Magic - Revision history

Juoh-6738: /* 10. Magicology */

2026-08-01T22:53:48Z

10. Magicology

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	== 10. Magicology ==		== 10. Magicology ==
	The academic study of mana and magic is organized around two parallel disciplines, Manology and Magicology, each divided into theoretical, applied, and engineering branches. Within Theoretical Magicology, Magic Architecture examines the layered structure — from ~~the Model of Computation~~ down through individual ~~Applications~~ — that underlies every act of spellcasting. Within the engineering branch, a further distinction exists between the study of apparatus and devices, and the study of imbuing objects with magical properties.		The academic study of mana and magic is organized around two parallel disciplines, Manology and Magicology, each divided into theoretical, applied, and engineering branches. Within Theoretical Magicology, Magic Architecture examines the layered structure — from Foundation down through individual Manifestations — that underlies every act of spellcasting. Within the engineering branch, a further distinction exists between the study of apparatus and devices, and the study of imbuing objects with magical properties.

	[[Category:Lore]]		[[Category:Lore]]

Juoh-6738: /* 8. Power and Difficulty */

2026-08-01T22:53:24Z

8. Power and Difficulty

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	Seven tiers of difficulty are recognized, ranked from '''F''' (the lowest) through '''E''', '''D''', '''C''', '''B''', and '''A''', to '''S''' — the theoretical maximum, believed to exceed the practical limits of casting altogether. No case of a practitioner reaching S-tier has ever been documented.		Seven tiers of difficulty are recognized, ranked from '''F''' (the lowest) through '''E''', '''D''', '''C''', '''B''', and '''A''', to '''S''' — the theoretical maximum, believed to exceed the practical limits of casting altogether. No case of a practitioner reaching S-tier has ever been documented.

	== 8. ~~Power~~ and Difficulty ==		== 8. Output and Difficulty ==
	Difficulty tier is not an absolute measure of magical ~~strength~~. Given an equal quantity of mana, whether that mana is concentrated into raw ~~power~~ or distributed across range and duration is determined by the circuit's design — that is, by its tier. Circuits of lower tier tend toward ~~power~~-concentrated designs, while those of higher tier tend toward versatile, multi-purpose designs; neither orientation holds inherent superiority over the other.		Difficulty tier is not an absolute measure of magical output. Given an equal quantity of mana, whether that mana is concentrated into raw output or distributed across range and duration is determined by the circuit's design — that is, by its tier. Circuits of lower tier tend toward output-concentrated designs, while those of higher tier tend toward versatile, multi-purpose designs; neither orientation holds inherent superiority over the other.

	Where a practitioner's total mana capacity is overwhelmingly large, however, even a simple, low-tier circuit may rival or exceed the output of a more sophisticated high-tier circuit. This is because talent (the capacity to handle higher tiers of difficulty) and total mana capacity (the sheer volume of mana one can hold) constitute two entirely independent axes of ability.		Where a practitioner's total mana capacity is overwhelmingly large, however, even a simple, low-tier circuit may rival or exceed the output of a more sophisticated high-tier circuit. This is because talent (the capacity to handle higher tiers of difficulty) and total mana capacity (the sheer volume of mana one can hold) constitute two entirely independent axes of ability.

Juoh-6738: /* 7. Tiers of Difficulty */

2026-08-01T22:52:04Z

7. Tiers of Difficulty

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	The difficulty of a given piece of magic is determined by the depth of branching within the circuit that constitutes it — the number of nested decision points the structure contains. Each additional layer of branching doubles the number of possible configurations the circuit may resolve into.		The difficulty of a given piece of magic is determined by the depth of branching within the circuit that constitutes it — the number of nested decision points the structure contains. Each additional layer of branching doubles the number of possible configurations the circuit may resolve into.

	This measure of difficulty belongs to no single ~~tradition~~ but to the fundamental laws shared by all three. The degree of branching complexity is measured identically regardless of ~~tradition~~; what differs from ~~tradition~~ to ~~tradition~~ is how efficiently and stably that complexity is processed in practice.		This measure of difficulty belongs to no single Path but to the fundamental laws shared by all three. The degree of branching complexity is measured identically regardless of Path; what differs from Path to Path is how efficiently and stably that complexity is processed in practice.

