Magic-Related Falsities

Magic-related falsities refer to inaccuracies between known information about a concept or entity in magic and its true nature. These errors are often used by magicians in a variety of ways, from eluding deeper research about a magic spell's mechanics to concealing the true identity of a magical artifact. Due to the intellectual nature of magic, falsifying information is sometimes vital in the survival of magicians in the world of Toaru Majutsu no Index.

Principles
There are various different types of falsities present in the Magic side, and various different reasons for these falsities. These may have arisen by accident, the result of a lack of accurate information and speculation by uninvolved parties, or they may have been engineered on purpose, to deceive enemies, to lead them on wild goose chases and prevent them from finding the truth, to make something seem more or less than it actually is, or perhaps even without a purpose at all.

Battles between magicians are often battles of intellect - if a magician understands the principles on which their opponent's magic operates, they can put together countermeasures which can render their opponent's magic ineffective. In order to prevent enemies from figuring out the principles of their Magic and finding a way to counter it, magicians sometimes employ deception, using false information and decoys to mislead foes, leading them away from the truth.

There are various cases where factions conceal details concerning their magic and spiritual items, and due to a lack of viable information, inaccuracies, rumors and false information can also develop around them, much like Urban Legends. These can be left alone or deliberately spread, in order to aid in hiding the truth.

In some cases, what might have originally been a falsity may be taken as truth and developed so far that it becomes far more than just a mere falsity. An example of this would be the Rosicrucian movement which forms the foundation of modern Western magic. Though it began with a false book written by a single person, magicians developed it beyond the falsity and Rosicrucianism grew into something much more, such that when the original author revealed the truth of the lie he was completely ignored. There are various cases where magicians have deliberately taken a subject of fiction and falsity, and made it into a reality by utilizing existing systems and Magic, such as with the Necronomicon and St. Germain.

There are also various cases where a subject may possess history and recognition, such that many would recognize it if shown or be able to picture it in their minds, but on closer examination be shown to have no clear myth or legend as the basis behind it. Though there may be apparent sources that are cited, such as having read it in a certain book or heard it from a certain person, a thorough investigation will run into a dead end with no objective proof. There are various things that could have happened to account for this, such as if the subject had been spread orally, if written records had been lost to time, if personal opinions had slipped in during compilation or physical evidence been fabricated. For whatever reason though, the legends may still spread between people, gaining credibility and history despite having never actually existed, and becoming something that people have a common image of despite not having been seen by anyone. These are known as logical reversals (論理の可逆). Examples of logical reversals include a sunken continent at the bottom of the Atlantic, used against the shogunate, the red thread connecting the pinkies of lovers, and Queen Anne's Shield.