Magic

Magic is a phenomenon that refers to the manipulation of the seven elements of existence. There are many different specializations of what can be done with magic. Anyone can learn how to use magic. Some might have an inherent talent for it while others may need to put in many more hours of hard work to master it. The more an object is manipulated, the more energy is required. Aether magic and animancy are considered the most expensive to use, usually taking someone's entire life to be able to master. As such, most magic users start off learning the other elements first.

Individuals specialized in using certain types of magic will often adopt a title either for census, religious or ceremonial purposes. Mage or wizard is a generic term that is used. However, some will adopt very specific titles - witches, for example, are known to specialize in various types of Aether magic.

Though sometimes mistaken for it and sometimes having very similar effects, it works completely differently from alchemy. Alchemy involves the mix of other ingredients into potions while magic is the use of energies in the universe. Whichever is dominant in an area depends on the local culture.

Magic methods

A person can use their own mana and/or a separate magical object to cast spells.

Mana-based

Mana refers to the magical energy within one's body. For all intents and purposes, its is essentially a measure of someone's internal magical capabilities without the use of external objects. While it is considered a renewable source of magic, attempting to use mana beyond one's own physical limits can cause serious bodily harm. It takes years of training to broaden someone's upper limit of how much magic they're able to use within a certain period of time.

Spellbook-based

Spellbooks are tomes that contain pre-created spells that were synthesized ahead of time. This allows someone to cast a spell without going through most of the steps of setting them up, potentially saving on magic energy and ekati. The only activation requirement besides the required mana is to read the scroll's incantation aloud while in its direct presence. Spellbooks are considered very beginner friendly and pose less of a risk than the other types of magic. Those who are able to cast magic without a spellbook or a scroll are considered highly gifted as it requires rapid mental calculations on the spot.

Ekati-based

Ekati is considered a finite resource obtained from the environment of Erudite and the universe. Because of this, objects imbued with ekati must have their crystals swapped out for new ones when that crystal is spent. Ekati is known for being very volatile, capable of exploding and releasing Majbreath to cause extreme effects. However, next to the most well-trained of mana-based mages, ekati-based magic is considered the most powerful due to its sheer potency of energy.

Ekati is used in the creation of various magical instruments such as wands and staffs. It is also used in the construction of ekati-based machines.

Schools of magic

Aether magic

Magic based on the element of aether which deals with space and time. While very versatile, it is one of the most expensive types of magic to perform.

• Divination - Used to make predictions towards the future.
• Illusion - Creating false images by bending light in certain ways.
• Astromancy - Drawing power from the movement and alignment of the planets and moons.
• Teleportation - Instantly transporting between two locations. While not particularly expensive when an individual casts it, transporting large groups or sustaining active portals is.
• Chronomancy - Specializes in the manipulation of time. Can be used to go forward or backward in time. Can also be used to slow down or speed up time in a localized area. Chronomancy is one of the most expensive types of magics, though in small bits has additional practical uses such as healing or reviving the recently deceased.
• Hexing - Used to manipulate luck. Can be used for either causing good or bad luck on an individual.
• Spellcraft - Can be used to synthesize scrolls that contain pre-created spells that others can use by reading its contents aloud. A person using the pre-created spell expends far less mana than if the caster used the spell by hand. As such, spellcraft is usually performed by individuals who work for institutions or businesses who sell or distribute the scrolls to others.
• Conjuration - Works similarily to teleportation except it teleports an entity other than the caster to a specific location.
• Enchantment - Directs an inanimate object to perform a repeated task or have an effect. Can also be used to direct or program machines powered by ekati.
• Charming - Can be used to make oneself more persuasive and influential. Sometimes mistaken for mind control, but works completely differently on a fundamental level.

Air magic

• Aeromancy - Specializes in the manipulation of wind currents.

Fire magic

• Pyromancy - Specializes in the manipulation of flames.

Wood magic

• Restoration - Healing magic that stimulates the body into more easily providing cellular repairs.
• Enrichment - Can be used to enrich the soil to stimulate the growth of plants. Often requires knowledge of Earth magic as well.

Water magic

• Cryomancy - Specializes in the manipulation of ice.
• Hydromancy - Specializes in the manipulation of water in liquid form.

Earth magic

• Terramancy - Specializes in the manipulation of stone, rock and similar objects.
• Stone transmutation - Can be used to turn objects into stone.

Metal magic

• Repair magic - Specializes in the repair of metal objects and machines back to working condition.
• Metal transmutation - Can be used to turn objects into metals like gold.

Animancy

Animancy is considered a separate class from all the other elements as it deals with manipulation souls other than one's own. Souls are thought to be based on all seven elements and thus, it is considered the most difficult type of magic to perform.

• Necromancy - Bringing back or communicating with the dead.
• Ekati synthesis - A type of magic pioneered in Emsius that allows someone to synthesize ekati by using their own mana.
• Soul transfer - Transferring the soul of one being into either another living being or an object.
• Mind control - Superficially similar to charm spells but works differently. While charm spells manipulate perception, mind control directly alters the thoughts of the target to force them to think a certain way and make decisions against their will.
• Soul siphon - Draws power directly from a soul or another individual or entity's mana besides one's own. Often used in combination with necromancy.