Description
Magic is the English term for mysterious or supernatural powers. In anotherworld, magic is an invisible, conceptual form of energy. Magic operates similarly to water; it spreads and flows naturally across the world, and forms "pools" in living things and natural magical reservoirs.
When humans and other sapient creatures are exposed to high levels of magical energy, their bodies slowly adapt to its presence, and through Shift they become attuned to it. Humans that have been attuned can perceive magic in the same way they perceive sight or taste. It is said that each person perceives magic slightly differently.
With the exception of anotherworld, most worlds are severely lacking in natural magical energy. Even on Earth, where humans have been in contact with anotherworld for many years, magic is not very well-known except to those who can perceive it.
In humans, magic manifests as "control" over the user's body and immediate environment. Magic wielders usually specialize in either empowering themselves or empowering the world around them, known as intrinsic magic and extrinsic magic respectively. From there, wielders can expand into different fields or focus their efforts into a single skill. Training to use magic is similar to training in the arts; each person is free to pursue their own goals and ideas, and practice is the most important factor in improving.
Magic is fiercely indiviualistic. Each person's energy has a slightly different frequency, and energy of different frequencies cannot coexist in the same space. In practice, this means that magic clashes much more often than it cooperates. In tune with their abilities, magic users also tend to be individualistic, preferring to rely on their own abilities rather than collaborating with others.
In spite of this (or because of it), there are a few organizations where disparate magic users are brought together to cooperate. Additionally, there are many families where magic is a hereditary trait, and the similar frequencies of family members allow for easier cooperation.
