“Set aside your usual casting foci,” stated Professore Sorentino. “You will discover on your desks a flare wand. These wands are designed to attenuate the flow of your æther into a single spell—the Ignition spell. Excess magical energy will be converted to light from the wand.”

Aldric scowled at the wand. Unlike most of his cohort, he didn't require a magical focus. Those born to their magic never did. However, he picked it up and examined it. His was a bright yellow, and had the Tarquinian numeral 6 on it. Valenora continued to use Tarquinian numerals, long after most nations within the Realms had switched to Aulonikan numbers.

“No doubt you've noticed that the wands are of various colours,” continued the Professore, “and each bears a number.” He indicated the two dozen candles in four colours - red, blue, yellow and green - at the front of the class. “As you cast, the wand will take only the energy you need to cast Ignition. Excess energy will bleed off as light. The goal of this exercise is to cast with the least amount of energy needed.”