B6 Chapter 23: Conversation with Cal

Hope y'all had a great halloween!. Chapter 1/2 I'm off to bed for now, will post second one tmr.)

Cal hesitated, but I swept him up in a big hug before eventually setting him down. He patted my head as we separated, his posture losing tension.

“Thank you for that,” Cal said.

“Don’t thank people for hugs. That’s weird,” I replied as I sat down on the couch.

“And you shouldn't make fun of people for appreciating affection,” he retorted as he joined me on the couch.

With a snap, a plate of perfectly floating ice cream cones appeared above the table. Some scoops almost looked normal, sporting shades similar to strawberry or a typical chocolate flavor. Of course, more commonly were the odd scoops sandwiched in between. I think I even spotted what looked like molten magma sizzling atop a crystal clear scoop that wisped white fog.

I reached for the nearest one, which looked like a galaxy converted into an edible desert, and took a bite. 

“Agh! Fuck. What the fuck?” I coughed.

I tried to scrape my tongue, but there was nothing there. When I looked at the ice cream in my hand, there were only a few pieces of the cone left before they drifted into the air and crumbled.

“Ahh,” Cal hummed as he licked a cone that barked at him. “The galeccia fruit used to make the base is rather fragile. I should have guessed the cream would devour itself once damaged. How did it taste?”

“Like I kissed the sun and chased it with milk infused with moonlight. How do I even know that?”

He chuckled. “It’s a form of living knowledge fruit. It’ll fade. Here, try this, it’s chocolate made from ten-thousand-year-old needles.”

I stared at the richly dark chocolate cone suspiciously. “Chocolate is supposed to come in bean form. Not needles.”

“Not these ones.”

I shrugged and found the cone richer than any cake I ever tasted back on Earth. After trying a few more of the weird ones, I finally sat back and stared at the remaining cones. In a way, they looked like stars once they started to drift.

I turned my head and found Cal chewing on something furry and vibrating. I snorted and lifted my arm into the air. 

“So, is this your realm? It’s a little empty.”

Cal finished chewing and burped out a cloud of purple. “Oh my, too much vorpal growler paste.”

“Cal?”

He sighed. “It is a part of my realm.”

“Just a part? What, not even your adopted son can see the rest? What skeletons are you hiding?”

I meant it as a playful jab, but the tension from before appeared in Cal’s shoulders. His eyes stared off into the distance, watching something I couldn’t see. I gave him time; I knew personally that Eraztis could mess with time perception. Same with Ysanna. I wasn’t worried about the time drawing on. 

Slowly, the cones kept drifting further away with only the naturally glowing scoops shining like distant suns. 

“You know, Cyrus. You’re the first person to be here besides me in a few centuries.”

I peeled open an eye and found Cal leaning back as well, staring at the sky. “Really? Not even Eraztis?”

“No. Not even him.” Cal shook his head. “The last person to be here was…”

His voice trailed off. He could have hidden it. I’ve no doubt a god could regulate their bodies beyond most mortals. But the hesitancy in his voice, the sliver that he let slip through, was deliberate. 

“You don’t need to answer me if you don’t want to, Cal. I’m curious, but not if it pains you.”

“Even if you deserve to know?”

“So? I mean, if I really need to know it, I can always demand an answer then. If you don’t want to, then don’t. Out of everyone in my life, I won’t press you.”

I felt the stare, felt it. Cal didn’t move his neck or turn his head. He didn’t need to. We were, after all, in his realm. I felt the tingle of a god’s attention taking me in, staring me down. It wasn’t malicious, but it was enough for my soul to notice.

I rubbed at my chest, feeling the dull ache above my heart pulse.

“Did Eraztis keep you informed? I know you haven’t copied my memories yet.”

“I’ve been too busy.”

“So why aren’t you copying my memories?”

The pulsing in my chest faded, as if Cal mentally looked away.

He laughed and extended his arm, reaching above. “Because even a god as old as I can feel fear. A silly, childish thing in reality. But I am not above worrying. Some gods do try that, especially those who ascended from biology that didn’t require chemicals to balance their minds. They never ascend far, not even with the few exceptions to the rule; emotions are things that tie us. An anchor for immortality that keeps us existing.”

I raised a brow. “So what, there are machine gods out there? I mean, I’ve met some non-organic beings. The guardian of the crystal realm I went to, Erath, was his name. He had emotions despite being what looked like a giant crystal starfish.”

Cal placed a gentle but firm hand on my shoulder. “Don’t ask about the former. Not until you’ve reached tier six.”

“Uh, okay?”

He removed his hand and smiled. “Erath. I’ve met his kind once. Truly strange spirits, but I don’t understand most hive-mind entities, let alone pseudo-hive minds. They are different. Instinctual, ancient knowledge is ingrained into their being. They know to anchor themselves with a mind, a curiosity. They may not feel fear the way you do, but they could find the idea of destruction undesirable. Same with elation from satisfaction, and annoyance from being disturbed.”

“What’s a pseudo-hivemind?”

