Rethavok were not known for their hospitality, but they did occasionally travel, which meant they required hotels. However, in Palaestra, there was only one Rethan hotel, and it was especially bland, only really meant to serve as a place to either rest or meet other Rethans on business trips. Today though, the Short Stop Hotel was on high security, and the staff weren’t 100% sure why.
Retvik wasn’t sure why either, especially since he had just been driven across town, dragged into a large meeting room and essentially left there. Thankfully, they hadn’t taken any of Retvik’s possessions off him, but he’d been waiting in what was otherwise just a concrete box with a single, closed window for the last six hours. The only things to keep Retvik occupied were three empty chairs and a glass of water that was resting on the square, metal table Retvik was sitting at. While he had considered just getting up and leaving, there were four guards stationed just outside the door, a good reason to stay put.
At least they had offered him food and drink. It was now quite late, and Retvik was getting hungry, but he’d avoided accepting food, just in case it was drugged in some way. He hadn’t touched the glass of water either. Retvik had a perfectly clean record when it came to any sort of substance use, and he didn’t want to take any risks, especially since Retvik knew anything he said or did could be used against him.
Eventually though, at the six-and-a-half hour mark, the door opened up, and someone stepped inside. Someone Retvik immediately recognized.
“Relkir?” Retvik gasped as he stood up. While it had been decades since Retvik had last seen his sibling, he instantly recognized those glistening bright blue eyes. Just like Retvik, Relkir had dark grey skin and red armour plating, with an unusual, gold lining to their ruling-caste plating, notably on their head plates, shoulder armour and back plates. However, Relkir was oddly short and skinny, standing at only 2.3m tall. Still taller than most beings in Palaestra, but small for a Rethavok.
“Hello, sibling. Please, sit down.”
Retvik did as he was told, and waited for Relkir to do the same. “I am surprised at how quickly you swooped down and had me taken away. I had hoped to have had at least half a day before our sibling stuck their snout into all of this.”
Relkir just shrugged. “Actually, I was already on my way here, wanting to meet up with you and discuss a separate matter. Your… outburst today was coincidental. But, to be honest, how can I disagree, when I am alive and sitting here because of your actions?”
“Wait… you… wanted to…” Retvik was very confused. “I was certain that Rethais would want me dead for what I said today. I have embarrassed the Rethavok lately with both my words and my actions.”
“Well maybe Kayess-En should have fought better then!” Relkir seemed unamused but also rather annoyed. “They got greedy. They underestimated you. Your team took advantage of that and won fair and square. Then they underestimated you again and you won again, fair and square. But, again, that is not why I am here. I wanted to talk to you about how you ended up on the Skyavok capital of End One.”
“That… I cannot tell you about that…” Retvik frowned, eyeing his sibling. Relkir did look healthier now. Less skinny than Retvik remembered. The black, governmental armour and red sash helped. “I have not truly come to terms with what happened myself.”
“I spoke with the Skyavok, then went through their vast, vast archives, where they document everything. They claimed that you and your Dessaron team saved thirty assorted beings from what was dubbed as a ‘torture lab’, run by the Allbirther Herself. You met with a being we have identified as the Thantophor and assisted it in an unknown task. Then, later on, when you returned to your home and after you officially formed your Dessaron team, it was noted and archived by the Skyavok house fighter known as the Happy Cold that you abruptly ran off during training, stating that you had ‘godly matters’ to deal with. Fast forward to Flevar 3rd, and you were spotted going to the Gold Suite, the specially reserved room where the Holy Four Themselves watch arena matches. Retvik, you have had personal and consistent contact with the Holy Four, and we NEED to know about this.”
Retvik took a moment to think about what to say. Really, he should have expected this sooner rather than later. After all, everything Relkir had just said was absolutely correct. It just sounded… odd, hearing it coming from his sibling’s mouth. The sibling that Retvik hadn’t seen since he was 18 years old.
“Why are you here now? If you knew all of this…”
“I had to verify it all first. And I have mostly been working in secret. Our sibling likes to remain ignorant of your existence. We both feel pangs of guilt that you sacrificed yourself for us. I…” Relkir’s words faded. “I… I never said thank you.”
“You do not need to say thank you. After all, I was just doing my duty as a Rethan, to protect others.”
“Either way…” Relkir struggled to continue. “I… I apologise. I should have reached out to you or something. I allowed you to suffer alone.”
“Like I said, I was just doing my duty. I have built my own life, I am quite successful. And, as you said, I have met the Gods. All four of them. Somehow.”
Relkir didn’t immediately respond. “You… you met the Lady of Light?”
Retvik simply nodded. “I will be honest, she is quite a… cold being. Definitely the least friendly of the deities. And I say that as someone who was kidnapped by the Allbirther, because it turned out that the Allbirther was being driven insane by something outside of our understanding.”
