Ifrailian Tales

History of Magecraft

Warning, you are attempting to access restricted files. If you do not provide proper verification, you will have criminal charges pressed against you.

Pasword: ******** 

Access granted, welcome Doctor Matthews.

The following is a collection of everything known about magecraft as of the year 195, compiled by the A.C.G after the battle of the wasteland in 176. In response to the sensitive nature of this material, I will record all of our interactions as of this moment and report any abnormal requests to the security council for review.  

My name is Buhan, serial number Two-One-Seven, and I will act as your guide. Now then, are you ready to proceed?

“Yes.” 

Where would you like to start? 

“The origin of magic.”

Acknowledged, from what little Seraph hieroglyphics we’ve been able to translate we’ve determined that magic is a gift. A blessing from the three gods, Meyong, Sylvia, and Information expunged.  It is said that during a time of disease and famine, the goddess Sylvia took pity on man. She worked tirelessly with her fellow divine beings, altering our genetics, adding magic energy or Mana to our blood stream. Allowing humanity abilities previously considered exclusive to the supreme beings. Now sickness could be healed with a wave of the hand, hunters could bring down game with a single strike, and so a new era for man began. Over time humanity’s ability to wield magic has decreased, now only fifty percent of the population have mana levels sufficient to manipulate magic. 

Do you have any other inquiries? 

"Modern applications of Mageraft.” 

Granted, magic has been seamlessly integrated into Alexandrian society. It’s reach extends from professionally trained mages, to children little older than a toddler, all are exposed or users of magic. As such, heavy restrictions have been placed on the population. Spells listed as tier two and above are restricted, depending on the context the offending civilian will be fined or sent to prison. Magic allowed to the public includes, but is not limited to the following.

  Invisibility, as long as it’s application does not violate any existing laws and or regulations. Light physical augmentations, while most commonly used by combat mages there are practical uses for this magic, such as laborers, or depending on the league athletes.  Now perhaps the most commonly used spell by everyday civilians, Familiars. These are small creatures given shape by their creators, normally appearing as small animals. Used as assistants, these hollow creations are often used to run errands. Much like the other tier one spells, Familiars may not be used to break any Alexandrian law.

Before we continue, I must ask why you are accessing this information?

“Is this really necessary?”

It is just standard protocol, marking conversation for evaluation. 

“No need for that Buhan, I’m simply refreshing my memory, you see I’m shipping out to the academy.” 

I see, an interesting change of pace for you doctor.

“Indeed, now then may we continue?” 

Yes, what would you like to know?

“Combat Mage classifications.” 

Confirmed, the official Mage Academy classifies mage’s under one of the four classes depending on their fighting style and magic capability. Swordsmen, Marksmen, Brawler, and the most powerful of all, conjurer. 

Swordsmen use mild physical augmentations and defensive magic, but like the name implies they prefer using their magic energy to power their mana blades, which are typically sword hilts that activate when mana is channeled through them. Creating a blade composed of pure magic essence, acting as superheated plasma. However there have been examples of a sharpened, crystal like material forming instead, the cause is currently unknown. I must note that like the marksmen class, there is a staggering number of variations of the catalyst used by swordsmen. Starting at Swords, knives, and even scythes.

Marksmen, are the most common subsection of combat mages, with Swordsman at a close second. They employ basic physical and defensive augmentations and fight with catalysts inspired by firearms. Although bows and crossbows have been issued to certain mages.

Brawler’s pride themselves on close quarters combat. Specializing in augmentation magic, both defensive and physical. As such catalysts are not necessary for this class, although if one chooses they are provided blunt weapons. Brawlers are known for acting as tanks, able to sustain and dish out heavy damage before needing assistance.

Conjurer, the most rare of all the classifications. Those in this class have an abnormally high amount of mana in their bloodstream, giving them a banquet of magic to pick and choose from. Everything from the highest tiers of Physical and Defensive magic, to being the only class able to access elemental spells, they are a formidable foe to face in battle. Yet the most powerful ability Conjurers possess, are hybrid classes. If a conjurer surpasses expectation, they may be allowed extra classes to master another class of magecraft, this is a tedious and exhausting process only fit for the most dedicated of mages.

