Chapter 0: Power System

Power System Overview

The power system is based on Mana, a universal energy source that fuels all abilities. Users manipulate Mana to perform a wide range of magical feats and the key to unlocking extraordinary power 

Core Components:Mana

Mana is the lifeblood of all abilities. Every individual has a finite amount of Mana, which they use to power their abilities. Mana replenishes slowly over time but can be augmented with special training, artifacts, or abilities.

Quality: Determines the efficiency with which a user can manipulate their Mana.

Quantity: Dictates the maximum power a user can unleash, with larger Mana pools allowing for more extensive and powerful abilities.

Elemental Attribute: The attribute unique to each person's Mana. When a person uses a spell of the same element as their Mana, that person's spell is more powerful than normal.

Magic, Abilities, and Abilities:These abilities are unique to an individual, shaped by their personality, life experiences, or lineage. These abilities can vary in ability and power from C rank to triple S rank (SSS), with a special class for the abilities of the royal family, which are M (mythical) rank. These abilities are awakened at the age of 18 with a ritual stone. No one knows why these abilities exist or why only 20% of the empire's inhabitants awaken them.

Ranks (Deep Dive): The rank of an ability is based on a factor: the potential of it. All abilities are limited when awakened, with the obvious fact that, even with limiters like the user's mana or other factors, A rank and above will have an advantage over everyone else. The lower the rank, the lower the potential.All abilities from C to S rank are elemental, essentially elemental-based attacks or defense, with unique characteristics. The exception is that from A to M, users have access to spirits (from elemental sprites to dragons to personifications of gods' blessings). These spirits are invoked and bound with a ritual to the soul of the user (specifics on the ritual section). Obviously, the strength of the spirits varies from the rank of the ability. The general rule is... the lower the rank, the fewer varieties of spirits a mage can invoke. These spirits are often either an integral part of a mage's ability or an amplifier to the elemental damage of the spirit's element (every spirit "resonates" with mana of a certain type).

Common Magic: These are generalized ELEMENTAL abilities that anyone with Mana can learn, like offensive and defensive abilities or mana enhancements. Skilled users of common magic, with enough mana and knowledge of binding vows and a basic knowledge of enclosures and rituals, can replicate or create elemental-based abilities (with a rank of SS or lower).

Rituals are intricate series of symbols with magical meaning powered by Mana, a more powerful version of sacrificial vows and Mana vows. By carving these symbols and making an equivalent exchange, a mage can perform a permanent boost in power, unlock an ability, or perform more intricate spells. Rituals require materialistic components, and Binding Vows are a subcategory of rituals.

Binding Vows

Binding Vows are mystical contracts that users make by using their mind to visualize the ancient and ritualistic language, sacrificing parts of themselves—whether mentally, physically, or through Mana—to gain immense power. These vows amplify abilities, but the sacrifice made directly correlates to the power gained.

Types of Binding Vows

Mana-Based Binding VowsUsers sacrifice a portion of their Mana to supercharge their abilities. The more Mana sacrificed, the greater the power gain. Binding Vows involving Mana can be temporary or permanent.

Temporary Mana Sacrifice: The user sacrifices a portion of their Mana for a limited time, gaining immediate power but becoming vulnerable after the boost expires.Permanent Mana Sacrifice: The user permanently sacrifices part of their Mana capacity to amplify a technique, spell, or ritual.

Examples:

Spell Boost (Temporary): A user sacrifices 30% of their Mana to supercharge a fireball spell, increasing its explosive radius and heat, but leaving them vulnerable afterward.

Sacrifice-Enhanced Binding VowsThese vows involve sacrifices beyond Mana, such as physical losses, time restrictions, or life trade-offs, granting much greater power.

Examples:

Physical Sacrifice: A user sacrifices their left eye to cast a powerful binding spell, which normally would require 100% of their Mana.

Life Sacrifice: A user trades 5 years of their life to instantly recover Mana and cast a devastating spell that wipes out a battlefield.

Hybrid Vows (Mana + Other Sacrifices)These vows combine both Mana and other sacrifices to achieve extreme power amplification. The Mana cost is reduced, but the sacrifice involved still brings significant consequences.

Mana Debt and Risks of Binding Vows

Binding Vows come with risks, particularly when more than 50% of a mage's Mana is sacrificed in battle. Mana Debt occurs when the user enters a state where they can't regenerate Mana for a set period, making them vulnerable. Overuse of Binding Vows can cause permanent reductions in the total Mana capacity.Plus breaking a vow will result in Permanent mana debt, healt issues, loss of senses or death(if the binding vow is big enough, the more "important" the sacrifice the greater the punishment)

Enclosures (Territorial Fields)Enclosures are personalized areas where the user can manipulate the environment to their advantage. While Enclosures do not guarantee a hit, they impose customized rules that affect how the environment behaves within a specific area.Enclosures of SS rank abilities or lower are based on the element of the user's Mana and are the user manifesting their elemental affinities on the ground. While Enclosures can be used by every mage as long as the mage's Mana has an elemental attribute.

