"Do they have childrearing classes there?"

"No, but they have children. And parents you could talk to. More than the Zora do, anyway."

"Is there etiquette I should know around asking people how they raise their children?"

"Probably, yes, but hard to sum up... Don't ask too directly about punishments or chores and rules for kids and things? There's nuance to that, but they could think you're criticizing their parenting. Don't talk about sex and violence and things like that around kids. Ummmm. They'll all be upset if you make comparisons to slavery in front of them, so, don't do that..."

"If they want to know why I don't already know this and can't ask my own people, how do I explain that without bringing up slavery?"

"Maybe say you're foreign and curious how we do it here? They'll ask how it's done for you, though... Hmm... Maybe say you're an orphan and never learned it. You'll have to lie, but it's more plausible."

"Shouldn't lying be immoral because it undermines social trust that you're using to maintain your moral society?"

"Yep. There's always degrees of it though. Big lies - 'I'm not married, my dear, kiss me' - are awful. Lies that aren't technically false but are designed to mislead people are still lies. Little ones or ones that are made for a moral enough reason aren't as bad. Maybe say that you grew up somewhere bad and don't know what proper parenting looks like, that's closer to the truth... If they ask for details, 'are you sure you want to know? It's unpleasant.' And if they're still curious you can probably tell them. People would probably still be upset about it, but in a different and not-pointed-at-you way."

"Thanks, I'll do that. Anyone there that you think is a particularly exemplary parent and particularly in need of indestructible things?"

"Sorry, no clue. I didn't really meet a lot of them last time I was there? Also, they'll think it's weird to try and pay them for talking about their kids. They'll probably tell you all about it for nothing, at least some of them."

"Should I be trying to do favors for people? Since that's how things are done here."

"I don't think you need to, you won't be here forever and don't need to stop being a stranger. You're doing okay so far. There's a difference between 'polite' and 'kind'."

"If Milliways is good to me and you want me I'll be back sometimes."

"Fair enough. Still your choice."

"Do you just... not worry about people taking advantage of how nice you are?"

"I don't. Some people do. Some are nice to everyone unless they seem untrustworthy or evil, some are only nice to their friends and family. It varies. I don't find being nice much of a burden, is all."

"I guess that makes sense. You're really nice, I like that about you."

"I think you're nice, deep down. Your world isn't designed to support that at all, is all."

Onward they go. The mountain ridge looms over them now - can't be much longer until they're done rafting.

"What do we do first when we're there?"

"Say hi to folks? Get something to eat? Go see Lady Impa?"

...Link does seem to be tiring after several hours of measured Deku Leaf swinging.

He can take over again for the last little bit if there's any farther to go when she gets tired.

Link appreciates the break.

Once they beach the raft in a shallow, swampy area, they have to hike up a long, sloped hill covered in loose shrubs. "Might be monsters around here. Some them know how to ride horses. Keep an eye out."

He keeps an eye out. He doesn't say anything. He tries to breathe and walk quietly.

Link keeps a bow at the ready.

Halfway up she waves him to a stop and points. Three bokoblins on horses off to the right, holding nasty looking weapons.

She whispers, "Sneak up and dispose of them, or just try to go past... Hmm. I think we can get past if we stay behind that line of tall grass over there... Or I could sneak closer and you do the thing you did to that Lizal and I get the other two. What do you think?"

Oh no. Why does she think he knows anything about tactics. Aaaaaaaaa.

"I think I can kill one... how sure are you that we can sneak past?" he whispers back.