	A theoretical maximum ~~tier of difficulty is understood to exist~~, ~~but it is~~ believed to exceed the practical limits of casting altogether ~~— no~~ case of a practitioner reaching it has ever been documented.		Seven tiers of difficulty are recognized, ranked from '''F''' (the lowest) through '''E''', '''D''', '''C''', '''B''', and '''A''', to '''S''' — the theoretical maximum, believed to exceed the practical limits of casting altogether. No case of a practitioner reaching S-tier has ever been documented.

	== 8. Power and Difficulty ==		== 8. Power and Difficulty ==

Juoh-6738: /* 5. Spell and Craft */

2026-08-01T22:49:19Z

5. Spell and Craft

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	== 5. Spell and Craft ==		== 5. Spell and Craft ==
	Independent of ~~tradition~~, magic is further classified along an axis defined by formal recognition.		Independent of Path, magic is further classified along an axis defined by formal recognition.

	A '''Spell''' is a standardized magical effect that has been formally verified and certified by a recognized institution, guaranteeing reproducible results regardless of who performs it.		A '''Spell''' is a standardized magical effect that has been formally verified and certified by a recognized institution, guaranteeing reproducible results regardless of who performs it.

	A '''Craft''' is a magical effect that has not undergone such formal verification — typically transmitted through personal experience or informal lineage within a given ~~tradition~~.		A '''Craft''' is a magical effect that has not undergone such formal verification — typically transmitted through personal experience or informal lineage within a given Path.

	This distinction exists independently within each of the three ~~traditions~~. Witchcraft may include effects formally certified as Spells, just as circuit-based magic may include Crafts practiced outside institutional recognition. ~~Tradition~~ (the manner in which magic is practiced) and certification status (whether it has been formally verified) constitute two wholly independent axes of classification.		This distinction exists independently within each of the three Paths. Witchcraft may include effects formally certified as Spells, just as circuit-based magic may include Crafts practiced outside institutional recognition. Path (the manner in which magic is practiced) and certification status (whether it has been formally verified) constitute two wholly independent axes of classification.

	== 6. Governing Institutions ==		== 6. Governing Institutions ==

Juoh-6738: /* 4. Origins of Magical Tradition */

2026-08-01T22:48:31Z

4. Origins of Magical Tradition

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	Arcane Magic is regarded as the practical point of origin common to every magic circuit; the eight conversion forms are understood as specialized derivations branching outward from this unconverted state. For this reason, Arcane Magic functions both as the most elementary threshold through which a practitioner first develops a working sense of circuitry, and as a complete, independently viable technique in its own right — a form of physical impact that carries none of the secondary effects (burns, frostbite, and the like) associated with the elemental conversions.		Arcane Magic is regarded as the practical point of origin common to every magic circuit; the eight conversion forms are understood as specialized derivations branching outward from this unconverted state. For this reason, Arcane Magic functions both as the most elementary threshold through which a practitioner first develops a working sense of circuitry, and as a complete, independently viable technique in its own right — a form of physical impact that carries none of the secondary effects (burns, frostbite, and the like) associated with the elemental conversions.

	== 4. Origins of Magical ~~Tradition~~ ==		== 4. Origins of the Magical Path ==
	Every magical ~~tradition~~ practiced in the world today descends from a single point of origin.		Every magical Path practiced in the world today descends from a single point of origin.

	Long before the founding of the Yalta Empire, an ancient body of scholars devoted itself to the study of the fundamental laws governing mana. The principles this body established became the absolute foundation shared without exception by every ~~tradition~~ that would later branch from it — among them, the dual states of mana, the eightfold system of energy conversion, complete determinism, and the two-stage structure of mana runaway and Mana Critical Incidents.		Long before the founding of the Yalta Empire, an ancient body of scholars devoted itself to the study of the fundamental laws governing mana. The principles this body established became the absolute foundation shared without exception by every Path that would later branch from it — among them, the dual states of mana, the eightfold system of energy conversion, complete determinism, and the two-stage structure of mana runaway and Mana Critical Incidents.

