What are cores? P:2

"Dear listen to me carefully, this is very important. If a core beast consumes cores they can change species to become more powerful and possibly gain another trait. You also gain another core with the trait and if that one is taken you'll lose the trait but not die however if your original core is removed you'll still die instantly." She looked at me to see if I understood the long explanation.

'There it is.' I nodded understanding how Mother has three traits.

Mother flashed me a smile and then continued. "And if a beast without a core eats one they become a core beast gaining full sentience and improved strength."

This felt reasonable to me and my curiosity was satisfied regarding cores besides one thing. "I should relearn how to sense my core now, right?"

"...Alright, the way I taught you was to feel what part of the body felt the warmest since cores retain heat but you took 2 days to tell me where it was and that it was cold, not hot."

"Um, was it not supposed to be hard?" I focused on my body for a bit and immediately noticed a cold spot where my heart was. I didn't feel anything abnormal other than that.

'No wonder it was the opposite of what she said but isn't that incredibly dangerous to have something this cold in the core of my body?' It was just Cold enough to be noticed when you looked for it but not enough for me to notice when I didn't look for it.

"I found it on my own when I was a week old. so I thought so, not to mention Zana found it immediately when I told him but I understand if it's cold instead of warm." I knew Mother would get that but I do wonder what my intelligence was.

"Mother do know what my intelligence was before my trait activated?" Mother looked away as I asked the question and didn't answer.

I stared at her as she looked back every couple of minutes just turn away again when we made eye contact. "...Mother, what was it."

Mother made eye contact with me and then looked down. "I plus... it was i plus."

I wasn't sure if that was bad but based on her reaction it was. "Huh... Anyway, I found it while we were talking. Is the point to just know where it is or is there more to it?"

Mother was a little too happy to move on but I ignored it. "Well yes, but focus on it more and you'll see what traits can do."

I did what she said and felt the chill in my heart fade. 'That's it?'

"I haven't seen a trait like that before." Mother mumbled and I wasn't sure what was happening.

Mother saw my confused face and held me out in front of her. "Dear look at yourself."

I brought my wing up and saw what looked like a blob of black purplish water covering it. "It looks like water in zero gravity is stuck to me..."

"What was that dear? What's zero gravity?" I explained to Mother as felt the muscle pain I got from stretching go away very slowly.

"It helped my body heal I think?" I flapped my wings, observing how the layer rippled slightly but not straying too far from me.

"What are you going to call it?" I thought about it for a few minutes until just put 2 aspects together.

"I'm going to call this tangible soul." Mother agreed with me on the name and noticed how it wasn't impeding my ability to breathe despite it covering my whole body.

"Can you put me down Mother I want to try flying with this." Mother put me down gently and got ready to flap my wings causing the soul to extend my wings with itself.

"Does this respond to my intentions?" I flapped and immediately went up, as I brought my wings back up I didn't feel my soul catch the air but it did when I wanted to.

I was easily able to stay in the air like this and I didn't feel the biting chill from the wind. "I like this, It feels... Right."

"Of course it does, your first trait was made for you and molded for you. It will get stronger through practice and evolution. " I understood what Mother was talking about as I used my soul to help latch onto the roof.

"Mother, can I go outside with you now?" Mother flinched at the question and not in a funny way.

"But..." I knew what she was going to say but I didn't want to hear it.

"Mother before you say it's dangerous out there, I almost was eaten because I was left alone." I saw that made her upset but it wasn't at me thankfully.

"Alright, I think I know where to go with you first..." Mother went to a latch on the side of the wall and undid it making it fall, revealing the way out.

"Let's show my little Vess how a core looks~" Mother exuded a small amount of bloodlust and I realized the tangible soul also protected me somewhat from the harmful effects of bloodlust.

We both flew outside and I was shocked at the sight of log buildings in trees and bridges connecting them. "I was a bit distracted with the whole learning about cores so I didn't ask earlier but where are we?"

I noticed something peeking out from one of the buildings that quickly ducked away when we made eye contact. "Was that a... Monkey?"

"We're in a village of monkeys."