That night after everyone went to bed, Rainer decided it was time to try some magic.
'What Kinda magic should I try? I think fire is out, too dangerous; I haven't seen any light or darkness spells, and I don't have any earth. So that leaves water and air magic. I think water magic could leave a puddle or leave me soaked. So air it is then.'
Whispering as quietly as he could, Rainer attempted a simple spell.
"Breeze"
Nothing happened.
'I don't understand. That is the same spell mom used during her "lessons." Why didn't it work?'
Rainer Tried again and again until morning. He tried different ways of circulating his mana and other words for wind. Nothing he did worked, and he didn't understand why.
'If it's not the words that cause the spell, what is it?'
He kept at it all night until he fell asleep.
The next afternoon he was with his mother in the courtyard, and his sister Seraphine excitedly came over to his mother and him. She was practically jumping with joy.
"Mom, mom guess what?"
"What is it, Sera?"
"I created a new spell; want to see?"
Rainer perked his ears. This would be his first time seeing someone other than his mother cast magic.
"Of course, dear, just be careful around your little brother."
"Okay. Dark blue water that flows over the earth heed my call and swallow up my enemies."
A small wave of water formed out of nothing and rushed towards an unexpecting bird.
!Splash!
The bird was swept several feet away by the small wave.
"Isn't it great, mother?"
"Of course, dear."
The bird that was washed away ended up chasing Seraphine all over the courtyard, trying to peck at her. Rainer was giggling away, Seraphine that he was laughing at her situation with the bird, but in reality, he was lost in his own eureka moment.
'Of course, that's it. It isn't the words that create the spell. It's the will of the caster. The incantation only focuses on forming a clear image in one's mind. So the reason my spells never worked had nothing to do with my control over mana but that to me, they were just words, and I was only trying to gather mana.'
The bird eventually stopped chasing Seraphine; when she returned to her mother and little brother, she seemed a little sour.
"Rainer, I know it might have been a little funny, but getting pecked by that bird really hurt. You shouldn't laugh at others' pain."
'Shit, this is a misunderstanding. I wasn't laughing at her. How do I clear this up and still sound like the 11-month-old I am?'
"No bird, Magic."
'I hope that's enough for her to understand I was just happy about the magic.'
Seraphine seemed to have accepted the answer. She smiled and kissed her brother on the forehead. Rose was also thrilled even though Rainer was very young. He was brilliant, understanding that his sister was upset and explaining himself at a young age. Later that night, Rainer was applying what he had learned.
'Okay, so the problem with my spells was that they didn't create a clear enough image in my mind. So let's try and be as descriptive as possible.'
Controlling a small amount of mana and whispering Rainer cast.
"Warm winds that storm from the south blow away everything in your path."
A warm breeze rushed towards the curtains and caused them to sway in the night.
'I did it. I wonder what would happen if I just had a precise vision in my mind..."