Oh my God! He goes around and invents new war magic. And he already told people how to evoke it! And not only that.
Why, OHWHY?, did he decide, it is worth the risk to experiment with that father's, daughter's and his own life on the line, just to >dry< that house? I know he was in a slight panic, yet still he did that, even though >ignite< went so brilliant for him just moments before. From what he knew >dry< could have had the same effect like >dehydrate< (another cruel war magic). He has to form a image in his mind? What if his imagination slips for a moment into, what he fears might go wrong? But, no! Try it right here and now...