FFXIV: Magic is Electricity
Tiny bit of spoilers for late-game ARR quests; check out the Reddit version for spoiler safety. Disclaimer, I am not a physicist, and a real one could probably get into the intricacies better.
The coolest thing about being an Arcanist in FFXIV is learning how arcanima works, bc it’s basically physics with a dash of geometry. Physics is used to describe natural phenomena in math terms. They scienced their magic into math.
Furthering on that, aether is electromagnetic. During that one quest near the end of ARR, when you’re fixing a Garlean Reaper to save the Scions, Cid explains that the Garleans use electromagnetic waves to communicate. Basically, they have radios. But Cid also says that crystals can be used to disrupt these radio waves. How do you disrupt electromagnetic waves? With more electromagnetic waves — or, destructive interference. Thus, crystals give off electro-magnetic radiation.
(When you’re trying to find an ice-aspected crystal to get through Garuda’s wind storm, you have to use a special pot to seal it away so it doesn’t negatively affect you with its presence. Sound familiar? Typical radiation.)
Now, if crystals are electromagnetic, and crystals are made of aether, that means that aether is electromagnetic. And since magic uses aether, magic is also electromagnetic.
Back to arcanima: arcanima uses geometric diagrams to channel aether, like a function machine in math terms. Input is the aether, box is the grimoire, output is the spell. These ‘arcane geometries’ are drawn using aether-conductive ink, such as copper ink, as shown when creating a grimoire as an alchemist, further supporting the evidence that aether, and thus magic, functions as an electro-magnetic wave on at least some level.
It might also be worth noting that astral and umbral alignment could act as positive and negative poles or charges, and aether from the sun can be collected and stored for energy, aka solar power, as shown by the Allagan Empire’s Crystal Tower.
I just find it cool that being an Arcanist in FFXIV basically makes you a magic physicist. Really puts the physic in physician if you’re a Scholar like me. (Is it clear why I chose the nerd Job now?)
*Edit: further analysis has revealed that the Garlean radios function using ambient lightening aether, and the crystal Cid has you use is also lightning aspected. Lightning is known to be electromagnetic. However, aether that is unaspected or aspected to a different element still possess some signs of electromagnetism. If unaspected aether is an even blend of all elements, and aspecting it only requires one element to become more prominent, it is possible that aether’s electromagnetic properties arise from the presence of lightning within all aether.
PS: if anyone has counter-examples or relevant information, feel free to comment; a true scientist — or arcanist — is always ready to be proven wrong and come up with a new theory.
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