"It's not that much faith."

Shrug. "Lots of people don't have magic and aren't immortal, you know."

"Hm...yeah. People dying isn't great. Do you know why more people aren't magic? And why it's never boys?"

"Sometimes it can be boys who want to turn into girls, actually, but I don't know why it's never boys who want to stay that way. It's not anyone who wants it because you have to want your wish just so, I think."

"I guess that makes sense...can you wish for other people to be immortal, even if they aren't magical girls?"

"Probably! I don't remember if I've ever heard of someone doing that though."

"There are some people I'd like to be immortal. Hm. Lan Zhan, do you think you could want your brother immortal enough? If that's a wish we could do, then it makes sense to focus on the boys, who maybe for some reason can't wish at all--your brother and my brother and your uncle and Uncle Jiang--"

"Probably." Wei Ying is the person she has the strongest feelings about, but Brother is a close second. 

"You're thinking you'd apply?"

"I'd consider it, at least. I have questions about the way Jun Wu does things."

"I have a lot of respect for her."

"If I were Empress of Magic I'd have a research division and make sure everyone knew things about magical girls and monsters from a reliable source." 

"Maybe she has a research division. I haven't been to court in a long time."

"But she doesn't tell people things! You are literally the most credible source on magic I have ever encountered!"

She chuckles softly. "Maybe all her decisions were made long ago and she just hasn't updated them."

"Maybe. It's the kind of thing I'd want to know. And what's up with monsters, anyway?"

"...what do you mean, what's up with them?"

"Like, what are they, why is it magical girls that fight them instead of dudes with hunting rifles, what happens if nobody fights them, what actually are they, where do they come from, stuff like that."

"Dudes with hunting rifles can't see them - that's also why there are no photos. If nobody fights them they kill people, usually not by eating them but nonetheless. They can bud. What they are I don't know, exactly, people talk about them being made of resentful energy but I don't know if that's real."

"If it's not a big deal that you got your magic sealed instead of fighting them then why don't more magical girls do more things that aren't hunting monsters?"

"...oh, I do fight them. It's possible to kill them without doing any magic. You just need to be very good with a sword."

"What do they look like, when you can see them?"

"All different ways. I'm not an artist, you can see drawings from girls who are online probably. The most common one around here looks like an abortion clinic for some reason."

She makes a face. "If they're so dangerous, how come nobody has managed to wipe them out by now?"

"Lots of people die trying. And sometimes they must - mutate or something, because occasionally there are new kinds. I guess this is sort of like asking why there are still mosquitoes."