Examples:

(water element) Mana Labyrinth: Water overrides the terrain the mage is standing on in the form of a labyrinth. An Enclosure that scrambles Mana that flows within its boundaries, making it harder for opponents to cast abilities effectively.Amplified Enclosures via Binding Vows:A user sacrifices 40% of their Mana permanently to create an Enclosure that lasts indefinitely rather than disappearing after a few minutes (or more depending on the mana of the mage). A user imposes the condition: "I can only activate this Enclosure when my opponent outclasses me." The Enclosure gains double its usual area and temporarily neutralizes the enemy's Mana (this is just an example and not a fixed rule).

Mana Bursts (Maximum Output)Mana Bursts: A single ability or ability to its absolute limit by concentrating the Mana into one point in front of him. By doing this, the mage creates a whole new ability (for example, a fire bullet might turn into a firebolt). Binding Vows can reduce the cost of a Burst or enhance its power even further.

Examples:

A user sacrifices 40% of their Mana and conditions, "I can only use this attack while severely injured," resulting in an ultimate spell that devastates a 50-meter radius but leaves the user vulnerable afterward.

Spirits

Spirits are ethereal beings or manifestations that resonate with the elemental affinity of a mage's Mana. They are summoned and bound to the soul of the user through an intricate ritual, granting access to advanced powers. The bond between the user and their spirit is essential for unlocking higher abilities, and the strength of the spirit depends on the mage's rank and the binding ritual.

Spirit Ranks and Forms

Spirits take different forms depending on the user's rank and elemental affinity. They resonate with the mage's Mana, amplifying the mage's elemental abilities. Spirits can evolve in power and complexity based on the mage's rank, starting from small elemental manifestations to full humanoid forms at higher ranks.

Elemental Spirits (C to B Rank)At these lower ranks, spirits take simple, elemental forms, such as(there are exeptions):

Fire Elementals: Salamanders or fireballs.

Water Elementals: Water sprites or swirls.

Earth Elementals: Small golems or rocks.

Air Elementals: Wind sprites or gusts.

Abilities: Spirits of B rank or higher have their own abilities, limited by their rank. A fire spirit might summon smaller flames or form protective barriers, while a water spirit could manipulate currents or create water shields.

Greater Elemental Spirits (A to S Rank)These spirits take on more complex and larger forms, such as:

Fire Spirits: Fire dragons or massive fiery beings.Water Spirits: Massive serpentine water beings or tidal waves.Earth Spirits: Stone titans capable of manipulating terrain.Air Spirits: Massive storm creatures or powerful wind elementals.

Abilities: Spirits of A rank and above have advanced abilities like calling massive storms, reshaping terrain, or creating powerful defensive walls.

Celestial Spirits (SS Rank to M Rank)At these high ranks, spirits can take humanoid or even divine forms, such as:

Humanoid Forms: Spirits may take human-like shapes, such as fiery warriors or water goddesses.Deific Forms: Higher-ranked spirits may embody gods or divine beings with unparalleled power.

Abilities: These spirits possess vast, complex powers, often affecting entire battlefields. A fire spirit at SS rank might create fire-based shields or destructive waves of flame, while a water spirit at M rank could manipulate oceans or even control weather systems.

Spirit Bonds and Invocation Rituals

The bond between mage and spirit is forged through a ritual involving elemental symbols, chants, and Mana sacrifice. The more powerful the spirit, the more complex the ritual.

The Binding Ritual: A complex series of magical actions, where a mage sacrifices Mana to summon and bind the spirit.Spirit Resonance: As the bond strengthens, the spirit becomes an integral part of the mage's abilities, augmenting their elemental powers and sometimes even manifesting in physical form to assist in battle.

Aetherium: The Ritual Language

The language of Aetherium was created exclusively for rituals, allowing mages to harness and manipulate Mana through a combination of symbols, spoken words, and gestures. This ancient and mystical language enables precise control over the forces of nature, spirits, and even time itself. It operates on the principle that each symbol and phrase in the language carries with it the power to shape reality, bind spirits, or channel energy for specific magical effects.

Core Components of Aetherium

Symbolic Alphabet (Runes) The foundation of Aetherium lies in its runes, which are symbolic representations of various concepts—elemental forces, spiritual entities, abstract concepts, and more. These runes are pictorial in nature, often resembling natural phenomena or forces they represent (for example, the fire rune might resemble a flickering flame, or the binding rune could look like intertwined chains).(these rituals can be used for casting spells, in this case,when a mage uses a ritual for casting a simple spell, the spell in question will come out more powerful than normal,and use 3-4 times more mana)

Elemental Runes: Represent natural elements (e.g., Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Light, Darkness). Manipulation Runes: Used to control forces, such as "Force," "Will," "Bind," or "Manifest." Temporal Runes: Symbols of time, movement, and space (e.g., "Time," "Vortex," "Momentum"). Sacrifice Runes: Representing exchanges made in the ritual (e.g., "Life," "Sever," "Sacrifice").

