“You requested my presence?”
Rethais glanced over their shoulder as a familiar face approached, then turned back to the large window they were staring out of. The room was otherwise empty, but there were guards just outside the door, as always.
“I did, yes, Relkir. We have not really spoken in a while.”
“I have admittedly been busy. Is there something important you want to discuss?”
“Somewhat. It is important to me at least. I wanted to check in on you and make sure you are well. Vaksavar was being their normal nosy self and noticed that you seemed somewhat grumpy in our last meeting with the Below Twenty Generals.”
Relkir sighed as they stood by Rethais’s side and looked out of the window.
“Is something wrong?”
“No. I am just a bit run down. Things have been busy and tiring. And General Ritlir has been a little… overly curious about things. Are you alright, though? Also… I find it odd that you are still willing to stand by these large windows, after you were nearly shot through one.”
Rethais inspected the window itself for a moment, before returning to the view. “The windows are made of a mostly bullet-proof glass. And I doubt someone would try the same failed trick twice.”
“You would be surprised.”
“Still, I cannot spend my life living in fear of large windows. And while facing death is a worry, I know I have built a strong network and legacy to continue on if I am no longer here. That and I also have the best medical experts that our society has to offer, so if I do get shot, I am sure I would be fine. That being said, the new metal sheets I wear underneath my armour are not particularly comfy.”
“You got new kevlar?” Relkir asked.
“Ever since Litvir took a bullet for me. But I put up with discomfort for safety reasons…” Rethais trailed off, then sighed. “Relkir, may I ask, have you heard from our lost sibling lately?”
“Ugh… Unfortunately, no. I have unsent or unseen messages as well. The last message I got from Retvik was one saying he met a second person who was like me, and that he and Kuta-”
“Kuta?” Rethais interrupted. “Kuta is alive?”
“Um, yes. Kuta was also god-touched and had a strong connection to the Oath Keeper. It makes sense that the Life Serpent would take Kuta with them.”
“Oh…” Rethais blinked in confusion. “So Retvik and Kuta are both alive and outside the universe?”
“And partnered, yes.”
“They got married?”
“Yes. And Retvik is… in the same boat I am in, where we are considering kids and… well…”
Rethais eyed Relkir, not really sure how to respond. But after a moment, Rethais sighed and settled down.
“Well, even if we have not heard from them, I am glad Retvik got a second chance of some sort. My guilt for Retvik’s… well… everything, is no longer so painful. But you though… There is something wrong, Relkir. You are not acting right.”
Relkir didn’t answer at first. They peered over their shoulder, making sure they were alone, before considering their answer.
“I am trying for a kid. It is not working. I am upset because my options are not great, and I am trying to work out what to do.”
“You… you are infertile?” Rethais gasped.
“No. I am physically fine. In fact, according to the doctor’s test results, I should be egg-ridden already. But Gath is… Gath has problems. It makes sense that Gath has problems, considering what happened and why we call them the Keeper, but I am frustrated and have no one to unleash that frustration on. Doubly so because I accidentally upset Litvir by saying out loud that I did not want to do IVF because it felt less natural.”
“Why would Litvir be upset about that?”
“Litvir was produced in the least natural way possible. My words made Litvir feel uneasy about how they were made. I tried to apologise, to make Litvir feel better, and that I was just saying how I wanted to be made egg-ridden without any external intervention, but… Litvir did not understand and left shortly afterwards. So I feel bad about that too.”
Rethais shrugged. “I am sure Litvir will hold no long term anger against you. And I am sure you will get the kid that you want. These things are admittedly not easy in general. Our theia Relkalis apparently had massive problems, and our stupid egg-layer also had issues. It is the one downside to the Rethianos bloodline. We are not particularly fertile. But also, Gath is Gath. Both sides are struggling.”
“I guess…” Relkir sighed. “Are you… are you considering kids?”
Rethais thought briefly, then shook their head. “Not for a long time. I am too busy. And I do not think Lysar really wants kids either. We have too much on our plates to even consider a marriage, let alone an egg.”
“You are not going to get married?”
“Not for a while. Lysar wishes to get married in secret anyway. Your ceremony was cute but we do not want people around. And I do not even know who can do the ceremony, since I am the highest authority around.”
Relkir thought for a moment, then frowned. “I perhaps have a solution to the marriage issue, but I need to do some research first. I am just frustrated and have not had anyone to talk to about it.”
Rethais put an arm around Relkir. “I am sure everything will be fine. But for now, do you want to go and get cookies or something? Something to clear your head a little?”
“I guess. Are you not… Hang on, Lysar is off-planet right now, yes?”
“Unfortunately. I am feeling oddly lonely and have forgotten what it is like to be alone in my home again.”
Relkir smiled. “That is understandable. I shall accompany you for cookies then. We cannot have you being sad and alone.”
“I appreciate that, Relkir, I really do…”