"Power in elemental magic comes from your own affinity and external sources. Someone with a fire affinity wouldn't be capable of utilizing it well if they were surrounded by water, because the external conditions aren't ideal. A water aficionado may be more capable of utilizing their affinity around a fire should they not be suffocating from smoke inhalation. Earth and Air aficionado's have more of an advantage over the other two. Their element is omnipresent, well, unless you're a drowning air user."