Admittedly, it's hard for me to imagine a person without magical reserves. It seems to be a part of me just like blood, for instance. Casting too much magic and depleting one's reserves is a dangerous thing indeed.

That, I'm not sure about. It simply feels like raw element, but it sometimes acts as if there is a modicum of sentience. I apologize, as I'm still a student myself; I've never been able to form a conclusion one way or the other.