	Three ~~traditions~~ descending from this common origin persist to the present day.		Three Paths descending from this common origin persist to the present day.

	'''Circuit-based magic''' (the Western orthodox ~~tradition~~) is regarded as the direct successor of the original body. The '''Arcane Academy''' serves as its central institution, tentatively dated to its founding in the 300s IY (the exact year remains unconfirmed). Roughly seventy percent of the world's mana-sensitive population practices within this ~~tradition~~, making it the dominant form of magic in practice.		'''Circuit-based magic''' (the Western orthodox Path) is regarded as the direct successor of the original body. The '''Arcane Academy''' serves as its central institution, tentatively dated to its founding in the 300s IY (the exact year remains unconfirmed). Roughly seventy percent of the world's mana-sensitive population practices within this Path, making it the dominant form of magic in practice.

	'''Eastern Sorcery''' developed independently within the cultural sphere of the Aisa continent, having branched from the common origin at an early stage.		'''Eastern Sorcery''' developed independently within the cultural sphere of the Aisa continent, having branched from the common origin at an early stage.
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	'''Witchcraft''' likewise branched from the common origin, developing through informal, tradition-based transmission rather than institutional study.		'''Witchcraft''' likewise branched from the common origin, developing through informal, tradition-based transmission rather than institutional study.

	All three ~~traditions~~ share the same fundamental laws described above without exception, yet the manner, efficiency, and style with which each ~~tradition~~ applies those laws differ fundamentally. No ~~tradition~~ holds inherent superiority or greater legitimacy over another — the dominance of circuit-based magic reflects only its far greater scale of practice.		All three Paths share the same fundamental laws described above without exception, yet the manner, efficiency, and style with which each Path applies those laws differ fundamentally. No Path holds inherent superiority or greater legitimacy over another — the dominance of circuit-based magic reflects only its far greater scale of practice.

	== 5. Spell and Craft ==		== 5. Spell and Craft ==

Juoh-6738: /* 10. Magic Theory */

2026-08-01T20:41:09Z

10. Magic Theory

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	Separate from these failure modes is an advanced technique in which a skilled practitioner reads and interferes with another caster's active circuit — its mental visualization — in real time. This is classified not as a failure mode but as a distinct advanced discipline.		Separate from these failure modes is an advanced technique in which a skilled practitioner reads and interferes with another caster's active circuit — its mental visualization — in real time. This is classified not as a failure mode but as a distinct advanced discipline.

	== 10. ~~Magic Theory~~ ==		== 10. Magicology ==
	The academic study of mana and magic is organized around two parallel disciplines, Manology and ~~Magic Theory~~, each divided into theoretical, applied, and engineering branches. Within the engineering branch ~~of Magic Theory~~, a further distinction exists between the study of apparatus and devices, and the study of imbuing objects with magical properties.		The academic study of mana and magic is organized around two parallel disciplines, Manology and Magicology, each divided into theoretical, applied, and engineering branches. Within Theoretical Magicology, Magic Architecture examines the layered structure — from the Model of Computation down through individual Applications — that underlies every act of spellcasting. Within the engineering branch, a further distinction exists between the study of apparatus and devices, and the study of imbuing objects with magical properties.

	[[Category:Lore]]		[[Category:Lore]]

Juoh-6738 at 19:46, 1 August 2026

2026-08-01T19:46:23Z

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	\| difficulty =		\| difficulty =
	\| prerequisites = Mana Circuit		\| prerequisites = Mana Circuit
	\| related = Mana, Manology, Magic Circuit, Arcane Academy, Central Mana Authority		\| related = Mana, Manology, Magic Circuit, Mage, Arcane Academy, Central Mana Authority
	}}		}}

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	This distinction exists independently within each of the three traditions. Witchcraft may include effects formally certified as Spells, just as circuit-based magic may include Crafts practiced outside institutional recognition. Tradition (the manner in which magic is practiced) and certification status (whether it has been formally verified) constitute two wholly independent axes of classification.		This distinction exists independently within each of the three traditions. Witchcraft may include effects formally certified as Spells, just as circuit-based magic may include Crafts practiced outside institutional recognition. Tradition (the manner in which magic is practiced) and certification status (whether it has been formally verified) constitute two wholly independent axes of classification.

