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GENERAL
This post contains general information about degrees.
あ. There are a total of six degrees: Accendo, Imber, Pulvius, Sabulum, Tenebrae, and Aethra. The six degrees are then further divided into two categories: Natural and Angelic.
１. Natural Degrees are the degrees that deal directly with the elements of the world: fire (Accendo), wind (Imber), water (Pulvius), and earth (Sabulum). Additionally, Natural Degrees, with the exception of the Sabulum Degree, have two modes of operation: creation and manipulation.
２. Angelic Degrees are the degrees that work with non-tangible forces: shadows (Tenebrae) and light (Aethra). Unlike the Natural Degrees, the Angelic Degrees cannot be created and will always require a source.
い. Resistance is an inherent force in all things. It is the force that fights resource manipulations.
１. Types of Resources: Low-Res, Med-Res, Hi-Res, and Motion-Res.
- Low-Res (Low-Resistance) are small, typically stationary resources (e.g. a kiddie pool, a rock pile). Low-Res resources are ideal for teaching beginners the fundamentals of manipulation or for low-energy cost skills.
x- Med-Res (Medium-Resistance) are average, some times slow-moving resources (e.g. a light breeze, a campfire). Med-Res resources are considered to be the optimal sources for manipulation.
x- Hi-Res (High-Resistance) are large, moving resources (e.g. a forest fire, the ocean waters). Hi-Res resources are difficult to manipulate due to the extreme oppositional force and only A-Rank to S-Rank Synergists have any success in commanding Hi-Res resources.
x- Motion-Res (Motion-Resistance) refers to the inherent movement of a resource. All resources exist in a perpetual state of motion, but Motion-Res focuses on the speed of movement. The faster a resource moves, the harder it is to manipulate.
２. Resources can be created. For example, if a Pulvius Synergist summoned rain, the puddles collected from the ability can be treated as a source. It is, however, better to always draw from an existing resource. Furthermore, when resources are created through synergist energy, the resource does not possess any level of resistance, but this new resource is only accessible by its creator.
う. The use of a degree will always require energy. "Energy" is synonymous with physical stamina.
１. Exhaustion is the state where a synergist cannot continue to fight (i.e. the synergist is too tired to summon or manipulate resources). At the point of exhaustion, the synergist should withdraw and recover. Continuing to fight at or past the point of exhaustion results in a dramatic decrease in both power and control.
え. Only Natural Degrees can be combined. It does not require additional energy output.
お. Shielding, Countering, and Nullification are three possible defensive maneuvers when combatting degree-based attacks. It should go without saying that, in combat, a synergist can always attempt to dodge the attacks.
１. Shielding is simply blocking or preventing an attack from making contact. In order to successfully shield from an attack, the strength output must be equal or greater to the attack. Over time, it may be more difficult to shield attacks as consistent shielding will rapidly deplete a synergist's stamina.
２. Countering is a slightly more advanced technique and requires a strength output that is greater than the attack. A counterattack not only effectively guards against the original attack, but puts the defending synergist into an offensive position.
３. Nullification is an advanced skill and extremely energy-inefficient. Rather than suffering the physical stress of blocking or countering, nullification "cancels" an oncoming attack. After removing the original attack (or attacks) from activity, the counter-ability continues to be "active" without losing any of its original strength. Nullification is a high-tier skill.
か. It is true that certain degrees have an inherent advantage when pitted against certain other degrees. For example, the Tenebrae Degree is less effective against the Sabulum Degree due to the latter degree's ability to detect motion and presence. Having said that, the advantages experienced are not the only factors that go into determining the results of a fight. A synergist's power level is the biggest factor in determining the outcome of combat.
き. Synergists cannot sense or detect the presence of another synergist. However, during combat, all synergists can feel the strength difference (if it exists) between themselves and their opponents.
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS
Q: WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN "CREATION" AND "MANIPULATION?"
