A Spirit’s Path
Their World
There is a world out there few know about. It is a world connected to ours yet no normal person can cross into. Most that have heard of their world from tales of others only to turn into myths and legends over time of a world of spirits and elements. The lucky few that have seen this world are rarely believed but they know themselves that this world exists and that is enough for them. The reason why this world is called a spirit world is because there are beings that mostly look human yet take a spirit like existence. Their lives are nearly infinite in age though they can be killed by wounds and sickness like a normal human would. They may be killable but that does not easy depending on the power an individual spirit holds. The spirits depend on energy for life and this energy has ties with elements. These elements not only give them life but give them powers and abilities beyond our comprehension. These elements are split into seven categories that eventually created the seven territories in this world. Each spirit has control over one of these elements with living in one of the territories of dark, light, wind, fire, water, earth, and nature. Not all spirits can control all of one of these elements, most control a smaller section or a certain type of it depending on what generation of spirit they are as well as their genetic being. The only spirits that can control all an element are the first generation.
There are only seven spirits in all that make up the first generation as well as being the most powerful of their element controlling all of it themselves. They are the leaders of their territories and all other spirits under their rule look up to them with the utmost respect following their beliefs and making it their own to hold dear. Each of these spirits are quite different in their beliefs but at most times they keep their territories in peace. The way they have done that is by creating a council with each taking up the role as council member for their element. This council is held in the center of their world being directly in the middle of the dark and light territories are where the biggest city of all had formed. This city acts as a place for all spirits of any element to live together in peace as the hopes of the council. The council used to come together more often to discuss matters of each other’s territories often to make sure the territories relationships would not go distant. Now that is barely the case making the relationships fracture into two different sides. Usually light and dark would keep the other elements tied together but that is no longer the case. On one side lies fire and wind with the other alliance formed of water earth and nature.
The territory of wind is one of the most difficult territories to cross without the ability to fly. This is the land the wind council member Seiji rules over. Very easily one could be swept off the ground at times when heavy gusts of wind decide to breeze by. That is not the only difficulty with traversing through this land where some chucks of it hover above the land and some even above the clouds. Their main city sits atop one of these chunks of hovering earth above a lake but thankfully spirits of wind have developed a type of bridge to help those who are without the ability to fly through a strong rip current up to the city. Despite these challenges many call this land home with many aviary lives inhabiting it wilds. It is said that you could find every breed of bird in this territory, even the ones that were thought to be a myth in our own world just like many other beasts that inhabit this world. Even dragons of each elements make their home in this world though sighting large ones is rare to say the least. The wind territory some could say they see streaks flying through the clouds as fast as the wind having sworn it was a dragon witnessing this is still uncommon. Overall, this territory has its challenges but the spirits of the element uses this to their advantage quite well though they do tend to have a serious un-humorous personality compared to other spirits as well as a culture similar to ancient Greece.
The territory of fire is looked over the council member most fire spirits formally call lord Agni. He is a spirit of great intellect and most know his experiments to be ones beyond what anyone else could understand as his way of science behind the magic of seals and power they possess as spirits. His spirits culture often took on the characteristics of an India with their most popular dish being a curry so spicy many other spirits if not all could swear to feel their tongue melt just from touching the food. His territory is one of a volcanic habitat with many deserts scattering the land along with volcanoes more inland with the rest being very dry and hot in climate. Fire spirits never seem to be bothered by this as the heat is what their energy thrives in feeling perfectly fine in this land of a constant heat wave. Even their main city that is built like a fortress as well as many other civilizations they have made reside right next to a large active volcano. None feel like this is a problem in fact they have learned to thrive in the intense heat the lava holds. The animals that live in these conditions are not too different from the fire spirits that live here. They are beings that have built up a tolerance to the intense heat though their giant dragons that used to cover the volcanoes as their home are no longer seen now thought to be extinct.