	== 6. ~~Types of Practitioners~~ ==		== 6. Governing Institutions ==
	~~Practitioners~~ of magic ~~are classified according~~ to the ~~character~~ of ~~their practice~~.		Overall jurisdiction over matters of mana and magic rests with the '''Central Mana Authority''', a supreme integrated body established in the aftermath of the Mana Cataclysm, born of the recognition that mana and magic could no longer be entrusted to a single academic institution alone. Its subordinate bodies include the '''Arcane Academy''' (research and education), the '''Mana Safety Bureau''' (safety oversight), the '''Arcane Registry Office''' (formal certification), and the '''Office of Mana Law and Ethics''' (legal and ethical oversight). The detailed role and structure of each body is addressed in its own dedicated entry.

	~~A '''Wizard''' is a practitioner affiliated with the Arcane Academy, engaged primarily in research, education, and theoretical study rather than practical application.~~		== 7. Tiers of Difficulty ==

	A '''Mage''' is the broadest general term for any practitioner capable of casting magic through direct manipulation of their own mana. Those who rely on external mediating devices, such as Magic Stones, are not classified as Mages.

	A '''Witch''' is a practitioner who researches and practices magic independently within the Witchcraft tradition. Though long regarded as a marginal or unorthodox pursuit, certain techniques developed within Witchcraft have been recognized for their practical value and adopted into collaborative research.

	A '''Warlock''' is a practitioner specializing in combat magic. The term originally referred broadly to any practitioner of offensive magic, but came over time to denote specifically those holding rank within a military structure.

	== 7~~. Governing Institutions ==~~
	Overall jurisdiction over matters of mana and magic rests with the '''Central Mana Authority''', a supreme integrated body established in the aftermath of the Mana Cataclysm, born of the recognition that mana and magic could no longer be entrusted to a single academic institution alone. The Authority oversees several subordinate bodies.

	The '''Arcane Academy''' is the principal research and education institution representing the circuit-based tradition. Considerably older than the Central Mana Authority itself, it stands as the direct successor of the ancient body from which magical tradition first descended. The Academy was absorbed into the Authority's structure at the time of the latter's founding, at which point its jurisdiction was narrowed to research and education. Its headquarters are located on the continent of Aim, adjacent to the Erakh Archive.

	~~A body devoted to safety oversight — the '''Mana Safety Bureau (MSB)''' — manages hazardous mana stones under joint authority and works to prevent Cataclysm-scale incidents.~~

	~~A body devoted to certification and registry — the '''Arcane Registry Office (ARO)''' — evaluates and catalogues magical effects for formal recognition as Spells.~~

	Internally, the Arcane Academy is organized around the following structures: a '''Grand Chancellor''' serving as chief executive, elected to office and subject to term limits with the possibility of renewal; a '''High Council''' serving as its principal deliberative body; an '''administrative division''' overseeing personnel, finance, facilities, and records; an '''academic division''' devoted to research and instruction, organized into subfields spanning arcane studies, arcane engineering, mana science, and mana engineering; a '''defense division''' responsible for mobilizing Warlocks and providing neutral dispatch in cases of interstate conflict; and an '''ethics and safety council''' charged with reviewing matters of mana misuse, hazardous research, and prohibited magic.

	~~Wizards hold graduated rank within the Academy according to scholarly achievement, with those reaching its highest tier eligible for candidacy to the office of Grand Chancellor.~~

	~~== 8~~. Tiers of Difficulty ==
	The difficulty of a given piece of magic is determined by the depth of branching within the circuit that constitutes it — the number of nested decision points the structure contains. Each additional layer of branching doubles the number of possible configurations the circuit may resolve into.		The difficulty of a given piece of magic is determined by the depth of branching within the circuit that constitutes it — the number of nested decision points the structure contains. Each additional layer of branching doubles the number of possible configurations the circuit may resolve into.

