It's a starter. I mean, I can do the fireball thing now, but writing words in the air? That requires a lot of control. It's precise. I could just have a blob of fire do whatever, but Dirk was right, word-writing is actually really effective in terms of learning how to control it. See?

[He held up his unbandaged hand, palm up and facing her. 'Hi' snaked over it in flames, a smiley face underneath it.]