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Aura

In the first game, the knight can learn the Nailmasters "nail arts", which are a combat technique that consists on focusing...energy? power? to unleash it in the form of three different methods of nail strikes

You can even see this power being focused, in both the knight and the nailmasters

But what could this nondescript energy be?

Well, it is aura

Jokes about this charm have existed since forever, but Fangamer's Wanderer's Journal (official, canon lorebook from the perspective of an in-universe original character) gives us a clear answer to its ability to increase the range of the nail: it isn't arbitrarily extending your arm or the weapon's length, it's expanding the wearer's aura

This isn't the only time aura is mentioned either, the first thing Mato notes about the knight is its aura

Hm? Ah, well met! Yes, I thought I could sense the aura of a fierce warrior approaching.

I hope I don't have to explain how the effects of a charm that increases the reach of a normal nail strike relates to the nail arts which, alongside other effects, increase the reach of the nail momentarily

You can also observe this in the Nailmasters and the Nailsage, although at varying degrees

Oro and Mato, even though well trained, aren't particularly skillful, with Oro being noted to wield the nail like a club during his training, so their aura doesn't extend much beyond their nail

Sly, being the Nailsage, has quite the aura to employ, as you can see when comparing his normal nail swing with his great slash

Although, he isn't as powerful in the other two fronts

But Sheo though, the most talented of the Nailmasters, now as a Paintmaster, has quite the dominion over his own aura, using the paint as a medium and the brush as a guide

(Btw fun fact: this brush is larger than the brush he normally uses when painting: this is a combat brush)

From this, you can tell just how much talent and raw aura the knight possesses

But wait, if longnail extends range by expanding aura then does that mean Mark of Pride does the same? Well, yes, most certainly so

These are called wind sickles by the journal (and you can even see how the infection's miasma mixes with Traitor Lord's), but wind alone doesn't behave this way

However, it is pretty obvious they're casting a blade of wind from the edge of their spear/claw; considering the Longnail to Mark of Pride line of thought from eariler, it is safe to assume this is a form of aura projection

Well then, what about Grubberfly elegy? this charm also casts energy from the nail

Before that, let's look at other mentions of aura

A piece of a Soul Vessel. You know, those ghastly looking orb things? I don't really like the aura about it, but it's quite rare so I'll have to charge you a high price.

This one comes from Sly himself, although it is referring to a vessel fragment; could the aura he talks about here be related to soul?

There's something powerful about this creature's aura

Another one from the Wanderer's journal; the Snail Shaman is sure to have a powerful presence, although one has to wonder again if it has to do with soul

What a curious specimen. Hah! Though even its pure aura is no match for the light of our dear King

This is what Eternal Emilitia has to say about the delicate flower, but this case seems to be more about glow, which in the specific case of the King (and maybe even the flower) probably is in turn because of soul

Now, let's actually see Grubberfly's Elegy

Certainly would seem like another example of aura projection, however the mention of holy strenght, white hot energy, and Grubsong giving soul imply this too is a case of soul being used

As it is, there's aura as nondescript strength of presence, and aura as a manifestation of soul

Perhaps the two are one and the same

Perhaps upon reading the King's message telling the bugs coming to the kingdom to "focus their soul", some bugs achieved projection of one's aura instead of some form of spellcasting; or perhaps it developed on its own, the mantis were here before the king after all

I had this much figured out a while ago (some of the images used here I had made back in 2021), but some vagueness and some questions remained so I left it there

But now, we have Silksong, and questions are answered! Act 3 spoilers ahead

Of course, needle strike is yet another form of aura focusing, quite similar to nail arts

Through the crest system, and a certain boss, we pretty much get confirmation of multiple of these connections

The main star of the spectacle is none other than Shaman Crest

Here we have the crest of the shamans

Mind the wording here: cast the blade, not a blade, you're projecting the edge of the needle, just like with longnail

With the beams of Grubberfly's Elegy

the mantis wind sickle

and of course, these beam-slashes of white hot energy can be enhanced by focusing like any other nail art or needle strike

"Oh but the snail shamans are all about soul, they aren't blademasters" well, they aren't the only aura farmers

and Second Sentinel is certainly no spellcaster

Here we see them performing the signature cross edged pin strike of the pinstress, an edge far bigger than their scissor blades

And here we see them performing a long ranged beamed slash of aura, much like the shaman crest, much like Grubberfly's elegy

With this we can finally conclude that aura is a facet or subset of soul, or perhaps an intermediary force between mind and soul

And in Silksong, wih the introduction of the crest system, we can see that the crest/essence of an individual can influence the expression of said aura, with one of the best examples being Beast crest

Such a radical and strong change of presence leading to aura manifesting through the needle not as a blade, but as a predator's claws