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	A theoretical maximum tier of difficulty is understood to exist, but it is believed to exceed the practical limits of casting altogether — no case of a practitioner reaching it has ever been documented.		A theoretical maximum tier of difficulty is understood to exist, but it is believed to exceed the practical limits of casting altogether — no case of a practitioner reaching it has ever been documented.

	== 9. Power and Difficulty ==		== 8. Power and Difficulty ==
	Difficulty tier is not an absolute measure of magical strength. Given an equal quantity of mana, whether that mana is concentrated into raw power or distributed across range and duration is determined by the circuit's design — that is, by its tier. Circuits of lower tier tend toward power-concentrated designs, while those of higher tier tend toward versatile, multi-purpose designs; neither orientation holds inherent superiority over the other.		Difficulty tier is not an absolute measure of magical strength. Given an equal quantity of mana, whether that mana is concentrated into raw power or distributed across range and duration is determined by the circuit's design — that is, by its tier. Circuits of lower tier tend toward power-concentrated designs, while those of higher tier tend toward versatile, multi-purpose designs; neither orientation holds inherent superiority over the other.

	Where a practitioner's total mana capacity is overwhelmingly large, however, even a simple, low-tier circuit may rival or exceed the output of a more sophisticated high-tier circuit. This is because talent (the capacity to handle higher tiers of difficulty) and total mana capacity (the sheer volume of mana one can hold) constitute two entirely independent axes of ability.		Where a practitioner's total mana capacity is overwhelmingly large, however, even a simple, low-tier circuit may rival or exceed the output of a more sophisticated high-tier circuit. This is because talent (the capacity to handle higher tiers of difficulty) and total mana capacity (the sheer volume of mana one can hold) constitute two entirely independent axes of ability.

	== 10. Modes of Failure ==		== 9. Modes of Failure ==
	When magic fails to activate fully, or produces an outcome other than intended, the resulting phenomenon falls into one of the following categories.		When magic fails to activate fully, or produces an outcome other than intended, the resulting phenomenon falls into one of the following categories.

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	Separate from these failure modes is an advanced technique in which a skilled practitioner reads and interferes with another caster's active circuit — its mental visualization — in real time. This is classified not as a failure mode but as a distinct advanced discipline.		Separate from these failure modes is an advanced technique in which a skilled practitioner reads and interferes with another caster's active circuit — its mental visualization — in real time. This is classified not as a failure mode but as a distinct advanced discipline.

	== 11. Magic Theory ==		== 10. Magic Theory ==
	The academic study of mana and magic is organized around two parallel disciplines, Manology and Magic Theory, each divided into theoretical, applied, and engineering branches. Within the engineering branch of Magic Theory, a further distinction exists between the study of apparatus and devices, and the study of imbuing objects with magical properties.		The academic study of mana and magic is organized around two parallel disciplines, Manology and Magic Theory, each divided into theoretical, applied, and engineering branches. Within the engineering branch of Magic Theory, a further distinction exists between the study of apparatus and devices, and the study of imbuing objects with magical properties.

	[[Category:Lore]]		[[Category:Lore]]

Juoh-6738: /* 7. Governing Institutions */

2026-07-28T03:26:04Z

7. Governing Institutions

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:26, 28 July 2026
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	The '''Arcane Academy''' is the principal research and education institution representing the circuit-based tradition. Considerably older than the Central Mana Authority itself, it stands as the direct successor of the ancient body from which magical tradition first descended. The Academy was absorbed into the Authority's structure at the time of the latter's founding, at which point its jurisdiction was narrowed to research and education. Its headquarters are located on the continent of Aim, adjacent to the Erakh Archive.		The '''Arcane Academy''' is the principal research and education institution representing the circuit-based tradition. Considerably older than the Central Mana Authority itself, it stands as the direct successor of the ancient body from which magical tradition first descended. The Academy was absorbed into the Authority's structure at the time of the latter's founding, at which point its jurisdiction was narrowed to research and education. Its headquarters are located on the continent of Aim, adjacent to the Erakh Archive.

