"Gradually, yeah. I've known a couple for over half a century, and they're basically the same even now. No sudden shifts. They're all kind of single-minded though."

"Weird."

"Genies are weird. Story of the century."

"And next century too after all the newspapers have tragic accidents."

"Newspapers are kind of dying, though. Internet's so much easier everywhere except way out in the sticks."

"Yeah, my world too, although for some reason it feels like there's been no progress for years."

"Time loop will do that. And you still look, like, sixteen. You have to try and save the world for however many effective-years alone, and not even look older to show for it. Talk about getting cheaped out by fate."

"Seventeen. Although actually that's not because of the time loop, aging is optional. I could look older too, if I wanted to use magic for it."

"Huh, neat."

"It is!"

"...I actually spend lots of time 'out in the sticks' as I put it. And I grew up when airplanes were a new thing. So I'm not as bothered by slow progress as others maybe. It's almost worrisome how fast everything changes now."

"What are you worried about?"

"I don't know. Being... So tracked by everything, mostly."

"Maybe all the data will have a horrible monster accident."

"Hm. Yeah, guess so. Part of it is 'the price of fame' though."

"'Cause you're magic?"

"Because I'm magic and pretty strong and there was a big thing with environmental regulations about fifteen years ago."

"A thing?"

"I, uh, destroyed a terrible terrible irresponsible coal mine, while fighting a monster as an excuse for the damage. And then got sued, and then counter-sued, and it was just... Such a huge thing."

"I guess environmentalism seems like more of a live issue when there are spirits everywhere yelling about it."

"Yeah. The local spirits were all up in arms, and trying to work inside the law wasn't working, and trying to get protesters and petitions on my side didn't do anything... I still regret I had to blow up the place, though. I made very sure to do it on an off-shift at least."

"Why didn't the spirits do it themselves?"

"They don't think like modern humans. They hold back their frustrations and grievances for decades, doing nothing more than saying warnings, and then there's the last straw that breaks their tolerance, and they go on rampages and wipe half a region of all human habitation. That's why Rangers like me are so important - intermediaries. To help the two sides understand each other."

"Under those conditions I'd expect better - civilian policing - what with the wiping out a region thing."

"Yeah, maybe when it's happened in the living memory of current government officials. Last time it happened in Central America was 1903."