"Basically," Merrill agrees, flashing Avery a smile. "Or you could just stab them, I suppose."

But throwing a rock is less messy. It's also, considering where it was aimed, likely to help the Bad and Awful feelings that come along with the entropy magic in the Death Cloud. Bad feelings, however, won't do the deed alone -- and so Merrill straightens and raises her staff, drawing lightning from the Fade as she casts Tempest down on their foes.