Istredd relaxes when she does, opening himself up to a longer conversation as it's what he agreed to do here. But it's becoming easier the more he does it.

"Yes, where I'm from it is the same way, there's only a small percentage of people with the ability, so coming here was quite a change."

The mages in power around him would want more magic users but only the ones they could control or use, too much magic would mean less special power for them. If they could come here and take all the magic for themselves, they would. It was a dying type of power, and it is everywhere in this world. He focuses on her though.

"Despite magic being available to everyone, it will still take time and effort to learn how. Especially if you would rather not set fire to your bedchamber accidentally." He smiles very slightly at that, it both being a joke and not at all one. It is a very common problem. "Learning magic is easiest here in Thorne and highly valued."

Meaning that if someone wanted to get ahead or to gain power, this is the way in this place to do it. Istredd himself is climbing through the ranks but he'll never want to get to be where Stephen and Yennefer are. They might be surrounded by people who aim for that though. Maybe even this woman is.

"I don't believe I got your name."