"Hmm.  So, like, someone else might be able to make different kinds of spears, but the default - the way it comes out if they're not trying for something specific - would be different from Sophie's.  You think guns are rarer, for some reason?"

"...Not that rare. Bows and arrows are extremely rare from what I've seen, but guns - I've heard plenty about others with some kind of gun. Bladed weapons of various types seem to be most common, though."

"I would have expected it to be the other way around, personally.  Uh, stop me any time if you want to talk about anything less frivolous," she laughs lightly, "but what's the most out-there weapon you've ever seen?"

"Lasers. Honest-to-God lasers. That was a rather interesting one-off."

She laughs.  "Like - like futuristic laser guns, or little laser pointers?"

"Like futuristic laser guns, though shot from her hands."

"That's awesome!  I kinda wish I could meet her."

"That - won't really be an option. I think she would've liked to meet you all, though."

"Oh.  - I'm sorry."

"It's okay. I didn't really know her that well, only heard about her death a while after she dropped off the map. It was about eight years ago, too."

Kaylee nods.

"...I guess it's gotta be pretty dangerous, especially with everyone working against each other.  I'm glad you're trying to fix that."

"I do what I can, but - thank you."

"How much do you think we'll be able to... expand, over time?  Like, if we all..."

...if we all survive

"...if we all grow up and start our own branches, say, and still manage to coordinate between ourselves..."

"Hm, assuming Taylor becomes a magical girl, and Alex continues attending, and each of you goes on to mentor others - I'd say we'd probably get to three to five girls each at a minimum, maybe more as word spreads. Unfortunately, the low density of girls would end up acting against us, at least until we've been active for a while. I should also be able to at least impact if not outright recruit more girls than just this - but even if not, the six of us should manage to reach at least another eighteen to thirty girls, probably sometime in the next decade at the most.

"Change will be slow, but that's more than what anyone else has managed so far. I'm hoping that our success will also inspire copy-cats, and the impact of that's harder to estimate."

"I wonder if there's a way to get non magical girls to help.  People who are too old to make contracts, or boys.  Like, they can't fight, but... if there's ever enough of us that we can go public, maybe they can raise awareness or help fund full-time fighters... do you know if there's anything ordinary people can do to make themselves or other people safer from witches?"

"That's a good idea, but - no. I don't know anything. Being very aware of the symptoms of a witch's kiss and knowing to call a magical girl when you see someone afflicted would be the only thing I can think of, but that'd rely on bystanders intervening, which they usually don't."

"Surely if we could work with the police... but we'd have to be public by then..."

She thinks back to what it felt like to be affected.  No, there's no way she could have fought back, even if she knew what was going on.

"I think... even if people can't do anything, it would be better for them to know, though."

"I agree. It's - I can see why secrecy could be important, but it's right that people know."

"Same, though I think I get where you're coming from on the secrecy, too. A lot'd be impeded with everyone knowing."

"You all have a point. Still, I really don't think we're in a position right now to come forward, and there's a lot of risks to it, since it's never been done."

"I may be getting ahead of myself a bit, yeah.  For now... fight witches, I guess."

Taylor chooses that moment to arrive, knocking on the door briefly before letting herself in. "Hey everyone! Sorry I'm late."

"Hello!  I'm Kaylee, I'm new.  I'm guessing you're Taylor?"

"Yeah! I'm a potential; I haven't really decided what to wish on yet - and Mallory says I should wait until I'm sixteen, though Kyubey says my wish will be stronger if I'm younger. Lianne mentioned you last week. What'd you wish for?"

"I'd rather not say, it's kind of personal."