"Yes, you had to, but think back, Wilhelm. Think back to when you first discovered your fire. Do you think you could have done that then, even if you had to?" Fight or flight is good inspiration but it doesn't mean people automatically get perfect at maintaining their powers. They step up or they don't.

"You should give yourself more credit for the work you've put in. I know it hasn't gone as quickly as you would like, but you are making progress. You proved that. You're only going to get better."

Confidence is very much key to the skilled use of magical abilities. Doubt and fear of it could make any spell go awry. Working on Wilhelm's confidence has been key to moving forward. It's as important as actually training him in the use of magic.

"The thing is, you do know how to do it again. That instinct is in you. What we have to figure out is how to trigger it without causing you any actual damage." By that he means mental damage because putting Wilhelm into positions of emergency can be done and controlled, but the boy has already gone through so much.