[ Reynir thinks about that - a waste of resources. People weren't rich or wasteful in his village, certainly. But how different had it really been in Finland? How could he ever really compare?

And in a way, it recontextualizes Onni and his aversion to having fun, since he sees it as wasteful. Reynir doubts that all Finns are like that - he knows they aren't, because Tuuri - but maybe there is a cultural element to it. ]

We... probably had a lot of frivolous stuff to pass the time that you didn't in Finland, but, no. This is the first maze I've been in.

[ The moon is shining down, and the sounds from the rest of the party grow more hushed as they make their way through the maze. Reynir is just following his instincts, directing them at places where the path splits. Onni doesn't seem to mind much, following his lead.

It's so nice, feeling Onni warm and a little unsteady on his feet, walking right beside him, hand-in-hand. Reynir feels relaxed and happy, and so he just rambles away: ]

One of the old picture books that I had growing up had a story about a hero that had to go into a huge maze to fight a big horrible beast that was at the center. It was always one of my favorites - the art was so pretty, the maze walls and all the plants and everything were so detailed, but the humans were all really simple, like they were just shadows or something. I think it was... I'm trying to remember why the monster was in the maze. That part I forget. But I know the reason the hero wanted to defeat is was the evil king kept it alive by feeding it kids. He would demand seven boys and seven girls every year and just send them in to keep the beast happy.

[ He pauses, and adds with consideration: ]

In hindsight I think I might've had a little crush on the hero of the story.