"It's energy, right? Seals can manipulate all known forms of that, including chakra. And yes, I'm our main seal specialist."

This is another area she would be very interested in learning more about, if that might be possible. 

"We don't have much in the way of beginners' texts. That's not how it was taught. I might be able to explain things in between other duties? Or we can arrange someone else. And that'd be a reasonable trade for information about your world and magic."

It was taught from person to person?

She would be interested in such a trade.

"Yeah, even in Uzushio, and we had the highest density of seal masters. Basics like math and language could be taught through books or in classrooms, but one-on-one's safer."

Safer?

Oh, also, among reasons she has interest in this - she's been given to understand that seals are heavily mathematical, and is curious whether the fact that her universe has further advanced math, and also that she has the means to perform calculations very quickly, might have interesting interplay in this area.

"Seals are prone to exploding if you mess them up, and most novices don't have the self control to not try and experiment when on their own, and it takes a while for a teacher to make certain a seal is safe to activate. And yes, there is a large element of math, especially for Uzushio-style seals. Other factors like the symbols involved matter too."

Ah.

Style?

"There's multiple traditions. Uzushio, Akane, Senju, Kazemi, Hyuuga, Junpuu, and Amagiri are some of the more major ones."

And some are more mathematical than others? In what way?

"Hyuuga style uses set angles for the most part, instead relying on an interplay of symbols in given positions, for one. Uzushio style uses a smaller set of symbols, and has a wider variety of positions."

Mm. 

(She is, of course, interested in quite more than that, but if she can pursue an organized approach that is certainly better than haphazard attempts.)

(She does not attempt to direct the conversation back to its stated intent, for the moment. Prefers to see if and when Mariko might do so.)

"Can you explain how your mathematical ability works?"

"I can. 

Do you have any form of computational machines?"

"Not in common use. There's some rudimentary ones that I've found more laborious to use than just calculating things in my head."

Where she is from, machines that can perform computation are both considerably more powerful and widespread. She has one with her; not a particularly powerful one by her standards but considerably more so than mental calculation.

Also she has a magic-assisted means of emulating one with her mind; it is not as highly powered but again still rather significantly so.

"Does it only do math, or also other things? Could I teach it a selection of symbols and their meanings and interactions, and have it calculate using those?"

"It does quite a lot.

Assuming they follow known rules and can be successfully formalized, yes."

"We don't know all the rules, but they do. That sounds potentially incredibly useful."

"They?

Investigating the possibility seems potentially well combined with myself learning about seals as mentioned."

"The seals do follow rules that can be formalized, sorry. Grammatical ambiguity."

Not a problem. And she could speculate further on what might suceed and what might not, but it would likely be more efficient and accurate to attempt in a more organized fashion than to guess from vaguer descriptions in both directions.

"Exactly. This has been a good overview, and it's given me a sense of your magic - I would like to attempt using it, or seeing if seals can mimic some of the functions - but the best way to find exploits will be systemically."

Indeed.

Shall they be attempting to use it right now, or is she off to other engagements?

"Your magic? If there's a basic exercise suitable for novices, I do have time right now to try it."