Most mages are academic - it means they have power inside them, and they use tools and spells to draw it out. Few mages are ambient - they pull power from outside them. I get mine from the weather.

[ Tris doublechecks that the braid is tied off snugly. ]

A lot of academic mages don't acknowledge the existence of the ambient mages. My family thought I was possessed, or cursed. I suppose hail indoors might look like that.

[ Tris waves a hand. ]

No problem. I did something much more silly than being in a wrong place at the wrong time, and ended up draining myself, more or less. I could help, and it lets me get to my point in being here.