Yeah, but I wouldn't say it's a fair comparision. I'd be happier anywhere than I was in the castle, even Solvunn. [ And while Matt can't see her, she also doesn't exactly sound like the kind of person who would enjoy living in a small farming cult community. ] But Thorne ain't just the castle, it's the whole kingdom too. And the town I lived in before I came to Cadens, I really loved.

[ Nott is a medium-sized city on the edge of Lake Circinus, and they may fall within Thorne's jurisdiction, but they function more or less independently. When a handful of Summoned, nearly all from the same world, showed up on their doorstep, the Lord of the city told them he would not allow the royal guard access to them unless they broke the laws. Sentiment toward the crown is mostly negative in Nott, and they prefer to be left to their own devices. They practice their own style of magic, and have their own special customs. They'd welcomed the Summoned, employed them and housed them. Julie loves Nott, and is willing to go out of her way to protect the people there. ]

But there were only a few of us there, Summoned. Just three, by the time we left. Most of our friends, the people we knew through the Horizon, or even before we left the castle, they were here. The isolation started gettin' to us, we were fightin', so we came here to be with the others. [ She sighs a bit. ] So, it's apples to oranges. If the people who're important to me weren't here, I wouldn't be either. But I'm happier with them than I was when I was practically all alone.