Origin of Magic 

Magic is a beautiful and wondrous thing, the source of magic is always around us. Mana is the building block of magic. Each particle of mana is indetectable to those without specialty tools (which you can pick up at The White Stag for only 3 gold!) and is invisibly floating through the air. Magic is only possible through the act of structuring and commanding the mana in the environment. Despite the upfront cost of magic studying materials, mana is available to all who know its secrets. 

Animals have been a great inspiration for the creation of spells and magical items, despite their lack of intelligence, some are quite proficient at manipulating the surrounding mana. Some of our most useful spells originate from animals, there is a species of bird in the Hasdurn Archipelago in the southern sea that manipulates the air current around it with mana. This allows it to defend itself from predators while flying for hundreds of miles during the winter. After studying the structure of the mana around these birds, we were able to develop Aero Aegis, a defensive spell that has saved many lives in war. 

Magic is the study of the natural world. From the mundane to the mystical, all of it can be an influence for magic. However, before creating your own magic, you must learn the basic principles of turning mana into magic. Starting with Matrices.

Mana Matrices

Magic is the study of structure. The study of commanding mana to fit your own desires. Magic is created from a matrix, geometric shapes contained within a circle. A matrix is made up of 3 different attributes, the core, the structure, and the breaks.

The core is the structure that makes up the matrix, usually a circle. While other shapes are possible in theory, they are largely considered inferior and more difficult than a circle. This core represents the total output of mana, the larger the circle the more mana will be used by the resulting spell. However, the larger the spell, the more time it takes to gather the environmental mana and the higher toll generated on the vessel. Matrices have to be written on a physical material or generated in the air by a catalyst such as a wand or staff. 

The structure refers to the lines that make up the internal shape of the matrix. Different structures correspond to different types of magic. A pointed star that connects near the center creates an offensive spell, the sharp points represent the focused output of mana. This structure typically results in a projectile with different properties depending on various factors such as the number of points, width of the points, and space between the points. These spells can curve, teleport, or even chase a target. Defensive magic on the other hand usually uses a 6 or more sided shape around the outer bounds of the matrix. These wider shapes disperse magic throughout a given area, reducing the power of incoming spells. 

The final basic attribute of a spell matrix is the breaks. Breaks are areas of absence within a matrix. Areas where mana does not gather. Despite how it may sound, breaks are what convert a basic matrix into a true spell. The greatest magic user in Valoria, the royal advisor, is able to create matrices that are mostly comprised of breaks. Breaks allow a matrix to condense its mana usage to prioritize specific functions. Offensive magic can reduce waste and focus purely on power, or power can be sacrificed for an enhancement in tracking ability.

“A mage is not measured by how much they can do, but by how little they have to do” 

- Triktar, Royal Advisor of Valoria

All three basic principles can be shown in the matrix of Infernus Nact, the Dark Flame.

Despite the complex nature of Infernus Nact, it is clear to see the principles in play. The outer core contains a pointed, offensive structure and multiple internal and external breaks. The circular structure intersecting the structure is an internal break, which manipulates the flow of mana within the matrix instead of excluding it like the external breaks near the edge and in the center. 

With the basic knowledge of matrix components and their functions, you are now ready to move on into some of the more complex ideas, such as casting.

Casting

To cast a spell you need three things, a matrix, a catalyst, and a medium. We already discussed the matrix so let’s talk about the catalyst. Despite how reliant we are on magic nowadays, humans are quite poor at manipulating mana and need some extra assistance to perform magic. This is where catalysts come in. 

Catalysts are materials that conduct mana in the air and focus it. Both wands and staffs are commonly used though there are plenty of other forms that these materials can take. Within each magic tool is a type of crystal or other mana-sensitive materials. 

Mediums are fairly straightforward but some are easier to use than others and the results vary depending on the medium. Mana is in all things, the air, bricks, even people. In order to cast spells, mana must be extracted from these locations. Gathering mana from the air is the easiest, but it is very difficult to create a matrix in mid-air. Only by using a powerful catalyst can you manipulate mana in the air to make a matrix that further extracts mana from the air to cast a spell. Other mediums are much easier to work with but produce less powerful results. Parchment is quite common thanks to its ease of use, simply draw a matrix on the sheet and activate it with a catalyst and you are done! Parchment contains much less accessible mana than the air, so the resulting spell is much less powerful but quicker to cast and it is possible to store spells for use, rather than creating matrices on the fly. The final topic will be about elemental attunement, allowing your spells to channel properties of natural elements.

Elemental Attunement

The natural world is made up of various materials and elements, however there are five fundamental elements that all others are derived from. Fire, water, air, earth, and aether. All students have likely heard of the four classical elements, but it is unlikely that any have heard of aether. Unlike the other elements, aether is the lack of substance, creating an imaginary substance unlike anything seen in our world. All five elements have their own attributes associated with them, though they are largely unimportant to new students learning magic for the first time. Each element has a unique way of attuning to them, it requires intense focus and study in a location related to that element. Elements such as air and earth are quite easy to attune to, since they are abundant in basically any location, climbing a mountain to meditate and partially burying yourself are common, if not a bit strange, ways of attuning to their elements. Water is also quite simple, but it is fickle and needs to be experienced to attune to it. Taking a voyage through stormy regions on the sea and submerging into an intense current are usually the fastest methods of attuning. Simply dipping your feet in and resting for extended periods of time also works and is much safer. Fire is the hardest classical element to attune to, and the most sought after. There are specific locations near the caldera of a volcano that are used by masters to teach their students to attune to the intense element. No other methods have been thoroughly explored even if they exist. Aether is a wholly unique element, it takes a master of the classical elements to even begin attuning to aether. A mage must come in contact with nothingness itself for an extended period of time. The mage must cast a spell that forces mana into an impossible shape made up of all classical elements. If the mage is unfocused or inexperienced, the spell will backfire and kill them. The elements and shape of the spell must be in perfect harmony to create a “Perfect Sphere”, a spell that creates a stable sphere of nothing, also known as pure aether. Once a mage attunes to an element they are able to further refine their spells by commanding the mana being used by a matrix to take on attributes from an element, or multiple if they have the experience. 

Conclusion

I appreciate you all for taking this time to listen to this old man ramble about magic. For all those unable to afford any materials, I would like to offer a simple piece of advice. 

Listen to the world around you. The hum of the earth, the whistling of the wind, the rolling waves, the heat of a fire, and even absolute silence. Magic does not belong to the rich, it belongs to the studious. Find the shape of nature and anyone can elevate their station.

However, if you do have the funds to purchase the correct materials for magic, The White Stag is your one-stop shop for all things magic! Wands and staffs, mana heavy parchment, even notes from ancient masters.