Summary
Magic is an inherent feature of the world ofMushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation, ranging from its applications in combat to more varied uses in summoning, teleportation, and healing. Even the series' main protagonist,Rudeus Greyrat, is a mage who possessesthe unique ability of silent spell-casting, and throughout his journey, he uncovers and masters several forms of magic.
Silent spell-castingis actually one of Rudeus' signature abilities, and it allows him to perform complex high-level magic spells without relying on the incantations that most mages employ. A highly prized skill among mages of all skill levels, silent spell-casting has a lot of benefits that set those who can use it a class apart from their peers in Rifujin na Magonote’sMushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation.
How Are Magic Spells Generally Cast?
Generally, magic spells are cast either with the aid of incantations or magic circles. The former method is the norm for combat and healing magic, whereas magic circles are used for more complex spells. Magic circles are the least flexible method of spell casting, althoughthey lend themselves well to summoningand teleportation magic.
Incantations are the preferred method for most other types of magic, since they serve as a direct trigger for a spell, instead of forcing a mage to focus anddirect the flow of mana through their body. Those who practice and study magic use incantations from the very start of their journey as beginners, until they reach more advanced levels. Within the realm of combat magic, each spell is defined by the amount of mana it is infused with, the subcategory of magic involved, and the range at which it is effective.
While incantations were originally quite long in the magic system ofMushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation, they were gradually shortened over generations of research. This allowed mages to cast spells withgreater speed in fast-paced combat situationswhere a few seconds can be the difference between life and death. That being said, there are still a number of challenges for those who rely on incantations.
The Drawbacks Of Using Incantations
Due to how each incantation corresponds to a specific spell, the flexibility in their application is quite limited. Moreover, when a user seeks to execute forms of mixed magic, they are forced to recite multiple incantations in order to perform the spell,which becomes a problem in combat, where this form of melded spell casting often finds its purpose.
Most incantations take time to recall and recite accurately, which may be difficult in clutch situationswhere users are in mortal dangerand have only fractions of a second to react and respond to threats. Even truncated incantations — which significantly reduce the time required for spell casting — may not be as effective in such scenarios. This is one of the main reasons why silent spell casting is so highly valued.
Why Is Silent-Spell Casting So Revered?
In essence, silent spell casting bypasses the need for incantations, and produces the same effect through a more focused manipulation of mana on the part of the user. Without the incantation,a mage has to use their imaginationand directly mold mana into the desired spell, which reduces the time required for spell casting by huge margins when fully mastered.
The process commences with the caster visualizing the shape and type of the spell involved, after which, they can infuse additional mana into it. Following these two steps, the caster has to specify the velocity at which the spell will be fired. Once all these parameters are set, thecaster can release the spell withoutthe need for any incantation.
Silent spell-casting permits mages to perform a series of complex magic spells in quick succession, or even execute melded magic in very short periods of time, forgoing all incantations. Experienced practitionersof this method, such as Rudeusand Sylphiette, can use multiple spells or improvise entirely new ones, since they do not need to recall and recite lengthy incantations.
Individuals who can perform silent spell-casting are rare even among skilled mages of the highest order, due to how convoluted this method is when compared to the more traditional incantation-based system. Practitioners of this method must also have extremely refined skills in mana manipulation, which is why this method isnot formally taught anywhere in the worldofMushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation.
The Select Few Silent Casters In Mushoku Tensei
On several occasions, it has been theorized thatinstructing children in this approach to spell-castingis the main avenue towards mastering it, as their minds are more receptive to its inherent complexities. By the time a mage has been instructed in more conventional forms of spell casting, their perception of magic becomes too rigid and bound by the methods they are familiar with.
Therefore, it is easier for those who practice silent spell-casting from an early age to fully harness its benefits. Given how rare silent spell-casting is,only a limited number of characters inMushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnationhave been shown using it.
In Studio Bind’s anime adaptation of the series, the only individuals who can successfully use this method of spell casting are Rudeus, Sylphiette, and Juliette. Among them,Rudeus was the first to study this approachto casting magic spells, and he passed on his knowledge to both Sylphiette and Juliette when they were children, which somewhat proved his hypothesis about the necessity of learning silent spell-casting in childhood.
