“Hello, little one!”
Despite technically only being 2 months old, Litvir was somewhat taller than average. And because they were skinny and adolescent, physically about 15 years old, it was possible that Litvir would grow taller. However, most beings, Litvir included, felt absolutely tiny when confronted with Gath, the Keeper, the General of the Legion of Rethan Heroes.
Litvir had also forgotten that Gath was in some sort of relationship with the High Advisor, who Litvir had come to speak to.
“H-hello, Kyr Keeper…” Litvir stuttered. “H-how are you?”
“I am doing well actually! How about you? You seem to be in a hurry, as always!”
“Yes, yes. Always in a hurry. Never stop. Am tired. But oh well. I, uh, came here to speak to the High Advisor, I arranged a quick meeting, are they not here?”
Gath shrugged, then knocked three times on the door to the office. Immediately, someone inside got up and opened the door.
“Gath!” Relkir beamed as they quickly hugged their poten-partner. “You finished work early today?”
“I did, yes. I think you have one more meeting though? Litvir here wishes to speak to you about something.”
Relkir peered past Gath, then smiled. “Ah, I did not know you were here!”
“I… did not know whether to knock or not…” Litvir frowned. “I did not want to interrupt.”
“No, no, you have a meeting with me, you can always knock. It is fine. Is it a private meeting, or is it fine if Gath hangs around?”
Litvir hesitated, then sighed. “It is not a problem. Maybe Kyr Keeper can help me too… Really though, I… I feel bad coming here, looking for advice. But I do not know who else to speak to.”
“Well, my job is to advise others, so let us see what we can do. Come in, take a seat.”
Litvir did as they were told. There were three stools in front of the High Advisor’s desk, and Litvir chose the smallest one, not wanting to be a problem. Relkir’s office was oddly small and plain, apart from one wall, which was covered in photos of various triumphs. Weirdly, not many of their own, mostly the triumphs and victories of their two siblings. In the corner was a tiny table with two lit candles, an incense stick and a cleaned, silvered skull of some sort of creature as well as a dagger that Litvir weirdly recognized, that he had seen one of his Twelve Anew carrying around.
“You worship someone?” Litvir asked.
“I pay my respects to the old Oath Keeper. Have done for a while.”
“Oh. Understandable… That was… before my time…” Litvir frowned, watching as Gath pulled out a larger stool from underneath Relkir’s desk and sat down next to their beloved partner.
“So, tell me, Litvir, how can a humble mortal like me help you?”
“Um… well… firstly… please do not consider me above you…” Litvir frowned some more. “I am not above anyone. I am a tool and a servant to the Rethavok. Same way you are. Well… not as important as you are. You are vital to Rethan society.”
Relkir smiled. “I appreciate the comment.”
“I have been reading a lot about you. For my homework. You and Kyr Rethais changed history. We would be on a darker path if not for you. Far darker.”
Gath glanced at Litvir, then leaned over and nudged them gently. “Little one, your eyes are glowing.”
Litvir blinked. The glowing immediately stopped. “Oh. Sorry. Us Twelve Anew… sometimes see things. Because of, uh, Time Drake things.”
“I see. What happened to your arm?”
“Oh. More Time Drake things.”
“What do you mean?” Gath asked. “That looks like a bite wound.”
“Um… Lord Kairos… got a little ill… and tried to bite Kyr Nanik. So I took the bite for her because Kyr Nanik is small and it is my job to protect everyone, even my fellow Twelve Anew.”
“Well, good on you!” Gath was impressed. “You really do embody the guardian spirit of us Rethans, even though you are so young!”
Litvir shrugged. “I guess. But I do appreciate the comment about being like other Rethans, because I do not feel like a Rethan.”
“How comes?”
“Having to hide who I am while I am at school is… annoying… But it is made worse by the fact that I am struggling to balance my school life and my godly duties. Yes, I am keeping up, I am still at the top of my class, somehow, but I am slowly starting to fall behind as my godly duties overtake my normal Rethan duties…” Litvir suddenly trailed off, then sighed loudly. “I am sorry, I should not be here. There is nothing you can do to help me. I just need to somehow find more time.”
