So aether, how does it work exactly?

[Anonymoose]

Well, far as I can figure... aether is like a combination of matter and energy.

Æ=MC²

Problem solved!

[Cilia]

Let's take it one step further...

The various elements have different energy charges, depending on where they are on the elemental wheel. Astral elements will naturally have a higher energy level, while Umbral elements will have less; more accurately, Astral elements generate energy, while Umbral elements absorb energy. Lightning, or plasma, is the most powerful state of matter in existence - so great atoms are being ripped apart. (The Sun itself is a giant ball of plasma.) Ice, or more accurately cold, is the state in which matter has the least energy in it - it will consume any energy it can to change its state to a more energetic one.

All of the Astral elements (Wind, Lightning, Fire) are ephemeral and cannot exist in a solid state; they must lose energy and turn into an Umbral element (Earth, Ice, Water) to do so.

... with the exception of elemental crystals, of course.

As for immaterial concepts (thoughts, memories, etc.) - yes, they exist, but only as aetherial fluctuations, not aether itself. Auracite works by attuning itself to an aetherial wavelength (say, B'gamnan's desires or the original Ramza's personality) and then does something with it; the Duma makes the user's desires manifest on the physical plane, while the Otius is a sort of aetherial floppy disk containing the original Ramza's personality. (Someone correct me if the Auracite Ramza picked up during the Ridorana closing scenes was actually the Duma.) This is how Fordola's Resonant Echo allows her to fight Ultra Instinct style - it picks up on the aetherial fluctuations of her opponent(s), allowing her to react before their attacks are launched. Aside from Urianger's Aetheric Burst tool, theoretically it could be overcome by simply quieting one's soul so there are no aetherial fluctuations... or simply by fighting so recklessly your attacks couldn't even be predicted by yourself... but I digress.

Æ=MC²

Problem solved!

Amendment:

Æ=(MC²)*e

... where e changes depending on the element, with Astral elements having the highest value and Umbral elements having the lowest (possibly even negative).