Magic

Magic is an ability common in the Valley of the Kings, where even humble peasantry is gifted with it but uncommon in the world Richard comes from (and likely in all the other alternate universes).

Long ago in the dark past of the Valley, when Raghan tried to seize the throne, he threw the entire kingdom into chaos. The valley was under threat from both the Wren and from hordes of demons spilling forth, from the "dark worlds". The rightful heir Theodore was at the brink of exhaustion, when suddenly five knights descended from the heavens to assist him in combat, wielding powerful elemental magic that became the foundation for a lot of the culture, religion and mundane life in the valley.

The five magics are: Fire, Ice, Oak, Wind and Heaven (Lightning and Electricity). In the Valley there are 5 different schools that educate the children in how to wield magic in general and how to master the individual element that the school is founded upon.