Dark Magic

Dark magic, also known as the seventh source, is a reviled form of magic that does not directly connect to any of the six Primal Sources. Instead, it draws upon the life and magical energy within magical creatures to fuel powerful spells. Dark magic is the main reason for the wars between humans and Xadia.

See also: Magic / Dark magic spells

Information

Viren after years of using dark magic

Dark magic works by siphoning the magical energy out of the bodies, body parts, and bodily secretions of magical creatures, flora, or even humans. Dark magic spells are normally cast through incantations in which the mage speaks a sentence in reverse. It is considered a cheap, fast, and easy way of casting magic, and it does not require an arcanum. However, it is also a corruption that leaves visible traces on the users body; it starts with just a lingering scent of death that only an Archdragon can notice, later on, heavy use will cause a streak of the caster's hair to turn white, and continuous use will eventually result in the user looking like a living nightmare. Although, it is unknown whether a caster is affected by corruption by default, or if moral reasoning factors are put into its development; however, Ziard showed no visible signs of corruption while using dark magic for a noble cause. And yet, dark magic also amplifies the values or feelings of the mage who uses it, regardless of whether or not they are leaving traces of corruption behind, resulting the user's physical changes. Additionally, it always requires an act of destruction and consumption to accomplish. However, in Viren's final act of dark magic, he was able to retain his normal appearance as he died. Whether this is normal for mages who practice dark magic to regain their standard appearance as they die while casting a spell is unknown.

Unlike the six Primal Sources, which each have a specific nature, dark magic is more versatile and has many uses, though it really depends on the creature used in the spell. For example, the paw of a Xadian Singing-Weasel can be used to steal someone's voice right out of their throat, and the heart of a Magma Titan can be used to warm the bitter land and cultivate crops. Particularly powerful creatures, such as dragons, can be used for impressively powerful magic and have many different uses, even their snot has an entire spellbook chapter. At its most extreme, it is even capable of temporarily resurrecting someone from the dead, though that spell requires a number of strange, rare ingredients that can take years to gather. Due to its unique nature, dark magic can also be used to assimilate existing forms of primal magic.

A book of dark magic

Dark magic, unlike the six Primal Sources, cannot be inherited, though it can be taught to others. However, it can be very dangerous if attempted without proper instruction. Furthermore, the first time someone uses dark magic, they will fall into an intense feverish state for a period of time, draining their energy and giving them terrifying hallucinations and nightmares. Although, these strange visions provide the user with a major epiphany of some kind, so it does not have entirely negative consequences. Upon experiencing and understanding this revelation, they will recover and awaken. Notably, the first time this was seen was when Callum used dark magic for the first time to help Rayla rescue the grounded Pyrrah. When he awoke from this state, the epiphany he experienced helped him finally figure out his connection to the arcanum of the Sky without a Primal Stone. Notably, Viren suffered this state of sickness the first time he used dark magic after he was revived from the dead, despite the fact that he had been using dark magic all his life. Claudia theorized that dying and coming back to life might have "reset" him somehow. Curiously, when Viren was awakened from his fever dream, he entered a catatonic state that lasted for several days. Even though dark magic has been used frequently, it is not addictive, as people can choose when to start or stop using it. Such examples include Viren's former mentor, Kpp'Ar, who was able to give up dark magic despite extensive use of it throughout the course of his life.

If a person uses dark magic frequently, it leaves traces inside of their body, and they can eventually cast minor useful spells and cantrips, such as lighting candles with their fingertips or shining flashlight-like beam from their palm. However, dark magic does not affect a person it has been cast on, unless a hostile spell was cast. Since remnants of dark magic stay within individuals who used it, there is a possibility for it to be extracted out from them. And yet, according to Janai, depending on how much or long a mage uses dark magic and goes through the purification process at the Sunforge, there will be a high chance the person will not be able to survive the extraction.

