"Well, yes, sure, that's why I said that's the worst-case. Unless magic has some... weird limits... immortal mages haven't chosen to share, the least efficient way to do it still sounds like it could've been done a long time ago."

"Maybe no one's figured out a way to do it without maintenance and people kept assassinating immortals for some reason."

"Well, did they? Keep assassinating immortals?"

"I know it happened some, it's been mentioned in Asian history."

"Any reason pertinent to immortality or just the fact that if you live long enough in ancient Asia you're bound to irritate someone enough that they want to off you?"

"Various reasons, but many not recorded."

"Well, here's to hoping there isn't some secret conspiracy that wants to snuff out any mages that reach four hundred."

"I don't think it's anything so organized."

"Which is exactly what they want you to think!"

She swats him on the rear, giggling.

He eeps and says, "That's not an argument!" giggling, too.

"It's true, it's not."

His mouth opens in a round 'O'. "You're one of them!" he accuses. "Sneakily planted here to ensure my cooperation!"

"If I ever tell you to murder somebody for being old please feel free to disobey that one."

"This surely is a ploy, too," he mutters.

"How so?"

"I wouldn't know! But in the end, in four hundred years, I will be visited by someone who will tell me to keep all the dread secrets of magery to myself or else."

"Little do you know that just when you think you're safe and this was a silly conspiracy theory after all it turns out the limit is four hundred fifteen."

"So that's how it works, mages become so paranoid and looking over their shoulders they never reveal their secrets out of fear. Sneaky, but I'm onto you now!"

"Oh no. I'm found out. What are you going to do about it?"

"Oh, I cannot hope to resist your influence, clearly I must submit to you to have any hope of being saved."

"Good." Kiss.

Giggle. Kiss.