Spirit

**Spirits** (精霊, *Seirei*?) are one of the four main races, alongside Demons, Humans, and Gods.

## Overview

### Origin

Spirits are the living embodiments of legends, folklore, rumors, desires, fears, and aspirations. When these beliefs become widespread, a spirit based on them is born. For example, an extreme fear of fire can lead to the birth of fire spirits, while a rise in religious faith can birth water spirits. However, not every rumor or legend results in a spirit, and there's no way to confirm it until the actual spirit was found.

### Death

People's beliefs are what form the source of a spirit, and as a result, spirits will cease to exist when their birthing stories or feelings are forgotten. Those who are on the verge of being forgotten will develop **Spiritosis** (精霊病, *Seirei-byō*?), which causes their magic power and source to vanish over time, leading to their eventual disappearance slowly. Attempting to heal them or rewinding their time to a previous state would have no effect because the tales or feelings that birthed them continue fading away. But conversely, it's stated that spirits can survive and revive even after destroying their source so long as there is belief in their lore.

### Lore Alteration

Spirits also have no concept of reincarnation, though it's possible to change their nature by altering the lore that forms their existence. When this happens, their new lore will be added to the original ones, potentially granting them new abilities. An example of this would be the rumor that the Great Spirit Reno tears give birth to other spirits, which wasn't originally part of her lore but was later added due to complementing her original lore, granting her that ability. However, it's worth noting that spirits are most influenced by the legends and rumors that first created them, and contradictions in those can lead to their demise.

## Powers and Abilities

Because they are born from the hearts of people, from their intense longing, spirits are beings made up of magic power. Their lore determines their abilities, and they gain whatever abilities others believe they have. They also have the unique ability to use Spirit Magic, which, unlike other types of magic, expends a portion of the user's source to activate. However, the lost essence is easily replenished as long as their legends and rumors remain, allowing them to cast magic without adverse effects.

All spirits possess a transient and true form. Because their legends and rumors determine their appearance, they are much more powerful while in their true form because they are closer to what they embody. In addition, it's not uncommon for a spirit's personality to completely change between its transient and true form.

## Types

### Great Spirit

Spirits whose legends and rumors are firmly rooted, so they are not at risk of being forgotten, and their vast power reflects that. An example would be the Great Water Spirit Lignon, who demonstrated the power to wipe out half of Anos' subordinates in a single blow while in her true form. Another would be the Great Spirit Mother Reno, who was considered one of the most powerful beings during the Mythical Age.

### Half-Spirit

The offspring between a spirit and a member of another race, such as a demon or human. Unlike full spirits, who are born fully matured when their stories become well-known, half-spirits are born as babies without a legend or rumor to claim as their own. To fill their spirit side, they have to subconsciously take in newborn rumors or faint hopes, essentially things that haven't spawned a spirit yet. If those rumors and hopes spread to more and more people, then a half-spirit can live a normal and comfortable life. However, in most cases, half-spirits only live short lives because newborn rumors easily fade away, and hopes are often crushed. When this happens, they get Spiritosis, which causes their magic power to weaken and their source to vanish slowly over time. It's possible to save them by spreading their rumors and hopes, but this doesn't often happen because half-spirits do not know what legends or traditions form their spirit side.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Light Novel Volume 2, Prologue
2. ↑ Light Novel Volume 4 Act 1, Chapter 26
3. ↑ Light Novel Volume 2, Chapter 24
4. ↑ Web Novel, Arc 4, Chapter 51
5. ↑ Light Novel Volume 4 Act 1, Chapter 22
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Web Novel, Arc 2, Chapter 24