At the light of dawn (D3, EM, Open)

[Jiyo Ayumu]

"I would prove a poorer go-between that you take me for. I have been absent from the palace for years, going from village to village, and I basically know no one anymore at the administration entry level.

From my understanding, the most straightforward way is to go through the official procedure even within the limits of the palace. Write down your issue on paper, deliver or have the letter delivered to the magistrate office, and the available magistrate most expert on this subject will contact you back very soon."

[Otomo Gusai]

Gusai looks stricken for a moment.

"Alas," he says, "my skills...do not extend to such writing as would befit."

[Jiyo Ayumu]

"If you prefer, I can put it on a paper if you dictate its content to me.

You know, Jiyo Sora was a grown man that didn't know to read and write when he joined Shiba, and he's a librarian now. And there are a lot among the old guard that still don't know their letters. Being able to learn to read was a luxury for a lot of kids back in the days, and it requires a lot of dedication to simply find the time and the energy to get back to it as a busy adult."

[Otomo Gusai]

"That would be appreciated," Gusai replies, "and I'm not unmindful that it'd take time from your day to do so.

"But as to learning...maybe this winter'd be a good time to see to it?"

[Jiyo Ayumu]

"There's never a bad time to start.

Just, the earliest you do, the earliest you'll enjoy the fruits of your labor."

[Otomo Gusai]

"True in many things," Gusai agrees. "Though I'd scarcely know where to begin. Would you have any recommendations?

"I place myself in your hands."

[Jiyo Ayumu]

"There is no set rule for learning.

Some beginners like to give themselves objectives, like a text they would like to be able to decipher, or a message they would like to immortalize in paper and ink.

Once they've learned enough of the basis to be able to progress by themselves, they often carry a few simple books on them at all times to be able to practice during the shortest available opportunities, since adult life rarely has an accommodating schedule.

The most difficult step by far is the first one: Learning which symbol is associated with each sound. This is a bit like learning the colors as a kid, except that instead of thinking "red" when seeing a red thing, you think "tch" when seeing the symbol for the sound "tch".

This step requires the help of someone who already knows out to read. Not necessarily a professional teacher, just someone with great reserves of patience to tell you the code... Actually, don't sailors have that thing where certain types of knots are used to convey messages? Well, it's the same idea. A ink knot instead of a rope knot."

[Otomo Gusai]

Gusai nods, taking in the information.

"And practice is needed in all things," he agrees. "Took me a long time to learn the knots I know--and there're still more of 'em to learn, too.

"I guess I'll be able to find someone who knows here, though. There are enough people with time on their hands who didn't think they'd have it, I should be able to, yeah."