	A body devoted to '''~~safety oversight~~''' manages hazardous mana stones under joint authority and works to prevent Cataclysm-scale incidents.		A body devoted to safety oversight — the '''Mana Safety Bureau (MSB)''' — manages hazardous mana stones under joint authority and works to prevent Cataclysm-scale incidents.

	A body devoted to '''~~certification and registry~~''' evaluates and catalogues magical effects for formal recognition as Spells.		A body devoted to certification and registry — the '''Arcane Registry Office (ARO)''' — evaluates and catalogues magical effects for formal recognition as Spells.

	Internally, the Arcane Academy is organized around the following structures: a '''Grand Chancellor''' serving as chief executive, elected to office and subject to term limits with the possibility of renewal; a '''High Council''' serving as its principal deliberative body; an '''administrative division''' overseeing personnel, finance, facilities, and records; an '''academic division''' devoted to research and instruction, organized into subfields spanning arcane studies, arcane engineering, mana science, and mana engineering; a '''defense division''' responsible for mobilizing Warlocks and providing neutral dispatch in cases of interstate conflict; and an '''ethics and safety council''' charged with reviewing matters of mana misuse, hazardous research, and prohibited magic.		Internally, the Arcane Academy is organized around the following structures: a '''Grand Chancellor''' serving as chief executive, elected to office and subject to term limits with the possibility of renewal; a '''High Council''' serving as its principal deliberative body; an '''administrative division''' overseeing personnel, finance, facilities, and records; an '''academic division''' devoted to research and instruction, organized into subfields spanning arcane studies, arcane engineering, mana science, and mana engineering; a '''defense division''' responsible for mobilizing Warlocks and providing neutral dispatch in cases of interstate conflict; and an '''ethics and safety council''' charged with reviewing matters of mana misuse, hazardous research, and prohibited magic.

Juoh-6738: Created page with "{{Infobox/Lore | name = Magic | image = | type = Applied Practice | origin = | practitioners = Mana-sensitive individuals | difficulty = | prerequisites = Mana Circuit | related = Mana, Manology, Magic Circuit, Arcane Academy, Central Mana Authority }} == 1. Overview == Magic is the practice of manipulating and transforming existing matter and energy through mana. It is not an act of creation from nothing, but a process of co..."

2026-07-28T00:29:39Z

Created page with "{{Infobox/Lore | name = Magic | image = | type = Applied Practice | origin = | practitioners = Mana-sensitive individuals | difficulty = | prerequisites = Mana Circuit | related = Mana, Manology, Magic Circuit, Arcane Academy, Central Mana Authority }} == 1. Overview == Magic is the practice of manipulating and transforming existing matter and energy through mana. It is not an act of creation from nothing, but a process of co..."

New page

{{Infobox/Lore
| name = Magic
| image =
| type = Applied Practice
| origin =
| practitioners = Mana-sensitive individuals
| difficulty =
| prerequisites = Mana Circuit
| related = Mana, Manology, Magic Circuit, Arcane Academy, Central Mana Authority
}}

== 1. Overview ==
Magic is the practice of manipulating and transforming existing matter and energy through mana. It is not an act of creation from nothing, but a process of converting what already exists into a different state. This transformative character is the defining nature of magic.

Anyone who practices magic must possess a magic circuit within their body. Possession of a circuit is randomly distributed at the level of the individual, without correlation to species. Only those who possess one are capable of handling mana.

== 2. The Magic Circuit ==
A magic circuit is not a physical diagram but a structure of pure imagination, fully rendered within the practitioner's mind. A practitioner must achieve complete understanding of the structure of the effect they intend to produce before the circuit can be completed; an incomplete circuit does not activate.

This understanding is binary in nature. A caster who understands only part of a given structure does not produce a weakened version of the intended effect — incomplete understanding simply yields a different, flawed circuit. The notion of a "partially successful" casting does not exist.

Identical circuits supplied with identical mana invariably produce identical outcomes. Magic is governed by complete determinism.

== 3. Arcane Magic ==
Arcane Magic refers to the most fundamental form of magic: the projection of raw, unconverted mana, belonging to none of the eight established forms of energy conversion.

