Overview
Mind magic is resonance magic applied directly to the mind. It can induce sleep, shape thoughts, heal or stabilize mental damage, ease emotional distress, shield against mental intrusion, and remove outside control. Orin uses early mind-magic techniques. Cassian later uses resonance-based mental techniques in Thalcoris.
Applications use touch, sound, song, vibration, resonance spells, or mental shielding. The society-wide example is Xoh'Metztli's control over Thalcoris.
Practitioners
Orin uses mind-affecting resonance techniques to put targets to sleep, examine damaged minds, stabilize mental injuries, and counter mental pressure from the Land of Darkness. Orin teaches Cassian related principles, and Cassian applies them through sound, resonance, and shielding.
In Thalcoris, Xoh'Metztli uses resonance magic to shape the minds of the Tenari. She uses Meliora, the moon shard, and the singing priestesses of Aurivallis and Tequaltor. Arinella remains under Xoh'Metztli's control until Cassian removes the spell affecting her and later breaks the goddess's control over Thalcoris.
Effects
Mind magic can induce sleep through brief physical contact. During training in Chronasis, Orin places a hand on Cassian's head and puts him to sleep for a few seconds. During the defense of Erenmyr, he takes Nero's hand, taps his temple, and drops him instantly.
It can also heal exhausted minds and stabilize damaged or fragile mental states. In Valcirae, Orin examines Eira and heals her exhausted mind by holding her temples. After Lirien falls out of the temple in the Land of Darkness, Orin stabilizes her fragile condition.
Cassian's Orin-taught sound technique can ease emotional distress. When he touches Jin's temple with a sound-infused application, Jin's immediate burden lessens. Jin's guilt remains.
Mind shielding protects against outside intrusion or control. In Aurivallis, Cassian maintains a shield around his own mind, teaches Arinella to shield hers, resists Meliora's voice, and removes intrusive control affecting Arinella.
Across Thalcoris, mind magic can shape an entire society. The Tenari priestesses' resonance-charged songs command public attention and maintain Xoh'Metztli's control. A resonance spell is interwoven with Arinella's thoughts; Cassian pulls it apart and later destroys the goddess's hold through Meliora and the moon shard. After the spell shatters, Aurivallis begins recovering as its people regain their own minds.
Relationship to Other Magic
Mind magic is a mental application of resonance magic. Orin uses divine magic when he heals Eira's exhausted mind and stabilizes Lirien after the Temple of no Return. The moon shard anchors and amplifies Xoh'Metztli's control through a divine vessel, and darkness creates mental pressure that mind shielding and recovery techniques can resist.