"It's a complicated mix of the two. I guess, 'learning magic' is not as straightforward as it seems. Starting with the basics, I suppose," he suddenly wants another drag off the cigarette, "In my world, magic is usually inherited, mages are born with what we call 'magic crests' and 'magic circuits'. Families spend generations cultivating their crests - er, it's not like, a family crest or anything. Crests are the formal state of 'magic circuits'. Magic circuits are, well, circuitry, like, wiring for lights. They run through the body. I'd show you mine, but..."
"Well, I'm not from a mage family, not really. Just a bunch of idiots who used their abilities for parlor tricks. That's one of the issues - if you don't work on, repairing and strengthening, your magic circuits, building your crest, it goes to absolute hell. Mine is basically a wet piece of paper compared to other mages." So much so that while he understood people were fundamentally weakened here, he barely felt a thing.
"Magic circuits can be inherited, and transferred between people. Usually being related is best, because even in the process of transferring a crest, even your own child can technically reject yours. It's like...transferring an organ - your body can decide to fight it, and you can get sick, even die in the progress."
He snatches the cigarette back, taking a drag and having a coughing fit before continuing, "Technically, I shouldn't be telling you a thing - that's the other side of it. You don't need to be able to use magic to know how to handle it. There are assassins who are specifically trained to kill mages, and the Church is another body that tends to keep mages in line. They know enough about magic to be able to disarm mages, so despite having access to magic, it's not the end-all of being part of that world."
He looks up at a flickering light in the hallway. "And that isn't even talking about the Root, about the Throne of Heroes, the Holy Grail - ancient magics I haven't uncovered yet...And this place, where there are people who can use magic I can't even dream of."
Ash drops off the cigarette in his hand.
"...But I'll research a way to help. I have an idea, I just...Don't have enough power to do it. Not right now. But I work with, well, gems, usually. Not a family thing, just something I can actually do - it's more like alchemy than magic. Just not yet. Give me some time, and I'll figure it out, okay?"