Inconsequential magic 1:
"You have to draw more power into it." Harve'j Mohl said. He was teaching the aspiring mages simple ways of storing magic energies, something they likely would not appreciate for another few years.
The student he was currently supervising, a young female from a noble household, seemed reluctant to hold more energy than she was used to. And thus the self-contained magic was dissipating.
"It's not working, it just keeps leaking!" She said. Dropping her arms in frustration, and with that her focus. The magic suddenly expanded like a slow explosion. Which Mohl stopped with a motion and a wispered word.
"And why, miss, would you drop it like that?" He said. Earning an embarrassed look from the student. "Anyone who can explain why miss Glastone's magic started spreading?" He asked looking out over the students seated in the auditorium. Another girl raised a hand timidly.
"The spell hadn't begun looping itself so when she stopped controlling it... sorry Lily." She said. Obviously uncomfortable pointing out her friend's mistake.
"Excellent observation miss Baker, anything else you'd like to add?"
The silence that followed proved enough for him to continue before long. "What could also be helpful to remember miss Glastone, and this applies to most of you. Until you are well into your arcane practice, whatever spells or formulas you use to shape the power inside and outside your mind. The magic won't do anything you haven't explicitly made it do. Magic without focus nor direction is like oil in water, it refuses to blend because thats not its natural state."
"Tell me, what is the natural state of the magic energies we try to utilize here?" He asked. This time almost a third of the students did actually raise their hands.