Minixen's body is bursting with so much magical solar energy that its own body glows bright and radiates warmth constantly. Its use of a staff to cast spells is purely performative, as it enjoys making a spectacle of its magic.
When the twig is plucked from its tail, friction sets the twig alight. Originally making its home in the ozone layer, it hurtles to the ground when the shell enclosing its body grows too heavy.