Hey Diary,

  We got to Bestest! I am now an international traveler.

  We got here yesterday, and are staying at the Traveler’s Guild. In order to travel through a new country, we have to do a bunch of paperwork. Or, well, Maeve has to do a bunch of paperwork. I’m glad she’s with us, and can figure out all the legal things.

  So, Owonyan is mostly populated by nekos and kobolds. Bestest is mostly populated by elves and changelings. Changelings (from what the book the Guild gave us says) have a cultural thing where they don't show their “true face” to anyone but close family. So we’ll never see a changeling on the street in real changeling form. Instead, it just looks like the city we’re in is purely inhabited by elves and nekos.

  But there's something… different. About their minds. I never noticed it with Echo, but then she never tried to be a neko. It’s like if you have a light tan shirt; on its own, you could think it’s white, and no one would argue. But then if you put it next to something that really is white, it becomes obvious that the shirt is tan.

  Changelings on their own look like elves. But if a changeling is walking next to an elf on the street, something about them makes my Charm magic pay attention.

  Oh, changelings can make themselves look like other people. Which can be a problem sometimes. But they can't fake having two magic specialties. Maki and I are changeling-proof!

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  I’m… glad. Sometimes I feel like I don't perfectly belong in this group. Like they don't understand me. Yeah, they love and appreciate me, but they don't get me. So if I were replaced, I’m not sure how long it would take them to notice I wasn't… me. I don't know.

  Although, if anyone ever replaced me, they’d have to do most of the cooking and driving and animal caretaking. Good luck.

  I feel like Maeve and I kinda do all the work. I mean, sure, Luke made the wagon and makes sure all the runes are still in perfect condition every night, but that’s all. Maki is our Guard, but we haven't really needed much protection while traveling.

  Meanwhile, I cook and drive and keep the liondrakes in line. Maeve does all the paperwork, and talks to the official people to get us jobs, and makes sure of all the money stuff.

  Maeve and I could probably travel the whole world by ourselves, easy.

  Oh, speaking of traveling the whole world… The Guild information here says it should take us just under two months to get to the capital of Bestest if we don't rush. So we have sixty days to figure out what to say to Echo when we meet her again.

  Sure, Maki and Maeve are going to have the most to say, but I want to say more than just “hi”. I mean, she was crying pretty hard when she left. I need to say something that shows I haven't told anyone about our last conversation, but without mentioning we had a conversation.

  Maybe “I’m glad the Goddess kept you safe”?

  No, that’s… Just no.

  I have two months to think about it.

  Signing off,