Ethereal Existence Tree
Under each form of Existence, we have a tree. (As will later be shown in the tree chart of this topic.)
The tree represents the 'levels,' or tiers of Existence through conversion, and the means of what it is.
Ethereal Existence is made-up of two forms as well, Existence and Non-Existence (Also known as Anti-Existence.) This is where we partly borrow from K2323s particle explanation, but such will be explained further on. First, Existence, First form of Ethereal Existence.
Beneath Ethereal Existence, We have Tier Level One; On this level, Existence has been converted through three means into three forms; Astral, Magic, and Tech. The first and foremost of which would be Astral.
Astral
Astral, is life. It is what life is made of. Not to be confused with Spirit Energy, it is the bare Existence converted to Tier Level 1, through natural (creation) means. Everything living, was once Spirit. Unlike Magic and Tech, Astral is converted through natural means of creation. It is the only one that is automatically converted and can really be called life. (Despite the fact we call magic life at times, it is more of a support to life.)
Astral, being Tier Level One, can be converted into two of its own forms; Sentience and Non-Sentience, which can also be thought of as Thought and Non-Thought. Aware and Unaware. Whatever name you give it, it is the second level of conversion under Ethereal Existence in Tier Level Two.
Sentience is just as we know it in real life. It is thought, consciousness, the ability to be aware and to know. It is on Tier Level Two, as one of the forms of converted Astral and can be converted into its more harmful form of Spirit Energy (On Tier Level Three).
Non-Sentience on the other hand is life that cannot think, but still has Astral. Example being, Rocks, ground, tree's, and nature that does not have thought. Sun, moon, life that cannot think for its self, but still lives. Non-Sentience can also be converted to a Tier Level Three form, that is what we know as Psi.
Spirit Energy is the harmful form of Sentience converted. As we've said before, using Spirit Energy, takes a toll on your life. This is because it IS your life. It is you literally taking your Sentience the converted form of Astral and converting into the Physical Plane from the Spiritual/Astral Plane (See Corporeal Existence and Physical-Spiritual Planes later in Outline) into a harmful form for battle. Sentience its self is not harmful, it would be just you throwing your spirit at someone. But once converted through a persons will into Spirit Energy it becomes something akin to magic, at a price. Your very spirit aka your existence.
(However, Magic will replenish your Spirit Energy faster than if you just let it replenish its self. This will be explained more thoroughly later on in the Outline.)
Psi is the harmful form of Non-Sentience, the energy of the sun, the rocks, nature its self, and the sources within it? That's Psi, and as such, is the reason you ground yourself and draw energy from those things. It has no drawback, as it is plentiful, however, if used too much, it can make the source wither or crumble.
Astral, Sentience, and Non-Sentience all exist on the Spiritual Plane, separate from the Physical Plane.
Spirit Energy, and Psi, on the other hand, exist on the Physical Plane, as they have been converted to do so.
That completes the Tier Levels of Spirit.
|--------------------------------------------------|
| Astral
| v
| v
| Sentience---Non-Sentience
| v v
| v v
| Spirit Energy Psi
|--------------------------------------------------|
Magic
For the one we've been waiting for. Magic!
Magic is another form of converted Existence on the Ethereal Existence tree. It is on the same Tier Level as Astral, and as such, is a more pure form of Existence. Unlike Astral which is converted through natural creation. Magic is converted through racial or other means. Such as a Sages soul, and the other different types of organs, processes, and methods of life. However, it cannot be done through artificial means through technology. If that happened, it would be something else altogether.
There's not much to say about Magic, other than how it interacts with the other forms of Existence, and what its tier levels are. Basically, its tier levels are many, many, many different kinds. All types and forms of Magic is converted from tier level one Magic. Some types are more pure than others though, and that's where we get Revelation and Genesis They are the more pure forms of Magic and are closest to being pure Magic than most forms or types.
As said before in Spirit Energy, Magic can replenish your Spirit Energy faster than if you let it restore its self. This is because, when you use Spirit Energy, you use your Sentience (albeit converted) and end up damaging your spirit. Because it's damaged, it takes longer to restore its self, as the natural conversion from Existence to Astral and finally back to
Sentience. But if left alone, it will eventually restore its self if you didn't convert all of your Sentience (which would be stupid, because then you'd be perma-dead.
Magic on the other hand acts as a food to your Spirit, and speeds up the conversion and restoration. If you have Magic, your Spirit is healed faster, and the natural conversion from Existence to Astral and back to Sentience is a much quicker process. But even then, you still must be careful.
Because Magic must be converted through Existence through biological or other processes and not natural, it can be stopped. And because it's the purest form of Magic that's stopped, just as Magic is absolute, so would the process to stop it be. This is where we finally get into Anti-Magic. Both Natural, and unatural. The natural form will be discussed later in the outline, more towards Non/Anti-Existence
The unatural, however, is Magic's greatest enemy known. The unatural means of anti-magic aims to stop the conversion process of Existence into Magic as well as break up what's already converted. Putting a stop to magic as a whole. Of course, there's different types. And all of them don't do the exact same things. But the process is still the same. It stops Magic by destroying the conversion or breaking up what's in the area.
That completes the Tier Levels of Astral and Magic
|--------------------------------------------------|
| Astral --------------------Magic
| v
| v
| Sentience---Non-Sentience
| v v
| v v
| Spirit Energy Psi
|--------------------------------------------------|
Next up is Tech (A theory not yet introduced IC, but will be handled by Gaserlake)