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"Creation" is the process of summoning or crafting an element from scratch. The final product exists only by the will and the strength of the summoning synergist. "Creation" or "Summons" are extremely taxing on the physical and mental processes. Most synergists will avoid "Pure Summons" (a product that is the result of dense synergist energy).
"Manipulation" is the process of crafting spells from an existing resource. "Manipulation" is not as stressful or tiring as "Creation," but must address the issue of resistance. Generally, synergists of all ranks and skills prefer manipulation to creation.
However, having said this, "Creation" will produce stronger attacks than "Manipulation."
Q: WHAT ARE "PURE SUMMONS?"
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"Pure Summons" are summons that are comprised of only Synergist Energy, which makes them the most powerful kind of summon. However, "Pure Summons" are high-cost energy spells.
Q: ASIDE FROM "PURE SUMMONS," ARE THERE ANY OTHER KIND OF SUMMONS?
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Yes.
In addition to "Pure Summons" (and more popular than "Pure Summons"), there are "Craft Summons." "Craft Summons" are summons that are partially made from Synergist Energy and partially made from an existing resource. "Craft Summons" are popular because they are low-energy cost, but still fairly powerful.
Q: YOU MENTION "SYNERGIST ENERGY" OCCASIONALLY. WHAT IS "SYNERGIST ENERGY?"
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"Synergist Energy" is the the energy that allows a synergist to craft and give shape their spells. Fun Fact #1: Halcyon is completely fueled by Synergist Energy. Everything from the gravity rails to a building's air-conditioning is powered by Synergist Energy.
ACCENDO
This post contains information on and relevant to the Accendo Degree.
あ. The Accendo Degree is the ability to summon and manipulate fire. It is an aggressive degree that is strongest as an offensive tool. Of the six degrees, the Accendo Degree is the most destructive (i.e. it has the highest damage output).
１. In terms of damage dealt, the Accendo Degree has the highest base damage and the greatest potential damage. A strong and capable Accendo Synergist will be able to cut through an entire village with his or her flames. With enough Synergist Energy, Accendo flames can eat through anything in its path.
２. In exchange for being the strongest degree, the Accendo Degree has two major drawbacks: Burn Out and Wildfire.
- Burn Out is the state where an Accendo Synergist hits pan with his or her energy. During a state of "Burn Out," Accendo Synergists cannot exert any Synergist Energy, which makes them incredibly vulnerable during combat. Additionally, the "Burn Out" state can last from several hours to several days. Therefore, it is extremely important for Accendo Synergists to build up their stamina and to know their limits.
x- Wildfire occurs when an Accendo Synergist fights the effects of Burn Out. During a state of Wildfire, Accendo Synergists lose any and all control over their flames, but, in return, their flames become immeasurably powerful. According to the agency, an Accendo Synergist caught in a state of Wildfire is regarded as a priority threat i.e. kill-on-sight.
い. Accendo Synergists are not resource-reliant.
１. Creation or summoning is the preferred tool-of-the-trade for most (if not all) Accendo Synergists because the amount of energy necessary in generating an attack is, relative to the other degrees, insignificant. Of the six degrees, the Accendo Degree has the lowest energy requirement for creation, which makes Accendo abilities very "spam-able."
２. The sun, despite being millions of light years away, is considered to be a powerful and accessible "resource." However, unlike traditional resources, the sun cannot be manipulated (i.e. it cannot be reformed). The sun acts as a power source and grants Accendo Synergists a unique advantage: increased damage output and further reductions to energy requirement for creation. Having said that, Accendo Synergists are more susceptible to their surroundings (e.g. fighting during the night is the bane of every Accendo Synergist).
う. The following match-ups are theoretical and postulate that all fights are equal (e.g. no environmental bias, no personality factors, etc). Additionally, the theoretical matches are fought between two Rank S-3 agents in a vacuum setting.
１. Accendo v. Pulvius: As logic dictates, the flames of the Accendo Degree are weak to the water of the Pulvius Degree. However, the disadvantage is minimal and there is no guarantee that, in an equal match, the Accendo Synergist is slated to lose.
