Magic

Any sapient being is capable of using magic, as long as they have been taught it from a young age. In almost all cases, one can not learn magic if they haven’t already experienced some education in it before the age of 6. Not only that, but it takes regular lessons for about a decade till a person is able to use magic. As such, less than 1% of the population of The Continent have the ability to use magic, and only about .25% can use different types of magic. A majority of magic users are either nobles or members of some sort of magic order. Uanuk is the only country where a majority of people can use magic. However, almost all of them can only use Menta magic.

What differentiates magic from other natural phenomena is the fact that its rules are not governed by logic, but rather by belief. This means that the rules of magic are dictated by what we believe them to be. Many have tried changing the rules by changing their belief, but changing one’s belief is harder than it sounds. Not only that, but the belief which powers magic is both the collective belief of all sapient beings, as well as the beliefs of the individual person using the magic. It is possible to convince yourself that the rules of magic are something else, but the process would be useless, as the collective belief of all sapient beings would overpower your own.
Another important element of accessing magic is that it takes effort. Like lifting weights or running, using magic puts a strain on the body. Performing a spell often leaves one fatigued, and extensive use of magic can lead to muscle aches all over the body, drowsiness, and bouts of intense hunger or dehydration. Many magic users have developed methods to delay these effects. This includes using Anima magic to not get tired while using magic on the battlefield. The downside of this is the effects of tiredness will eventually take hold, and usually all at once. It’s also important that magic users know how much energy they are using up, as many magic users have found themselves dropping dead immediately after battles.
Certain spells require more effort and energy than others, but the how and the why of this is far too complicated to delve into here.
It should also be noted that certain spells are often more complex than others, and as such, require focus. For instance, the act of shooting fire from one's fist is rather simple, and as such, can be done on a battlefield. However, the act of turning sand into glass is a complex one, and requires not only intense focus but also time.
However, what does using magic even mean? The usage of magic is a very broad term which can be split into two parts: the manipulation of energy, and the manipulation of matter.
One instance of the former is thermal magic, which can also also be divided into two types: cold and heat magic.
Cold magic is the act of taking the thermal energy out of matter and transporting it to the magic user. The result of this is often water particles in the air turning to ice, or matter becoming colder. A skilled cold magic user can use this for fighting purposes. However, the main use of cold magic is to warm oneself up.
Fire magic is the act of taking thermal energy out of the magic user and transporting it into outside matter. This can result in fire starting in the air, or objects heating up. A skilled fire magic can use this for fighting purposes. However, the main use of fire magic is to cool oneself down.
Generally, most users of one type of thermal magic will be skilled in the other, as both are tied to thermal energy. While thermal magic usually involves exchanging the thermal energy in and out of one self, a skilled thermal magic user will be able to redistribute magic energy between objects without affecting their own energy. Thermal energy can not be created or destroyed. As such, many thermal magicians will often use objects which hold great amounts of thermal energy.
Another instance of energy magic is light magic. This is the manipulation of light. The more advanced application of light magic is using it to craft illusions.
Energy magic also includes Magae magic. This one is rather difficult to describe. There is a certain type of energy which “powers” all magic. You see, usage of magic generally involves the connecting of one’s mind to the forces around them. This connection is created through Magae energy. All magic users use Magae energy to an extent, but it is generally not focused on. Those who specifically focus on Magae energy can form various different connections outside of their own minds in a process known as enchanting. For instance, they could create a sword which affects the weather, a hat that explodes in flames when touched, or a boat that can fly. This is all achieved by forming a connection between the object and the outside world . Elechi magic is another example of energy magic, defined as the manipulation of the electro-magnetic spectrum to do tasks such as create lightning or control electricity and magnets.
