The errand proved informative. Raine moved her dish aside to get a better look at the map, instantly interested. "Fascinating," she said aloud, following the path Anton traced. Magic in the land was not such a new idea, but the following of specific, mappable patterns was. "There are rough analogues in my world, places that have unusually high concentrations of mana, but to the best of my knowledge this concept isn't one we have. Can most people perceive them?"

She wasn't clear either on how much by way of explanation newcomers were getting lately, though she assumed at least some of the soul aspects must be explained to impress upon them the importance of the lanterns. "Perhaps, then, the Emperor took hold of the Hotel's 'soul' as well-- inasmuch as it can be said to have one?" As ideas went, it sounded a bit farfetched, but she had none better.