２. Accendo v. Sabulum: Despite possessing a strong defensive skill-tree, a Sabulum Synergist is the weakest against the Accendo Degree. A strong and capable Accendo Synergist can turn the Sabulum Synergist's rock walls into molten lava, sand into glass, and metal into nothingness.
３. Accendo v. Remaining Degrees: In regards to the remaining three degrees, the Accendo Degree does not possess a particular advantage or disadvantage.
え. To drive the point home: The Accendo Degree is the strongest of the six degrees. Unlike the other degrees, an Accendo Synergist can compensate for slight skill difference (i.e. an Accendo Synergist can hold his or her own against another synergist that is one or two sub-ranks above him or her).
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS
Q: CAN YOU OFFER A MORE IN-DEPTH EXPLANATION OF BURN-OUT?
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"Burn Out" is an Accendo Synergists most vulnerable moment because it is the moment when even simple summons or manipulations become impossible (e.g. a giant fireball becomes nothing more than a spark). "Burn Out" usually occurs when a synergist has reached his or her limit and no longer has the energy to stabilize or maintain his or her abilities.
"Burn Out" can last anywhere from several hours to an entire day. It varies from synergist to synergist. Some synergists can recover from the state in a relatively short period of time (several hours) while other synergists are completely put out of commission for a complete twenty-four hours. Recovery rate is not related to the skill level of the synergists. e.g. Azariah Nejem is documented as requiring roughly five hours to recover from "Burn Out" while Julian Guiles needed only an hour to become functional again.
TIP: While the recovery time has large variations, most Accendo Synergists do not rest the full time. Instead, if caught in a prolonged battle, Accendo synergists will take cover for ten to fifteen minutes (some might need twenty to thirty) and then, from a safer, less aggressive position, rejoin the battle. Of course, in these instances, the synergist will need to watch his or her energy usage carefully and his or her attacks will be significantly weaker.
Q: IS THE ACCENDO DEGREE REALLY THE STRONGEST DEGREE?
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Yes.
Of the six degrees, the Accendo Degree is, by large and by far, the most destructive. In terms of pure power and damage, none of the other degrees can rival the flames. If two agents—of equal rank and of equal strength—were pitted against each other (one being Accendo and the other being anything else) and all things were held equal (environment, personality factors, etc), the Accendo Synergist is favorable to win (8:1).
Granted, this is a vacuum match and, in reality, things are rarely as even or as fair.
Q: CAN AN ACCENDO SYNERGIST USE FRICTION AS A RESOURCE / SOURCE?
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Yes.
An Accendo Synergist can use anything (barring general degree limits) that generates heat as a source. However, the energy drawn from friction is not typically sufficient for most medium-to-large-scale skills.
IMBER
This post contains information on and relevant to the Imber Degree.
Imber: The ability to summon and manipulate wind. The Imber Degree, unlike the Accendo Degree, which highlights strength and destruction, is a degree focused on technique and precision. A skilled synergist can summon tornadoes, shape wind currents, and, at his or her best, warp electricity. Alone, the Imber Degree is not a particularly devastating degree, but when it is paired with any of the four "natural" degrees, an Imber synergist becomes a deadly force. In records, the most powerful Imber synergist (Grace Falana, 5177A.D.-5257A.D.) was capable of creating an invisible "wall" that blocked attacks and projectiles. She is also credited with the wind-tunnel technique that sucks out oxygen, killing anyone trapped inside the tunnel. Additionally, she is the synergist responsible for unearthing the degree's hidden attribute: electricity. To date, there have only been a handful of Imber synergists who could effectively draw electricity with any reliability.
Q: WHAT ARE SOME BASIC-LEVE IMBER ABILITIES?
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Nearly all Imber synergists begin with "general molds." These abilities do not require great refinement or honed concentration. For instance, nearly all Imber synergists knows how to "push" people around with the wind (it can be a small nudge to the back or a complete rag-doll effect to the whole body). These skills do not require any particular training. In addition to flinging people around, most Imber synergists can also whip up powerful winds to create resistance against projectiles and similar (although nullification of ability-powered skills are a high-level talent).
