Vital Essence (Lethurèa)
Vital Essence is the divine thread that binds a Spirit to a mortal vessel. It is the animating force granted by the Mother and Father, flowing through all living things. Without Vital Essence, no being may live, and no soul may remain tethered to Yedistren.
Nature
Vital Essence is neither flesh nor spirit, but the energy that links them. It is the spark of consciousness, awareness, and will. It exists in all mortal beings—plant, animal, and sentient alike.
In peaceful, natural death, a being's Vital Essence returns to the Cosmic Flow—the great river of divine energy that cycles through creation. From there, it may eventually be reused in the forming of new life.
Some sages describe Vital Essence as threads of golden or blue light. In moments of transcendence or near-death, these threads may be glimpsed, flickering like embers beyond perception.
Corrupted Essence
When a being dies violently or unnaturally—through murder, war, or forbidden magic—the Vital Essence is ruptured. This broken, agonized Essence momentarily becomes detached from the Flow, hanging in liminal space. It is in this state that **Malis** seeks it.
This raw form of Vital Essence cannot be harvested through peace or prayer. It is **a product of pain and death**. War, slaughter, and ritual sacrifice are the only means by which it may be forcefully separated from the Flow and gathered.
Malis and the Essence Harvest
Malis, the Bound One, requires Vital Essence to **loosen the shackles** placed upon him in Gozog'nok. He whispers dark promises to the Malisik, commanding them to wage endless war and leave trails of ruptured Vital Essence in their wake.
The Malisik Prophets lead these efforts. Some use corrupted relics to harvest the Essence. Others enact blood rites that collect the Essence of the slain for dark rituals. It is said that Malis seeks to amass a **Sea of Essence** drawn from a thousand galaxies. If completed, prophecy claims he would unmake the barrier between spirit and flesh, rewriting Divine Law itself.
Siphoning and Purification
Though Malis thrives on Essence torn through chaos, the Free Species may reclaim it. The Chosen Hero and Heroine were instructed by the Naa'ôna Kelbaan Debûr to **siphon Vital Essence** from the Malisik. Since this Essence was stolen and not granted, it may be redirected.
This purified Essence may supplement the Light of It'slémwé, empowering Elements of It'slémwé in sacred warfare. When used by the righteous, siphoned Essence is cleansed and **returned to the Flow**, as though the slain had died in peace.
Deities who serve the will of the Mother, Father, and Lethurèa may absorb pure Vital Essence directly from the Stars—a divine gift that requires no war or bloodshed.
Usage and Appearance
Vital Essence appears differently depending on its state:
- Pure Essence: Golden or blue light, warm and radiant.
- Torn Essence: Flickering, unstable, pale or crimson.
- Corrupted Essence: Black, red, or oily, often trailing smoke or shadow.
Only beings attuned to Din or spiritual perception may see Vital Essence in its raw state. Some Malisik can trace it like a scent, while Divine Heralds may sing it back into the Flow.
Essence in Nature
All living things contain Vital Essence. When fauna are killed in ritual, hunting, or necessity for survival, their Essence returns to the Flow unimpeded. There is no shame in this cycle—it is part of the balance of creation.
However, Essence that is **wasted**, or taken in cruelty, may linger and invite corruption. Such imbalance is what Malis exploits, turning death itself into a weapon.
Philosophical Significance
Some theologians argue that Vital Essence is not only life's tether—but also the **test of free will**. When war is waged, when beings choose mercy or violence, the fate of Essence is determined. Those who defend life may restore the Flow. Those who take it selfishly, fracture it.
Transcendence and Severance
Spirits may transcend regardless of how their Vital Essence was handled, unless they are cast into Voyd or severed willingly from the Light. Fallen spirits, such as the Malisik, are those who have denied the guidance of the Mother and Father.
In Popular Faith
Among the Valorèin and Haavolin, prayers are offered at death to “guide the Essence home.” Some cultures believe the stars flicker when a great soul rejoins the Flow. The Tèran developed **Vital Charts** to detect the fading of Essence during critical injury.