"What is an elemental?"

"A kind of person..."

"Yes, obviously. Am I mistaken in assuming she is inherently magical in some way? She certainly seems to be."

"She is, but so are a lot of humans."

"She is inherently magical in a way I am not currently familiar with, and I am familiar with a great many kinds of magic."

"Elementals have a lot of one or two elements of magic and mage humans have some of three or more."

"And one of yours overlaps with one of hers? --I have a magic sense active."

"...yeah, I don't have any Shadow but I have some Shine."

"What are the elements?"

"Glass lightning water earth wood shine fire adamant stone air ice shadow."

"Do you have any idea why those are the elements?"

"...no."

"Oh well. Do you know whether anyone else does?"

"I don't think they do."

"Oh well. How does using magic work?"

"What do you mean exactly?"

"What kinds of moving parts does it have?"

"Which elements are in use and what you're trying to do with them and... how much capacity you have? And if you're a human you can borrow capacity from a - helpful elemental."

"Is doing magic a mental or physical action?"

"Mental. Is there some reason you're so curious about this in particular -"

"Because it's magic? If I'm asking the wrong questions to understand your magic do enlighten me."

"They're... not bad questions, just not what I was expecting to discuss immediately with whoever we landed on."

"Most people have priorities not involving magic, for some reason," he allows.

"You clearly already have some, what do you do with it? Besides... translate for skylight-breaking visitors."

"Protect my sister and I from being killed and learn more magic, mostly."