Difference Between Elemental Manipulation, Incantations, and Spells (Easy explanation for toddlers)
*Below examples are given to explain the different ways of magic activation.
Incantations
Let's consider that you are solving a question (doing magic).
The question you received is too hard (you are a shit magician and can't do magic yourself).
In this case, you use Incantations, which involves asking 'Elementals' to do magic for you.
There are two types of Incantations.
➢ Harmony Pathway Incantations:
Unable to solve the question (do the magic), you ask your older brother (Elementals) to do it for you.
• If your older brother (Elementals) is feeling generous, he solves the question (does the magic) for you.
• If your older brother is not feeling generous, he shoos you away, and you have no way to solve the question (the magic fails).
• If your older brother is pissed, he will not only shoo you away but also beat you before kicking you out of the room (backlash occurs, and you receive damage).
The above three scenarios are possible when one uses the Harmony Pathway (ask Elementals for help) for Incantations.
As seen above, the activation of magic depends on the mood of the Elementals.
➢ Willpower Pathway Incantations:
Unable to solve the question (do the magic), you ask your older brother (Elementals) to do it for you.
• You are stronger (you have high Willpower) than your older brother (Elemental), and your older brother has no choice but to solve the question (do the magic) for you, or he will get hit by you.
Willpower Pathway Incantations guarantee the activation of magic, unlike the Harmony Pathway.
However, beating your sibling and ordering them to do your work is bound to make them complain to your parents. Then, your parents will beat your ass for harassing your sibling.
Similarly, when one uses the Willpower Pathway by forcing Elementals, there is a high chance the Elementals will complain to Elemental Supremes.
Then, the Elemental Supreme will punish you (aka you are fucked).
As such, the Willpower Pathway should not be used unless it is an emergency.
.
.
.
.
Spells
Congratulations, you are not an uneducated bum, and you can solve the question (do magic) yourself.
*For easier explanation, let us think the question is a maths question.
Each math question requires a different formula.
Spells can be thought of as math formulae.
Each magic (math question) needs a different magic Spell (different formula) to be done.
.
.
.
.
Elemental Manipulation
You are sitting in a maths test.
You are not an uneducated bum, but you have a weak memory, and you forgot the formula you need to solve a question.
Thankfully, you have a strong foundation in maths (in magic).
So you make the formula yourself.
For example, the question is (4 x 5), and you don't know how to do multiplication, but you remember how multiplication works.
So, you add 4 five times and get the result as 20.
You used the most basic math formula, which is addition (normal magic Spell that is so low-level that it isn't even considered a Spell), and got the answer from it (did magic).
*Every demigod and awakener can use these 'low-level Spells that aren't even considered Spells' instinctively. It's like breathing or moving arms. You don't need to learn these things and can do it instinctively.
Using these 'low-level Spells that aren't even considered Spells' to do magic (solving questions) is considered Elemental Manipulation.
As the questions get tougher—for example, 43125 x 1259—it gets harder and harder to solve them with basic math formulas like addition (Elemental Manipulation).
At one point, you will either have to use the intended formula like multiplication (proper Spells) or be a super genius (or have a super strong foundation in maths) to solve the question with addition (Elemental Manipulation).
.
.
These explanations are written in accordance with the power system explained until Ch 240.
This chapter highlights differences between different magic activation methods. In depth explanation of how Spells work will be given later.