As far as we are aware, there are spirits in each city. Like, spirits that govern them. The Genessia Spirit, Everglade Spirit and Fayren Spirit have all revealed themselves to us before. The Everglade Spirit itself is the one that maintains the barrier. But they don't appear to be anything like the creatures outside of the barrier.

So if those creatures are the former inhabitants of this world, do you think the city spirits are too? And if so, why would they appear different?