Three forms. One language. The difference is time, preparation — and the price you're willing to pay.
The Slow Flame
Magic created through rituals, magic circles, enchanted artifacts, and combinations of arcane words. It demands time, preparation, and deep knowledge — but the power it yields surpasses all other forms.
"He spent three days drawing the circle. When he finally spoke the last word, the mountain moved."
The Sharp Edge
The middle ground between sorcery and enchantment. Short techniques, seals, or pre-inscribed runes that need only a trigger to activate. Prepared in advance, unleashed in an instant.
"She touched the rune on her wrist. The air around her turned to ice before the blade could fall."
The Whisper
Instant magic that requires no preparation. Cast immediately or triggered passively. Often subtle — a faint glow, a whispered ward, a slight shift in perception. Simple in nature, but always available.
"He didn't even raise his hand. The arrow simply... stopped. A charm so small no one saw it. But it was enough."
The true measure of a mage is not what they can cast — but how quickly.
Rituals, circles, incantations. Minutes or hours of preparation.
MAXIMUM POWER
Pre-inscribed seals and runes. A gesture to activate.
BALANCED
Pure will. Instant. No preparation.
INSTANT CAST
Powerful and experienced mages can compress spells into techniques, and techniques into charms. What once required an hour-long ritual and a circle of runes can eventually be cast with a thought.
At the highest level of mastery, even the most devastating spell — one that could level a fortress — becomes as effortless as breathing.
"The apprentice draws a circle and chants for an hour to summon fire. The master snaps her fingers. The fire is the same. The path to get there — that is what separates them."