I'll preface this by saying I originally didn't plan on making this glossary, but some readers have asked for it, so here it is.
I considered adding this at the end of each volume like a recap of what is known before going into the next volume. But in the end I just decided to make a chapter 0.
If you prefer discovering the world naturally as the story progresses, I'd say skip this chapter entirely. Everything written here has already been explained in the story itself. This is simply a reference chapter for readers who want to get a memory refresh or gain clarification about something.
[SPOILERS AHEAD!]
Soul Density: The deciding factor for the magical prowess of a person.
Mundane humans: are people with low soul densities that live normal lives. Their souls aren't strong enough to perceive mana.
Arcanists: are people whose souls are dense enough that they can perceive and influence mana. How dense their soul is within this spectrum decides how talented they are with manipulating mana.
For Arcanists, manipulation can only actualize in one of four ways:
Elemental Magic affinity
Body Enhancement Magic
Nurturing — Beast Taming or Artifact Nurturing.
In either one of these forms, the ranking system remains the same. Within each rank there are three Grades to pass through, from Grade 3 as the entry to Grade 1 as the peak, before crossing the threshold into the next rank.
Ranks:
Novice Rank
Adept Rank
Master Rank
Archon
When Arcanists die, the interaction of their souls with mana over the course of their lives transforms their dead souls into chaotic masses that corrode living things and decay the fabric of reality slowly.
Ossuarists: are people whose souls are so dense it surpasses the limit of perceiving mana. They exist on the opposite end of the spectrum, and are no different from regular humans besides the fact that they can sense and manipulate chaotic soul masses.
The interaction of mana and an Arcanist's dead soul creates a chaotic mass that can enter into their range of perception. They are the only ones who can purge said souls or tame the chaos of the soul mass in order to use its power. These terms can drive the Ossuarist to madness as they are usually tied to the innate nature and primal will of the chaotic soul mass, be it an Arcanist/Beast/Artifact soul.
Soul Debts: are the repercussions of taming a chaotic soul mass. Soul masses by default, seek to corrode. An Ossuarist that tries to claim the power of a soul mass for themselves can only do so by using their superior soul to "negotiate" terms with the chaos of the soul mass.
If the Ossuarist defaults on these terms, the soul mass that they've claimed within their body can then begin to wreak havoc according to the terms.
Negotiating the original terms is subconscious. A battle of wills that depends on the soul density of the Ossuarist and the strength of the chaotic soul mass. The terms will favor whoever is stronger. And the resulting Soul Debt would either be negligible or very dangerous. "Renegotiations" that favor the Ossuarist occur over time (months/years) as the Ossuarist adapts to the soul mass. Though this is if the Ossuarist is able to maintain balance and doesn't default.
Ossuarist ranks are based on strength, but each rank is also a title that comes with responsibilities. Just like Arcanists, each rank has three Grades to pass through, from Grade 3 to Grade 1.
Initiate Rank: They handle simple chaotic soul mass outbreaks by their grades — Equivalent to an Adept rank Arcanist. Directly skipping Novice rank Arcanists in strength.
Caretaker Rank: They help the Ossuary oversee entire regions of various kingdoms, from major outbreaks to anything else — Equivalent to a Master Rank Arcanist.
Preceptor Rank: They are assigned to oversee entire kingdoms, and even continents. Every Caretaker rank within their area of influence reports to them — Depending on the Preceptor, their strength is equivalent to someone between a Grade 1 Master rank Arcanist and the Archon Rank. Some are directly as powerful as an Archon.
Inner Circle: ???
Exotic Planes: are planes that open as a result of tears in the world that occur when chaotic soul mass build-up decays the fabric of reality.
Transcendents: are a special group of Arcanists born with soul density right at the threshold separating Arcanists from Ossuarists. This allows them to touch upon a different kind of magic. They can manipulate abstract concepts rather than elemental, body enhancing, or nurturing magic. These concepts range from extremely broken and powerful, to relatively useless.
The world doesn't know about them because they do not exist in the current age.
Transcendent Fragments: are "soul pieces," broken parts of a Transcendent's soul mass that have lived till the current age, passed down in secret within the Ossuary. They are fragmented because of how powerful the chaotic soul mass is, and how extremely dangerous it is to wield them whole.
The Lost Age: is a long gone era that the entire world, besides a select group of people, remember at all.
Divinity: is a power seemingly different from, and much more powerful than mana based power. Discovered in a separate plane of existence, how it ties to the main world, it's history, and the secrets of the Lost Age remain unknown.
Divine Ranks:
Great Ones
Rank I Divine
Rank II Divine
Rank III Divine
Rank IV Divine
Divine Vessel Ranks:
Incarnate Vessels
Divine Champions
Paladins
Named Priests
Priests
Believers/ Mundane humans.
Soul Sight: is a gift/talent very few mundane humans have that enables them to sense oddities and see past the physical in the world of the divine — Equivalent to high soul density from the main world.
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I think that's all for now. I will update this glossary as the story progresses and everything continues to tie together.
Also, some readers have asked that I create a discord server, but I haven't gotten to it yet. I just feel managing a server might be stressful... or I might simply be too lazy xD. But if you think I should, then signify in the comments. If there are enough people that want it I'll just have to do it then.🫠
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Enjoy reading Magical Soul Parade! And don't forget to support by voting with Power Stones, Golden Tickets and Gifts!