Realm Magic

This magic is a natural ability that allows the user to access one of the other 'realms'. These realms include: the Faerie Realm (Potensia), the Human Realm (Earth), the Spirit Realm, and the Realm of the Dead.

Natural Ability
A user of this magic is call a 'Realmist'

Different types of Realm Magic have different visuals. Some realmists can only open a window to the realm, which would offer a glimpse into the other realm and the area would be defined by a solid, glowing band of color (Earth-green, Spirit-white, Dead-red, Potensia-yellow). Other realmists can open portals to other realms, which would offer a glimpse of the realm and allow the realmist/companions to travel to that realm. Portals are larger than windows and are outlined by a crackling band of colored energy, whose color corresponds to the realm in question in the same way as above. Yet other realmists are able to bring something from another realm to the realm they are in temporarily. In this case, the visible effects would be a flash of light colored like that of the realm the thing was coming from and the temporary appearance of that thing. Finally, some realmists can teleport between realms. The visual effects of this would be a flash of the destination realm's light as the fae disappeared and a flash of the originating realm's light as the fae reappeared in its intended realm.

There are several effects of realm magic.

Windows: open a viewing area to another realm
Portals: allow fae and their companions to travel to another realm
Inter-realm travel: fae/ beings from other realms travel between the realms

After a portal/window/fae/other realm creature disappears from one realm, there is a slight residue of light, just like when there is a flash of bright light, in the area.

Only people with realm magic can use realm magic. Someone who does not have the natural ability to use realm magic cannot use it. Additionally, fae with realm magic can only access one realm and in one way. For example, a fae who can access the spirit realm cannot access the human realm. A fae who can teleport between realms cannot open a window.

The power level of a realmist is based on what type of access they have, what realm they can access and how long they can maintain that access/with what degree of control.

The order of power of access (from least to most) is: windowing (can see but not interact with the other realm), summoning (bring beings from the other realm to this realm), teleporting (transport just self to the realm without others seeing the location), portalling (transport self and others between realms with seeing the location).

The order of power of realm access is: Potensia, spirit, human, dead.

The only ways a realmist can improve their power level is through being able to maintain their access for longer and have more control over their access. The longer a fae can maintain access, the more powerful they are. What degree of control looks like varies depending on the type of access. For windows: clarity of the image; summoning: ability to control when creatures are summoned; teleporting: ability to control when/where they teleport; portalling: ability to control where the portal goes to and how large it is.

Realm magic is not inherently good or bad. It is a tool that the user can utilize to accomplish something good or bad. That being said, there are some stereotypes associated with the different brands of realm magic. Realmists who can access the human realm are generally seen as tricksters; those who can access the spirit realm are viewed as flighty and spacey; and those who can access the realm of the dead are often seen as dark and are feared. These stereotypes are generally true for both Consectans and Ikoeans.

Again, respectability varies depending on the brand of realm magic, and on the culture of the fae.

In Consecta, he most respectable brand is the type that is restricted to Potensia It is the most useful in everyday things and is the most acceptable in mainstream society. On the other end of the spectrum, realmists who can access the spirit realm tend to be the least respected. That brand of realm magic has the fewest practical uses and is seen as trivial-hardly better than talisman magic. The respectability of human-realm access varies depending on the user and what they use it for. There are some human realm scholars who are very respected in their field, but those who travel to the human realm or try to advise the humans are generally less respected. Dead-realm access is also very highly respected, although more out of fear. Although most realmist fae cannot bring back the dead, non-realmist fae fear and respect their abilities.

In Ikoe, each of the brands of realm magic are respected in different ways. Potensia-realm access is respected because of its general use. Spirit-realm access is respected because of the beauty and mystery of the spirits themselves-they are often called during traditional ceremonies. Human-realm access is respected out of curiosity about the lives of the creatures that are so similar and yet so different from the fae. Dead-realm access is respected, not out of fear, but out of respect for the dead and the closure a realmist who can access that realm can provide someone with.

Using any type of Natural Ability requires energy. Other types of Natural Abilities do may require other materials or or organisms, but realm magic only needs energy. The longer a fae maintains a portal/window/transportation, the more energy it costs. Additionally, as a realmist trains more in their natural ability, they can maintain portals/windows/transportations with less effort (like strengthening a muscle).

Realm Magic does not require any materials.

Using any type of Natural Ability requires focus and control. When fae first manifest their natural magic, they have very little control. There are random outbursts of magic according to their emotions. In order to use the magic effectively, they need to learn control and how to reach for/shut off their magic. They also need to be able to focus their magic to create the outcome they desire. For realmists, having a lack of control manifests in different ways depending on their specific ability. They might open an accidental window, travel to another realm when frightened, or bringing another creature to Potensia when angry or in need of protection. Without focus in realm magic, the portals/windows/transportation is unstable and will not last long.

Like any Natural Ability, realm magic cannot create life or matter. Although realmists with access to the land of the dead are able to temporarily bring a deceased being back to Potensia, the deceased is not truly alive. They can only stay in Potensia for a short period of time before fading back to the realm of the dead (the specific length depends on the strength of the realmist). They also lack most of the personality they had while alive. They are more of a flat shadow of their former selves. The longest any realmist has kept a deceased in Potensia was slightly less than two days. The effort left her completely drained and almost dead herself. Realm magic is also limited by a realmist's levels of focus, control and energy.

A fae with realm magic naturally has the ability to use it. As with any natural ability, realm magic manifests around adolescence. Once the magic manifests, either a tutor with a similar type of realm magic is assigned to the young fae (for nobles in Consecta) or they are assigned to a general class on realm magic in a public school (for the lower class in Consecta). They are taught how to harness and control their magic, as well as the variety of ways they can use it/what career paths use that magic. They continue formal learning on how to use their magic for the rest of their formal education (with more specialization at higher levels) and continue learning about their magic for the rest of their lives.

No one knows how natural abilities originated, including realm magic. They are a part of what makes a fae a fae. Additionally, natural abilities are inheritable and are passed down through families. For example, a child born to realmist parents will probably be a realmist. However, the exact type of realm magic has no correlation with that of the parents, and there is a chance that the child will manifest as a naturalist or surrealist even if both parents are realmists.