Well, someone appears to have resurrected an antiquated thread, so I don't feel bad posting. Anyway... what is it with all these people and 'shadow'? I know it's a valid elemental, and does not inherently imply evil, but I can bet you most people who like it like it because it's the whole dark and 'cool' seeming thing. Most, probably, would want to be like Magus. That is, until they're in his sort of position. His alleigance has virtually destroyed him, and the immesurably evil done through his hand far outweighs the good. There is nothing cool about him, really. He is someone to be lamented and pitied, a dark lord who sees the light but cannot attain it because his choices have damned him. Just a personal gripe of mine; I see on so many forums people thinking these dark characters are 'coolest' when, althought they are indeed very interesting and often deep, it is naive to think them just some kind of 'badass' to borrow the term.
Anyway, as far as magic goes, I went with lighning. Why? Because who would look for lighning from a clear sky? It is most unexpected, and has the power to lighten the dark places, and bring sight to blindness. In its incarntaions it is perhaps the most gracious, and most deadly. However, I almost chose the 'no magic', not for the sake of preferring fighting with hands, but for the philisophical idea that magic, as a power, would lend one to become prone to corruption. Like the Jedi in Star Wars. You begin all noble and heroic, but in time your power thwarts you and becomes your own downfall. That, may we not forget, was one of the chief follies of fabled Zeal - their magic bred arrogance, which sparked such overreaching pride within their hearts that they felt themselves superhuman, and reached in their infinite folly for immortality. Because of magic! Better to be a simple man without power than one struck down by power and pride, after all.