a. Fortunately, Emil is one of the few Heroes capable of walking on ice. Granted, it's a slow drain on his mana and skipping breakfast might not have been such a good idea. But standing steadily instead of sliding around is worth it, and he strolls onto the canal with confidence.

Sadly, there’s nothing he can do to prevent others from sliding into him.

b. It doesn't take long to locate an unknown dark shape distorted by the ice. Emil kneels down beside it. He coaxes his squirrel-like carrier off his shoulder, then holds his hand out over the ice.

Picking fire or water out of air is easy... when he can see the mana he's weaving. Since he woke here, he feels like he’s gone blind; the air is so empty. His lips tighten in a determined frown. Even if I can’t see it, I know it’s there!

Minutes pass. Between his hand and the ice, there’s a faint stir – a kind of silent ‘pop’ signaling mana reacting to his presence. Then gone without a trace - except for a little hollow in the ice that wasn't there before.

Emil’s eyes widen. Then he relaxes his shoulders, sighs. Now, to try another spell… he’s a stubborn fellow, so he’ll be here awhile, stirring the mana in the air trying to drag a reaction out of it.

c. Alas! Skipping breakfast was a bad idea. After an hour of sputtering magic to free an old shoe (very worthwhile, yes), his limbs are trembling from fatigue. Emil collapses on a snowbank, leaning against a tree in hopes of sharing some of its energy. (The faster method of using another Hero has not occurred yet, but if he keeps pushing himself, it may become necessary.) The soggy shoe lays nearby as a tempting target for bored carriers.

((OOC: I’ll match prose or brackets!))