Quote Originally Posted by PairO'Dice Lost View Post
Magefairs are canonical in the Forgotten Realms, and the short story Elminster at the Magefair gives a good look at one. One of the highlights is a fireball-flinging contest where the wizards alter the spell components to make it more flashy and/or destructive.

If you've ever wanted to explain in-character where your wizard learned his metamagic feats (and condescend to uncultured sorcerers at the same time), now you know.
Brothers in Arms actually has a sequence where Raistlin learns the No Components feat, IIRC. From a priest, no less.