As we explored the mysteries of the Quantum Paradigm, the idea that all space and time exists simultaneously, we made many discoveries. Some were proofs to age old philosophical theories and spiritual realities, while others offered explanations for a wide spectrum of questions. Among these was the discovery of dimensional shift. See, the multitude of dimensions speculated upon by Quantum theorists, were not places you could reach by wormhole. But rather, they were layered one atop another, in a manner which could only be comprehended by someone truly familiar with 4th dimensional reality. Simply put, the ability to move from one dimension, point in space, or position in temporal perception, by shifting ones attention into alignment with a native perspective. As such, dimensional and even spatial travel becomes a matter of will rather than physics. It turned out that consciousness itself had been the means by which such feats could be accomplished. Unfortunately, this knowledge alone did not make such things any easier. For without a reliable reference for such an alignment, and without anyone to teach the method for performing such a shift, it would prove risky if not near impossible to do. Many who participated in projects to achieve such a shift would either give up in frustration out of wasting so much time and energy, go crazy from various drug therapies, or disappear never to be seen again. Moreover, those who did disappear and subsequently return, often did so forever altered in ways that made them unable to continue the experiments or provide any useful information. But eventually, it happened. We discovered the Arcanus.

The Arcanus was a 4th dimensional crystal, something akin to a tesseract. The Arcanus was a device capable of taking conscious thought and transforming it into realized potential. In other words, it was a tool for employing magic. This was the beginning of the Mage Wars. As many rushed to understand the nature, function, and limitations of the Arcanus, and to train those who could wield it. The Arcanus appears to be a tiny crystal in its dormant state, perhaps no bigger than a small pearl. However, the actual size of an Arcanus is relative to the one who wields it. At first it was believed that only those who could produce Arcanus could wield them, but it was eventually discovered not only that this was untrue, but that often those who did so had the least ability to wield them. However, those capable of producing Arcanus are considered special assets, capable of demanding great wealth either under the employ of corporate or government organizations or as independent suppliers. It was these special assets, now known as Merchant Arcanus, over which the Mage Wars had been fought, before they gained the protection of the Academy. The Academy formed during the wars, and offer the most skilled mages in all the world. A party neutral from corporate or government interest, believed to have been formed by a large group of powerful Merchant Arcanus. The Academy, which once supplied mercenaries to various organizations, had turned to ending the Mage Wars. Their previous participation having been a means by which to gather resources and train mages for their later power play. At last, the Merchant Arcanus were free to decide their own fates, and anyone who thought otherwise would soon face the wrath of the Academy, and the multitudes of mages who had joined under their flag.

While the use of the Arcanus is restricted in many areas, their are many professions who employ licensed mages, who wield magic in accordance to strict regulations based on the nature of their employment and the grade of license they possess. These professions include law-enforcement, medicine, military, and other civics related fields. Mean while, the order tends to provide most private security needs, though some companies have in house mages for security and other task. though corporate mages are not allowed to operate outside the limited sovereignty of corporate facilities. The Arcanus has made magic into a technology, which may be used as a tool or a weapon. For this reason magic is more common place and accepted than it has ever been, no longer a thing of fantasy but a practical component of modern society. Dangerous in the wrong hands, yet no less necessary. Though the rise of criminal mages, those who would use the Arcanus as a weapon to steal and murder, has made it necessary for the Academy to act. In order to secure the delicate political climate they fought to enact, they have created an elite faction known as Mage Hunters, to root out and if necessary eliminate these rogue elements.

Though Mage Hunters have tactical squads, used to deal with high risk targets and situations, more often than not they work in pairs. Often they assist local law-enforcement groups or even private security officers, to bring down these criminal elements. These units are composed of a senior and junior hunter, often known as a master and apprentice. Though tactical squads are always composed of  senior hunters, often in excess of five members. The Arcanus themselves are powerful tools, which appear to be indestructible. They are said to be much larger than they appear, however one can only control as much of an Arcanus as they can draw out. Some have even theorized that the Arcanus are all part of a single object, an unimaginably large, possibly infinite, 4th or perhaps even 5th dimensional crystal. No one knows for sure what they are or how they work, though the Academy seems to be the foremost experts on how to use them. Even to the point that they have learned to safely travel across native 3rd dimensional space in an instant, a trick first demonstrated near the end of the Mage Wars… and since perfected.