World Tree's Rebellion (3)

"A prince of the Sea," he voice interrupted. "Surely, with the catches you make, the Lord of the Sea favours you. They are plentiful and often special."

Sizhui shrugged.

"Maybe," he said, "but there's nothing special about me. I definitely know there isn't. That's for sure. There's not, nobody's special without a core."

The answer to that was a hum, that sounded somehow amused, then, "so that is what you want, a core? It's special, I admit, but not as special anymore as it used to be, before that 'cultivation' was started."

"What?" Sizhui was startled again. "How do you mean, started? How could it start, it has always existed."

"It has not," the voice contradicted. "Also, it is nothing but a husbandry program, like your farmers do, when they breed especially well featured cows or horses."

There was a laugh, not entirely pleasant.