Glossary of in-universe terms

The Planet: The world in which this story takes place. It was created by the Conception eons ago.

Nature Energy: Elemental energy naturally emitted by the Planet, responsible for all natural phenomena. It can have many effects, both positive and negative, on those who are exposed to it. A very light amount of nature energy permeates most areas of the Planet.

Soul: A fragment of the Conception possessed by every living being. It is by possession of a Soul that beings have free will. By resonating the Soul with nature energy, one can manipulate nature energy to their will. Souls are split into six elements that determine what type of resonance can occur: fire, water, wind, electricity, ice, and earth.

Special Souls: As part of the Conception's resurrection plan, its most potent pieces of its power were cast down to the Planet as two special souls, the Holy Soul and Shadow Soul. Those who possess these Souls will inevitably play a major part in the resurrection of the Conception and departure of all Souls from the Planet.

Resonance: By attuning one's Soul to the nature energy of their element in their surroundings, they can willfully manifest natural phenomena.

Conception: The sentient force that created the Planet. It broke itself apart into billions of Souls in order to grant its creations free will. A small part of it still remains, and plans for its reconstruction and resurrection.

Qliphoth: Soulless beings created long ago by the Conception. Their only instinct is to kill living beings and capture their Souls, returning them to the Conception. Their true form is that of a black liquid, allowing them to shift into many shapes for hunting. They were awakened at the birth of Saabi, as his possession of the Shadow Soul was the signal for the resurrection plan to proceed.

Humans: A sapient race, and the most populous on the Planet. They mainly inhabit the Grann Republic and Kingdom of Einsof, both of which were founded by humans. Human culture has gradually trended away from spiritualism and toward technological advancement.

Felines: A sapient race. They inhabit many areas around the world. Most of independent feline culture has shunned technological advancement for spiritualism, but those who live in more diverse areas have taken it up. Felines are generally seen as lesser individuals by human culture and are labeled as "beastfolk" in their establishments.

Canines: A sapient race. They mainly inhabit the cold northern regions of the Planet, eschewing large-scale civilizations for roving tribes. Their culture trends away both from spiritualism and from technology, typically preaching the value of an earthly, honest lifestyle. They are generally persecuted the most by humans, and are labeled as "beastfolk" by their establishments.

Avians: A sapient race. Driven to near-extinction in the past by humans, they live in secrecy and seclusion in several areas around the world. They are the only sapient race to have no cross-cultural interaction with others, and live entirely within their own secluded spaces for fear of violent persecution.

Grann Republic: A republic founded by humans roughly one thousand years before the beginning of the story. It was its military who was responsible for the War of Extinction (known to them as the Annexation Conflict). It is now the largest sovereign state on the Planet, and holds its most advanced technology. A majority of its population is human, though felines and canines do live mostly in its lower societal classes.

Kingdom of Einsof: A theocratic monarchy founded by humans roughly three thousand years before the beginning of the story. Its population lives in worship of the Conception. In recent times, it has begun to crumble due to the lack of natural resources in its region and a general shift among the populace towards the desire for democracy and societal advancement.

Sovereign of Savanna: A sovereign state formed after the lion felines successfully repelled the Grann Republic's invasion during the War of Extinction. Highly isolationist. Ruled by a Patriarch and Matriarch who are chosen by a series of brutal spiritual tests, along with a noble class chosen every decade by the ruling two based off of a family's accomplishments. Education of the Soul and Resonance is standard, leading to a high overall level of magic aptitude among its population.

Palazzo Republic: A mercantile republic formed by desert-dwelling felines roughly two hundred years before the beginning of the story. It is the newest sovereign state on the Planet. Most of its population is felines, but many people of many kinds flock in and out of its bustling business capital.

Northern Tribes: A large, mostly unpopulated swath of mountains and taigas in the northernmost section of the Planet. Although not a sovereign state, it is recognized as a unique area on most maps and by other sovereigns due to its almost exclusive population of tribal canines. Culture varies from tribe to tribe, but a general focus on an earthly lifestyle free of spiritual or material burdens is commonplace.

