And Ellis does recount the best parts to her over the course of an afternoon, the pair of them idly playing a two-person game of cards Ellis half-remembers and is content to abide by Wysteria's embellishment to the rules. It turns out Ellis is a good storyteller. (Patiently answering Wysteria's questions in stride without breaking the flow of the story itself might have something to do with it.)

He leaves at dusk, after passing off a smaller book to her. The cover is faded beyond reading, but the pages are intact, if yellowed with age.

Wysteria,

This is a collection of stories about mabaris and their owners. Excuse the condition, and mind the binding.

— Ellis