She settles in for the ride.

The ride is quiet.

Until the cart slows to a stop ahead of three young looking Artonans walking along the road.

The wizard steps off and starts an annoyed sounding lecture, and they stand sheepishly off to the side, into the plants.

One, a woman(?) carrying a long metal whip, calls out in Chinese, waving. The System translates:

Greetings human! This I hunt knowledge very good! Strong Chinese learning!

Then the wizard boards again with a sigh, and the cart is off again.

Maaaaaaaybe she should be relying on this translation a little less. 

"Not to be rude, but... is your translation for Chinese known to be poor, or...?"

The wizard laughs.

Oh, Ela-Nor thinks she knows Chinese. She doesn't. Translation isn't perfect but that was a poor example! Ven-Drel knows English, if you'd prefer not to rely on it. We're almost there, lab three is mine for now. Summonariums are outside the main campus for safety reasons.

The golf cart set out again, and is now approaching the hill with all the buildings.

"Alright then, I'll save the rest of my questions for them."

It's only a couple minutes more. They pass a few other Artonans and what looks like some sort of weird hairless panther walking in the woods? But it's wearing a helmet and a sort of black vest?

The lab is a circular building, with the center containing a deep basement with glass roof and windows, full of strange equipment but also recognizable things like sinks, cabinets, and work tables. There's also an office area which Ermol Gal-Fair brings her to. 

His assistant is dressed without the weird pants or robe thing, instead in something almost business-casual. There's a table with armchairs around it.

The first thing the assistant does is bow and say in English, "Greetings, honored guest. I am Ven-Drel, humble assistant to the Professor. Please be welcome and enjoy this cup of Wevvi."

Wevvi, served in a ceramic coffee mug, smells a little bit like cinnamon chocolate and is very hot.

She bows back and takes it, but doesn't drink quite yet. "There seems to be a cultural thing here; could you explain the importance of Wevvi?"

"Of course. It's a hospitality tradition. When an Artonan hosts guests, we guarantee their safety and comfort. Offering wevvi is important to that, as a comforting and sustaining beverage, though it's more strictly adhered to in some places than others. Wevvi is a traditional and popular spiced beverage, like coffee is on Earth. It's also well studied and harmless to humans aside from a minor relaxing effect, similar in intensity to caffeine. It would be polite to drink it, but is not strictly necessary should you have some reason not to."

"I've simply read too many stories with fae food in them, that's all. But if this confers no responsibility I will happily try it."

"I suppose offering and accepting hospitality counts as a sort of informal agreement? I'm not sure what you're imagining?"

The wizard says something.

No overt magical effect. Technically social ritual can contribute to <???> or energy flows and <???> but this is more like shaking hands. We don't shake hands, but it's the same kind of thing. It'll be fine. I'm going to get back to grading now, but do call me if there's heavy magic questions!

"Thank you."

She takes a deep drink.

It tastes a little bit like hot chocolate, and a little like eggnog. Not bitter. Not exactly sweet either. Savory? But in a good way. The assistant lets her enjoy it as his boss wanders into another door.

"Master gal-fair has been texting me. I don't understand the magical esoterica but it seems that you may or may not be from the Earth we know, and you are not an Avowed, and so you want to know more about what Earth is like now?

She smiles. "This is quite nice." She sets it down on her lap gently.

"Yes, precisely. What's the broad political situation? He mentioned demons? i have never heard of a real demon before."

"Politically, the most influential global entities of Earth are the United States of America, the European Union, the Russian Federation, and the People's Republic of China. Avowed are considered hazardous to the public and required to live on Anesidora, an island manufactured by magic, which has become a large urban area. Many Avowed compare it to Hong Kong, Tokyo, New York, or Singapore. Some Avowed decline to register with Earth governments, and avoid moving to Anesidora, and I understand it is very controversial. Demons are unfortunate existences, and most of the purpose of the Interdimensional Warriors Contract is to prevent and contain incursions. It's well in hand and not something we need to worry about on Artona III or Earth."

"So Avowed subject to the Interdimensional Warriors Contract go and fight demons? Sounds dangerous."

"Oh, most Avowed never see a demon in their lives. Deaths among Avowed are very rare and always a tragedy. This responsibility typically goes to the most powerful, those you would call S-ranked superheroes like Cavemanly, Ghosten, or El Toro."

"I see. That's comforting to hear. I've never heard of any of those, however, so I don't know how strong they are."

"Have you heard of the pre-contact character 'Superman'? S-ranked Avowed are sometimes compared to him."

"Why, yes! What year was Earth contacted, again?"

He picks up and pokes a tablet for a bit. "That would be... 1964 for first official, open diplomatic contact. Sixty eight Earth years ago."

"Then I am from a different Earth, because it was twenty twenty three when I left and we'd never met life outside our planet."

"I see. That probably has some bad implications for whether you can expect... A place in society or official paperwork on Earth."

"I... Yes. Very likely. I was under the impression I was going to be able to return home, and now..."

"I think I'm going to have to get serious and take off my tourist hat. What options are there for someone with the ability to do geomantic interior design or architecture to make a living, and how could I arrange a legal identity... Probably here? Earth feels like it would not be tremendously welcoming."