“Oh look! You’ve teleported me here when I’m not completely naked for once! I guess we are making progress!”
Deathven noted that Deathbringer was in their normal, somewhat snippy mood.
“I mean, I’m still just wearing a loin cloth and stomach wrap, and my two boyfriends are as equally ill-dressed, but still, progress is progress!”
Souldrainer and Flamebearer both glanced at Deathbringer and sighed. Deathven quickly noticed that the two younger Decay Lords were exhibiting emotions similar to Deathbringer.
“What do you want, Overlord?” Flamebearer was also a bit snippy. “We have plans today.”
“You have plans?” Deathven asked. “What sort of plans?”
Souldrainer was at least slightly more calm and patient. “Today marks the one year anniversary of Arkay returning to mine and Retvik’s side. We planned to celebrate by stargazing.”
Deathven glanced at Souldrainer, then turned back to Deathbringer. “You have only been together for one year-string?”
“Back together…” Deathbringer clarified. “One year ago, I was ripped from my universe, tortured by one of the oldest strains of Corruption, turned myself into Corruption to escape and finally made it back to Savepoint, where I was un-Corrupted by Elkay and was finally reunited with my two partners. Today is the anniversary of my return, of my salvation.”
Deathven inspected Deathbringer some more, then summoned some sheets of paper and started flicking through them. After a long, awkward silence, he returned to the Missing.
“Well, I did want to ask if you were all available for missions again. I have a handful of Voidborn-based diplomatic missions that I did want to send you on, since Deathbringer’s ability to speak their language makes things much easier. I also still need to schedule a meeting between you and the Athphorai, so you can learn about Corruption purges from the masters-”
“Um, you do kinda realise I’ve fought and beaten the Unending Ancient One, right?” Deathbringer interrupted.
“Yes, but the Athphorai are my best Corruption Purgers and I want you to do at least one purge with them. It is tradition that every Hidden Trio does so, and also, I believe you might enjoy how they do their purges. Either way, that is a mission for another time, and the diplomatic missions I need you for can also wait. May I ask, are you busy in ten hours from now?”
The Missing glanced at each other and started telepathically whispering to themselves. Normally, Deathven would be able to hear such utterances, but he found he couldn’t crack Souldrainer’s telepathic encryptions.
“Can I ask… why are you asking?” Deathbringer eventually muttered. “Because we kinda have plans.”
“What sort of plans? I wished to invite you to a Hidden Feast that Lifean and I am hosting in ten hours. We will eat and be merry, and you will get to meet a large group of Hidden and Famed Trios, as well as some of Lifean’s Blessed Trios.”
“Do we have to stay for long?” Deathbringer asked. “I’m… not really very good at meeting new people in a friendly manner over food.”
“Deathbringer, you are sixteen billion years old…” Deathven tutted.
“I mean, yeah, but mentally, I’m in my 40s at best, and I am massively socially stunted, mostly because I spent long swathes of time being non-sapient and when I was sapient, I wasn’t allowed to socialise and was constantly dodging my fellow deities. I’m definitely getting better, but I’m still rather stunted.”
Deathven smiled as Souldrainer patted Deathbringer on the back. “I am sure you will be fine. Will anyone that we know already be there?”
“Oh, of course. The Travellers will be present, Starsoarer always enjoys these Hidden Feasts. You will also get to properly meet the Athphorai and arrange your Corruption Purge trip. On top of that, I am hoping the Healers will be present. I think they will appreciate meeting other Teliavok.”
The Missing all paused and glanced at each other again.
“What… what is a Teliavok?” Souldrainer asked.
“You are not some sort of strange, wingless Teliavok?”
“We are Rethavok!” Flamebearer exclaimed. “A completely different species to these Teliavok, I assume.”
“Eh, considering that their name ends in ‘vok’, they are probably an armoured race similar to us. Same way Beh’evok and Astravok are also armoured races from Patagenic.”
Flamebearer grunted. “Litvir, Letharus is an Astravok, yes, but he is like us, a survivor from a dead universe.”
“Are you… Rethavok a race from a dead universe?” Deathven asked with an air of curiosity. “There are more than two of you. I believe Spiritdrainer is your twin sibling, Souldrainer, and the Synaisthyn Unender is also related to you, Flamebearer? And is Lightbearer also not a Rethavok?”
Again, Flamebearer and Souldrainer glanced at each other, but thankfully, Deathbringer had an explanation.
“There are four old-universe Rethavok, Rethavok from a universe that no longer exists, but they as a species are essentially extinct. Lightbearer is from a universe that is still alive and thriving, but he’s the only new-universe Rethavok that exists outside that universe. Rethavok, both new- and old-universe ones, are not an uplifted race, neither are Skyavok, old-universe Retha or Astravok.”
Deathven inspected Deathbringer some more. “Hm. I have heard of Skiavok before. Only seen a handful working alongside Teliavok though.”
“Are we thinking of the same species?” Deathbringer asked. “Because we’ve sent a handful to you to do Decay Lord Trials. Shocktrooper and Soulsoother are old-universe Skyavok and Shadowstalker is a new-universe Skyavok.”
Deathven thought to himself, then tutted. “Hm. I think we are thinking of different species. After all, the Void is infinite and filled with many a universe. Repeats are relatively common, as are parallel evolution and influenced paths. But if you come to the Hidden Feast and the Healers do too, then you shall meet a Skiavok and some Teliavok.”
“We don’t have to stay too long, do we?” Deathbringer asked, looking uneasy.
“It is not a long event. You do not need to spend too long present, but I would like to have you around. You ARE one of my Hidden Trios, you deserve what all Hidden Trios deserve. You can have some time to get yourselves ready, then I will summon you in 9.5 hours.”
Flamebearer and Souldrainer seemed to relent and agree.
“Sounds like fun! We can also get others to celebrate our anniversary with us. May you send us home now?”
Deathven smiled. With a snap of his fingers, the Missing disappeared in a puff of smoke, returned to their strange floating island home.