"Everything I mentioned would be considered simple. An easy to learn spell, requiring no resources and little effort. That said, if you want something where you can easily visualise and see the impact -- shaping spells are good for that. Water and earth are both readily available and harmless, in small doses."

In large enough doses, anything can become lethal. Still: it's easy enough to toy with a small amount of either, to practice when the worst thing you might make is a mess. Gale himself had, of course, always aimed higher. Easier to do, however, when you grow up immersed in magic.