The notion of any mage having such an unrestricted life is an odd one even to Korrin; she can only imagine how much stranger it would sound to a Circle mage. However, maybe that's what they need to hear. Hermione telling them of a better alternative, one that's worked, could be the start toward something other than the system they've endured for almost a millenia.

"I hope you're right. Of those few I've met, I believe at least two have the capacity to spark change over there. That they'll try I'm pretty confident about; whether or not they succeed might depend on how well we do here. So, no pressure."

There's a faint smirk from Korrin at that before she continues. "I don't see why you shouldn't be there. You may use a different term, but to Thedas you're a mage, with all the baggage that brings. So what happens affects you, too.

If it helps, I don't get it either. I know some people have a huge fear of change, but when conditions were so awful, wouldn't anything else be better? And yet, some cling to the old broken system even more firmly now that everything's in chaos. Nevermind how toxic it was."

She huffs at that and rolls her eyes, likely never understanding people who won't even try to help themselves. But something else Hermione says causes a slight smile to form. "It seems we have something in common, then. My parents weren't mages, either. That I turned out to be one was something of a surprise. Given that they started life in the Qun, which fears mages even more than the Chantry does, it wouldn't have been at all strange if they had shunned me. But they didn't. They couldn't, not when their bid for freedom involved smuggling away a mutual friend showing signs of magic. That friend later turned out to be my first mentor."