Oct 20, 2025
To:Renegade J.P.
Thank you for your comments!
OK, so here's what I came up with in terms of a magic system: the world has mana; free energy that anyone can focus via will power. The more power they want, the stronger the focused will (which takes experience and focus). Raw power alone though, won't do anything. Determining what that power actually does takes spell formulas. Those formulas are basically mathematical representation of molecular structured crystals (ie, all those crystals everyone carries around). Essentially, the crystals act as a focus/lens for what someone want to cast. Now, in extreme cases, if someone can actually memorize the whole equation, they could cast w/o the crystal (this is how Keiko pulled off what she did at the tower that stormy night), but that's rare because these equations are long and complex. Very few people have the mathematical wherewithal to memorize these kinds of equations; luckily, Keiko is a science/math nerd.
Regarding Akiko's discomfort on Masako's way of doing things. Masako says she's going to resort to extreme measures to draw attention away from the good guys and have them pointing to the Empire's guards (ie, framing them for murder). Akiko's not comfortable with those methods, but she never said/implied they wouldn't work. That said, no, she doesn't know about the sword doing all the talking.
