Magic

Magic is the ability to manipulate spirits, either through racial talent/birthright or through intense practice and training.

Types & Sources

Demon

  • Attributed to spirits in the Underworld
  • Commonly referred to as: "common magic" or just "magic"
  • No restrictions or qualifications to learn. Only training

Sacred/Holy

  • Attributed to spirits in Overworld
  • As easy and accessible as Demon magic but due to the Church attributing it as "sacred and should only be used by the worthy", only clerics are allowed to learn it
  • Near identical to Demon magic
    • Weirin notes that the initiation is "almost exactly the same" as for those who take up Demon magic (source)

Elemental

  • Exclusive to Beast-Humans who " have the innate ability to sense and interact with the essence of the Mortal Realms--the elements--around them" (source)
    • Notably, Veloce is known to be able to access Elemental magic for unexplained reaons
  • It is exceptionally rare for a Beast-Human to be unable to cast magic
  • Lower tier magic requires an element to be near the caster (e.g. water, vegetation, spark) while higher tier magic has the caster call "upon the realm to bestow ... the elements"

Soul

  • Attributed to spirits/souls in Mortal Realm
  • Rare but extremely powerful form of magic
  • Uses a person's soul to power the magic, whether the caster or someone else
    • A mortal soul is limited, hence using it can cause great harm or death
  • Lawful uses entail it being done only in emergencies or in places where spiritual barriers prevent the use of other types of magic

Usage/Practice

Summoning

  • Considered the easiest practice of magic, summoning "involves influencing the will of a sentient spirit"
  • The most common method is through music
    • "... those innately connected to spiritual presence have always claimed to be able to hear "songs" as a manifestation of sentient spirit presence" (source)
  • Notable practitioners:
    • Vocruen Visrin
    • Seroccrim
    • Keritzel Edeus
    • Various members of the Cathedral of Catharsis

Spells

  • A less flexible form of magic that allows for anyone to cast magic so long as the necessary steps and rules are followed
  • Requires certain incantations/chants and catalysts to perform
  • "Spells are defined by mortal language to bridge the gap between spirits and mortals. But in the end, they're also the last wall between spirits and mortals. The true potential of magic can only be reached through the unobstructed mind. Only freeform magic can allow a user to grow without limit." (v3 p34)

Freeform

  • The most complex use which involves great skill, control and strength
  • Freeform allows the user to do almost anything with magic power
  • Notable practitioners:
    • Auresque Visrin
    • Veloce Visrin
    • Vocruen Visrin
    • Meron Lantgres

Necromancy

  • Necromancy is when the caster attempts to perform a summoning ("influence the will") on a mortal spirit as opposed to an immortal spirit
  • A person's life is used to "power" the magic, so the Necromancer must first kill the person and then use that person's life force to turn them into a thrall
    • Thrall
      • Follow the Necromancer's orders but are limited in use/function
      • Physical appearance includes distinct red eyes
  • The risk of failing increases the more thralls the Necromancer currently controls
  • If the Necromancer fails at any point during the process, their own life force is consumed instead. As a result, Necromancy is not normally practiced due to the risks. However, this risk does not apply to Immortals.
    • As is the case when Fairy-chan failed with Veloce, "the recoil should have killed her" but being an immortal fairy, it did not have any such effect.
  • Notable practitioners:
    • Fairy-chan

Magical Affinity

  • There is a connection between ability to play music and affinity for summoning
  • Hair color is also related to magical affinity
    • The more saturated the hair, the more affinity
  • Beast tribe eye color is related to elemental affinity (v3 p30)
    • Example: red eyes = fire

Enhancement

Magic can be made easier and/or even amplified using "channeling mediums" which can come in the form of weapons, accessories or other specially made devices.

Spellbound Devices

Special devices can be spellbound to maintain the amplifying effect on use, or can be infused with certain types of powerful magic which can be used at a latter time using a simple activation spell.

Known enhanced devices

  • Rae's imperial crest is imbued with soul magic (and therefore exempt from the Prohibition). (v4 p40)
    • "Soul spirit is hard to come by because depleting a soul drains life, so usually this relic only gets replenished when someone dies and sacrifies their soul to it." (v4 p60)
  • Blackbird's bracelet
    • Can "consume all kinds of spirits" which is how she was able to defeat magic users during her assassinations (v4 p77)