Soulflame

Soulflames are not some skill rank or something you “make”; instead, they are something you find. Soulflames are a special kind of natural treasure found throughout the multiverse, but they are scarce, often quite dangerous, and incredibly difficult to locate due to appearing in hazardous environments.

A Soulflame forms when an environment reaches a certain threshold and an elemental is about to be born and awaken spiritually, but somehow fails and instead turns into a Soulflame. It is not truly a living being, yet it manages to retain a fragment of a Truesoul, making it a potent item.

This means a Soulflame possesses partial properties of living beings. It does not have levels, but it can grow independently of anyone or anything else. However, it does not grow in the same way other items do. Normal items grow over time by absorbing atmospheric mana and being compatible with upgrades, while a Soulflame must “learn” in order to improve itself. Although a Soulflame does not live, it has instincts that place it somewhere between a natural treasure with innate defensive abilities and a truly living being.

These rare flames are incredibly valuable due to their special nature and are highly sought after by alchemists but acquiring one is far from simple. First, Soulflames have rarities, and while they can be upgraded, doing so is difficult. The only way to upgrade a Soulflame is for it to absorb similar Soulflames in order to “learn” from them, as previously mentioned.

There is also the issue of compatibility. Soulflames come in all shapes, sizes, affinities, and possess innate concepts, meaning not all Soulflames can be used interchangeably.

Alchemists have discovered methods to absorb Soulflames and integrate them into their Truesouls, similar to Soulbound items. This process merges the Soulflame with the alchemist’s Alchemical Flame, permanently fusing the two. The permanence is critical—once a Soulflame and an Alchemical Flame are merged, the bond is considered irreversible. While methods to undo the process and unbind a Soulflame do exist, they are noted to carry severe consequences.

Soulflames are categorized into Elementary, Low-tier, Mid-tier, High-tier, Pinnacle-tier, and Supreme Soulflames. Elementary Soulflames barely qualify as true Soulflames but have the advantage of being ideal for growth. Supreme Soulflames represent the absolute pinnacle. Most seek at least a Pinnacle-tier Soulflame due to the relative ease of upgrading it into a Supreme Soulflame—relative doing significant heavy lifting, as the process is still extremely difficult. Attempting to raise a Soulflame of a lower tier is borderline impossible and closer to gambling than a reliable method of progression.

Obtaining a high-quality Soulflame early is crucial due to their semi-permanent nature. A Soulflame acquired at C-grade remains with an individual for the rest of their life and continues to grow alongside them. Acquiring a poor-quality Soulflame forces one to either accept mediocrity or expend unreasonable amounts of resources to upgrade it.

Naturally, Soulflames are more complex than these classifications alone suggest, but the system provides a solid estimate. Determining a Soulflame’s quality is relatively straightforward, as it is primarily a matter of Records.

After completing Minaga’s Labyrinth during Nevermore, Jake receives the item Cradle of Soul’s Kindling, which is designed to accelerate the formation of a Soulflame. Shortly before reaching B-grade, Jake is able to extract his own Soulflame: Jake’s Arcane Soulflame.