[She had grown into a fine woman, in Cliff's eyes. Someone who was just as beautiful and strong as before, but with the air of controlled power and the wisdom that only experience could grant. A small, petty part of him hoped that Maria would grow into a woman like this-- and, in his gut, he knew that she would.

But this was Rei, and she presented him with a more immediate question that he had to find the answer for.]

Pretty good. Just trying to make heads and tails of what's going on with this place. It happened overnight, and there's people 'round here using magic that weren't the other day.

It's weird.