If "overly cheesy fantasy novel" to you means a world where monsters have a higher populace than humans, three of the six continents are inhabited and one not explored, where magic is a matter of study and most do not travel from the city of birth, then I am from one.

Correct, life energy. Those who wish to cast a better light on the situation may use the word 'soul', but it is a concentration - a crystallization - of the power of all the Children of the Full Moon who wished to meet this end in protection. The power of their life, not.. any sort of supposed consciousness.

... ah. Were seeking a name of a creator.