Dear Risa,

  We have reached the great and sprawling city of Feetsville, population 400. Ish. If you count the pets.

  I can only assume the town got that name because everyone here has feet. That’s my theory, and I’m not going to ask anyone for any other explanation.

  Maki, who always gives his opinions without being asked, believes the town layout might be shaped like a foot. I don't buy that.

  Aaanyhow, nothing much has happened since last I wrote. It took a bit for me to process all those things that absolutely didn't happen. I think I've got it figured out now.

  Well, by “nothing much” I mean nothing with me. Maki got into an arm-wrestling competition with kobolds last night, and this morning Cali failed to convince the residents of a mining town that they should stop mining. And Luke… still hasn't brought up the whole me-telling-him-I-love-him thing.

  He’s brought up other things! He isn't avoiding me, which is good. We’ve talked about several important things. He helped me figure things out. Yay.

  We just haven't talked about the subject which I would kill to talk about.

  Maybe he forgot. Or he thinks I changed my mind. Or he only thinks of me as a friend, and doesn't want to hurt my feelings. Or any of a thousand other things.

  I don't know.

  This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  And I'm supposed to be smart. Ha.

  Maki is also supposed to be smart, and yet somehow he lost about fifty silver last night because a group of guys said no neko could beat a kobold at arm wrestling. And they were right.

  In his defense, it was him alone against four opponents. He almost beat the first guy, but that was the closest he got. And to be fair, they obviously do hard manual labor for a living. Whereas Maki just did basic exercises and fight training in the guard. He could probably arm wrestle and beat a kobold who sits at a desk all day.

  A kobold like the town’s lord.

  I don't know what Cali’s plan was there. She was pretty nervous, but said she had something important to tell him. That important thing was that… mining is dangerous.

  Kobolds don't have the same types of faces as we do, but “I’m talking to an idiot” is kinda a universal facial expression. Yeahhh. I should have stopped her from going in.

  And now she wants to talk to the mayor here. She said there’s something weird going on, but she doesn’t know exactly what or why. Which, when you talk to someone in authority, you can’t just go in with bad vibes. You need reports, and facts, and a nice folder to keep all your papers straight in. One wrong date or detail will invalidate everything.

  I don’t know why I’m telling you all this; you helped me legalize wyvern racing. You know all about How To Paperwork.

  Maybe that’s why I’m telling you. I’m used to being around people who see forms and paperwork as an unending, daily part of life. We know how to format things and turn the system to our advantage. Seeing Cali fumble through a meeting without even a scrawled-on napkin… kinda hurt.

  Crap. I should help her, shouldn’t I. That’d be the nice thing to do.

  I don’t know what she’s thinking or talking about, but I should figure it out. Maybe she’s on to something, who knows.

  She’s feeding the horse or something right now. When she gets back I’ll help her form proper records.

  Resigned Regards,

  Maeve Zee