Cole doesn't turn at first, because he's used to being around mages and feeling that soft tremor of magic about them.

"Creak of wood around the taps, a brief moment, but it doesn't change. It's fine." He looks back over his shoulder and suddenly realises. "You're a spirit mage."

And toa spirit mage... there's something different about Cole. An otherwise very plain, gaunt young man who looks like death warmed over is softly suffused with a gold peach light. It wisps and curls around him and through him, because Cole is not a spirit inside a body, but just a spirit living out in the real world and his spirit is Compassion and kindness.