Magic is Real

Idea; Magic

Magic is real, but only a small minority of humans regularly use magic. This minority is called the Unbound, and they include extraordinary leaders, soldiers, athletes, inventors, artists, entrepreneurs, and others. Many of the Unbound aren't even aware of their ability to directly tap belief, and instead explain their exceptionality as natural gifts, hard work, or luck. However, some Unbound discover or are taught the truth.

Some non-human beings and magical beings also secretly live on Earth, including some sentient beings. Throughout history, extraterrestrial and extradimensional beings and factions have contacted, visited, or migrated to Earth, influencing politics, science, culture, and ecosystems (including human evolution). Likewise, some humans have contacted, visited, or migrated to other planets and dimensions. Hence, many folktales, myths, and deities have at least threads of truth. All these secrets--the Unbound, magic, traffic with other worlds--is collectively called the Edge.

There are varied, conflicting explanations for the low prevalence and public awareness of magical and alien phenomena--that is, awareness of the Edge. Certainly, part of the charade is deliberate. Many contemporary factions compete to acquire and exploit magical technologies, alliances, and other resources. These factions include some nations and corporations, as well as some religious organizations, cults, secret societies, and the like. These factions usually act discreetly, both to hide their advantages and to avoid public confusion or panic (e.g., some fundamentalist religions would view most magic as evil). Many factions label their mutual agreement to keep magic a secret "the Lockbox Doctrine" (or simply "Lockbox").

The world was fucking awful. It was a wretched, desolate place, a desert of meaninglessness, a heartless wasteland, where horrific things happened all the time for no reason and nothing good lasted for long. He'd been right about the world, but he was wrong about himself. The world was a desert, but he was a magician, and to be a magician was to be a secret spring--a moving oasis. He wasn't desolate, and he wasn't empty. He was full of emotions, full of feelings, bursting with them, and when it came down to it that's what being a magician was. They weren't ordinary feelings--they weren't the tame, domesticated kind. Magic was wild feelings, the kind that escaped out of you and into the world and changed things. There was a lot of skill to it, and a lot of learning, and a lot of work, but that was where the power began: the power to enchant the world. (Lev Grossman, ``The Magician's Land``)