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Magic
In the Will Story multiverse, magic is the ethereal energy that can be wielded through various means to affect matter in the visible world. There are unknown birth conditions that make a person predisposed to being a conduit for this energy. There are also items (natural, man-made, and imbuned) which can provide a channel for the direction of magic. Short phrases (spells) can be used, but the words are not affecting the transfer of energy, they simply provide a mechanism for the user to better tune their body to the resonant frequency.
It is common to use a combination of tools (natural power, an imbuned item, plus a verbal chant) to raise the quality of the outcome. This is also done to spread out the harmful effects. As magic is channeled through an item or body it degrades. Lifelong users can suffer from genetic defects and sterility. A single, suitably large channeling of magic can cause loss of consciousness, temporary sensory loss, or death.
Like a resuviour of water, ethereal energy must be allowed to replenish at a rate consistent with or greater than the withdrawal. This is normally allowed to happen naturally, although it is possible (though not common) for magi to channel energy (or matter converted to energy) back into the resiviour.