"Computers are a kind of technology that uses math to do increasingly complex tasks. I am not the best person to explain and you are probably not the best person to learn how to make them- I'm sure you're intelligent, but I doubt we got your world's greatest engineering mind at random, and my interest lies in pure math, not anywhere else. I can teach you how to use one, if you're stuck here long enough, and I can easily spend the next hour demonstrating important features. The Internet, which is how computers network and share information, is probably the most useful export we have."

"You're right, I'm not an engineer. I'll gladly take you up on that offer for a tutorial- Is there anything you'd like in return? Heal aura is actually pretty wasteful for just one person, it's an energy-expensive magic and I can't target it, but I can do other stuff."

"Maybe an overview of what you can do while I get my laptop?"

She starts walking to her room.

"I can fly, carry things, temporary shields, blow things up, my special ability is copying other magic and I have a whole lot of stuff memorized, but I think it's better at other Witches' magic, I could barely touch the kamina and werewolves stuff. Oh, I should dispose of my weapons in the woods today, before they get unstable."

"Hmm. Nothing that immediately solves any global problems, and revealing you to Beacon Hills could easily be a mess, since you're just one person and can probably only help with rescuing individuals. The next step if you're stuck here, or if it takes a while for your organization to find you, is probably to ask Scott if anyone in town knows about other magic that you could try to copy."

Inside Lydia's room, there are bulletin boards covered in inspirational quotes: Sun Tzu, Hillary Clinton, and Lucille Ball. The names might not be familiar, but it's not hard to gauge the tenor of them after reading a few.

The walls are purple, and there are butterfly outlines above her bed.

She has her laptop on her desk, and shows Gren how to use a search engine.

It may become clear that Gren's literacy could be called 'shaky' by someone uncharitable. But she really likes search engines, much faster than asking a librarian!

If asked about librarians, Lydia would say that they do have the advantage of being people, if you want help with research. But for speed, a search engine is the way to go.

After demonstrating basic search, she takes them to Wikipedia.

"This is a wonderful resource for preliminary research, though you should usually check the sources down here, at the bottom. It's possible that depending on how interworld travel works, you can start using our Internet as soon as you build the right infrastructure. Teleportation wouldn't do it, but maybe you-that is, witches- can do standing portals?"

"Ah, no, almost nothing is permanently magical except curses and geases."

"Well. The Internet might not be so immediate, but it's not the only thing our world has. There are powerful weapons here, some of them may be effective against Neuroi. I think the next steps, in order, would be to talk to Scott about any local magicians or witches or whatever he knows about, and then to work on revealing enough to the right authorities that they'll share technology with another world. The second will be difficult, time-consuming, and possibly intractable. Any advice you have on handling a government would be great, I am only turning seventeen today."

"Seventeen doesn't sound all that young to me, huh. I'm a soldier before much else so I hope it's not surprising I'm eager about the weapons. If I get rescued there will be trained diplomats coming along soon enough so the best thing for me to do is write a thorough briefing for them, or possibly study government and technology so I can serve as an adviser. The two biggest things I've learned about handling governments are 'be patient' and 'know who to talk to to make things move'. The second tidbit doesn't really help immediately, I admit."

"Like I said, any advice. Here, before eighteen you only have limited control over your circumstances and decision-making. Parents are given a lot of rights and responsibilities, and I don't think we'll be served going into the law there, just keep it in mind as a background cultural assumption. As for dealing with governments, that can wait until after we talk to Scott and after my birthday party."

She calls Scott.

"Alright, he gave me the address. How much of an imposition is it if you fly me there?"

"Not very. If you want us to be invisible at the time, somewhat more but certainly doable." Type type. She's looking up 'warfare technology'.

"Invisibility shouldn't be necessary if we go up high enough; how securely can you carry a passenger?"

"The 'wing is actually designed for an optional passenger. Maximum flexibility without sacrificing too much of any one aspect. There's straps and handles and I have some pretty potent telekinesis to catch you if you manage to throw yourself out of it somehow."

"Do you have airplanes? Flying in a large 'carriage' is not at all the same as individual flight, I except."

"We do not have airplanes. We do know that human-tolerable flight ceiling is about five to ten kilometers without prolonged adjustment period, or potential health complications. Not just because of the cold, air's thinner or something."

"It is thinner! We can talk about that too, but maybe not while you're flying. I think four miles should be good if we move fast."

"Okay. Do you have a flight coat, though, it'll be pretty chilly. It's inconvenient that magic is secret. I could just advertise for work."

"Well, magic doesn't have to stay secret. I can bring a coat, but not one designed for flying, is that alright?"

"Perfectly fine. Ours are thick leather and wool, because we're stationed up north and it helps deal with snow and rain. And if necessary I can do heat and fire."

"I'm getting the impression from the Internet and things people have said that love and, uh, probably also related things are treated a lot less seriously here than I'm used to. I'm not Catholic or I'd have felt obliged to rant about sinfulness by now but. Think you can predict any more surprises I'll have to deal with?"

"...Depends on how long you stay. All of our wars are fought against other humans in other countries across the sea, so while war is the default assumption, it's also distant and abstract. The Internet is so ubiquitous that many people make friends there, and there's also online dating. Dating is a casual relationship that may or may not precede an engagement or marriage."

"Stranger in a strange land, heh. The war is all too immediate to us."

She shakes her head. "No need for me to be so depressing. Want to go now?"

"I'm game."

She puts on a coat. It probably won't keep her very warm, but it's not nothing.

Her... Steelwing looks like a motorcycle jointly designed by the Army Corps of Engineers and Metallica, then stripped of its wheels and engines. There's a reasonably padded seat with a sort of harness thing, and convenient handles, as described.

Gren explains how to slip in and tighten the straps. It's not hard.

"Did witches ever use broomsticks?"

She learns quickly enough, and manages to settle in gracefully.