Archaes prefer them to be called hands (because 'paw' tends to sound far more primitive, and they're often compared to dogs so it makes them uncomfortable usually) but yes!

Archae hands are usually very plush, having the extra padding

It's alright!! Arcane is their magic element! All archaes have it, even archaes like Enigmas and Quillions that can't use it as well. It's part of their creator god's powers bestowed upon them at their god's death!

Soul orbs generally reside in Hjrell, their heaven so to speak. An archae can literally reach through their chesr, creating a rift to that ethereal plane, and pull the orb through, then it becomes a solid object on their living plane. Archaes do not need to carry it with them, and most won't, often leaving it in Hjrell or with a partner or someone they trust, as it's their anchor to the living plane.

Until the soul orb is pulled from the ethereal plane of Hjrell, or the archae dies and it's left behind (in the case of more powerful archaes), its not a solid object constantly sitting where their heart should be.

If that made no sense I can elaborate a bit more

Their soul orbs can be left in a drawer or something but generally archaes are very tentative about it. It's best to be left in Hjrell, unless you can trust someone to hold onto it. As if it's in Hjrell, and an archae can come back after it dies, the orb will be left on the ground where they died, rather than with that loved one.

The soul orb is not particularly what gives then the arcane, but it is heavily linked together. The soul orb can work as a conductor of arcane from Hjrell, but it itself does not produce arcane nor does arcane effect it.

Okay that's the end of my ramble unless you need me to elaborate further/have more questions

Fair enough!! But yeah a mfer could literally just hold it mo problem.

Light and Dark are the least common, the other elements are equally as common. However, by sheer chance, there are very slightly more fire arcanes than any other element. No arcane element is stronger than another.

No real reason besides light and dark are recessive.

say it, loser