Echo's never heard of California, but he's not likely to admit ignorance of anything unless he's forced to.

"I wouldn't call it weird. It's only a second degree spell, and a relatively normal one at that. I imagine anyone with the capacity for magic could cast it with enough practice."

Which gives him a nice segue to introduce himself and begin asking questions. "I'm Echo Naivallon, a professor of alchemy. I've taught magic like this to many a student. And you are?"