Shards:
Shards are rare objects found anywhere in the world, from mountains to oceans. They possess their own minds and powers, allowing people to use them. To use a Shard, a person must meet its requirements or fulfill certain conditions. The power of a Shard is not free; the user, referred to as the "shardbearer," must fulfill an "Oath" given by the Shard. In essence, this system outlines a magical or supernatural mechanic where objects grant powers in exchange for fulfilling specific conditions or oaths.
Example:
"Slash what hasn't been cut"
"Unite the divided"
"Protect the unworthy"
The bearer has to figure out the meaning of their oath and fulfill it. The shard gives hints to their contractor through challenges and other means so that they can figure out the oath's meaning. Some oaths are a piece of cake to fulfill while others are nightmares. Not fulfilling the oath also has its price - that is the crystallization of one body. There are some cases in which the contractor experiences different punishments such as burning alive or being crippled, but most go through crystallization.
The stages of crystallization are:
Stage 1: Minor Crystallization
Visible veins and patches of crystals appear on the skin.
Stage 2: Crystal Fortification
Crystal patches on the body grow further, occasionally causing severe weakness and migraines.
Stage 3: Partial Crystallization
Reduced vitality and decline in overall health.
Stage 4: Major Crystallization
The body is almost entirely covered in crystals, causing constant pain.
Stage 5: Complete Crystallization
The bearer becomes an unfeeling husk of crystal.
Bearer's can slow the toll by adhering to their Oaths or by seeking rare artifacts or by performing certain ancient rituals
---
Shard Ranking:
1) Dormant Shard
"A sliver of forgotten power, stirring in the void."
State: A weak, barely conscious fragment, unaware of its origin.
Contract Strength: Minor passive enhancements (e.g., slightly sharper senses, minor resistance to harm).
Personality: Faint murmurs, emotions that flicker and fade.
2) Awakened Shard
"A newborn ember, seeking a voice to call its owner. "
State: The shard begins to recognize itself and its wielder.
Contract Strength: Grants a low-tier ability tied to its core essence (eg- weak elemental control, minor strength boost).
Personality: Develops distinct emotions, can vaguely communicate through dreams or feelings.
3) Resonant Shard
"A voice calls from the depths, seeking harmony with its chosen
State: The shard and the bearer's souls begin to synchronize, increasing their connection
Contract Strength: Grants a medium tier ability (e.g., summoning spectral weapons, bursts of enhanced speed).
Personality: Can now communicate through fragmented speech or visions.
4) Veiled Shard
"It remembers... but doesn't reveal."
State: The shard holds knowledge of its origin but doesn't fully share it.
Contract Strength: Gains a conditional high-tier ability (e.g., slow time for some time when in mortal danger, shadow obeys the wielder only in the darkness).
Personality: Develops its own opinion, may refuse to obey bearers it deems unworthy.
5) Sovereign Shard
"Its power is undeniable. Its will, unshakable."
State: The shard is now fully self-aware, a force in its own right.
Contract Strength: Grants one defining ability that can shift the tide of battle (e.g., controlling an element, freely manifesting armor of pure energy, seeing glimpses of the future).
Personality: Engages in full conversations, may challenge the wielder's choices.
6) Transcendent Shard
"No longer a fragment. No longer bound by its past limits."
State: The shard begins to act outside of normal reality, bending fate itself. However, it is still bounded by the rules of the world.
Contract Strength: Abilities are no longer constrained by logic, however, they aren't absolute. (e.g. preventing instant death once per day, stopping time).
Personality: Has a mind of its own and can think of itself as an equal or superior to the bearer. Can take actions on its own and choose to obey or not obey the beared
*Only 7 bearers with transcendent shards are known in the current days.
*Some shards can grow on get stronger.
*People can have more than 1 shard.
---
Exousia:
The fundamental energy of the world, all people contain exousia but the initial amount in a person may vary.
The energy invaded the planet of Kaelen years ago, no one knows of its origin.
After absorbing exousia and becoming a Arator, a unique rune appears on the person's body. This rune consists of a hollow circle inside a triangle covered with another circle.
To grow stronger, arators have to absorb exousia from the world and use it to strengthen their body and soul, by using it through a core which they form in their body.
After gathering enough exousia, the person can condense it into a soul ring. After condensing a minimum of three soul rings, the person undergoes a breakthrough, forming an additional ring on their rune.
This process improves all aspects of the human physiology.
This advancement is known as "Realm Ascension", a classification system later proposed by humans.
Humans can absorb exousia through:
Exousia - enriched food
Meditation, refining of exousia through the air
Only species with intelligence can use runes to absorb exousia, like dragons, vampires etc, while other non-intelligent beings use different means.
---
Human Tier System:
1st Tier: Warrior
2nd Tier: Black Warrior
3rd Tier: Elite Warrior
4th Tier: General
5th Tier: Master
6th Tier: Monarch
7th Tier: Demi-God
*People usually start learning the use of Esousia at the age of 17, as it is the best time for the body to do so.