“HOW DID YOU DO IT?” the Allbirther screeched as she coiled herself around the Whenvern’s body, summoning hundreds of small, serpentine beings to help keep the Dragon God of Time constrained. “HOW DID YOU GET HIM TO TALK, LET ALONE GET INSIDE THAT ARMOUR OF HIS?”
Kairos didn’t do anything to stop the Allbirther’s attack. He didn’t need to. It wasn’t harming him in any way and he could break out whenever he wanted to. After all, the Goddess of Life was nothing compared to the personification of Time Itself.
“HOW? TELL ME, KAIROS! TELL ME HOW YOU MANAGED TO SCREW ARKY! TELL ME!”
“I didn’t, Yisini.”
The Allbirther screeched again, trying to shift herself so she could throw Kairos into a nearby moon. But Kairos remained where he was, as calm and stoic as ever.
“YOU LIE! YOU WENT TO TALK TO HIM! IN THE STUPID SKYAVOK TAVERN! Mum told me what you said!”
Kairos tutted. “I bet she told you that in an attempt to make you leave him alone. Telling you that he’s not interested in you…” Kairos paused. “Wait, did mum really…”
“NO, YOU FUCKWAD, I WORKED IT OUT MYSELF! SHE JUST SAID YOU TWO KNEW EACH OTHER DURING THE BEFORE, WHEN I WASN’T AROUND!” Yisini tightened herself around Kairos’s neck before realising that it wasn’t actually doing anything to him. “Of course YOU managed to get under his armour! Of course you did! He’s the continuation of you! You know how to get IN! And YOU will teach ME how to do it!”
The Whenvern tutted. With a single shake of his wing, time around the Allbirther slowed down. Kairos gently peeled Yisini off him, collected her body and dumped it on the nearest moon. Once he was satisfied, he brought time around the Allbirther back to normal.
“I think you’re being a cunt and I’m not going to teach you anything!” Kairos hissed. “It’s clear as day to literally everyone but you why Arkadin doesn’t want to spend time with you! It’s got nothing to do with the Before, it’s got nothing to do with me! It’s ALL on you!”
“It’s not…”
“It is, Yisini. And you just don’t get it!”
Yisini slumped somewhat. She knew it was her fault she was like this. She just didn’t want to admit it out loud.
“I’m… sorry…”
Kairos looked down at Yisini. “Pardon?”
“I’m sorry. You must all hate me.”
“We don’t hate you. We just hate the fact that you don’t listen. We all love you dearly but it pains us to see that you just don’t understand. All you have to do is be patient.”
Yisini looked up, blinking away a few tears. “Patient?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
Kairos shook his head and tried to explain. “Because Arky just isn’t ready yet. We all forget that he’s only been properly conscious for about 2 billion years. When he reaches our age, as we get older, he’ll see things the way we do.”
“So… I… just need to wait?”
“Yeah.”
“Really?”
Kairos smiled. “Yes. It’ll be a long wait, but it’ll be worth it in the end. In the mean time, if you just focus your attention on evolution rather than… the nastier experiments, the time will fly, Arkadin will see that you’re patient and we’ll all be happier.”
Yisini uncoiled herself, feeling renewed strength. “It’s all… so simple… A plan even I can follow!” She wrapped herself around Kairos, this time in joy, hugging him tightly. “I knew you were the smart one!”
Kairos wriggled free, smiling a little less. “If you say so. But you should get back to your experiments now, and steer clear of our little brother.”
“I will!” Yisini beamed as she wriggled off. “I will!”