In the world of The Phyrian War Chronicles, my new young adult fantasy series, magic is fueled by different types of energies that course through the universe. Each type of energy has distinct properties, uses, and origins. In turn, there are different kinds of practitioners who can bend each type of energy to their will, each with their own methods to achieve desired results.
Today, I want to share with you a bit about the magic system I had so much fun creating! If you want to find out more about the characters, click here.
Energies
In the world of The Phyrian War Chronicles, there are different kinds of dimensions, and each dimension is either made up of either natural or demon energy. Here’s a passage from The Relic Spell, the first book in the series. In it, Orion, the protagonist of The Relic Spell, explains the difference between these two types of energy:
Every dimension and every living being in every dimension was part of a cosmic balance of energies. Positive and negative, like the poles of a magnet. Demon energy wasn’t inherently bad just as natural energy wasn’t inherently good; they just had different attributes. Demon energy was active, violent, and wild; it felt to Orion like faint aches in different parts of his body. Natural energy was reactive, stable, and quiet; it buzzed against his senses like a cat purring.
There’s a lot more to these two energies, though—and a lot that Orion doesn’t know.
Natural Energy
Natural energy flows through our dimension and others like it. It resonates with every living natural creature, every non-living object, and every force that originates in our dimension. It’s especially attuned to the foundational elements of our world: minerals such as silicates, which form the majority of the earth’s crust, and various metals including silver, resonate powerfully with natural energy.
Natural energy manifests itself to those with the second sight in the form of threads of golden light. Nowhere in our dimension is devoid of these threads of energy, but some places are more energetically resonant than others—places like Port Monica, New York, Orion’s hometown.
Demon Energy
Demon energy flows through demon dimensions. While natural energy can be found anywhere in this world, demon energy only appears around demons or humans with demon ancestry. To those with the second sight, demon energy looks like red clouds or mist.
Demon energy and natural energy are anathema to each other, meaning that objects, living beings, and places that are attuned to one kind of energy will react negatively, often destructively, to the other.
Practitioners
Only certain people or higher demons born with the talent can harness natural or demon energy to craft into spells.
Sorcerers
Sorcerers are human magic practitioners who can use natural energy to fuel their spells. Like natural energy itself, sorcery is logical, predictable, and stable.
Sorcerous spells are made up of two circles—one for creation and one for manifestation. Inside the creation circle, the sorcerer draws symbols that determine the outcome of the spell. Different shapes have different magical connotations: for example, triangular shapes and sharp angles direct force, square shapes provide stability, and spirals direct intention or energy.
The area inside the manifestation circle is usually where the effects of the spell occur, although sorcerers sometimes place objects that represent something else, such as the map of a city, inside their manifestation circle.
Sorcery is limited by location. Since the sorcerer needs to draw or use a physical circle for their magic to affect a target, and the sorcerer needs to know which symbols to use to achieve a certain effect, sorcery requires a lot of preparation. It’s especially suited to protecting, tracking, physically snaring or trapping, and a few other fun things like creating explosions.
Notable sorcerers in The Relic Spell include Orion Tamura; his mother, Delfina; his sister, Cass; and the mysterious stranger, Julian.
Seers and Herbalists
Seers and herbalists are humans usually without the more potent power of sorcerers but who are attuned to natural energy in subtler ways.
Seers have a measure of the second sight, but their perception is usually focused on people’s energetic auras. They can often sense people’s emotions, pain, or diseases.
Herbalists are often, but not always, seers as well. Through a combination of knowing the properties of herbs and a low-level, unconscious magical talent, they are able to whip up often miraculous remedies. Sometimes practitioners with these skills are able to use the natural properties of minerals and crystals to achieve similar healing effects as herbalists.
Seers and herbalists tend to be empathetic, peaceful people. However, on rare occasions, they can use their talents to harm others instead of helping them.
A notable seer and herbalist in The Relic Spell is Natalia, Delfina’s old friend.
Evocators
Evocators are the children of humans and higher demons. They use the demon energy found in their blood or in demons they summon to fuel their spells. Like demon energy itself, evocation is unstable, unpredictable, and emotional. Evocation depends on the evocator’s strength of will and desire, so it’s much more volatile than sorcery.
Evocators usually use evocation marks to determine the outcome of their magical workings, although they can also use evocation without symbols. Because of its liminal, in-between nature, evocation can really only do a handful of things: summon a demon from a demon dimension; ensnare or bind a demon, whether physically or mentally; and redirect energy into an attack.
A notable sorcerer in The Relic Spell is Briar, Orion’s best friend Max’s girlfriend, whose grandfather on her mother’s side was a higher demon.
Warlocks
Warlocks are higher demons—demons with a similar level of intelligence as humans—who can use demon energy to fuel their magical workings. They are much rarer than sorcerers or evocators, and no one knows the full extent of their powers. The stories say they can change their shape, bend humans and other demons to their will, and curse their enemies to suffer unspeakable pain.
