How “Magic” Works
Hey all! Some more world-building for you. “Magic” in the world of Decadia isn’t exactly “magic.”
Think of it more like alchemy. The “mage” (”mediators,” in this context) dips into a realm known as the “Miad” to perform feats that would look like magic to a non-mediator. A mediator reaches into the Miad, and essentially takes what they need to create the effect they’re looking for.
A “water spell” is like live chemistry; hydrogen and oxygen being forced together by the power pulled forward into the mortal realm. A “fire spell” is the mediator pulling the fuel and heat needed to create the fireball of their desires. Need a shield? Air is forced tightly around the user, or perhaps pure energy is used.
There are countless ways the Miad can be used to a mediator’s advantage, though it comes with a cost. The Miad is the realm of the gods, a vast primordial soup, and thus is a lifeform in and of itself. It feeds off the souls and energy of anyone brave enough to dip too deep into its maw. It’s definitely enticing, as the thought of being able to do whatever they want with god-like capabilities draws mediators to explore the limits of their mortal shells. “Media sickness” can occur when a mediator gets too greedy or delves too deeply into the Miad, as what most mediators do is very surface level. If a mediator is stricken with media sickness, they will be consumed by the Miad and turned into... something else. The energy that replaces the soul that was consumed is itself fed off of by beings of the Miad.
Mediators are few and far between these days, and usually never discover their power. There is currently only one skilled mediator left in Decadia.
Thanks for reading, and I look forward to sharing more in the near future! -Pox