Technology is a tool. One that often entails knowing every single intimate detail during its making, and as such, it is a very known quantity. Reliable. Consistent. But also limited. Now, imagine a similar tool. It does everything that is wanted of it and far better, but sometimes even more. Sometimes, it will even do miracles. Yet, it can potentially be unpredictable. It can potentially be a liability. Most importantly, if attempts at understanding is pushed upon it, it will push back.

That is magic.

- Amisra of Yvresse

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Magic is the use of Mana to alter reality.

Being a force that defies conventional science, many researchers hold the hypothesis that magic is a technology far beyond understanding, while others many consider it to be change or entropy in its most pure, distilled form. Perhaps even more importantly, magic almost appears to be alive, and above all, does not enjoy being watched. At least, not too closely. Like all living things though, magic can be coaxed into habit and routine, something the more industrious of magic users have made great use of through the ritual of spell casting.

Through trial, error and horrors beyond comprehension, humanity's best scientists have noted the following:

• The rules of thermodynamics remain in effect, with matter and energy being neither created nor destroyed
• The appearance of magic "creating" matter is the transmutation of mana into matter, or one matter to another
• The appearance of magic "destroying" matter is the transmutation of matter into mana, or one matter to another
• Causality remains in effect; time may be slowed or accelerated, but never reversed
• Energy is drawn from local mana, or failing that, converted from sources of heat or electricity at steep inefficiencies
• The Square Cube Law remains in effect, especially with direct reality warping
• The strength, span and duration of a caster's magic is directly correlated to factors such as longevity, mental focus, emotional status and magic practice/conditioning
• The strength, span and duration of equipment's magic is directly correlated to the average/mean of longevity, mental focus, emotional temperament and magic practice/conditioning of the heartstones' sources

It is worth noting that the square cube law's effects on magic has affected casting practices in particular. Directly altering the state of something becomes increasingly difficult the more distance is involved. As a result, casters resort to using indirect mediums, vectors or delivery vehicles to indirectly apply affects i.e. a fireball to heat heat something at long distance.

a person's stats?

It is noted that individual magic casters may use equipment to supplement or enhance their ability to cast magic. The use of additional heartstones alongside a caster's own results in the magic "averaging-out", which may be taken advantage of by less-able casters. Other attributes and other features to increase mana mass?, capacity and flow-rate

mana usage, bandwidth, charging time and overuse effects, etc

Magic can be categorized into four types, each with their own unique properties, uses and peculiarities. These four types themselves are not mutually exclusive, and in some cases, can be made to overlap or combine.

Primordial Magic is the spontaneous occurrence of magic when an excess of mana is present, resulting in hazards, the creation of strange artifacts or creatures, and bizarre or even extraordinary warped locales. In sharp contrast, Innate Magic is the most base form used by individuals, with a person's mana being directed to cast magic with thoughts, feelings or intent. Building up from this, Invocation Magic adds something transient but repeatable such as words or gestures to grant increased consistency and control of the magic being done. Finally, Composition Magic takes binding the magic to something consistent even further by putting it down into written word, allowing for much greater control and consistency at the cost of flexibility.

Also referred to as "First Magic" by many, Primordial Magic is magic spontaneously occurring in high mana environments, such as the Zone surrounding a Node. The effects can range from subtle to gross, making such areas an active hazard that require specialized protection to navigate through. More subtle examples of such phenomena include simple tools like a compass spinning on its own, a camera's footage becoming increasingly static filled. Unprotected individuals will experience red static in their vision, as well as questionable sensory input such as dark presences briefly flickering at the edge of vision, or hints of voices in the wind.

Meanwhile, examples of more gross effects include the rewriting of an individual's genetic code or the merger of said genetics with species in proximity. Mutations that are beneficial, nonmalignant and malign are a distinct and common mark of a Zone where primordial magic is active. At its greatest excess, Primordial Magic can chaotically warp and change living beings and the environment, blending and tearing things together and apart to create unspeakable horrors. At the same time however, it can also create amazing wonders otherwise impossible, and give birth to beings that can only be defined as living gods and goddesses.

As the most basic form of magic actively used by an individual caster, Innate Magic has thought, feelings and intent direct mana into performing magic. Its reality warping ability is, however, considered unreliable and inconsistent despite being capable of higher-highs in performance, as the lows are lower. For an example, a fireball cast with strong feelings can be far more powerful. Alternately, said fireball may suddenly veer off course and towards a friend with a single stray thought, or far worse. Those that are unaware of their magic ability may also unknowingly alter reality around themselves. A day may be perfect, with nothing going wrong, or things may begin festering in the dark under a bed.

Building on top of the foundation laid by Innate Magic, the addition of transient, consistent and repeatable factors acts to provide uniformity and reliability to the magic that is cast. These factors or components are considered by the caster to be an absolutely necessary part of the magic. This is safer, as the magic does not properly occur without their inclusion. Numerous different factors or components can be used, ranging from specific hand symbols or gestures, to martial arts attacks or body movements with proper form, and even the speaking of an invented word or words with precise pronunciation. The key for Invocation Magic is that any added factor is quickly and easily procured, yet transient or fleeting.

This makes casting Invocation Magic convenient and consistent, but it can still be interrupted depending on the nature of the added factor.

Composition Magic is also known as Composed Magic, as many compare its making to writing song, hymns or verses. It is the next evolutionary step from Invocation Magic. Rather than having the additional component for the specific magic be transient or temporary in nature, it is permanent. The necessary factor for the magic is written down, engraved or otherwise marked. As a result, the permanence of the magic is as durable as the method used. Additionally, the written words contain the thoughts and intent of the Composer to some degree, further giving it a rigid, consistent structure from which to work. Composed magic is known not only for its longevity, but also stability for this reason. Its tradeoff however, is that it will not have any high-highs to the magic being cast. Like any written, inscribed or otherwise marked thing however, this magic can be made to interlink, creating complex commands and sequences.

Due to its nature, Compositions are most frequently found on various items to assist with casting, or to imbue them with various features, properties, or functions not normally possible. These will go dormant and not function without a supply of magic from an active user and/or an integrated Heartstone.