Spirit

The Spirit Element, also known as the 'Death Element', was made illegal around 2007 because the Weaver was using it to murder unicorns. Those who are spirit-allied are said to have courage and recklessness running side by side in their veins. They are the most secretive riders, strong-willed, and soul-searchers.

## History and Banishment

Spirit was once used on the Island alongside the other four elements and was taught as the others were as well.

The Silver Circle and the Spirit Wielders used to be the biggest groups on the island but a divide surfaced when two brothers were on opposite sides of a conflict, one Spirit and one Silver.

All of this changed however when the Weaver, a powerful used of the element used it to kill 24 other unicorns, named the Fallen-Twenty Four in cold blood after her Unicorn, Blood Moon’s Equinox was killed in turn under mysterious circumstances but presumably by another Spirit Wielder.

This act was the turning point by which Dorian Manning, wanting revenge for the death of his wife (whom had died after suffering from depression of losing her own unicorn). Dorian and the Silver circle managed to get the Weaver’s sister, Agatha to kill the rest of the unicorns of the Spirit Wielders and was thus spared herself this punishment.

This act essentially made it law to be a Spirit Wielder from this point forward. The Sanctuary, the Den of the element was abandoned and every single mention in books or writings of the Spirit element was wiped from the libraries and it was made illegal to even mention the Spirit element. By the time of Skandar and his quartet’s time only their parents and older generation were aware of what Spirit could do.

For years Spirit was referred to as the Death Element for it’s ability to kill other unicorns, with the only exceptions being Silver unicorns (as their magic is too strong) and wild unicorns (which aren’t able to die via this method).

It was made illegal to become a Spirit Wielder and checks were placed on anyone coming from either the Island or the main land to try the Hatchery door. This made it almost impossible for any person wielding the element to become a rider. This includes Kenna Smith, and many others who, for this reason didn’t become riders.

Spirit was almost forgotten by both the Eeiry, and the Island in general as the only two people around were the sisters Agatha and Erika Everhart, both of whom could use the element. Though Erika was much stronger. Erika became the Weaver and used the Element for evil, while Agatha was on the run for years.

All of this changed one day when Agatha returned to the main land and recruited her nephew Skandar to the Island and he hatched the first bonded Spirit unicorn for over a decade (Scoundral’s Luck). Skandar was forced to hide the Element for most of his first year, else he be imprisoned or killed.

The Weaver used the element all year to learn how to “weave” a bond from non-riders to wild unicorns. She almost succeeded until Skandar broke these bonds as they were unnatural.

Skandar, after making a deal with Aspen McGrath was allowed to train as a Spirit Wielder in the open with his native element as long as nothing went wrong.

Determined to get rid of Skandar Dorian Manning began to fear Skandar would bring Spirit back to the island and as such put several plans into action. Including killing wild unicorns, which he figured would weaken Skandar’s powers, as well as recruit Kenna so she could be bonded to her destined unicorn by Skandar himself and use her as his personal Spirit wielder.

Skandar becomes a pariah at the Eeiry and on the Island in general when his true element becomes known. As he is often treated with mistrust and abuse.

Over the course of the year Skandar finds the notes of the Spirit wielders whom had been banned from trying the Hatchery door.  And becomes determined to try and help them with his new powers.

## Offensive and Defensive Purposes

The Spirit element lacks the raw power of Earth, Air, Fire and Water as it often lacks a solid substance. This isn’t to say that spirit is useless though.

Spirit is able to attack other riders within the bond itself, as Skandar did to Amber Fairfax when he interfered with the bond with herself and Whirlwind Thief.

This also has a lot more sinister purposes as it can be used to kill any unicorn not Silver or wild.

In addition Spirit is able to be used in tandem with other elements to mimic the power of a wielder of said element. Such as when Skandar used fire magic and Instructor O’Sullivan noted that it actually looked like he was fire allied.

Spirit unicorns are also able to transform and take on the appearance of the other elements themselves.

Magical weapons made from spirit are at once real and unreal, existing "on another plane". This allows them to be used in misleading ways, for example, an illusion in which a weapon is launched from one direction but actually hits from another.

### Menders

A sub-power that some spirit wielders have is to become a “mender”. A mender is capable of repairing the bond between a human and unicorn, even if the unicorn hatches wild. This includes the unicorn turning from it’s wild appearance to one more closely looking to a bonded unicorn, the horn becomes solid coloured, wounds heal and wings grow feathers.

There are limitations to this power however. The Spirit unicorn and Spirit wielder must dream together which in and of itself is not easy and takes years of practice.

The other danger is that unless an “anchor” is chosen then the unicorn and rider could die in their dreams, this kills them in their real bodies as well.

Presumably another limitation would be that the unicorn and rider would need to both recognize the person who was meant to be a rider, and find the location of the wild unicorn to be bonded to their destined rider.

## Notable Spirit Wielders

Agatha Everhart (the Executioner) bonded Arctic Swansong

Erika Everhart (the Weaver) bonded with Blood Moon's Equinox

Skandar Smith bonded with Scoundrel's Luck

Kenna Smith (formally) bonded with Unnamed Savage Unicorn

Joby Worsham bonded with Winter's Phantom

Simon Fairfax bonded with unnamed unicorn

### Notable Spirit Unicorns

Scoundrel’s Luck

Winter’s Phantom

Blood Moon’s Equinox

Arctic Swansong

### Notes

\*It’s unclear if a Silver unicorn is able to be allied to the Spirit element