Frieren is a fantasy anime that is rich with demons and monsters of different species. One of them is Einsam, a vulgar monster that appeared before Frieren and Fern in episode five. So, what exactly is Einsam and the mythology behind it in Frieren?
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What Is Einsam in Frieren?
In the Wille Region, a vulgar monster called Einsam exists to consume people who try to make it through the Northern Pass.
Einsam, according to Frieren, is a vulgar being, also known as the Phantom Demon.
It is capable of showing ghosts of people’s deceased relatives, and they looked just as they were when they were still alive. There were even some who could speak!
It is a monster that lures prey through the use of phantoms, which explains the rumors about the ghosts in the area.
It is a sly and greedy monster, known for being a picky eater because it only preys on people. However, Einsam is no threat to mages.
Frieren says that she can hit its illusions with a high concentration of mana like that which is used in offense magic to disperse them.
In other words, mages can simply fire upon the phantom corpses to deal with Einsam.
In episode five, Fern had to fire against the phantom corpse of Heiter, whereas Frieren had to deal with Himmel despite expecting Flamme to appear before her once again.
In the past, Flamme’s phantom corpse often appeared before Frieren.
She always begs for her life, but Frieren never thinks twice about firing against her, not only because she’s gotten used to Flamme but also because she doesn’t feel any guilt.
Here Are Some Mythological Creatures Similar to Einsam in Frieren
There are a lot of mythological creatures and monsters that are similar to Einsam in Frieren. Some of them can create illusions, but most of them can only change forms to lure their targets.
In Japan, creatures like the Tanuki and the Kitsune, both of which can shapeshift, are just two examples. The Kitsune can also create illusions, use foxfire, and even possess people.
Meanwhile, North European mythology has Kelpies and other water horses that can turn into beautiful women to lure, drown, and eat their victims, who are mostly men.
It has a male counterpart called Nack, who can turn into a handsome man with unrivaled violin skills, which can seduce women.
Celtic mythology, on the other hand, has fae and elves, both of whom are considered tricksters.
They are also similar to the Arabic djinn, who can conjure powerful forces to create illusions. The same can be said of the Anansi, which comes from Africa.
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