The Reader's Encounter

The Reader's Encounter is a short story-driven puzzle game about secret knowledge and manipulating words. You arrive from across the sea in the fetid hold of a rat-infested ship. You have left your friends behind—and with them, your books and the mysteries you had uncovered. You are a reader, looking for secrets hidden by forgotten sages between the lines of their ancient tomes. Or rather, you were a reader; who knows what you are now, stranded alone in this foreign land. Maybe here, unlike back home, there might be some use for your unusual skill? --- The game has a built-in hint system; hints become active after 5 manipulations on each level. If you are stuck and the hints do not help, see the walkthrough here: https://pastebin.com/VwrEjUBH (caution: major spoilers!).