Each of the eight conversion forms is the product of a carefully designed circuit that shapes mana into a specific output — heat, kinetic force, and so on. Arcane Magic, by contrast, undergoes no such shaping; it is mana itself, pushed or projected in its unaltered state. It carries no particular thermal, cryogenic, or precise character, yet because mana itself possesses mass and density as a substance, contact with a target produces a physical impact. This impact does not arise from kinetic conversion — it is simply the consequence of a massed substance striking something.

Arcane Magic is regarded as the practical point of origin common to every magic circuit; the eight conversion forms are understood as specialized derivations branching outward from this unconverted state. For this reason, Arcane Magic functions both as the most elementary threshold through which a practitioner first develops a working sense of circuitry, and as a complete, independently viable technique in its own right — a form of physical impact that carries none of the secondary effects (burns, frostbite, and the like) associated with the elemental conversions.

== 4. Origins of Magical Tradition ==
Every magical tradition practiced in the world today descends from a single point of origin.

Long before the founding of the Yalta Empire, an ancient body of scholars devoted itself to the study of the fundamental laws governing mana. The principles this body established became the absolute foundation shared without exception by every tradition that would later branch from it — among them, the dual states of mana, the eightfold system of energy conversion, complete determinism, and the two-stage structure of mana runaway and Mana Critical Incidents.

Three traditions descending from this common origin persist to the present day.

'''Circuit-based magic''' (the Western orthodox tradition) is regarded as the direct successor of the original body. The '''Arcane Academy''' serves as its central institution, tentatively dated to its founding in the 300s IY (the exact year remains unconfirmed). Roughly seventy percent of the world's mana-sensitive population practices within this tradition, making it the dominant form of magic in practice.

'''Eastern Sorcery''' developed independently within the cultural sphere of the Aisa continent, having branched from the common origin at an early stage.

'''Witchcraft''' likewise branched from the common origin, developing through informal, tradition-based transmission rather than institutional study.

All three traditions share the same fundamental laws described above without exception, yet the manner, efficiency, and style with which each tradition applies those laws differ fundamentally. No tradition holds inherent superiority or greater legitimacy over another — the dominance of circuit-based magic reflects only its far greater scale of practice.

== 5. Spell and Craft ==
Independent of tradition, magic is further classified along an axis defined by formal recognition.

A '''Spell''' is a standardized magical effect that has been formally verified and certified by a recognized institution, guaranteeing reproducible results regardless of who performs it.

A '''Craft''' is a magical effect that has not undergone such formal verification — typically transmitted through personal experience or informal lineage within a given tradition.

This distinction exists independently within each of the three traditions. Witchcraft may include effects formally certified as Spells, just as circuit-based magic may include Crafts practiced outside institutional recognition. Tradition (the manner in which magic is practiced) and certification status (whether it has been formally verified) constitute two wholly independent axes of classification.

== 6. Types of Practitioners ==
Practitioners of magic are classified according to the character of their practice.

A '''Wizard''' is a practitioner affiliated with the Arcane Academy, engaged primarily in research, education, and theoretical study rather than practical application.

A '''Mage''' is the broadest general term for any practitioner capable of casting magic through direct manipulation of their own mana. Those who rely on external mediating devices, such as Magic Stones, are not classified as Mages.

A '''Witch''' is a practitioner who researches and practices magic independently within the Witchcraft tradition. Though long regarded as a marginal or unorthodox pursuit, certain techniques developed within Witchcraft have been recognized for their practical value and adopted into collaborative research.

A '''Warlock''' is a practitioner specializing in combat magic. The term originally referred broadly to any practitioner of offensive magic, but came over time to denote specifically those holding rank within a military structure.

== 7. Governing Institutions ==
Overall jurisdiction over matters of mana and magic rests with the '''Central Mana Authority''', a supreme integrated body established in the aftermath of the Mana Cataclysm, born of the recognition that mana and magic could no longer be entrusted to a single academic institution alone. The Authority oversees several subordinate bodies.

The '''Arcane Academy''' is the principal research and education institution representing the circuit-based tradition. Considerably older than the Central Mana Authority itself, it stands as the direct successor of the ancient body from which magical tradition first descended. The Academy was absorbed into the Authority's structure at the time of the latter's founding, at which point its jurisdiction was narrowed to research and education. Its headquarters are located on the continent of Aim, adjacent to the Erakh Archive.

