Magi – 2

The world of Magi has not always been one of wonder and magic.  Sadly enough, at some point prior, all the kingdoms and all the countries existed much like our very own, lands without indescribable fortunes,  enchanted weapons, mythical creatures, or the awesome power of conjured djinns. Grounded in an unforgiving reality, this world experienced a dramatic shift with the appearances of these imposing, towering labyrinths, commonly referred to as Dungeons.  It is here where all the fantasy in Magi originates.  Through the influence of these countless Dungeons, we see a very different world than the one that existed fourteen years ago.  Now, Magi is a world inhabited with magic, wonder, and adventure, and all solely because of these Dungeons.

At first glance, the Dungeons seem to be nothing more than a series of traps and trials, set to assess the cunning and intelligence of any adventurers who dare cross its portal, before rewarding the triumphant with its riches and powers.  Indeed, that appears to be a component of the Dungeons, but these monuments of miracles and curiosity go well beyond these short-term events and outcomes.  Rather, the enduring influences that these Dungeons have on the world of Magi show a far greater impact, reaching well beyond the adventurers who either die or succeed, to construct a world that exists as a duality, a single world made up of both reality and fantasy.

Perhaps the greatest impact that these Dungeons have are how it has inspired and influenced the people of every nation.  Because of these Dungeons, people have now witnessed the awesome powers that even they may be capable of.  With rumors and tales circulating of unimaginable wealth, magical weapons, and spirits able to be summoned at a moment’s notice, people have begun to change their life to reflect new goals and ambitions.  Unfortunately for most, many have met a grim demise, but for the few that succeed, the ones who return to this world and bring to life the magic and wonder, they become a part of the legend and a piece of this fantasy.  Yes, these Dungeons serve as an inspiration to the people, allowing them to dream of fame and fortune, to get a sense of magic and adventure, and, ideally, perhaps motivate them or encourage them to live a better life within their capacities.  Maybe not everyone will be rich and renowned for conquering a Dungeon, but at least these men and women can dream, something they didn’t have before.

Another notable influence, and perhaps the most obvious, is that the Dungeons brought to the world all of its magic and wonder.  Of course, there could’ve been magic, enchanted weapons and djinn before their appearance fourteen years ago but it’s likely that these Dunegons are the primary source of such sorcery, if not the only ones.  Yes, these Dungeons bisect the world of reality and fantasy and serve as a corridor to connect the two.  As a result, the adventurers who return bring with them these marvelous phenomena which are now as much a part of their world as they were within the Dungeons.  Now the real world is inhabited by mystic scimitars and friendly djinn, and the people who control their awesome potential, are able to influence the world to their command.  For example, because of a Dungeon, Aladdin was able to challenge the established social order of Qishan and free Morgiana from her bondage (or so he thought).  It is here where we see how much of an impact these Dungeons have on the world through its magic alone and without it, there’d be no such way for Aladdin’s and Alibaba’s adventures to exist.

Beyond those two apparent affects, there exists a number of other changes, though these all depend on the people who conquer the Dungeons and are granted access to the magic and fantasy that these Dungeons offer.  Here, the long-term impact of the Dungeons cannot be easily documented or described since it’s as unpredictable as the characters in the anime, if not more so.  However, by combining their dreams and ambitions with whatever magic their yield, these characters will be able to influence the world as however they wish.  These indirect impacts can reshape the social, economic, and/or political landscapes of the world and redirect the very history of the world.  It is here where we see the greatest capacity of change and influence that these Dungeons have, very well creating an entirely new setting for Magi.

From this, we can see how much of an impact and a change that these Dungeons have on the setting of Magi.  Not only are they essential to the story itself and the characterization of Alibaba and many others, but they have a permanent influence on the world in which Magi sets itself in.  And as we can tell, these go well beyond the immediate effects of danger, adventure, fun, and fortune.  No, these Dungeons even go beyond the magic and fantasy that they brought to this world.  From what we can tell, these Dungeons are what give Magi its current and distinct setting, one of world where magic and adventure await our heroes Aladdin and Alibaba.

So, according to Alibaba, as much as a finger or hair touching the portal and you’re sucked into the portal of the Dungeon.  Is that right?  Well, if that’s the case, and it appears to be so, why hasn’t anyone put up a wall or barrier over the portal entrance?  If it is so easy to be sucked into an obvious deathtrap, why not create something to prevent people from readily killing themselves?  Sure, you could have it where people could go around it and enter it if they really wanted to, but there was no warning or caution signs, notices of any kind, or anything to alert people that even the slightest touch would lead to certain death.  Not even a simple rope fence or anything.  Who really knows what kind of affect such devices would have, but you think there’d be something to turn people away from just throwing their lives away.  Well, just my thoughts on the issue, though it appears to not even be an issue for the people of Qishan.  Buncha wierdos…