"But I don't even know how I did that."

"Precisely," Lothan replied. "You have talent, but it's raw, untrained and undisciplined. It responds solely to your emotions and your subconscious desires, and even then only in times of the direst need. It's how many with the Talent discover their potential-when something forces it to the surface and they invoke the power for the first time. Tell me, how did you feel immediately after the incident?"

"Really tired," Kellan said. "Totally wiped. In fact, I passed out."

"Quite right. That is because using magic takes its toll on body, mind and spirit. Channeling magical energy takes effort, just the same as doing something with your hands or other muscles. Using too much magic can be draining, but, like strengthening any other muscle, you can build up your magical power. A simple spell like the one I just showed you is practically no effort at all for me, but an elemental spell like the one you used in that alley would be an effort for most spellcasters, though less draining than it was for you. It would be even easier for someone with my skills."

"Now then," Lothan said, setting his hands on his knees and leaning forward a bit. "We've established what magic is. Let's consider a bit more how it happens, shall we?" When Kellan nodded her agreement, he continued. "As I said, magic involves a certain kind of energy, called mana. Mana, the source of magical power, is an invisible force that's present all around us." He gestured expansively with his arms for emphasis. "It's like the air we breathe, or perhaps like the constant stream of radio and broadcast signals all around us. Magicians-those with the Talent-are like antennas, able to tune in to the right frequencies and channel mana."

"Can you run out of energy?" Kellan asked.

"Not really. It's far more likely that a magician will exhaust his ability to channel mana before ever exhausting the source of the energy itself, though there are some cases where mana can be aspected toward a particular: But I digress," the troll said, wagging a finger at Kellan.

"Now where was I:? Ah, yes. Magicians shape mana in a few specific ways. First is to cause effects in the physical world, ranging from creating glamours and illusions like the one I showed you to hurling fire and lightning, levitating objects, or even transforming physical structure. This is the art of sorcery, and it is the primary art of magic. Second, magicians channel mana to open gateways to the metaplanes to summon and bind various sorts of spirits to do their bidding. This is the art of conjuring."

"Is that how you summoned Nicodemus?"

"Yes, a minor feat of conjury," Lothan said with a nod. "Watcher spirits like Nicodemus are useful for some minor tasks, but they can't be entrusted with too much. Their capacities are rather limited. There are far more powerful spirits, but they are more dangerous to summon and more difficult to control. We'll discuss conjuring further at some point, but for now it's best to focus on the basics." Kellan nodded and allowed Lothan to continue.

"Finally," the troll said, "magicians invest mana into physical objects, giving those objects magical properties and making them useful tools in performing magic. This is the art of enchanting, which produces things like your amulet," gesturing toward Kellan's necklace, "and this."

Lothan reached over and picked up a heavy staff from where it rested next to his desk. It was made of wood, gnarled and carved with mystical symbols and writing. It was topped with a reddish crystal that gleamed in the sunlight that filtered through the heavy curtains. It was decorated with bands of copper and bronze.

"The Staff of Candor-Brie," Lothan intoned. "One of the more useful trinkets I've acquired over the years."

Kellan could almost feel the magic radiating from the massive staff, like a wave of static electricity tingling across her skin.

"What does it do?" she asked.

"It's not what a particular focus does that is important, but what it allows you to do. A focus is just that: a tool for focusing the magical abilities and powers of its wielder. It's of no use to someone without the Talent, and the more capable the wielder, the more effective the focus can be." He carefully replaced the staff, then rubbed his hands briskly. "Enough theory for the moment. Let's try something a bit more practical."

Lothan picked up a thick candle from the table between them, checking the fit of the bottom of the taper in the old brass candleholder before setting it in the middle of the table.

"Now then, since you've already demonstrated an affinity for setting things on fire," the mage said with a smile, "let's try an experiment." He gestured toward the fresh wick of the candle. "Light this candle."

"How?" Kellan asked, looking from the taper to the troll and back.

"Well, first," Lothan said, "clear your mind. Don't think about how it's done. Take a deep breath. That's it. Now I want to you focus on the wick of the candle. Allow your attention to rest on it, but don't allow your focus to drift. It's critical when doing magic to be able to see the subject of your spell," he continued in a low, soothing tone of voice. "The image of your subject is a key part of the spell.

"Now I want you to concentrate on the image of fire. Feel the heat rushing through your limbs. Hear the roar and crackle of it. Feel it burning inside of you, building up. Feel the idea, the essence of fire. Take hold of it. Direct it toward the wick of the candle. Take hold of the fire within you, make it yours, and direct it."

The candle remained unlit. "It's not working," Kellan said.

"Patience, patience," Lothan replied. "Concentrate. I want you to remember your encounter in the alley, when you saw G-Dogg fighting. Remember how you felt when the ork grabbed you. Remember when you were fighting for your life."

Kellan recalled Horse's sneering face, his rough voice threatening violence, the smell of him looming over her. A reddish haze surrounded the edges of her vision and her skin felt hot.

"Yes," Lothan said softly. "Take the fire, Kellan. It is yours. Direct it at the candle."

There was a dull roaring in Kellan's ears. Then she raised one hand and pointed at the candle, thrusting her finger forward. The building energy seemed to pour out of her like water from a hose and the candle suddenly burst into flames. Not just a tiny flame, but a gout of fire that shot up toward the ceiling. The candle instantly melted and Lothan cursed, waving his hands in the air.

Kellan slumped in the chair and the flames went out as suddenly as they'd appeared. A puddle of molten wax slowly spread across the table, but otherwise the study was no worse the wear for the unexpected fire. Kellan felt tired, but not as drained as she had felt in the alley.

"I'm sorry," she told Lothan, but the troll mage shook his head.

"It's all right, your spell was just a bit more: vigorous than I expected," he said. "I'll just have to take that into account next time. Still, it was an excellent first step."

"It was?" Kellan replied.

"Absolutely. Many fledgling magicians take weeks or months before they are able to cast their first spell. You seem to have picked up this one almost instinctively. This effect is an elemental manipulation commonly called a flamethrower."

"So I cast a spell? That's all there is to it?" Kellan asked. "What about the magic words and stuff?" she gestured vaguely with one hand, making a mystical-looking pass through the air.

Lothan chuckled. "I'll let you in on yet another of the secrets of wizardry," he said, leaning in toward Kellan. "The truth is that all the chants, the magic words, the grand gestures-they're just window dressing. Useful, to be sure, because they help you to focus your mind and your will on what it is you're doing-and that can be vital when you need to cast the right spell in a hurry-but it's not strictly necessary. The pointing, for example," he nodded at the melted candle on the table, "that was a nice touch, and it probably helped you direct the spell, but you could have accomplished the same thing without it."