[Well no, the important part is actually casting spells with it.]

By all means. It takes mana quite well. Makes Winter spells more powerful, but it'll take anything really.

[He shrugs, giving up rooting around for now and leaning back against a smallish bolder with his arms crossed casually.]

Well, on my world magic is... regulated. Children who manifest it are taken to Circle towers whether they like it or not and any mage who escapes is branded an apostate and hunted. See, in Thedas, only some have magic, not all, which means most non-magical folk are terrified of people who can shoot lightning out their ar--- their fingers.

[He sounds somewhat bitter over it, but tries to keep his voice even anyway.]