Sora Dior

> *Prana is the essence of the world itself.*
>
> Brice discussing Prana

**Prana**, meaning "Truth or breath" in Valeri) is an energy native to lifeforms within the fold, and flows through everything, as an essential component of matter.

## Origin

Prana exists everywhere in the fold. Prana can even exist in a vacuum. As of now, what Prana consists of or comes from is unknown.

## Overview

Prana is essential to all living beings in the fold, enabling their survival in multiple ways. For all of living memory, and likely prior to it, Prana has been an integral part of the world. Strong or weak, mage, regular, or otherwise, if you run out of Prana you will die. It fulfills the role of life energy for organisms within the fold, as well as acting in lieu of oxygen for breathing.

Prana can be utilized in a multitude of ways, given adequate knowledge, skill, resistance, and natural talent. Through Prana, one can attain eternal youth, extended lifespans, halt aging, control natural elements and, even attain the powers of a god.

Prana is normally not visible to the naked eye like air, unless it is highly concentrated, manifested in large amounts or is manipulated using a Prana Technique or item. There are exceptional areas within the fold where Prana is highly concentrated naturally (eg. underground, ruins, nests). These locations can appear as being submerged in liquid Prana, and can be hazardous to enter for those who lack high Prana resistance and adequate combat skill to defend against the beasts that often inhabit there.

The first person to systematically study Prana was Ordis Tarun Syberion, head of 'The Hall of Origin', one of the 6 great guilds. All terminology (jargon), standards, and units used to describe Prana today originated from Ordis's work.

### **Air and Prana**

When Ordis Syberion began his research on prana, he performed theoretical study in order to compare the difference between air and Prana. Ordis then wrote his theories in his book that is now called the Fundamentals Of Prana Volume 1.

In short, Air and Prana has few things in common. They are both flows throughout their surroundings and essential for all living beings, as both can allow for breathing and provides moisture for a person. It is stated that with enough mastery, Prana can replace air and carry out all the processes that air would.

The most significant difference between air and Prana is the laws by which it operates. Unlike air, which uniformly conforms to the laws of pressure when flowing, Prana has no unifying laws. It flows and behaves entirely differently in different places, sometimes it become gas and other times it become liquid, depending on other various factors, like the environment, Prana density or consentrations, and the flora or fauna of the area.

The flow of Prana determines its qualities, allowing it to appear as water, fire, light, and other phenomena and materials. Prana has no singular property or feature and is rather the very basis of all energy and things within the fold.

## Prana Control

Prana is a very powerful, mysterious substance. It can be naturally manipulated into water, fire, air, or pure/force. To manipulate Prana into natural elements or unique forms, a person must find the "elements" that suit them. Prana can change in infinite ways. Controlling Prana is like interrupting natural law, so it is considered to be very dangerous.

Prana control and manipulation abilities vary greatly among individuals, although children of practicing conductors have a better chance of being born with higher prana control/manipulation talents than their parents.

There are 3 types of mages in order of natural strength, Archons, meisters, and Beyonders. Collectively they are called 'Mages'.

The most common type of Prana user is called an Archon. Their signature ability is **Reinforcement** ("*Body Strengthening, Physical Enhancement*"). This is the ability to strengthen your body with Prana. Every living organism within the fold has an individual flow of Prana. By using this flow, one can heal themselves or others, enhance their physical capabilities or grant numerous other abilities. How strong an Archon can get is not only determined by their inborn prana affinity, but their dedication and will to succeed.

*"Tzarka the king of Apokris was born with one of the lowest recorded affinities for Prana, and yet he stands tall today an Archon with a Bolt control count of nearly 400. With an unfathomable mastery over the basic Shunpo and Northern fist techniques." - Brice.*

There are two ways to control Prana: control through an item or direct control. Generally speaking, when one says "controlling Prana", it usually refers to **direct control**.

in-prana: internal

ex-prana: external

### **Direct Control**

Being able to directly control Prana is a rare talent and it can be said that this talent itself is an absolutely necessary requirement to becoming a mage. Basically all mages have some degree of control over Prana, although this does not mean all mages can become *skillful* controllers of Prana. After all this very ability is what allows them to use prana techniques in the first place.

### **Through Items**

Not all mages have good Prana control, so some will rely on items to assist them in battle like Mikkel who used a staff which can use internal prana to manipulate external prana into specific forms/flows. Or Lurker who used a ball item to create earthen dwellings while travelling. Basic common items like Lighthouses and magic flasks can also create special effects from prana like a lamp or infinite water flasks.

