This is an incredible insight I didn't ping to! I do wonder if in the sequel to The Raven Scholar, when the world opens up, if we'll get some additional details along the "here's how society works" outside the two cities/imperial island that are the focus of the book. Now I'm curious about it because in the begining of The Witch Roads it's clear there's some food insecurity happening in other communities. I'm about 75% sure Elliott already solved this for herself, given her world building in other fantasy series, and it's just not explicit in the text. 😂