Empathokinetic focus

An **empathokinetic focus** (plural: foci) is an item in *Magical Girl Policy*. A focus is a tool that aids in empathokinesis, the main supernatural ability in the series. A focus is typically activated when the user channels an appropriate emotion into it, which would generally require some degree of empathokinetic skill and thus a large Investiture. Some foci, however, lack this requirement, such as the Standridge Stones' warps activating when a user knocks on a stone with a specific rhythm.

The Ardent Empire is credited with the invention of foci, which occurred soon after the discovery of Investiture, with those who create foci called Focus Shapers. This catapulted empathokinesis from a curiosity to a mainstay in society, with the Empire's technological advances consisting of new kinds of foci instead of the advanced machinery and electronics that Earth would develop. Correlating with the rarity of empathokinesis on Earth, foci are also quite rare there, with the only known foci being the Spirit Sticks, the Standridge Stones, and Platicore's various inventions.

## List of empathokinetic foci

### Armor

Enhanced armor that provides protection from empathokinetic attack. Trace mentions it as something Platicore is capable of providing.

### Augmentations

Some foci augment the user's physical or empathokinetic abilities. A notable example is a type of focus created by Platicore during the Ardentia Civil War that fuses to the user, enhancing the user to an extraordinary degree. This allowed Platicore's soldiers to challenge the better-trained and equipped Ardent Empire army, but these foci have major adverse side effects on the user's body and mind, with their enemies calling them abominations. Platicore can no longer create this specific focus in the present due to his impaired empathokinetic skill, but he is capable of providing other enhancements.

### Ball

A small ball that bounces differently based on the emotional state of the one who throws it; it bounces normally if channeling tranquility, but becomes less predictable if the thrower's mind wanders. It was used in a simple training exercise for initiates of the Tranquil Discipline: one would throw the ball against a wall from one hand to the other with a steady rhythm, with the trainee's ease of catching the ball correlating to their dexterity and emotional control.

### Empathic capacitor

This black pearl-shaped object is created with transplanted Investiture. Platicore combines it with ordinary objects in order to give life, sentience, and empathokinetic powers to the objects, creating a golem-like monster. The empathic capacitor stores the Investiture the monster has drained, though this energy may be lost if overloaded. When a monster dies, its capacitor is released, levitates above the ground, and appears to shatter. This is normally to disguise the capacitor becoming invisible and intangible until an Investiture collector signals it to reappear, though it will shatter in earnest if its Investiture reserves are sufficiently low.

### Empathic isolation cell

A type of holding cell in the Ardent Empire that prevents one inside from sensing things outside with their empathokinetic perception.

### Gateway

*Main article: Standridge Hill Stone Circle*
A gateway, also called a Circle, is a stone structure characterized by its ability to link two points in space, even across universes. The original design requires an object called a waystone to work and merely allowed teleportation to the destination. The Standridge Hill Stone Circle and its partner are of a unique newer design, however: by being built as a pair, the gateways can directly connect to each other in space. The outer stones, called the "eye", allow matter to move through it and appear at a linked stone elsewhere. The center stone, called the "iris", can store objects within, which may be retrieved from the iris of either gateway. Either function requires a stimulus designated by the user beforehand. The Ardent Empire used gateways as transportation to distant worlds, though they were all rendered inoperable during the Ardentia Civil War, as one side would escape through one before destroying it to prevent the opposition and Other Power from following, so the Standridge Circle was designed so as not to require a waystone. The Standridge Circle is a gateway on Earth that once connected to the Ardent Empire, has unusual effects on the surrounding Kessia City, and serves several vital roles for the Spirit Guard.

### Investiture collector

A device created by Platicore and used by Trace to retrieve the Investiture yield from the empathic capacitor of defeated monsters. It is said to resemble a sex toy with a vent on the side and a tuning fork attached. When turned on, the collector prompts a hidden capacitor to phase back into existence, and when the tuning fork contacts the capacitor, the capacitor breaks apart and is absorbed into the vent. When the collector is filled with Investiture, it begins to glow, with the glow's color fading into colors corresponding to the amount of energy. Known colors in order of increasing energy include yellow, purple, blue, and green, with Platicore considering purple-blue the baseline of a successful harvest. The Investiture can then be transferred by touching the back of the collector.

### Lamp

A lamp that creates light when an appropriate emotion is channeled into it; the Shrine Maiden is seen channeling compassion into hers.

### Pen and desk

A pair of foci used for long-distance communication in the Ardent Empire. The quill pen activates when boldness is channeled into it, at which point the user may write glowing green characters onto the desk. By channeling urgency into the desk, the message is absorbed into the desk's runes before a glow signals that the message has been transmitted. It is unclear if the desk receives messages in addition to sending them or some other focus does this.

### Perception filters

A set of devices made by Platicore and used by Trace. When active, they manipulate the perception of observers. Trace uses some while setting up Cell-celia in plain sight so the people at Buy Bright would ignore her. Trace considers the filters difficult to properly configure.

### Platicore's armor

A mobile suit of Investiture-powered armor made by Platicore, who has not left it since its creation after he woke from his hibernation on Earth. It is more like a vehicle than armor in the traditional sense, as Platicore resides in a transparent dome where he may control the armor's movements. Known functions include information monitors, a feeding tube, and a translation device.

### Scholar's device

A device created by the Scholar in order to analyze the Other Power. After having it scan empathic readings at the Other Power's veil and working out the patterns of the veil's interference, some data on it was found, allowing for the development of the Spirit Sticks, which can theoretically be used to combat the Other Power.

### Silencer

A stick-shaped focus that, when activated, creates a field that blocks sound from going in or out. Older models of this focus required the user to channel tranquility, while newer ones utilize detachment instead.

### Spirit Stick

*Main article: Spirit Stick*
A baton-shaped focus created by the Scholar that is incredibly advanced, said to be capable of opposing the Other Power. Five were created, which were stored in the iris of the Ardent Empire-Earth gateway to be used by the reincarnations of the Princess's team so they may protect Earth. Each Spirit Stick is paired with one Spirit Guard, and the focus's main function is to let the user enter their powered up Spirit Guard form, granting access to the powers of their Ardentia predecessor.

### Stealth band

An Investiture-powered wristband made by Platicore and used by Trace. While active, it creates an effect on Trace that tricks the minds of observers into not seeing her. It is still possible to sense Trace's location with a strong EKP, with Spirit Guard Serenity being the only one known to have done this.

### Warp stones

Stones that, when activated, create a small green portal connecting to a paired stone elsewhere. Platicore has several such stones hidden throughout Kessia City that connect to his lair, which Trace regularly uses. Trace activates one by knocking on it four times.

### Weapons

There are weapons that utilize the wielder's channeled emotions to perform empathokinetic abilities. The Ardent Empire apparently had many such weapons. The Spirit Guard similarly use their weapons to perform most of their special moves.