Enhancive Magic

Enhancive magic, or magic which affects objects or people other than the practitioner, composes the vast majority of 'casual' uses of magic. Enhancive magic divides between Enchantments, which traditionally act upon inanimate objects, and Lifespan Magic, which involves manipulating the soul in some fashion.
(Before reading further about Lifespan magics, I would recommend checking out Manipulation and Transformation, which details the generic types of soul- and medical magics.)
Whether enchanting inanimate objects or modifying the energies of animate beings, all Enhancive magic requires adding energy to the object, and using that energy to apply the desired property. Generally, the property will either be of false animation (causing inanimate objects to move either of their own volition or by command) or enhanced performance (healing wounds, reducing fatigue, or making something waterproof).
As long as there is energy left from the original enhancement, the magic will continue to work without extra support, assuming that it is not destroyed accordingly. In order to lengthen an enhancement, more energy may be added to an enchantment, and in the cases on many inanimate objects, this is something that can be done by anyone with a rudimentary understanding of the magic. In cases of magic upon living beings1, any further extensions must be done by someone of such a proficiency. In highly advanced forms of Enchantment, the object2 may absorb more energy under certain conditions3; however this is restricted to Life and Death.
Beyond this, the two branches of Enhancive magic, Enchantments and Lifespan magic, share some key similarities which differ from other forms of magic:

• Enhancive magic, once performed, can outlast its caster4.
• Only enhancive magic does not require prolonged concentration for it to be maintained.
• Only enhancive magic can cause lasting change to an object's fundamental properties.
• Unlike Elemental or Individual magics, enhancive magic often mixes with science.

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1 "living beings": generally, Lifespan magic only operates on those currently living. To be clear, however, there can be the manipulation of dead bodies, which can fall into either category of Enhancive magic. This is gone into further detail {url:necromancy?}in a discussion of dealing with the dead.{/url}
2 "the object": although this type of property is only seen with Universe and those related, it is possible for beings to also automatically absorb (or, in Life's case, create) more energy.
3 "under certain conditions": in practice, this either relies on the release of energy at the moment of death (see Crowns) or the energies released from the beginning of time.
4 "can outlast the caster": physical objects which Life has made, with the Crowns as a notable example, are the one major exception.

Articles under Enhancive Magic:

1. Enchantments (Non-Technical) / (Technical)
   • Object-Affecting Enchantments
   • Wielder-Affecting Enchantments
2. Lifespan Magic
   • Soul Magic
   • Health Magic