Eliot listened intently. Tried to understand. But at the same time, after so many years of work and study, it just seemed so absurd. That magic could just... happen.

He decided to start with something simpler. Familiar.

He sat up again, and using the familiar hand gesture, made a ball of light form between his hands. Closed his eyes and thought about how it felt.

Then he opened them again, held his hands out, and... after a moment... the ball of light reappeared. Without the hand gestures. Without the usual internal process of casting the spell. It just was.

"Holy fuck," he said.