Emanations.
They determine the category of ruh to which the user belongs.
The ability to manipulate ruh is relatively widespread.
However, its use largely depends on the type of emanation the user encounters.
There are 5 different types: Essence, Materiaform, Regna, Oath, and Amplis.
Each grants its user a distinct application, all equally dangerous.
Essence is limited to users with a ruh belonging to an intangible concept. It allows evolution and diversification of the ability as the individual grasps its depth.
Materiaform focuses on users whose Ruh manifests through physical transformation of tangible matter. It enables complete restructuring of solid or liquid objects, respecting specific intrinsic parameters linked to the nature of the ruh.
Regna is an emanation where the user imposes their Ruh's will on a defined area, transforming the environment according to their soul's laws. This manifestation creates a domain where conditions are altered to serve their objectives, subsequently draining all their energy until exhaustion.
Oath is a soul pact in which ruh use is limited to adherence to rigorous restrictions. The more complex and demanding these conditions, the more they significantly improve efficiency or unlock unprecedented abilities.
Amplis is a power that exponentially intensifies the specific effects of Ruh. The more Ruh consumed, the more potent the effect becomes, increasing the initial impact of the power to extreme levels, often at the cost of new constraints or consequences for the target.
In my case, I can teleport within sight, which isn't a restriction but an activation condition. Teleportation is a theoretical concept that can't be proven but is mathematically possible. Thus, my manifestation is Essence.
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"MirEye!"
With my mirror eyes activated, I scanned the horizon for rifts leading to the desert where Sahar's family was located. The vastness of the area and the uncertainty of finding a direct rift posed considerable challenges.
Jalik carried me in his arms, guiding me. Curiosity piqued, I asked how he obtained information about Sahar's family's safety.
"At your birth, I instantly knew you'd be my future bond," Jalik explained, his voice tinged with a mixture of affection and gravity. "Unable to interact with the material plane, I could only watch over you. That's when I noticed the fennec you named Sahar. It wielded ruh and, according to my servants' research, could discern the purity of intentions without barriers like darkness."
My heart raced at this revelation. Sahar, more than just a kind-hearted fennec, possessed abilities beyond my imagination.
Jalik continued, his tone growing more urgent. "Sahar's descendant can also manipulate ruh. I sensed something similar to you in it, and its appearance differed from others of its species."
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"How so?" I pressed, my curiosity burning.
"You'll see when you encounter it," Jalik replied cryptically.
Moments later, we arrived at a plaza housing multiple portals, each bearing an inscription of its destination. My eyes locked onto one reading "Zafar Desert". Without hesitation, I approached it, ready to cross.
"Zayn, be careful!" Jalik called out, his voice laced with concern.
"Understood!" I replied, determined.
'Blink!' In the blink of an eye, I found myself in the desert, the unbearable heat immediately assaulting me. Using 'Blink' at its maximum range, I quickly scoured the surroundings until I spotted the poachers.
Hidden behind dunes, I spied on them, my heart pounding. One of them threw a hyena into a cage, adding to a pile of others. Armed with hunting rifles, they appeared to be in their thirties.
"Hah, with this we're going to make a fortune!" one exclaimed, his voice overflowing with greed.
My gaze fell upon the fennec Jalik had mentioned. Its appearance indeed differed radically: an expressive face, deep large eyes, a beige coat shimmering with a subtle glow, and oversized ears. An almost human intelligence seemed to emanate from it.
Suddenly, a foreign voice resonated in my mind: "Sniff... Mom..."
Horrified, I watched one of the poachers turn towards the small fennec, brandishing what appeared to be its mother's corpse. He was skinning the body in front of the tearful singularity, a helpless witness to this unimaginable cruelty.
"Haha look at this, this fur is worth gold!" the poacher cackled, exhibiting the carcass to his colleague.
He then opened the cage and grabbed the fennec by its tail.
"What do you think, the pelt of a species like this must be profitable, right?"
The cries intensified in my mind, and my patience reached its limit.
"Sorry Jalik, I can't wait any longer," I whispered, rage boiling within me.
'Blink!'
In an instant, I teleported onto the poacher's shoulders, pummeling his head until he released the creature.
'Blink!'
I caught the fennec mid-air, cushioning its fall, and immediately pivoted.
'Blink!'
"Argh, where did this little brat come from!" yelled the one from whom I had snatched the fennec. "Hey you, what's that damn rifle for if you're not using it!"
I quickly moved away with the fennec, circling the area to stay out of sight. The poachers, on alert, scanned the surroundings.
"W-who are you?" The fennec's voice echoed in my mind, mixing surprise and fear.
I then understood: totems could communicate with bonds through thought. Jalik was right, this was indeed our totem. But now wasn't the time to dwell on that.
"I'm Zayn, I've come to save you," I replied mentally. "Are there any other survivors in your family?"
Its tears were the only answer, and my heart tightened.
My gaze darkened. Since my awakening, I had decided to never again turn a blind eye to injustice. I could no longer keep my promise to Jalik.
After putting the fennec in a safe place, I found myself again facing the poachers. They were on alert, weapons at the ready.
'Blink'... 'Blink'... 'Blink'
I teleported repeatedly within their field of vision, gradually luring them away from the cages. One of them had me in his sights, firing unsuccessfully.
I teleported under their feet, hands full of sand which I threw into the first shooter's eyes. The second tried to shoot me, but I disappeared just in time, reappearing to blind him in turn. He parried my attack with his arm.
What followed was an exchange of missed shots and frantic teleportations. Exhaustion began to catch up with me, and I didn't know how many more 'Blinks' I could use. Time passed, reinforcements still hadn't arrived, and I realized with horror that if the poachers ran out of ammunition, their physical strength would be enough to overpower me.
Suddenly, the small fennec I had sheltered leaped onto the shooter's head, obstructing his view. Seizing this opportunity, I grabbed the keyring from his belt and rushed towards the cages.
As I opened the first cage, the second poacher grabbed me, but it was too late. The beasts pounced on their assailants, their rage amplified by their captivity.
Taking advantage of this bloody chaos, I retreated with the totem, my heart pounding and my mind tormented by the events that had just unfolded.
Although not by my hands, it was my first murder. But where I should have felt guilt and self-disgust, I felt rather proud. The reason? Simply because I was convinced I had taken the lives of demons, not humans.
My maternal grandfather had once given me a lesson. He told me that in a world like ours, especially since the end of the war, everyone could do fair work that harmed no one. Then there were those who had been stripped of the freedom to choose and those who delighted in the evil they caused. The border separating their humanity from demons was then broken.
I caught my breath with difficulty, but once lying on the sand, I saw the fennec resting on my chest. It seemed a bit terrified by my broken eyes, so I deactivated them.
Surprise emanated from its gaze, then it began to caress my cheek.
The reinforcements, an army of Ifrit and Jann soldiers, finally arrived. Their haste was quickly replaced by surprise at my actions.