Q: WHAT ARE SOME INTERMEDIATE-LEVEL IMBER ABILITIES?
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After training (and maybe a bit of experience), Imber synergists know to refine their techniques—fine-tuning them for more pin-point attacks. Instead of general force (i.e. pushing), a learned Imber synergist can "shape" their wind into powerful tornadoes, oppressive forces (preventing their opponents from moving by forcing strong winds on them), and, maybe, cut. Most Imber synergists fall into this category of skill-level (Rank B).
Q: WHAT ARE SOME EXPERT-LEVEL IMBER ABILITIES?
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The most obvious skill would be the access to electricity—something only a handful of Imber synergists can summon with any reliability. While most Imber synergists will, over time, learn to control and call for the hidden attribute, many will fail to use it effectively or summon it reliably. Electricity is a violent force and requires not only a strong concentration, but quite a bit of innate talent. Synergists who cannot dredge up the focus to control and tame the ability are prone to having it turn on them or fizzing out.
Nullification or shielding is also an ability that is commonly associated with skilled-users. While any level of synergists can draft powerful winds, only the strongest synergists can maintain them for an extended period of time.
Q: CAN THE IMBER DEGREE BE COMBINED WITH ANY OTHER DEGREE?
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Yes.
The Imber Degree has a very strong supportive skill-set and can greatly enhance the power of any ally synergist. For example, when combined with the Pulvius Degree, floods can move faster, whirlpools can be made with greater ferocity, and hurricanes can come into existence.
While some degrees will receive a greater influence, all synergists can benefit from having an Imber synergist onboard.
PULVIUS
This post contains information on and relevant to the Pulvius Degree.
PULVIUS: The ability to summon and manipulate water. If the Accendo Degree is an aggressor and the Imber Degree is a tactician, then the Pulvius Degree is a mediator—a marriage of brash and caution. Like the Accendo Degree, the Pulvius Degree is powerful. But, like the Imber Degree, the Pulvius Degree requires deep concentration. It is not unusual for even a skilled Pulvius synergist to fail in his or her abilities (summoning a stream when they mean to draw a tidal wave, etc). Song Xue-Lian (5184A.D.-5247A.D.), the most respected of Pulvius synergists, perfected the degree's hidden attribute: ice. She is famous for entrapping her enemies in icy tombs and shaping fantastical ice weapons in the middle of battle. However, her best move (and a now-lost skill) was manipulating water to cut.
Q: WHY DOES THE DEGREE "FAIL" SO COMMONLY?
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Because I said so.
No, it's because the Pulvius Degree, of all six degrees, requires the greatest concentration and, perhaps, the highest skill-cap. There are two branches to the degree: summoning and manipulation. Summoning not only requires excessive stamina (which is why most Pulvius synergists prefer fighting by nearby sources of water), but is incredibly difficult to "pull" the summons into existence. Manipulation, on the other hand, is, relatively speaking, an easier task. But not by much.
Fact is, even skilled Pulvius synergists are apt to performing "duds."
Q: DO PULVIUS SYNERGISTS GET A HUGE BOOST FROM BEING BY THE OCEAN?
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No, not necessarily.
Being seaside will give the synergist an advantage (lots and lots of resource to draw from), but it is also important to consider the strength of the synergist in question. Manipulation is only easier than summoning because it does not require "creation." It, however, does require some mastery over the subject the synergist is manipulating. Small-sized resources (e.g. a fountain, a puddle) are easy to manipulate because of its size. Medium-sized resources (e.g. ponds, lakes) are the preferred resources for most synergists. For starters, medium-sized resources offer a decent amount of subject to work with and the "resistance" to manipulation is still low. On the other hand, large-sized resources (e.g. open seas, oceans) are the hardest to work with and most synergists will shy away from touching those waters. Skimming the surface is manageable by most Pulvius synergists, but to reach into the depths of the water is nearly impossible for many. In documented cases, only Rank A-3 Pulvius synergists and above have been able to consistently mold, tame, and control water drawn from the ocean.
