Sworn
Becoming the Sworn of another soul is to make the greatest commitment one can make to another in the realms of Anima, swearing one's own life force to the other and quite literally promising eternity (whether during an uninterrupted life span or in the case of reincarnation). It is socially acceptable in Anima to spend as long as one would like with another as their Promised and approximately 93% of Animists do just that, making this type of bond all the rarer and more special when it does occur.
Symptoms
In the event of being separated from one's Sworn by death, dimension, or by necessity, the Sworn may suffer from a multitude of consequences:
- Constant searing pain in chest cavity akin to open wound
- Reduction in magical aptitude
- Blood sickness, in which the poisoned bond poisons the body
- Loss of (shared) memory
- Heartshift, in which one's heart is sapped of color, magic, and blood and turns grey
Very rarely when separated from one's Sworn by death, the remaining Sworn will quite literally wither and diminish in their absence until they perish from grief, occasionally even returning to Anima as Inmortui or Animortui to resolve unfinished business. In the case of the latter scenario, the Injured Sworn will look exactly as they did in life save for completely translucent flesh through which one can see their grief-grey heart.
Cultural Reception
Bloodfasting is considered an ancient ceremony of the utmost importance, the bond transcending life and death and second to none beyond that which is created by blood. Swearing to one another is an enormous commitment on both parties to love one another beyond the concept of what we souls understand of time and is considered the most important promise one can make to another.
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