Echoes

Once Klein had his sudden realization, the conversation ended.

From what Neph learned afterward, Klein seemed to have changed his plans for probing her, canceling the commission for an Adult Widow Giant Spider's silk gland and asking for 450 pounds directly instead.

This had little to do with Neph. After obtaining memories of the corresponding languages from Audrey's literacy flashcards and various language textbooks and dictionaries, Neph went to see Nim, Moon City's High Priest.

"I'm getting ready to leave," she told Nim.

The old man showed no surprise. He looked at Neph as though he had expected this and asked for confirmation:

"You're leaving? Have you decided when?"

"Yes." Neph nodded. "It'll be a few more days. I'm making some preparations, so I thought I'd take this opportunity to say goodbye first."

Nim nodded. He clearly wasn't surprised, and simply asked, "Do you need any help?"

"There is one thing, actually." Neph glanced at Nim and chose her words carefully. "If I remember correctly, Moon City has some Sealed Artifacts and potion formulas?"

"You may look at all our potion formulas," Nim promised at once. "If you need any of the Sealed Artifacts, you may take those as well."

"No, no, no," Neph said, hurriedly waving her hands. "I wasn't planning to take any Sealed Artifacts. I just... um, could I have a look at them?"

Neph remembered the abilities of a Scholar of Yore. Every item they had ever possessed would accompany them in another form, and her memories had displayed similar traits. Although the corresponding ability came at the demigod level, Neph felt she could start preparing early.

Unsurprisingly, Nim agreed to her request. There was nothing particularly remarkable about the potion formulas. As Neph memorized them, she decided she could make another sweep through the Library