A body devoted to '''safety oversight''' manages hazardous mana stones under joint authority and works to prevent Cataclysm-scale incidents.

A body devoted to '''certification and registry''' evaluates and catalogues magical effects for formal recognition as Spells.

Internally, the Arcane Academy is organized around the following structures: a '''Grand Chancellor''' serving as chief executive, elected to office and subject to term limits with the possibility of renewal; a '''High Council''' serving as its principal deliberative body; an '''administrative division''' overseeing personnel, finance, facilities, and records; an '''academic division''' devoted to research and instruction, organized into subfields spanning arcane studies, arcane engineering, mana science, and mana engineering; a '''defense division''' responsible for mobilizing Warlocks and providing neutral dispatch in cases of interstate conflict; and an '''ethics and safety council''' charged with reviewing matters of mana misuse, hazardous research, and prohibited magic.

Wizards hold graduated rank within the Academy according to scholarly achievement, with those reaching its highest tier eligible for candidacy to the office of Grand Chancellor.

== 8. Tiers of Difficulty ==
The difficulty of a given piece of magic is determined by the depth of branching within the circuit that constitutes it — the number of nested decision points the structure contains. Each additional layer of branching doubles the number of possible configurations the circuit may resolve into.

This measure of difficulty belongs to no single tradition but to the fundamental laws shared by all three. The degree of branching complexity is measured identically regardless of tradition; what differs from tradition to tradition is how efficiently and stably that complexity is processed in practice.

A theoretical maximum tier of difficulty is understood to exist, but it is believed to exceed the practical limits of casting altogether — no case of a practitioner reaching it has ever been documented.

== 9. Power and Difficulty ==
Difficulty tier is not an absolute measure of magical strength. Given an equal quantity of mana, whether that mana is concentrated into raw power or distributed across range and duration is determined by the circuit's design — that is, by its tier. Circuits of lower tier tend toward power-concentrated designs, while those of higher tier tend toward versatile, multi-purpose designs; neither orientation holds inherent superiority over the other.

Where a practitioner's total mana capacity is overwhelmingly large, however, even a simple, low-tier circuit may rival or exceed the output of a more sophisticated high-tier circuit. This is because talent (the capacity to handle higher tiers of difficulty) and total mana capacity (the sheer volume of mana one can hold) constitute two entirely independent axes of ability.

== 10. Modes of Failure ==
When magic fails to activate fully, or produces an outcome other than intended, the resulting phenomenon falls into one of the following categories.

{| class="wikitable"
! Type !! Description
|-
| Unformed || The circuit silently fails to complete due to incomplete understanding. Harmless.
|-
| Collapse || Partial failure of the circuit produces a small-scale unintended effect.
|-
| Runaway || The circuit stalls and the mana committed to it escapes containment. Hazardous.
|-
| Mismatch || The effect produced differs in character from the one intended. Harmless.
|-
| Target Loss || Occurs in target-designating magic when the designated target ceases to exist mid-casting. Does not apply to magic designed without an assumption of a persistent target.
|-
| Deadlock || Multiple branches of the circuit become entangled, causing mana to circulate indefinitely. Requires forced termination.
|-
| Exhaustion || Sustained casting accumulates physical strain until the practitioner is forced to sever the connection.
|-
| Interference || Branches presumed independent are found to draw from a shared mana source, producing unexpected instability.
|-
| Overflow || A failure arising not from insufficient understanding but from exceeding the practitioner's total mana capacity.
|}

Separate from these failure modes is an advanced technique in which a skilled practitioner reads and interferes with another caster's active circuit — its mental visualization — in real time. This is classified not as a failure mode but as a distinct advanced discipline.

== 11. Magic Theory ==
The academic study of mana and magic is organized around two parallel disciplines, Manology and Magic Theory, each divided into theoretical, applied, and engineering branches. Within the engineering branch of Magic Theory, a further distinction exists between the study of apparatus and devices, and the study of imbuing objects with magical properties.

[[Category:Lore]]