What is "magic"?

This question is one with an answer that, even now, is not known. The word "magic" has come to be entirely vacuous, as occult scholars fritter away with the recent events that have indicated the return of that arcane force. It is impossible to say what magic is, for it is something that you, as a "person", can never hope to truly comprehend.

Magic is something not-human. Magic is something Other. Magic is something transcendent. Magic is something "wrong". 

You cannot understand something that is so alien. Your mind cannot weather itself against memories that go beyond what it means to be human.

As a result, magic is not a force. Magic is not a blessing. Magic is not a damnation. Magic is not an idea. Magic is not a concept.

Magic is magic. That is all it can ever be, for the second you take a step outside of that tautological hole, you pay the penalty that lies past the veil of magic. Your mind cannot afford for magic to be anything besides magic. 

...however, what if someone's mind is every bit as not-human as this magic?

Humans have moods, vacillations, temperaments, ideals, despairs, hopes. They are a tapestry of mind and body, woven together in an unending dance. So then, something every bit as tautological as the forced human-definition of magic would be equally not-human.

[i]She[/i] walked forwards, stopping in front of the predetermined inn. "The Black Foot". Others were being gathered there, termed by the benefactor as her "companions", and yet she already knew the truth. As she entered the inn, she withdrew a coin given to her by the aforementioned benefactor, and spoke to the innkeeper.

"-I'm here for Room Four. Are my sidekicks here yet?"

In this existence's mind, it was not a hero. No, it was something beyond concepts of heroism and morals. It was a hero who possessed "plot armor". It was a main character. 

And so, the curtain opened on the adventure of a delusional woman with a silver tongue and a long-winded title. Amelia Alviss, the number one occult expert in the Kingdom of Mortis. 

It is for this reason that a being with a mind that is not-human has assigned a definition to magic. Surpassing the limits of "human", she has accomplished this feat as easily as breathing.

Magic is "something fun".

Magic is "something entertaining".

Magic is "something I am an expert of". 

And perhaps, most centric of all...

-Magic is "all about the money, money, money".

We don't need your money, money, money. 

We just want to make the world dance.

Forget about the price tag.