The Magi are the weavers of the framework of the world. The ability to mend, change, or even decorate the natural landscape that we see here with their knowledge, intelligence, and learning. 

In peace, the magic of our world are the arbiters of civilizations. They act as negotiators, confidants, and even leaders. But how do these counselors of kings come to be in the first place? 

Just like talent with math, language, warfare, or any other skill...magic at first an acquired skill. The ability to cast cantrips such as levitation or locking and unlocking a lock are all quite simple to learn. Indeed with a few years of study, anyone can gain this ability. However, for more advanced magic requires something far more intense. 

Passing from student to practitioner is a great leap. Most magi never leave the phase of being a student and even should one try, the hurtle to do so is far beyond most. 

The reason for this is quite straight forward. It requires a contract between the magi and a particular inherently magical creature, a great kirin. 

Great kirins are a subject in and of themselves, but suffice it to say that they are many things. Merely the act of living as a great kirin is the act of being a vassal of an elemental plane. They pop in and out of the earthly plane at will, coming and going at random, rarely seen in the same locations and even rarer willing to stop long enough to interact. 

However, a contract is not something struck lightly by these creatures and likewise, making a contract with a great kirin is no small feat indeed for the magi either. 

Firstly, there is the simple conundrum of finding a great kirin. Since kirin are rare, do not often show in the same place, how does one find a great kirin? 

However as is their nature, a great kirin is drawn to individuals and places where magic is present. The more powerful the magic, the more likely a great kirin will appear.

Fortunately for magic users, as they grow older and immerse themselves into the world of magic, surrounding themselves with other magic users and visiting locations that have large amounts of magic present within, the magic user absorbs magic into their bones, muscles, and even their mind. This turns the magic user into a natural lure, just like one would lure a fish, for a grand kirin. 

Finally, there is the interesting question of what type of kirin the magic will draw. Each kirin comes from an elemental plane, but that does not mean that they are just pure versions of that element. 

For example, there is Cerberi, the lava dog. This creature embodies not fire per se, though it does come from the plane of fire. It instead embodies hot rock, the burning flame of the mountain exploding outward. 

Another example is Leoira Pax Furor, the ice lion. Leoira is not some simplistic creature that conjures ice. It embodies the full fury of a blizzard bringing stinging snow. 

Or Razakiru the mirage fox. It does not embody wind, though it does hale from the plane of wind. Instead, it holds the ability to creature refractions in the air itself and shifts how light is perceived, creating illusions at will. 

The question of if the magi will ever find a kirin is always on that magi's mind. It may never happen. Some incredibly powerful magic users never meet or make a contract with a great kirin. My friend Stark Mac Brandt being one of them. 

In the case that a mage does finally meet a great kirin, the chances that they will ally with it and create a binding contract has about a one in ten success rate. 

The magi need to prove to the Kirin that their force of personality, skill, and ability is worthy of that kirin allying itself with the magus. The kirin, in turn, benefits from the magus because it feeds off of the magi's magic power and grows stronger because of it. 

Once bonded, that magus can directly control the same powerful magic that the kirin can, enabling the magus to take full control of the kirin's unique abilities. For example, the magus that has bonded with Razakiru can create illusions at will. 

- Aran The Grey, Arch Magi of the Pentacle the school for magic arts. 

- End of Episode -

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