.......... ..........
.......... ..........
.......... ..........
.........: :.........
........:= =:........
.......:=† §% §%§ %§ †=:.......
......:=†§ §%§%%==. .==§%%§%§ §†=:......
.....:=†§% §% §% ::: .. 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. ..........
.......... ..........
.........: :.........
........:= =:........
.......:=† †=:.......
......:=†§ §†=:......
.....:=†§% %§†=:.....