Emlyn sat there and took in the information that Alice was giving him. Though it sounded like it would be a pain to get to work and sit peacefully with each other. He didn't even know what this gasoline was. And from the sounds of it, even if they had magic in her world, it was nothing compared to the area that they were now located in. Emlyn sighed, giving up on the idea of trying to replicate what the girl was describing. At least for now. "It sounds odd, to say the least. if your world is so advanced with their use of tech, why is it that they produce things so.... cumbersome? Just from what you have told me, it sounds as if the goal was effectiveness and not efficiency. A shame. Talent is wasted when it is forced to the extreme."<br/><br/>The conversation soon took a turn that he was not expecting. Both Emlyn as his bartender stopped and turned to look at Alice when she asked how their world works. Naturally, the bartender looked to Emlyn, partially curious as to what he will say and partially due to the fact he is worried of what he will say. Emlyn took a few moments to think, sipping his coffee until it was more than half empty before setting it down on a table crammed in between the door they entered and the couch. "In days long past, that it how it used to be, yes. Mages and wizards would fill their castles and towers with golems and homunculi to protect themselves and to pamper themselves. The only thing keeping them from having an uprising was the fact that they had kept the sentient homunculi in place via a kill command. Some where different, wanting nothing more than a family or companion. But many simply wanted entertainment, labor, and defense," Emlyn explained. "About a hundred years ago, a law was finally passed by the Grand Council of Nations that declared that Homunculi may no longer be produced without the proper permissions and clearance. They left the permissions and clearance up to each nation to decide, which led to varying levels of strictness; anywhere from 'if you grandfather could do it, you can do it' to 'fill out paperwork for a week, wait three months, and then we will take a month to determine if you are trustworthy.' It led to a mess. After just two decades, the problem was effectively the same. And Homunculi were once again a topic for the Council, who eventually decided that, along with the rights they earned previously, a universal bar would be set for the creation, and all homunculi at the time were freed. Now, things are different. You can not create Homunculi for slave labor. You must have permissions to make an extra set of hands for any kind of work, and must free them and pay them as like they were anyone else. Doing so creates a Drazi, which I already described to you. Creating Homunculi for family or companionship is also regulated. You can't make one just to fornicate with, nor can you abuse any loopholes to fill a brothel. Doing so would create an Ehtali. That title was named after a famous... self satisfaction doll maker."<br/><br/>"Conduits are different. They are normal people born with too much mana within them," Emlyn says, changing the topic slightly. "What is the old word for them...." Emlyn thinks for a moment, letting the sound of the bartender cleaning glasses echo throughout the room, along with a slight ticking sound. After a few moments, Emlyn finally speaks again. "Savants. They used to be called savants. But when more and more started to be born slow, and more and more started accidentally destroying and contaminating villages as well as surrounding areas, it became clear they had to be regulated in some way. So, when a Conduit is found, they are taken to a local physician, who magically inserts a.... block to ensure that the Conduit can not directly access their mana for any reason. And thus, Conduits soon found a place serving as limitless fonts of mana once they came of age. They never got the rights that Homunculi earned. They never had anyone fight for them. It is better to capitalize on the untapped power before someone else does and drains it dry or uses it against you. It is up to the one who owns the Conduit whether they have a comfortable life or a harsh life."<br/><br/>Emlyn nodded, leaning back and picking up his coffee once again. "Yes, I did say that, once a proper method could be found, I would return you to your own world," Emlyn says, sipping his coffee. "However, that method must be found first. The world you are describing is like none of the other Planes, not even the more bizarre parts of the Outer Plane. So where ever they were pulling from, I doubt the cultists even know the exact place. Furthermore, the spell can not simply be reversed to send you back. A new method to send you home must be found, whether it be someone from your world completing a similar ritual or from my own magi figuring out the correct patterns and phrases." Emlyn knew that was probably a heavy blow for the girl, so he stood and strolled over to her. He sat down next to Alice and put his free arm around her to place his hand on her other shoulder, seemingly showing some form of support for her. "You will not suffer a fate of a Conduit, however. As I doubt you are one. I've never been good with the workings of the blocks, but I do not feel you are one. So do not worry, Ms. Alice Clark. You will be safe so long as you are in my care."<br/><br/>Before Emlyn could continue, there was a sudden lurch. Considering the fact that they hadn't been able to feel the carriage moving before, any normal person would believe something is wrong. However, Emlyn knew that it was simply because of how old the quasi-pocket dimension was. He would have to get that looked at later. Emlyn stood as the bartender approached them to collect the cup and glass. "I believe we are at my tailor's, Ms. Alice," Emlyn declared, moving towards the door and stepping out. He turned around and offered his hand up to her, in order to help her down without having to risk the cloak opening up on her. "Let us see about fixing one of the wrongs done to you today, shall we?"