2022 day 2 3837 :( I hope this gets better. it is not looking good. they just aren't conecting with me

The boy looked a bit strange, and the man near him said. “I thought they used English there as well. I hadn’t hear of a different language.” He put his fork on the empty salad plate and moved it to the side to be picked up and replaced with the next course. Seeing that let Alice know what to do with hers. Alice said. “It is taught in schools and used for official documents so most do know it, for all most seldom have needed of it after school is finished. It is thought important that as many as possible be able to understand what comes from here. It is not used in everyday conversation in most areas once you get out of sight of the River. I am certain that samples of some dialects have been sent in. I myself wrote and recorded some for Father to send.” The man said. “Is that why we have stories of a gold lake of fire swan? Or is there another explanation?” Alice said. “The gold lake might be Gol’ Loag, However Ire wan as fire swan. I would think that it would be distinct enough, if one had an encounter and if not I do not know why it would have been spoking of.” She looked at the food, frowned and took a careful bite. “Gol’ Loag is a place, Ire wan a people, that do not relate to humans. Nether of which is something that your researchers would have reason to encounter. Yet I can think of nothing else they would have possibly heard of.” She frowned a bit, thinking. “There is a few fire birds they would have seen, but none that appear swan like. Hawk and raven, are most common, there is one that could be called an eagle.” Fred said. “Yes fire birds are real, the ones she named there are the small ones. Alice there are some well used maps that show Fizer vent as Gold lake. I am not sure how it was named a lake, but the gold came from its yellow cast. They either didn’t know or didn’t care it was acid not water. It is in a lot of the oldest guide books, and so could relate.” “How can there be birds made of fire?” Alice said. “Spells can turn fire into many shapes. I can show if you wish. It is a simple thing to reshape a candle flame. However fire birds are not made of fire they just have flame on them, most just when in flight, but the can retain a bit when at rest. They do not set anything a blaze, but do make some impressive light shows and can cause blisters is touched. All in all they are among the more harmless changlings. There is a nest not far from the bridge should you wish to see them. Just some tiny sparrows, but they will give you a glimpse and are tame enough to come to bread.” Fred was struggling not to laugh at the outraged faces. “You don’t go playing with candles! That is not safe. Then to tell the children there are wild things so close. Do you know just what that is going to expose them to! The dirt those things carry! It isn’t safe.” The flame on the candle near her got taller then folded into a tiny rabbit. Alice said. “Playing with flames is a child’s game. There is no danger to it, all learn how to control flame first as it listens the best, then water, lastly earth as it is the hardest.” The rabbit went back to the low flame. There was a good deal of coughing, and a few had moved back from her. “That is why we have candles on the tables. The games sees that control is learned early. I know that magic is not common here, but I thought it was known. I fail to see why knowing there are birds near the bridge would make the young cross more than they do already. Or did you think they did not? It is there, and sightly forbidden, so of course they are going to. That is the nature of a child, to explore it’s world and seek out the mysteries.” That had a few look at her oddly, some seemed a bit more frighted. She just took another bite of her food, not appearing troubled by the looks. The man said. “Yes magic is know, but it tends to be something whispered about. Few will openly admit to using it. It is not something that should happen in public, not by those with standards.” Alice said. “Well then as you saw I do not have such standers, nor will I be developing them.” He flushed, he had clearly thought she would offer an apology at least. “I am a mage and trying to hide the fact has never been worth the cost. Another reason to be thankful that I am not from here.” She felt that having ate half the food on the plate was enough, and so placed her fork on the plate, and pushed it aside. She had sampled everything that would not make her ill after all. “Which upsets you, for you do not see how any could be pleased they are a child of the wild lands. Yet when dealing with them you should try and remember that we feel the same about you. Such is normal when to vastly different cultures mingle.” He said. “I know full well that you were taught proper behavior. There is no reason for you to carry on so. It is not fit. This is a civilized gathering.” Alice smiled a bit. “Our way is not for all, but nether is yours. If you are not willing to accept both as valid, then you will find the expedition a trial.” He was a bit flushed. “My manners are not yours, nor will I pretend they are. I am a child of my land, as you are one of yours. There is a limit to the changes I am willing to make for you. I am not comfortable with being someone other than myself. Hence I will go no further east. Here visitor from the west are better know and our ways while not liked are tolerate.” The next course was bought around, she looked at it, but made no move to try it. The man shook his head. “I can not see why any would wish to appear uneducated. It should not be anything but displaying the manors you were raised with. I know that Fred saw his house was civilized, for all it was in such a place that made it hard.” Alice looked at her father, think it best she not answer that one. Fred smiled a bit. “One night a week, yes I saw that Eastern forms were used, so they would not find them completely unknown. Once she turned ten, Alice took supper with her relatives that night as she found the rules uncivilized.” A few sputtered. “As she said the ways of the west are not the ways of the east. She has done more than I would have asked. I told her when I asked her to come that she did not need to refrain from anything. Yet she has done no more than a child's trick. If she was at home there would have been illusions of the animals she was talk of. It takes more effort on her part not to make them, but she knew that would cause upset.” The man was looking at Jordan and had paled a bit. “Jordan you should know better. At least it was just a small bite. Still do take something before they fear you have something contagious. The spots are just an allergic reaction, Phil.” Alice handed him a leaf. “You knew it would happen and that you had brought nothing with you. I should let you suffer, but we can’t have them panic.” Jordan said. “You said you had mine so I knew it was safe. And my kit is in my jacket pocket.” He put the leaf in his mouth with a bit of a grimace. “I was just proving to Florance that chocolate cause purple hives.” Alice shook her, she didn’t understand why he enjoyed their fear. Then she did know that boys tended to do things just to see the reaction, but she would have thought he was past that stage. It was good to get away from the table at last, for she could get out side for a brief bit on the way to the mixer for those going on the expedition. Not that she knew just what that was. Victory said it just meant a lot of talking and learning names. Sounded pointless, but it was mandatory. Like the silly measurement class and apparently a weapons class. At least that would be taught on the side as they don’t want bows used here. It was nuts, but maybe it would be out of town a ways so she could slip of and relax. Alice got outside and away from the building to look up and see a night-hawk, causing her to smile and relax, even as she saw another girl look up and tense. Then a car rent by and the girl relaxed. Alice had to chuckle the girl looked at her and frowned. Alice said. “It is just we reacted exactly the opposite. I relaxed, you tensed when seeing the bird, than the car came and relaxed you but I tensed. You must be from the east. If it helps that is just a night-hark, yes they are large but are not a danger. They seldom come any lower than that, unless it is rest in the top of tree. It has to be hard to know what is safe and what isn’t when you have seen only images. Are you hear for the expedition?” She nodded. “My father is making me go. I don’t see why, but he says that it is important that we see it for ourselves. See why it is not to be feared. You here for it?” Alice nodded. “They called my Father in to help with the plants and animals. He found it important that I come as well, why I am still not to sure of. I do think that having me here is going to cause more problems than it solves. It would have worked out far better to let me meet up in Graham, where the other native guide will be.” The girl blinked. “Native, but I didn’t think natives were humans.” Alice smiled. “We consider all born in the west to be native, no matter if there parents were from the east. As to human, well that is a matter of debate. A number would say we are not.”