Math Magic!

[Pinpoint he/him]

This is a  short rough draft illustrating the use of a math based magic system. Hopefully the formatting is easier to read that usual. What do you guys think?

 

 

Mathues ran. Number whizzed through his head as a wall approached. There were so many numbers, so many calculations. His weight, the height of the wall, the distance he had to run before he reached it. They all were rushing around in his mind like wild dogs. Stay calm just stay calm.  He thought.

He found the equations. He began plugging in numbers.  The vertical force required, calculated. Distance till jumping, calculated. Speed necessary, calculated.

A number parted from his lips. His speed increased, but it could only increase so much.                                     He was doing well. Three parts of the equation finished in just a few seconds.

 

Now for horizontal force. There couldn't be too much. The wall was tall enough that he would have to somehow grab the ledge on the way down the other side. He had to have a way to break his fall. It would be nearly

impossible to land directly on top of the wall without losing balance. Such precision was neither safe nor necessary.

The wall was 10 feet away. 8 feet. 6 feet. He  prepared to jump. Mathues shouted a number. Knees bent to just the right angle. Two more numbers in quick succession. His legs pumped with incredible force. Cool air hummed past his ears as he moved forwards and upwards.  He twisted slightly in the air, calculated and spoke.

“174 Degrees”

The small twist he had started grew instantaneously. In a few seconds he had done half a rotation. The top of the wall passed beneath him and then rushed upward. As the top of the wall passed his face, his hands snapped upwards and hooked over the top. His fall was halted abruptly. After hanging for a few seconds he released his grasp and continued his descent. Another calculation, another spoken number and his knees bent upon impact, absorbing the shock. Though the shock was still very noticeable, it wasn't the impact one would expect after a fall from that height.

A smile split his cheek as he stood. He had just leaped a 30 foot wall.

Edited January 27, 2014 by Pinpoint

[Shivertongue he/him]

Speaking as a fantasy reader and writer, I think it has the potential to be a really cool idea.

 

Speaking as a lifelong dyscalculic, I doubt I will ever understand the magic were it explained.

 

That said, however, I think a really fun and interesting story could be about a dyscalculic in a world of mathematical magic. Especially if they are born with the magic, but unable to use it due to their learning disability.

[Swimmingly he/him]

So basically doing physics calculations and substituting variables aloud?

[Pinpoint he/him]

This is how it works. 

If you start a motion, for example jumping, you can calculate the force needed to jump a certain distance. you say the answer out loud and then your body jumps. If you find the force necessary to jump 10 feet and say that force out loud, you will be able to jump ten feet. However, the magic does have its limits due an internal energy storage that fuels the magic. If you use it all in one jump you won't be able to use it again until the storage recharges

 possible name: Lejomancy 

Edited January 28, 2014 by Pinpoint