Obsidian Aether Ore
A rare ore produced only in the special stratum where the fog and bedrock meet in the lower Mist Sea.
The Ore Born at the Fog's Boundary
A rare ore produced only in the special stratum where the lower Mist Sea, where fog and bedrock intersect. It has the same buoyancy as ordinary Aether Crystals, but its density is 5–10 times greater. Its buoyancy energy per volume is dramatically higher — a single piece can produce the effect of several ordinary Aether Crystals combined.
The ore's surface is near-jet-black with blue-white light veins running through its interior. Polished, it develops a gem-like luster and is extremely beautiful, creating demand as decorative material. However, its value as buoyancy material is overwhelmingly greater than its aesthetic appeal; a fragment the size of a fingertip can increase an airship's load capacity by several tons.
The Risks of Mining and Smuggling
Mining requires diving into The Mist Sea, making it extremely dangerous with high risk of Mistfish encounters. It does not circulate through official channels; only the Mist Trading Company and certain smugglers can mine it. The Canopy Council is aware of this ore's existence and has repeatedly attempted to monopolize its mining, but has failed every time due to Mist Trading Company interference and the tactical advantages of The Mist Sea.
The Root Realm Federation calls this ore "the earth's blood." Mining is prohibited as an act that wounds the earth, but there is information that Mycelium Symbiont Tribe members have unofficially collected fragments and are preserving them for research.
A Product of the World's Division
The formation mechanism of Obsidian Aether Ore is one of the greatest mysteries for the Great Fall Research Institute. Ordinary Aether Crystals crystallize under uniform geological conditions, but Obsidian Aether Ore seems to be generated only in The Mist Sea's unique physical environment — where Aether Crystal buoyancy and mycelium network pull operate simultaneously at the boundary. In other words, this ore is a product generated by the world being divided itself.
The Military Ambition and Criticism
The Canopy Council's military division has a development plan for "ultra-high-altitude warships" using Obsidian Aether Ore. The logic is that if they can rise to altitudes impossible to maintain with ordinary Aether Crystals, a safe zone beyond The Great Fall's influence can be secured — but the Great Fall Research Institute criticizes this plan: "Running from the problem is impossible. The Great Fall occurs regardless of altitude in the sky."
There are reports that Obsidian Aether Ore's light veins flicker in response to the owner's emotions — glowing intensely in anger and settling in calm. If this is fact, it may be not merely an ore but a bio-responsive substance. The Great Fall Research Institute is advancing its investigation, but difficulty obtaining specimens is a barrier.
関連する要素
- Aether Crystal— The floating crystals that keep The Canopy Isles aloft. Depending on refinement level, they serve diverse purposes including buoyancy, light emission, and communication. The primary trade good of The Root Realm.
- Mycelium Silver— A rare silver-white crystal produced by specific fungi in The Root Realm, used as a refinement catalyst and as the de facto common currency in Rakuen.