Mana and Awakenings

Among mages and scholars, mana is one of the most important topics of discussion. As the only known dimensional constant, its importance in helping us understand the nature of the multiverse cannot be understated. While we have discovered many of its properties and unraveled a number of mysteries, it continues to elude our desire to know the whole truth.

Mana is intrinsic to life and all beings are innately able to sense and manipulate it, but there are exceptions. Take for instance the so-called ‘manaless’ dimensions. These are worlds that seem to lack mana, but in reality they are simply so large, that mana disperses outwards and becomes exceedingly thin. In these cases, once a being is exposed to normal levels of mana density, they become able to use magic and techniques like those born in other dimensions.

Mana is not concentrated in any one place within the body and is not stored in an organ, as was thought for many years. Instead, mana exists primarily within the bloodstream and circulates throughout the body. This ensures a constant supply of mana to any part of the body that may call upon it, though a being may consciously decide to gather mana in one spot.

Mana can be used for many things. Magic, techniques, Enchanting, even using it to strengthen the base abilities of the body. Its ability to tamper and modify the bodies of mortals is astounding. However, in order to make full use of one’s mana, one must go through an Awakening.

This is the process by which the mana naturally produced within the body will take on its attributes. While the attribute-less mana found before an Awakening can be utilized for techniques, it becomes far more efficient afterwards.

The attributes your mana takes on will determine what kind of magic is most suitable to you. This is because attributed mana more easily converts into Magic of the same type. This has led some to believe that there is one perfect type of Magic for everyone, but that is a misconception. Attributed mana can be easily converted into several types of magic, though with some degradation. Fire mana could converted into Lightning or Magma Magics more easily than into say Space Magic. It is also much more difficult to convert attributed mana into opposing Magics though.

About half of all Awakenings are towards Elemental Magics, such as Fire, Ice or Lightning. The next most likely is either Enhancement Magics or Focus Magics, which each have about twenty percent of the total. Finally is the Reality branch of which a little less than ten percent will awaken to.

Anyone can learn to use magic from these branches, regardless of their attribute. However, there are two more branches of magic that work differently. About one in every one hundred people will awaken to the Life Branch, which reaffirms and upholds the qualities of all living things. Since the Life branch contains Healing Magic, it is often considered the most valuable.

Conversely, only one in a thousand will awaken to Magic from the Dark branch, which overturns and defiles the qualities of life. It is almost paradoxical as to why living things would be able to use magic that could undo our very existence, but there it is. The Dark and Life branches are exclusive to those who awaken to them. No one else can use these magics.

An Awakening can occur in several ways. The easiest is to simply circulate your mana within your body for hours, slowly grasping its qualities and invoking a reaction in it. Another method is to repeatedly use all your mana over and over, eventually forcing it to awaken. Some Awakenings are even catalyzed by an outside source, such as being exposed to powerful magic.

One final note of warning, mana that has awakened can be incredibly dangerous. If care is not taken, newly awakened mana can go berserk and cause damage to both you and your surroundings. The exact nature of the rampage will depend on the attribute of the mana. Fire attributed mana will cause the air around you to heat up, while ice mana will do the opposite.

Simply learning to cast a few spells is usually enough to prevent rampages.

A thesis submitted to Genaap's Scholar's Guild

By an unknown Mage