Dear Risa,

  We made it to Mouse! It’s… certainly something. Every building is painted in pastel colors, and there are lots of musicians around playing on street corners. They aren't playing for any festival or anything, it’s their job. The streets are lined with trees that people tie ribbons on for luck, and there’s apparently a competition going for who can make the fanciest shop sign.

  This place just sure loves its art. It kinda makes me wish I were more artistic.

  Cali asked if maybe all the art stuff is a result of a decent fairy population living here, but I doubt it. Every city has its own thing, y’no? This city’s thing is art.

  Speaking of fairies, we have one in our group now. Her name is Echo; she’s one of the people chosen by Goddess Bonnie to tell everyone the world is ending. There’s some divine stuff going on, but basically Echo needs friends to hang out with and we’re a nice, welcoming group.

  The first thing Cali asked her was what flying felt like. Which was very awkward, because apparently she can't fly. She said her wings don't work, but didn't explain beyond that. Which is completely up to her.

  Oh, remember that rumor about how fairies are super tiny? It’s wrong. Sure, the top of Echo’s head is about the height of my nose, and I’m not the tallest of nekos, but I wouldn't call that tiny. She won't have to shop for clothes in kid’s stores or anything.

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  More importantly than any of that, I think she has a crush on Maki. Whenever she said something she obviously didn't want to talk about she'd look at him, expecting questions. But as you know, he doesn't ask questions. He just sat there with his “you’ll explain if you want to” face on, and when we went to dinner she somehow ended up sitting next to him.

  I think Echo expected him to be the most suspicious out of us, since he’s a Guard. And who knows, he might be super suspicious. I don't know what the goldfish in his brain make him think. He just sat there and nodded as Cali and I asked a billion things.

  Oh, during all that, Luke was helping carve earthquake-proof levitation runes for carts and wagons. Since the earthquakes are increasing, and going to keep increasing, normal levitation runes are going to keep failing. Someone figured out how to tell a rune that the ground shaking is ok, and the Guild was paying Runesmiths double their usual rate per rune to get a stockpile of earthquake-proof levitation stones.

  So yeah, he’s going to be very busy for the next few days, but he’ll be rich at the end of it.

  And yes, we’re going to stay in Mouse for a week. We all need a little break from traveling, and it’ll be good to get to know Echo before we basically live with her. I’ll get a full spa treatment at some point, Luke will make lots of money, Maki will… probably make friends with old ladies who tell him he’s too skinny, and Cali will hopefully not be arrested for whatever she’s doing with charm magic.

  It’ll be a good time all around.

  That's about it for now, so…

  Updated Regards,

  Maeve Zee