The mention of the research center brightens her smile. "He's told you about it? It's probably the most ambitious project I've been involved in, but I'm terribly excited, too. I was hoping to talk to him about it, but later obviously. He's a little busy now. Do you do research in your own field of magic?" That's not an out-of-line question to ask, is it?

She's back to fiddling with her purse, although it's her own fault for bringing up the subject of gods. She's not inclined to talk about her lack of faith at a fancy party, especially in a world where gods actually exist, especially with someone who receives visions from them. "The names and roles are familiar, but the ceremony was different," she explains. "We don't have magic in our world, so that might be why."