[A small nod.]

You promise? That you'll help? That this place is really safe?

[When she spoke again, her voice was quieter, lest they be overheard; ]

That book talked about an old magic in this world, that gave souls to artwork. Like back home.

But a horrid painting got given a soul and something bad happened, so they stopped anyone from using power like that again.

...They never said what happened to the painting afterwards. Maybe- maybe they burned it too.

[That was more a mumble- as her little hands gripped tighter onto the back of her top.]