Throughout the world of Aethyr, there can be found many minerals and crystals of different properties.

Crystals in particular are considered a gift of the Ancestors, and grow where the earth's veins of magic are closest to the surface.

They do not generate magic, merely contain it, and depending on the vein, and can be used for healing, stamina or mana replenishing, or even to commune with the Ancestors themselves.

Minerals

Star Metal

This very rare, a dark hued metal with a rippling pattern, is most known for it’s extreme durability, as well as dynamic properties that allow it to be mixed with other metals.

Star metal comes from the remnants of the shattered moon, Cressida, that fall into the planet below.

It is mostly used in armor or weapons for high-profile individuals, as well as the most significant pieces of an attire such as unity bands and rings.

Many smithies prefer not to “taint” the rare metal with the addition of other types of metals, but some less wealthy Houses or Families, or even individuals, might prefer its addition for a cheaper result that lacks the ripple pattern.

The color of this metal will often be attuned to the wearer’s base colors, something only possible with Star metal due to how it reacts to the magical elements.

It can only be achieved by a skilled Solar dragons’ precise flame, as well as the intervention of the wearers' own element when possible.

Crystals

Red Crystals

Healing.

When smashed, these crystals drop pellets of healing energy that may be absorbed by living beings.

This healing energy may also be transferred to other objects.

Green Crystals

Stamina replenishing.

When smashed, these crystals drop pellets of replenishing energy that may be absorbed by living beings.

This restoring energy may also be transferred to other objects.

Blue Crystals

Mana replenishing.

When smashed, these crystals drop pellets of mana energy that may be absorbed by living beings.

This mana may also be transferred to other objects.

Yellow Crystals

The rarest of all crystals, these are said to house the spirits of the Ancestors.

Well guarded due to how coveted they are, these crystals can only be found in the Celestial Order's sanctum, or in the wild with a streak of good luck.

They allow the user to commune with their Ancestors and receive their wisdom.

White Crystals

Used for lighting.

These crystals are quite standard and abundant in the world, and lack any special properties besides reacting to a dragon's element or magic.

When powered, they offer a steady light source that is much better than candles or torches.

Purple Crystals

Unknown

Soul Crystals

When Soulweaver dragons were brought to existence, they were very committed to understanding and exploring their elemental powers in full, due to their sensitive nature and great impact in the lives of those around them.

From these experiments and investigations, soul crystals were born: part of a soul that could be given physical form, the energy crystallizing into a diamond shape.

This allowed the creature to temporarily "cheat" death, as their soul, bound to the shard, would transfer to it fully when the body expired, lasting for as long as the being had lived, effectively doubling their lifespan unless the soul shard feeds on the living force of other creatures, making them quite dangerous objects by themselves and also in the wrong hands.

This technique was kept secret for a very long time, but centuries later, during the First War, the secret was made known to the world, as it allowed the most experienced warriors to pass on their knowledge after death, and with the situation being so dire, it had to be done, no matter the future consequences.

Soul crystals soon became a symbol of the Celestials themselves, as every dragon treated this knowledge as sacred due to its importance, seeing it as a gift the Celestials had given them, despite the Soulweaver dragons being the first to discover it.

The creation of a soul crystal is far from easy, and it can be a potentially traumatizing experience, which is why it is unadvised to perform on sentient creatures that are too young.

It must also be performed by an experienced Soulweaver dragon if possible, but if in dire need, any other dragon may perform it, for this they will need extensive knowledge in magic and the procedure itself, having to experiment on non-sentient beings first.

If successful, the procedure will occur seamlessly, but upon failure, there is a high risk of a phenomenon called Soul Burst, which is the rapid and sudden expansion of the highly potent and condensed energy that souls are made of, effectively causing an explosion that could level an entire town or even a city in the case of the most powerful souls.

This may also happen when a soul shard is physically broken, but the intensity of the burst will vary depending on the state of the soul.

If it is too old, or too weak, it will not have much effect.

There are many consequences to a failed soul slicing, as the procedure is known as. From small effects such as mental strain in the form of depression, headaches, or physical strain such as chest pains; to worse effects such as insanity.

Soul shards are recognised by their very very specific color and glow: they will match the souls' eye color or element color if they have one. This has further given weight to the saying "the eyes are the windows to the soul".