Why are there pixies, etc. on the First but not the Source?

[YianKutku]

Idk if somebody said that but in ShB it was said that Pixies were actual children who went into some kind of transformation (I don’t remember the details). That’s why they act so silly.

So since it’s not the original race, you will not find them on the Source. Spriggan are different as they’re more in touch with nature and don’t use any illusion magic.

Souls of dead children, if I recall. I'd have to dig into my (very unwieldy) screenshots of ShB dialogue to be sure, though.

So they're not completely whimsical and illogical, but rather operate on a child's logic: fun things are fun, unfun things are unfun, and it's all a giant playground.

Personally, I'm leaning slightly towards the possibility that the pixies were once on the Source, but got wiped out during one of the Calamities, or perhaps just non-Calamity extinction. But their behaviour and way of thinking might have survived in some of the other races like the Sylphs, because they once interacted together, like how the Fairy Kingdom of Il Mheg consists of many races. I admit I have no evidence at all for this, though.

[Firlont]

I am here imagining the chaotic result of the twain ever meeting on screen. But yes, the bit about the children's souls was stated in ShB for sure.

[elioaiko]

The game is inspired by Ivalice universe. Tactics Advance 1/2 and FF12 technically take way in the past before Tactics.

In Tactics, there are some beasts, I don't remember which ones but none of the iconic races like Viera, Bangaa/Nu Mou, or even Moogles. Really because they didn't come up with the races until 12 and Tactics Advance which came over way after Tactics.

I believe it was explained that a cataclysm took out most, not all of the iconic races aside from humans which is why we don't see them in Tactics because they're either in hiding, extincted, or not longer on Ivalice.

So it's not far fetched to say that The Shards and The Source have a similar situation.

[Kakurady]

Souls of dead children, if I recall. I'd have to dig into my (very unwieldy) screenshots of ShB dialogue to be sure, though.

So they're not completely whimsical and illogical, but rather operate on a child's logic: fun things are fun, unfun things are unfun, and it's all a giant playground.

Pixies born from souls of the dead was mentioned as a tale, or a hypothesis:

Minfilia: Urianger once told me a story about the pixies.
Minfilia: They're born from the souls of those who died as children, or so it's believed.
Minfilia: Though they don't have memories of their previous lives, the desire to have fun remains, imprinted on their souls.
Minfilia: And so they live only to play, keeping hapless mortals for their pleasure for years on end. Sometimes even until death...
Alphinaud: Hmmm... In the past, when I sought to identify the true nature of ghosts, I came upon literature examining a similar subject.
Alphinaud: The soul was likened to a core that resides in the aether, and its presence is what differentiates us from such beings as sprites and arcane entities.
Alphinaud: Upon death, said core ordinarily dissipates alongside the aether that composed the flesh. However, it may be held together and bound to the corporeal realm, either by the will of its owner or by means of certain arts.
Alphinaud: In time, the soul may regather aether unto itself to assume another form, or find newly emerged life in which to abide. The pixies may be one such instance of this.

But Ardbert mentioned the creation of Fuath may be similar:

Ardbert: It's said that they are born from the souls of the drowned. Were it not for your little trick, you'd have joined them.

When I played the Pixie tribe quest yesterday the hypothesis was brought up again:

Lugg Aenc: To state a commonly held belief, 'tis said that a pixie is born when the soul of a mortal who died in childhood gathers new aether to itself. Are we following thus far?
Lugg Aenc: Having originated from a life ended too soon, such a soul is often unstable, and is defined by the needs that once drove its owner─needs that are highly susceptible to the influence of outside aether.

So it would appear this belief is commonly held, only that the First does not have advanced aetherology like that possessed by Sharlayan to examine the soul of the fae and verify it.

My personal thinking if this is true (and the game seem to imply it is) is that children's minds are not fully developed in time perception. So pixies have trouble telling the difference between a day, or four, or forever more. Having immortality certainly doesn't help. That leads to many pixies not recognizing men have things like deadlines or hunger or such.

Give undeveloped minds with a deficit in time perception a life everlasting and dominion over the material and aetheric. What could possibly go wrong?

[Kakurady]

So it would appear this belief is commonly held, only that the First does not have advanced aetherology like that possessed by Sharlayan to examine the soul of the fae and verify it.

It could also be the writers giving themselves and "out" to go back on the nature of pixie souls....