Fentasz Najer Saabi: A young lion of declining nobility. Possesses a Wind Soul and the Shadow Soul (unbeknownst to him). Born prematurely, his peers dwarf him in power and size; a terrible fate for a member of warrior nobility. He struggles with the responsibility of living up to his parents and elder sister. Due to his troubled upbringing, he is reserved, self-deprecating, and generally anxious. His journey begins as a last-chance trial to join the Pride Guard: deliver a message on foot to Grann by himself, and his previous failure will be erased.

Calaey: A young ginger tabby, living by his lonesome in a wooded area north of the Savanna-Grann border. Itching to leave his home and see the world's sights, he decides to accompany Saabi in his first ordeal on a whim. Outgoing and excitable, he tends to leap before he looks, but he has a golden heart and an optimistic outlook. Possesses a Fire Soul, but is nearly inept at resonance due to his low attention span.

Minnetta Lilium: A human and governmental employee of the Grann Republic. In a vestigial position as a Minister of Magi in a society that has largely spurned resonance, she whittles her time away perfecting her own magical aptitude in her golden prison. Upon discovering documents detailing a plan to frame Saabi for crimes of aggression during his diplomatic stay in Grann, allowing Grann to launch a counterattack and annex Savanna, she assists Saabi in eluding authorities. Knowing that she can never return to her country, she joins Saabi on his journey. Although she can be snobbish and naive thanks to her high-class upbringing, she has a brilliant mind and an unparalleled aptitude for resonance. Possesses a Water Soul.

Fentasz Fanil Essne: Saabi's elder sister and an acting general in the Pride Guard, the standing army of Savanna. She is insecure about her younger brother's failings, and can be overly hard on him at times, but deeply wishes for his happiness. Businesslike and unflinching in the face of anything, she is a consummate professional, but has trouble communicating her feelings genuinely and tends to treat everyone coldly. Upon hearing Minnetta's information about the pending attack by Grann, she becomes a major player in Saabi's journey. Possesses an Electric Soul, and wields its power with unmatched skill.

Carla: A human engineer, part of an anti-Grann rebel force hiding out in Einsof's capital city. A brilliant inventor and technician, her machine designs are a major boon during the defense of Savanna and assault on Grann's capital. She is a bit of a goof-off and tends to take things with a bit less seriousness than is perhaps necessary. As she was an orphan raised by a family of canines in the northern part of Einsof, she has a sympathetic perspective on the plight of beastfolk. She becomes a part of Saabi's journey after being contacted by Savanna for assistance, and designing machines for the conflict between Savanna and Grann. She possesses an Electric Soul, and uses resonance to remotely power her machines in the field.

Vol: A canine used as a Qliphoth experimentation subject by Grann, designed to be a ruthless bioweapon. He clashes with Saabi's group several times, but his allegiance changes when Minnetta reveals to him the truth of his suffering. Mangled by horrific experiments, he keeps his body covered entirely by armor. Despite his frightening appearance and bouts of madness due to his past, he is a gentle and nature-loving man who wishes only for peace in his life. He possesses an Ice Soul, which he puts to effective use in battle. In addition, his Qliphoth infusion grants him supernatural physical prowess and the ability to manipulate the black fluid as an extension of his body.

Ikarh: The young prince of Einsof, who secretly takes part in the anti-Grann rebellion's operations. He forms an especially tight bond with Saabi over their shared troubles. He possesses an Earth Soul and the Holy Soul, and is a highly talented magus for his age. Although to outsiders, it seems he has some form of epilepsy, these moments are actually when he receives commands directly from the remaining consciousness of the Conception. Although initially a spirited boy, his mood takes a decline as the messages from the Conception become clearer: Kill your fellow men. Return their Souls to me. Unwilling to disobey the Almighty, he eventually turns against his friends, considering himself a divine agent and a deliverer of absolution to those he kills. Driven by fervor to serve his divine ruler, he and Saabi clash near the end of his journey, and he gives his life as the final line of defense between Saabi's group and the gestating Conception.