can I flavor text a "Water Bolt" to be an "Ice Bolt" provided that the net effect of the spell is the same?

Follow up question.... What happens to the water from an Elemental Bolt. Does it instantly evaporate? Or does it hang around until it would naturally disperse?

Although I am pretty sure that you can't create an Area Elemental Ice Bolt to create slick terrain. The reason is we already have a spell that does that - Black Ice.

My thoughts on the matter: A spell or effect or talent does exactly what it says it does an no more, in the sense of anything that would cause a mechanical advantage.

However, modules or Judges may adjudicate that differently, players may make suggestions but not bog down the game by continually make suggestions(aka dont try too hard)

I don't see how a liquid can produce slashing damage.

It's all a matter of speed. Remember if you hit water (a fluid) at enough speed it's like hitting solid ground. Conversely it makes sense that water in a stream going fast enough could cut or slice. At least that's how I see it. Narrow stream would cut a torrent would bludgeon since the impact is spread out. Hence why they gave it two damage types. Seems logical to me.