Magic Systems

# Mana Systems and Types

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Mana is a type of **subatomic particle** that gains mass from **every field** and can **interact with all other particles.** Mana has **unique energy** that it passes on when a mana particle and another particle collide. Mana interacts with other particles in very strange and complex ways. When a mana particle passes on its energy it **“enriches”** the other particle's energy causing it to become **“more”**. When mana comes in contact with a tree, that tree becomes “more” than it was before, its genes become more pure, its biological functions become stronger, being able to absorb more sunlight, gather more nutrients, and generally be more energy efficient. Trees affected by mana rich areas, such as in tropical areas, or near large power plants, produce almost 30% more clean oxygen in a year than trees located in remote areas, such as deserted islands. This effect can be seen within all living things, no matter how complex. The way it does this is not fully understood, but it would seem that mana has a deep complex connection to all types of energy, and reacts to them positively. While normally mana is completely invisible, when it gathers in large quantities usually above **10000 maa**., it becomes visible due the particles being forced into close quarters.  While mana normally **avoids itself**, not being able to interact with other mana particles, **in high energy environments**, or in **extremely large quantities**, a few of them may collide by force and release their energy onto each other, causing both particles to lose their energy and create a tiny explosion, which causes surrounding atoms to lose a few protons. After mana loses its energy, it will slowly recharge with energy by gathering more from its surroundings and converting the gathered energy into normal mana energy. For every **kilojoule (kj)** of energy that is produced through any means, whether it be nuclear fusion in the core of a star, or the movement of a bug through the air, approximately one **metamora (maa.)** or the energy of a single mana particle is recharged. **One joule (j)**  of energy is equal to 0.001 maa. Mana is incredibly powerful, and one maa. of mana is equal to about 1 kj or 1000 j. Mana is naturally attracted to other subatomic particles.

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Because mana has such a strong impact on the natural processes of living things, most flora and fauna alive today have evolved to use and interact with mana much in the same way as they would with other energy sources, such as sunlight. The prime example of this is the soul. Unlike the sole of the foot, the soul is a **metaphysical organ that doesn’t actually exist.** All living creatures that have evolved sentience, such as most types of **dragon, phoenixes, and humans**, have also evolved a soul. The soul doesn’t really exist in the physical sense, and it is what scientists use to refer to the area of the body where mana collects and distributes. The soul is composed of **two parts, the collection chamber or “soul flame”** as some like to refer to it, and **the alterpath**. The alterpath runs along the nervous system, and is responsible for **collecting mana** and drawing it into the collection chamber. The altar path contains large growths called polyps near the surface of the skin, which draw in mana directly to the altar path by way of holding abnormally large amounts of bioelectricity. These polyps attract mana passively, but with enough practice and careful control of your altar path you can **“stimulate”** the polyps to make them attract mana more effectively, doing so requires a large amount of concentration. The process that happens in the collection chamber is not completely understood, but basically, the fundamental properties of the mana are refined; its ability to interact with energy is enhanced, while its raw potency is dulled. This new energy is called transformed mana, and is measured as trans metamora (Tmaa.) Transformed mana sits inside of the collection chamber until it's ready to be used. The collection chamber has a certain capacity that grows with experience and usage, the soul can be exercised like a muscle, although each individual has a natural cap to this capacity that cannot be surpassed when reached without external interference. Souls have auras which is what determines the color that the transformed mana will become. Particularly powerful souls can somtimes bleed over into the rest of the human body, leading the color of the aura to affect certain pigments, such as hair and eye colors. Scientist that performed surgery looking for the soul, reported that it is visible and can be interacted with and damaged, but that it doesn't take up physical space or mass within the body, it sort of phases in and out of existence, and the only way to touch it or see it is to feed or remove mana from it. The soul has some unique properties due to its nature as a bridge between the soul and mind, being a hybrid of both, both physical and made from mana. The soul can be imprinted with information about the body it inhabits and the mind is bound to. Over the course of an individual's life the soul will be imprinted with everything about the person it used to belong to, every memory, personality trait and biological feature. When a person dies, the mind no longer binds the soul to it, so the soul is free to wander as energy for a few hundred years, slowly losing momentum, and information until it fades completely. A soul can be forced to inhabit another body or object by a number of means. A particularly powerful soul is capable of staying semi conscious even after losing its connection to the mind, and can wander around, possess another body or object, and even interact directly with mana to cause minor effects on the physical world. These more powerful souls are capable of staying around for thousands of years on their own, and indefinitely if they bind to a suitable body. Additionally, the soul does appear to develop and behave differently in humans than in any other species that has one. The reason for this is theorized to be that humans never evolved with a prior relationship to mana. While most creatures with higher levels of intelligence have unique genetic code directly related to mana, such as the red european dragon’s ability to breath extremely hot fire that burns mana like fuel, humans never developed anything like that, so when they became sentient and subsequently developed a soul, it had no prior connection with mana to work off of. This led the soul to develop in humans based off of their individuality, rather than traits as a species. One example is how not all humans can actually utilize their soul, it exists but never creates transformed mana, this is fairly common with about 70% of all humans having this trait. This genetic malfunction is not present in any other species of the planet. Another is how all humans have unique auras, while other species have auras that are very similar. This is recognized by many as a reflection of indomitable human spirit and something to be proud of.

