Things had finally settled down, but Litvir’s feelings were all over the place. So Litvir did what they always did and went to the hatch at the top of the universe, in order to calm themselves down a little. Sure, they knew what that purple dot was now, but everything else had been very worrying. But sitting at the hatch at the top of the universe and looking out into the darkness, that always made Litvir feel better.
As Litvir sat down though, they heard a beep. They had received a message. Litvir checked their wristband, then their communicator. But their communicator had nothing on it, even though the wristband said they had a message. So Litvir checked the other communicator. The one old mama Elkay had given them. Litvir didn’t know why they had to take this extra communicator around now, so they mostly just kept it tucked in a hidden pocket of their work armour and generally ignored it, but since Litvir had a message, they decided to have a look.
The message was on an app that Litvir didn’t really understand, but the app was black and purple and Litvir liked that. After some fumbling around, Litvir finally managed to read the message they had been sent. The sender was someone called Souldrainer.
Souldrainer: Hello, little one. I assume everything is well now? I would like to talk, when you have a moment.
Litvir didn’t recognise the name, but they were curious. They didn’t have anything better to do currently, so they awkwardly typed an answer. Litvir wasn’t great at typing.
Brightguard: hello who is this?
A message said that someone was typing. A reply quickly appeared.
Souldrainer: I am the “old, dark and slightly evil” version of you that you met when you left your universe.
Souldrainer: My name is Litvir Kaldynik.
“Huh…” Litvir thought to themselves. They were curious. They hadn’t really had a chance to speak to old, dark, slightly evil Litvir. They were too busy protecting old mama Elkay while they were outside the universe, and old, dark, slightly evil Litvir had remained at the purple dot while the giant snake and all the Elkays all came back to help save it. So another chance to speak to old, dark, slightly evil Litvir was nice.
Brightguard: hello!
Brightguard: my name is litvir too!
Brightguard: litvir kalophos!
Brightguard: i do not know why my name on here is brightguard
Brightguard: how are you are you alright?
Souldrainer: I am doing well. I take it you are near the edge of your universe and can thus properly receive messages via Wyvern and Deathnet, yes?
Brightguard: i am at the hatch at the top of the universe
Brightguard: i like it here
Souldrainer: I see. Are you free to converse?
Brightguard: i am, yes
Souldrainer: Wonderful. Because I would like to know more about you.
Litvir hesitated for a moment. They thought about the internet safety class they had been forced to take when they joined the 11th Legion and quickly realised that maybe they shouldn’t have told this stranger their name. Then again, this stranger had the same telepathy that Litvir did, and had already told them their name. After a little thought, Litvir switched to their normal communicator and sent a message to old mama Elkay. He would know what to do.
Litvir: sorry to bother you old mama but i have a quick question
Litvir: i got a message on that other communicator
Litvir: from that person who was also called litvir
Litvir: can i talk to them?
Elkay: Sure, just don’t say anything too stupid and remember your basic internet safety. That other Litvir is apparently trustworthy but still, stay safe.
Litvir: yes of course old mama
Elkay: Alright. I got work to do. Later.
Litvir: bye old mama
Feeling a tad more confident, Litvir turned back to their other communicator. They had received more messages.
Souldrainer: Are you there, dear?
Brightguard: sorry i was asking old mama if i could speak to you
Souldrainer: Who is “old mama”?
Brightguard: elkay
Brightguard: they were my mama before i was adopted
Brightguard: and got actual rethan parents
Souldrainer: I see. Who are your actual parents?
Brightguard: i do not know
Brightguard: i was made by epani and kairos and the giant snake in a lab
Brightguard: out of lots of different parts
Brightguard: i am of bloodlines combined
Brightguard: now my mama and dada are gath and relkir
Brightguard: i love them very much
Brightguard: soon mamas egg will hatch and i will have a little sibling!
Brightguard: who are your parents?
There was a brief delay this time. Longer than Souldrainer’s previous responses.
Souldrainer: That is… complicated at best.
Souldrainer: The person who laid me, my sibling Kuta and many, many other freakish Rethans was called Siona Kaldiereidos, and he had a team of scientists who experimented on all his eggs.
Brightguard: that sounds bad
Souldrainer: It was. It is… one of the reasons why I am, as you say, slightly evil. I was not allowed to be a normal child and was forced to do evil things just to survive.
Brightguard: i am sorry
Souldrainer: Do not be sorry. I survived and became a good person eventually.
Brightguard: was your dada bad as well?
Souldrainer: …
Souldrainer: That… is a very good question. I have literally no idea who my father was. I never really considered it, in all honesty, because I am pretty sure that Siona killed them.
Brightguard: that is sad
Brightguard: maybe they were not evil
Souldrainer: I have no real way of knowing.
Brightguard: that is very sad
Brightguard: also you did not get to be a real baby
Brightguard: same way i did not get to be a real baby.
Brightguard: are you happy now?
Souldrainer: I am, yes. Are you happy?
Brightguard: now the bad stuff is over yes i am happy
Brightguard: will be happier when the little sibling comes
Litvir wasn’t sure why, but they liked talking to this other Litvir. They seemed to have a lot in common, despite this other Litvir being much older than them. So Litvir decided to take the next logical step.
Brightguard: can we be friends?
Brightguard: and talk and stuff?
Brightguard: i only got your message when i am here at the top of the universe
Brightguard: but i come here regularly
Souldrainer: Of course. I would like to be friends too. You can message me whenever you want.
Brightguard: yay