Standing next to Dr. Xizu, Gira noticed how tall she was compared to everyone he’d met so far. Her presence radiated a mature, comforting aura that made him curious to know more about her, but the nagging thought of Lucas’s earlier reaction weighed heavily on him.
“Why was Lucas acting like that? What does any of what you guys were talking about mean?” Gira questioned.
"He’s just a little stunned, considering you’re connected to some rather… exciting people.” She turned and stopped in front of a door labeled 2354. “We’re going to run some Kyyr tests, if you’re up for it.”
“Oh, sure thing.” He said, unsure as to what to expect.
A large tub of water sat in the center of the room, encircled by various machines that dangled their wires into the water, their ends submerged. The room was divided into two distinct halves: one side was dominated by a massive, imposing machine, with thick insulated tubes connecting it to the other side, where a smaller, intricate device buzzed quietly in place.
A few of the instruments surrounding the tub started to hum, their parts spinning to life as Dr. Xizu adjusted the machine. “Alright, strip and get ready to take a little bath for me.” She asked with a playful smile.
“Alright… But can you tell me more about these people I’m related to?” Gira said as he took off the single, drab cloak he’d been wearing.
Dr. Xizu hummed a light tune, ignoring Gira’s question as she worked the machine. "Very well, step inside. It might be a little chilly but please bear with me.”
She’s ignoring me… He realized. “But what’s this tub for? You’re not going to sting me again, are you?” he asked cautiously, creeping up to the edge of the tub, scanning the wire-riddled waters nervously.
“This shouldn’t hurt.” She said bluntly as the machine's screen illuminated her from beneath. “Now, get in.” Her voice took on a firmer tone, leaving little room for hesitation.
Gira saw her behind the window, splitting the room and giving off an icy smile. “Uhh, okay…” His voice trailed off as he cautiously placed his foot in the water. The water felt fizzy to the touch; it wasn’t too cold or too warm. He pushed in one foot, then the other, and then he slumped into the tub with a splash. “What’s next?” he asked, looking at her behind the window.
“I’m going to pump the tub with liquid Kyyr.” She said calmly, stepping out of the other room and moving over to manually adjust a few instruments with precise, measured movements.
“Liquid Kyyr? Wait, Lucas didn’t really explain what regular Kyyr even is.”
“I bet his explanation was rather bare bones,” she remarked with a little laugh, heading back to the other room. “But at its most basic, Kyyr is the essence that allows us to cause change in the universe.”
“Ok… But then how do you get liquid Kyyr and how does Kyyr let you move things around with your hair?” Gira asked as the water grew more turbulent.
“Hmmm, Kyyr, in essence, is this esoteric energy tied to a very special concept.” She said, pausing briefly as she watched the ebb and flow of Gira’s vitals. “You see, Kyyr is proof that you exist—it’s connected to what people refer to as your soul.”
“What’s a soul?”
“The soul is who you are. A manifestation of the essence that is you. For many, the soul ties to emotions and consciousness; it’s the immortal you that lingers after you’re gone. Without a soul, you cannot connect to Kyyr.” She paused again to work on the machine. “I’m going to infuse the water with Kyyr now. Just relax and breathe slowly in and out.”
Through the clear surface, beyond the fizz and bubbles, Gira could see a light blue liquid getting pumped into the water, drifting lazily before enveloping his body. "Wow, it feels surprisingly nice and warm,” he whispered, his voice filled with unexpected relief.
“Curios,” Dr. Xizu mumbled to herself before continuing, her tone shifting back to her explanation. “Although I should also mention that Kyyr isn’t tied to those with souls, as it can also manifest itself in certain regions, conditions, and even objects. Additionally, certain animal species have transitioned into Kyyr-dependent forms of life.”
“Okay, I get people and animals using Kyyr but what about objects and locations?”
“Honestly? I don’t know.” Dr. Xizu sighed, her expression shifting slightly. “The true nature of Kyyr is purposely kept secret by the ORPA. What little we know sometimes blurs the line between myth and fiction. It’s just our luck; the pantheon of gods that watch over us are a bunch of apathetic monsters. So the truth hides beyond the realm of their terrifying Olympus.”
