Page 26 of Crossing Between
" S o," Quilith addressed us as if they were holding a class.
All they needed now was a ruler in their hands.
"Creator Magic is powerful in its own right.
It's a branch of Soulbinder powers." They flicked their fingers, and an image appeared in front of us of a dragon with beautiful pearl-colored scales and bright icy blue eyes.
"This is Shanna. She was the last soulbinder on Earth, the last one to fight and win against the Essencefeaster all those years ago.
" The image shifted to a breathtaking woman with white hair tied back.
She knelt next to a dead man, his stomach ripped open across the ground.
"She used her powers together to not only revive a soul but also heal the body of all ailments. "
My eyes widened as the man's body began to knit itself together before he took a gasping breath.
He jolted upward with a gasp. He was alive, not a zombie or a shackled slave.
The thing that caught my attention the most was a shining star-like blaze from their heart.
He wasn't human any longer. I'm not sure how I could know that, but it was right there in front of me.
My gasp of awe mixed with horror caused everyone but Qulith to jump to their feet in alarm.
"What?"
"What's wrong?"
"Zoey?"
"She made him into a shifter?" I looked from the image to Quilith. "That's impossible!"
"No, that's creator magic at its core." They were smug.
"Now are you getting why you being a soulbinder is such a huge thing?
Why you're now going to have a target on your back because the Essencefeaster is aware that you exist and are hunting him?
" They crossed their arms with a serious glance around the room.
"She can literally change the very fiber and magic of a person into something else if she wishes.
It's unheard of for any species besides a dragon to wield it, but here we are. "
If I hadn't been sitting, I'd be on my ass in shock. My mouth moved, but I couldn't form any words. There was no way. That was close to god-like magic. Which was unheard of in this day and age. All the Gods had left our world several millennia ago.
Kenji was suddenly in my view as he knelt on one knee in front of me. I hadn't heard him or seen him move, I was that dazed with this new information. He cupped my cheeks in his large hands. His sky-blue eyes were narrowed as he scanned my face.
"Take a breath, hold it for five seconds, let out, and repeat.
" He glanced to his right as Elias knelt next to him.
"Elias is just going to look you over for a bit, yeah?
Sounds like you might be in a bit of a shock.
" His thumbs stroked my skin on my cheeks, and I could feel my skin heat with a blush.
I did as he instructed while Elias ran his palm close to my body with a glow of magic.
A soft, warm pulse filled my body. I hadn't realized it, but my heart rate had sped up with the new information.
I felt like I had been on the verge of another panic attack, and these two helped bring me back to the ground.
I pressed Kenji's right hand to my cheek as I breathed slowly. "Thanks, guys. It's just a lot." I met his stare again. "I can see why Elias has a thing for you."
His eyes widened as Elias cursed loudly next to him.
Oh. Oh shit. I said that out loud.
"I mean, uh," jerking backward, I looked at Elias with big eyes. "I mean, I have a thing for you?"
Elias looked terrified briefly before he just shook his head with a laugh. "He might as well know since I also have a thing for you." He looked at Kenji as they both stood, Kenji towering over him. "I do like you, you big oaf."
"Elias, I," Kenji reached out to him, but Quilith inserted themselves between the two of them with a frustrated grumble.
"Enough. As much as I love all this juicy love fest, we are having a SERIOUS conversation about Zoey's life here!" Quilith looked flustered as they glared at the two men. "Sit your asses down."
They sat on the floor. I tried not to laugh, but it slipped out, and I was not the only one who laughed. Varon seemed to find the situation funny as well. Quilith gave an annoyed grunt and sat next to me.
"Do you understand why I said you need to get training for your magic? That you can't just rely on a book?" They took my hand and squeezed it.
Things whirled inside my head as I looked down. "You're saying that I need to learn to wield my magic because I have to defeat this demon since he'll be coming after me as well?"
"Exactly." Quilith glanced down at Kenji and Elias on the ground and back up to Varon. "Will you help?"
"Of course we will. Quilith, we don't know anything about creator magic, though. Are you going to be able to assist, or will your higher-ups not agree to it?" Varon's voice was low, but it felt like he was standing at my side.
"What higher-ups? Aren't you technically their boss?" I fought not to yawn. This conversation was important, I did not need to be yawning like a dork in the middle of it. The next thing my body would do is remind me of breakfast, but hopefully, it would wait until after this conversation was over.
"Oh, love bug." Quilith flashed me an amused smile.
"Dragons have a hierarchy that makes the shifters look like preschoolers.
" They kissed the top of my hand comfortingly.
"I am near the top, so no worries about needing permission.
The only dragon higher than me on the totem pole avoids me like the plague.
He'll do everything he can to make sure he doesn't have to interfere.
" Their eyes sparked with mischief, but there was sadness, too.
We'd have to talk about that when we had some alone time.
"Alright. So, if everyone is on board to help me, when do we start?" I looked at all of them. Excitement started to bubble up in my stomach, or it could be gas, but I was hoping it was excitement.
"How about this afternoon?" Varon smirked, his fangs flashing. "Let's make use of these two lughead detectives for a few hours before they get back to work for the day."