Niqols

The Niqols are the dominant species on Nitis, but they relationship toward their planet is very different compared to how Humans treat Earth.

They are overly a peaceful kind with a great understanding of mana and a deep enmity with the Nak. It seemed that they had also gone through something similar to the First Impact in the past. They have developed with mana as their foundation.

The aliens' hierarchy is quite simple. They have organizations that resembled tribes created according to the connections among each family. The Niqols would belong to the same group if they shared even a single drop of blood.

The elders of the species can join the organizations in charge of the entire population, but they mostly handle borders and specific resources. Those groups become vital only in front of a global crisis. Smaller organizations handle different quadrants of the planet and various tasks.

With the arrival of the Humans on Nitis, several Niqols ambassadors managed the relationship between the two species, and Yeza is one of them. She was the one in charge, which made her the most important alien on Nitis in the eyes of the Global Army.

## Physical Description

They have a humanoid appearance, except for their dark-blue skin, pale irises, and white hair. Furthermore, their sexual organs are compatible with Humans'. Niqols reach physical maturity when they are fifteen. Their eyes can glow in the dark that offers them the ability to see in the darkness.

## Mindset

The Niqols generally had simple relationships. Mutual attraction led to dating, which would transform into proper love if feelings were to bloom.

Those relationships were deep, intense, and strong, but they were based on how open the Niqols were toward their feelings. The aliens rarely went against their emotions, which made the interactions between partners straightforward. It was easy to understand whether their bonds only had physical attraction or had something more.

## Knowledge and Science

Like Humans, they also managed to steal some knowledge from the Naks.

The Niqols had a tight relationship with Nitis' fauna due to their excellent understanding of the mana. They relied on those creatures for different purposes, which often allowed the aliens to replace technology by them.

The Niqols had never needed to develop vehicles, but the Niqols had gone to space. The aliens had yet to reveal how a species that had founded its growth on mana could fly past Nitis' orbit, but more probably most of that technology came from the Nak.

They knew mana in ways that the other species couldn't even begin to comprehend, but that understanding mostly involved feelings. It didn't feature math and equations.

The Niqols had changed their approach to mana after meeting the humans, so those subjects were relatively new. The tribes that could improve and innovate them had an immense value in the alien society in that specific historical period, and Ilman ended up belonging to one of them.

The Niqols had to make up for thousands of years of evolution through barbaric methods. The organizations that could develop new and valuable paths basically had the most important role in the entire alien society since they carried the hopes of a whole species. The future of the Niqols was in their hands.

### Old Ways

The old ways have red hues to them and their "cost" is most times flesh and/or blood but their effects are strong. They also leave usually red marks/hues on their users. The new ways are more docile and easier to use but the split from old to new happened too fast and led to a civil war.

Niqols became scared of sacrifices necessary for the techniques of the old way. The old ways were barbaric, they would use their blood to conduct mana and empower its effects. Most of the spells required a cost usually paid through flesh. They even used the animals as core materials for specific abilities.

The old ways were gruesome, barbaric, but powerful. All of them could cause backlashes, but that felt almost normal since they allowed the Niqols to use abilities able to surpass spells in terms of power. Those methods could also ignore the differences among the various elements since they relied on external materials to achieve their effects.

### Niquols mana manipulation

Niqols are born with a mana core, but it is only when they mature that they can start controlling mana.

Humans rely on techniques that use specific movements to make the mana express the intended effects. The Niqols approach the matter differently, changing the nature of the mana depending on the ability that we want to use.

To throw a punch, Humans would move mana alongside the attack to augment the movement and discharge it once the attack ends. Instead, Niqols transform the mana before throwing the punch. They alter its nature before the actual move. A simple touch can transform into a punch since that's how mana was prepared to do.

## Architecture

The Niqols had adapted to the darkness that never stopped covering the planet. Their architecture and artistic sense showed those customs. The aliens had the chance to fill the insides of their buildings with light, but they limited themselves to dim azure symbols that kept everything relatively dark.

The corridors, elevators, and halls that Khan had crossed were all quite dark. The lights released by their azure symbols allowed him to see everything clearly.

## Niqols/Humans Relationship

Relationship based on exchanges of technologis and knowledge. But after the daylight crisis that afflicted Nitis as well as the rebellion of the xenophobic Niqols, the Niqols elder had decided to close off the planet from the Global Army and any other aliens.

### Padlyn's deal

Its official title was "Padlyn's deal", which obviously wanted to remind of Glenn's sacrifice.

"Humans will gain access to the Aduns' nests starting from next week," Yeza announced while everyone was busy reading the sheet. "I hope that all of you succeed in taming our wonderful creatures."

"Many academies have also agreed to share their training areas," Yeza explained in her sweet voice while her glowing eyes moved through the room. "Friendly tournaments and joint activities will definitely happen in the next months."

"You can also gain access to our cities from now on," Yeza continued, "But you'll still need an escort to explore them. Still, we'll make sure to create a group in charge of the task."

Yeza continued to speak and mentioned multiple topics that made the recruits happy about the new agreement. The humans could finally bring new buildings to Nitis and have more freedom on the planet. The Niqols even hinted at the chance to allow new human classes in the following years.

the Padlyn's deal wasn't as open as every recruit thought. The agreement had terms and heavy restrictions, especially when it came to the knowledge involving Nitis' layout.