On the planet Avelion, where ether—commonly referred to as mana—pervades life itself, the Ferinian calendar marks the year 3104. For the past 20 years, Avelion has experienced a tenuous peace following the fourth major conflict between humans and elves. However, this doesn’t mean that Avelion has been free of warfare. Battles between humans and therianthropes have erupted over ten times, though only three escalated to world wars.

Thanks to advancements in aether technology, society has flourished. Human cities are powered by reactors fueled by the disintegration of aether bonds, eliminating electricity shortages. Most families own vehicles, and towering skyscrapers rise up to 100-150 floors, symbolizing a world transformed by mana. In 1809, the Human Territories Union (HTU) was established to govern the human domains. It’s led by a council of ten: three war veterans, three scientists, and four representatives from the most influential clans.

THE ANATOMY OF MANA

Every living organism on Avelion is born with two hearts. The first is similar to Earth’s heart, circulating blood, while the second, more unique heart, pumps aether throughout the body. Ether is absorbed from the atmosphere through the lungs and reaches this aether heart, which then distributes it via aetheric arteries running parallel to blood vessels. These aetheric pathways feed aether into the muscles and skin, but they bypass the organs, creating a one-way channel. This distribution system underpins a person’s "talent," determined by the number, size, and diameter of their ether arteries, which affect how efficiently they channel mana to their body.

From the age of five or six, individuals begin to form a faint, transparent etheric aura known as Mana Ventis. This aura represents the natural expulsion of residual mana, which typically dissipates painlessly. However, with physical exertion, mana expulsion intensifies, and for the untrained, this can be a painful process. Most untrained individuals only utilize around 5-10% of their mana-carrying capacity.

THE TWO MAIN BRANCHES OF MANA

Two primary paths of mana manipulation define Avelion society: Mana Armis and Mana Domain. Mana Armis centers on concentrating mana within the body to create armor, while Mana Domain focuses on expanding one’s etheric presence beyond the body.

MANA ARMIS: THE ART OF ETHERIC ARMOR

Mana Armis is the evolution of Mana Ventis into a protective armor layer, which has two stages: appearance and condensation. In the appearance stage, the armor is visible but lacks true durability. Only upon reaching condensation does it become stable enough for combat. The armor is composed of distinct components, categorized as minor, medium, or major parts of the body:

* Minor (1 point): Hands, feet, head/face

* Medium (3 points): Arms, forearms, thighs, calves

* Major (5 points): Chest, back

Armor proficiency is ranked by points, defining four tiers of users:

* Armored User: 4 points

* Warrior: 16 points

* Master: 28 points

* Grandmaster: 40 points

MANA DOMAIN: EXPANDING ETHERIC INFLUENCE

Mana Domain is the mastery of extending one’s etheric field. When a person’s Mana Ventis extends beyond a 10-meter radius, they achieve Domain status. This skill also has two stages: Manipulation, where users control aether within their domain, and Formation, where they create Mana Formations, akin to magic circles.

Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

Domain users are classified by their reach:

* User: 10 meters

* Warrior: 50 meters

* Master: 200 meters

* Grandmaster: 500 meters

MARTIAL ARTS AND THE POWER OF BREATH

Avelion’s martial arts draw from three pillars: movement techniques, weapon techniques, and breathing techniques. Breathing techniques, in particular, are vital as they influence armor properties, weapon types, and even body constitution. They align with a person’s elemental affinity, shaping how they interact with mana.

Martial arts are ranked by stars:

* 1-2 Stars: Rarely used, seen as relics of an earlier age.

* 3 Stars: Common and state-owned; can be rented or purchased.

* 4 Stars: Found only within specialized organizations or auctions.

* 5 Stars: Exclusively owned by the 12 largest clans, with a few in HTU’s control, though three were lost to wars.

MANA DOMAIN TOOLS: ENCHANTED BOOKS

Mana Domain users often rely on enchanted books—sophisticated devices that help them calculate magic formations accurately. These “books” facilitate precise mana manipulation, although they remain rare due to the complex materials needed for high-performance models. Like martial arts, enchanted books are also rated by stars, with only the first three available and no five-star books known to exist.

Body constitution

On Avelion, body constitution is a critical factor in mana potential and personal abilities. Each individual’s "constitution" is determined by Martial Arts that they are using or if they are born with it. These constitutions fall into essential types — Ignis (fire), Terra (earth), Aqua (water), Ventus (wind), Umbra (shadow), Lux (light). The power each constitution provides aligns with its element, granting strengths in mana absorption, control, and endurance.

NON-ETHERIC ARMORS AND WEAPONS

Mechanical armors, known as Non-Etherica, serve as a supplement to ether-based armor, with modular components that fit around the palms, limbs, and torso. While mechanical armor lacks the etheric power of Mana Armis, it compensates by enhancing its user’s abilities.

Non-etheric weapons follow a similar rating system:

* 1-2 Stars: Basic materials, available widely.

* 3 Stars: Ether-conductive materials (5-20%), sold at specialty shops and fairs.

* 4 Stars: Ether-conductive materials (30-50%), requiring rare resources.

* 5 Stars: Legendary, "living weapons" that conduct ether without user input, crafted from materials like Yggdrasil wood, mithril, or adamantine.