Burning Embers Part II: Conspiracy [Arc 6-10]

Adventurer Guidebook: Elements, Affinities and Dragons

The Elements:

Since the beginning of time, eight primary elements have existed:

- Light
- Darkness
- Fire
- Water
- Ice
- Wind
- Earth
- Lightning

Of these, light and darkness are separate from the rest, locked in an eternal struggle and being far more powerful than all the others. As for the remaining six elements, they too exist in perfect balance, with each element being strong against one, weak against another, and balanced against the rest. The cycle is as follows:

- Light (beats) Every other element
- Darkness (beats) Every other element
- Light and darkness are neutral against each other
- Fire (beats) Ice (beats) Earth (beats) Wind (beats) Lightning (beats) Water (beats) Fire

Every human or elf is born with an affinity towards one of the eight elements. In ancient times, high elves banned the use of Darkness, which led to an eventual schism in their society. This is no longer the case now. People who have complete mastery over an element are called Sages, which is also an adventurer class. The skills they wield are not magic, but complete resonance with the element of their affinity.

Elemental Affinity:
Each individual is born with varying degrees of affinity to each of the eight elements. Usually, they will have high affinity with two to three elements, and lower affinities with the rest. Spells casted from an element with a higher affinity are much more effective. For example, if someone has an affinity with fire and wind, spells that use these elements will be more powerful by nature. Furthermore, having high affinities for opposite elements (those being fire, water, ice; earth, wind, lightning and light, dark), is exceptionally rare, and having a high affinity for both light and darkness is virtually never seen.

Some elements are linked to various kinds of magic as well. Water and wind are both linked to healing, and individuals with high affinities to them will be able to progress further as healers, while light is linked to exorcism, and an individual without a high affinity for that element will be unable to ever be a high-ranked exorcist.

In very rare circumstances, people are born with affinity to only one element, and little to no affinity with the rest. These individuals have the potential to become sages, masters of that element, and can bend the element to their will. They do not need to perform pre-determined spells, but can instead control the element. Currently, there are only five known sages on Feldranix. 

The Dragons:
For each of the eight corresponding elements, a single dragon exists, or has existed. Four of them are benevolent dragons, the others being malicious. They are beings of incredible power, and also the highest ranking monsters (classified as SS class). Killing one of the malicious dragons can net a person over a billion pingots, but it has been done only twice:

- Light Dragon: Benevolent. Resides in the "mythical" Cove of Light in Dagunland's far-west, guarding the Blade of Light, said to be the strongest weapon in existence alongside its twin.
- Dark Dragon: Malicious. Resides in the "mythical" Cove of Darkness to Dagunland's far-east. It guards the sister blade of the Blade of Light: the Blade of Darkness.
- Fire Dragon: Malicious. Used to reside close to where Almarck would eventually be founded. Slain by the first of the Del Roddea, starting a generation of dragon-knights.
- Water Dragon: Benevolent. Is present close to the shores of Ortoria in the western sea, rarely ever seen, and avoids human contact.
- Ice Dragon: Malicious. Occupied a gold mine in the northern region of Terrasia, and was eventually slain by an adventurer several years ago.
- Wind Dragon: Benevolent. No one knows where it lives, but it appears in the skies above Terysium during the final moon of every year.
- Thunder/Lightning Dragon: Malicious. It's believed to live in the eastern mountain range of Lanexi. No travellers or adventurers who venture there ever return, so the area is declared off-limits.
- Earth Dragon: Benevolent. Lives underground but no one knows where. When the elves delved very deep underground in search of minerals, they encountered it, and were warned away by the dragon. The elves, ever so respectful of nature, left it alone. It has not been spotted since.