About the magic we all possess – and the magic that possesses us

From the writings of Tarric Vethrin

I once met a man who was completely convinced that magic was something special. He stood right in the middle of my kitchen while three plates floated through the air behind him and someone used spirit magic to do the dishes.

Sometimes I really wonder how people manage to ignore their own world.
Magic in Elyndor is nothing rare. It is everyday life. Light orbs in the streets. Fire for cooking. Wind magic to dry laundry faster. Spirit magic so someone can carry five crates at once while still arguing about prices.

Most people think of magic as grand spells or dramatic battles.
In reality, most people use it for back pain and dirty dishes. Not exactly heroic. But probably more efficient.

Everyday magic is divided into different categories.
Elements. Spirit. Things like that.

The stronger someone is, the more complex the applications become. Lighting a small fire is something almost anyone can do. Making an entire market stall float at the same time is not.
Although I once knew a merchant who tried it anyway.
The apples were still in the gutters days later.

Dwarves, by the way, cannot use magic. At least not directly.
That has not stopped them from creating the foundation of almost all magical infrastructure. I have long stopped trying to ignore the irony in that.

And then there is soul magic. This is the part where conversations usually get quieter.

Soul magic does not work like ordinary spells. It does not come from formulas or practice alone. It comes directly from the soul of the user. And unfortunately, that sometimes says more about a person than they would like.

The magic takes shape based on what someone truly is, not what they pretend to be. That makes it impressive. And uncomfortable.

Naira, for example, uses nature magic. Plants. Growth. Life. Which surprises no one who has spent more than five minutes with her.

Miriana, on the other hand, possesses chaos magic.
And if you are hoping I will explain how chaos magic works, I am afraid I will disappoint you. No one explains chaos magic. Most people simply try not to stand near it when she is in a bad mood.

Chaos magic is… complicated.
It can replicate other forms of magic. Alter them. Consume them. Sometimes even break them.

Soul magic does not only depend on strength. It depends on how at peace someone is with themselves. Fear. Doubt. Inner conflict. All of it weakens magic.

A massive leaf storm then becomes something… symbolic. That sounds harmless until you realize the same rule applies to far more dangerous magic.

Maybe that is the real reason some of the most powerful mages in Elyndor are also some of the most broken people I know.

Both are exhausting

– Tarric Vethrin