“But ‘it’⁠—what is ‘it’?” began the soldier, fuming. “What, in the name of all that’s dreadful, is a fire elemental?”

“I cannot give you at this moment,” replied Dr. Silence, turning to him, but undisturbed by the interruption, “a lecture on the nature and history of magic, but can only say that an Elemental is the active force behind the elements⁠—whether earth, air, water, or fire ⁠—it is impersonal in its essential nature, but can be focused, personified, ensouled, so to say, by those who know how⁠—by magicians, if you will⁠—for certain purposes of their own, much in the same way that steam and electricity can be harnessed by the practical man of this century.