#wctd

Classifications of Magic

Scholars tend to classify magic into two groups. Natural Magic refers to the energy existing within non-sentient elements such as earth, water, air, fire, and even plants to an extent. This is the most common variant of magic that is drawn upon. Animus Magic refers to the intrinsic energy of what is generally believed to be the ‘soul.’ It is the ‘soul’ that exists within sentient organisms that allows for the manipulation of natural magic as well as their own physical form*. 

— The basis of healing is rooted in the study of animancy. Healers use the energy within their own ‘soul’ to manipulate their patient’s ‘soul’ into treating their physical ailments. 

*In theory, a person born without Animus Magic would be incapable of using any kind of magic no matter how much they applied themselves in the Arcane Arts. Being born without Animus Magic is not unheard of. Uncommon-- extremely uncommon-- yes, but not entirely unheard of. Infants born without a 'soul' are either stillborn or experience Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. There is no formal name for this phenomena, though the inevitable death of its young victims eventually led to many calling these unfortunate souls “deadbornes.”  No Deadborn has ever lived past a few months.

None except one.

The Psychology of Magic

Magic, as stated earlier, has a degree of sentience. It does not like changing its natural or present state, and if prompted to do so, usually chooses the path of least resistance.  It can feel and sense its surroundings and what is being done to itself and has even been observed to have specific behaviors depending on the element/object and the conditions surrounding it. 

Many of academies and the most educated alfaras like to describe Magic as having a personality; a wild animal with all the awesome force of nature simmering just beneath the skin. Taking this analogy, each element would be a different animal with their own set of behaviors, characteristics, etc. The more a caster is educated about an animal’s (magic’s) characteristics, the more able they are to be able to handle them and ‘teach them tricks,’ albeit crudely put. 

But how casters cast magic in the first place?