Elemental

Angels created the world, and then returned many years later to the isle of Midden where they lived amongst the people. When it came time for them to leave, they bestowed the gift of Aether upon twenty-two chosen humans that they considered to be virtuous.

However, the angel, Lucian, gave his to someone unsuitable, a slave girl called Aya, who struggled to control this new power. Together, they five children, who became known as the Ananans. Each of these five children manifested one of the other elements. The relationship between Lucian and Aya was so damaging that it also created The Pit, the underworld, and from that unholy place came the demons known as Marterrans.

The Angels' creation, exploits in Midden, and gifting of Aether all form part of the Scriptures, a series of religious texts that are taught as the beginning of history. The Scriptures are considered fact, the proof being the existence of both Magi and Ananans in the world.

Magi are descended from 'virtuous' humans

The world formed and evolved naturally over billions of years. Later, certain humans evolved further, developing the ability to control their bodies and their surrounding environments at a molecular level. They could create and manipulate all the elements, including aether and the mind, and they could also convert any item, including themselves into this element.

This caused a lot of strife with other humans, which they sought to repair by gifting aether to thousand of humans who were considered important and leaders of their kind. The gift was well received, but these newly formed Magi, misidentified the gifters as 'angels', continued to believe that these evolved humans were evil.

They moved to an island in the north that they called Marterra, and became known as the Marterrans. Here, they lived in harmony with the environment and the local humans, and with some they had offspring. These offspring could only access one type of element. Outside of Marterra, these children became known as Ananans.

There are no angels, only Marterrans

The continent of Magnus Prime began to flourish with inventions, creations, and wars, but to the north, the Ananans, the spawn of Lucuan, and the Marterrans, the demons summoned by his unholy alliance, continued to live. This existence became a threat in the minds of the Magi.

King Leric of Peren launched The Invasion of Marterra. The king of the Marterrans, Raan Ritan, challenged Leric to a single combat duel. Ritan had foreseen his death and knew it would activate The Heart of Magic. The moment Leric killed him, all of the Marterrans disappeared, but the Ananans were left behind.

With the end of Marterra, and the consequential subjugation of the Ananans, Middengeard was now free of the crimes of Lucian. A new calendar began this year. Marterra became Favont, and joined the continent and union of Magnus Prime. Any remaining physical evidence of the Marterrans was destroyed.

The Magi destroyed their own creators

'I was sixteen when I first came to this country, Marterra, as it was known. Cosmos had filled my imagination with terrors and stories of snarling and ugly demons. I sometimes wonder if their judgment was born of jealousy. Marterra was a wondrous country, populated with those gifted beyond comprehension, more gifted than the Magi. They could use these gifts to raise entire cities, grow crops, even carve mountains, and create rivers. I realised that the moment I lay my eyes upon them, they were angels.'

'So where were the Marterrans?'

'Don't you see my dear? They are as one. They were the whole, the original, our creators, and we, and all Ananans, are the scattered facets of their design.'

— Aeryn DeSteffen tells Listelle about the Marterrans

Those that wield Aether, the Magi, believe themselves to be the only righteous users of magic. They have a poor opinion based on lack of education on Ananans and would be very upset to ever be considered in the same magical category. Their ignorance leads them to make a lot of assumptions about Ananans, including that they can only use their magic to maim or kill, and that they evoke their powers through chants and spell books. This resulted in the banning of Ananan music and literature.

Magi are ignorant of Ananans

From birth, the Magi are taught that they are superior. From where they sit in the Temple, to the type of education and healthcare that is afforded to them, they all prove their natural superiority. Their opinions are always admired above others. They are listened to, and respected. Everyone has to bow to them, speak to them in a formal tone, and defer to them in all matters.

'You're different. Others bow to me, say yes to everything, and then panic when they can't deliver. But you, you look me directly in the eye and tell me no. That honesty is surprisingly refreshing.'

— Listelle to Magan

Magi expect obedience and respect

Ananans know to treat the Magi with respect, but they do not believe they are deserving of respect. They find their attitude to other people and the environment to be rude and egotistical, but as a people they prefer not to treat others with stereotypes. They find them frustrating, especially when they try to share their knowledge with them. Magi will usually dismiss Ananans as they believe them to be uneducated.

Magi are frustrating to Ananans

Ananans show no bias towards different elementals within their culture. To them it is the equivalent of eye or hair colour, and should not matter to opinions on personality. There is no expectation to only have families with similar elements, and anyone who makes comments to this end or shows any sign of prejudice is usually shunned.

Ananans also don't refer to their element as 'magic'. They don't consider themselves human, and therefore what sets them apart from humans isn't 'magical', it's natural.

'Would you call the behaviour of a chameleon magical? Or would you just call it nature? I can create fire and ice, as much as a chameleon can change its appearance. Not magic, just nature.'

— Magan to Listelle

Ananans are indifferent to each other's 'nature'