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Mana casting is what humans call using transformed mana to alter the energy around them. When this process occurs, the transformed mana involved in the mana casting will be consumed as fuel. The actual process that consumes the mana is different for every mage. A common example is when a mage creates fire. Mana is consumed as it uses its energy to create heat as well as manipulating the oxygen in the air to sustain the reaction. When large amounts of mana are depleted, it can have an environmental effect that can last years until the mana is reintroduced and can resume enriching the environment. Other species that possess souls also do this, but the process is different for each species, so this section won’t cover them specifically. There are four mana casting techniques that humans are capable of learning.

#### Basic

Basic mana casting is what most humans are capable of, as it is the easiest technique to master, but also the most versatile. People who use this technique are called mages. Basic mana casting falls into two categories,

##### Basic (Learned Ability)

This type of mana casting requires the use of mana circles and managlyphs. Mana circles structures that house managlyphs, which are the symbols that humans developed to tell transformed mana what to do. They work like computer code, and instruct the transformed mana on how to behave. To create a mana circle, the mage has to have basic knowledge of how to construct one. Most people will choose to utilize a pre constructed managlyph language. The advantage of this is that the language is already refined and perfected. These range in difficulty depending on how complex they are, but some mages will choose to make their own languages. This is called tempering and is incredibly difficult because of how complex a mana language needs to be in order to be effective. However, this will allow for very diverse control of mana, and some mages will use their own tempered managlyphs to exercise precise control over certain types of energy, such as light. The brain and soul are linked, and when a mage learns a new symbol in a managlyph language and how to combine it into a mana circle, the transformed mana will obey this command. The reason for this, is because all managlyphs are, is a bridge between the transformed mana and the brain. Humans are not born with a fundamental understanding of mana and how it works like other creatures are, due to how we never evolved with traits created by mana. We use the managlyphs to visualize how everything works, which allows for easier control of the transformed mana. It is possible to use other means to produce the same effect, such as auditory or touch based bridges, and in some cases these work better for people, especially neurodivergent people, but in most cases managlyphs are easiest to work with. It is also possible with long years of study to completely void the need for bridges at all, and command the transformed mana with only mental signals, but this is nearly impossible to do to any real effect, and it can sometimes be extremely dangerous. The best comparison for how mana circles work, is how computer code runs a program. If we look at the parallels between the two, the first similarity is how raw data enters the script, which is either the code or the mana circle. For instance the code for “enter” in a python script is /n”. When raw data is fed through this command it comes out as an actual input. The same goes for transformed mana. The command for “fire”, which is impossible to write out here, turns transformed mana from formless data into a physical reaction, in this case incendiary. As you combine simple commands with other commands, the outputs will also become more complex and stronger. A program with thousands of lines of code will be more fun to interact with than a program with two lines of code. It is very easy to pair the “fire” mana glyph with the “forward” mana glyph. The outcome will be a fire that juts forward and then vanishes within a second. However, if you make a slightly larger mana circle with closer to ten commands, the outcome will be much more effective, like a fireball that burns constantly while moving forward with a constant speed and burning out after a select distance. However just like complex code takes much more effort and skill to write, larger mana circles take more transformed mana to create and more skill to memorize.

##### Basic (Inherent Ability)

The second technique follows the same principles as the first, except for one key difference. Mages who use the second technique have no need for mana circles. Instead they use one or two very specific types of magic, and they can’t really go outside of their boundaries, kind of like being born a natural swimmer, but it’s impossible for you to learn to rock climb. This type of mana casting can is something a mage is born with. Some common examples are teleporters, or mages that can turn invisible. When it comes to techniques that are so specific at the birth of a mage, these magical abilities may not need magic circles; this does not mean that to use items imbued with magic will be inherent, most mages who have this inherent ability need to use magical circles on enchanted gear. This does not apply to mages who have the inherent ability to enchant items, those mages need to use magic circles to do regular spells.

