Consciousness

In the context of The New Low, consciousness refers not to physical wakefulness but rather to a state of self-awareness. A conscious being is capable of identifying themself and are aware of their existence and impact on the universe.

Consciousness is simply the result of a body interacting with a spark. If a spark is diffused into a body, then the body has consciousness. Such a being is called a fae. A body without a spark is conversely not a conscious being but rather an unaware animal.

Simply put, somebody is "sapient" if they have a spark. If somebody has a spark, they are "sapient". This level of awareness and intelligence is an objective feature.

The power of the spark and body do not correlate with the intelligence or awareness of a fae; a larger brain or stronger spark do not necessitate a smarter fae. The power of a spark is often indicative of one's willpower, however.

Sleeping & Dreaming

A fae's body requires sleep daily, although their spark does not require sleep at all. Regardless, fae usually sleep with their spark diffused into their body.

While sleeping, the fae's body sorts through its memories as well as the accompanied spark's, resulting in dreaming. The process of remembering a dream feels very similar to diffusing, as the fae's subconscious spark automatically tries to create a narrative of any dreams they may have remembered.