“Gods?” Gira asked, confused as the word hung in the air.
“There’s no better word to describe them, as even monsters cower before them. They’re beings so grand that their Kyyr itself can forge galaxies, devour concepts, and burn through time itself.” Dr. Xizu shrugged, a hint of exasperation in her voice. “Honestly, if you want the full history lesson, ask Lucas. He’s a massive history freak.”
“Right…” Gira said as he sank into the water, blowing bubbles.
After finishing the test, Dr. Xizu emerged with a towel in hand. "Alright, kiddo, this test is over. Time to learn more about yourself.” She tossed the towel his way, teasing him with a smile.
As Gira climbed out of the tub and dried himself off, his mind felt like it was short-circuiting. "Sheesh, the world’s way too complicated for me.”
"It sure is. But you’re a pretty complicated person, yourself.” She remarked, pulling out a device with a large screen. Displayed on it was a chart that listed Gira’s name, estimated age, fat-to-body ratio, muscle density, blood type, and his Kyyr affinity.
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Focusing on his Kyyr affinity, “Soul?” Gira asked, confused. “Why is my affinity just the word soul?”
“Oops. Maybe I should’ve started with this.” Dr. Xizu laughed softly. “Oh well, here’s the deal: basic Kyyr falls into three main categories—body, soul, and mind. Different Kyyr abilities are associated with one of these three main categories, which also highlight their strengths and weaknesses.” She changed the slide she was on to a page displaying a triangular graph drawn on it. “At the top, we have the body. Bottom right, we have the soul, and on the left, mind. As to how they interact, think of it like a cycle—body over soul, soul over mind, and finally mind over body. You’ve got an affinity for soul Kyyr, which isn’t the most common or popular, and it's got a stigma or two attached to it.”
"Soooo… What can I do?”
“Full disclosure, I have no idea,” Dr. Xizu admitted with a shrug. “But with soul affinity, you’ve got the aptitude to deal with the abyss... if you’re brave enough.”
“Lucas mentioned that earlier. What is this abyss?”
“In short, it's this hostile reality that’s leaking into ours,” she explained, her voice dropping slightly. “It’s a place where monsters among monsters dwell.”
“Monsters…” Gira whispered under his breath, the word compelling his emotions to mix and surge in a confused mix of hate and twisted excitement.
“The relative of yours, Gira Ensum, was from a place called Veses-3—a planet swallowed by the abyss. People call the part of our universe submerged in the abyss the swallowed zone. The reason Veses-3 is so infamous is because that’s where the Black Hand was born; according to the records of the ORPA, there were no survivors. Yet somehow, you’re clearly related to someone who died there. You look the same, have the same name, and even share the same blood type.” Dr. Xizu paused for a moment, and a scary smile tugged at the corners of her lips. “But let’s not linger on him. You’ve got a far more important relative to discuss.” She gestured to the screen. “You see, while you’ve got an affinity for Soul Kyyr, there’s more. If you take a look at the detailed results, you’ll notice something else—a second attribute. Which isn’t rare, but having both at these percentages? It’s… incredible. Your other attribute is—”
“Body…” Gira interrupted.
“Right, this secondary Kyyr trait at this percentile indicates something fascinating—you’ve got ties with a particular species of entity.” Her eyes gleamed with exhilaration. “And it’s all because you’re somehow related to Vire Virelli, the infamous host of the Dragon God of Cannibalism and a direct descendant of the legendary Zayto Virelli Onryō—a Coarseblood!”
“What does any of that mean?” Gira asked, perplexed by the deluge of information.
“It means you’re related to some pretty incredible people, but what really matters is your blood!” She explained, gripping his shoulders with enthusiasm. “You’re part of a super rare species of human that just happened to wander into my office! Do you even know how amazing that is?!” Her previously alluring tone was completely gone, replaced by sheer childlike enthusiasm as she shook Gira with glee.
“O-o-okay… b-but how does it affect me?” Gira stammered, trying to keep up as the excitement overwhelmed him.
"It means there’s a chance you’ll manifest into a Coarseblood—and you might even inherit the Soul of the Dragon God of Cannibalism!”
“Wait, what’s a Coarseblood? And inheriting a dragon soul?” Gira asked, confused and surprised by Dr. Xizu's excitement.
