The Ideal World (based off Plato's theory once again) is a hidden, metaphysical layer of existence, a non-material plane where the perfect, immutable "Forms" of all things reside.
Everything in the real world is merely an imperfect imitation of these Forms.
The more in sync you are with the Ideal World, the more "real" your magic or power becomes because you're channeling a pure version of a concept, not a diluted, worldly one.
Formancy is the ability to attune oneself to specific Forms and project their essence into the physical world. You're not conjuring fire, you're invoking the Form of Flame, the perfect idea of fire, unbounded by physics.
The closer your synchronization with a Form, the more authority you have over all its imperfect reflections in reality.
In this universe, the Ideal World is a hidden, metaphysical layer of reality, an invisible blueprint that overlays and informs the physical world.
It is the realm of perfect Forms, where the purest version of every concept, object, and virtue exists in its most complete state: Justice, Beauty, Strength, Logic, Freedom, etc.
Most people are unaware of its existence.
To the common folk, the world is run by kings and knights.
But to those who practice Formancy, the Ideal World is the true source of power.
Formancers do not manipulate the physical. They tap into the eternal essence of a Form and channel its Ideal through themselves.
The Deus Ex Machina — The Architect of Ideals
The Ideal World is governed by a cosmic entity — neither god nor demon, but an unknowable force called the Deus Ex Machina. This being is the creator of Forms, the Architect of Ideals.
Its purpose: to reshape the material world until it mirrors the Ideal World completely.
But this vision is terrifying.
It wants to eliminate all imperfection, all variance, all free will.
To it, suffering is a bug in the code, freedom is a misalignment, and chaos is a flaw.
The Deus Ex Machina manipulates events from beyond, crafting heroes, villains, and prophecies, to push reality closer to its vision.