The Art of Magic: Transcribed, Volume One

[Luxury 1085]

[Across Almaris - Tomes embossed with the insignia of The Mages' Guild would filter into the various Libraries' deposit boxes - The knowledge contained therein becoming available to the studious.]

 

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Foreword

The following depiction of the path of Arcana is one of countless. This tome has been released under authority of Archmage Ipsissimus Franklin, denoting the late Archmage Scholarch Eliza's studies into the ethics of Voidal Magic and Wizardry, and the connection between them.

 

Descendants are found to sustain all manner of values and views, and the Mage is no different. Magic on the other hand, knows neither good nor evil. It is highly ambiguous, and thus the actions of the wielder are what determines one’s path in this life. Herein are the foundations upon which a Great Mage may be built, as thought upon and studied by myself. Perhaps the most important facet of mage etiquette is the understanding that the mage is not ‘more than’. The wonders of the Void are not without a cost; We never gain more than we give. This is a simple law of the Material known popularly as equivalent exchange. As such, those practitioners who lust for power in its many forms will find that what must be given is more than any of us can provide.

 

We naturally undertake a responsibility when we begin our voyage into the unknown; The understanding that greatness comes naught within the day, the month, or even the year. It is with care and effort that our true potential develops, and what a true waste it would be were we to fall to the wars wrought of different ideals. The scholar perseveres with a focus on one’s craft, nurturing knowledge over one’s lifetime, as such what place have we on a pointless battlefield? This is not to say one mustn’t fight for one’s life should it be in jeopardy, nor should one not fight for the preservation of academia itself. Yet many fail to understand that some of these circumstances can be outright avoided by a shift in perspective. This writer beseeches the reader to become truly humble, for pride is a hidden weakness. Be grateful to each and every experience no matter positive or negative, for it all builds us into a more resilient being. After all, the humbled man may not be assailed on any front, as the fronts exist naught. Yet one riddled with pride is constantly in defense of it; And it is often that the wayward Magus suffers from the folly of Pride. Consider that the smallest slight remark is anathema to the proud one, even though in the greater perspective it was minuscule indeed. Take this reference; Have we not all seen a man or woman act on pride? One simple and ill-intentioned remark will devolve one into a feral beast, even though the fact remains that the application of meaning upon those words came from oneself in the end. That man or woman chose how to interpret the insult, and thus how to act upon it. Those words did not have to mean anything to him. He or she chose to act on primal urges due to damaged pride.

 

As we grow into beacons of wisdom and authors of complex thought forms, what better purpose have we than to develop our communities alongside ourselves? Even unintentionally, the mere existence of a mage in a community is a great boon. What with the great conventions and applications of intellect and convenience. With the mere shifting of intention, we are capable of effortlessly uplifting the minds of the willing. We observe the opposite of this concept as outright animalistic violence. After all, it takes all types to fill the world and unfortunately many are ruled by clouded judgment, such that they should see Voidal Arts be raised as weapons against the layman. Scholars do not invite the idea of enemies into their lives, as this would be a tragic waste of mental energy for the good of neither party. Need we associate at all with these lost ones who openly detest one's presence, naturally due to some great bout of ignorance? By no means would it be considered efficient, simply a waste of time and energy. In the event where a confrontation is forced, our greatest weapon is education. When we arrive at a great understanding of the craft as well as oneself, and our relationship to the environment, we mustn’t underestimate just how powerful emitters of wisdom are. It is simple hereafter to destroy and rebuild the concepts that pull wool over the eyes of those lost descendants, as though they were our students. Do not underestimate the power of words, reader. Magic itself is passed on largely through oral tradition… The knowledge is transmitted through our voices and into the heart and mind. Is that not a power in itself? Those who spread the knowledge of Arcana know of the energy transfer within the Master and Student relationship. It does not give without taking, much like the void. Beyond the realm’s stellar academies, the two form a bond wherein the Master will come to know what must be spoken to spark revelations and epiphanies in the Student. The exchange may not always be obvious, as a subtle Master will teach without teaching.

 

There is a careful approach to teaching that must be taken. Often, the master is the one whom the student aspires to be most like. One must lead by example as well as instill etiquette in the student. Great effort must be spared to prevent the emergence of a rogue mage, otherwise known as a powermonger. Only death and loss follows these casters, who thankfully number few. With an advanced understanding of the fallacy of power, the student may cross into the threshold of academia with all its many facets of study. Typically a field of focus is selected, and rewarded with advanced energy manipulation in that specific field. Once attained, the ease of manipulation lends to more avenues of experimentation and knowledge. It is very clearly a self-replicating cycle that builds understanding. True it is that while in this cycle one may prosper, innovate, discover, and uncover. Yet it is only through action that these things are achieved; A mage who becomes docile in their practice or inundated with great prospects outside of Magic craft will see their abilities wane. The delve into the unknown must be a constant hunger.

 

The final note is that of the preservation of the Mind itself. A healthy brain is very much necessary for an Art steeped in mental prowess, willpower, and imagination. In a literal sense, we should protect our craniums, as there are great illnesses that accompany trauma to the skull that will directly prevent everything mentioned thus far. Yet another reason to avoid pointless conflict and war. While the study of other magic is encouraged, it would be considered irresponsible to practice them. Many deific magics reward a mind addled with holes in logic, whether it is pride or being bound to foreign ideals for power. It goes without saying that dark magics have banes as well, however I will state plainly that they too deteriorate the mind and leave naught but neurosis and mania. A scholar can make no use of either, and will find these magics operate in opposition to one’s own arcane practice. Yet I cannot suggest that it is our duty to convert these entities, our cousins in magic practice, as our individual paths are often deeply personal and will rarely shift with wordcraft alone. One will find that a beautiful whole- the true natural state of existence- requires light as much as dark, with us treading the line between.