Cal snorted and turned to face me. “May I?”

It was my turn to return the brief bafflement. “You always had permission.”

I felt his mental probe. Again, it was gentle if firm. It lacked the finesse of Eraztis’ hand, but it was done so without harming me, let alone disturbing the fragile edges of my soul. He closed his eyes for a second. In that one blink, he shed some of his stiffness.

When he opened them, his eyes burned with a gentle flame inside that lit up with his smile. 

“You know, I was afraid. Worried that you’d blame me. To have found resentment in my absence. Thank you, Cyrus.”

“I still don’t understand why you weren’t there,” I said with a shrug. I tried to keep the heat out of my voice, but that resurfacing of memories of that night burned in my gut. “Even Ysanna watched, admitted herself. So why not you? You’re realm? Law? Whatever your domain is, it’s chaos. That night was pretty chaotic if you ask me.”

“I know…”

I breathed in and exhaled a cloud of pink dust that faintly chimed before fading. I narrowed my eyes but gave up.

“I’m curious, but I don’t blame you. That’d be me lashing at the world for being. I blame Aurelion, his sister. The fucking traitorous nobles, and that damn demon. I’m even pissed at Teddy for not running away. For Isaac for being the dumbest asshole alive!” I clicked my fangs together and exhaled. “I don’t blame you for not being there to save me from my problems. That would be unfair, and stupid. I know I’m a baby compared to you, but I’m not that childish.”

“No, you’re not. Nonetheless, thank you.”

I thought silence would come back, and I was prepared to close my eyes and drift off, but Cal sat up and folded his arms neatly in his lap.

“Care to show me your status?” he asked.

“Didn’t you see it from my memories?”

“Have you checked it since Ysanna stabilized your matrix?”

“Uh… No?”

“Pull it up.”

I pinged the system and willed the words to flash outward, sharing the screen and prompts with Cal. 

STATUS

Name: Cyrus

Race: Reborn (Felkin)

Age: ??

Tier: 1 Rank: 3

Active Skills:

(T:1 R:3) Summon Familiar: Verdant Healer: (Áine)

(T:1 R:3) Summon Familiar: Resplendent Inferno: (Zharia)

(T:1 R:3) Racial Skill: Dimensional Storage: (Chomperz)

(T:1 R:3) Spirit Lord's Invocation

(T:1 R:3) Summon Familiar: The Dead Will Provide (Erebus)

(T:1 R:3) Summon Familiar: Reflective Coat of the Mirror Beast (Magnus)

(T:1 R:3) Summon Familiar: Storm King's Tempest (Sturmrorex)

(T:1 R:3) Summon Familiar: Shroud of the Astral Archon (Galarion)

(T:1 R:3) Roar of the Spirit Lord

(T:1 R:3) Absolute Authority

(T:1 R:3) Summon Familiar: Felblood Sanguinarch (Zagreus)

Passive Skills:

(T:1 R:3) Etherious Blood

(T:1 R:3) Sovereign-Threaded Soul

(T:1 R:3) Chaotic Resonance

(T:1 R:3) Spirit's Lord's Chorus

(T:1 R:3) Dual-Mind Cultivation

Perks:

Legacy of the Obsidian Crown

Scion of Calstrax

Demonic Blood

Child of Mana

Dread Guardian's Apology

Crystal Synthesis

Devourer of the Deep

Voice of the Tempest

False Dungeon Core

Unleashed Soul (Tempered)

Astral Lotion

Blood Pact (Stage One)

Scion of Eraztis

Scion of Eraztis:

• You've become the heir of the god Eraztis. With a fragment of his soul reinforcing your core, you share some of his powers.

  • You have minor resistance to most soul afflictions.

  • You have minor resistance to mental and spatial elements.

  • You have a more robust soul.

Voice of the Tempest

• The Storm Princess has granted you her favor.

• The winds now serve as your eyes and ears, alerting you to danger and shielding you from harm.

• The storms energize your body as a friend.

• Minor enhancement to perception. Gain an innate sense to detect threats in your immediate surroundings, as if the wind itself whispers warnings to you.

The number next to my skills tier and rank, soured. Dealing with the soul damage had prevented me from meditating and reinforcing my mana channels. The one time I tried, Eraztis lectured me for a week straight after nearly bursting my soul apart like a deflated balloon.

I examined the perk from being Eraztis’s scion and frowned. Eraztis’s explanation regarding the last line wasn’t the easiest to comprehend. What I did know was that most souls were static. The only time a soul experienced change was during ascendence, and during rebirth. Outside factors could influence a soul, like soul attacks or curses, but the overall structure of a soul tended to remain the same.

A more robust soul simply meant I had a stronger and healthier soul. One that had more metaphysical meat to use.

Still a crappy response from the literal world’s expert on the subject.

Finally, I turned to the change of Ysanna’s initial perk given to me as a reward at the end of the island’s rift.

The perk used to be called: Whisper of the Tempest

The only system official changes were that Ysanna’s perk was no longer a minor favor, and I was somehow a friend of storms.

