User blog:Illuminate Void/Magic Quantified - The Gospel of Magic

Magic (魔法, Mahō) is the supernatural ability to utilize what is known as magical energy, manipulate it and enact a change on the world. Those who are able to use this source of power are known as Mages (魔術師, Majutsushi). All kinds of Magic is used in Earth Land and formerly Edolas, and its purpose can be used in a variety of manner. Within Earth Land two methods of Magic are the most prominent; Holder-Magic and Caster-Magic.

Holder-Magic
Holder-Magic was originally the most common form of magic prevalent in the world, before the rise of Caster-Magic and in many ways can be considered the origins of magic. It is largely characterized by invoking upon an outside force in order to use magic. This however is a very broad descripter, as there are several types of Holder-Magic, though many of the old-styles have since been lost in the sands of time. It should be noted that unlike Caster Magic, in which a mortal or entity possess an inborn resevoir of magical energy, one need not necessarily possess their own reserves of power depending on what they are drawing magical power from.

Magical Apparatus: One of the more contemporary forms of Holder-Magic is the utilization of an object that holds a resevior of magical power. By tapping into it, the caster is able to invoke a specified effect as determined by the power, scope and nature of the magic capable within the apparatus. For example many caster's use magical weapons, armors or other devices to evoke a magical power. A flaming sword for example would grant its wielder the ability to manipulate fire within the limitations of the magic bound within the sword. Mages utilize magical apparatus's often, and it is the most prevalent in the use of rituals, summoning, and binding magic.


 * Foci: Are items that instead serve as a conduit for magical energy. Their appearance is widespread and range from mundane items, to powerful instruments of great magical power. Symbolism in magic is one of its most important fundamentals aspects to exist. By establishing a bond between an idea, concept or creature to another, one is able to create a bridge to serve as a conduit for their magic in order to enact an affect. Another effect of a foci is that they act as boosters to magical energy, and in sufficient quantities can compensate for a lack of magical power.


 * Artifacts are most powerful magical apparatus's; they are devices of immense magical power capable of affecting change on a geographical scale. They possess vast, virtually limitless reserves of magical power said to have been crafted by the gods themselves. However they are also incredibly rare devices

Source of Power: Considered a lost form of magic, when a caster utilizes a Source of Power they are invoking and drawing upon the power of another entity. This is performed through language, spoken in an incantation. By invoking the Source of Power, and aligning one's power with it, a caster is use their will to create a change or effect in the world. Divine power, the power possessed by the gods is one of the most well known forms of this type, utilized by priests, and clerics as emissary's of their god. Other darker mages may call upon daemons or other malevolent beings.


 * Domain Magic: Within the universe there are abstract concepts that exist in a unique state, identified by mortals as distinct forms of magical energy. They can encompass a concept, an emotion even an ideal itself. Those who draw upon this power are drawing directly upon a neutral source of raw power, and thus is considered the most dangerous form of magic within Holder-Type. Domains are widespread, from good, evil, chaos, law, darkness, even the elements such as wind, fire, earth and water.

Caster Magic
Caster Magic is the most common form of magic within Fiore. Within the last thousand years, there have been an unprecendented rise in the number of individuals who possess innate magical power, that roughly 10% of the population have the capability to be a mage. Caster Mages are those who are able to draw upon and store magical energy within their bodies, absorbing it from the ambient environment.


 * Magical Core: All Caster Mages have what is known as a magical core, a capacitor that stores their magical power. The capacity of a caster mage is determined by several factors; willpower, physical health, and spiritual sensitivity. Willpower is a measure of the mage's force of personality, a measure of their own self-worth, and perceptions of the world. Such mages are often charming, charismatic and leaders within the world. Secondly the physical health of a mage aids in determining his or her magical potential. As the magical core can be in many cases considered an organ albiet magical in nature the strength and constitution of its body can influence its capacity. Like a muscle the magical core can be improved through training. Lastly, the spiritual sensitivity of a mage contributes to the size of their magical core, which relates to their ability to draw upon and distinguish the bonds that connect magic within them and the world itself. Imagination, conception, and visualization of these bonds allows one to empower their magic. Collectively the three exist in differeing degree's within any individual mage but ultimately the compose and determine both the size and capacity of one's innate magical power.


