are considered to not-exist, and cannot enter the city. It is also used as an expression, to refer to those who live alone, outside of communities.
 
+[^49]: **Specter**. The name given to those in Montore who don't have ID, who don't yet exist, and that cannot enter the city. It is also used as an expression, to refer to those who live alone, outside of communities
+
 [^9]: **Mapa**. A term of endearment, used by the child of the bearing parent.
 
 ### Mapa