Magic
Magic in Elaragnia can be considered another form of energy. Everyone can interact with it. However, the level at which they can interact with it varies from family to family. Some families can interact with it at a greater level, meaning they can cast the greater spells, such as cross-world teleportation, with only a drop in their own energy levels, which can usually be replenished with food and rest. These families are very few and mostly keep to themselves.
The level of interaction also varies due to the environment. Those that grew up next to the Irepis Rift will have a higher level of magical ability than those that did not, due to the unauthorized experiments performed there in the year A5. However, those that grew up near the Uncanny Frontier will have very little or no level of magical ability due to the cataclysm of A3. Incidentally, this cataclysm is the very reason why we have the Alezrani.
Those that seek to extend their level of interactions with the universe must pay a price. The most well-known example of this is the Alezrani. The Alezrani is the caretaker of Elaragnia. In fact, Alezrani means caretaker in Quarano, which is rumored to be the very first language spoken in Elaragnia.
To become the caretaker of Elaragnia, the Alezrani must give up part of their soul, so they can interact with the universe at its deepest levels. Now, while most spells will not ask you to give up part of your soul or even your life, they will ask you to give up something important to you. For example, necromancer Taleki Mallus gave up his sight in order to raise an army of dead tigers to defend the city of Prul against invaders.
However, some spells do take your life or ask for a price which you cannot pay by yourself. These tend to be alpha class rituals such as Erecucto, which can be used to shield entire continents. In theory, once can use Erecucto to shield entire planets, but amount of energy needed makes it unfeasible.
If you are doing an alpha class ritual alone, the price is most commonly your life. The most well-known example is that of Zarzas, who in A4 gave up their life to move the continent Nugin out of time. At the time of this writing, in year A9, the continent is still gone and we are still unable to ascertain why.
You can get around giving up your life when doing an alpha class ritual by doing it with a minimum of four people, in which case the only thing you pay is your own energy. This was the case with the Vuxigar who used the Scorchortis Tainego to burn every forest on the planet Nawei and ensure that nothing would grow every again.
For spells that are not alpha class rituals, you can get around the energy/price requirements by using Vaeshrite crystals which are filled with enough energy to meet most spell requirements. While Vaeshrite crystals are common, you cannot use them for alpha class rituals or the greater spells as they don't contain enough energy.
