Manifestation

Manifestation refers to the physical characteristics of a spell that become visible after a completed casting, although not all spells have a visible manifestation. This aspect of a spell can take a number of forms in any state (gas, liquid, or solid), and some spells' manifestations combine multiple states of matter. The manifestation of a spell will usually be influenced by its element (ie, many Terra-aspected spells manifest as rocks), although some may take unusual forms, or in the case of dual-aspected or triple-aspected spells, multiple forms. Typically, lower-rank spells will have simpler and smaller manifestations, while higher-rank spells will have more complex, and often larger, manifestations.

Manifestation of spells is considered a physical characteristic, and most manifestations are capable of being touched and interacted with. However, these manifestations are similar to complex illusions, and are actually made of mana -- aspected of course. Due to this nature, most spell manifestations dissipate into microscopic mana particles some time after their successful casting. This is also why unsuccessfully casted spells dissipate into small mana particles or mists of mana particles. Although manifestations are made of mana, they are still capable of damaging the physical world; this is, in essence, why spells work in the first place. It is also why spells consume mana; the mana of the caster is actually being aspected, sent out of the body, and used in the spell (due to this, spells without visible manifestations usually cost less mana to cast).