The Magic of Shapeshifters - {Skephalo}

Prologue

Ever since the world, and more specifically, life, was created, there had always been a life force tying everything together. Every living being had a fraction of the life force inside them, and that little fraction of power had to potential to turn into something more if used properly. 

And every once in a while, animals might receive a little bit more then they normally should.. this is the world deciding that they have more potential then others. And once they realize they have this power, they can choose the ignore it, or they can choose to accept the power, and turn it into something more.

These exceptional beings are now referred as shapeshifters. With the power to shapeshift from their animal form to a human form, as well as additional powers. Each shapeshifter specialize in a certain area of power, with their own special colors and scent to signify their status and power. But in order to achieve these powers, they must phase everyday, every night, until they reach their human form.

Once they have obtained their human form, however, they must keep phasing. If they do not, not only will they not have energy to remain in human form for a long span of time, but if their energy runs out completely, they will then wither away and become a gust of wind, one with the nature, never to reincarnate. There are stages to becoming a human, and can vary depending on talent, or just your attitude and motivation.

It takes most animals 100 years to be able to understand human language, and 200 to speak fluently in any country you settle in. And for most, roughly 300 years to be able to obtain their human form, as well as your magic, each animal specifying in a certain one. But again, if you phase each night for a purpose that is not good, then you might develop these skills with more time. 

A shapeshifter also has a long lifespan, or rather, a never ending one. If they continue to phase everyday, as well as train, then they will live forever. But if defeated in a battle, the life force inside them will be temporarily weakened, this may result in the inability to transform into a human until they have healed. But if the wounds are left un-treated or they are simply too weak, then they will die. But unlike humans, they will not reincarnate. They will, like I mentioned before, wither. Shapeshifters will do anything to avoid that, at any cost.