You Made Me Believe in Magic

Is magic real? Yes. 
Well, prove it.
Laeviss can only say with a great deal of certainty in this regard that the magic he performs is not only real, but he has seen the proof of its working.
When he was about seven years old, Laeviss had a dream. In this dream, Laeviss met a man with a top hat (referred to as the Doctor, though Laeviss is quite sure he was *not* a Time Lord) who explained to him the sort of pain he would be subjected to in this lifetime.  This pain was referenced symbolically, but Laeviss has no doubt as to the reality of the lecture he was given. It would, the kind Doctor explained, begin here and end there and both Laeviss' father and Laeviss would have to agree to the manner of it. This we both did, as we were supposed to do. Laeviss has played this game often enough before, you see.
And then Laeviss lived his life, and played that game of Snakes and Ladders. He made sure the client got the ladders, and Laeviss himself took those snakes. (He has always had a fondness for snakes.)
Laeviss has had no doubt about the veracity of the information he was given by the gods later in his life, because it corresponds with memories of past existence. "This is how the magic works, this is what you specialize in, and this is what you do."
Yes, creepy little dog though he may be, the Earth-wyrm that is Laeviss worked his magic with the help of his earthy cohorts, the Dwarves. And then saw the proof of its working with his own eyes, and heard the story of its working with his own ears. Success! And the Earth is a better place, even for old Laeviss.
The Dwarves will take any kind of energy in payment. Not only the "usual and customary" sort that a skratta might employ. It pays to be creative when, in Midgard, all time is of the essence and all space is not here.