"Where I come from, most people can't do the things I can do."

"And I bet you most people keep their heads down, ma'am."

"Not really. I'm considered...exceptional, but not qualitatively unusual."

"All due respect, would you notice?"

"I know it's hard to believe, but back home, I was nothing special, socially. I had friends who poked fun at my abilities. I don't think anyone called me ma'am in my life before I came here."

""I believe that being powerful doesn't make one important, where you're from, what I don't believe is that most people don't wisely keep out of the way."

"I guess. ...Higher standard of living, though, which is kind of what I actually meant by shouldn't have to make do."

"If the magic ends the famines, I'm all in favor."

"Ash clouds're going to make it harder but magic can totally do that."

"Thank you."

"You're more than welcome."

"Do you want to meet her? She's a good kid. She gets enough to eat most of the time."

"Didn't you already put her to bed?"

"Yeah. Are you leaving at night?"

"I can see in the dark."

"Right. Elves. I know you aren't one. Ah, safe travels."

"Thanks. Safe--everything."

"Yep." 

And she heads back to--Celegorm's place, she guesses. How'd things go on your end?

Some people are mildly panicked and I gave them a few day's leave to go check in with possible parents of their possible children. Yours?

The one mom I talked to wasn't sure it would be best for her kid to suddenly introduce her to a random elf who was apparently her parent. The pregnancies are apparently sometimes more difficult than normal, but the kids are all fine if they don't get miscarried. They're--healthier than their fully-human peers.

...if they don't die in the womb.

Yeah, that happens sometimes. Even with fully-human babies. Not so much with mothers who have enough food and decent medical care, but.

I do not think that happens to us, unless something bad happens to the parents.

Well, we already knew that absent magic humans are fucking tragic.