"Ah!" Raine practically lights up, and all thoughts of abandoning the discussion in favor of obedience to social mores, or not peppering strangers with questions on magical theory, are pushed aside. She needs to know more. "Aer, yes, I've heard that term. That's odd-- in my world, mana has always been the force responsible for the persistence and propagation of life."

Yuri was less than helpful. Perhaps this stranger will be more so. Already he's told her more than she could badger out of Yuri. "How is it that your world has only recently acquired mana?"