Phonetic Chants (Spoken Elements) The spoken part of Aetherium is a key element of the ritual language. Each rune has a corresponding chant—a series of words or syllables pronounced in a specific rhythm and tone. These chants focus the caster's Mana and help activate the runes to trigger the magical effect.

The cadence and pronunciation of each chant are crucial to the success of the ritual. A small mispronunciation could cause a ritual to fail or lead to unintended consequences. The caster must match the rhythm of the chant to the magnitude of the spell—slower chants for more powerful rituals, faster chants for rapid spells.

Mental Focus & Sacrificial Elements Aetherium rituals require mental concentration and intent. The caster must focus their will and channel their Mana through the ritual's structure, imagining the desired outcome and understanding the sacrifice involved.

Sacrificial Components: In many rituals, the caster must offer a personal sacrifice—such as part of their life force, physical body, or other resources—in exchange for the desired magical effect. The greater the sacrifice, the stronger the ritual's power.

Intent: The caster must clearly envision the outcome of the ritual. Without focus or clarity, the ritual may misfire, resulting in unintended effects.

Ritual Syntax (Grammar and Structure) The grammar of Aetherium is highly structured. It follows specific rules for how symbols and words must be arranged for a ritual to work. Changing the order of symbols or altering a chant's tone can completely alter the ritual's effects.

Syntax Rules: Each rune must be placed in a set order to form meaningful rituals. For example, a fire-based attack ritual will start with the "force" rune, followed by the "fire" rune, then the "targeting" rune to direct the spell at a specific target.

Modifiers and Amplifiers: The structure of the language allows for modifiers to alter the intensity, range, or duration of the ritual. Additional words or runes can be added to amplify the effects, such as extending the duration or increasing the power of the spell.

Example Vocabulary of Aetherium

Elemental Runes (its just traditional chinese with latin pronounciation lol)

Ignis (火) – Fire Aqua (水) – Water Aer (空気) – Air Terra (地) – Earth Lux (光) – Light Umbra (影) – Shadow Fulgor (雷) – Lightning

Manipulation Runes

Vinculum (束縛) – Bind, Control Fas (力) – Force, Power Voluntas (意志) – Will, Desire Arcus (弧) – Arc, Pathway Sileo (沈黙) – Silence, Void

Temporal & Spatial Runes

Tempus (時) – Time Spatium (空間) – Space Vortex (渦) – Whirlpool (for dimensional manipulation) Momentum (進行) – Momentum (for acceleration)

Sacrifice Runes

Sacrificium (犠牲) – Sacrifice Aeternum (永遠) – Eternity Consilium (誓約) – Oath, Vow Severum (切断) – Sever, Cut

Spirit Runes

Spiritus (霊) – Spirit Manifestatio (具現) – Manifestation Lumen (光) – Radiance (summoning celestial spirits) Infernis (地獄) – Inferno (summoning destructive spirits) Protego (保護) – Protection (summoning defensive spirits) Example Rituals Using Aetherium

Fireball Ritual (Elemental Magic)

Runes: Fas Ignis Vinculum Arcus Translation: "Force of fire binds a pathway." Chant: "Fi-ri-nis!" (rhythmic chant amplifying the fiery surge). Effect: Summons a fireball and directs it at the target.

Spirit Summoning Ritual (Spirit Magic)

Runes: Spiritus Manifestatio Vinculum Lux Translation: "Spirit's manifestation binds light." Chant: "Es-pri-um!" (deep, ethereal chant). Effect: Summons a celestial light spirit to aid the caster in battle or healing.

Time Freeze Ritual (Temporal Magic)

Runes: Tempus Sileo Vinculum Translation: "Time silence binds." Chant: "Te-um-sio!" (slow, deliberate chant to freeze time). Effect: Freezes time in a specific area for a short duration.

Life Trade Ritual (Sacrificial Magic)

Runes: Sacrificium Aeternum Voluntas Vinculum Translation: "Sacrifice of eternity binds will." Chant: "Sa-cri-fi-cum!" (intense, forceful chant to bind life force). Effect: The caster sacrifices part of their life force to gain immense Mana or power instantly. Rules for Conducting Aetherium Rituals Gestures and Movement: Each rune is not only spoken and written but often requires specific hand gestures or ritual implements (such as a staff, dagger, or blood) to properly channel Mana. Mental Focus: The caster must have clear intent and a focused mind when performing a ritual. Distractions or confusion can result in failed rituals or dangerous magical consequences. Sacrifices: Rituals often demand a personal sacrifice, which could range from Mana to life force, physical parts (like a finger or eye), or even temporary power loss. The more significant the sacrifice, the more potent the ritual becomes. Equivalence: Aetherium works on the principle of equivalence—greater costs yield greater power. Mages must weigh their desires against the price they are willing to pay.