Magic (ah NON)
the Anon
The Anon, more commonly referred to as magic by most citizens of the major continent of Ethae, is one of the fundamental forces of creation. It permeates existence. It is in all organic and most inorganic matter to some degree. Its particles drift in the air of Aldern, and flow through the depths of the deep oceans. It is a source of life and a bringer of death. The Anon is said to be the power that holds the world together, and it will be the power than brings it apart at the end of all things.
Most consider the Anon a single force, however, it is, in truth, there are several energies that come together to create 'magic' as a whole. The two primary energies are Kianon and Solanon. The former radiates out from the core of Aldern itself, generated deep in the heat of the worlds core. The later raining down on Aldern with the warmth and light of the suns. These energies can be used together, and apart, to manipulate the world to various degrees. Many living creatures have some ability, consciencely or instinctively, to create effects with these energies.
Solanon, in its most natural form is the easiest to control and manipulate. It is primarily what Wizard have studied and sought to harness through the ages. An ability easier said than done. Knowing the power is there, invisible to the world, is one thing, commanding it is another. Raw Solanon, though easy to harness by those who understand it, is limited in power. It is the power of fire and air. Fire and light magic are the earliest forms of magic most learn because Solanon permeates the air around everything in the world.
Kianon flows up from the heart of the world. This energy bleeds through the elements within the world and the waters of the seas, lakes, and rivers. It is the power of earth and water. As Kianon drifts of from the core of Aldern it seeps into every element. Many interact with Kianon in unique ways. Some minerals, such as metal ores and Gem, absorb some of this Kianon as the energy passes through on its journey outward. Skilled craftsmen can bring out these dormant energies, creating what are known as Enchanted Item to channel their magics in specific ways. Some of the greatest weapons the world has known come from metals found in concentrated locations of Kianon energy. Most of the Kianon released from the world's heart is absorbed as it passes through the world's crust. Only small doses reach of the surface and bleed into the air. They drift through the air with the much more abundant Solanon. These two forces do not repel each other, but they do not attract each other either. The two float through the world, occasionally touching, but never combining.
Aside from manipulating materials with high concentrations, Kianon cannot be interacted or used as Solanon can. Solanon, in turn, though useful in small effects, such as the afore mentioned light and fire creation, is limited in magical power. So much so that many claim Solanon is all but inert without the use of Kianon. The power of Casting held by the wizard and Sorcerer of Aldern is the combined power of Solanon and Kianon. When to two come together is creates Daanan.
As implied above the two elements of the Anon, Kianon and Solanon, do not primarily come together naturally. These energies drift unseen around each other and all things in the world. They must be manipulated to come together to become useful for a Caster. They do come together naturally in some cases. The flora of Aldern absorbs Kianon through their roots as they do the nutrients needed to grow and flourish. They take in the Solanon with the light their leaves absorb. Within the body of the plants these forces merge in what is called Daanan. Flora of the modern world can only do this in smalls amounts, as opposed to the ancient world and the Elder Tree of old, and their forests. How ever small, modern flora does produce Daanan that is released into the air around them. This is why magic is always stronger in forest.
Daanan is not only generated within the plant life of the world. It is within all living beings as well, albeit in a near unmeasurable amount. When creatures or people breath air with Kianon and Solanon, when they eat the plants with Daanan inside, the living body take and store tiny levels of these energies. This power is inert in most being, dissipating over time. However, in certain 'magic' creatures such as Elf, Nymph, and Fairy this energy does not dissapate, it grows. It is active and powerful. It is this Daanan within these beings that give them the ability to manipulate magic itself. When a sorcerer casts, their bodies pull upon this stored energy, and it aids in the manipulation of the magic in the world around them. This is why casters spend years training their bodies, not just to know the words and motions of the casting, but to also hone their body's ability store their Daanan in greater quantities.
It is thanks to the elves and other magic creatures that some Human can generate large enough quantities of Daanan within themselves to cast. Many humans have elven ancestry in their family's ancient past. These bloodlines, do grow weaker through the generations. Many human families who were once great casters thanks to the blood of elves find the newer generations losing this ancient power due to the distance of time. Weaker, these humans lose their innate ease in casting. The power and connection remain, however, deep inside. Many Wizarding College have been created over the centuries to aid in the study and use of the Anon, even by diluted bloodlines.
There is an aspect of the Anon that has not yet been discussed. That is the dark side of magic known as Etu Anon (the Shadow). Using this magic in casting can appear similar to the use of Daanan magic. However, it is better described as the mirror of Daanan energy. The Shadow is believed to be created in Shadowfell, where Etu Enur leak into the world and merge with Aldern. Here, an unknown force corrupts any Daanan within, mutating them into what some call Etu Anon, though for most it is 'the Shadow', or Shadow Magic. This is theorized how Shadowfells grow, with the Shadow slowly corrupting the Daanan in a region. The energy is harmless to living beings, unable to corrupt the Daanan within a host. It can, however, be pushed into the body of will hosts through rituals. Inside it will transform the Daanan within the casters body into the Shadow. The results often lead to death, but survivors can become powerful casters of Shadow Sorcery.
Using magic is not all light and energy however, it can have a cost for humans. In the prehistoric periods, when the world was new, any could wield the magical energies of the Anon as easily as breathing. Through the centuries, however, living bodies became less pure, and magic was corrupted through wars and destruction. Controlling the Daanan within the body, in the modern day, can cause damage if done incorrectly. Many women suffer from infertility due to the damage caused by channeling magic through themselves. Men, lacking the 'lifeforces' within the ovaries, can show signs of leprosy and weaker immune systems. Elves and strong human bloodlines easily avoid these fates, but as the world draws father away from the purity of the old world, the worse these conditions grow. the Church uses these effects to exacerbates the fears with its anti-magic propaganda. As such, fewer people are willing to use magic in the modern day. With less practitioners, knowledge is lost, and while magic will never vanish from the world, the use of it by casters slowly is.
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