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[mandrakeroot]

Mandrake here.

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[mandrakeroot]

"Yes, but I thought it might be impolite to say that it seems personal for other reasons." In several real senses, he didn't legally exist as a child, only coming into an existence that matters when he received his name. He feels that this offers a helpful guide into how to think about those years, and to avoid anyone asking questions about anything that happened then.

"For example, it's deeply unlikely that a government magician would go after a non-magician. Maybe it's a matter of that feeling of superiority you mentioned. It would be rather pathetic to go after someone who will never be able to defend themselves the same way, even if there weren't laws."

[lestercraft]

"Unlikely, not impossible. Certainly not something worth causing bodily harm over. But their very presence, knowing that they could if they so chose, especially in a position where-- well, I can't imagine it would be very difficult for a powerful enough magician to be able to clean up after themselves so that no-one is the wiser for it," he comments, raising one eyebrow. "Social power is a formidable one in and of itself, Mister Mandrake. If the institution didn't exist, that power wouldn't either. At which point it's just a rich thug with minions unable to be defended against by the common folk."

[mandrakeroot]

"That's why I said unlikely." It's important to be precise. "It's also why I wouldn't make any claims about an individual magician and what they might do. Though that's one of the advantages of social power, reputation becomes all the more important. If I lived in a world without magicians, I might agree that the potential cost to non-magicians if they are targeted by magicians would far outweigh any good. But as it is, I believe that the overall protection against demons and other means of attack is rather important. Speaking as someone who wouldn't like to live in a war zone. Other people might feel differently."

[lestercraft]

Arthur visibly pauses.

"Right, I skipped that step a little, didn't I?" He lifts his head to gesture at Nathaniel. "Please, explain to me what benefit magicians actually offer England in your world."

[mandrakeroot]

"Stopping us from being attacked and than incorporated into someone else's empire," said promptly, and honestly.

He feels that magicians offer the benefits of having a strong government, but some people can't be trusted to care or understand the importance of such.

[lestercraft]

"Through the use of demons," he adds.

[mandrakeroot]

"Yes. It would be rather hard to defend against demons, if we didn't. Which brings us back to what magicians do for England, and what happens to countries that don't have such protection."

That is, they are no longer countries.

[lestercraft]

"No, actually - first of all, I'd like to understand better why your magic system has decided that the use of demons is what your entire national defence revolves around."

He hates that sentence, actually.

[mandrakeroot]

"Not our entire national defense, that would be stupid. But I'm not sure what you're asking." He really hates having to say that.

[lestercraft]

Arthur's expression remains deliberately neutral. "As a magician, surely you must be able to tell me why humanity first started making pacts with demons to use them like this."

[mandrakeroot]

"You think we make pacts with demons." It's a horrifying enough way to put it that he needs a moment before he can answer the question. "Magicians have been summoning demons since the dawn of history. So I really can't tell you why they started. Why everyone has continued to do so being more obvious."

[lestercraft]

"So magicians have been enslaving demons since the dawn of history," he corrects pointedly. "What do you use them for, more specifically?"

[mandrakeroot]

"Exactly." It's very important to get that straight. "They're set to all sorts of tasks: agriculture, building work is popular, transportation, observation, personal protection, protection of the country - the list goes on."

[lestercraft]

"And demons are sentient?"

[mandrakeroot]

"To a certain degree. They're certainly sentient enough to be malicious. Though I believe the ability to think comes only when they're summoned. It's hard to know for sure, as they're the only source for information the Other Place."

[lestercraft]

Arthur lifts his hand to rub around his mouth and jaw, and can't help but think of John in the Dark World.

"And you can't imagine why someone being forcibly dragged out of their home, subject to the whims and control of someone they have no hope of defying, who punishes them excruciatingly for any perceived transgression, wouldn't be a bit upset?"

[mandrakeroot]

"Demons are wocked and will hurt you if they have the chance."

[lestercraft]

"Magicians have been kidnapping and torturing them since the dawn of time," he says calmly.

[mandrakeroot]

"If you say so."

[lestercraft]

He just hums softly. He's definitely reached the point where Mandrake is just going to continue placating him, rather than debating it.

"Well," he says simply. "This discussion has been most enlightening. And I do appreciate your patience with all of my questions today."

[mandrakeroot]

"It's my pleasure to answer what I can."

'Pleasure' is rarely the right word, but philosophical disagreements aside, he does appreciate people who make an effort to do the basics of their job, a bar which plenty of temporary wardens don't appear to want to step over.

"...Can I have the materials for science experiments?"

[lestercraft]

That gets a polite smile.

"Certainly. Make me a list of your requirements and I'll have my John help me request them."

[mandrakeroot]

"Thank you."

He's interested in seeing how the disinfectants turn out, it'll be good to know which ones clean things best.