(side note: this is very rough, I've only worked on it for like a day and a half and I'd like some feedback on whether this is too abstract or overkill maybe. in-universe magic is like science to be understood, but it's also a "contract" or request to the Aether/Vis/resonant energies that be)

How are spells cast?

Casting occurs in "phases", or discrete steps. Successful casts affect the world; failures fizzle out, and may harm the caster/environment.

Let's review some terminology for working with Spellcasting:

Invocation: The channeling of energy/willpower/Vis/Mana to begin an alteration of the world the caster resides in.

Contextualization: The Aether/Resonant Energy/Field of magic/Aura reacts to an Invocation, and begins to understand the desired outcome.

Intention: The basis of the spell is set into stone; the caster asks the aether to form in the world and make change to it.

Determination: The aether interprets the change requested, and creates a plan to 1. propagate the spell into existence, 2. alter reality during propagation, and 3. scale or augment different factors of that change if specified by the caster.

Propagation: A sub-phase of Determination, and used by the spell instance in-world, this determines how the spell begins and permeates through reality (i.e. as a projectile, upon touch, targeting the caster, etc.)

Alterations: A sub-phase of Determination, and used by the spell instance in-world, this determines how the spell affects the world it exists in; examples may include harming living beings, destroying matter it contacts, or warping reality to change the time of day or weather.

Augmentations: A sub-phase of Determination, and used by the spell instance in-world, this determines how weak or strong the alteration of a spell is, possible side effects, or a scaled-over-time effect such as dampening certain effects.

Resolution: The aether determines whether the spell (the caster's alteration request) is valid, and fizzles out if it's not. If a spell does resolve successfully, the aether searches for a catalyst.

Nullification: The end-point of any and all spells (alteration requests); failure to resolve and successful casts both end here when the aether says "I'm done."

Catalyzation: A spell has successfully resolved, now the aether requires an energy sacrifice to assert the alteration upon the world. The caster either had enough energy available to provide the aether, or had a catalyst specific to the spell to pay its toll in full or partially. Some catalysts may further augment the spell (re-triggering Alterations to Augmentations with new changes)

Actualization: The spell has been cast, and begins to affect the world based on its propagation, alterations, and augmentations.

Saturation: The instance of the spell in the world accumulates further energy/material (positive or negative) which can alter it significantly (think of a weak water filtration spell being used on a thick ale; the spell may become "saturated" with the impurities it is trying to filter, and may take multiple casts to achieve the desired effect)

Distillation: The instance of the spell in the world loses strength over time/upon re-propagation, and may even lose some effects due to this (a fireball spell might distill down to a simple heat wave)

Dissipation: The instance of the spell intentionally fizzles out to re-cast a weaker spell from its nullification point.

Reverberation: The instance of the spell re-casts from its origin point upon nullification.

---

Pre-Spell Phases

1. Invocation
2. Contextualization
3. Intention
4. Determination
   1. Propagation
   2. Alterations
   3. Augmentations
5. Resolution
   1. Nullification
   2. Catalyzation

---

Post-Spell Phases

1. Catalyzation
2. Actualization
   1. Saturation
   2. Distillation
   3. Dissipation
   4. Reverberation
3. Nullification

---

Fireball Example

Pre-Spell

1. Invocation: The caster extends their wand and shouts "FIREBALL"
2. Contextualization: This guy wants to obliterate something; we know his dimension, planet, position, etc.
3. Intention: We are going to create a projectile of massive heat and destruction, and launch that puppy from this guy's tool.
4. Determination: Let's set this up
   1. Propagation: Projectile, travels over distance nicely
   2. Alterations: Fire, and explosion.
   3. Augmentations: This dude's wand is sick look at it's cool pattern, we'll buff it up a bit. And he has some rock he found at a volcano I guess we'll give him that too.
5. Resolution: Can they afford this though?
   1. Nullification: Nah they're broke af, fizzle out and ignore this dude for a while.
   2. Catalyzation: Oh he got it, run his pockets.

---

Post-Spell

1. Catalyzation: I'm taking this bucket of lava, I'll give you a little extra boost, maybe you get some heat resistance for a while (don't test me)
2. Actualization: We're set up nicely, let it rip.
   1. Saturation: It's raining :( -50% power
   2. Distillation: Air resistance cools down the magma. You're just throwing a big rock after 100 feet.
   3. Dissipation: Some lingering flames is the best you'll get here.
   4. Reverberation: No re-cast, the aether thinks this spell is over-used.
3. Nullification: Hopefully that helped you, it's not really my problem anyway.