Standing next to Dr. Xizu, Gira couldn’t help but notice 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 asked.
Dr. Xizu glanced down, her eyes glinting with a hint of amusement. “He’s just a little stunned, considering you’re connected to some rather… exciting people.” She led him down a narrow corridor 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.
Inside, a large tub of water dominated the center of the room, circled by machines that dangled an assortment of wires into the water, their ends submerged like curious tentacles. The room itself was split into two halves. One side held an immense, imposing machine with thick, insulated tubes snaking across to the other side, where a smaller, more intricate device buzzed faintly.
Dr. Xizu moved to the controls, and several instruments around the tub whirred to life, their parts spinning and humming as she adjusted dials and checked readings. With a playful smile, she turned to him. “Alright, strip and get ready to take a little bath for me.”
“Uh… alright,” Gira replied, glancing down at his single, worn cloak as he began to pull it off. His curiosity flared again, and he couldn’t resist. “But… can you tell me more about these people I’m related to?”
Dr. Xizu hummed a light tune, ignoring Gira’s question as she worked the machine. “Very well, step inside,” she said, not looking up. “The water might feel a bit chilly, but please bear with it.”
She’s ignoring me… He realized. “What’s this tub for?” he asked, edging closer and peering at the wires skimming the water’s surface with a mix of suspicion and nerves. “You’re not going to sting me again, are you?”
“This shouldn’t hurt.” she replied, her tone clipped as her gaze settled on a screen that cast an eerie glow onto her face. “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 dipped his foot into the water. A faint fizz tickled his skin. It wasn’t cold, nor was it warm—just strange.
He eased his other foot in, then lowered himself into the tub with a tentative splash. The water bubbled around him, soothing yet odd. “What’s next?” he asked, glancing up to find her watching him from behind the glass, her face partially obscured by the dim light of the machine.
“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.”
“Okay…” Gira murmured, trying to process her words as the water around him began to churn. “But how do you get liquid Kyyr? And how does it let you, you know… move things with your hair?”
Dr. Xizu paused, watching the ebb and flow of his vitals on the monitor. “Kyyr, in essence, is an esoteric energy tied to a unique concept,” she explained, her voice dropping to a thoughtful tone. “It’s proof that you exist—it’s tied to what people often call the soul.”
“What’s a soul?”
“The soul,” she said slowly, adjusting a few dials, “is the core of who you are. It’s the essence that makes you you—tied to emotions, consciousness, the part that lingers after you’re gone. Without a soul, you cannot connect to Kyyr.” She leaned over the machine again. “Now, I’m going to infuse the water with Kyyr. Just relax. Breathe slowly.”
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. “I should also clarify that Kyyr isn’t tied exclusively to those with souls, as it can also manifest itself in certain regions, conditions, and even objects. Some animal species have also evolved to become Kyyr-dependent.”
“People and animals, sure,” Gira said, thinking it over. “But how can Kyyr affect objects or places?”
“Honestly? I don’t know.” Dr. Xizu’s tone shifted, a faint sigh escaping as her fingers paused over the controls. “The true nature of Kyyr is a mystery—the ORPA keeps it purposely obscured. What little we do know teeters on the edge of 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 echoed, the word hanging in the air, strange and heavy.
She nodded, a grim smile touching her lips. “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.
Once the test concluded, Dr. Xizu emerged with a towel in hand. “Alright, kiddo, you’re done. Time to learn a bit more about yourself.” She tossed the towel his way, a teasing smile lighting her face.
As Gira climbed out of the tub and dried himself off, his head felt like it was spinning. “Sheesh,” he muttered, rubbing his temples, “the world’s way too complicated for me.”
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“It is,” she agreed, amusement flickering in her eyes. “But you’re a pretty complicated person yourself.” She pulled out a sleek device with a large screen, displaying a series of charts. Gira’s name was at the top, alongside data points for estimated age, body fat ratio, muscle density, blood type, and—most intriguing—Kyyr affinity.”
Gira’s eyes fixed on the words under 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.”
