Since it seems that many people are interested in how magic works but are unwilling to read through places with possible spoilers (like the Mahouka wikia for instance) I wish to make this thread as a spoiler free explanation of Mahouka magic. No plot that hasn't already come up in the anime will be exposed, only loads of information. I will start with the general explanation on how magic works, and then on major classifications of magic. Once that is done I will be adding additional information on specific magic that is brought up in the show but not explained as well as it was in the Light Novel. Hence as long as you are up to date with the anime, nothing plot wise should be spoiled by anything here. Consider this an info dump for those interested in the world's magic .
Psions and Pushions
Psions are particles without substance that are born from intention and thought, and are one of the basic driving forces of magic, being utilized and consumed in spells. Pushions are mysterious particles, sometimes referred to as Spirit Particles, are particles thought to be born in part from the emotion created by intention thought, but their use is not as well known. Much less magic uses or effects Pushions compared to Psions. Well most magicians can see Psions, only those who have Hyper-sensitivity to spirit particle emissions can see Pushions well.
The eidos and magic rituals
The Eidos is the information body of the world. The physical world transferred into information if you will. Every physical object has an Eidos, whether magic is affecting it or not. A magic ritual rewrites that information. This process is also sometimes referred to as phenomena rewriting. By rewriting the information the physical object itself is affected. For instance, one could get the water molecules in the air to freeze to ice, or they could making something that is motionless move by rewriting it so that it is [moving backwards]. That said, the effects of a magic ritual is temporary. The ice will eventually turn back into water and the once stationary object won't stay in perpetual motion. It is through the rewriting of the information body that magic comes into effect. Only one magic ritual can affect a specific eidos at a time, and the one with the highest interference strength usually wins. Interference strength is simply the strength in which a magic ritual rewrites the eidos. This is dependent on the power of the magician and not on simply the spell itself.
CAD's and activation sequences
A CAD is a Casting Assistant Device. It allows for much faster casting of magic, as it replaces the more ancient magic rituals with activation sequences. The data for an activation sequences are programmed into the CAD, and then Psions are absorbed, and through the information from the activation sequence they are reformed into the shape of a magic sequence (the CAD's version of a magic ritual), and allows the spell to be cast. Casting with a CAD can take under a second while casting without can sometimes take minutes depending on the complexity of the spell. There are two types of CAD's: Generalized and specialized. A Generalized CAD can contain up to 99 activation sequences of magic from any system of magic, whereas the Specialized CAD can only contain 9 from a single system. A specialized CAD however, benefits from a faster activation speed and are often for, as you could guess, Magicians who specialize in a select few magic sequences and do not need more to perform their duties. Specialized CAD's are often in the form of guns as an aiming system is put in the "barrel".
Loop casting: Loop casting is a technique invented by Taurus Silver. As long as the magic sequence is the same, the activation sequence of the CAD doesn't have to restart each time. This is done by adding a copying power to the Magic Calculation Area's execution mode via adding a copy of the activation sequence's last part to itself. This requires the CAD to be able to calculate the magical sequence and copy the activation sequence separately and at the same time.
Magical technicians
Also known as magicians are those who cast magic. The power of the magician is partly based in their genetics, with a child born from two strong magicians being likely to become a strong magician themselves while it being a rarity for those who are not magicians to have a child capable of casting magic. What makes a magical technician different from other humans is the magical calculation area in their brain. Without it a magician would not be able to have the fine psion control necessary for magic. Furthermore, magic sequences and rituals usually have the strength, targets, and ending requirements of spells are usually determined by the magic calculation area, allowing for variability in magic even if the same activation sequence is used. A person, even if they are a genius, would be unable to cast even a simple single process spell without a magic calculation area.
A magical technician's abilities can change reality but they must also be grounded in reality. Someone who doesn't have a firm grasp of the world around them cannot alter it. It is rare to have a truly delusional magician because of this. A magician must have a will and confidence in their magic. For instance, if the magician loses confidence in their ability to use magic, such as in the case of magic related trauma, it can render them unable to use magic permanently.
Types of Magic
Modern Magic
Modern Magic is broken up into the Four Great Systems and 8 major types. Each System contains 2 major types. This is known as Systematic magic. Besides this there are three other types of magic that Modern magics possesses, but do not fall into this category.
1. Speed and Weight magic: Speed magic quite simply speeds or slows down the target. This can be used for Freezing magic. Weight magic either reduces or increases weight, allowing for greatly increased jumping heights, reduced gravitational pulls, and as well as the opposite.
2. Movement and Oscillation/Vibration Movement magic can make an object change directions, stop it in its tracks, or alter its speed, but has no effect on inertia unlike speed magic. Oscillation magic involves vibrations and waves.
3. Converge and disperse : Convergence brings it targets within a specific area, for example it can be used to make oxygen gather in a single area. Dispersal interfere with the interactions of particles, and so can for example dry a shirt by using magic making it so that water interact with the shirt.
4. Absorb and Release Absorb magic can make particles interact, for instance it can force iron and oxygen to react, rapidly rusting an object. Release magic interferes with the interaction of subatomic particles.
The Three forms of modern magic that do not belong to the 4 Great systems are
Perception magic: This is a magic that allows for Extra Sensory Perception of one kind or another.
Non-Systematic Magic : Magic that does not rewrite information bodies but controls the Psions itself.
Outer-systematic magic : Magic that does not work on physical objects, for example mind reading and mind control. Can affect Pushions.
Besides Modern Magic there is ancient magic
Ancient magic: Ancient magic is varied, and has many different types. It can often be more specialized in certain areas. However, as CAD's are not used, it is generally slower and the magic easier to identify, and therefore negate. Ancient magic is capable of things that modern magic is not
types of ancient magic
ninjutsu : A form of ancient magic mostly focused on physical capability, as well as the ability to erase their presence, as well as the use of illusion magic. As Miyuki stated in episode 1 Yakumo is a ninjutsu user,.
Other types of ancient magic will be brought up as they are revealed in the show.
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Specific magic
I shall add specific spells or subtypes as they are mentioned in the show.
Convergent Systematic Reinforcement magic: the technical term for Leo's speciality as mentioned in the first episode, also referred to as Reinforcement or fortification magic. It fortifies a physical object in relation to another. This can make an object extremely hard to break when used on the molecular level. A piece of glass could be thrown hard against a wall without shattering for instance, or grape could be hit hard with a hammer without being squashed.
engrave-type magic Magic that Erika's CAD uses. It is magic that uses a geometric pattern as a grid for the spell. The pattern is engraved into a sensitive alloy and psions are channelled through it to activate the spell. However Psions must be continuously be channelled for the duration of use of magic, making it exhausting for magic that lasts a long duration. Usually seen as inefficient and is not used much in the modern day world.
counter magic
This will be a subsection of the "specific magic section" Counter magic is exactly what it says on the tin: something that nullifies magic.
Zone interference : The magical technician saturates the area around them with their own magic. As any part of the Eidos can only be affected by the spell that has the highest phenomena rewriting strength, if the opponent phenomena rewriting is less than the magical technician's then the enemy is unable to cast magic in that zone.
If anyone finds my explanations are lacking, I will edit to clarify, and if you think that something I mentioned should not be on here yet, or that something should be added feel free to post on this thread or send me a PM and I will consider and adjust the list as much as my free time allows.
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