Legacy of a Forgotten Memory
This is a longer and more complex story, based in the concept of the four main magic elements and derived types from those. Pretty similar to Avatar: The Last Airbender.
For the moment this little project is still in the planning stage, so there is not much details yet over here.
Worldbuilding (draft).
The following text is just a draft of a document I made some time ago, in which I explain with my words the lore of this universe.
Introduction
The year is 1427 (equivalent to 2022 in technological and social terms) of our era. Since we entered the age of peace some 200 years ago, fewer people are seen wielding their magic; perhaps it is no longer necessary? Who knows. It is not taught, it is not practised, and it is spoken of less and less; it feels as though it no longer exists, forgotten, as though it were a legend of the past rather than something anyone can do.
The system of magic is divided into four main elements, from which all the so-called sub-types derive: water, air, fire and earth. The vast majority of people can wield a sub-type, whilst very few are born with the gift of controlling one of the four main elements.
Throughout our history, some 1,300 years ago, the world was nothing more than a battlefield where the wielders of each element sought to dominate one another, dividing the world into culturally distinct zones, generally adapted to their climatic conditions: the arid and dry zones reserved for the masters of fire and earth, and the cold and damp zones for water and air.
It was not until 300 years ago that Joseph Ognistwórca, a deputy commander and master of fire—and who was believed to be able to control air as well—put an end to the wars through diplomacy and the establishment of the central nation, a cultural hub to promote peace among nations and people alike. Have there been wars since then? Of course, but never as devastating as those fought in that distant past.
The world is divided into three large landmasses separated by seas: Arsea, Eris and Lasea. Eris is the largest and most culturally developed; Lasea is the most technologically advanced; and Arsea is in the midst of modernisation, inspired mainly by Lasea.
The Thyrii
In singular thyrius, they are the dominant beings in this world, the ‘political animal’, as they would have said in ancient times. The thyrii are what were once wild animals, which evolved along anthropomorphic lines, developing for life in society and collaboration from a certain point in prehistory.
Since ancient times, the connection between nature and the thyrii during their evolution has been known; however, the origin of the genetics that provide this race with its magical abilities remains unknown. There are theories, but nothing conclusive has yet been established. Historical records date back around 15,000 years, when the Thyrii were still nomads; from this point, it is speculated that this earlier race already had an affinity for magic and the principal elements that comprise it. Furthermore, it is speculated that the thyrius species first began to appear in what is now the eastern region of Eris.
Harihene Islands
The Harihene Islands are an archipelago located east of Lasea; it is a little-explored place due to its difficult access. At first glance, it is unclear who owns it, but it is a condominium: the Kalí Federation and Rihen jointly own the islands, meaning those born there acquire dual nationality, the only exception to Rihen’s single-nationality law.
The main language of the region is Hari, but both Japanese and Russian are taught in schools, and these are compulsory subjects for students if they wish to graduate in the future; this is enforced to maintain stable condominium relations between the two powers. For this very reason, the vast majority of signs must be written in Hari, Japanese and Russian.
The villages on the islands are usually situated in the high mountain areas, near rivers, where a cold and misty climate is the norm. Access to technology is somewhat limited, with cathode-ray tube televisions and shortwave radio being the population’s main forms of audiovisual entertainment; these are provided by the state of Kalí, and to a lesser extent by the Rihenese.
The largest village is called ‘Muramati Kima’ (lit. Village of Flowers), sometimes shortened to Murakima; with a population of 25,000 and home to the so-called female leaders of the islands, it is the political and cultural centre of the archipelago. It is known for the vast fields of flowers surrounding the local temples and for the large market street that divides the village in two.
The female leaders are the ones who maintain direct relations with the powers that be and are appointed by hereditary succession from the five families: the Yamazaki, Shimizu, Vodnikov, Rechkin and Iwashima. Each family appoints the eldest daughter of the current female leader for three consecutive generations; in the case of the third generation, the eldest daughter of the family continuing the succession is appointed.
Umihiro
Umihiro is a medium-sized coastal town of around 70,000 inhabitants situated in the bay of the same name, on the east coast of Rihen. It is known for its fishing culture and its suburban development, which is based on the conservation of the surrounding natural environment and a focus on pedestrian-friendly design; it is common to see areas where narrow streets and detached houses are often shaded by trees.
