“Hello, Elkay.”
Relkir jumped, immediately drawing his spear and shield, ready to protect his two fellow Guardians. He had simply been accompanying Tahvra and Teekay as they traced a strange signal into this small cave, but now there was a large, fiery being standing in their way.
“What are you and what are you doing here?” Relkir barked, acting defensive. Teekay had also drawn his weapon, a simple silver rifle with a bayonet on the end, while Tahvra had summoned a shield as big as himself. Considering Tahvra was only a meter tall, that wasn’t very big.
“I am working with the Decay Lords to help capture stray Decaylings. You are stepping on my toes and scaring away my quarry. You can lower your weapons, Elkay. I am not a threat.”
Tahvra shifted closer to Teekay and Relkir. “That is exactly the sort of thing a threat would say!”
The fiery being grunted. On closer inspection, it had a form very similar to that of Relkir. A bulkier version of Relkir’s lithe, Rethan build, with the same dark grey skin tone, but red and gold armour rather than Relkir’s green and gold.
“I have a feeling that you do not remember me, Elkay.”
“My name is Relkir!” Relkir hissed, stepping forward, keeping his spear pointed at the mysterious being. “Identify yourself!”
Another sigh. This being seemed more… unamused than actually threatening. “I am Retvik Rethianos. I am currently working under the orders of Lord Vikalos of the Thantir Decay Lords. And, if I am honest, I am surprised to see you here, Elkay. I assume you are working for Kinisis now?”
Tahvra tugged at Relkir’s side. “Uh, Relkir, that is the agent the Decay Lords sent to find the Thantophor…”
“The same Decay Lords that requested we not interfere with their search?” Teekay added.
Retvik nodded, remaining perfectly still and calm. Apart from the glowing flames which flickered across his body, the Decayling appeared to be unarmed. “I am. And unfortunately, your appearance here has scared Arkadin away, which has wasted all of our time. So, if you do not wish to chat, could you please put your weapons down so I can scan the area and see if I can find where Arkadin went?”
Relkir hissed, unmoved by Retvik’s request. Tahvra moved forward, pulling out a scanner. “Excuse me, decay guy, but I have some tech that should be able to get a signal faster than you can. If you could just leave and… maybe not come back so we can do as Kinisis requested? That would be great.”
The Decayling shook his head. “I cannot do that, little one. The Decay Lords requested that you not interfere, I cannot do my job if I allow you to interfere and it makes us all look bad. If you leave now, perhaps I can speak to my boss and request that I share the data I collect. That being said though, Arkadin tends to… flee when he senses Kinisis’s presence.”
“We are not leaving…” Relkir snarled. “We have orders.”
“So do I, but I am happy to wait until you leave peacefully. Normally you are much more understanding, Elkay.”
“MY NAME IS NOT ELKAY!” Relkir suddenly shouted, losing his temper, pointing his spear in the Decayling’s face. “You are just a Decayling, you should treat us with respect and leave!”
Retvik shrugged. “I am not leaving.”
“Then we will make y-”
Before Relkir could finish his sentence, Retvik snatched the spear from Relkir’s hands then cleanly headbutted the Guardian, knocking him to the ground. Retvik then threw the spear away, clearly not needing it. The spear vanished, as did Relkir’s shield, as their owner was no longer conscious enough to wield them.
“Please just leave.”
Teekay and Tahvra both looked at each other, then at their fellow Guardian.
“We’ll leave…” Teekay sighed. The two Guardians sent away their weapons, then began to haul Relkir’s unconscious body out of the cave.
Retvik waited until the three Guardians had left, not at all pleased how that situation had gone. Once the coast was clear, he scanned the room and found nothing… except for a small note, hastily scribbled on a tiny piece of paper.
“Thnku”