The Origins of The Rift

Long before time was woven into the fabric of reality, before the stars themselves took their first breath, there existed a void of pure potential. It was from this primordial canvas that The Rift first emerged—a fracture between what is and what could be.

Many scholars in the realm of Aetheria have dedicated their lives to understanding The Rift's true nature. Some believe it to be the birthplace of all magic, while others view it as a wound in reality that never fully healed after the Celestial War.

The Seven Veils of The Rift

Those who have ventured close to The Rift speak of seven distinct layers, or "veils," each pulsing with its own unique energy and governing different aspects of magical potential:

1. The Veil of Whispers — Where thoughts become echoes that ripple through time
2. The Veil of Essence — The source of all elemental magic
3. The Veil of Shadows — Where forgotten memories find refuge
4. The Veil of Light — The birthplace of stars and celestial bodies
5. The Veil of Life — Governing the flow of life force throughout the realms
6. The Veil of Harmony — Where balance between opposing forces is maintained
7. The Veil of Infinity — The deepest layer, said to connect to all possible realities

Each veil resonates with different magical disciplines, and mages often specialize in drawing power from a specific layer. The most powerful magic users, however, learn to weave energy from multiple veils simultaneously—a dangerous practice that has consumed the minds of many ambitious spellcasters.

The Time Smith's Connection

No discussion of The Rift would be complete without mentioning the enigmatic figure known as the Time Smith. Ancient texts describe this being not as a person but as a role—a guardian chosen by The Rift itself to maintain the integrity of time's flow.

The Time Smith is said to forge moments like links in a chain, connecting past to present to future. Their workshop exists somewhere between realities, accessible only through dreams or during celestial alignments. The Plain and Pale Clock, their most precious creation, is rumored to be the mechanism through which they monitor and adjust the flow of time when necessary.

In next week's entry, we'll explore the most notable manifestations of The Rift throughout history, and the mysterious creatures that sometimes emerge from its depths during periods of magical convergence.

Until then, may your own journey through time be filled with wonder and discovery.