Controlling Prana through items doesn't require a Contract because they can only be created by a meister in the first place. Who are the only ones who can permanently lock the prana flow of an item to create an effect. Thus when prana passes into the item it is forced into a certain flow that the spurs prana to do the same creating the effect. This effect strengthens or weakens depending of whether the flow has to flux or not.

Something like a water flask can last for centuries of use before breaking down or needing repair.

While a relic weapon can be used for decades with regular repair and maintenance until its physical form starts to breakdown. This is because creating the initial locked flow is the hardest part, afterwards any decent meister with good skills can repair the locked flow as it breaks down by 'restoring' it, although it wont be as good as new unless it is done by the weapon's creator.

ie: in a desert a magic flask will have to flux the world's prana flow to create water decreasing prana efficiency and increasing wear and tear of the locked flow.

## *Known Techniques*

**Basic Techniques**

* Shinusu Piercer/shunpo 1
* **Reinforcement 2**
* Iron Defense/Bulwark 3
* Burning Jay/Northern/Iron Fist 4
* Redan/Flare 5

**Unique Techniques**

* Combustion/Eruption
* Berserker Mode/Colosolgi
* Black Fish/Noctter

## Prana Manipulation

In order to manipulate Prana externally without the help of any special items, a person needs to **dreamwalk** in a state between life and death and commune with Seraph and Atlas the gods of order and chaos, and receive a contract for a limited amount of time after which you must commune once more after a 7 day cooldown. No one remembers their conversation with the gods or their appearance. Once they wake they'll instinctively know the terms of their contract, and the length of it. It is not guaranteed that you will receive a contract, and you only get one chance to commune, if you fail the first time you try it is decided then forever no do overs. Only first time successors can keep renewing their contract.

It is not impossible to manipulate Prana externally without a contract. Simple manipulation of amounts below a certain standard is possible without a contract. Also, an innate resistance to Prana, and Body Strengthening ability that utilizes internal Prana flow or other similar skills are all natural abilities that one can have and thus do not require contracts.

In very rare special cases, there are people who can control and manipulate Prana externally without a contract nor using any special items, because they are not bound to the abject rules of the gods, they are called "Beyonders". Because Beyonders can use Prana freely, they are labeled as dangerous beings and sometimes hunted by the church of Seraph. All Beyonders who have claimed Prana control on their own will, have an immense natural affinity with Prana, which leads to them being extremely powerful.

If caught by the church they will attempt to have the beyonder commune and make a contract with the gods, which will permanently remove their natural talent and bind them to the rules of the gods even after the contract is over.

### **Flow manipulation**

When manipulating Prana, there are two major types or methods. They are referred to **Flow** and **Flux**.

Although there is no exact predictable pattern to the flow of Prana, Prana does momentarily flow in certain directions, so one can efficiently manipulate Prana by reading and encouraging the flow in desired directions. Once a person begins to control Prana in one direction, it is difficult to change direction. The greatest advantage to flow control is that it allows the manipulator to control a larger amount of Prana with reduced effort. Compared to flux manipulation, this normal method is much faster and the mage can manipulate larger amounts of Prana. Sometimes, one can take advantage of the flow of the enemy's strength to add to their own. Of course, the most important part is reading the current flow of Prana and finding the optimum point, is the best way to use it.

### **Flux manipulation**

Manipulating external Prana by forcefully changing, altering or reversing its flow.

Flux Control is slower than flow control and thus generally means the mage can only control a smaller amount of Prana in comparison to flow control, but allows the mage to completely dictate the flow of that Prana, allowing them efficiency for the amount of Prana used. flux control is mostly used to "destroy" or to "stop" the enemy.

Flux control requires more caution when compared to flow control. In fact, to use flux control, you need to be able to read the flow of Prana more accurately than you need to for flow control. You instead break, block and shatter the flow and make it your own. Changing the flow of Prana in the wrong ways can be unintentionally destructive, requiring caution. Even though this may sound very destructive, flow control is actually better for destroying things.

## Prana Resistance

Prana Resistance is the innate ability to withstand Prana, allowing the individual to resist attacks consisting of Prana, move around in areas with certain amounts of Prana density and so on. It is to be inborn for the inhabitants of the fold.