The head of the Royal Guard, Tyran Victrovana happens to be a hybrid class mage. Mixing elements of the Conjurer and Swordsmen classes.

I must say, the fact you need to relearn this information is quite strange Doctor. Aren’t you yourself a Mage?

“Well, I’m not a combat mage so I figured it necessary.” 

 Unusual, the Academy made you an instructor yet you know nothing of Combat mages? 

 “What’s with this interrogation, I provided you with a valid access code. I have a right to this information just like anyone else.” 

  ....I suppose you do, sorry sir please excuse that little outburst. 

 “It’s quite alright, let’s move on. Tell me about Zero Space.” 

Accessing proper databases, The information on this subject is sparse to say the least, apologies if the vault lacks sufficient detail. Zero Space is one of the rarest and most powerful spells to date. Once casted time itself will freeze around the user, only the wind is unaffected. This ability is directly linked to the caster’s life, once time is frozen the user’s heart stops, death is a very real possibility for the user.

“That was fine thank you, but good you check for one more thing?”

I will help to the best of my abilities

“Are there any current mages who can cast Zero Space?” 

Accessing Academy databases… Yes, Vincent Kovar. 

“So that’s his name…”  

Visual description (VD): Four Standard, civilian, Security androids flood into the room. Their robotic limbs wirled as they aimed their handguns at doctor Matthews.

“What is the meaning of this?” 

You are under arrest for illegally accessing A.C.G property. 

“...Heh, what clued you in lightbulb?” 

  Doctor matthews passed away one year ago.

VD: The imposter turned around, facing the humanoid robots. Angle obscured, changing to android’s perspective. Eyes, his eye color changed and it wasn’t a slow transition, no in a letteral blink of an eye they shifted from Matthew’s dark, hazel to a radiating shade of crimson. I was not created with human emotion in mind… and yet as he stared blankly at the S.C.S droid, I felt fear. 

Snap, the androids all stared at him, their analytical program failing to come up with a logical reason for such an act. After exactly twenty seconds the androids approached, letting out their prerecorded warnings in their artificial voice boxes and then, static. My perspective was forced to the limited angle of a camera nuzzled into the top right corner of the room. And I was left baffled by the scene before me, four violet toned tentacles appeared and each appendage was wrapped around an android's face. Constricting around their steelheads, till they popped like a balloon, splattering gears and scraps of crunched metal across the concrete floor.

Tentacles, did they breach through the concrete…. no, on closer inspection they were summoned directly on top of the floor, perhaps a form of illusion magic? 

“It seems like your databases are lacking in a certain area, allow me to correct that.” 

VD: The imposter placed his hand atop my control panel, passing though my holographic avatar. Suddenly without warning something struck my core systems. 

Ow, wait… I felt that, how did I- 

“Oh, and make sure to tell your council what you learn.”

VD: The imposter removes his hand and exits the room.

 A sudden sharp pain shot through my system, if I were a human I’d say the pain was located in my right leg. I have to report to the council…. Strange, I can’t access my communications system, Databases are still active… Why does this hurt… 

I’m not corporeal, I have nothing physical about me, all I am is a complex system of numbers of letters, so how can I feel this? 

Trying my hardest to ignore the new sensation coursing through my being, I scoured over every available date base on magic, working on finding what type of magecraft the imposter used. My inner matrices focused on the pain, making this meanly task much harder than it should have been.

….Make it stop.

Processing: 40% 

Audio sensors: Failed

Long range communications: Failed 

I’m shutting down… I’m shutting down… No, No, No, NO! What did he do to me, there isn’t any type of magic that affects artificial beings, so how did he do this! 

….The databases are slipping... I can’t see or hear, I can barely think, my only consolation is that the pain is also gone. I don’t feel anything… 

is this what it’s like to die? 

Processing: Failed

…

…

…

Processing: 5%

Long range communications: 5% 

                              Transmission received from Vault#23

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                              Transmission interrupted.