"You mentioned this planet had gems as a power source," he said. "But the alien race came and took them. Now you're saying there are more hidden—under the capital? Or… castles?"
The ache of Kikaru's absence still clung to him, the sight of Dot's still form pressing deeper into the back of his mind.
"How do you know that? And how does any of this help him… or help you?"
The godless crucifix tilted his head slightly. His silver eyes narrowed, the faint smile at the corners of his mouth tightening, not fading. He studied Elias's soul for a moment—silently—then exhaled once through his nose, low and even.
"You see, most planets naturally have soul energy flowing through them, as I mentioned before," he said, his voice humming through the Expanse. The mist at his feet coiled tighter, and the spires behind him gave off a low, shifting vibration, as if reacting to the memory being spoken aloud.
