Magic

Magic is the use of supernatural forces or agents to forecast or control natural events. On the Boiling Isles, magic is an additional force of nature not known to be present in the human realm, yet Owlbert's ability to function in the human realm suggests magic to be operating there at some level. Other natural forces exist such as gravity and electromagnetism but magic is the only force that appears to be controllable through will alone. However, once invoked, magic has the ability to manipulate other natural forces. A spell, the most basic unit of magic, is an invocation of magic that accomplishes a specific change. A spell can be simple or complex depending on the degree of change the spellcaster is trying to effect.

Magic on the Boiling Isles is manipulated through a system of rituals. These rituals restrain and provide order and direction to what would ordinarily be a chaotic force. Witches invoke magic through the use of gestures, incantations, glyphs, enchanted objects, potions, and elixirs. Witches require extensive education and training in order to master this system allowing them to use magic effectively and safely. This training is accomplished at institutions such as Hexside and Glandus High. Students start training in magic at the kindergarten level and continue to develop their skills across the educational spectrum. As witches pursue their educations they are guided down academic tracks leading to eventual coven membership and magic specialization.

Witches access the magic of the Boiling Isles through a sac of magic bile attached to their hearts that appears to function like a battery akin to the power reservoir of a training wand. It is suggested, however, that this wasn't always the case. Eda has made reference to wild magic suggesting the existence of a magic system utilized by witches in the past. Luz Noceda, Eda's humanapprentice, does not have a magic bile sac and so does not carry a reservoir of magical power within her. As a result, she has to access the magic in the environment directly through the use of glyphs hidden in said environment. These glyphs briefly appear in the spell circles of other witches but have long become invisible to them. Luz's presence and training on the Boiling Isles provides a link between wild magic and current magic.