He sighs, folding his gloved hands in front of him.

"No. Magic is nonsense. I believe in the science hidden behind the...accoutrements. The mysticism swaddled around it to disguise its true nature, to invoke fear and control."

Which are useful enough things to use, come the moment. But he disdains them in other's unworthy hands. This one is clearly rather dense, too. But that is to be expected from lesser beings, isn't it?

It's why they need his particular...help.