Magic
Magic refers to the manipulation of the physical world using supernatural means.
In this fantasy universe, there are two major forms of magic: elemental, and divine.
Explanation
The mortal realm is comprised of two spatial dimensions that are connected to each other: the standard plane (or the physical world), and the ethereal plane, an invisible and unimposing layer that binds the physical world together.
The ethereal plane consists mostly (or entirely?) of mana. Magical feats are performed by manipulating mana in a manner so the effects reverberate to the physical world.
Living beings have a soul. These souls reside in the ethereal plane, and mimic the position of their vessels in the physical plane. Most souls are inert, and do not interact with mana in any meaningful way. To use magic, an individual’s soul must have the ability to manipulate mana around them.
Users of magic are known as sorcerers.
Types of Magic
In this fantasy universe, there are two major forms of magic: elemental, and divine.
Elemental
Main Article: Elements
Elemental magic is a classification system created by humanity over a long period of time to explain and categorize the type of magic humanity has been known to perform. There are nine known elemental types.
Sorcerers are almost always define by their affinity—the elemental magic that they are attuned to. These affinities are baked into the soul, and can not be learned or removed. Most sorcerers have one major affinity, but it is common to have partial affinities to another.
Affinities greatly increase a sorcerer’s ability to learn and use magic in a given type, and is the only way they can effectively use magic in combat. The actual difference in speed and cost differs between sorcerers, but in general non-affinity magic is both triple the cost and time to perform.
For most elements, magic is performed from the user’s position. If a user wants to throw a fireball, they have to make it in their hands first. If the user wants to freeze a lake of water, they must be touching it.
Note
TL;DR: elemental magic is the “default” magic type. It has features you’d expect from other magic systems.
Spells need to be cast with mana. Performing magic is like using your muscles—if you push yourself to use the strongest version of your spells, you’ll tire yourself out quickly and need to rest. If you pace yourself, you can fight for awhile, but you’ll still need to rest at some point.
Divine
Main Article: Divine Power
Divine magic—more commonly known as divine power—is a branch of magic where users borrow power from the gods.
Divine power manifests in multiple ways, but the most common use of it is the creation and usage of blessed items—equipment imbued with a fraction of a god’s strength. These items are often a straight upgrade in power, making armor more effective, making weapons hit harder, etc.
Because it does not use mana, nor interacts with the soul, the use of divine power is often an additional resource that sorcerers have. Sorcerers that were already powerful (and are in good relations with a god) are often given potent divine equipment that makes them far more powerful than even normal sorcerers.
Despite the power it provides, divine power fundamentally rejected by the mortal realm. This rejection is referred to as a corruption, weakening the sorcerers that use it, and slowly destroying the items it is applied to. This corruption can be cleansed (and often is), but can never be fully avoided.
If a divine item is not cleansed regularly, it will become cursed.
Note
TL;DR: Divine power is the stronger magic type, but posions the user. This posion can be slow, almost unnoticable, or incredibly quick and lethal.
Divine power has no real “system” to it—the strength of the power depends on how much the god has willingly applied to the user/item. It is basically a catch-all for cool abilities you want that don’t fit within the elemental system.
Non-Elemental Magic
Technically, the only magic humanity can perform is elemental. Additionally, elemental magic is not a fundamental system of magic, but a categorization system used by humanity on the magic they can use.
In other words, there is magic humans could perform that doesn’t fall within the known elements.
This often requires divine power to forcibly imbue a soul with the ability to perform new types of magic.
Note
TL;DR: Sometimes, instead of divine power directly making stuff happen, a sorcerer’s soul or body can be modified to perform new types of magic. This is rare because it’s almost always less efficient than simply giving them the power, but also because it’s annoying in terms of power scaling and I don’t want to deal with it.