Several ribbonsworth of potato skin that also contain more wasted delicious underpotato layer than Avan's. At least the future hero of the land has his precision down, if not his physical power?

"We didn't get you worn out enough, that's all. A day of chopping wood might do the trick this time."

He pats Avan companionably on the back and gives him a peeled potato. And takes another potato. Uuuugh. It's Sigh Squad hours in here.

"Just because it didn't work out once doesn't mean you won't get it eventually. Take it from your senior in learning; I used to mess up with new spells all the time."

Popp also is beginning to suspect that the answer might be mortal peril, but for various personal reasons he does not want to subject Avan to this.