#%==~-.... ....-~==%#
##%==~-... ...-~==%##
###%==~-.. ..-~==%###
####%==~-. .-~==%####
###%==~-.. ..-~==%###
##%==~-... =% =%= %= ...-~==%##
#%==~-.... =%=%%~~. .~~=%%=%= ....-~==%#
%==~-..... =% =% --- .. magic .. --- %= %= .....-~==%
==~-...... =%=%%~~. .~~%%=%= ......-~==
%==~-..... =% =%= %= .....-~==%
#%==~-.... ....-~==%#
##%==~-... magic is about being unaccountable, ...-~==%##
###%==~-.. about removing the source of the action ..-~==%###
####%==~-. from yourself. it works by exploiting a .-~==%####
###%==~-.. kind of gravity, called the ..-~==%###
##%==~-... arrow of time. ...-~==%##
#%==~-.... ....-~==%#
%==~-..... things in this universe always seek the .....-~==%
==~-...... least energetic state. all potential is ......-~==
%==~-..... gradually lost into lesser forms (such .....-~==%
#%==~-.... as heat). ....-~==%#
##%==~-... ...-~==%##
###%==~-.. magic then, is creating tunnels, ..-~==%###
####%==~-. specific and intricate canals, for this .-~==%####
###%==~-.. to happen in a controlled manner. think ..-~==%###
##%==~-... of it as setting an elaborate trap for ...-~==%##
#%==~-.... entropy. ....-~==%#
%==~-..... .....-~==%
==~-...... and then, when the circuit closes, the ......-~==
%==~-..... arrow is forced to do your bidding! .....-~==%
#%==~-.... ....-~==%#
##%==~-... of course, you're also irreversably ...-~==%##
###%==~-.. draining time from the universe, but ..-~==%###
####%==~-. yeah. .-~==%####
###%==~-.. ..-~==%###
##%==~-... ...-~==%##
#%==~-.... =%% = = %%= ....-~==%#
%==~-..... .....-~==%
==~-...... ......-~==
%==~-..... the danger is a runaway spell - if the .....-~==%
#%==~-.... filament of your canal is too weak, or ....-~==%#
##%==~-... the potential is high enough to escape ...-~==%##
###%==~-.. any self-closing mechanisms - a breach. ..-~==%###
####%==~-. .-~==%####
###%==~-.. these are usually catastrophic. ..-~==%###
##%==~-... although many are local, they stay ...-~==%##
#%==~-.... active until closed off by counter ....-~==%#
%==~-..... spells (hard to pull off) or there's no .....-~==%
==~-...... more energy to fall through. ......-~==
%==~-..... .....-~==%
#%==~-.... in that case the outcome depends on the ....-~==%#
##%==~-... spell. small-scale breaches might not ...-~==%##
###%==~-.. even be noticeable by the uninitiated; ..-~==%###
####%==~-. but a spell might also very well bring .-~==%####
###%==~-.. about the heat death of the universe. ..-~==%###
##%==~-... ...-~==%##
#%==~-.... ....-~==%#
%==~-..... =%= .....-~==%
==~-...... ......-~==
%==~-..... .....-~==%
#%==~-.... well. it is what it is. a dying art.. ....-~==%#
##%==~-... maybe for the best. ...-~==%##
###%==~-.. ..-~==%###
####%==~-. .-~==%####
###%==~-.. ..-~==%###
##%==~-... ...-~==%##
#%==~-.... ....-~==%#
%==~-..... .....-~==%