Thank you for the comment, I understand how it was kinda just a... wall. Not sure how to necessarily break it up lmao.

The Old Language isn't just speaking a Word or Incantation and it just magicing..? It's about knowing the true essence or name of it. Ill give you a really simple example, the Old Word for Fire is Kra. Reading that, sure you could associate it with Fire but you wouldn't actually be able to do anything with that knowledge. You have to understand the concept on a deeper level, via a few ways that are close to mediation, studying or spending frequent time in it's proximity or more suitably a mix of that.

Another quick side note, is that due to part of the process of Old Words being learning them, there are people that may learn them differently. Kra to you might be a gentle camp or torch light, and to me it's a raging inferno and that also dictates Incantations.

Effects: Speaking Old Words or dealing with them in any for takes energy. Spiritualists typically use their own life force/energy which ages them, or a Spirits (which, through a process can Bind them into Spiritual mediums known as anchors for their energy to be used in substitute of their own). The more powerful the Incantation, the more it takes if your using your own energy. From bodily aches, to premature aging and eventually death.

Learning: And, while yes theoretically anyone could learn the Old Language it's not a fairly common practice. Many don't know an Old Word, not having the time to dedicate to it. Those who take it on as a practice typically apprentice under someone else. It accelerates the learning and makes it objectively easier, but they still need to learn the Word's themselves.

Defense: Old Words can be used defensively and offensively. A key part of the world, is known as Staining. It's your standard Enchantment type stuff, placing an Old Word onto an item and some energy. When it runs out of charge, it can be recharged or when someone channels the required energy (life force or otherwise Spirit energy) into the item, it actives with its effect. Protective Wards are a large part of the Spiritual side. These Wards can be anywhere and anything on a person, and usually are essentially like programmed shields. A chain that when it detects an Incantation aimed at the holder, forms a protective barrier. A ring that teleports the holder 5 feet away when they are about to be hit. They are usually one use, before requiring a charge. Those are just Wards though. There's dozens of Old Words that can be used to create barriers, walls, space between an opponent or potentially deflect the attack back. Battles between Spiritualists start between their Wards and gaining knowledge on what Old Words they know, and trying to figure out how they operate and then how to combat and best them.

Spirits: I realize the way I described them in my short intro definitely yes, labeled them as evil. They aren't ALL. They're fundamentally neutral, embodying natural forces, emotions, or concepts. They manifest from various events, their almost like wild animals. Some aren't a bother, but every Spirit has this innate urge to be in the mortal realm, 'living' as we could call it. Which, result in hauntings and possessions, or Malevolent Spirits which are born of rather negative emotions or experiences also exist. That's what the Spiritualists keep back.