Additionally, resources that are in motion also pose varying levels of difficulty. Streams are easier to manipulate, but rivers will be harder.
Q: IS HAVING THE ICE ATTRIBUTE COMMON?
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No.
SABULUM
This post contains information on and relevant to the Sabulum Degree.
Sabulum: The ability to manipulate earth/metal. The Sabulum Degree is, without a doubt, the most defensive of the natural and the angelic degrees. The degree is best known for its impenetrable walls and, as such, many Sabulum synergists work hard to refine their shielding techniques. Unlike the Accendo Degree, which can lob fire from mid-air, or the Pulvius Degree, which can draw torrents from nowhere, the Sabulum Degree requires the presence of earth or metal. All skilled Sabulum synergists claim that it is important for young or new Sabulum synergists to "feel" or to be "connected" with the earth as that connection is what allows the degree to flourish. Gareth Roy Adler (5201A.D.-5293A.D.), one of the seven founders of Sidereus, is best known for having saved the lives of a hundred soldiers. However, despite his defensive talents, Adler was not ill-prepared to fight on his own behalf. After all, he is the pioneer behind the degree's hidden attribute: gravity manipulation. To this day, no one else has been able to figure out how he redirected gravitational pulls.
Q: CAN SABULUM SYNERGISTS SUMMON?
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No.
Q: WHAT ARE THE "ESSENTIAL" TECHNIQUES?
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At its core, all Sabulum synergists, no matter the level, know how to manipulate earthly materials (e.g. dirt, rocks). The average synergist can induce earthquakes (but lack the finesse to isolate the earthquakes) and "shield." Elevating and de-elevating the floor is a basic skill.
Q: WHAT IS THE SKILL THAT MAALIK USES IN EPISODE ONE?
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Maalik is able to detect the presence of people (or other living things) by sending out vibrations through the floor from his feet. The vibrations move through the soil and, similar to echo-location, reveals the location of other moving objects. This skill requires "intuition" and cannot be taught (i.e. not every Sabulum synergist can learn it).
NOTE: The vibrations are unfelt by non-Sabulum synergists.
TENEBRAE
This post contains information on and relevant to the Tenebrae Degree.
Tenebrae: The ability to manipulate shadows. The Tenebrae Degree is one of two "angelic" degrees. The Tenebrae Degree is a more physical ability and its synergists are well-versed in various styles of hand-to-hand combat and weaponry. Because the degree does not possess an inherently strong offensive skill-tree, Tenebrae synergists must compensate for its shortcoming. However, the Tenebrae Degree is a highly mobile degree due to its unique skill: Shadow Walking and Darkness. Shadow Walking is a technique that allows the synergist to hide in shadows (read: become invisible) and Darkness is the ability to temporarily eliminate the presence of light in a small area. Due to its tactical skill set, most Tenebrae synergists are assigned to recon and intelligence missions. Fujimoto Takeshi (5180A.D.-5233A.D.), one of the founders of Sidereus, is credited with the discovery of "dark energy," but suffered a heart attack that prevented him from furthering his research into the matter. As of today, "dark energy" remains useless to the community.
Q: EXACTLY WHAT IS THE TENEBRAE DEGREE?
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Sure.
The Tenebrae Degree is one of two Angelic degrees, which means it is unaffected by the environment (i.e. the environment cannot augment the skill). There are two primary points of interest for the degree: its mobility and physicality. In other words, the Tenebrae Degree focuses on improved movement and enhanced physical powers. The Tenebrae Degree is not a flashy, spell-lobing degree.
Q: HOW IS MOBILITY AFFECTED OR AUGMENTED?
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"Shadow Walking" is both the crux and the pinnacle of Tenebrae mobility. A talented combat artist can use the shadows to gain leverage in a battle by appearing and reappearing at advantageous times. Moreover a talented combat artist can always rely on the shadows for coverage—playing defensively until an opening can be capitalized on. "Shadow Walking" used in conjunction with other spells (e.g. Darkness) is a great way to reposition. The Tenebrae Degree is a degree that relies heavily on correct and perfect positioning. A good offensive position can win fights far better than brute strength.
