[Venat would happily spend more time with Maruki, but quite reasonably assumes that 'everything' he refers to would make her more of an inconvenience than a welcome companion for most of it! But time with a friend is never to be shunned.]

[She accepts the thermos with a smile.] Tea truly is a popular drink here, is it not? I think I may have had more here than in my lifetime before, though do note that's no complaint. And all the more reason we ought to start climbing. Would you care for a proper walking stick?