Hello everyone!!
I am so grateful that so many of you have been joining me on this exciting journey with me. Whether I am exploring magical and mythical places, or I’m scaring myself silly with my own writing, it’s appreciated. Thank you.
Now on to the Archives!!
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The Royal Archives
Seventh Edition
The Magic of the Fae
"Magic is not a gift. It is a conversation between the Fae and the world around them."
—Magister Eamon, Royal Academy of Arcane Studies
To understand the Fae, one must first understand magic.
Unfortunately, this is considerably more difficult than most visitors expect.
Magic does not behave like a tool.
It cannot simply be picked up, used, and put away.
Magic is woven into the Underworld itself.
It exists in the roots of the King's Tree, in the waters surrounding Oceana, in the frozen mountains of Oighear, in the ancient forests of Scaoilte Glas, and even beneath the ash-covered soil of Ifreann.
Every realm possesses its own relationship with magic.
And every Fae possesses their own ability to interact with it.
The Gift
Most Fae are born with some connection to magic.
For some, it manifests early.
A child might make flowers bloom simply by touching them.
Another might cause water to rise from a cup without realizing what they have done.
Others may hear whispers carried through the earth or sense changes in the weather before they occur.
For some, however, magic remains quiet.
It may never awaken.
This does not make one Fae lesser than another.
The Archives would like to remind readers that magical ability has never been a reliable measure of intelligence, courage, kindness, or worth.
History has provided rather unfortunate examples of people who believed otherwise.
Elemental Affinity
Many Fae develop an affinity toward a particular form of magic.
Fire.
Water.
Earth.
Air.
Ice.
Nature.
And countless variations that do not fit neatly into any category.
Those affinities often correspond with the realm in which a Fae is raised, though this is not always the case.
A Fae born in Oighear may possess an affinity for fire.
A child from Scaoilte Glas may possess an extraordinary talent for earth magic.
The Underworld has never been particularly fond of following expectations.
The Price
There is one thing every apprentice learns before being permitted to study advanced magic:
Magic always has a cost.
The price may be exhaustion.
Pain.
Memory.
Time.
Emotion.
Or something else entirely.
The greater the magic, the greater the potential cost.
This is why the most powerful Fae are not necessarily the ones who cast the largest spells.
True mastery lies in understanding when not to use magic.
There have been countless instances throughout history where a problem could have been solved with a spell.
Unfortunately, the spell created three additional problems.
The Archives considers this an excellent argument for patience.
Healing
Healing magic deserves special mention.
Though the Fae possess remarkable abilities, healing magic has limits.
It can mend wounds.
It can ease pain.
It can repair damage caused by certain magical forces.
But it cannot make the Fae invincible.
Nor can it cure every illness.
Some ailments exist beyond the reach of even the most gifted healer.
This has been one of the more difficult truths for Fae society to accept.
Magic is powerful.
It is not all-powerful.
The Oldest Magic
There are stories of magic older than the realms themselves.
Magic that existed before kings.
Before castles.
Before the first names were written into the Royal Archives.
Some scholars believe this ancient magic is connected to the King's Tree.
Others believe the Tree is merely one manifestation of something much older.
The debate has continued for centuries.
No conclusion has been reached.
The Archives suspect this is because everyone involved enjoys arguing too much to actually settle the matter.
A Warning to Visitors
If you ever find yourself in the Underworld, remember that magic is not merely something the Fae do.
It is part of who they are.
Do not assume that a quiet Fae is powerless.
Do not assume that a powerful Fae is dangerous.
And never assume that because someone possesses magic...
They can fix everything.
Some things cannot be healed with magic.
Some things cannot be changed.
And some things...
were never meant to be touched at all.
Until next time,
May the King's Tree light your path,
The Royal Archives
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~ Joli
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