"It started local," Friedrich explains when Jana doesn't immediately continue. "But it pretty quickly became apparent that cooperation between the various border patrols would be more beneficial. The lords and barons were not best pleased until they realised that the unit was being far more effective than they had ever been individually."

"...I really don't think that'd be a problem where I'm from, there mostly aren't any lords near the Outskirts. That's more a city thing, and all the big cities are along the Inland Sea. We don't have good enough roads and communication, is the main reason I think the towns don't cooperate more, though I could be wrong..."

"Sounds like that's something you could do with fixing," Friedrich notes. "But I suppose there's a chance your wizards like it that way?"

"Probably do, yeah."

Before either of them can respond, there's a knock on the door. When answered, it reveals a serving girl carrying a tray with three steaming bowls on it.

Jana takes it with a slight inclination of her head, a quiet 'thank you' and a clink of coins changing hands. She closes the door with a deft tap of her foot, and carries the tray over to the low table between the sofas, scooping up one of the bowls and making her way back to the window.

"Mystery meat stew?" Friedrich asks as he pokes at his own bowl.

"Pork," Jana corrects through a mouthful.

The stew is thick, and filled with chunks of vegetables and meat.

"Probably shoulda asked if there was anything you didn't eat?"

"I'll eat just about anything edible. I think some of the Christers have food restrictions, but most people don't," she says, pulling her bowl towards her and digging in.

"Anyway, I'm getting more curious about these 'Steerswomen' of yours? You said they were responsible for collecting and sharing knowledge? And something about truthfulness?"

"They have to tell the truth, and answer any question someone asks them. In return, you have to answer any questions they ask truthfully, or they'll put you under the Steerswomen's Ban, meaning no other Steerswomen will answer your questions or even talk to you. Information is... Kinda vital to living, so it's bad for a lot of people's professions if the people with all the answers won't share with you. They travel all over, filling in maps and asking questions of the local people. I used to want to be one, but now that I'm learning magic I'd rather be a wizard's apprentice, and they don't get along with the Steerswomen."

"But nothing makes them or you be truthful?"

"Social custom, I guess? And if a Steerswoman went around lying - that'd, that'd be like, I don't know, a wizard going around hanging out candy. Non-nefariously. Except worse."

"Some people actually posses common sense, Fritz," Jana sounds amused. "You don't lie to the people who have the information, and if your standing in society counts on you being truthful, you don't lie."

"Sounds like something our Lords and Barons could do with being required by their social standing. Never mind the church..."

"Yes. But most the church don't think they're lying."

"What's the church's whole deal, anyways? We have Christers, but they don't really have *power* other than, like, over their own members. And - they're all about, like, taking being a charitable member of society to the extreme."

"The church has a lot of power as they're the most unified organisation around. And churches and holy ground are renowned for their neutrality. Church buildings in major cities often have rooms where diplomatic envoys can stay as no-one will dare to violate the 'sanctity' of holy ground. They're also bigoted pricks."

Jana makes an amused sound.

"They are. They think you're demon spawn! Just because you happened to be born with an innate element!"

"I know you've told me about it, but - I still don't get the 'demon spawn' thing."

"So. Myth, legend and religion goes: once upon a time, the gods walked among us, living embodiments of the elements, creating and reshaping the land and its creatues. But there were also demons, creatures of wanton destruction and violence who wished only to drive the gods out. They seduced humans, and bore children who would become the first Innates. These demons and Innates taught others to find elements. The gods found this...distasteful. But also, weakening. The more people who drew power from a god, the less powerful the became. Until they vanished, chased away to attempt survival away from the demons and their spawn."

"That - sounds pretty far fetched to me. But... This world's already pretty different from mine."

"Jana can use shadows to strangle someone. She used...something to translate between our languages. I know people who can summon water out of thin air. People who can make crops sprout and grow in a fraction of the time it takes to do it other ways. People who can fly. 'Far fetched' takes on a new meaning at thst point."

"There is also some evidence that those 'elemental embodiments' aren't quite as gone as everyone thinks they are," Jana adds.

"I'm starting to be glad the only magic things we have to deal with are wizards."

"But we have so much fun!" Friedrich grins.