Essence
Before Fractis, before Eronis, Essence was all that the universe knew. The eight Essences represent the fundamental forces of existence. When condensed and combined, they form Essentia, the physical realm of matter and energy that everyone in the world interacts with. It is manipulation of these Essences to indirectly affect the world that lets people do the seemingly impossible... that lets them perform Magic. Utilizing these Essences through manual means is simple mundane crafting, or if using Essence theory to indirectly manipulate them, it is called Alchemy.
The Eight Essences
Scholars have identified eight Essences as the core of every other kind of Essence. More kinds exist, but these are stable fusions of other kinds. Even Void, the chaos outside of the world, is made up of a conflicting and strained entertwining of various Essences.
Aether
The essence that most think of as 'magic' itself, Aether is the binding essence, the one that flows and connects and allows all others to interact with one another. Aether is both the most subtle and the most flexible of the Eight Essences. Aether acts as a buffer that can carry multiple other Essences, and it is able to transform into another Essence to make up for a lack in some way. Concentrated Aether creates Aetheric Current, the basis by which all magical constructs work. It can be thought of as raw magic, in its most pure form, but this Essence is also what allows communication and, many speculate, thought itself.
Vitalis
Vitalis is the lifeblood of Fractis, encompassing all forms of living energy. It is the force behind creation, fertility, and the unending cycles of growth and renewal. Vitalis Essence is in anything that lives, though it alone doesn't determine life, and anything that aids in life has a bit of Vitalis in it. It also covers the concept of growth and regeneration, or healing.
Umbra
Umbra embodies the mysteries of the unknown, the shadows that hide secrets, darkness and the subtle forces that dwell within. It is the essence of stealth, deception, and hidden knowledge, manifesting in shadowy creatures, veils of darkness, and enigmatic ruins. Umbra reflects the unexplored and the unknowable, symbolizing the depth of mysteries within both the world and its inhabitants. Possibly the most mysterious of the base eight, Umbra is a difficult Essence to control or study, by its very nature.
Radiance
Radiance is the illuminating counterpoint to Umbra, representing light, clarity, and understanding. It embodies hope, enlightenment, and the unveiling of truths. It is a force of progress and revelation, and of showing the fundamentals of reality.
Flux
Flux is the raw energy of transformation, embodying change, unpredictability, and the freedom to adapt. It is the force that fuels the chaotic shifts of landscapes, weather patterns, and even magical surges. Some see it as a force of destruction, but Flux is truly about the shift from one state to another, and can be the fuel behind creation as well as destruction. Anything that changes has influence of Flux, and it is always present in minute amounts, carried by the Aether, in order for events to happen.
Cruxis
The force of stability and order, representing foundation, structure, and endurance. It anchors the world, ensuring stability amid the chaos. Cruxis is the essence of permanence and discipline, of resistance, containing and countering Flux. Pure Cruxis is static and unchanging, the most stable of the Essences, often used to guide and capture other Essences, when used correctly.
Tempest
Where Flux is the Essence of change itself, Tempest is the Essence of movement, of turbulence, of the sky and storms. It represents conflict and clash, as well as guided motion from one place to another, and freedom of movement. Some confuse this with the 'freedom' Flux offers, but where Flux is based around change itself and chaos as a concept, Tempest is about the drive to move, to flow, and to break boundaries.
Pyros
Pyros is the essence of fire, not only as a destructive force but also as a source of energy, renewal, and emotion. It symbolizes passion, courage, and the cycles of creation and destruction. Heat and flame are just some manifestations of Pyros, which can also be seen as physical energy itself, as well as consumption.
"Essence is the breath of the world, the pulse in its veins, the fire in its heart. To understand Essence is to grasp the threads that bind all life, all magic, and all creation. To command it is to reshape the very fabric of reality itself."
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