Matthew looked puzzled:
"What's wrong with the Mage's Hand?"
Lorraine blinked:
"Legend has it that during the Age of Enlightenment, many spellcasters would lock themselves in the Mage Tower, researching spells all day long and not stepping out. Under these circumstances, it was common for them not to see another soul for years, let alone a person of the opposite sex."
"So, they invented the 'Mage's Hand' for the purpose of experiencing the comfort of a hand other than their own."
"When you think about it, those homebody mages from ancient times were quite pitiable."
"Regarding this," he continued, "I have a unique theory. You can tell whether a spellcaster has a companion and how well he gets along with them by observing the condition of their 'Mage's Hand'..."
Matthew felt a throbbing sensation at his temples.
He wanted to object.
But seeing Lorraine's confident, chatty demeanor, he realized that arguing wasn't the smart move.