The law of equivalence permeates all aspects of this world - for everything gained, something must be paid. It can be seen in the prosperous cities, balanced by hostile expanses; the weak minds of monsters, balanced by strong bodies; the grand achievements of kings, balanced by all their depravities. There are some in this world that come to know, to understand this law. To recognise equivalence is to be able to manipulate it, so such people are capable of miracles and catastrophes beyond imagination. Such people are called mages. However, this recognition does not merely take the form of knowledge, but instead experience, imprinted onto the soul through trauma. Such an experience, which awakens an understanding of equivalence, is called rapture by the more optimistic, and rupture by those less so inclined.

While there