[She gives a thoughtful hum, wondering if there's a way to harness the Mist for energy for everyday things as well. If this mako is used for "pretty much everything," why couldn't it? More ideas she'll have to write down and take home for reconstruction...]

Then you cannot use magic without this materia? In my world, we use certain equipment to help us draw out our potential, but once mages master spells, they can use them without needing the equipment any longer. [Perhaps Zack's Gaians didn't have any innate magical prowess? The idea of something allowing you to use skills you couldn't otherwise have was certainly interesting.]