Magic should be based off the Asian Five Elements, Yin-Yang shenanigans, feng shui, and some good ol' praying, imo. Western magic seems to love doing that whole mana thing, so it might be fresh if magic here focused more on drawing out power from the environment and the Gods. Of course, that has it's own sets of limitations, and perhaps people don't like shackling their character ideas early on.

Incantations and mantras are cool too, but yeah, maybe I'm just in a Tokyo Ravens mood atm.