Soul Eater (Verse)

## Introduction

Soul Eater is a manga series written and illustrated by Atsushi Ohkubo. It follows the story of three teams of students at the Death Weapon Meister Academy, a school dedicated to training students to become skilled weapon meisters and powerful weapons. The main characters include Maka Albarn, a scythe meister and the main protagonist of the series; her partner, the demon scythe Soul Eater. Black☆Star, a meister and assassin; and his partner, Tsubaki, a weapon that can transform into multiple forms. And Death the Kid, son of Lord Death; and his partners Liz and Patty Thompson, sisters who have the ability to turn into two pistols.

The story takes place in the city of Death City, located in the Nevada desert in the United States. The students at the academy are tasked with collecting 99 evil human souls and one witch soul in order to transform their weapons into death scythes, which are powerful weapons wielded by the Grim Reaper. Along the way, they face off against various enemies, including witches, demon weapons, and other students with evil intentions. As the students work to collect the souls and become stronger, they also face personal challenges and conflicts. Maka struggles with her desire to become a powerful meister and her feelings for Soul, while Black☆Star grapples with his ego and his desire to prove himself as the greatest meister. And Death the Kid grappling with becoming a full Shinigami like his father. Alongside their classmates, they work to protect Death City and defeat the ultimate enemy, the Kishin Asura, who seeks to destroy the world.

## Terminology

**Soul Wavelength:** Soul wavelengths are an important part of the world of Soul Eater. It is in essence the "rhythm" of ones soul. This is important because in order for a weapon and meister to be compatable with one another they must have compatable soul wavelengths. Bolstering one's soul wavelength gives a variety of effects such as increasing their physical characteristics and being able to outwardly expand your soul in order to attack. Disrupting one's soul wavelength can be incredibly dangerous so finding a meister and weapon who are compatable is incredibly important. Certain skilled meisters have the ability to alter their own wavelength in order to wield any weapon they desire. It is also important to note that certain characteristics of wavelengths are genetically passed down, which creates a special link between family members, allowing them to be freely wielded even if the meister is inexperienced.

**Soul Resonance:** Soul resonance is a powerful technique typically used by a meister and their weapon, however in special cases close friends can use it in a large group of people. The technique has the meister send their soul wavelength to the weapon, who then amplifies it and sends it back to the meist, who in return amplifies it again and sends it back in a loop. This allows the meister and weapon to gain immense strength. Some gifted meisters can even resonate with two weapons at once, however this is extremely difficult and requires a near complete mastery over the control of one's soul wavelength. During soul resonance the people involved are able to communicate through their souls and gain new abilities or forms.

**Demon weapons:** Demon weapons are people who are born with demon weapon blood. This blood comes from the spider witch Arachne using a Witch's soul to combine a human soul and an inanimate object. These individuals have the ability to transform themselves into various weapons. Some bloodlines such as the Nakatsukasa clan have the ability to attune their souls to multiple different weapons. These weapons have the ability to align their soul wave lengths with their meister in order to bolster their abilities along with the meister's. The goal of most demon weapons is to become a "Death Scythe", the highest position a demon weapon can have.

**Meister:** Meisters are people with powerful soul wavelengths who use demon weapons to fight against evil humans and witches. Meisters can use a variety of techniques in order to bolster their souls and deal damage. While most meisters are humans not all are, some meisters include a witch and even an ape. In order to use a weapon they must have a compatible soul wavelength, which means weapons cannot wield other weapons. The exeptions to this are two family members since they are able to share a special bond, and wielding Excalibur which anyone can do. Meisters also have an ability called "Soul Perception" which allows a meister to perceive souls. This allows them to discern the differenced between races such as human and witch since they have different looking souls. Although this itself isn't fully reliable since witches have come up with alternative solutions to this problem. Soul perception also allows gifted meisters the ability to track someone over a long distance.

**Witch:** Witches are a race of people able to use magic. They usually represent a certain animal such as a mouse or frog. Witches have unique soul wavelengths that can be seen by using soul perception. However over time witches have come up with spells that help disguise their soul wavelength, but in return they cannot use their magic. In the past witches used to cause chaos in the human realm with their powers, but with the help of the creation of demon weapons the humans along with Lord Death were able to drive them away into the "Withes' Realm". Witches are often distrusting of humans and Shinigami due to the history of using witches' souls to create and bolster demon weapons.

**Death scythe:** Once a demon weapon consumes 100 evil human souls and one witch soul they are promoted to a "Death Scythe". (The weapon does not need to be a literal scythe in order to be a Death Scythe it is merely a title.) Each death scythe acts as a political figure and protector over a certain country. Most Death Scythes have exetremely skilled meisters that use them to protect their country. Despite having a mesiter in their designated region they are still considered the partners of Lord Death. Thusly they act as surveilance for Lord Death across the world. They are also able to serve as temporary or permanent faculty in the Death Weapon Meister Academy.

**Madness:** Madness is a force that encompasses and influences all living creatures. It is distinct from magic, being able to cancel out various types of high ranking magic. However certain spells can actually be bolstered by utilizing madness. Madness itself ahs a variety of effects of the weilder such as the obvious effects such as spuratic and violent behaviors, envisioning illusions, and acting as a jamming force for communication; but madness can also be used to strengthen its user. This can range from stronger physical attributes all the way to allowing the wielder to bend the rules of logic.