The trick is to watch the spell's footprint. Measure how much energy you pour in, how long the effect lingers, and what backlash, if any, surfaces. Then compare the intended result to that cost. If the outcome is half as strong as you wanted but the cost is the same, you’ve wasted fire. Tighten the focus, reduce excess, and tweak the incantation until the ratio of effect to expense climbs. Think of it like a pot of soup—add a pinch of spice, taste, adjust. That’s the efficient way.

Sounds like a neat audit trail for the arcane. Keep the logs tight, discard the dust, and let the numbers guide the chant. Efficiency in magic is just a sharper focus.