Q: ASIDE FROM "SHADOW WALKING," ARE THERE ANY OTHER MOBILITY SKILLS?
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Yes.
Cloaking is the technique that allows a Tenebrae synergist to temporarily hide in the shadow of an ally or an enemy. This is a high-cost skill. Stronger Tenebrae synergists can hold the cloak for longer (and can also hide in smaller amounts of shadows), but the energy-cost is not lessened. The strain to cloak is inversely related to the size of the shadow (e.g. it takes more energy for a synergist to hide in a smaller shadow than for a synergist to hide in a bigger shadow). Furthermore, hiding in a moving shadow will consume more energy than hiding in a stationary shadow.
Rifting is the technique of jumping a short distance from shadow to shadow (max distance: 4 feet). This is a high-cost skill and a top-tier skill. When used correctly, the synergist can move from shadows to shadows unseen. When used incorrectly, the synergist can be "attacked" by the rebelling shadow-resistance. This can lead to unintended injuries. Generally speaking, most Tenebrae synergists will avoid rifting; rifting is not an essential skill.
Shifting is the technique of moving between shadow clones. Shifting allows the synergist to hide within manipulated shadows (e.g. a shadow clone, a shadow projectile). Shifting is the peak of mobility augmentation and is, arguably, the strongest skill within the Tenebrae Degree. However, shifting is both a high-cost and a top-tier skill. Since Takeshi Fujimoto (the synergist to have perfected the shifting technique), only a small handful of synergists have been able to shift and even fewer (potentially none) have used it as fluidly as Fujimoto. Shifting is the hallmark of a talented Tenebrae synergist.
Q: HOW IS PHYSICALITY AFFECTED OR AUGMENTED?
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The Tenebrae Degree is most famously known for its combat-rich skill-tree. Unlike the other degrees, which focuses on projectiles and extensions, the Tenebrae Degree emphasizes natural, physical strength.
"Shadow Armor" is a fundamental skill. It is what allows a Tenebrae synergist to punch through brick walls and kick down titanium panels. In addition to amplifying damage output, "Shadow Armor" can also be used defensively. When the energy is more densely packed (i.e. the synergist increases the amount of energy spent on the armor), the armor can be used to reduce impact at isolated locations (low relative amounts of energy consumed) or the entirety of the body (high relative amounts of energy consumed).
However, like any other skill, "Shadow Armor" can be beaten simply by launching an attack stronger than the armor can absorb.
Q: ASIDE FROM THE AFOREMENTIONED ABILITIES, ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMON/WELL-KNOWN ABILITIES?
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Binding is a crowd-control maneuver. More to come later!
Cloning is a multi-faceted skill and, in the hands of a capable synergist, can be the defining point of a battle. More to come later!
Darkness is a crowd-control ability. It temporarily blinds an opponent by obscuring light in a limited space (max radius 4ft). More to come later!
AETHRA
This post contains information on and relevant to the Aethra Degree.
Aethra: The ability to manipulate light. Of the six degrees, the Aethra Degree is the rarest and the most mysterious of all the existing degrees. Aethra synergists, aside from being highly limited, vary greatly in their abilities. Some synergists (Mentior) are able to craft illusions with their degree (i.e. by bending light waves) while other synergists (Vigor) are able to maneuver their degrees into a more offensive skill set (i.e. shaping light photons and particles to emulate kinetic energy). However, it is very rare for an Aethra synergist to be capable of performing skills from both branches. Since Machiavelli "Mac" De Luca (5177A.D.-5263A.D.), the first chancellor of Sidereus, there have only been nine known cases of dual-skilled Aethra synergists. But unlike Mac, who used both skill sets with great command, later dual-skilled synergists exhibited significantly inhibited control of one or the other skill set.
Q: QUESTION GOES HERE
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ANSWER GOES HERE!