I stared at the queen as I saw her heave a sigh of relief. It must've been on her mind how to take care of the little ones the moment they were born. But why couldn't she just look after them?
I looked down at the twins in my arms… then back at her. Something just didn't sit right with me.
" I have a question that's been bugging me. "
She met my gaze calmly.
" You may ask."
I hesitated for a moment, then spoke.
"Why couldn't you take care of the little ones yourself or anyone else in this cave?"
For the first time, her expression changed. Not the happy expression she'd been showing all this time, it looked more resolute. She had the look of someone who had already made a decision… and accepted its cost willingly.
Then slowly she spoke.
"…Because we are bound to this place."
My brows furrowed slightly.
"We cannot go far… nor leave the area beyond a hundred kilometers," she continued.
"And as guardians…" She paused.
"…we cannot interfere."
The words felt heavier now.
" We cannot attack freely. We cannot step into conflicts between creatures. They too can't attack freely at us"
A quiet breath left her lips.
"To be a guardian..."
Her gaze drifted slightly.
"...is to remain a bystander."
Silence.
"...to protect this place..."
Her eyes returned to mine.
"...and everything within it."
The queen sighed.
" Being strong doesn't mean you can do anything freely. Sometimes you just need to be an anchor. "
Her gaze softened as it sweept across the clams within the cavern.
Looking at her I thought, even here, strength didn't mean freedom. I felt my chest tighten slightly. The queen turned her gaze at me and continued.
"That is why you must choose wisely in the future."
A brief pause.
"I chose to become the guardian of this place… to protect my people. So that no one may harm them… as long as I stand here."
Her voice remained calm. Steady.
"But the little ones…"
She trailed off. Her eyes softened as she looked at them, filled with something deeper. There was warmth, sternness, sorrow; it was something complex, and the twins seemed to sense it.
Without hesitation, they slipped out of my arms and rushed toward her, pressing close, rubbing against her gently as if comforting her…as if telling her, it's okay.
She carried them into her embrace, holding them close as if memorizing their warmth, their being, carving them in her mind and embrace. Then, quietly, she continued.
"The little ones are like you," she said softly. "Vessels of a Genesis species."
Her gaze lingered on them.
"I cannot shelter them here forever. They must venture out… grow stronger… and learn to face the enemies who would hunt them down and devour them for power."
A brief pause.
"There is only so much I can do for them within this place."
I fell silent, her words weighing heavily in my mind. Genesis species… Vessel… What did it really mean to be one? The thought had been bothering me for a while now but she already expressed that she won't explain further.
[ Touché. ]
I rolled my eyes and ignored Vex. The queen gently placed the little ones into her husband's arms, her movements slow and careful. Then she raised her hand and something began to form in the air. Soft, glowing, shaped from layered shells and violet light.
A satchel.
It was unlike anything I had seen before. Its surface was crafted from overlapping clam shells, each one shimmering in deep shades of purple, with a faint glow pulsing through them like a heartbeat. Pearls were embedded along its frame, their light steady and calming.
For a moment, I simply stared. Then the queen spoke.
"This is a Cradle Satchel."
Her voice was soft, yet clear.
"Inside is a pocket world… a space of one hundred cubic meters, capable of sustaining life."
My heart raced. Doesn't this mean I can just hide there?
"They can stay inside during times of danger," she continued. "It will protect them… and give them a place to rest."
A brief pause.
"But not forever."
Her gaze softened as it shifted toward them.
"As they grow… so too will their presence. In time, this space will no longer be enough to contain them."
Silence lingered for a moment.
"They will have to step outside," she said quietly. "And learn to survive on their own."
The satchel drifted towards me and landed in my hand. It was not heavy, in fact it was light. I looked inside and my breath paused for a moment. It was like a miniature version of the cave except no clams were inside, only pearls, lots of pearls.
" You may find the pearl useful someday. It can also aid them as they grow, and might help you too. "
"Vex do you know anything about the pearls?"
[ Although my knowledge is limited… I am still not as uninformed as you. ]
My face twitched. "Can't you reply without an attitude? "
[ I am stating facts. ] A brief pause.
[ The outer pearls are abyssal clam pearls. They emit warmth and can help stabilize unstable or raging energies. ]
My gaze shifted toward the center. " What about the pearl at the center?"
[ The pearls at the center…no data available. ]
"…So there are things you can't identify after all."
[ I am limited by you, Nyx. ]
I went silent.…that again. I clicked my tongue softly, looking away.
"…You really shift the blame fast."
[ In the future… once you unlock certain genes. I will not need any of these dumb conversations with you. So please grow strong fast so only one will remain...]
I waited... yet vex choose to cut the sentence there " Remain what vex? what's with that pause huh? "
[ … ]
I was speechless at how this system shifts blame quickly and insult me continuesly, but I also can't argue. Damn it. Before I could try and form a response for vex, the queen's voice pulled me back.
" Now look at the stats of the little ones boy "
I looked down at them. For a moment, I saw nothing out of the ordinary. I frowned, then looked back at the queen as if asking how. She chuckled softly.
" Focus boy. Focus and look them in the eyes." Her tone changed, still gentle, but firmer this time. " This is an important skill out there, you need to be able to see the status of any creature. "
I exhaled slowly and tried again. This time, I focused hard. I stared at them and the more I look, the more I seem to see not just them but into them then suddenly view changed. A water like a screen showed. My eyes lit up as I looked at the queen and she chuckled.
" It seems you can see it now. The purple liquid I gave you can grant you that ability, although as you grow stronger you will eventually see status window without using a skill. "
I looked back at the little ones, focusing again and just like before that water-like screen showed. A translucent window surfaced, clear and steady this time… like something straight out of a game.
[ Status ]
[ Name: Aevryn ]
[ Species: Abyssal Genesis Clam ( Primordial Vessel ) Hatchling ]
[ Classification: Tier 0 - Unclassified ]
[ Status: Growth Phase ]
[ Evaluation: High Potential ]
[ Nature: Perceptive Evolution ]
[ Skill: Genesis Insight ]
[ Status ]
[ Name: Caelumir ]
[ Species: Abyssal Genesis Clam ( Primordial Vessel ) Hatchling ]
[ Classification: Tier 0 - Unclassified ]
[ Status: Growth Phase ]
[ Evaluation: High Potential ]
[ Nature: Resonant Evolution ]
[ Skill: Genesis - Resonance ]
For a moment, I just stared. "…So it's real." A grin slowly spread across my face. I couldn't help it. This is insane. I'm really in a new world.