Ancient Western Magic

In contrast to modern Western magic, ancient Western magic used by the Greeks and Romans had many more spells and varieties with each spell having a very prescribed effect and requires a specific amount of energy. For example, there were upward of ten spells for creating fire, each with varying strength and range. These spells were eventually discarded in favor of the modern spell created in the fifteenth century.

Back in the fifteenth century, during the Renaissance Period, aside from the cultural rebirth of the humans, there was also a rebirth for the witches and wizards. Just as the scientific method standardized scientific research, a young and talented wizard, who grew up alongside humans, sought to standardize all magic. With that, he recreated the structure of Western magic from having lengthy incantations for spells focused around four elements to abridged incantations with only one or two words for each type spell. As such, rather than over hundred spells to cast fire, there was now two, Flammo, which produces fire from the wand tip, and Incendo, which set something on fire…However, he made one mistake. By standardizing and shortening the incantation, he greatly limited the power and variety of each type of spells. The intensity of the flames, the forms that it can, now all depends on the wizards and witches casting the spell—a fatal flaw, if you ask me…Because now the effect that each spell takes depends on the caster’s magic power and their imagination. Rather than creating a large flame that will no doubt drain them of their power, they will create a smaller one that will not. An ancient spell, on the other hand, has a definite effect, and it will extract as much magical energy from the cast as it needs. Training the body to hold more magical energy is easier than training the mind to imagine something more powerful and concrete.

Examples

• Heavenly Fire of Destruction (O mighty god of fire, heed my cry, and lend me your power. Burn down my enemies with the flames of the sun. Color the sky a crimson red. Heavenly Fire of Destruction!)
• Zeus’s Lightning Spear (O mighty thunder, come together and become my spear. The light from the King of God. Zeus’s Lightening Spear!)
• Gaea’s Judgement (O great Mother Earth, hear my call. Manifest thy strength and punish the sinners before thee. Gaea’s Judgement!)