The town is divided into several neighbourhoods, although it is usually divided into three main areas: the suburban area; the urbanised area, which is the busiest and most reminiscent of the urban centres in the centre of the country; and the coastal area, where the main markets are located and the town’s main economic activities take place, primarily fishing and tours of the bay.
Moriko Mikami (三上森子)
Moriko is a resident of Umihiro; she is a raccoon with a friendly, sweet and sometimes intense personality, interested in technology and computers, and whose magic is based on electricity. She is known throughout the city, as she usually gets on well with everyone. Her parents are often out of the house when she returns from school, so she prefers to be out and about whenever she can.
Due to a condition and her magic, her body is constantly building up an electrical charge, so she has to constantly discharge it to avoid nerve and heart damage. In her youth, she used to carry a small metal plate in her shoes that sent that energy to earth, although she now redirects it to high-current and sometimes high-voltage batteries; though she prefers the former because of the use she puts them to.
Rodo/Rodeley Yamazaki (山崎ロド／ロデレイ )
Better known as Rodey, they are a thyrius from Murakima. They are a rabbit with a reserved and serious personality in their solitude, yet playful and fun-loving on the outside, who loves nature and magic. Their magic grants them the power to control fire, one of the primary elements, though they suspect they may be able to control the other three as well.
Their sex and gender are certainly ambiguous, for although born male, their own magic causes them to become a girl; even so, she prefers to be addressed according to how she is perceived, though ultimately she considers both genders valid in her case (in the Hari language, it is common to use gender-neutral pronouns).
In Umihiro, they are known in the lower districts as a magic fighter, which is how they make a living; their identity is not yet known in those parts, and magic fights are banned in the country, along with other related practices.
Rodey has a remarkable affection for those close to them, to the point of sometimes behaving affectionately towards them, particularly towards Moriko, generally prioritising their well-being over their own.
Magic
How does it work?
Thyrii generate magic from their energy, which is converted into the element they possess and is ultimately expelled from a specific part of the body, usually the limbs. Furthermore, the thyrii can control the elements around them, enabling them to manipulate their surroundings if their magic allows it.
What are the effects of this on Thyrii themselves?
By their very nature, thyrii are designed to wield magic; however, it can affect them in certain ways depending on its use, although in a typical situation it should do little more than leave them slightly exhausted.
Even so, it is not recommended that anyone overuses magic, as this is the point at which the individual begins to feel profound exhaustion. From this point onwards, the thyrius begins to feel intense pain in their limbs, followed by bleeding from them, mainly from the hands, and this bleeding usually comes from the pores rather than from a wound that has just opened; accompanied by a feeling of extreme weakness and nausea.
Ultimately, death could result, although no fatality has ever been recorded for this reason, as the thyrius usually collapses due to lack of energy and extreme pain; this is also commonly referred to as a ‘red-hand collapse’ or fainting spell.
The recovery time for thyrii following excessive use of magic is usually between 3 days and a week after the event, although this can be accelerated if the thyrius consumes foods rich in carbohydrates and fats. Such incidents do not cause long-term adverse effects, as the body is not severely affected.
Manifestation and learning
Thyrii manifest their magic from an early age, often involuntarily, and learn to manage it gradually throughout their lives; the vast majority do not tend to train these abilities, but remain at a basic level of what they can control.
Whilst the vast majority do not train in their magic but use it for casual purposes or do not use it at all, those who decide to do so usually enrol in specialised schools, which teach magic as a method of connecting with the environment and nature rather than as a combat tool, as was the case decades ago, since its use for such purposes was banned. Even so, for years magic in general has fallen into disuse and the schools have simply been disappearing one by one.
Those who wish to learn to fight will find it more difficult, as this practice is banned in the vast majority of countries; consequently, most learn on their own, though there are also those who learn in schools to fight, even if this goes against the schools’ philosophy.
Characters
Rodey - Details
Subconscious
Rodey’s subconscious is divided into two parts: the masculine and the feminine. Neither is a distinct or separate personality or being, but rather represents two facets of their personality. One is rational and realistic, yet pessimistic and insecure; the other is dreamy, more confident and even mocking, yet reckless and sentimental.
Both parts share the same views with each other, forming a sort of partially shared perspective; neither has any idea why they are separated, with the feminine side appearing more concerned and questioning the masculine side as to why, whilst the latter seems seemingly indifferent to what is happening; however, both share the same thoughts at the same time. The key to these parts is that they are still the same person, with the same tastes, desires, traumas and loved ones.