##### Basic (Advanced Techniques)

There is a technique that advanced mages can practice called making complex mana circles. These are mana circles bound together with things called tethers. Tethers are just very simple managlyphs. Once multiple different mana circles have been bound in this fashion, a mage can execute them in any number of ways. Most mages will add an additional managlyph called a timer which controls in what order a mana circle is executed. There exists a form of mana circle known as a trap spell. A trap spell is a mana circle that contains an managlyph that allows the mana circle to be self perpetuating. This allows the mana circle to sustain itself indefinitely without needing to be interacted with. The trap spell can also be infused with a mages soul for a variety of effects, most common being making the self perpetuating capabilities more powerful. The more complex the mana circle, the larger the portion needs to be. When a mage needs to contain a large mana circle in a small area, they can compress the mana circle or complex mana circle in a managlyph known as a compressor glyph.

#### Physical

Physical mana casting is a form of mana casting performed by physical mages. This form of mana casting is uniquely difficult to perform as it requires the mage to master complete control over their own body through the use of transformed mana. A physical mage serpasses any other human as they gain a conscious understanding of how to manipulate each and every individual cell in their body, a function which is usually left to automated processors within the brain and the cells themselves. A physical mage could stop and start their own heart if they needed to. This control is achieved through a process called trans-exploratory mapping, where a mage will use their alterpath to take control over their biological functions, choosing to focus on burying those roots deeper instead of learning managlyphs. Once a mage permanently links their soul to the biological functions of their body, they can never use it for anything other than physical mana casting. Due to this, many physical mages are amongst the most highly disciplined and skilled mages in the world. Once the  soul is linked to the body, a physical mage can use the transformed mana to direct their biological functions. This process cannot be aided by mana circles, and is incredibly dangerous as it must be operated by thoughts only. With a little bit of practice, a mage can quickly familiarize themselves with their own body. This mastery becomes easier as more knowledge is gained, creating exponential growth. The next step is to learn how to use transformed mana to enhance. This can be done in an almost infinite amount of ways. Some of the most common techniques are using mana to make a mage's muscles more powerful by strengthening the tissue and increasing blood flow or increasing the potency of healing. In some cases mages have been reported to be able to reverse cancer. It is typical for mages to only focus on one aspect of the body. For instance a mage that focuses on physical strength will have a harder time healing.

## Black Mana

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Black Mana, more formally known as corrupt mana is a form of mana created by corrupted souls. Corrupted souls are the souls of humans who seek out the power gained from corrupt morality. Every human soul has a certain level of corruption based on that human's morals and moral actions. This reason why humans can develop this corruption is unknown, but it is theorized to stem from the same place of divergence from mana prior to sentience within the species that also seems to cause all other abnormalities among humans. This corruption can be contained, but if fed, can spread like cancer, and consume the entire soul and altar path. This can only be achieved if an individual seeks it out, and once the corruption takes over their entire soul the individual undergoes a change. Corrupted mana has unique properties that allow it to interact with particles in a very different way then normal mana, allowing corrupted mana particles to alter reality by affecting particles rather than enhancing it.

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Necrozmic reincarnation is the process in which a human becomes an maluchyte (pronounced malachite [ˈmaləˌkīt]). Maluchytes are a theoretical perfect evolution of humans which are much more powerful than the average person. They possess great strength and intelligence, as well as an unmatched healing factor. Through the process of necrozmic reincarnation, they will bind with the corrupted mana as their soul overtakes their entire body, reforming it into a maluchyte. Once the process is completed, the corrupted soul should have spread throughout the individual, transforming their genetics and mind. Artificial maluchytes are known to be much more violent and generally evil than normal humans, displaying unusual levels of hostility. Reasoning with them is impossible. This is because the corrupted morals that drove them to necrozmic reincarnation are magnified when the process is completed. Maluchytes are able to expand their souls mana capacity through soul immersion, a process which involves a maluchyte killing another human or maluchyte, and absorbing the individual's soul flame into theirs. All maluchytes can do this and it is only possible for individuals with corrupted souls to perform this act. Once a soul is absorbed, the maluchyte gets stronger in an amount equal to the magical strength of the individual they killed.

