Magic

“	Priste ir Essen. Essen ir Priste. Power in Balance. Balance in Power.	”
—Cardinal rule of magic

Magic, also known by its Antari name Vitari, is a supernatural force.

Overview

Magic resides in everything and is the "essential essence that runs through the world"; nothing and nobody is truly void of magic. This is a notion that exists in every world and often a subject of stories and myths.

In humans, magic lies in their blood, albeit not in their bloodline. Magic capability and affinity cannot be passed down and inherited. For that reason, many cultures across different worlds believe that magic chooses who will be powerful and who will not, possibly to balance the scales and maintain order.

Magic is not inherently good or evil. It possesses its own "will," however, and strives for constant growth, as it is a living entity; in rare instances, magic can manifest as an oshoc. For that reason, balancing power and humanity is of utmost importance when it comes to magic use. If one loses control of their magic, the magic may overtake them and burn them up, feeding on their body, mind, and soul and eventually leaving them empty. If a magician balances their magic, their blood will be a rich red, as red is the color of harmony. If a magician loses their balance, their blood turns black, the color of magic without order and balance.

Furthermore, magic cannot be created; it can only be used to manipulate existing substances. Black magic, however, breaks this vital rule.

Each of the different worlds has a distinct relationship with magic: In Black London, people let magic overtake them; magic burned through everyone and everything and eventually destroyed the world. In White London, humans attempted to dominate magic which resulted in magic withdrawing into the earth and turning the world cruel and bleak. In Red London, people revere magic. Thus, the world stands in balance: Many of its citizens can use magic, yet it does not overpower them. And in Grey London, magic has been forgotten.

The strength of each world varies according to how close they are to the epicenter of magic: Black London sits closest, Grey London the farthest from it. White London is next to Black London, and Red London between White and Grey London.

Sources of magic

There are numerous sources of magic in the world. Those sources are also fixed points that exist at the same place in each world. The river that flows through each London—known as the Thames in Grey London, as the Isle in Red London, and as the is Sijlt in White London—is possibly the greatest source of them all. Other known sources are Stonehenge, a copse of trees in the Far East, and a ravine on the European mainland, among many others. Veskans consider their mountain ranges sources of magic.

There are also fixed points that are not sources of magic; the most prominent example is the "fixed tavern" which exists in Grey London as the Five Points, in Red London as the Setting Sun, and in White London as the Scorched Bone. Although these taverns are not sources, many people are drawn to them as if they were magical.

Moreover, there are some folks who do not believe in sources of magic, e.g. Faroans.

Regular magic

Magicians are capable of wielding five elements: fire, water, air, earth, and bone. Most have an affinity for one specific element, some for two, and very rare exceptions can manipulate three, e.g. Alucard Emery is a rare triad. Both priests and Antari can control all five elements. Priests can also balance the elements, and Antari are the only magicians who can use blood magic. To test a child's magical prowess, they are usually given an element set which contains all five elements. Air, water, and earth are the easiest elements to manipulate and wield, whereas bone is the most difficult.

Elemental magic does not require specific spoken spells or a specific language because only intention matters when casting magic. Still, some magicians speak to magic to focus themselves, e.g. Lila Bard recites "The Tyger" by William Blake—particularly the verse "Tyger Tyger burning bright"—when she uses fire magic.

Furthermore, magic can be woven into objects, e.g. the Arnesian royal guards use half-swords with spellwork crafted into the metal.

Fire magic

Fire is more difficult to will than air, earth, or water.

Water magic

Water is one of the easiest element to will, along with air and earth, due to its simplicity. Magicians who can manipulate water are also capable of changing it into ice to form, e.g., daggers or walls.

Air magic

Like earth and water, air is relatively easy to will. Magicians who specialize in air magic can use it to create powerful gusts of wind as well as to restrain people. Jinnar is even capable of flying.

Earth magic

Earth is another element that is easy to manipulate. It is especially useful for defence, but can also be used to launch rocks and spikes. Outside of combat, earth magic can be very useful in construction.

Metal magic

Metal magic is a very rare form of magic. It enables the magician to control and shape metal according to their will.

Bone magic

Bone is the most difficult of the five elements to wield. People capable of using bone magic can control bodies.

In Red London, a rule states that magic should not be used to control others. Thus, many bone magicians are punished to wear limiters to permanently bind their magic. A prominent bone magician is Aldus Fletcher.

Special magic

Black magic

The black stone

Black magic is dark magic from Black London. It is the only kind of magic that can create, albeit not out of nothingness: Black magic drains its caster. This is the reason why Black London fell: It took over the people and emptied them of their magic and humanity.

This type of magic can also be contained in objects, e.g. the black stone is a powerful artifact which allows its user to cast black magic.

Blood magic

“	He was, after all, Antari. And Antari could speak to blood. To life. To magic itself. The first and final element, the one that lived in all and was of none.	”
—Kell Maresh, A Darker Shade of MagicI: The Traveler, III

Blood magic can only be used by Antari. Unlike other magic, it requires spoken spells—blood commands—in the Antari language. Every kind of magic—regular and special, weak and strong alike—can be dispelled with the blood command, As Anasae.

White London magic

Magic largely withdrew itself in the White world because its residents did not treat magic with reverence and tried to conquer it instead. The remnants of magic in that world ceased being elemental. Instead, it developed into a "bastard of fire and something darker, corrupted," and predominantly takes the form of a "unnatural" kind of lightning, or electricity.