Vis, or more simply magic, is a substance that makes up the entirety of known reality. It can make or do almost everything if you are skilled enough in it. Everything that lives can manifest it but very few have the training to do so in a meaningful manner. Vis has many different forms; its original form is that of primordial magic. Although primordial magic itself is very unstable, so as fast as it appears it breaks down into lesser forms. These two forms are pure magic and chaos magic. Pure magic is what makes up the known reality, no one knows where the chaos magic has disappeared to. Chaos magic in essence is what goes against the natural flow of nature or disrupts the balance. Such as if someone were to raise a soul from the dead, they would invoke chaos magic. Chaos magic as the opposite of pure magic will deteriorate any being of pure magic that uses it. So, the use of chaos magic is highly discouraged. Pure magic shows itself in many different forms: the main two are light and dark, although it makes up every known element that exists in the universe. As long as it does not go against the flow of nature it can and will do anything the user wills under two conditions: they have the control to make it do what they will, and they have the required amount of vis within their soul to accomplish it. If they do not have the control the vis itself may end up attacking the user and result in death. If they do not have enough vis it will draw upon their lifeforce and if enough is drained they will also die.
Most people in the Magical Dimension believe there are only Five core elements to magic and life. They would be wrong.
In reality, there are Seven core elements, each made to bring balance into the Magical Dimension. All magic comes from these elements.
First, there is Life. Life is the Great Dragon, the warm being who brought life into the Magical Dimension.
To keep with Balance, Death was also born. Death was the Great Dark Dragon, a twin brother to Life. Their flames are interwoven together, because one cannot live without the other.
Death created the Dark Realms in the Magical Dimension, and a place for the dead to feel wanted. (Most of the dead. There are some who… Exist in the in-between because neither death nor life want them.)
The Phoenix Fire and its darker counterpart, the Shadow Fire, were created to bring warmth and flames to the realms. The flames bound themselves to a select group, fire becoming a controllable element to a few.
The Water Stars brought forth the oceans and the glaciers, knowing the need the creatures of the Magical Dimension would need something to keep them cooled. The Ocean became an entity all on its own at times. And a few were bound to the waves, becoming one with water.
The Zephyr Wings arrived with winds and breathable air, giving weather and lovely skies to the Magical Dimension. Some wished so badly to touch the sky, to become one with the wind. They got their wish.
Mother Nature was born of her own will after the Great Dragon Duo brought life and death into practice. Trees sprung forth, mountains were created. Two diverse paths were created with her, the gemstones and mountains, and flowers and trees and plant life.
The Manticore Calls birthed the beasts that crawled, swam, and flew throughout the land. Animals, magical creatures of all sorts, insects. All created for their purpose.
Each of these are the Primordial Elements. All magic can be traced back to these seven elements.
For some magic, a combination of two or more primordial elements can be found.
Examples:
Lightning Magic is based on Air and Fire.
Light based magic (from the sun and moon) are based on Earth, Air, and Fire. (Earth mostly due to how most gems are reflective, air for the celestial beings in the sky, and fire for the warmth.)
Necromancy is Death and Spirit.
Being able to communicate with the dead is also Spirit, Life, and Death.
Music is a form of Air magic combined with Spirit magic as music comes from the soul and into the air.
Darkness is a combined form of magic similar to light magic. It just replaces Earth with Spirit.
(Etc. Etc.)
Those with “Energy” based magic tend to fall into all seven categories as they are considered magic chameleons. Wherever they are, they drain a bit of the energy from the people and realm around them and use it to their advantage.
(Famouse “Energy” magic users: Faragonda, Griffin, Salvador, Arcadia, and Palladium.)
So I've been a Fairy Tail fan since the anime first started and a Mashima fan since Rave Master. I realise Fairy Tail has a lot of faults but I appreciate it for what it is and the promises Mashima made when making it. A story about friends bonding and having fun. Where no main characters will die. To me fairy tail was a love letter to fans of Rave Master. Something light to appreciate and enjoy and just have fun with. The fact it ended up as such a big series surprised me, and the amount of hate it gets due to it's reliance on the power of friendship is unwarranted. Fairy Tail was always a light story with some interesting mysteries and characters. Not something that will appeal to everyone but sweet and enjoyable for those who can connect with it.
The theme of friendship is always a driving force for power ups and strength in shounen anime. But to Fairy Tail it was the source of magic, the one magic, the primordial magic. Layla, Lucy and Mavis all defined the Primordial Magic as Love. That's why characters overcome great obstacles for their friends and loved ones. They are tapping into the source of all magic. The power of love. Mashima made friendship power canon. Its cheesy and ridiculous but who cares. Love is a strong theme and motivator in anime, american television, novels and almost everything. It's easy to find reasons to hate things but I like to appreciate things from multiple angles, faults included.
Anyway that's just my opinion. Fairy Tail has its ups and downs like most shows. If you watched or read this series all the way through I hope you got something out of it whether you love it or hate it.
