[ah, trying to get hints, wasn't he? Merlin leans back against the wall, idly turning the staff in his other hand.]

Acknowledging my respect and fascination with her magic and her work. Asking to observe out of a pure curiosity, not to sabotage or to harm her but genuinely trying to understand. As a student, one is constantly learning, and though our abilities are limited, the value of information gained by just witnessing everything...it's a new experience, things beyond what you can learn cooped up with the Mage's Association. Why not dive in headfirst?

[and there it is, that reckless abandon that mages could have.]