Thirty-six Sections: Night Talk (Part One)

Malin recounted the entire process of their arrival at the deserted stronghold to their eventual escape to Colin, leaving him utterly astounded. Colin sized Malin up and down: "You said you used several third-circle spells," he said. "Hasn't your spiritual energy been depleted?"

"I feel like I could cast at least four more third-circle spells, if not more," Malin said, somewhat perplexed by his own spiritual energy pool—it seemed to be double the normal amount, and when casting Sacred Rites or Curse Formulas, the energy consumed was only about thirty percent of the usual, while Assistance Magic took up more, nearly fifty percent.

Only the Shaping Spell of his youngest brother used the normal seventy percent of spiritual energy.

"Your talent is unmatched, not just by me, but probably in this entire century," Colin, who had been overshadowed by Malin's talent for some time, was now used to it.