“Greetings, gentlevok. Welcome to the discussion table. Please, take a seat and have a drink.”
There were six beings present, and much to Kalek’s dismay, two of those beings were Voidborns. Kalek hated Voidborns, he was the leader of a Voidborn eradicator sect that also protected a smaller purification sect. His job was to murder Voidborns, not talk to them. But worse, one of the Voidborns seemed to be from Deathven directly.
Everyone did as the flaming Decay Lord requested. The yellow-tinted Voidborn waited until everyone else was seated before sitting down themselves, next to a short, skinny, pure black Voidborn. They then glanced at the Flame and the Psion and nodded at them.
“Thank you for coming in peace. My name is Retvik Rethianos, codename Flamebearer. My companions are Litvir Kaldynik, Souldrainer, and Arkay Theanon, Deathbringer, also currently known as Statarkon. We are members of the Thantir, a purification sect and a Named Trio sent by Deathven, in order to arrange peace between Decayon and Voidborn. Arkay will be translating for the youngling Voidborn here.”
Kalek glanced at “Arkay”. They seemed to be doing exactly what Retvik had said they were doing. Everything Retvik said, “Arkay” repeated to the unnamed Voidborn in a strange language that wasn’t quite Kenosomila, the language of normal Voidborns.
“My fellow Decay Lords, introduce yourselves, please.”
Kalek glanced at Vikre, the member of the Kathar, the sect that Kalek and the Vraseer protected, then decided to go first.
“I am Kalek, Crowncrusher is both my codename and my surname. I am representing the Vraseer, the local Decay Lord sect that runs these territories. We also defend the weak from threats, most notably the local Voidborn cults.”
Vikre bowed slightly as he spoke. “I am Vikre Viktrianos, codename Shimmerflame. I lead the Kathar, a purification sect. I am curious that we look similar, dear Retvik.”
Retvik shrugged. “That is curious, but the Periuniversal Void is infinite, I suppose repeats do happen…” Retvik turned to Statarkon, who telepathically sent him and Litvir a message. “Our youngling Voidborn who has joined us for this meeting, their name is Protarkon. Their group of seventeen Voidborns does not have a name yet.”
“Why can’t this Protarkon guy speak? Heck, your… uh… Arkay… Statarkon, whoever he is, he doesn’t seem to want to speak either!” Kalek hissed.
Statarkon tutted. “I can speak but my voice is currently not my own. This is straining for me. I translate between you and them. That is all.”
“Well tell us what these Voidborns want then! Because they are not welcome here!” Kalek was already annoyed, despite Vikre tugging at his arm, silently telling him to calm down. Kalek brushed Vikre off though. “The Yililiac Sea belongs to us. We have chased off all other Voidborns. They can’t stay.”
“And why not?” Litvir asked. “Looking at a map of the area, this sector is huge. And mostly unused.”
“Voidborns are-”
“Before Kalek explains the history of the Vraseer and why Voidborns are not particularly welcome here, I have my own questions!” Vikre interrupted. “Why are these Voidborns here in the first place? Like you said, the Space between Universes and the Yililiac Sea are large. Why have these Voidborns turned up here and not gone elsewhere?”
Statarkon translated the question to the Voidborn, who glanced around nervously. After some thought, they tried to explain. But they tried to do so in the omnilanguage, not their mother tongue.
“We scared. We run. All try to kill. We want safe.”
“What Protarkon is trying to say is,” Statarkon explained further, “This group of Voidborns pulled themselves from the Eternal Darkness, from the remains of an extinct cult. They were driven out of that original territory almost instantly by other Voidborns, and have been on the run ever since. They entered the Yililiac Sea via the Voidborn territories from the north and were unaware that this is now a Decay Lord territory. They do not mean any harm.”
“If they mean no harm, then they should leave! And they also fired upon us!”
“We fired first…” Vikre rolled his eyes. “We attacked them. They thought we were threats and fired back. We would have done the same in their shoes… Statarkon… Arkay… whatever your name is… can you ask them if they have ever had a home?”
Statarkon translated the question. The young Voidborn immediately shook their head.
“Do you even know what you are?” Vikre asked.
More thought. Protarkon didn’t seem to know. Vikre wondered whether the Voidborn’s name was simply copied from Statarkon, who seemed much, much older than them.
“They are only just younglings,” Statarkon spoke slowly. “Voidborns that have only recently created a physical form for themselves. They do not really understand the concept of what they are and what they can do. They just want a place where they can be safe.”
“Then they can fu-”
Yet again, Vikre interrupted, not letting Kalek speak. “Then we shall give them a small place to call home.”
“Oh? I assume there is a reason behind this?” Litvir asked.
Vikre hesitated, then nodded. “Yes, there is a reason. A very selfish reason. As much as I appreciate the protection the Vraseer provide to us Kathar, they are still massively at risk of infections via Corruption. Voidborns are far more resistant to Corruption than us Decayons are. I want these Voidborns to work in Corruption purging so that the Vraseer don’t have to.”
Statarkon immediately started translating Vikre’s words. Protarkon listened with great intent, then quickly started nodding. The Decayons could all tell that they wanted to agree to Vikre’s request.
“We do. Is good. Job for us. Home for us.”
“So you agree?” Vikre asked.
Protarkon nodded. Statarkon grunted a little.
“They will agree. But we need to make the terms and conditions clear for both sides.”
“Both sides?” Kalek snarled. “I haven’t had any say in any of this! I don’t want Voidborns in my sector!”
“You cannot simply exclude one of the Three Main Types,” Statarkon tutted. “And a group of Corruption Purger Voidborns will dissuade more aggressive Voidborns from entering the area. Their presence will make you safer.”
Litvir and Retvik both nodded.
“Our studies and research show that Deathven-allied Voidborns can massively increase safety in an area!” Litvir smiled. “Of course, Protarkon and their group will need to make some changes too, and I recommend the little ones paint their ships in a friendlier colour for easier identification, but this benefits everyone. And it clearly seems to be what Vikre and the Kathar, the most important group here, want.”
“Really?” Kalek growled at Vikre.
“Of course. You Vraseer hate Corruption purges anyway. Let the younglings do the work for you. We have space to spare.”
Kalek sighed, then relented. “Alright, fine. But I want strict controls on where these babies can go. I don’t want them wandering close to us.”
Retvik and Litvir seemed satisfied, and Protarkon, who seemed to be understanding more and more the more that everyone spoke, was visibly happy, their eyes growing brightly. Statarkon’s temperament was unknown though.
“Very well!” Litvir smiled. “Let us now put pen to paper and write out some proper terms for all of this but first, a thanks. Thank you all for coming together and talking peacefully.”
“Thank you!” Protarkon beamed. “Will be good, yes?”
“Indeed. Things can only go up from here.”