Additive Magic

From Sword of Truth Wiki

Additive Magic was one of two sides of the gift. Additive was the usual side that the gifted were born with, however three thousand years ago, during the great war, it was usual for gifted to be born with both Additive and Subtractive Magic.

Additive Magic was the power to add to something that is there, multiply it or turn it into something new. When the wizards of old altered a person, they used Additive to add to or change, the traits that were required for the weapon, that the being was to be transformed into.

The Additive side of the gift was often thought of as the magic of life, while Subtractive was thought of as the magic of death. This is why pristinely ungifted were unaffected by Additive, yet affected by Subtractive. They were subjectable to death, as is anyone.