I looked at Raina expectedly, agreeing with Tymon's questions.
She nodded, conceding, then exhaled as her shoulders slumped.
"Zasshu is the term we give to crossbreeds," she began. "They have the genetic makeup of two or more species with enough heritage from each to possess their capabilities. One of those makeups is always a cindarian. Sometimes both."
"All zasshu aren't threats; in fact, most weren't. Just those comprised of other powerful species."
"Vakumites, sonans, starlings, fotians, planetoids, and klevonians," Michael listed, remembering the Law of Preservation.
"Precisely. Before the official decree of the Law of Preservation was made, as the first zasshu grew in age, there was a period when the first Ryfi Theos and the first Ryfa Pakt agreed to forbid interspecies procreation. But before that happened, plenty of zasshu had been created. Powerful zasshu, scarce as they are, have always been feared by all cindarians, and those not a threat...have a dark history in our past. They were treated even worse than klevonians. This was before pneumarians discovered the ability to create ascension marks. They were viewed as tainted and were made to live among the klevonians in Forgeton," I noticed Raina couldn't meet our eyes. Heart's Eye revealed her color to be dark purple. Ironically, I'd come to associate that color with remorse in people. "For the sake of not tarnishing the already questionable nature of my people, I will be focusing on the history of the powerful zasshu moving forward."
"So, it's not limited to just pneumarians and klevonians?" I asked.
"No, remember, pneumarians and some klevonians can procreate with other species than our own. For example, the first zasshu resulted from the union of a klevonian and another now much more powerful race called vakumites. She possessed the abilities of klevonians and vakumites. Then, that zasshu mated with a Primeval Pneumarian. The hypocrisy aside, they created the second zasshu who grew to possess the abilities of a pneumarian, klevonian, and vakumite and would later go on to create Viraa eventually."
"Jesus, Viraa, first we learn you were queen, now we learn that you're the child of a zasshu. What next? Are you secretly a zasshu, too?" I exclaimed.
"No, she's completely pneumarian," Raina replied. "Thankfully, she took more from her mother. Anyhow, zasshu, such as them, are rare, but they are incredibly powerful and difficult to defeat. Those two were the only powerful zasshu to arise, but over 800 million years ago, a klevonian and pneumarian broke the Law of Preservation and unified, creating the third exceptionally powerful zasshu, Aeric. He lives in the northeast region of the planet, a territory he's claimed as his own. It's common knowledge to stay away from there for your own good," Raina said that last part as a warning.
"Is it illegal?" Tymon asked as Avarice said, "Do your laws prevent us from going?"
"No," Raina answered, eyeing them skeptically. "It's well outside of Pneuma City, so my authority can't forbid anyone from going. However, no one can be held accountable for anything that happens there. We can't risk angering him."
"Anyhow," Raina stood and walked over to a glimmering box. A safe, maybe? She punched in some numbers, and the lid cracked open.
"This is yours," she handed me a small, black, wallet-sized cube with markings engraved on it.
"What is it?" I asked her.
"Your inheritance. Viraa wasn't one to spend her money, so most of the money she inherited and earned throughout her life went unspent. She never gave her district much of a purpose either, so it's mostly a haven for wild creatures now, but as the new Crest Head, the inheritance goes to you."
My eyes went wide.
"Wait, what? I'm a Crest Head?"
"You are the most powerful resident cindarian of your Crest, no?" Raina asked.
"I guess..."
"Then the responsibilities of your Crest falls upon you," she insisted. "Unless you wish to relinquish the seat to the next powerful."
"I'd be more than happy to rule in her stead," Avarice offered with a sly grin. "After all, I do have plenty of experience."
"That's not happening. Who knows what you'll do with any position of power," I glared at him before turning to Raina. "I accept my position."
"Wonderful," Raina nodded and pointed at the black box in my hands. "That spendil box is the key to your spendilsphere where all of your spendil is stored."
"Spendil is money, I presume," Avarice said.
"Yes, it's Cindar's currency. In fact, it's the currency primarily used throughout the quadrant."
She looked and motioned a finger toward Avarice's mark on his face. It was the same symbol carved onto the spendil box.
"That symbol is used to represent the currency. Viraa using that as the ascension mark of Greed is humorous. I never took you for someone who had a sense of humor, Viraa," Raina snickered in a dignifying manner.
To be noted, one spendil is worth 2.7 dollars, Viraa stated, ignoring Raina.
"Rub the front of the box to reveal how much you've inherited," Raina told me next.
When I did so, the box's texture shifted until a glowing number was engraved across its top. I looked at the number in disbelief.
"That's...a lot of money," Za'Fia commented, having come over to look over my shoulder. Everyone had.
"In dollars, that'd make you significantly more wealthy than I was...I suppose I should congratulate you on your newfound wealth," Avarice stated reluctantly.
I looked at the number written across the box. 700 billion. What was I supposed to do with that kind of money? Even on Cindar, that had to be an insane number.
"As Viraa's next of blood, you should have no trouble opening and accessing it," Raina spoke seeing our baffled expressions. "Physical money is stored inside the spendilsphere; when you make purchases, that amount will be transferred to the recipient's spendilsphere. Due to the large sums Crest members spend, most rely on this automated spatial technology that the Sphinx Crest developed long ago, but if you wish, you can withdraw physical money."
"Thanks," I said slowly, still reeling. "Actually, can I have seven more spendil boxes? This is way too much, and I'd rather split the inheritance with each of Viraa's descendants."
"I can acquire more, but you want seven?" Raina asked, confused, then remembered us mentioning more at home.
"Yeah, in case those back home ever visit, I don't want them to have to worry about how to get by here," I replied.