“The abyss?” Gira echoed, frowning. “Lucas mentioned that earlier. What is it exactly?”
She glanced at him, her voice dropping as her tone turned grave. “In short, it’s a hostile reality that’s leaking into ours—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.
Dr. Xizu continued, her gaze fixed on him. “One of your relatives, Gira Ensum, came from Veses-3—a planet swallowed by the abyss. The part of our universe overtaken by it is called the swallowed zone. Veses-3 is infamous for birthing the Black Hand; according to ORPA’s records, there were no survivors. And yet… somehow, you’re here. You look the same, share his name, even have the same blood type.” She paused, and an unsettling smile tugged at the corners of her lips. “But let’s not dwell on him. There’s someone even more important to discuss.”
She gestured to the screen. “You see, while your primary affinity is Soul Kyyr, there’s more. If you look at the detailed results, you’ll notice a second attribute. A combination like this isn’t rare, but the percentages… it’s exceptional. Your other attribute is—”
“Body…” Gira interrupted.
“Precisely,” she replied, her eyes gleaming with an exhilaration she could hardly contain. “This secondary Kyyr trait at this percentile indicates something fascinating—you’ve got ties with a particular species of entity. 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, bewildered by the flood of unfamiliar names and titles.
Dr. Xizu suddenly grabbed his shoulders, her tone brimming with excitement. “It means you’re related to some pretty incredible people, yes, but what really matters is your blood!” She explained with growing enthusiasm. “You’re a part of an exceedingly rare species of human, and you just happened to wander into my office! Do you even know how incredible 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,” she said, her voice softening to an intense whisper, “that there’s a chance you’ll manifest into a Coarseblood. And…” Her eyes shone, a dangerous thrill in her expression. “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 age of the ENN.KORR. They’re sometimes referred to as natural Calamities…” Dr. Xizu slowed her pace, realizing her explanation led to more questions. But all you really need to know is that they’re incredibly strong… and, honestly, super cool.” She finished with a goofy smile that seemed out of place against her otherwise composed exterior.
“Okay… so they’re strong and cool? That didn’t tell me much,” Gira replied, raising a brow. “That was a Lucas-level explanation.”
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… does that mean I’m strong?” Gira asked, a glimmer of excitement building in his eyes.
“No clue,” she said bluntly, her pragmatism landing like a verbal slap. “Your Calamity gene is dormant, and as for the Dragon God of Cannibalism… it’s missing in action.” She paused, her gaze sharpening on him. “You do have one more relative, though—Ezeks Deride, another Dragon God host. The dragon that possessed him was never identified and remains a mystery. Like you.” Her voice softened, and she regained her composed, aloof demeanor, a sly smile creeping back onto her face.
“Do I have any other relatives?” Gira asked innocently. “Like a mom or something?”
“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 share his looks, but even that’s strange—he’s been dead for centuries.” She tilted her head slightly, considering how best to explain. “Gira, there’s no record of a mother or father for you. Now, that doesn’t mean they aren’t out there—it’s just that there’s no record.”
“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 grinned and playfully swung his hand through the air.
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 replied, her expression darkening. “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, a faint sigh escaping as her gaze softened. “Honestly, it might be a blessing you ended up here, far from the chaos of the universe. It gives you a chance to grow up… human.”
“A chance…” he murmured, the weight of her words settling over him.
“Unless you’d like to be hunted by world-ending monsters, I’d say you should be grateful for the peace,” she teased with a playful grin as she stood, brushing herself off.
“I—uh—you’re right, that wouldn’t be good,” he stammered, a nervous chuckle escaping as the word “monster” stirred something unsettling within him—a swirl of emotions he couldn’t quite name.
"Well, kiddo, let’s get you some new clothes and something to eat. 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 mumbled, still lost in thought. As he followed her, a sudden realization struck him. Why is she calling me kiddo? He paused, furrowing his brow. “Wait… how old am I, Doc?” he blurted out, trailing after her. “And… what are shots?”
