[ She would be surprised at just how understanding he is. He's lived a long time, seen a great many things, been the cause of a great many more. Summoning up a weapon is very, very low on the scale of things that might give him pause. ]

Ah. I see. Where I am from, we call such a force "aether". It is as you described, the very essence of life itself, and the means by which we use magic.

[ A tilt of his head. He now finds himself less curious about what she can do and more about the remark she made about her own world. ]

If I may, what do you mean the world is stagnating?

[ He's experienced that sort of thing as well. ]