 * Magical Sigils: When a caster mage performs a spell, a rune-like magic sigil appears in the air or surrounding their person preluding the formation and manifestation of their magic. This is physical visualization of their magic when it is performed and in can be considered a projection of their magical core; albeit with slight alterations depending on the spell in question. Internalizing a single spell, is an extremely difficult process for caster-mages, and for this reason do they seldom learn new spells, and instead attempt to refine existing ones.

Magical Energy
Magic is the ubiquitous force that exists within the universe. It is an indefinate power, one whose origins remain shrouded in mystery and their inner works eluding even the most esteemed scholar. What is known is that magic exists as apart of the universe, within every force, action, reaction, concept, ideal, creature or entity. Scholars have however been able to identify the magnitude and scope of magic when it is within distinct quantities. Language is the most powerful form in which Magic can be realized in the world, for langauge provides the very basis of meaning and comprehension for sentient creatures. Without language, the sounds produced by a creature are meaningless, but it is only when we attribute meanining to those words do they have power. If one were to say "water", it is not immediately understood by the sound itself.

We must first attach a meaning, a sense of understanding to it. This in turn resonates with the world, "water" becomes something indistinct, its very meaning associated with large bodies of liquid; this forms the very basis of the bond between things. In humans especially, they communicate through language, think in language, it serves as the very basis for their cognitive functions, their very spirituality itself.

Therefore in the concepts of Magic, it can be best understood and quantified not through a series of numbers, but through language, words, verses, hymns and so on. By understanding this concept, one begins to realize how magic is able to affect the world.


 * 1 Letter of Magic: The smallest unit of magic that exists, it is free flowing and can be found within all things and the atmosphere.
 * 1 Word of Magic: The word, perhaps a single part of the name, or even an incantation, these serve as pieces of the whole, allowing one to resonate the small with the large, one part with the whole. Words of Magic are the most frequently used form when performing low-level spells, and or when utilizing more powerful spells in a weakened form. A single Word of Magic is composed of at least ten letters of magic.
 * 1 Sentence of Magic: This represents a verse, or perhaps even the whole spell itself for most of the lower level spells and some mid-level spells. A spell is woven from various sequences of Words of Magic stringed together to produce an even greater effect. The meaning portrayed by the individual words can change in scope and power depending on how they are constructed.
 * 1 Passage of Magic: This represents a collection of verses, and in many cases is the complete form of any given spell. Spells of mid-to-high level almost always are composed of passages, and the power of these spells are magnified by the individual Sentences of Magic uses to cast them. Most forms of magic are derived from a single passage, with some mages reciting only a single Word or perhaps even a Sentence to manifest an effect.
 * 1 Idea/Edea of Magic: The complete thought, a concept itself, this forms the very basis of one's magical power. All Mages have at least one Edea of magic, for it encompasses the molding of magic in a very concrete form, and it is from this where a Caster Mage concieves of, and stores their power.


 * More to Come...


 * 1 letter of Magic = smallest unit of magical energy (1)
 * 10 letters of magic = 1 word of magic (10)
 * 10 words of magic = 1 sentence of magic (100)
 * 10 sentences of magic = 1 passage of magic (1,000)
 * 10 passages of magic = 1 idea of magic (10,000)
 * 10 ideas of magic = 1 reason of magic (100,000)
 * 10 reasons of magic = 1 song of magic (1 million)
 * 10 songs of magic = 1 chorus of magic (10 million)
 * 10 chorus's of magic = 1 gospel of magic (100 million)

Closing
Please feel free to comment, criticize or to ask questions regarding this. I'm hoping this article will help users, new and old in understanding how magic (even if its my own interpretation) works within the Fairy Tail World.