Empathokinesis

**Empathokinesis**, also known as simply "magic", is an ability in *Magical Girl Policy*. It is the process of harnessing emotions for use as a force that affects the physical world. It, along with Investiture, serves as the foundation of the series's supernatural abilities. The study of this is referred to as empathokinetics and began in the Ardent Empire, spreading to worlds the Ardentia interacted with. Empathokinesis is not widely known on Earth, with even the Spirit Guard not truly grasping its mechanics. Platicore is seemingly the only one on the planet studied enough to comprehend it, designing his own empathokinetic foci.

## Description

In its early state, empathokinesis had limited utility, merely serving as a curiosity for Ardentia privileged enough to train in it, such as royalty, academics, and the military. The discovery of Investiture, however, led to the invention of foci, tools that enabled larger scale abilities that are now associated with empathokinesis. Said abilities include but are not limited to the conveyance of knowledge, summoning of the elements, and augmentation of physical attributes.

Empathokinesis is performed by channeling an emotion related to the action, such as generous ones serving as the fuel for healing as the user gives away a portion of their energy to the target. Some techniques also require the user to speak the name of the move. There can be more than one emotion usable for a given empathokinetic task, but negative ones such as anger, fear, and sorrow are said to warp the user's body and mind with repeated use. One's natural aptitude for empathokinesis is reflected in their Investiture, with its emotional components influencing which abilities they are most proficient at. Though one's Investiture is the primary input for empathokinesis, energy from one's body is also required. Those with high empathokinetic potential tend to have an aura composed of one or more emotions; auras are largely passive in nature, but can be used more actively with appropriate techniques.

## Empathokinetic foci

*Main article: Empathokinetic focus*
Empathokinetic foci (singular: focus) are special tools with empathokinetic functions, usually activated by channeling an appropriate emotion into it. Said tools typically require the user to have a large Investiture and some degree of empathokinetic skill in order to work, but they allow for feats greatly exceeding one's natural abilities. Foci were commonplace in the Ardent Empire, even serving as its equivalent to Earth's advanced machinery and electronics. The only known foci on Earth are the Standridge Stones, the Spirit Guard's Spirit Sticks, and Platicore's various inventions.

## Empathokinetic perception

*Main article: Empathokinetic perception*
Empathokinetic perception, abbreviated EKP and also known as extra sense or magic sense, is the ability to detect the emotional energies associated with empathokinesis. The inherent keenness of one's EKP varies between individuals, but it can be honed to a degree. Ardentia have EKP as a common feature, while the Spirit Guard are the only humans known to have it.

## Applications

* Aura manipulation
* Elemental conjuration
* Healing, both passive and active, such as the healing factor
* Investiture manipulation, such as draining it from one to empower another or grant an object a degree of sentience
* Invisibility
* Knowledge conveyance
* Perception manipulation, such as the Disconnection Effect
* Physical augmentation
* Soul manipulation, including a theoretical technique where one soul overwrites another to cheat death
* Teleportation, such as the warps of the Standridge Stones and Platicore's lair
* Transformation

## Notable users

* Angela Warrant
* Cell-celia
* Day LaMode
* Empress
* Kara Balmer
* Knight
* Liff
* Mallory Drake
* Mender
* NightKnight
* Platicore
* Polygal
* Princess
* Robert Dreese/Robynne Darling
* Scholar
* Shrine Maiden
* Soldier
* Trace
* Vivian Feliz

In addition to these, empathokinetic training was offered to privileged Ardentia. The Atsah were granted visions by the Empress to learn empathokinetic techniques for the construction of the Standridge Hill Stone Circle. Platicore's monsters are designed with empathokinetic abilities, and his soldiers during the Ardentia Civil War were empowered by foci that fuse to the body.

## Similar abilities

Though empathokinesis is the main supernatural ability system in the series and is thus often called "magic" for simplicity, it is not the only system of its kind. Agents of Fate typically use something besides empathokinesis, as Platicore is considered noteworthy for using it. Kunapipi, for example, is capable of transforming her body, creating potions, and communicating with Fate through visions. The Champions of Earth that Kunapipi mentored before the Spirit Guard likewise used a different system. It is unknown if the powers of deities such as Fate and the High Spirits could be categorized as empathokinesis.