Magical Exhaustion

Causes

Any manipulation of the magical elements requires concentration and effort. The more the elemental current is forced to deviate from its natural flow, the faster the wielder will become exhausted and the longer they will take to recover. Reading an element can cause similar exhaustion when the reader strains their senses to pick up subtle currents.
In areas where the necessary Elemental current is weak, exhaustion is greatly amplified. The opposite is true if the wielder has access to a particularly strong current.
Some scholars propose that the immaterial elemental currents inside the wielder themselves get disturbed and need time to revert to their usual state. This theory is supported by the observable symptoms which seem to correlate with the wielding activity.

Symptoms

The general pattern appears to be that wielding or reading a particular element affects the current on the same axis of the elemental circle.
The tier of the manipulated element also appears to play a role. Symptoms appear to be worse for the Immaterial Tier than for the Primary Material Tier, but weaker for those on the Secondary Material Tier. However, the latter has a higher risk of causing symptoms from different categories at the same time.

Soul Exhaustion

The wielder's personality traits, ideals or preferences become subdued or shift slightly.

Examples:

craving unusual food

lacking interest for one's hobbies

withdrawing socially

indifference to conflicts

Related elements:

Soul: strong exhaustion

Air: moderate exhaustion

Fog, Fire: weak exhaustion

Thought Exhaustion

The wielder pays less attention to their surroundings or takes longer to process new information.

Examples:

being caught off guard by attacks

bumping into obstacles

searching for obvious things

struggling to comprehend words

Related elements:

Thought: strong exhaustion

Water: moderate exhaustion

Fog, Plant: weak exhaustion

Body Exhaustion

The wielder's physical well-being suffers.

Examples:

hunger or thirst

fatigue

aching muscles

nausea

Related elements:

Body: strong exhaustion

Ground: moderate exhaustion

Plant, Lava: weak exhaustion

Emotion Exhaustion

The wielder may evaluate events, actions, people, or objects differently and their feelings will be less intense.

Examples:

irritation at things they like

mild but rapid mood swings

being unusually pessimistic

apathy

Related elements:

Emotion: strong exhaustion

Energy: moderate exhaustion

Lava, Fire: weak exhaustion

Treatment

The symptoms fade over time, and recovery rarely takes longer than the elemental manipulation that caused it. The exhaustion may pass after a few seconds or several minutes, depending on how much the wielder had to stress themselves.
However, if they continue to manipulate the element in question, the symptoms will become worse and take longer to subside. For example, wielders using their powers in battle have been known to require days or even weeks to recover.

Prevention

The best way to avoid magical exhaustion is to strengthen one's elemental attunement. Regular training reduces the amount of concentration and mental effort that a wielder requires to achieve the desired effect.

by Kathrin Janowski

Origin

Magical

Cycle

Short-term

Rarity

Common

Preparation

Experienced wielders tend to be highly familiar with the symptoms that they can expect. Consequently, they tend to prepare for phases of exhaustion.
For example, a Water wielder may avoid situations that require cognitive effort or retreat to a place where clumsiness has milder consequences.
A Fire wielder may warn their social circle not to take any unexpected responses personally or to give them space during recovery.
A Body wielder may pack remedies for soothing sore muscles or an upset stomach.

Mundane Methods

Most wielders still use regular tools or weapons, either to avoid exhaustion or as an alternative to wielding their powers during recovery.
For example, if good fertilizer and irrigation are available, there is no need for Plant Hastening to ensure a good harvest.
A blacksmith's workshop is a suitable alternative to Lava Turning, allowing the person in question to save their elemental powers for intricate ornaments on a sword's hilt rather than wasting them on the entire blade.
Someone who is skilled with words does not need to rely on Thought Turning all the time, so they can content themselves with passively sensing the other person's weak spots.