“Which of the deities is the friendliest?” Relkir leaned forward, absolutely fascinated by what their sibling was saying. “It is the Thantophor, yes? I cannot imagine the other deities being friendly in the slightest, but the Oath Keeper… something about it… It fascinates me, Retvik. I have… do not tell anyone, but I have been… secretly worshipping the Thantophor for a while now, hoping to solve a problem of ours…”
A knock on the door interrupted Relkir. Both Rethans turned to face the door, only to realize there was no one there.
“What sort of problem?”
That voice did not belong to either Retvik or Relkir. Sitting in one of the spare chairs was a familiar face, at least to Retvik.
“Oh, hello, Arkay…” Retvik lowered his voice. The Thantophor had appeared before them, taking the form of a Rethavok with jet black skin and bright yellow armour. “Arkay, this is my sibling, Relkir. Relkir, this is Arkay, the Lord of Decay.”
Arkay bowed slightly. “A pleasure to meet you, Relkir. You two definitely look alike, but you’ve got a lovely pair of eyes. Blue is definitely a rare colour.”
Relkir attempted to answer, but was at a loss for words. While the Rethan advisor tried to remember how to talk, Arkay turned back to Retvik.
“Why are you here, Arkay?” Retvik asked.
“Nyssi, Kayel and Tenuk all messaged me, saying they couldn’t find you. Tenuk in particular was terrified, said he saw your extra match today and, being someone from royalty, was worried that your family would retaliate. Guess he was right, in a way.”
Retvik smiled a little. “They are good vok.”
“They are…” Arkay glanced at Relkir, who was now switching between glancing at Arkay and staring at the floor. “It’s alright, Relkir. You’re allowed to be scared, but I’m not going to hurt you or anything. I’d like to hear what you have to say.”
Relkir slowly began to sort themselves out. “I… I am sorry… I… I had a plan of what I wanted to say, a list… but… I did not expect to meet you so suddenly.”
“Fair enough. Your reaction’s perfectly normal anyway. Tenuk, Retvik, Nyssi and Kayel are the only beings who didn’t completely fall apart the first time they met me. We don’t have to answer everything in one go though.”
After a moment, Relkir calmed down, taking a deep breath. “T-thank you, Oath Keeper…”
Arkay shifted in his seat, so he was directly facing Relkir. “Oath Keeper? That’s not a name I’ve heard before.”
“You are… not the God of Oaths and Promises?”
“No, I’m just the god of death, decay and entropy.”
“But…” Relkir was shaking again. To their surprise, Retvik reached forward and put his hand on top of theirs in a bid to keep them calm. “But I thought you… I have been researching your activity with mortals… you… you get angry when we break promises, oaths and treaties. And the Rethavok wish to… break some treaties and do not wish to endure your wrath.”
Arkay shrugged awkwardly. “I get pissed off if people break actual promises with proper consequences that harm others. After all, the reason I’m even here is because of a bunch of broken promises that hurt a lot of people. Is this about the trade treaties between the Torr and the Rethavok?”
Relkir nodded. “Somewhat, yes. There are also… more… personal promises…”
“Like the Rethianos Tradition?”
Another nod. Arkay liked this Rethan, but he knew his next sentence would probably upset them.
“Well, I’ll be honest, I can’t just come in and say that you guys can break those bullshit ancient rules. Both the Rethavok and the Torr are under Epani’s domain, so I have to speak to Epani first before I do anything. She doesn’t like it when I interfere with her stuff, heck, she gets pissy at me whenever I take the shape of a Rethan. But I will meet with her and see what I can do. Alright?”
Relkir stood up and bowed. “Thank you, Deathbringer.”
“You can just call me Arkay…” The Thantophor paused, then seemed to abruptly stare at a nearby wall. “I… I gotta get going. Got work to do. Promise me you’ll return Retvik home, nice and safe, and buy him some dinner, alright? He’s had a busy day, he’s hungry, he deserves something nice to eat.”
“Of c-course, Arkay…” Relkir bowed again. “I am honoured to have met you.”
Arkay climbed to his feet and patted Relkir on the shoulder. “It’s been a pleasure. I hope to see more of you, you’re cute. See you round!”
With that, the Thantophor disappeared in a shower of black particles. Relkir wobbled for a moment, before falling back into their chair.
“Are you well, Relkir?”
Relkir sighed. “I… I think I made a fool of myself.”
Retvik though just laughed. “Actually, I think you did the opposite. Arkay liked you. More than he seems to like most people.”
“I guess…” Relkir trailed off. “I… I guess I shall do as asked. After all, I am hungry as well…”