“What is Magic?” —

  There are two ways to captivate a class. First, the obvious: teach something genuinely fascinating. For Spellcrafting 101, that might be a new spell, one ripe for the casting. The more potent or practical the spell, the greater the allure.

  The second, far riskier, approach is to pose a philosophical question, like “What is Love?” or “What hurts the most?” This method demands a lecturer of considerable charisma, someone capable of not only holding the students’ attention but also delivering insightful answers.

  Professor Soren, it seemed, thrived on such challenges. With his wavy dark hair, hazel eyes that held a cat-like curiosity, and a cleanly shaved face, the professor—still considered a desirable bachelor in his thirties—commanded the room. Dressed in a copper-brown suit that perfectly complemented the wooden lecture hall, his delivery of “What is Magic?” was nothing short of mesmerizing.

  The silence that followed was thick with anticipation. Students waited, perhaps contemplating their own answers.

  “Magic is Mana?” A hesitant voice, emanating from the first-year seats, broke the stillness.

  “Not bad. We cannot cast a spell without Mana. Anyone with a different answer?”

  “Magic is a Gift?”

  “Indeed. Most spells we know are Gifts of the Constellations. What else?”

  “Magic is a natural phenomenon.”

  “Partially correct, but not entirely, at least not for us.” Noticing the confused expressions, Soren thought, Better clarify that soon.

  A prolonged silence settled over the room. No other definitions seemed forthcoming.

  “Alright. Let’s begin with what constitutes Magic, rather than what it is. Have you heard of the Five Senses?”

  “You mean Sight, Hearing, Touch, Taste, Smell?”

  “Those are components, yes, but not the whole. They are part of the Sense of Physics.” Soren offered a gentle smile, noting the bewildered faces. Clearly, first-year students aren’t privy to discussions usually reserved for High Scholars.

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  “Sight, Hearing, Touch, Taste, Smell are aspects of the Sense of Physics. It’s the most fundamental of the Five Senses, and, in a way, the antithesis of Magic.”

  With a flick of his wrist, a golden fireball materialized, hovering before the class.

  “Observe this miniature sun. We see its radiance, hear its crackling burns, feel its heat, and, if close enough, smell the sulfur… I don’t recommend tasting it, unless you’re a golem.”

  “All living beings possess the Sense of Physics,” he continued. “Animals flee burning forests. Sunflowers turn towards sunlight. Even microscopic creatures exhibit a rudimentary Sense of Physics.”

  “Now…” Soren gestured upward, and streams of light erupted from the fireball, coalescing into a golden hourglass structure.

  “The Five Senses stack upon each other, forming the Laws of the World we inhabit. The higher the Sense, the more exclusive it becomes to certain life forms. Next is Emotion, primarily the domain of animals, allowing them to perceive their own and others’ feelings.”

  “The third layer, central and distinct, is the Sense of Linguistics. It grants the ability to associate signals, characters, melodies… with specific meanings. Some animals, like ants, dolphins, whales, and parrots, possess advanced forms of this Sense.”

  “Can you guess the Fourth Sense?”

  “Logic…” A few voices murmured.

  “Correct. The Sense of Logic, the counterpoint to Emotion, provides the ability to deduce and infer. Humans excel in this, while other animals struggle. Surprisingly, octopuses, not chimpanzees, possess the closest approximation to our logical abilities.”

  “Finally, Magic. Almost exclusive to humans, the Sense of Magic enables us to perceive and manipulate Mana. In other worlds, it’s known by various names: Qi, Aether, Aura… the overarching term being Mystical Substances.”

  “Mana sometimes resonates with the stars. By perceiving and mimicking these resonances, we learn spells and deepen our understanding of Magic. Hence, the Gifts of the Constellations.”

  “However, that’s not the sole path to Magic. In some worlds, Magic is derived from the Five Earthly Elements. Magic is volatile, its Laws varying across worlds, shaped by human manipulation. Thus, Magic isn’t entirely a natural phenomenon.”

  “Professor! Can we alter the Laws of Magic in our world?” a student asked.

  “Yes, but the effort, the Mana required, would be immense, not to mention the intricate prerequisites. Fortunately, our world’s Magic Laws are relatively neutral, accommodating a wide range of magical systems.”

  “The Laws of Magic may differ, but they all rest upon the foundation of the Four Senses below: Logic, Linguistics, Emotion, and Physics.”

  “Now, why does any of this matter to our Spellcrafting class?”

  A long silence. Then, a girl with long silver hair raised her hand. “Understanding the other Laws enhances our comprehension of Magic Laws.”

  “Precisely. In this class, we won’t isolate the Laws of Magic. We’ll explore how to apply the other Senses to Spellcrafting, enabling you to do something like this…”

  Professor Soren raised his hand, and a deafening bang echoed through the lecture hall…