The Magic System

In the world of Mhaieiyu, alongside common natural forces exists a new one, not too unlike kinetic energy, that can be absorbed, stored and transformed via the *soul* of (primarily) living creatures. This force, in its purest form, is known as *mana*. In its raw state, mana is imperceptible and invisible; with the exception of extremely high concentrations, which can cause vibrational disturbances that may induce headaches, incapacitation and, in severe cases, destruction of brittle material such as glass.

The soul acts as the vessel of consciousness within the body, and every living being has one. It acts as the flame of life itself, and without it, all is inanimate. The soul also gradually absorbs and contains mana, drawing it from the individual's surrounds passively. It does this at a different speed depending on species and the individual, as each soul's 'surface' has a mesh-like property to it, and the size of the mesh's 'gaps' make this process slower or faster. The state of unconsciousness, or slumber, allows the soul to act exclusively toward absorption, and thereby rest is considered the most efficient method of retrieving massive amounts of lost mana.

The soul coexists symbiotically with the body. If the body dies, it is a general rule of thumb that the soul is extinguished with it — there are exceptions to this, however. The opposite cannot happen. If the soul is extinguished (see *How the Soul may Perish*), there is no salvation. There are a few instances where the body and soul can be separate, and there are even those who can exist as just a soul for certain periods of time. Typically, however, every soul must eventually take refuge in material; be it organic, or, in the case of the *Elementals*, an inorganic form.

When mana is manipulated and transformed through the soul of a caster, the outcome is referred to as *magic*. This can include the formation of spells or the enhancement of one's bodily and physical traits; the mana acting as supplementing fibres in muscle, for instance. Expert use of enhancing magic can allow a caster to temporarily materialise a limb they have lost, or even a limb they never had, and it will glow with a bluish or golden hue. As soon as mana is no longer supplied, the spell dwindles and fades. Alternatively, one can choose to manipulate the forces of nature. The latter practice falls under the category of *Surface* magic. Furthermore, there exists an archaic, lesser-understood category of spells that can empower or create material and even affect the mind; these fall under the category of *Ethereal* magic.

Every type of magic is learnt through the use of two means simultaneously: for starters, the *Guide Earl* of a respective magic type should, ideally, still be alive. An aspiring magician doesn't have to go and seek these deities—though a tutorage under them would be extremely beneficial—as their continued existence alone facilitates the process tremendously, as their doing so allows the unwritten, unspeakable and subconscious scriptures that aid in the learning process to continue to thrive like organic books. Without this, the second requirement, practice, becomes insufferably inefficient. Doable, but extremely difficult and unrealistic. Unfortunately, there is no known method to restoring a deceased *Guide Earl*, so the killing of one is deeply frowned upon.

Finally, there exists the least understood magic type. *Spellbindings* (also known as 'Spellbinds' or 'Bindings') are passive spells, attributes or abilities that people, including individuals otherwise unable to harness mana, can be born with. They often don't consume any mana at all, making them extremely reliable, and can be activated/deactivated at will if practiced. Spellbindings are considered blessings from the *Twins of Cosmos,* and are said to signify greater purpose in life; there is a theory, however, that every living being is born with at least one, but their varying usefulness proves most to be too niche or impractical to even discover, never mind exploit. There are two categories: those gifted by *Victus*, and those given by *Mortos*. Spellbindings can even be imbued into weapons if one possesses the knowledge to do so, with the soul of its wielder and the mana therein acting as the ignition and fuel for them to function. This process is often called *Enchanting*. If the weapon is shattered, odds are, the Binding inside will disperse and fizzle out.

Before we move on to the categories of magic within Mhaieiyu, it's important to understand that preparing spells works similarly to cooking food. You have a set of ingredients of which you know more or less about individually, and you may use your knowledge on said 'ingredients' to create or replicate an infinitude of unique spells. Following this logic, a magic user is not restricted only to use one type of magic. Blending different strains of magic is a necessity for creating complex and new spells.