Awakened creatures, only just referred to as Awakened, are the result of an animal being more intelligent over time until it reaches roughly the level of a human. Typically, this only occurs in animals that spend a great deal of time around mages, who leak enough mana to saturate the area around them without it being overwhelming, thus produg a low state of overload within any animal that stays hem.

  This means that if a mage keeps a pet, it will almost always bee Awakeually, uhey actively siphon mana out of it. While this may appear to lead to a situation simir to a familiar, the Awakened is not bound to the mage in any way. Typically leading to a positive retionship, there have been cases where a mage has mistreated an Awakened, only to find themselves poisoripped in a dangerous situation, or directly attacked.

  In general, the most on animals to bee Awakened are wolves, hawks, owls, cats, and rats. For those mages who i with Awakened only, it is typical to spend at least some time training in mind magi order to form either aional or telepathid to ease unicatioweewo. For those with more time or talent, it is also possible to develop the ability to share senses, which is only used with hawks and owls to get a better view from the air, though in some cases, it be useful for others as well. An example of a useful situation for both sharing of senses and telepathy would be a mage who specializes ih magiking with an Awakened rat to help find survivors after ahquake.

  While an animal be called Awakened when it is on a simir level to a young child, ohey have reached that point, it is much easier for them to tinue growing in intelligence, as they learn what helps or hihe process. Due to this, many older Awakened match or exceed the average human in terms of intelligence, if they focus on doing so. However, sincreasing intelligence requires a sustained low-level mana overload, wild Awakened are unheard of, at least until Niphru was discovered, as typically a wild animal will either not be overloaded, or e a great deal of mana at once leading to a major overload that reduces intelligence while strengthening the body.

  Oe of wild Awakehere are, in fact, quite a few, though they are typically deep within the wilderness. As a creature grows in size and strength, the amount of mana it safely handle increases. When bined with being near or at the top of the local food , this results in the creature eventually being uo sustain major overloads, and instead occasionally sustaining minor ones long enough to increase in intelligenbsp; After many years, this result in the most powerful in an area being Awakehough by that point they depend on high levels of mana to survive, and often end up uo move very far without suffering from ana.

  Simir to how creatures of the same species tend towards simir physical mutations, Awakened of the same species tend to begin with simir mental states and preferehough this diverges over time as they develop due to their experiences. It is also possible, though rare, for an Awakeo learn how to perform magic, which leads to some fearing them.

  Due to their non-human nature, the Church of flict sees them as a reasoarget, and often hunts them down if they are not directly uhe prote of a mage. This prevents most Awakened from being able to move freely, as attempting to enter or leave the capital, where they are most on, involves passing multiple guards, many of whom serve the Church of flibsp; Simirly, due to their influehe w has not been ged to give them simir rights as huma, leaving the Awakened without any form of legal prote, and instead, still being regarded as wild animals.

  In many cases, an Awakened will eventually part with the mage who 'created' them, if they travel to a town or vilge, where such harmful influence is less on. This leads to several towns and vilges having Awakened among their popuce, often helping to patrol the wilderness near vilges, or assist guards in towns. The more open-minded often seek out Awakened wolves to watch over their children, simir to how their history mentions dogs proteg children before they were relocated by the gods, unfortunately, without dogs. Hawks and owls are likewise often found serving as messengers due to their ability to travel quickly over long distances.

  Shard