Whatever that meant.

Cal nodded. “She did more than repair your remnant damage. She squeezed out some of her divine energy to reinforce that perk.”

“Does this just mean I have more mana regeneration during storms? Not that I’m ungrateful, but…”

“No, it’s impossible to be certain without testing it yourself, but perks like these are rarely so simple. I suspect you’ll find yourself being physically boosted as well. Energized can mean more than just mana; it could mean a boost in stamina regeneration or capacity.”

“Huh. You know I don’t remember the perk actually doing much outside of Helio.”

Cal fixed me with a flat stare. “You’ve been subconsciously repressing things since before Helio. I’ve no doubt your aura passive messed with the perk even further. Be grateful it helped you at all. Most people go their entire lives without gaining a new perk outside of those they are born with.”

“Yeah, yeah. So what yah think?”

“Hmm?”

I gestured to the status screen. “How am I looking?”

He flicked the status away with a swipe of his index and grabbed at another ice cream cone. “I think you should be kinder to yourself.”

I repressed the groan that came in response. “You and every therapist ever.”

He flicked me into the cushions with a snap of his finger. “Extensive soul damage like yours could bankrupt a world and still never be healed. Be happy you did not regress a few ranks or even tiers. I know six months is a long time, but in the grand scheme of things, it is but a blip. Plus, I suspect once you rest properly and give your body time to catch up to your soul, you’ll find yourself ranking up faster than before.”

“Oh?”

“You have expanded your soul matrix more than most. Not to mention directly influencing it with perks that seek to improve it. With your body already primed for cultivation, it is but a matter of doing rather than learning. So appreciate what you have.”

Huh. Yeah, that makes sense.

I glanced at Ysanna’s passive a final time before dismissing my status screen. Sinking into the cushions, I stared at the few cones still visible in the endless void and mentally reached for the one that glowed pink.

It appeared in my hand without delay, and I shoved the neon-squiggly treat into my mouth. It tasted like bacon.

“Do you think she did it because of Teldrin?” I eventually asked.

“Is that the question you want to really ask me?”

“Ugh. Therapist again.”

“I’ve had some time to study your old world’s professions. Mental guides and soothers are not uncommon, but not to the degree that Earth had.”

I clicked my fangs before burying my urge to grumble.

“Did I make a mistake? Am I not fucking insane for bringing a twelve-year-old with me when I get tangled with demons, and gods, and other bullshit?”

Cal hummed and shrugged. “A mistake? Maybe.”

My gut sank. “Ah.”

“I said maybe. In reality, you got a goddess to give him a perk that sounds truly terrifying. If you are kin and invest in him, he’ll be a powerful adventurer. Temper him, train him. Take responsibility for your choice and it won’t be a mistake.”

“But if we he–”

“If he does, then only blame yourself if it was truly your fault. If you want to avoid that, then try your best. Even if he does die, Cyrus. You are not omnipotent. If the worst does come to pass, then get revenge and live. Learn from mistakes. That’s all there is to it.”

“That’s… optimistic.”

“Maybe.”

“Aaaaaaaaagh,” I groaned. “I’m not. I. Ugh. Fine. I’ll be the adult that I don’t feel like I am, and take care of the kid. Any suggestions for skills? And don’t give me the I can’t help bullshit. I’m doing the smart thing and asking the being infinitely older than me for wisdom and advice.”

Cal launched the remains of the ice cream at me and I tried to slap it away. The thing dissolved into my skin with a wet schlurp.

“Use whatever skillstone you acquire if you think it sounds good. Trust your gut. With a Legacy like his, just about everything and anything will help him. You should capitalize on what you spoke about with him. While spatial, water, and life are his strongest affinities, I suspect that won’t remain the case as he grows. Versatility is a weapon few can wield, so let him have those options.”

“Not helping, old man.”

Instead of retorting, Cal stood up and offered me a hand. I got up confused, but his expression sobered the mood.

He ran, adjusted the vest of his suit, and held up a hand, palm facing up. In its place, a flame flickered into existence, sporting every hue of the rainbow and beyond. Eventually, it solidified, slowly shifting into the shape of a key with two teeth.

“I’m not ready to talk about some things in my past. The wounds are painful, and they burn deep,” he said solemnly. Cal held up the key and presented it. “But if you want to see what my realm looks like, to see what I hide underneath the surface… To see the truth of me that might change how you feel… Then so be it. I will not hide myself if that is what you wish, but be prepared for it won’t be easy on your mortal eyes and brain.”

“Cal. I meant it. If you don’t want to, then I don’t need to.”

He moved the key closer and smiled. “I know. I wouldn’t present the option if I didn’t desire so.”

The key rotated lazily, the edges wisping prismatic light at the edges like dimensional fog that disappeared as it turned an inch.

I could have argued against grabbing the key. Curiosity killed the cat and all that. 

Exposing my fangs in a similar smile, I reached for the key. “Alright. Show me.”

The moment I touched the ethereal metal, the void screamed back.