“It is funny, you wish to spend the last day of your holiday, here with me.”
“Penultimate day, but yes.”
While most of the Twelve did have sub-districts in Palaestra, all three Panelixian races lacked one. The Torr only ever visited Palaestra on business and the local travel and tourist industry was far more Ksithan and Temthan, meaning the Lanex had very little presence in the city. There were a good number of Rethans, many of whom worked in either the 675th Legion, which worked on local security, or the 798th Legion, which worked with the Great Arenas, but most of them actually lived in Hertany, the next county over, in the Hertany Stratos Base, or they were scattered across the mixed race districts.
The closest thing to a true Rethan area was Giro-Skipou, a sub-district in a sub-district, which was home to a lot of 810th – 899th Legion Rethan service workers. These Legions were less military, more like massive work unions, ensuring equal employment and rights to anyone working in anything from retail to stockists to delivery groups to service workers, cooks and cleaning staff. And, when not at work, Rethans from these Legions tended to congregate.
Retvik on the other hand had been Legionless for most of his life. Yes, he had a job, he’d been working all his life, but being Legionless was a massive stigma, and even though he lived in Skipou, he’d always avoided Giro-Skipou. But Relkir had asked to meet him at The Cheesy Bee, a small Rethan cafe/restaurant thing which served cheese fondue as its main dish, alongside various things to dip into it.
“Have you been here before?” Relkir asked.
“No, actually.”
“How comes?”
Retvik grunted. “I have only been a proper Rethan since the 9th of the 6th, and I have only recently not been a young, single, sexless male. You really think I would wander around here willingly?”
“Did you not go to places for cookies? Or go to restaurants?”
“With who? For years, I had Rethan three friends, and I lost two of them back in the 12th last year. Other Rethans have always hated and feared me, and while I have always had work-friends, I only recently got forever-friends. And even then, we mostly get take-out. If we do go somewhere, we go to the mall, or we visit the Torn Islet as not everyone is instantly scared of me there…” Retvik paused briefly. “That reminds me. I need to get a small gift for Nyssi, as an apology for snapping at her.”
“Why did you snap at her?”
“Between Kuta telling me they actually had ovarian cancer and not just ‘a lump’ and your message saying that Revan laid their hands on you? I… I admittedly freaked out and got aggressive. Nyssi took me home and calmed me down, but I snapped at her when she suggested that you can look after yourself… And Nyssi is absolutely right, you did look after yourself.”
Relkir smiled a little. “That is in part thanks to this trip. I have always been surrounded by other Rethans, most of whom are larger than me. But here? Among all these other races? Yes, I am short, but I am still 2.2m of armoured muscle, and I was trained in the Stratos, the same way every other Rethan is. Every non-Rethan just sees me as a normal Rethan and it is quite… revealing.”
Retvik looked Relkir up and down and smiled back. “You are better than a normal Rethan. And I am genuinely proud that you did what I did not. Revan needed to feel pain, to be properly put in their place, face to face. I spoke out to them, but no one really saw Revan there, they hid in the shadows. I mostly just monologued a little bit. But you scared Revan off and proved to them that you were always worthy. You also doubly proved they were a massive coward.”
“I… I appreciate that, Retvik…” Relkir sighed. “I still feel bad. You gave yourself for me.”
“I did, and it is a miracle we are here, three decades later, having this conversation, but had I not done what I did…” Retvik thought for a moment. “Well, I suppose the Rethans would be living in a dictatorship underneath the permanent rule of High General Photis… To think, if they had killed or exiled you instead of me, the universe would be a completely different place. Sure, Rethais probably would have still become a General, but you are a force to be reckoned with.”
Relkir went back to smiling, but then sighed again. “Still, imagine what we could have done had we not been torn apart. You could have become a General too, if you wanted to. Probably more of an external protection Legion rather than a territorial protection Legion like Rethais started off as, but if I had had two Generals willing to listen to me rather than one, I would not have had to deal with General Lepidas for so damn long.”
“You do not like the Vice General?” Retvik asked.
“Hmph. No. Lepidas is old-fashioned. They were more of a means to an end, to not completely alienate older voters. But we did not really need them, and coordinating with them and their team was annoying.”
“Well, all things considered, it all turned out alright in the end…” Retvik smiled some more. “For all three of us. For everyone.”
“Mhm… Well, maybe not everyone…” Relkir snickered. “I stabbed Revan right in the joint. And I have no remorse about it. I am just upset that I cannot tell Gath about what happened, and that I had to tell you to keep this secret. Gods… If Gath found out.. If they had woken up… You freaked out but you are young and can somewhat handle a half-Stance. Gath would have lost it.”
“Where is Gath, by the way?” Retvik suddenly interrupted. “Are they just… wandering around on their own?”
Relkir giggled. “No, no! Gath is enjoying a spa day, they are being looked after by a bunch of Banikans and learning what it is like to be the smallest person around… Although, speaking of Gath and… other vok… I saw…” Relkir leaned forward and lowered their voice. “I saw Arkay, the Oath Keeper. When Revan grabbed me. He saw everything. Told me not to tell Gath.”
Retvik shrugged. “Arkay keeps an eye on those he considers friends. That and he does live here in Palaestra.”
“He lives here?”
“Sometimes. The apartment where Talok lives? That used to be rented by Arkay. And now Arkay spends some of his sleep time at Kayel’s place, because they have a… thing going on.”
“I… I thought Kayel was joking when he spoke to me the other day…” Relkir stuttered. “But when Arkay spoke to me… and said I could call him Arkay… he seemed concerned about something.”
“Eh. Arkay always seems concerned about something. He is both the god of decay and also in charge of keeping the universe safe…” Retvik shrugged. “It will probably pass.”
“He also seems lonely.”
“Well… That is certainly true. Maybe we will invite Arkay round for a night of games and drinks or something…” Retvik mused. “It has been a while since Arkay has joined us. But at the same time, I am waiting for Kuta to get in touch and let me know when they can visit too.”
“Kuta will be back on their feet in no time. Considering they are 100 years old, Kuta is physically young and very fit.”
“True, true…” Retvik trailed off, then realized that neither he nor Relkir had actually ordered anything. He picked up the menu and looked it up and down. “I am supposed to be cutting back, but an entire pot of melted cheese with dumplings and meatballs, followed by a put of chocolate and marshmallows sounds amazing.”
“Hah! You and me both!” Relkir giggled. “But, well, fuck it. We are on break, spending time together. I will probably not see you in person for a while, so we should treat each other.”
“You are absolutely right!” Retvik agreed. “Well, time to stuff our faces…” Retvik paused, then sighed. “I missed you, Relkir.”
“I missed you too, Retvik…” Relkir reached forward and put a hand on Retvik’s shoulder. “Thank you. You saved my life.”
“Well, thank you too. You and Rethais put in the work so I could get my life back. I appreciate you, Relkir.”
“I appreciate you too, Retvik. Also, we should order. I think the waiter is getting annoyed at us.”
Retvik grinned. Relkir grinned back. “Hah, oh well… Let us enjoy ourselves, together, for once.”