Amidst everything else that's been going on, Mat has reached a turning point with his magic. The fear that dogged him for so long has finally begun to dissipate, making channeling come easier and easier. Between his lessons with both Yennefer and Istredd, and his own practice, he actually feels like he's getting a handle on it all. It hasn't been easy, and light knows there had probably been too many angry fights and arguments over it, but somehow he muddled through. It's as surprising to him as anyone else.

But with this new stage of his journey as someone who can channel comes a sense of freedom to using his abilities. He can do so much more than ice now. Or so it seems to him, considering how slow and stagnated he'd been for so long. With the fear faded to something dull in the background, there's delight and a sense of power in channeling. It offers him control, though he hasn't quite grasped that consciously. He just knows it feels good now, and not as though he's doing something terrible. Which has only led him wanting to do it more, and practicing productively in his spare time.

Which is why he finds himself unable to simply sit back and enjoy his late evening bath in the luxurious communal bathing chambers of the castle. Instead, he's sat up to his chest in one of the larger pools, coaxing the bath water in front of him to rise and take on shapes. Not terribly detailed shapes, and not ones that hold for more than a few moments, but shapes all the same. Something that's almost a tower, something that implies a horse. He's concentrating very hard, lips pursed and brows drawn as he tries to make the water do precisely what he wants.

Until he pushes himself a bit too hard and his latest attempt at creation bursts, heartily showering him and any unfortunate souls close enough to be caught in the spontaneous wave.