## Types of Prana

### **External or Natural Prana**

Prana manipulated by individuals will appear initially in the form of force, fire, air, or liquid water which is said to be the purest form of Prana. (As touted by the church or Seraph)

### **Man-Controlled/Internal Prana**

The entire fold is filled with Prana so it is everywhere but there is a key difference between natural Prana and man-controlled Prana.

What the difference is has not been elaborated upon as of yet. This point it the key to superseding the peak rank 9/level 500 bottleneck for Archon's and meisters.

#### **Prana Organs**

There are many cases where a person uses their Prana to change the nature of their organs for tactical use. Eye techniques to see far way? etc

### **Relics**

IE: meister created Items with incredibly complex flows, to the point where it can resemble a brain or neural pathway, creating a item with a special effect. These can be used actively by archons or passively by mortals.

Instead of thinking that **Primeval relics** have souls, it's probably more accurate to say that they are created using a very special and complex flow of Prana, usually representing a brain in complexity. Resulting in varying levels of intelligence for the item. This results in a permanent flow that although damaged by flux, will self repair. Some of these special relics can even repair their physical forms by consuming raw materials.

## Contracts

After a contract has been made with the gods, one must uphold several terms and conditions. If one violates any of these rules, the contract is considered to have been broken and the rights are taken away, making their contract null. The strictness of these rules varies between mages. In terms of the contract that low rank mages make with the gods, it can be said that they are nearly completely free of restrictions. While high rank mages have much more stringent restrictions. Such as 'don't work to usurp the gods' or 'do not use prana to hurt innocents'. the minutia are unique to each person, but one of the largest clauses conferred to every meister is to answer the call when the gods spur you to act.

Such as during the great rebellion. When the first beyonder rebelled and fought the envoys of the gods before claiming Synmar as his domain, free from their control. (now the church looks for someone that could possibly get strong enough to challenge the first for his throne, in order to return it's ownership to the gods.

This is the only place in the fold where Prana can be freely manipulated without a contract, but it requires skill and talent. This is the continent of Synmar, as control over that area of the world was stolen from the gods by the first Beyonder.

## Bolts and Levels

The basic unit of Prana manipulation for a meister is called a Bolt, the power of the Bolt is measured using density, the darker the Bolts density the denser the prana. The volume of the Bolt is more an indication of skill, the smaller and darker the Bolt the more control they have.The more Bolts one can control, the more skilled at manipulating Prana one is judged to be. However, this does not mean one can manipulate greater volume and density with many Bolts. As the number of Bolts increase, control becomes more difficult. Overdoing the handling of Bolts can physically and mentally exhaust the manipulator - in serious cases, this may lead to death.

If supported by a relic, the manipulation of created Bolts can become much easier, but the number of Bolts does not increase.

For those who have no manipulation aptitude, it is impossible to create a bolt, even their natural minor ex-prana control becomes non-existent. preventing them from learning techniques that rely on it.

Even for those who have the talent, it can take years to create just one Bolt at the worst. After that, they have to learn how to manipulate it. The number of Bolts is equivalent to the measurement of skill, as considerable prana control is needed to create them.

However, the ability to manipulate more Bolts does not mean more power. The power is measured with density/density. The ability to create more Bolts means that one has an advantage over the opponent since the opponent needs to avoid more attacks but, it is also harder to control and even harder to increase their density. The phenomenon where density decreases when Bolts increase is called a *Drop*. With practice, this Drop can be overcome. There are extremely rare cases of *Surge* where the density increases with the Bolts, but this is rarely seen outside of high rank mages. The number of Bolts is equivalent to the power of a meister because while density can be increased through a relic, Bolts can only be created through the prana control of the meister.

Bolts can vary in appearance. They are not prana, rather a way to use prana. In Prasma's case, this control over prana manifests itself as flames. In Lewis's case, it manifests itself as light lasers. While it is probable that lewis can manifest prana in other manners depending on his special element, this seems to be his natural manifestation. Likewise, Prasma's natural manifestation of prana is probably fire, since \_ also said thatOrdis's Family are notorious for producing Fire users.

The volume of a Bolt. Specifically, it refers to the surface area that Prana is spread out across, regardless of height. 1 bolt is equal to around 1 square meter of ex Prana. When discussing the volume of a Bolt, the height is not considered because its range of fluctuation is large and heavily depends on the situation, which makes it difficult to discern. (Height is not involved in the calculation of the volume of the Bolt. The height is dealt with by converting it using the numerical value of the concentration of the Bolt in question.)

