Val stepped up the stairs that led to the practice tower. "At this point, you have a good grasp on basic elemental magic", he said to Adrien. "Now, you can push that knowledge beyond the simple spells we started with, and towards modulating your magic. Until now, I have instructed you to draw a Fire circle to cast a fireball; but that was only an example - that same Fire circle can be used for a thousand more purposes, if you so wish".

"Like what?", Adrien asked, retrieving the viper staff from where he had left it leaning against a wall.

"This time, you will try casting a warming spell rather than a fireball. Naturally, this too is simplification, collapsing many possibilities into one single option - but it should serve you well as practice".

Adrien smiled, once again charmed and soothed by Val's lessons - by the care and attention and the love of the subject that glimmered through his every word. "I imagine that, to cast this warming spell, I have to channel the element of Fire... like, less than when I want to make a fireball?".