However, there is also another method to extract the essence of dark magic out of someone, a practice called the "Star-Truth ritual". According to the Celestial Elves at the Star Scraper, when someone uses dark magic, it affects them on a physical and a spiritual level, creating a hole of darkness in their very spirit, which acts as a connection to Aaravos. To purge the darkness, the person needs to be injected with or drink the venom of a Starweaver Spider, which makes them sensitive to starlight. Then, they need to fly up into the sky, to get as close to the stars as possible. The person flies up blindfolded, because instead of looking outward to the stars, the person must look inward and find their "inner star": a truth that shines so bright, it fills up the dark hole in their spirit with light and eliminates the dark magic in them. The only drawback is that after the ritual has been done, the person must refrain themselves from ever using dark magic again, or else it will corrupt and overwhelm them.

History

Sol Regem confronting Ziard

1000 years before the birth of Azymondias, during the reign of Sol Regem, a human mage named Ziard came into possession of a relic staff gifted to him by Aaravos, a Startouch Elf and one of the "Great Ones". This staff allowed the discovery and use of dark magic and was used to shield the city of Elarion from famine and suffering, despite the already existing Primal Stones gifted to humanity by unicorns and Aaravos's daughter Leola. The ease and potency of dark magic eventually caused human dark mages to hunt and poach magical creatures to harvest their magical energy, as they needed fuel for their spells: A griffin's talon, a feather from a Moon Phoenix, any part of a creature where magic was concentrated. Perhaps the most valuable and sought-after prize of all was a unicorn's horn. Eventually, the humans hunted the unicorns until extinction. When Ziard was confronted about these crimes by Sol Regem, he demanded that Ziard and his followers immediately give up dark magic and the staff for good, though Ziard refused to reduce humans back to being "lesser beings" with no access to magic. In response, Sol Regem threatened to destroy Elarion, though was blinded by a dark magic spell before being able to do so. But in the process, Ziard was killed, and Elarion was burned to the ground in response.

Following Elarion's destruction, the elves and dragons of Xadia developed a shared disgust and horror towards the practices and destruction caused by dark magic, including the new Queen of the Dragons, Luna Tenebris. A collective conclusion was drawn, deciding that humanity should be exterminated for the atrocities they committed to fuel their spells. However, after being persuaded by the daughter of an elven leader, Luna Tenebris decided to spare and exile the humans instead, directing the elves and dragons to divide the continent and ordering to drive all humans to the West. In what would later become the Human Kingdoms, dark magic became part of human culture and is still practiced by mages of the modern era, including Viren, who came into the possession of the relic staff through yet unrevealed means. Despite its ties and prominence in human culture, dark magic is not entirely accepted by humans as a whole. Individuals like Harrow and Soren had, for the most part, tolerated Viren and Claudia's extensive use of practicing it, but to a lesser extent. Others, like Sarai, perceived the practice as too easy of a solution to humanity's problems, disliking that its use requires the killing of innocent magical creatures, and some, like Lissa, were shown to even be outright frightened of dark magic.

Because humans have been using dark magic for so long, the elves believed that said magic was all they were capable of until Callum became the first true human mage to connect with a Primal Source. While most elves are appalled and disgusted by the art, very few of them made an exception, such as Finnegrin, who asked Callum for the spell that slew Avizandum so that he could kill Domina Profundis in order to avenge the death of his favorite pet Giant Hermit Crab Shelley and gain total dominance over the seas. There is also Terry, who can forgive those who accomplish dark deeds involving dark magic if they are done for the sake of a noble purpose.

Trivia

• Dark magic seems to be affected by a certain level of negative feelings, as Kasef grew much larger after being turned into a lava soldier than the rest of Viren's army, due to his desire to get revenge for the attack on his father Ahling.
• Dark magic is not limited to humans. Elves are also able to cast it, though it is unknown what might happen when an elf other than Aaravos uses dark magic.
• The concepts of the Smoky Seekers were foundational to establishing the color language of dark magic.
• The symbol of dark magic was designed to draw on associations with both the Caduceus and the Rod of Asclepius.
• Dark magic was the very first concept created for the The Dragon Prince series. When Wonderstorm, Inc. was first established, creator Aaron Ehasz wrote the words "Dark Magic" on a purple index card, in black marker, and pinned it to a black poster board with a flourish.
• Dark magic is a traditional element in the fantasy genre that are primarily spells that simply represent the concept of evil and are practiced by evil sorcerers. However, The Dragon Prince creates a more solid concept of dark magic by making it evil to practice because of what it takes to perform said magic.