Runes

Runes are the main form of combat in the Minecraft LIFE series. They allow magic users to access their

elemental powers.

Mana
Mana is an energy used by magic users. It has not been mentioned in the series where mana originates from. But it can be found in people's bodies, and allows the rune to function. It has been mentioned people with more mana have an easier time developing their powers. According to Professor Petra, Life Academy is built on land with the highest concentration of mana in the world. Because of this, student's runes can spontaneously activate.

How Runes Are Inherited
Runes are inherited through genetics. Only the descendants of magic users have access to runes. Naturally magic users only have 1 rune. The rune an individual possesses is identified through a special DNA test.

How Runes Function
Each rune gives its user control over a certain element depending on the rune's type. When a magic user actives their rune, it usually appears on their wrist/hand/arm in a flash of colored light corresponding to the rune's type. While the rune is active, the magic user has access to their powers. When a rune is deactivated it disappears from the user's body, and the user can't use their powers unless they reactive their rune. Runes are deactivated either when the user chooses to, takes sufficient damage or is rendered unconscious.

Magic users learn to activate their runes through training. This training consists of visualizing the desired element and learning to release the energy from your body. It has been shown in the series that runes could be forcefully activated through the use of technology. Slade has stated it takes the average student around 1 month to successfully active their rune and use their abilities, without the assistance of technology or Words of Power.

Words of Power
Each element also has Words of Power associated to it, a string of words that help the user active their runes with more ease. Only magic users in training seem to use Words of Power, possibly because repeating the phrase out loud can make you vulnerable when in the heat of battle.

Rune Types
There are 10 different known runes:

-Earth

-Fire

-Healing

-Lightning

-Morph

-Psychic

-Tech

-Water

-Shadow

-Wind