[Oh, he's used to it — not personally, but he's seen enough to make assumptions. But before he can start on that, she tackles the elephant in the room. Only a matter of time, he knows, but it's still a complicated subject.

So, how to approach it?

» Our magic is kind of like your mutations.
» Sort of.
» I can't talk too much about that.
» ...

With the truth — not enough to reveal anything too specific, but not vague enough to raise too many questions. He finds himself nodding even though he knows it's going to go unnoticed.]

Yeah. In some cases, it's kind of like what you've described: a genetic thing. Some people are just naturally born with it. Others have to learn it or rely on... on tools, or relics, or things that are already imbued with it.

[He thinks about the witches on the Thirteenth Floor. Most of them fall into the first category, but a few fall into the second. Greenleaf with her tree feels like a combination of the two. She wouldn't be able to do half as much without it.]

Your... power, it kind of reminds me of something I've seen before.