Dullorak truly did seem to change personality with every head he wore. The elderly head he now used while teaching Atlas about magic, he introduced as Archmage Eldros, a figure said to hold affinity with the Arcane element.
"Wait… Arcane element?" This was the first time Atlas had ever even heard of such a thing.
At the most basic level, elements were divided into two categories: Basic Elements and Special Elements. From there, they could evolve into advanced forms, or even merge to create entirely new ones.
But there was another category altogether. An Ancient Element, standing apart from the basic family tree and operating beyond the usual framework of nature.
"The Arcane element," Dullorak explained, his wrinkled face smiling with unnatural wisdom, "is the pure, unshaped essence of magic. Unlike Fire or Water, which take physical form, Arcane is raw mana itself, given shape. Think of it as the source code of reality when applied in combat."