Moving on, a rare form of energy magic is Menta magic. This is magic which is used for reading minds and letting others read your own mind. It is one of the hardest kinds of magic to use, only used in Uanuk and in certain places in the south. Menta magic usage in the south is mostly done for purposes of astral projecting, which is a whole different beast to slay.
The rarest form of energy magic is Sound Magic. As one can intuit, this is the controlling of sound waves. What makes Sound Magic such a struggle is that there are very few methods to properly perform it. We simply know very little about how sound works.
Let’s now focus on the other category of magic: matter magic. All matter magic is based on the same principles. However, there are many different types of matter, and each requires specific actions for it to be affected. For instance, affecting a rock is different from controlling wind, which is different from manipulating water. The different chemical makeup of these materials is what causes this. As such, most matter magic users will only practise the manipulation of one type of matter.
Anima magic is magic specifically dedicated to the manipulation of organic matter. It is rather difficult to use, and to modify even a single plant takes a very long time. As such, it does not have any real battle purposes. However, one can still use it for healing purposes, even though it is still limited in that regard. Exactly how is a rather complicated subject, but simply put, anima magic is the kind of magic which requires the greatest effort and amount of time. Anima magicians have been able to transform people into animals, regrow limbs, and make trees grow eyes. However, a majority of Anima magic users will struggle to heal a broken ankle.
Earth Magic is the manipulation of rocks, specifically constructs formed out of silicon. One can intuit what Air, Water, and Metal magic are from their names.
While those are the different applications of magic, there are many different ways to perform magic. Really, all that one needs to perform magic is to think. However, many schools of thought suggest that magic is more precise if commands are spoken, if hand signals are performed, or if items such as wands are used. Rituals are a way to perform very complicated works of magic, such as giving a pig an extra leg. Most magic users are only able to perform magic in one or two of these ways.
Now, this is all rather more complicated, and to make things even more complicated, there are multiple different terms for magic users. These will all be explored now.
The term “wizard” and “mage” are synonymous, denoting one who is part of an order. They specifically use words to conduct energy. They specifically use objects in the process of magic making. These objects can be wands, staffs, or pieces of jewellery. There are about 100,000 wizards on the Continent.
Sorcerers and warlocks are also part of orders, but they use hand signals instead of objects to perform magic.There are about 80,000 on the Continent.
Witches are not part of any order and are not nobles. In general, witches will often have a strong connection with nature, and will do magic through rituals. Another word for witch is shaman. Witches are extraordinarily rare. Generally, they are someone who has left a magic order or who’s parent left a magic order. Census data on witches is rare, but most estimates suggest there are about 40,000 or so witches.
The Order of Druids is a group of wizards in Talamh, Balan, Ferodrill, and Strapoda who deal in magic centred around nature. Their members, totalling about 5,000, are known as druids.
Magicians are not actually using magic, merely pretending.
Enchanters are magic users who specialise in enchanting objects.
Occultist is a vague term that is often used as an insult amid magic users.
Pishogue is a term certain peoples in eastern Talamh use to describe magic users.
Thaumaturgist is just a fancy way of saying “magic user”
Most nobles who are magic users are just referred to as magic users.
What makes this even more annoying is the fact that most people don’t know the various different means and use all of these terms interchangeably, and even those who know will often make mistakes.

Lastly, it is important to dispel some myths about magic.
Magic can not raise the dead, nor can it lead one to communicate with the dead. The boundaries between this world and the next remain unbroken. Magic can not allow one to see into the future or the past, nor can it allow one to travel somewhere else in time. Magic can not allow one to teleport, nor can it allow one to bend space itself. Magic (specifically Menta Magic) can not allow one to take control over someone else's body or mind. When using Menta Magic, you are controlling your own mind, and using that to stretch it into other minds. Menta Magic is also limited in that it can not affect the dreaming mind, nor can it peer into the dark waters of the subconscious. Magic can not affect luck. Magic can not create matter, it can only transmute it.
While it is possible to perform two types of magic at once, it is extremely difficult. The exception to this is Magae magic, which can intertwine easily with other forms of magic.
It is not easier to use magic if you eat the flesh of a magic user.