Well, they might be, depending on what we actually get done when we arrive today.
Spells actually take a great deal of time to cast. So in order to have them ready to go at a moment's notice, she must take the time to begin every spell she might want at her command for the next day or so, but leave off the last step that would complete the casting. That way, when a situation arises that calls for the spell, all the complicated magic will already be completed and she can simply say a trigger word or make a gesture that will cast the pre-prepared magic.
It's of course very difficult for a mage to suspend that much half-finished magic at any time, so younger mages can only manage to juggle a few. So she has to think ahead every day to what kind of spells she might wish to use in the next twenty four hours or so and prepare only those. [You asked for a lecture on this, didn't you?]
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Spells actually take a great deal of time to cast. So in order to have them ready to go at a moment's notice, she must take the time to begin every spell she might want at her command for the next day or so, but leave off the last step that would complete the casting. That way, when a situation arises that calls for the spell, all the complicated magic will already be completed and she can simply say a trigger word or make a gesture that will cast the pre-prepared magic.
It's of course very difficult for a mage to suspend that much half-finished magic at any time, so younger mages can only manage to juggle a few. So she has to think ahead every day to what kind of spells she might wish to use in the next twenty four hours or so and prepare only those. [You asked for a lecture on this, didn't you?]