Magic

Magic is not well understood, but a powerful way to manipulate the world. It is summoned through talismans, special garments, or engraved items. The magic items have writing on them that acts as a medium for the caster. The association with the visual in the person's mind and the physical words help with making it a reality. For example, someone who would like to cast a fireball may have a pendant with the words "explosion" and "fire" written on it. Arcane power travels from the body to the pendant and then to the world.
Magic is very versatile and can accomplish a lot of things which would take significantly more time and people without it. It can perform both constructive and destructive tasks.
However, this power does not come without a price. To be able to cast magic, something or someone who makes the caster who they are must be sacrificed. The sacrifice can be anything from a family member to memories, as the importance of everything is individual. A pact is then made with a higher being, and in exchange for energy, magic is cast. However, casting reduces the person's lifespan significantly, and many mages will resort to absorbing other life in order to offset the costs, or even negate it altogether. This can also be used to lengthen lives beyond normal means. Many people have died at the hands of mages using their life to cast a powerful spell and/or avoid death.

Manifestation

Written words on the caster are used as the medium in order to cast. The magic manifests how the caster wants, with a faint glow existing as they cast it, which fades when the magic is no longer used. Words and actions are used to channel the magic from place to place.

Localization

The magic will only affect the immediate area of the spell. There is only so much area that can be encompassed, so there is a hard line where magic is and isn't. Effects do not radiate out.

Type

Metaphysical, Arcane