Magic and Arcane Veils

There is a haze of arcane energy surrounding almost every living thing in Cier; this is called an Arcane Veil or less commonly an Aura. Inside that floats a soul thread, which binds a soul to the mortal body. People call upon the energy in their Veils to harness their arcane magic - their powers.
No creature in Cier is capable of using their Veil from their birth. Animals and plants appear to gradually gain access to their Veil over time, but sapient creatures - which appear to have the most developed and powerful Veil - must undergo training or severe emotional or physical trauma in order to unlock it. Some creatures, such as Sorcerers, unlock their Veils over time despite their high mana energy.
A Veil contains, in its bare essence, ingredients for casting magic. Some people, after unlocking their Veils, find they are unable to use these ingredients, because they don't have any. A person who either does not have an active Veil or is incapable of casting magic is called a blank. These people are much more capable of harnessing raw Soulfire due to no excess energy being in the way.
An Arcane Veil is not representative of the amount or strength of arcane energy that someone has. It is representative of how much of their arcane energy is usable; however, one without an Arcane Veil commonly has no arcane energy at all. Arcane Veils are volatile, and can be manipulated by energy consumption or emotional output.
Arcane mana floats in the air in small clouds and threads, and a Veil is what sews it together into usable magic. Some locations contain no arcane mana and thus prevent magic from being cast; these areas are called arcane dead zones, and any attempts at casting magic will be "backed up" in the user's own Veil until leaving the area. Once the caster re-enters an area with mana threads, the "backed up" magic will proceed to fire all at once. This careless usage of mana has lead to more than one death in the history of Cier.

Type

Metaphysical, Arcane