Important notes:

This magic system which is the current working name is Sphaerot is part of a future fantasy novel series of mine. I'm not writing cause I'm busy with other projects but I am expanding on this world so that when I start this series, I can be prepared.

Another thing is that this magic unlike traditional western magic system is very conceptual and abstract but it is still hard.

This system will be especially fun for lord of the mysteries and honkai star rail fans as they will recognize some things.

Context:

To understand the system, you might also need to understand the cosmology as well.

The world exists in something called the tree of existence or the actuality tree. Each leaf in that tree represents a world.
And a world is a planet or system that has an Aethersphere which allows that world to not only inhabit life but also possibility of magic.

The world we'll be focusing on is Aeris.

The Actuality tree has also called Roots. Emanations of ontological and fundamental truths and aspect of existence in where there are 10 of them.

These are...

• Creativity - Beginning, imagination, fiction, creation, novelty
• Oblivion - Unknowing, Mysteries, Nothingness, Absence
• Destruction - Ruin, Calamity, Devastation
• Preservation - Stability, Endurance, Protection
• Uncertainty - Randomness, Chaos, Unpredictability
• Tranquility - Order, Stillness, Law
• Continuity - Continuum, Causality, Time, inevitability
• Consumption - Cycle of life, Flesh, Blood, Organs, Hunger
• Consonance - Harmonization of two oppositions
• Termination - The end, Conclusion, Finality

System:

The magic system is called the The Path of Embodiment. In which there are 10 paths linked to the 10 roots of existence.

People or users who follows paths are called Pathstriders.

Pathstriders can choose between 1 out of 10 paths in which you will stride upon. And each path has something called a Facet.

Facets act like different ways of striding upon a path. In which a pathstrider can choose a facet.

And pathstriders gets abilities related to their said facet.

Another thing that pathstriders can also have multiple facet at the same time but that is locked behind their path.

Which means a pathstrider of oblivion can't have facets belonging in Uncertainty cause they do not stride upon that path unless you switch path.

Each path does not have an equal amount of facet. Right now, there are a total amount of 26 facet.

Paths and Facets

Here are the facets you can have...

• Creativity - Visionary, Elation, Erudition, Axiom, Deceit
• Oblivion - Enigma, Error, Remembrance, Apathy, Deceit
• Destruction - Marauder, Hunt, Conquest
• Preservation - Permanence, Martial, Salvation
• Uncertainty - Discord, Corruption
• Tranquility - Paintress, Arbiter
• Continuity - Voyager, Fate
• Consumption - Fertility, Hunger
• Consonance - Beauty, Profanity
• Termination - Termination

The root of termination only has 1 facet, no need for extra more.

You might also ask why both Creativity and Oblivion have the same facet being Deceit.

Well for one, it's for narrative reasons but conceptually. Facets act like different ways of striding upon a path. Like how a person views existence, I guess.

As I said before, a pathstrider can have multiple facets but not from other paths.

A pathstrider of destruction can have facets in that path like marauder, hunt and conquest but cannot get facets from other paths such as preservation like permanence.

Interpreting each facets concepts and symbolism would take too much space, besides you can probably guess by the names and what they can do.

Progression:

The progression of paths is based on Degrees

Each path has 13 degrees in which there are 5 tiers.

• Tier 1: Degree 1 - 3
• Tier 2: Degree 4 - 6
• Tier 3: Degree 7 - 9
• Tier 4: Degree 10 - 12
• Tier 5: Degree 13

When pathstriders get to a degree, they get the full abilities with one caveat is the fact that pathstriders have no idea on how to use them. So they would have to learn and master these abilities and powers themself.

Advancements are called Realizations. In like a pathstriders advancing to degree 5 is called realizing to degree 5. So a pathstrider realizes to degree 5.

When realizing to a degree, they must go through a realization. A sort of ritual in which a pathstrider must do and act to realize to the next degree.

Degrees are tied to paths rather than each facet.

So if a pathstrider of Oblivion is degree 5 then the facet they have are also degree 5. And if they ever get to have a new facet of oblivion, that same facet would be degree 5 cause of the pathstrider.

So even if each facets degrees are different such as Enigma and Deceit having two different abilities despite being in the same degree, they all have the same process of realization.

As degrees and realizations are tied to Paths rather than facets.

When a pathstrider has fully realized to Degree 13. They will have embodied their facet or concept. Having full authority over the symbolism and abstract concepts over that facet.

These pathstriders who embodied their facets/realize to degree 13 are called Archons.

An extra bit. It is very much possible for a pathstrider to embody multiple facets of the same path.

Once they embodied all the facet of their respective path, they will be beyond realization and achieve Godhood and full authority over their path/root.

These pathstriders are called Luminaries.

Costs and Limitations:

The system works more like a mana system.

It works on two types of magical energy called Animatic energy (Spiritual energy) and Noetic energy (Mental energy).

Think Noetic energy is used in awakening/formation of abilities and animatic energy is spent on actually using it, acting like a fuel to the fire.

When using either of them, you will start to lose apart of yourself, either your humanity or identiy.

Use Noetic energy too much and you will forget yourself.
Use Animatic energy too much and you will lose your own humanity, becoming emotionally numb.

Ultimately it leads to death.

There are also things called Strains in which when a pathstrider uses too much energy too fast in which either their mind or spirit depending on which energy you used will be strained.

When you strain, you will become physically weak and your physical body also starts to rot, bleeding from the mouth, nose, eyes and ears.

But during this stage, you can still use your ability despite the strain though it's not recommend.

Think of like when you are training, you tear your muscles apart, in which that muscles will be temporarily damaged and immobile until fully healed. But during this stage, you can still use that muscle but it is not recommended for a reason as it will damage it further.

There are also something called Enderium. A mineral that is the physical manifestation of noetic energy in which a pathstrider can use to activate their ability, not requiring to use their own noetic reserve but still needing their animatic reserve.

And also the magical energy never replenishes so long term, it will fuck you up.
The only way you could replenish it is by transferring another persons energy into yours.
But that same person would also lose it forever.

End note:

This entire magic system takes huge inspiration from lord of the mysteries and honkai star rail.

Hell, I won't blame you if any fan of those two call mine a rip-off cause I am very aware and even worried about how similar it is to both lotm pathways and hsr paths.

Anyways, this is the end, I don't what to say else.

If you have any questions, you can freely ask in the comments.

Otherwise, I hope you have a nice day!