“Ah—well… you know,” Her excitement faltered as she regained her composure, a more measured tone slipping into her voice. “Coarsebloods were a breed of humans that mysteriously appeared during the early days of the ENN.KORR's rule. They’re sometimes referred to as natural Calamity entities…” Dr. Xizu slowed her pace, realizing her explanation led to more questions. “But all you need to know is that they’re incredibly strong—and super cool.” She finished with a goofy smile, one that didn’t quite match her otherwise composed appearance.
“Okay? So they’re strong and cool? That didn’t tell me anything. That was a Lucas-level explanation.” Gira said, raising a brow and giving her a funny look.
Dr. Xizu blushed, her confidence slipping. “Uhh, well...” Her words trailed off in defeat. “Anyway, Dragon Gods are a bit more straightforward. They’re synthetic organisms that exist as pure Kyyr and can only manifest through a host. They tend to jump between descendants of a bloodline they favor, so there’s a chance you could become a Dragon God host.” She pointed at him, hiding her face with her hair in embarrassment.
"So, am I strong?” Gira asked, excitement brewing within.
"No clue,” she said pragmatically, her bluntness landing like a verbal slap. “Although you’re certainly an enigma, your Calamity gene is dormant, and the Dragon God of Cannibalism is…missing in action.” She paused, her gaze narrowing on Gira. “You also have one more relative—Ezeks Deride, another Dragon God host. Although, the dragon possessing him was never identified and remains a mystery. Like you.” She added, regaining her aloof composure, a sly smile creeping back onto her face.
“Do I have any other relatives? Something like a mom?” Gira asked innocently.
“Well, see, that’s the weird part—you're somehow only related to three men who aren’t related in any way.” She paused for a second. Looking at Gira, she could see him give a solemn smile. “The only one that makes any sense is Gira Ensum, since you look like each other, but even that is confusing, considering he’s been dead for centuries.” She tilted her head slightly, thinking of the best way to explain. “Gira, there’s no record of a mother or father for you. Now, that doesn’t mean they aren’t out there—just that there’s no record of them.”
“Oh.” Gira replied, shrugging lightly. “It’s not like I just appeared out of thin air, right? It’s not like I’m some ghost.” He added with a small, half-hearted laugh, trying to brush off the strange reality.
“I mean, I’ve never seen genetics like this; there’s a chance your Coarseblood ancestry is throwing something off.”
“It’s okay; I’m not that worried about my background,” Gira said with a shrug. ”But why was Lucas so scared? It’s not like I can do much outside smacking him?” He added while smacking the air with a playful grin.
Dr. Xizu relaxed at his ever-joyful demeanor. "Normally, if it weren’t for the fracture, your genes would’ve pinged the ORPA main line and flagged you to the authorities. The Coarsebloods haven’t exactly been on the ‘winning team’ historically, so they’ve made plenty of enemies. Plus, they’re a species that actively competes with Calamity Entities.”
“Calamity Entities?”
“They’re bad news.” She said her tone more serious. “Calamity Entities are considered living apocalypses—apathetic, extreme, immensely powerful, and almost unstoppable. The only thing keeping them in check are other beings of their caliber, like Vileblood Lords, Dragon Gods, Faeri Blades, and, in the past, Coarsebloods.” She paused, her expression softening. “Honestly, it might be a blessing you ended up here, away from the chaos of the universe. It give you a chance to grow up… human.”
“A chance…”
“ Unless you’ve got a thing for being hunted by world-ending monsters, I’d say you should be pretty happy.” She teased with a playful grin, rising to her feet.
“I-I—you’re right, that wouldn’t be good.” He stammered, his voice faltering. The word “monster” lingered in his mind, sending a strange, unsettling feeling through him. It was a confused mix of emotions.
"Well, kiddo, let’s get you some new clothes and some food. You’ll need your strength—there are some shots coming your way.” She said casually, already heading to the door with a confident stride.
“Okay.” Gira paused, his thoughts spinning. Why is she calling me kiddo? Wait… how old am I? "Wait, Doc, how old am I?” he blurted out as he followed her out of the room. Also, what are shots?