that doesn't stop a certain sort of girl from trying - In real life, too, women have been finding ways into military roles reserved for men pretty much as long as there have been military roles reserved for men. It isn't the source material's intent or function to explore the social and political implications of witches' special place in society, but I find it interesting to consider, since they're simultaneously privileged and much-demanded of - and I suspect that in the setting, the dividing line in terms of taking part in the war effort would particularly rankle some women who didn't happen to be born with magical ability. In that world, the tagline on this infamously patronizing WWI recruiting poster is probably "Gee! I wish I were a Witch" - and gets on just as many people's nerves as the real thing. Hence, young women like Megumi Satō, while not exactly common, are - as Admiral Sugita observes - far from unknown.

--G.
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Benjamin D. Hutchins, Co-Founder, Editor-in-Chief, & Forum Mod
Eyrie Productions, Unlimited http://www.eyrie-productions.com/
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