Magic

Magic is a manifestation of disturbances in the local mana field. A spell is nothing more than a pattern that interrupts the natural flow of mana and shapes it into a useful phenomenon. There are two main types of spellcasting: incantations and enchantments.   Enchantments are perhaps the simplest form of spellcasting. An enchantment is a pattern produced in an item (carved, painted, embossed, etc.) that channels the flow of mana into a specific shape, thereby causing the local mana field to produce the desired effect. Viral Micro-Enchanting is the pinnacle of this approach to spellcasting, allowing enchantments to be written into an organism's very DNA.   Incantations on the other hand are fairly complex actions that aim to produce the patterns required to influence the local mana field in the firing patterns of the brain itself. The most common method of generating these patterns is speaking syllables that activate neuronal tracts in Wernicke's area. This method has proven the simplest to develop spells for due to comprehensive knowledge about the mapping between phonemes and their associated locations within Wernicke's area. However, other methodologies exist too, such as physical gesticulation to activate spells withing the motor cortex, or with extreme difficulty, the focusing of pure attention and mental effort to generate patterns within the frontal cortex.   Rituals are complex arrangements in which a combination of enchanted implements and magical incantations are used to shape incredibly intricate mana flows and produce extremely precise and unusual effects.