Shades of the New World

Chapter 243: A true researcher

"Can you explain why World Sprites can't attach themselves to dogs or cats?" Evin asked.

"You can think of it like a sword and a scabbard. In this example, the people's souls are the swords and their bodies, or should I say minds, are the scabbards. It's widely believed that the smarter the species, the more sizeable their souls. So, if you tried to stick a huge sword into a small scabbard, at best you'll be unsuccessful and at worst the scabbard will rip or break. Even in the opposite case where the sword is too small, although it won't hurt the scabbard, it would easily slip out of it at the slightest of chances," Gizel explained.

With this explanation, Evin could guess why Runa was apparently able to perform the impossible. After all, the skinshifter she occupied was the divided other half of Karan, a very special Child of the Empress. But he became a bit curious about the Countries' research on Soul Magic.

"Since we're already on the topic, can you explain how souls work?" Evin asked.

"Hmm, usually I don't talk about this to random strangers, but considering the state of your World Sprites, I'll make a small exception," Gizel said meaningfully to which Evin nodded seriously.

"Well, let's start with the things that are practically facts at this point. Like we've just discussed, souls definitely have a size or weight to them, which dictates what kind of bodies they could inhibit and not. Through some unsavory tests conducted by our ancestors, we've been able to confirm that the souls of humans, layeq, cosmics, colossi, griffins, cobfolk, humanoid-skinshifters, tier-5 mana beasts, Beast Lords, myrmi queens, and any kind of Child of the Empress are all interchangeable, which means that you could possibly become a severely oversized humanoid, or one of our rather ugly eight-limbed neighbors. But don't tell anyone I said that, okay?" Gizel winked playfully. 

"What about Ivari?" 

"Hmm, do you know what the word Ivari means in old Northern?" Gizel asked.

"Not really."

"The [Molded]. We're just humans who had horns forged onto our heads, ones made of our own bones," Gizel shrugged.

Hearing the woman's explanation, Evin could see how it made sense. After all, he was considered a human, but in about six months, he was about to become one of the Ivari.

"Then what about the Layeq? Aren't they basically the same as us?"

"About that. Well, it's a bit complicated. If the Easterners' invincibility is some sort of ability they acquire like the Horns, then they're humans. But if they're born with that ability from birth, they're the layeq, I suppose. We can't really be sure, since they're very secretive about it, like we are with our horns."

"Alright," Evin said and urged Gizel to continue.

"Anyway, the above-mentioned examples could be considered the smartest species in the World. Below them are what's called the lesser races: sufficiently grown up Chaos Creatures, non-humanoid skinshifters, tier-4 Mana Beasts, worker myrmis, and maybe some of the really smart animals though there's not enough evidence for that," Gizel said, rubbing her chin.

"I guess the rest fall into the final category, yeah?"

"Yep. Tier 1-3 mana beasts, newborn Chaos Creatures, normal animals, some plants even - things of that nature."

"Then what about World Sprites?" Evin asked.

"Well, there's the problem. Some put them in the middle pack, while others put them in the top bracket with the smarter species of the world. Though naturally, they don't really mingle with anyone in either of those two categories Some even argue that they're even above the list, since they're beings that consist only of energy. And if you know some trivia about the Authorities, they're considered to be beings that are just that. Energy."

"Do you have any proof of that? About the Authorities consisting of only energy?" Evin asked.

"Hmm Well, you'll start to understand yourself when you become a lesser-imposer," Gizel said meaningfully.

"Alright, I'll keep an eye out for that," Evin said.

"At any rate, there's just not enough research on the World Sprites. And honestly, I was actually hoping to take a glimpse on their secrets through these guys," Gizel said as she looked intently at Enri, Runa and Lucario.

"I suppose Anyway, what were we talking about?" Evin asked.

"About how it was impossible for Runa to inhibit a metal skinshifter," Gizel reminded.

"Ah, I might have an explanation for that. You know how metal-skinshifters break into two to reproduce, right?"

"Yeah?"

"Well, the original skinshifter that divided into two was a Child of the Empress," Evin revealed.

"Huh? What the hell is wrong with you and your luck?" Gizel explained after thinking a bit.

"He-he, I know, right?"

"Stop acting cute. Where's this reincarnated skinshifter of yours?"

"I don't know. He asked me to bring him to a certain spot and we've been separated ever since," Evin said a vague lie.

"Bah, you and your useless goodwill. Keep such a treasure close to yourself, what is wrong with you?" Gizel said with a disappointed sigh.

Evin gave her the look of judging, but the latter just brushed it off with a wave of her hands.

"Don't give me that look. I'm a researcher so I usually don't worry about morals and the like. Tell you what. If you kill a child and somehow achieve immortality through the act, I'll ask you to teach me how to do it, instead of judging your brutal methods," Gizel said and threw her hair to her side with her hand, causing the pile of accessories on her body to jingle with a pleasant sound.

"Well, at least I kept the World Sprites for you to study, so there's that."

"Right. In any case, let's get on with this. Tell me how you got your World Sprites to look so human," Gizel said.

Evin talked about his knowledge of Soul magic and the series of events that happened to the World Sprites afterwards. Though he was careful not to mention where he got knowledge of it all, like Twelve instructed him to.