"Don't be too fooled by the Free Cities, New Magic is still magic. They haven't found a way to live without it, thankfully. Thus why it's still valuable to know." Istredd doesn't 100% understand how the New Magic works but he does know that they still rely on a form of magic to make it work, which means they're reliant. It's a good thing they are. Until that changes, they won't go after the Singularity, that's his primary focus.

"But I understand, while our situation is far from comfortable in Thorne, it is the best place for me for now. I think I'd be as lost in the Free Cities as either of us would be in Solvunn." It's not that Istredd would be lost, he does understand the sort of community it has, there are many small villages and places in the outskirts of his continent exactly like that. It's more that he would not choose it if he could avoid it.