That explains some things. And also raises many, many more questions. The middle of a busy street probably isn't the best place to get into them, though, and after a moment of studying Istredd he starts walking again.

"My world had nothing like that," he says, still frowning. The holiest of divine mystics were said to sometimes have lived longer lifespans, but who knows how much of that was actually true. Only the Issusha'im could live beyond a mortal life, and it wasn't their choice.

Them, and the Rifter.

"Women who use magic used to be burned, or worse. Boys that have god's own bones are taken by the priests to be trained." Like him. He shakes his head.

"It was that way. Not anymore, now that the church is gone and things have changed. This world was very strange to me when I arrived, though."

Everyone using magic so openly. Even the type and strength of their magic, what they could accomplish with it were only things the mystics dreamed of. Kahlil had been deeply uncomfortable for a time, but he quickly adapted.

This is more detail than he's told Istredd before. Something in him has shifted, either from what happened these past weeks or the way his conversation with Julie ended. He doesn't know. If he looks too deeply into his own thoughts he'll only get lost.