The Well
The reserve of magical residing within a person is known as a Well. In some cultures, historical and present, their term may directly translate as 'Font' or 'Spool' but the principle is the same. Everyone has a Well within, though for most it is not enough to perform magic with. Though, it may explain seemingly brief occurrences of incredible feats of strength and resilience but on a daily basis for the vast of majority, they will never notice anything different.
Sources
There are three sources of magic: Arcane, Divine and Natural.
Practicing Magic
The practice of producing spells is known as 'weaving'. Most magic users are capable of weaving all kinds of magic, though they are adept in their Affinity. Very few spells are purely from one Affinity.
Affinities
Everyone has an Affinity they are innately stronger in. It does not matter which source your Well is filled from, anyone can have any Affinity. Whilst Affinities seek to create order to magic, many spells may cross the boundaries of Affinities. Colloquially Affinities are referred to as 'schools of magic.'
The practice of produce spells is by 'weaving' magic. Most magic users are capable of weaving all kinds of magic, though they are adept in their Affinity. Very few spells are purely from one Affinity.
Primalism
Primalism is the Affinity that pulls magic from the elements themselves. Those with a Primalism Affinity tend to have further distinction within Primalism to one of four elements: air, earth, fire or water. Primalism is strictly controlled. Not much is known of the Primal Age, but great lengths were taken to destroy knowledge after the Age of Darkness (that is presumed to have followed the Primal Age). Since very little documentation survived, it is presumed much of the knowledge of both Ages were incredibly dangerous.
A Primalism Mage is known as simply as a Primalist.
Mentalism
Mentalists are mages that are adept in using magic that can affect one's mind or others' minds. The most common form of Mentalism is that of illusions.
Materialism
Materialism contains spells used for transmutation, translocation and portal magic. Essentially, any manipulation of physical or metaphysical constructs falls under Materialism. Technically, Materialism and Primalism can be quite connected in this sense.
Imbuement
Imbuement, as it sounds, is the Affinity of imbue objects or individuals with magic. This can take the form of a boon (for instance speed or strength), protection, or as a trap.
Especially skilled Imbuers can mask their involvement in imbuing an object from even other magic users.
Cleansing
Cleansing magic is essentially the opposite of Imbuement. In general, Cleansers work to remove magic from objects. Cleansing also includes spells used to remove magical curses and effects also created by Mentalism. Cleansing also includes healing magic. Cleansing and Imbuement are closely linked since their spells often work as direct opposite and so are woven along the same paths in opposite directions.
In the Old Tongue, Cleansers were known as the Medi'cynatare ("Those Who Burn With Magic").
Necromancy
Necromancy is not a distinct affinity, since the majority of necromantic spells involve similar weavings as Imbuement spells. It is technically a subsection of Imbuement, though in the modern world, it is often referred to separately as the set of forbidden magic used to raise the dead for instance. Certain spells that tap into the concept necromancy, such as ones that allow contact with the deceased, either recent or ancestral are allowed, however. Necromancy is viewed similarly to Primalism, in this sense, though it is far more restricted in total.
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