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Royale maluchytes are a form of maluchyte that are born, not created through necrozmic reincarnation. While royale maluchytes process the same genetics that give them perfect physicality and allow them to manipulate black mana, they are not corrupted by their souls in the same way that artificial maluchytes are. This means that royale maluchytes are capable of emotions such as empathy. While most royale maluchytes grow up in an environment that prevents them from ever developing these traits, some have been known to break away from the cruelty of maluchyte society and carve their own path of peace (Himata Jitoura is the best example). Royale maluchytes are able to utilize unique kinds of mana casting. While artificial maluchytes utilize the abilities they possessed before they became corrupted, royale maluchytes have are born with unique abilities known as the four demonic arts. These abilities are born from perfect control over mana, and can be exercised without the use of mana circles. The deep connection that maluchytes have with mana allows for them to utilize these abilities. They are listed as follows.

#### Necrozma

The art of necrozma, is the process of deteriorating reality. A royale maluchyte with this ability can cause anything to deteriorate to its rawest form. For instance, a particularly dangerous maluchyte was once able to cause any material to crumble into a fine black powder at a single touch. Anything from paper to steel would be reduced to dust at his touch. This demonic art seems to take more power depending on the density of the matter that is being deteriorated, so a sponge would take much less power to deteriorate, compared to a block of titanium of the same size and shape.

#### Warp

The art of warp, allows for a royale maluchyte to distort reality. This ability can allow for anything from causing light to refract to obscure an object, to distorting the laws of physics. A famous example was a maluchyte that could change the density of space, allowing her to create pockets of reality that were as dense as plantes for brief amounts of time at her full strength. This power is extremely versatile and can be used in an almost infinite amount of ways.

#### Necromancy

The art of necromancy, reverts reality backwards. All energy changes in between different stages, but this energy can never be destroyed. Necromancy allows for a maluchyte to revert energy back to a previous form. A maluchyte can resurrect a person back to life, or restore a building to a time before a fire. Most practitioners of necromancy can’t do this perfectly, and all of their revisions will have flaws. Some maluchytes can perform perfect necromancy which allows them to restore energy back to a previous state flawlessly.

## Dark Mana

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Dark is a subatomic particle that is created when massive amounts of mana are present in a high pressure, high energy environment. mana is attracted to dark, meaning that if dark is present, mana will be more likely to defect towards those particles, rather than any others. Dark seems to have neer unlimited capacity for stored energy, with certain particles being predicted to have energy signatures near the planck limit. When dark particles surpass their threshold for stored energy, they grow increasingly dense due to the amount of energy stored, causing matter and other dark particles to clump together and form composite dark or dark crystals. These structures are capable of absorbing mana and are used as anti mana barriers for containing very powerful mages and magic items.

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Dark is very rare, very few particles exist when compared to mana. However, having the same properties as mana, there have been a very small number of reported cases where creatures are born with dark souls, capable of manipulating dark particles. Over time legends of these individuals granted them a name, shadow casters, for the dark clouds that surrounded them whenever they used their magic.

## Astral Mana

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Holy mana is slightly different from white or dark mana, and is not actually “holy.” Holy mana is created by the tree of life grown by Solomon to create a new form of mana that everyone born in the theocracy can use. Holy mana is a conversion from white mana into Astral mana. Astral mana is the forefront of the power from the universe Solomon comes from. This conversion takes a lot of energy and it's the only reason why the tree of life is needed, since its power is endless. As per standard, the magic flows through Solomon first, then is diluted by his body and flows into the rest of the populus. This also means that Astral magic is more compatible with humans and when someone is born in the theocracy they are born with mana no what. Astral mana also affects lifespans differently, someone who has white mana of this world usually dies at 100-120, with Astral mana the lifespan is upwards of 300 years. Astral mana works on a highly different, but simpler scale.

Once someone is accustomed to Astral magic, their soul is transferred to take it in. Once this is done there are two different parts of it.

1. You gain a main body for it, be it a soul or something else.
2. You gain a backup, this reservoir can get an almost unlimited amount of mana, leading to a really powerful fighter whenever they can access it. Although the access of the reservoir takes a lot of work to pull from it.

The amount of Astral magic that someone can hold is entirely up to the person, you can choose to not train yourself to hold more mana, while on the opposite you can choose to gain more mana. Although part of Astral magic is similar to White mana. You can be born with one power, and it's hard to learn other abilities, and you can learn any ability with large amounts of practice.

Another large part of Astral mana is a natural connection to elemental magic, such as fire and water, and can be used by anyone, amplified with affinity for the power. This mana can solidify creating an ultimately powerful metal called Arealite, this metal is used by the gods to make weapons and armor that is practically unbreakable.