#air affinity

Sorry if this is too long or doesn't make sense.

I’ll try to go through all your examples! Air mages need to “see” what they’re manipulating and so they wouldn’t be able to take the air from another’s lungs. Tornadoes can be a thing if they have enough aptitude. Light and dark rely on touch for their magic and cannot utilize it any other way. Force affinities can disrupt the earth though it’s much easier for guardians. Water affinities can technically control blood, but not efficiently. The force affinity’s element is essentially gravity so yes. The speed is more so an air affinity perk, but force guardians can make themselves weightless (the vanguard breaking apart the protestors in The Capital for example). The power of a fire affinity depends on the aptitude as well. The blacksmith in Braum could turn hers into molten lava.

As for Dark and Light Affinities... I can see why the Crown would be more reluctant to let them go compared to others: Dark Affinities make for excellent interrogators and intelligence-gatherers, while Light Affinities are healers not related to the clergy and their precognitive magic is useful if unpredictable. Plus, I do think they'd be under (more) careful watch, considering those Affinities are more as a result of actions rather than nature, so among affinity-oriented Marked they're relatively rare.

Speaking of those Affinities, I have two questions: 1) would you say Dark Affinities' ability to, well, neutralize their target is similar (if more extreme) to the one displayed by Air Affinities? and 2) Iirc if MC has Light Affinity, they feel as if their feelings were drowned until they were in a tranquilized state. So... Is Light Affinities' magic sedative in a way?

I really feel like you’ve read my mind!

1. Similar in that they are both manipulating a type of energy, but dissimilar in that air Affinities negate one’s magical energy while dark Affinities absorb life essence. Magical energy only affects the ability to cast spells whereas life essence is like a combination of the body, mind, and soul of a person. The loss of magical energy can cause a state of exhaustion, while losing a substantial amount of life essence can lead to death.