Jane Palmer: Spring of Progress

…another crucial figure in consolidating magical regulation after the national chaos following the Doubleday Incident was Jane Palmer, formerly the masked magical vigilante, Soul Spring. Palmer had experienced many of the darker elements of the previously hidden magical world first hand, and thus worked tirelessly to bring its most dangerous elements out of the shadows.

Her solution was simple but effective: education. Working with Jacob Wintersmith’s new training facility and with the heads of the magical factions, Palmer endeavoured to ensure that everyone who would benefit from such knowledge was fully aware of the potential dangers of magic and would have the basic training necessary to deal with them.

Palmer was also active in bringing about logical registration laws for magical artefacts and users. Using gun control laws as a baseline, Palmer produced reports which were instrumental in passing parliamentary bills requiring licenses for magical artefacts. Wytches were resistant, but softened somewhat when an “insurance” clause was introduced – HMMR would guarantee the return of any stolen artefacts, provided that they were legitimately licensed and registered.

Later on in her career Palmer oversaw the expansion of the Department of Librarians, funding the building of the Eriko Takahashi Magical Research Facility. This institution was vital in expanding practical knowledge of the physics behind magic, benefiting theorists and HMMR field agents.

Palmer remained in close contact with the remaining Soul Sisters, particularly Candice Faraker (previously ‘Soul Spark’), who became a recon agent in HMMR.

- Excerpt from Reconstruction and Recovery: A History of Government Institutions Post-Doubleday by Joanna Grant.