"They're not very expensive where I'm from. Most people own at least a few, and my library has thousands and thousands."

She considers. "Would you like me to buy you some books?"

"Ooooh yes! ...You don't mind?"

"I don't mind," she grins. "Do you know what kind of books you want?"

"Hmm. Hmm! This is important. I could get some really good books. I could get other world books! About magic and science!"

"You could! Although I'm not sure we can get them in the right language - I have a friend at home who's going to help me with that, since the magic that lets us understand each other won't keep working after we leave."

"...Oh. Well we can ask Bar for only books in... I know Ostkav and a little English? Other people know Suomic and Gallian and Venezian and Hebrew and... Latin? I think I can find someone who knows those languages. But I should get good books. They'll be so useful."

"And I'm good at picking out good books, that's my job. Bar, can you get me a catalogue of books in those languages?"

It takes a bit of negotiation, but soon enough she has it. "So, magic and science, you said? Do you want just to read about it, or do you want something you can use?"

"I'm gonna give them to the Witch Knights! They can use the science to save people and fight the Neuroi better!"

"Hmm. Maybe you should tell me more about the Neuroi, so I can figure out what would help the best."

"...They're flying monsters. Flying and exploding things with red light. Some of them on the ground but mostly flying. They attack everything they see until a Witch or someone kills them. Burn down villages an' blow up cities. We walked all the way to Albania and I don't know where my brother went and we got on the boats and saw the Neuroi attacking the city and Witch Knights fighting them and there's always more. And people say they made a giant storm."

"Oh, dear, that does sound bad. I can probably think of some good books for your Knights, yes. What I really meant was books for you, though - Bar, can I have a copy of End of the Mountain?" It appears; a thin paperback with three machines flying in formation over a mountain peak on the cover. "I think you'll like this one."

"I'm not important and good like the Knights. I'm just a little witch. I can fly stuff and that's it."

...She takes the book and slowly starts reading it after a few moments, though.

And Marisel quietly asks Bar for reading material on the Neuroi and the girl's world. After some skimming, she starts asking for books, slowly accumulating a small pile of them and some accompanying trinkets that demonstrate various principles.

Grenadine sulks just a bit and reads the story. She doesn't ask any of the dozens of questions that pop up about the tech and such. Reading is kinda hard...

After a little while, a metal woman covered in enameled flowers comes up to the bar to return one book and ask for another.

"Oh, a droid! Like in the book!"

"Mmhmm. Daisy belongs to a friend of mine."

"...Are droids like a dog or something? Weird. They seem smarter than pets in the book. Hi, Daisy."

"Hi," Daisy says, pausing for a moment to consider before continuing. "Droids are very smart. Most people think we can't be people because we're machines, though."

"I guess... Machines are kind of strange... But if you talk an' remember things and are smart...?"

"Mmhmm," she nods. "We can do almost anything humans can do, if we're made the right way."

"There was a flying droid I saw in the book. You can be lots of shapes if you're a droid."

"...What if the Neuroi are people???"

The prospect is actually really alarming. Grenadine stands up and grabs her branch - and - hesitates and stands still, looking around.

"The who?" Daisy looks from Gren to Maris.

"It's okay, hun, they probably aren't. And they aren't here, anyway, dangerous things aren't allowed."

"...You're right. Neuroi don't talk. And if they were people they're evil anyway. They're monster demon things. The Neuroi."