“Why did you come here, Litvir?” Relkir asked. “Are you having problems at school?”
“Yes. My fellow students do not like me and mock me for my stupid eyes and my stupider fangs. And my teachers think I am annoying because I constantly ask questions. But I make matters worse by having to sneak out to deal with things during break time, and I regularly have to break Junior Stratos curfews to do my duties for the Twelve Anew. But when my superiors ask why I am breaking rules, I cannot tell them. Sure, I have straight As currently, but if I continue as I am, I will fail my year because of constant unaccounted for absences.”
Relkir thought for a moment, but Gath didn’t seem that concerned.
“Surely your parent or guardian can just sign off on the absences? They would also be able to speak to your teachers to arrange a rescheduling of your lessons, to move your classes around to better suit your external duties.”
“I do not have a parent or guardian.”
Gath paused, but shrugged again, still not too concerned. “We can get a guardian assigned to you then. If a professional parental guardian will not accept you, worst case scenario, Relkir and I could apply to be your parental guardians.”
Both Relkir and Litvir stared at Gath, for various reasons.
“I… I appreciate the thought… Kyr Keeper… but… I… I do not want any special care or treatment! I do not like being special. I just want to be normal…”
“Unfortunately…” Relkir sighed. “You are not normal. You will never be normal. But, coming from someone else who has always being not normal, Gath and I understand. At the same time, us strange folks need to stick together and help each other. While Gath’s offer did catch me completely off guard, my darling is right, we can make things a lot easier for you by applying to be your parental guardians.”
“But…”
“But what?”
Litvir stuttered. “I… I do not know… It feels… wrong, somehow.”
“How comes?”
“You two are big and special and important and you do not need to deal with me as well.”
Gath still wasn’t concerned. “We will deal with you anyway, yes? It is no real hassle for Relkir or myself, doubly as I plan on retiring in a few years. And helping you will be good practice for when Relkir and I have kids later on.”
“Did you have to say that last bit out loud?” Relkir hissed.
“No, but, well, Litvir here is a youngling who could do with some guidance as they grow, and I want to offer Litvir that guidance. They work very hard to assist the Rethans, this is the least you and I can do to assist Litvir.”
“That is very fair…” Relkir relented. “Everyone benefits from us doing this.”
Litvir cowered in their seat, but Gath reached over and lifted them up.
“I want to help you, little one. Will you let us?”
Litvir looked up, swallowed nervously, then nodded. “Yes. Thank you.”
“Is there anything else you need right now?” Relkir asked.
“No. This is… weird…” Litvir admitted. “Strange. Other Rethans being nice to me. But there are… school things I would like to sort out at a later time. Like… I keep on missing art lessons and that makes me sad.”
“Well, do not fret, little one!” Gath announced rather triumphantly. “We will call up your Junior Stratos sub-Legion and help smooth things over! In the mean time, we should finish up here and you should come back to Relkir’s place with us, we are making pizza for dinner.”
With a sigh, Litvir glanced at their wristband, then stood up. “I would love to, but I have work. Admittedly, I barely had time for this meeting. But I very much appreciate the offer and I am thankful for your help.”
Relkir shrugged. “No worries, Litvir. I will call your sub-Legion tomorrow morning and have a chat with them. If you need anything, please do not hesitate to call Gath or myself, alright?”
“Thank you…” Litvir bowed. They waved goodbye, bowed again, then backed out of the office. Once Litvir believed they were out of sight, they disappeared in a bright flash, darting off at the speed of light.
“Litvir is adorable…” Gath eventually muttered. “They remind me of you.”
“I… I can see that…” Relkir eventually admitted. “Rethais said the same thing. Still, Litvir deserves a happy Rethan life, just like the rest of us.”
“Mhm… Say, dear, are you done with work now?”
Relkir glanced at a nearby calendar, then checked their schedule on their computer. “I am, actually.”
“Can we go to your place and make pizza now?”
“Heh, of course.”