It can be said that the larger the volume one can control, the wider the area in which Prana can be applied. Those who can control a large volume are closest to what the traditional meisters were, who controlled the flow of battlefields. Since they had to be able to control Prana throughout the whole battlefield, the volume a meister had to control would have to be the significant.

However, because one can control a wide bolt does not mean one can manipulate a certain concentration of Prana within the prana. Normally, the centre of a bolt has the highest concentration of Prana and the circumference has the lowest concentration, but skilled manipulators can make the outer layer quite dense. There are also some who can control the concentration within the Bolt quite freely, although this is a talent only seen in beyonders.

### **density**

**density** refers to the concentration or mass of Prana within a Bolt. Only the concentration of Prana in the center of the Bolt is used to calculate density. There is no numerical unit that can be related to density. The measurement of density can only be done visually, using a relic or specialized techniques. The darker the density, the more effective and destructive a Bolt is. This is why control talent is extremely important. Normally, the denser the Prana in the environment, the faster the density in a Bolt can be increased. However, there is a limit to the amount of density that can be pressed into a Bolt and this limit depends on the person. The environment has no effect in overcoming this limit whatsoever.

The concentration of density within a Bolt is not uniform, either. The value of density changes depending on the density, so there are big differences in regards to density between individuals who manipulate Prana. If one has very good mental concentration, it is possible to manipulate a high density of Prana within a small volume.

### **Bolt, volume, and density**

Basically, when discussing the Bolts, density and volume an individual can control, Bolt count would actually refer to the maximum number of Bolts one can manipulate simultaneously. volume would actually refer to the maximum size one can manipulate if they created only one Bolt and density would actually refer to the maximum concentration of prana one can press into a Bolt, regardless of the volume in this case. For example, let's say someone can:

* control 4 Bolts at once, but they're not very big or dense
* control 1 meter size if they create only 1 Bolt and focus everything on it

Bolt, volume and density are very closely related and, when supported by a relic or some other form of aid, large differences can be seen. Normally, the more numerous the number of Bolts, the smaller the volume and lower the density that can be managed and the larger the volume, the lower the density that can be managed. density therefore heavily depends on the value of volume and Bolt, as an increase in either means a decrease in density. Fundamentally, this is known as the "**Drop**". Sometimes, there is a special case in which the numbers of manageable volume and density instead increase as the number of Bolts increases. This special case is known as "**surge**" and is an extremely rare talent for meisters, and common for beyonders.

The drop can be overcome with improvement from training and support from external aids, which helps in reducing the amount subtracted. However, one can **never** become a plus tendency. Also, being a plus does **not** mean one can produce an infinite number of Bolts. surges find it equally if not a bit more difficult to increase the number of Bolts.

## Notes and Trivia

* Prana in the fold has areas of varying amounts of Prana density, increasing with each Floor. In lower concentrations, its density makes the Prana act like a gas, but in higher concentrations, Prana behaves like a liquid water.
* While the possibilities of Prana are said to be without bounds, limits still exist depending on the person who used it. A mage also can't use exter Prana to increase their rank. Prana can't be used to magically become a god. It can't be used to change the species of a character, like changing someone into a giant rabbit or flying bat. As a result, Prana has close to no limits or no known limits. But in some situations, it is bound by several conditions.
* When young people start to manipulate Prana properly since early age, their growth slows before they become adults.
* Prana Manipulation does not always work. notably in the barrens surrounding the twilight grave regardless of contract or not, including beyonders.
* Currently,Ordis is the only known person to handle the largest level of Prana. Although the accurate number is not recorded, it's clear that it surpasses other recorded figures greatly. According to some who saw his battle, ordis seems to have handled over 500 Bolts during combat. There is even a rumor that he is able to create life from Prana.

## The Fold

### Elys

No one is sure of what this area looks like, it is only known to be the home of the gods. Suspected to be in the far sky above the fold.

### Terra

This is the world we live in containing the continents of synmar, Abuurin, etc

### Tarros

This is the world that lies opposite to ours, on the other side of the underground, tens of thousands of miles away.

## The Outer Realms

The fractured remains of dimensions that were once like our own or similar. It is postulated that realmgates are formed when fragments of these realms are caught by the fold's prana flow and absorbed.