And then it's over there. Easy enough.

Light and darkness are the strangest of the elemental powers. They manifest in more varied ways.

He giggles. "It's amazing."

Change shape...?

How is he trying to change its shape?

He's just trying to see what's responsive to what, but maybe turn it cylindrical?

He can make it more oval-y than spherical. And it takes active concentration.

No, cylindrical, come on—

...Rounded cylinder? That's the best he's going to get for now - and, oh, the muscle analogy is apparently pretty apt, his magic stings in protest of holding a difficult pose.

—he lets it go and grunts with the effort.

Practicing and pushing your limits is healthy, as long as you do not over-exert. A short rest, I think, and then we will go to the goblin.

"—already? Er, okay."

Goblins are really no threat at all. If you somehow fail to manage it, I will destroy it for you... But that will indicate a dire need of combat practice.

"I'm not exactly practised in combat, like, at all, but I'll give it my best."

Not even this 'gym class' I hear about?

"That's general physical education, not specifically combat. Well, some practice with spears."

Precisely. As I have told you, goblins are small and slow and weak. They are only truly dangerous to children, sick and elderly, or in large numbers.

"Okay. Lead the way?"

It will be faster if I carry you.

"Oh, okay."

His lower body is engulfed by water.

Water that can move pretty fast.

And when Nayalu lets him out on top of a little embankment a minute later he's as dry as when she grabbed him. And it's pretty obvious where the goblin is, given the smell.

He wrinkles his nose, conjures his spear, and walks that way.

The goblin is about three feet tall, and looks more like some kind of lizard than humanoid. It stands up from eating something and snarls and charges.

—he dodges! "That was very impolite!"

It doesn't seem to care. Its eyes look more animal than human as it spins around and tries to claw at him.

Ugh fine, he parries with his spear and thrusts it at the goblin.

It ducks under his parry and the thrust misses. Letting it get close may have been a mistake.