The Cycle of Magic

Magic on Etria is constantly shifting, always moving and changing. There was a time, when the Ancients were first created, when this constant change was thought to be wild, completely random. Since then, however, it has been discovered that magic on Etria moves in a pattern, with every magic type growing stronger and then weaker. This pattern has been dubbed the Cycle of Magic, and has influenced much of the global culture, from the universal calendar to the default system of currency.

Manifestation

The Cycle of Magic repeats itself once every week on a smaller scale, and once every year on a much larger scale. These two cycles are similar, and yet very different from one another. This cycle repeats itself in the same way every time: Fire, lightning, earth, shadow, ocean, ice, sky, and finally, light.

The weekly cycle takes place over eight days. Each day, a different type of magic is at its peak, and its opposite is at its lowest point. For example, on the first day of the week, Fireday, fire magic is strongest and oceanic magic is weakest. For the rest of the week, fire magic will decrease in strength until Oceanday, after which it will strengthen again until reaching its peak. The magics are at their highest and lowest points at noon, and will be surpassed by the next magic at midnight. At midnight after Fireday, fire magic will no longer be the strongest, as lightning magic will have passed it in strength. Throughout the weekly cycle, magic increases and decreases at a constant rate.

The yearly cycle is stranger, however. Much like the weekly cycle, every type of magic is strengthened and weakened throughout the year. Every month, a different kind of magic is strongest, and its opposite is weakest. However, throughout the yearly cycle, magic does not shift at a constant rate. It will grow in strength until the last day of the same magic, after which it will rapidly decrease until it it surpassed, and will then decrease at a slower rate. For example, in Arsona, fire magic will grow in strength until the last Fireday of the month. It will then rapidly weaken until it is surpassed by lightning magic at the beginning of Hervea, and will then weaken more slowly until Paressia, when it will be at its weakest. The months of the year are based around the Cycle of Magic, but do not directly correspond to it. On occasion, there is overlap. Sometimes, for instance, fire magic will still be stronger than lightning magic at the very beginning of Hervea, especially if Arsona ends on a Fireday.

Cultural Significance

The earliest recorded knowledge of the Cycle of Magic comes from the ancient civilization of Ephodel, who used the Cycle in their famed star charts. It is believed that they were the first people to learn of the Cycle's existence. From them, knowledge of the Cycle has spread to all corners of Etria, and has affected nearly every independent people in some way, as well as having influenced much of the global culture.

Etrian currency, otherwise known as gems, are valued based on the Cycle of Magic. Red gems, which represent fire magic, come first and are worth the least. Golden gems, which represent light magic, come last and are worth the most. At first, when deciding upon values for the gems, there was much debate over which magic should go where. It was thought that assigning a value to the gem would be like assigning a worth to the magic the gem represented. Etria would have to decide the "value" of every Ancient, every magic. This issue was solved through the Cycle. The Cycle of Magic does not place any magic above any other, it is simply their natural order. The value of gems on Etria does not correspond to the perceptions of their respective magics.

Nearly all calendars on Etria follow the Calendar of the Ancients. A week is eight days, a month is forty-three, and a year is three hundred and forty-four. Every month is named for the Ancient whose magic it represents. The order is as follows: Arsona, Hervea, Ozan, Kersygan, Paressia, Kanassi, Nissean, and Disea. There are a few important holidays within every month of magical, political, or cultural significance. The most famous of these are the Ancients' Days, which take place on the days of strongest magic. Arson's Day is the last Fireday of Arsona, the strongest time all year for fire magic. Ozzanth's Day is on the last Earthday of Ozan. Diseo's Day is the last Lightday of Disea, etc.

Finally, both modern and ancient imagery, when portraying all the Ancients, tends to follow the Cycle. Most pieces of artwork will portray the Ancients in a circle, each across from their opposite. The aforementioned Ephodian star charts are among the most recognizable, with the Ancients laid out in a circle, each surrounded by planets, stars, and constellations that appear during their month.

Type

Metaphysical, Arcane