The territory of water is the largest of the territories and its largest ocean. This land is looked after by the council member Mizuko. All know her to be the most compassionate spirit to ever exist. She is known for her kind heart and merciful judgments seeing the good in all beings. She will do anything to resolve a matter peacefully but besides the council members of light and darkness she is the most powerful of them all though she is quite conservative about this fact. Her kind heart is why most are quite protective of her with a culture closest to the Japanese, Mizuko often wearing a kimono and sushi as their most popular dish. Her land is made of almost all water with a few islands with cool breezes compared to the fire territory being thought of as its opposite. The biggest landmass in this territory is in the far north of the territory being an arctic tundra. The rest is clean blue oceans to set sail in and similar to the territory of wind with bird life the territory of water holds every breed of fish to swim in its waters. They even have creatures like sea turtles the size of islands though uncommon to grow to that size. Just as uncommon are their dragons though more common than the wind and fire territories to see. They have long snake-like bodies with instead of wings they have fins being giant beasts of the sea with each path they create causing a rip current behind them. The capital of this territory starts at an island in the center of this ocean. It acts as an elegant tower gate to the land opening of their city with the path following down into a tunnel made by a barrier specifically made to keep water from flooding the underwater city.
The territory of earth is looked after by their council member named Orion. In all senses of the term he is a down to earth man with a grin and physical strength that is unrivaled. He is known to be a rather easy-going leader only becoming serious when someone gets on his bad side which many have tried to avoid. He and his people are the type to have a beer in a pub with their buddies with a culture very similar to the Irish. They tend to take on professions like blacksmithing and other crafts revolving around their element. Most of his land is made up of large mountain ranges stretching as far as his territories borders. Even his capital city is carved into one of the largest mountains near the shore of the ocean his territory borders with. The only speak of dragons in this land are that there are only a few the reside in the land. They giant wingless creatures with a heavy body structure as well as hard stone-like plates as scales. The reason why not many talk about them is that they often sleep for many centuries if not longer. They stay in this slumber for so long that some of the mountain ranges have formed on top of them though they are not bothered by this. Other mythical creatures that live in this land are tortoise that can grow to as large as a mountain and are creatures that are just as ancient. They are slow moving and have heavy defenses though they stay rather peaceful going about their daily wanderings. Griffons also inhabit the territory though most only travel there from the territory to wind to breed and raise their young during mating season.
The land of nature is the smallest of the territories but the does not mean they will say they are the weakest despite their weakness to fire. Shizen is their council member, and she leads her people with a similar grin to Orion’s though she is a bit wilder and more impulsive in her style. She is known to be forward and blunt as well as stubborn in her views with a reputation of being the wildest and most rebellious of the council. Her and her people live as one with the wilderness with taking care that all nature is nurtured as if one of their own spirits, especially animals having close ties with them. In fact, all animals that now scatter the territories had originated from nature though were sent to those areas with the other council members approval to live better lives in an environment more suited to their traits. Her land is made up of all forest with many living amongst the trees or in wooden homes covered in plant life. Even their capital is giant tree the towers over the surrounding forest with places people have made their homes on and inside of the trunk of the branches though the capital and main area lies at the base of the tree. There are even underground tunnels leading to darker areas where people live amongst the roots of their tree. The wildlife is remarkably diverse being the element that all species developed at one point. Some of the most frightening sightings most travelers can recall are scorpions with two tails as big as an average sized dog as well as plants that lure you with beautiful flowers only to turn out to be monstrous carnivorous plants. Most find it wise to befriend a nature spirit that knows this land by heart to talk to the wilderness to ask for safe passage. The dragons in this land are the most common as well as smallest of them all. they are about the size of your hand on average and herbivores mostly seeking their favorite fruits to consume. If they tend to gravitate to one fruit most, they will develop the color of that fruit over time as they consume more of it. Although most say that they are cute creatures they do tend to bite if their food is threatened.
The lands of light and dark are north and south of each other and are nearly in the direct center of any map of the world of spirits. The light spirits territory inhabits the land to the north having brighter cities and skies. They tend to gravitate more towards a French culture as well as having a refined and elegant taste. They are known to be the exact opposite of lands and it shows even with their creatures in the north having lighter coats of fur and creatures of the south having darker coats though having almost identical features. Not all but a good portion of the spirits of light look down on their opposites on the south and this has only gotten worse over the years. The spirits of darkness do not hold the same ideals with most only having anger grow when light looks down at them as corrupt after recent events that separated the two and instilled fear of darkness almost causing the end of their world by one. Dark spirits have simpler taste however being the type to be quite easy going and the most content with a meal of a burger and fries as an example. There is a reason these two elements have been so divided the past few centuries most of all and that is because of their leaders. What remains of their former leaders’ values that kept the world in balance are their children and the statues of the pair stand in front of their court where they would bring all of council together regularly in hopes of peace amongst them. Since their death, the energy of balance was lost but there is always hope that one day a balance will return with a new generation to bring the world out of a coming chaos and for peace to return throughout the world. 