The forms taken by all the powers in the world are much the same: speed, strength, range, fire, storms, lightning... Their essential difference lies in their source of power. The discovery of elemental energy overturned the industries of the old era. Guns and vehicles could go farther, faster, and hit harder with elemental energy, and the same was true of living things. Warfare in the new era came down to faster, stronger people wielding faster, stronger weapons.
The vision was beautiful, but the most urgent problem facing Yan Shu was how to make these foolish people understand that transactions could be conducted with currency, that those at the top were responsible for feeding the people, and that superstition was illegal...
