That chance came just three days later when they were taken back to the bowl room, as the students had named it. This time, Mistress Tatiana chose not to use the stick.

"Before us, you see, once again, a simple bowl of water. Can anyone guess what we are to do to it today?"

"Freeze it?" offered Galina.

"Yes, very good. Now, ice takes more power than a simple, calm water spell, as well as a significant amount of concentration. You have to see the frozen water in your mind in order to create it. Visualization is the key, along with uttering the runes in the correct order, of course."

"Runes?" asked Svetlana.

"Yes, dear, the magical words of power. We often call them runes, that's how they're written. Remember, runes are universal, they are the same in every language."

"Even the language of the disgusting Orcs?" asked Galina.

"Yes, even them," said Mistress Tatiana, "though as a greater mage, you'll likely spend all your time at court. The chance of an Orc showing up there is ridiculously small."

"What about the Elves?" asked Katrin.

"Never mind them," said the mistress, "you must concentrate on forming the words yourself. Now, as before, I will demonstrate the technique. Pay close attention while I cast."

She held her hands in front of her face as she began the incantation. All could feel the familiar buzzing in the air, and then the mistress's fingers started to glow a pale blue colour. As she touched the water, the glow began to fade while a layer of ice crystals formed on its surface.

"You'll notice," she said, "that the power fades as the ice is formed. In time, you'll develop a higher power level that will allow you to freeze a larger area, but for now, we'll concentrate on just this small bowl. Let's have Svetlana go first, shall we?"

"Don't we have to wait for the ice to melt?" Katrin asked.

In answer, Mistress Tatiana waved her hand over the bowl, dispelling the effect, and removing the thin layer of ice. "If you can freeze water," she said, "you can also unfreeze it."

"What if someone else used a spell to freeze it?" asked Galina.

"Then it would merely take a little more energy to thaw it," the mistress replied. "Now concentrate, Svetlana, and try to visualize the ice in your mind as you call forth your power."

The young woman advanced to the bowl, holding out her hands as she had watched the mistress do. Next, she incanted the words, but nothing happened.

"Take your time," said the mistress, "and try controlled breaths between the words. If you rush it, the spell won't work."

Svetlana started again, and this time she was rewarded with a thin film of ice on the surface.

"Very good," said Mistress Tatiana, waving her hand to dispel the effects. "Now, who will go next?"

"Natalia should go next," said Katrin, "she's the show-off."