[ Without really thinking about it, Jonathan reaches a hand up to swat at something, as if shooing away a bug. It's an unconscious gesture, something he doesn't realize what he's doing. He also doesn't realize that his swat is targeted at Stephen's spell, as if he could swat away that tendril of perception like he could a horsefly.

His expression is still jovial, the conversation still light. It's obvious that the idea of meeting another magician, a proper magician, someone who he could absolutely nerd out and talk theory with, is absolutely wonderful. ]

I shall answer your first question before the second, [ Jonathan nods. ] By 'returning to England,' I mean just that. For the past three hundred years, there was no magic in England. It is only recently, due to the actions of my mentor and myself, that it began to change. As for the second, [ a brief moment of hesitation, someone kind of doesn't want to talk about this, how does one phrase 'a lot of people think I caused my own curse and also killed my wife.' ]

I have been subject to a fair number of rumors back in my time. The most damning one of those should be cleared by now, but it is hard to entirely rehabilitate a reputation marred with gossip and falsehoods.