Trace

Trace is not an official magical spell. In fact, many do not know about the nature of the legendary Trace skill, since it is never seen in the wild. The few that know about the Trace skill can't determine whether this would be considered as a lost spell or a legend gone cold. Many do not understand how the Trace ability functions no matter how much ancient material is read or understood, but the benefits of learning Trace could be immense to those who do understand the ability, since it supposedly works anywhere in the world even without a veil.
Trace is one of the most unique passive skills of magical detection. The wielder who knows how to invoke an invisible personal non-magical aura of Trace is said to be capable of sensing, detecting, and tracking all signatures of magical energy, whether this be Leray format, dark magic, or lunar magic. The skill allows the user to determine in a large field the exact location and all other spell-based parameters of all magical energy signatures. These parameters equate to every mathematical and digital factor of an ability as it builds or takes form over time, including power level, location, elemental property, ME charging level, auric links, predicted pathways and angle of attacks, chained effects, dimensional warping factors, and more, all in a collective surge of information going straight to the user's mind that can keep like an incredible rush of data. Therefore, those using Trace can easily predict what is about to happen with other magical abilities used against them or to support them, while determining which location an attack is going to come from before it is even launched. It can be used as a prediction principle of future foresight if the user understands very quickly what all of the parameters mean and how it will affect them.

The Trace ability is said to expend a small amount of ME points over time without direct reliance on any magic veil, though effectiveness in the skill goes far up when relying on a stronger veil. The skill of Trace basically traces the parameters of all magical energy signatures before they can even be formulated into a manifestation of an ability. However, overreliance on using Trace can be dangerous, since the ability naturally does not track or detect non-magical attacks or other physical movements. The concentration strength on Trace must be very high at all times to keep the passive ability active, with single invocations lasting for up to a minute, sometimes more.

The reason Trace is so difficult to learn is said that only wielders with absolute understanding of all magical parameters prior to using the skill can ever attempt to learn the ability. Many argue that the power may be more genetic in nature, while others argue that it is directly linked to a strong connection between imagination and intelligence of magic. Everyone agrees in unison however that anyone who can use Trace will have the highest tactical analysis skills on the planet. This is a standalone passive ability.

Effect

Support Form: Full-Area Magical Detection Sensory Aura
Support Type: Unknown Mental Aura
Glyphring: False

Manifestation

The wielder must first attempt to focus and concentrate on activating Trace, which can take a long time. When Trace begins to activate, the wielder feels a strong buzzing sensation inside their head, considered to be a mixing of additional mental clarity and mental energy mixed with an electric-like boost to the brain itself. This buzz does not hurt, but it can make the headspace tingle.

The detection works with the eyes open or closed. If the wielder has their eyes closed, it will be far easier to see the Trace grid all around them, an imaginary three-dimensional dark grid of calculation lines and parameter factors projected like a digital hologram in its own world. The wielder can from here visually see the calculations and parameters of all energy signatures, while sensually feeling them as well. The wielder's mind is bombarded with extra sensory information about the raw data of all nearby abilities or spells that use magic whether it be from their teammates or enemies. The rush of data can likely confuse the wielder until they get used to the incredible sensation. When understanding the use of the data and numeric sequences that factor in energy location and movement velocity, it becomes easier to take action to evade incoming spells and counter with an attack. Trace can be kept passively active in the background once fully activated for more than a minute with minimal strain to magical circuits, enabling that wielder to attack and defend themself with Trace at the same time, becoming the ultimate warrior. Trace can also be invoked after the last session ends, but it can take time in between each successful invocation since more stress is added to the mind than to the body.

For anyone observing a wielder using Trace, there is no visual effect that can be noted.

Source

Personal ME and concentration
Estimated MP Drain per minute: 5%

Discovery

The history of the Trace ability is riddled with anecdote and legends passed down from prominent mages of the distant past. Having been in the language for over a thousand years, Trace is said to have played a role in the discovery and initial development of lunar magic from the history of Sprawn Valley. Most mages who could allegedly use Trace did so as a means of meditation and slow growth of their abilities over time before the Leray veil came into play, since even under the invocation of pure lunar magic energy, Trace is not a dangerous passive skill to use.

After the setup of Eldora Tower, Trace became more unbelievable as nobody was ever able to prove and demonstrate the ability of Trace to the registered mages. But the legend only grew from this phenomena, claiming that those who would learn Trace would grow up to become the most powerful and honorable warriors of the entire era. It is also said that for every generation, only a maximum of one person could ever learn Trace at a time.

After the setup of Eldora Tower, Trace became more unbelievable as nobody was ever able to prove usage of the ability. Using a powerful understanding of magic developed through experience and critical thought, Danny Mason managed to acquire this ability in the training sessions forged to fight against the Scarlet Syndicate.

Gestures & Ritual

Standing bone still is generally a requirement, as the invocation involves severe mental concentration of the detection of magic. For those highly sensitive to the magic fields around them, Trace might just activate on its own during physical fatigue. Verbally chanting the name of this ability does not help with its invocation.

Effect Duration

Average Duration: 1 Minute

Effect Casting Time

Average Invocation Time: 11 seconds

Range

About 1 Kilometer

Level

N/A

Applied Restriction

Some resting time must be devoted in between multiple invocations of this ability.