The Finer Points of Magic
By Arcane Enchantments
Magic is the great thread that binds together the patchwork of the universe
-Starswirl the Bearded-
Introduction
Hello reader. I am glad that you have decided to pick up this book. This simple action does many things. This action tells me that you acknowledge your fundamental lack of knowledge, and wish to remedy this “ailment”. Now please do not be offended by that statement. For I hold no ill will toward you. In fact I hold you in the highest respect. You have chosen the harder of the choices by saying to yourself “I could stand to learn more.” This attitude is sadly lacking in todays world. To many ponies either know they lack knowledge, and don’t care, or they believe they know everything, and refuse to challenge said belief. Not you Reader. Not you.
You have chosen to embark on an arduous journey across the sea of knowledge to the uncharted continent of enlightenment. You struggle to cross from the realm if ignorance to one of understanding. I wish you luck Reader on this most admirable of journeys, and I would wish to congratulate you upon its completion. I eagerly await you on the other side.
Chapter 1
What is Magic?
Usually whenever a pony thinks of magic they think of a unicorn performing their various spells, or they think of a prominent illusionist like Smoke and Mirrors with his fancy sleight of hoof. Since I am no illusionist we will be discussing the former.
Most ponies are vaguely familiar with the concept of magic, or at least familiar with the various spells a unicorn has at their disposal, but very few understand magic. This lack of knowledge drove me to scour the globe in a wonderful journey in search of this glorious treasure. I trekked through the deepest parts of the Everfree, I scaled the perilous peaks of the Kingdom of the Griffons, and I scoured the timeless sands of the vast Zebraha Desert. In each of these wondrous locations I sought out elders and artifacts, temples and secluded villages, and sacred grounds and magical hotspots. Through the course of my journey I discovered that magic was a fundamental force of the universe in which we exist. I also differentiated three different types of magic. Yes, now magic is no longer this nebulous term to describe “that thing that unicorns do”. Now it’s quantifiable. Now it’s specific. Now it’s fantastic.
As I stated earlier there are three types of magic that I have separated the term “magic” into. The first one, and the one that is the subject of the next chapter, is Victus magic, or the living magic. Victus magic, as the name implies, has to do with living creatures. Everything from an alicorn’s spells, to the tribal chants of a Zebrahan Witch Doctor is caused by Victus.
The type of magic is Lucem Magic, or Light Magic. Lucem Magic is the magic of every other type of matter, not light. I know it’s kind of a misnomer, but I discovered it so I get to name it. Anyway Lucem deals with non-living matter. This magic is just present in the matter as magical energy (Lm). The same goes for Victus though it is labeled (Vm).
The third and final type of magic is Tenebrarum Magic, or Darkness Magic. Tenebrarum Magic; “The Magic of the Void”, “The Empty Magic”, and “The Magic of the Darkness” all of these are fitting titles once you understand the concept of Tenebrarum. For you see Tenebrarum Magic is the magic in the empty spaces between the atoms and electrons. This is my favorite of the three so forgive my vague and brief description here for I shall go into further detail in a later chapter.
Another feature of magic is its ability to change states, much like matter, between the three magi. The driving force behind this is energy, again much like matter. Victus and Lucem are the higher energy magi, and these two forms are what are used in spells and incantations. More about the change of states though. If Victus is left alone to decay it will decay at a constant rate of half the energy every 2.5 years. This magic goes to Lucem, and then from Lucem to Tenebrarum. The decay of Lucem to Tenebrarum is slower with half gone every 5 years. A pony could theoretically reverse this decay by injecting energy into the equation because after all it is just a loss of energy, however such a task is difficult, and borderline impossible. There will be more on that process in a later chapter. Whenever magic decays, or is utilized in a spell, it releases energy as heat. That heat goes off to be used more and lose its maximum capacity for work culminating in maximum entropy and the inevitable Heat Death of the universe.
You might be thinking that I am a member of a proud Unicorn lineage, but as strange as it may sound I am a normal Earth Pony born to average Earth Pony parents. Now you may be asking yourself, "How does an Earth Pony know so much about magic, and why does he care he can't even use it." I care because of one simple fact. I want to know. I need to have more knowledge. Also I was simply jealous of those Unicorns. I wanted to find a way to use it, and I did. I found a way for a non-Unicorn to use magic. No longer was magic restricted solely to the houses of the Unicorns. Just like how we conquered the skies, the domain of the pegasi. However I must say that gaining the ability to use magic was not an easy task, and it came with a hefty price. A price that I'm sure most couldn't or wouldn't pay. Now dear reader if you feel brave enough to claim the power of magic I cannot stop you, but I can give you this warning. The path to enlightenment is often paved with blood.
