Aether

[Kyan]

On the topic of aether, these thoughts about magic have been on my mind for a while, though I don't think it is a concept big enough to warrant its own thread: When you cast magic, does the swirly effects around you imply the elemental aspect of the spell you are casting?

I'm fairy sure we do not have any lore on this, but this has always been my assumption.
For example, when casting aero - green lights up around you, green being the "air" element. Fire has red lights around you - red being indicative of the fire element. When casting magick, we are "borrowing" aether - perhaps we are borrowing aether aligned to a specific element, and these casting animations are showing this.

So, are the swirly lights around you "aether"? When it's white/rainbow, such as when casting ruin, is that indicative of a non-elemental spell?

This makes me wonder, is "cure" a wind-based magic because of the green? Is flare really non-elemental? Why do the fairies use lightning-based healing magics (they have purple swirls)?

Also, the types of swirls seem to be indicative of the type of spell being formed - straight up lines - attack spells. Spiralling lines - healing spells. A circle with crystals - summoning spell. Random "pyre fly"-type lines around the caster - enhancing spell (like protect and stoneskin). Of course, this pattern isn't always correct - the fairies always have the "healing spell" type animation but not all their magick heals the player - some enhance.