Arkadin sat at the small table by the kitchen, wondering about the series of events that had led him there. He watched as Kayen hurried around the kitchen chopping vegetables and stirring pots of things, but didn’t say anything. Suddenly Kayen rushed over and stood by his side.
“I’m so sorry, I didn’t offer you a drink.”
“That’s fine. Are you sure you don’t want any help?”
Kayen shrugged. “Nah, I got this. I like cooking, and it’s always nice to have time to cook on your birthday.”
Arkadin smiled, but the smile quickly faded. “It’s your birthday?”
“Oh…” Kayen’s snout reddened as he blushed. “Uh, yeah…”
“And you are not out celebrating with friends?”
“I turned 26 today. I kinda feel…” Kayen hesitated. “This is going to sound stupid to you, but I feel old.”
The Thantophor blinked. “You feel old at 26?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?” Arkadin waited for Kayen to wander back into the kitchen and start cooking again. As something started to sizzle, Kayen did exactly that. With the Skyavok distracted, Arkadin hurriedly opened a little portal under the table and pulled out the first thing he could find.
“I don’t know…” Kayen sighed. “It’s just… I’m 26, I don’t really have a partner, I don’t really have a job and feel like I’m only getting by thanks to common sense and by riding on the tails of others. Most Skyavok my age have partners and proper jobs now.”
Arkadin tried to think of something to make Kayen feel better, but couldn’t think of anything. So he decided to take the sympathy route. “I understand. But you still have lots of time. And let’s be honest, it’s difficult to try and live a normal life when your life has been completely turned upside down over the last few months.”
Kayen grunted and went back to cooking. “I guess…”
“You’re… also working on the job and partner things, so it’s not like you’re too far behind…” Arkadin added. “Even if both your job and your… potential partner are rather… weird…”
Kayen stopped what he was doing. “Did you just… suggest…”
The Thantophor hesitated a little, then hesitated some more. “Well, this is… a date, is it not?”
“Yeah…”
“Can I help with the cooking?” Arkadin changed the subject. After all, this was the first date. The fact that it was Kayen’s birthday had made things a little awkward but he didn’t want to make things worse. “I like cooking too.”
Kayen relented and beckoned Arkadin into the kitchen. “You can stir this for me.” He handed Arkadin a spoon and pointed to a pot of sauce. Arkadin smiled and did as he was told.
“Is this a cream sauce?”
“Flour-Butter sauce.”
“The one where you melt butter, make a paste with flour and then whisk it over the heat while adding milk?”
“Exactly that.”
Arkadin smiled again. “You should add an egg yolk. Makes it richer.”
“Huh…” Kayen muttered to himself as he checked the other pans. “I’ll see if I have any spare eggs.”
“While you’re at it, check under the table. There’s something there.”
Kayen blinked, then did as Arkadin suggested. Under the dining table was a large black and gold broad sword.
“Uh…”
“You said you wanted to see my sword?” Arkadin grinned. “Well, you get to keep my sword.”
Kayen stared at the sword. “That’s a Galatine Prime?”
“Actually, it’s a Gram Prime, but same concept,” Arkadin explained. “Either way, it’s all yours.”
Kayen blinked some more, then smiled. “Thank you, Arkadin!”
“No worries, my friend. Happy birthday…”