Page 29 of Cosmic Soul

“Because I just told you,” I snapped. True. Seth was the first human he had experience with, but he could be nice.

Fyn glared at me, and it didn’t upset me in the slightest. Instead, I liked it. A cute little divot between his eyebrows appeared and his full lips pursed attractively. I liked it way more than was healthy. But I was dead; I didn’t have to worry about my health anymore. Perks.

“Should I leave?” Seth asked, fidgeting like he was about to bolt.

“No,” Fyn said. “I was arguing with Caleb.” He waved Seth in. “I normally don’t allow anyone, even family, in here.”

Seth froze, as did I. Fyn didn’t care, or at least didn’t act like he cared, when I was in here. My romantic soul hoped it was because it was me, but in reality, it was probably because I wasn’t truly here.

“Are you sure I shouldn’t leave?” Seth asked, hesitating in the doorway.

“Come in, please,” Fyn said, and Seth slipped the rest of the way inside. “Where is Kalvoxrencol?”

“My thoughts exactly,” I said. “He never leaves Seth alone. Like ever. He practically stalks him. On the Admiral Ven…”

Seth started talking, oblivious to my chattering. “He’s fighting with your dad.”

“Why?” Fyn asked, head cocking.

Seth played with the zipper of his hoodie. I patted his shoulder, and he shivered, blinking. “Tell him I’m here,” I said.

Fyn frowned for the barest moment before he told Seth I was right next to him. Seth glanced toward me and smiled, but he shifted to the side.

“What’s going on, Seth?” I asked, and Fyn dutifully translated.

“I’m not sure yet,” Seth said. “Someone is insisting on meeting with me, and I don’t want to. Kal is protecting me.”

“It’s the priest people with the glowing Crystal,” I commented.

After Fyn told Seth what I said, he asked, “What are you talking about, Caleb?”

Even Seth was staring at me; well, in my general direction, but it so counted. “You saw the Crystal?”

“Yep.” I told them both about how I’d followed Monqilcolnen and the conversation I’d overheard.

My Sunshine crossed his arms. “That makes sense.”

“What makes sense?” Seth asked.

“You have the darkest warrior soul ever tested. Warrior and seeker souls grow darker with the pureness of their souls; whereas, spiritual and creator souls grow lighter when they’re purer. Warriors are important to drakcol, and you are the purest one in recorded history.”

Seth gaped at Fyn, and I was certain my expression was the same hooked-fish one like his. Don’t get me wrong, Seth was awesome, but why would he be the best warrior? And even if he was, why did anyone care?

Fyn sat down in the middle of the greenhouse and motioned for me and Seth to follow suit. After telling Seth where I was, he started speaking. “When we turn ten, we are tested by the Ranks to find out what type of soul we have. As I understand it, you humans do not have the same thing.”

“We don’t,” I piped up.

“Originally we were tested by touching the Crystal itself, but now we use a piece of crystal that connects to it,” Fyn said.

“Interesting,” Seth remarked, though he didn’t sound interested.

“It’s important to us. The Crystal has been a part of our culture longer than we have written history. How and when it was discovered has been lost to the ravages of time, but its significance has never dimmed.

“Warriors,” Fyn said, gesturing to Seth and himself, “are the most venerated because we were and still are, in many ways, a warring species. Royal children have always been warrior souls until Kalvoxrencol. His showing as a creator soul was quite shocking. Creators have never been valued because what did they contribute to war?”

I scoffed. Sure things like books and movies were unneeded, but war was fantastic. That sounded healthy.

“Spiritual souls are the rarest type, and they are treasured because of their connection to the Crystal. Seeker souls found their prominence with the rise of technology. But creator souls.” He shook his head. “Many question their value.

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