NOW...

*The light fades as my physical body reforms, reality stabilizes, and the words and intentions cease. Bound in the constancy of flesh once more*

My world did have mages like you describe, although in our case it was a shell generated by their souls that they could "burn" to create a variety of magical effects in mundane reality. They could also use it for defense with enough training, which was quite smart of them since those who lacked the knowledge of how to defend themselves with their shells would find themselves at the mercy of mages of a more... malicious persuasion.

<Snipped quote by Webmaster>

*Leaps up and lands on the flat end if the blade in a squatting position, and from that position, I smash my foot into your face*

<Snipped quote by Caldizar>

Like some kind of soul battle?

<Snipped quote by Caldizar>

And was the yelling required for that to work? I'm taking notes.

<Snipped quote by Fractured>

In a manner of speaking. Although if a shell is not used to defend, or otherwise falls, then the soul is left vulnerable to swift and often instantaneously fatal attack.

<Snipped quote by Nimda>

*Smiles*

And no, that's just the natural volume at which beings such as myself are at when in such a state.

<Snipped quote by Caldizar>

Were you defending your own soul, or equivalent?

<Snipped quote by Fractured>

Hm? Oh no, of course not. I'm not subject to the same rules as that. I do have to keep my essence safe of course, but it takes another being of equal power to myself to remove it in the first place. Even then I'd need to be at the point of total exhaustion for such a thing to work.

<Snipped quote by Caldizar>

Perks of being a god, huh?

<Snipped quote by Nimda>

*Shrugs*

I suppose.

<Snipped quote by Caldizar>

Who made your casting system?

<Snipped quote by Fractured>

Hmm, let's see...

*I turn my gaze skyward as I ponder the matter*

That was Thivlir if I recall correctly. They always were the most skilled when it came to the creation of metaphysical frameworks.

<Snipped quote by Melodious>

*A black aura erupts around me, which pushes your foot off its trajectory, and I use the momentum shift to swing the sword around toward you*

<Snipped quote by Webmaster>

*Just as the blade nearly makes contact, the crystal flashes before unleashing a focused, conic concussive blast that practically instantaneously shreds through your chest and hits the floor behind you*

<Snipped quote by Caldizar>

How does someone create forgotten magic systems like that?

<Snipped quote by Nimda>

I don't know. I didn't look into the specifics of their system for mortal use.

*Scratches the back of my head*

That and uh, I kind of zoned out whenever they started talking about it.

<Snipped quote by Caldizar>

*Laughs*
Alright, you know, I can respect that. I do the same thing when she starts droning into magic systems I'll never be able to use.

<Snipped quote by Fractured>

It wasn't for lack of trying, but I honestly wasn't that concerned with it at the time. Plus it all came off as a bunch of incomprehensible jargon. Anyway, as far as how they did it, I assume much the same way the rest of us gods did when we started filling the void with things. By their will.

<Snipped quote by Caldizar>

Sounds like cheating to me.

<Snipped quote by Melodious>

*Stumbles back, a cloudy mixture of anger and confusion in my eyes, and I drop the sword*

<Snipped quote by Webmaster>

*Without hesitation, snatches the blade from the air before it hits the ground and swings it through your midsection*

<Snipped quote by Melodious>

*Stumbles back, a cloudy mixture of anger and confusion in my eyes, and I drop the sword*