Excerpts from On Magic and Life by Master N. Florell

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Magic

Magic is the influence of the world around you through the use of energy inside of yourself. This is done through pacts between oneself and the world—also called spells. Pacts require one to have a clear purpose in one’s mind and also be able to feel a clear pulse that matches the heartbeat of the world. The former requires focus regardless of the situation, the latter becomes easier as one is more attuned with nature.

The energy inside of oneself takes the form of mahji, a purple-colored ribbon that is coiled inside of oneself near the pit of the stomach. Mahji is formed through the decay and death of the spirit, made in various amounts. Mahji is normally shielded from decay itself by the body it resides in; outside, it is protected by the structure and stability of spells. Should a spell unravel, through destruction or age, or mahji somehow become loose, it will degenerate over time. Once mahji has broken down sufficiently, it becomes the sickly green marai.

Marai is wild and uncontrollable, the entire opposite of its former form. It induces mutation and madness in those that are frequently in contact with it, poisoning both the blood and the mind. It is also energetic and aberrant, prone to spontaneously showering sparks or darting through the air. It cannot be used in spells of any nature, and marai poisoning in warfare is a forbidden taboo.

Another option for fuel in spells is vahma, or the pure spirit. Mahji gets its strength through the distillation of the soul itself; naturally, the soul where therefore be an even more potent fuel. However, directly burning the soul accelerates the process of death and weakens the lattice of the soul. After the first burning, one will find it easier and more appealing every time, until it occurs without thought or desire. Madness awaits those who burn vahma, for it is an addiction that tears apart the body and soul.

Channelers

All men produce mahji and possess vahma, but not all men can use the strength inside of them. Those with the ability to feel mahji and manipulate it are called channelers. They develop the Maes frequently overnight during adolescence—black, swirling tattooes that differ in structure from person to person but are similar in form. All channelers, without exception, bear the Maes when they grow into their powers.

All channelers are able to cast spells to influence the world around them directly. For example, they all can burn grass, manipulate earth, and freeze water. However, there are restrictions when they wish to directly influence a living thing with body, mind, and spirit. They possess differing names to clarify this distinction

Me’jai, or Magi in the Old Tongue, are able to cast spells that affect the body of other men. Much as this is the easiest aspect to understand, they are also the most common and comparatively the weakest. For example, they can freeze the muscles or boil the blood.

Oa’kul, or Oracle in the Old Tongue, are able to affect the mind. They are the rarest, and their abilities are little understood. They can induce vivid hallucinations that trap the mind, or even keep one trapped in a state of dreaming, unable to wake. Some of the strongest could shatter the mind completely, leaving the soul trapped in a vessel that it could not influence.

Shai’mon, or Shaman in the Old Tongue, are able to affect the spirit. As the spirit, or soul, is the most important of the aspects, Shai’mon are also the most powerful. For example, they can command others, enthralling them to obey commands. Some of the strongest could burn the vahma of others to augment their own spells.

The Aspects of Life

True life hinges upon a balance of three aspects: body, mind, and soul. These three aspects are key to creating a living being and as also crucial to magic.

The body is the vessel that the soul is kept in. It is the simplest and comparatively, the least important, as it can most easily be replaced and holds nothing of value. A mind and spirit without a body can be considered a ghost or specter, loose vahma capable of sensing its environment, but doomed to unravel without the protection of a vessel.

The mind is the senses, the means through which the being can interact with its environment. It serves as the connection between the body and soul. While the distinction between it and the soul is unclear, it is known that the mind holds nothing of permanence. While there may be some memories, there are more accurately imprints—lingering sensations without much clarity or purpose. The mind is also known to control instincts and impulses, basic commands that are not distinct enough for a soul. A body and soul without a mind is a prison for the soul, the spirit inside unable to interact or even sense anything around it.

The soul, or spirit, is the essence of the living being. It houses its will and memories, the impressions and aspects that make it distinct from others. It is the aspect of life for rational thought and reason, for decisions and expression. It is formed with every new life, growing until adolescence, when it peaks in size. From there it will decay until death, growing weaker as it breaks down into mahji. A body and mind without a soul is a puppet, capable of executing orders and commands but without personality or learning.

Demons

Demons are living beings formed from imprints of the dead or dying. When the dead has a particularly strong will or memory, or if there is a shared grievance across many who have died in one place, they can induce a demon. Because there is no biological parent, the body is instead formed from the earth itself. The strength of the demon corresponds to the durability and amount of the substance it is able to manipulate to form its vessel, with mud and dirt being weaker and stone and even metal stronger. Sand is the only known substance that will not form demons, likely due to its particulate nature. They have been known to appropriate sculptures and carvings that suit them on occasion, as opposed to constructing a completely new body.

Demons will pursue the imprint that formed them, often times a general emotion or thought, such as revenge or bloodlust. Because these negative emotions are often much stronger than positive ones, they are more likely to induce a demon and contribute to a perception of demons as bloodthirsty beasts. In reality, the intelligence and development of the demon corresponds to the strength of the dead soul or souls that created them.

Stronger demons are capable of independent thought and are in virtually ways equal to or superior to men. Weaker demons are more animalistic and servile in nature, often unable to perform complex tasks and prone to succumbing to their instincts over reason. Some have argued that gargoyles were once attempts in the past to use weaker demons as protectors or guards, by providing vessels that allow otherwise too-weak demons to form.

Demon shapes vary individually. As they are unable to procreate, their forms are influenced by personality and environment at birth. They are often influenced by their imprint. For example, a demon birthed from revenge might have a strong sense of smell to track down the target and long legs capable of sustaining a hunt. Demons formed from the madness of battlefields are particularly violent, often boasting horns, claws, spines, and an assortment of other accessories.

Communion

A Communion is essentially a bond formed between a dead soul and a newly birthed soul. Note the dead soul is dead in the sense that it has lost its vessel, and is therefore in the process of unraveling. The newly birthed soul must be nearby and attract to the dead soul in some way. For example, they could have a shared bloodline, similar fates, or it may simply be the only soul in the area. The dead soul will seek out the living, eventually making contact and merging with the new spirit. In this way, they will effectively fuse, the new soul gaining the memories of the old. A successful fusion is rare, as it requires the primal soul not to reject the intrusion and allow it to merge. A failed fusion results in death for both souls, although the body may not die in rare cases. Infants born in this way without a soul are incapable of thought and development and will remain degenerate for the rest of their lives.