Arcainium may form wherever magical energy remains concentrated for long enough, but the phenomenon can occur in especially unusual ways around powerful spellcasters and creatures.

On rare occasions, Arcainium crystals may grow near locations where powerful mages spend long periods studying or practicing their craft, sometimes even embedding themselves within the mages' own bodies. These crystals are thought to absorb residual magical energy over time, forming like a slow, arcane mineralization.

The phenomenon is slightly more common among long-lived races, such as ancient dragons, whose centuries of magical presence provide the perfect conditions for crystallization.

Legends speak of wizards whose fingertips shimmered with tiny crystals, granting them bursts of unexpected power—or, in some cases, corrupting their minds with an insidious magical resonance. Scholars debate whether these crystals are simply byproducts of sustained magical activity or if they are semi-sentient entities, drawn to individuals of exceptional talent.

Alchemists and artificers prize even the smallest fragments, claiming they can be used to amplify spells, forge enchanted items, or create unpredictable magical effects.

However, the growth of Arcainium is not without risk. Crystals that form too close to living tissue can interfere with the host's natural magic, sometimes twisting abilities in dangerous or uncontrollable ways. For this reason, the appearance of Arcainium on a person—or even near them—is often viewed with a mixture of awe and fear.

Ancient dragons are particularly notable examples. Centuries of magical presence can leave Arcainium permanently mineralized within their scales, making the creatures themselves walking repositories of magical energy.

Anima Crystals are rare Arcainium crystals that have been ritually bound to a single mortal soul. Unlike ordinary Arcainium, which stores magical energy, an Anima Crystal carries a living soul within its crystalline structure. Its power and stability depend upon the soul contained within it. Powerful or magically gifted souls can produce exceptionally potent crystals.

Anima Crystals are primarily sought by devils, rogue mages, and other practitioners of forbidden magic. They may be used in dark rituals or to create exceptionally powerful magical items. The crystal's resonance can reflect aspects of the soul it contains, making no two Anima Crystals entirely alike.

Delirium is Arcainium corrupted through blood magic, often requiring ritual sacrifice. The process forces living essence into the crystal's magical lattice, making the resulting crystal substantially more powerful—but volatile and dangerous.

Delirium can induce hallucinations and delusions through mere proximity, with effects worsening over time. It can also spread its corruption to Arcainium it touches. Magic items crafted with Delirium may inherit abilities or characteristics associated with the species or bloodline used in its creation, making each artifact uniquely potent—and perilous.

Eboncores are created when an Anima Crystal undergoes an even more dangerous form of blood-magic corruption. Unlike an Anima Crystal, which contains a single soul, an Eboncore can bind and consume multiple souls, converting their collective lifeforce into raw magical energy.

An Eboncore functions less like a container and more like a magical engine. Its immense reservoir of soul-derived energy can be used to power rituals capable of granting wishes, opening permanent rifts between realms, sustaining immortality through lichdom, or forging weapons capable of slaying even gods. Eboncores are among the rarest, most powerful, and most dangerous magical artifacts known to exist.