Core Concept:
Aether is the primordial energy that flows through the fabric of the world—between time, matter, and consciousness. It exists in all living things but only a few can channel it. Those who can are called Aetherbound.
1. Aether Types
There are six primary Aether paths, each representing a different aspect of reality. Every Aetherbound is naturally attuned to one (sometimes two) of these:
Ignis: is the Aether of fire, destruction, and impulse. Those attuned to Ignis are explosive, aggressive fighters who channel raw energy into overwhelming attacks. Their power flares with emotion and thrives in chaos.
2. Glacis: governs ice, time perception, and memory. Glacis users are precise, patient, and strategic. They can slow down moments, freeze enemies in place, or tap into the memory of objects or places through touch.
3. Voltaris: represents lightning, speed, and mental acuity. It's the domain of swift, high-energy users who move faster than the eye can track, disrupt neural signals, and strike with devastating precision.
4. Umbra: is the Aether of shadows, fear, and deception. Umbra-bound individuals excel in stealth, illusion, and psychological manipulation. They can vanish from sight, create false realities, or cloak entire areas in fear-inducing darkness.
5. Luxaris: is tied to light, emotion, and clarity. Often used by healers or spiritual guides, Luxaris allows its users to reveal truth, soothe pain, amplify emotions, or cast radiant light that burns through lies and darkness alike.
6. Terranox: governs the forces of earth, gravity, and stability. Terranox users are powerhouses, capable of controlling terrain, increasing gravity to crush foes, or creating near-impenetrable barriers and weapons of stone or metal.
Beyond these, there are rare or forbidden Aether types. Void Aether erases reality, unraveling energy and matter. Echo Aether, like what Caleb possesses, is a mysterious and reactive form that can mimic, distort, and evolve based on exposure to other Aether.
2. Aether States
As an Aetherbound grows stronger, they unlock more control over their Aether and can shift into Aether States:
• Pulse State – Basic control. Users can produce elemental manifestations or effects within a short radius.
• Flow State – Advanced state where the Aether begins to circulate through the user's entire body. Enhances speed, strength, perception, and elemental control.
• Surge State – Rare. The user merges with their Aether entirely, becoming a conduit. Reality bends around them for a short time—but the toll is severe.
• Anima State (Mythical) – Full synchronization between soul and Aether. The user manifests a unique Aether Spirit, a sentient force or weapon formed from their inner self.
3. Techniques: Aethercrafting
Aetherbound can shape their Aether into Techniques, called Crafts. Crafts fall into three categories:
• Essence Crafts – Raw elemental/magical power (e.g., fire blasts, shadow blades, gravity fields).
• Mind Crafts – Influence perception, memory, or emotional state (e.g., illusions, fear fields, empathy waves).
• Soul Crafts – Affect life force and fate (e.g., healing, curse binding, Aether resurrection).
Crafts are stored in a user's Aether Core, which grows and evolves over time.
4. The Aether Core System
Each Aetherbound has a Core, a metaphysical center of their power. Cores have stages:
1. Dormant Core – Awakening stage.
2. Awakened Core – Basic control over one Aether path.
3. Harmonic Core – Dual-Aether users emerge here.
4. Fractured Core – The user's power splits due to trauma or overload (very unstable but powerful).
5. Resonant Core – Legendary tier. Cores resonate with ancient artifacts or ley lines.
5. Forbidden Concepts
Some powers exist outside the system:
• Aether Leeching – Stealing others' Aether by force.
• Void Shaping – Anti-Aether that erases existence. Only seen in high-level enemies.
• Soulbind Contracts – Merging with spirits, demons, or ancient beings in exchange for power.
These are taboo among Aetherbound, but some factions use them anyway.
5. Forbidden Concepts
Some powers exist outside the system:
• Aether Leeching – Stealing others' Aether by force.
• Void Shaping – Anti-Aether that erases existence. Only seen in high-level enemies.
• Soulbind Contracts – Merging with spirits, demons, or ancient beings in exchange for power.
These are taboo among Aetherbound, but some factions use them anyway.
MC-Specific Twist:
Caleb's medallion is a Catalyst Relic, and his Aether type is Echo—an unstable, reactive form that mirrors other Aether but evolves uniquely.
He's a rare Resonant-type, meaning his Core is reactive to ley lines, ancient ruins, and even other people's Aether. His potential is off-the-charts—but so is the danger.