The party was calming down, and most folks were heading off to bed. But Galyn had been waiting a long time to catch Arkay on his own, and, finally, the old, battered death god had wandered off, sitting on the pier and staring off at the dark skies. Really, Galyn was dreading this conversation, but having seen how Arkay had dealt with Kaytee, someone that Arkay had seemed to have problems with in the far distant past, Galyn was feeling a tad more confident now.
“Hi, Galyn.” Arkay didn’t turn to face his old Decay Lord mentor.
“Hello, Arkay. How are you doing?” Galyn sat down on the pier next to him. Being rather tall, Galyn’s feet almost touched the water.
“Ugh. I hate to say this, but I’m completely and utterly overwhelmed. I’m insanely happy, but… I missed so much… The void went on without me.”
“It did, yes.”
“Almost feels like things were better without me.”
Galyn grunted. “I will be blunt, things were pretty damn awful at first. It wasn’t until we left this sector and sought shelter among the Phantai that things stopped being awful, and even then, things were hit and miss. Things only became genuinely good once we moved in here.”
Arkay sighed, but didn’t say anything at first. Galyn didn’t either. He was still trying to work out what to say.
“You came here to apologize to me, Galyn. You don’t need to apologize.”
“All of this happened because I sent you to Deathven.”
“No, all of this happened because I lost my shit and turned into a monster. It was always my fault, no one else’s. You all tried your best to fix me, just didn’t work. But I don’t blame you for your actions. Not at all.”
“You… don’t?” Galyn was quite surprised.
“Of course not. I killed thirty Voidborns and the Life Goddess I was supposed to be protecting, and I threatened Retvik, Litvir and Kuta. I was a monster. A disaster. You believed I was a threat, because I was, and dealt with me as best you could. But I accept that what I did was wrong, I think I have finally atoned for my sins, and even if I did blame you? Even if I harbour some anger for you sending me away? I forgive you.”
“Well… I appreciate that, Arkay.”
Arkay frowned somewhat. “It’s fine. I’m… still kinda in shock. I find it painfully ironic that I ruined everything by becoming a monster, but I also… ended up back here because I turned into a different monster. Arkidetelos isn’t dead, just different. And somewhat under my control now.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I’m pretty sure I can turn myself back into Corruption if I wanted to. Same way I can turn myself into a Time Drake or a Voidborn or a Life Goddess. But the problem is in what I previously said. “Somewhat” under my control. I’m terrified that this is all just… the start of another cycle, that I’ll lose it all again, but worse, since I can turn into a hideous monster. Because that happens to me a lot. Me losing control and losing everything.”
“You are, admittedly, a bit of a magnet of pain…” Galyn grunted. “But I think, this time, you will be alright. We were all dealing with unknowns. You were constantly being pulled apart in all directions. But now you are back, you finally have a circle of friends and family that you can lean on and turn to when you need help. You are no longer alone.”
“I guess… I… I so nearly didn’t make it. The only reason I’m here is the slimmest of coincidences and miracles. That Epanophovon didn’t corrupt me straight away. That Sini ran into Theocydes. And then somehow managed to lure Epanophovon to a universe. And the bastard put me into a coma where I met Panthon and he suggested I turn myself into my own strain to escape being corrupted by Epanophovon…”
“It is a miracle, yes, however, I think I mentioned this to Retvik a while back, miracles happen all the time. Especially out here, in a place full of madness.”
“I guess…”
Arkay fell silent again, as did Galyn. However, Galyn had a new question to ask.
“Who is Panthon?”
“Dunno. Some guy I saw when I was in the strange place my mind always goes to when I’m in a coma.”
“You met Elkay there once.”
“Yeah. Panthon’s almost always in the coma place, but every other time I’ve been there, he’s been gigantic and asleep. This time he was awake. Made me not feel too bad. He told me I did my best, that I wasn’t a failure, I was just unlucky. Said he was in the same mess I was, but he’d mimicked Time Drake powers to stop himself from being possessed by a Voidborn and infected by Corruption at the same time. He also mentioned that he knew Deathven.”
“You… you saw Everlord?”
“Yeah… Is that bad?”
Galyn shrugged. “Everyone thought Everlord was dead. It was what caused Deathlord and Lifelord to fall apart and build two separate societies, one for Decay Lords and one for Divine Guardians. Litvir worked out Everlord was a mimic like you when he, Vikalos and Telin went to save Elkay, but none of us knew Everlord was alive.”
“Huh…” Arkay thought for a second. “I wonder if he could be saved? We’d have to find his physical location, but, like, Corruption removal? We can do that. And Litvir and Kuta together managed to stop me being Arkidetelos, they could probably help against a Voidborn possession…”
“That… is definitely a thought. But I think you need to focus on yourself for a bit. Pull yourself back together and cherish what you have just re-obtained.”
Arkay nodded in agreement. “You’re absolutely right. I have… a lot I need to do…” Arkay peered over his shoulder, where he spotted Retvik wandering around, tidying up. “Thing is, I have a whole new set of problems now.”
Galyn glanced over to see what Arkay was looking at. “You don’t know how to approach them.”
“Yep. I’ve been away for a while. I only have an idea how things are now. And I don’t want to come between them.”
“I know exactly how that feels. Itaviir and Vikalos went to Deathven without me. Vikalos mellowed out and grew his fur back. Itaviir calmed down a little. I… basically ruined everything. Somehow, they both forgave me, and Retvik and Litvir both forgive you.”
“That’s… kinda not what I meant. I don’t really remember what your relationship with them is like, and I didn’t even realize you and Itaviir were the same species. But…” Arkay glanced over again. “I don’t know how to put this politely.”
“You want to sleep with them.”
“Yes.”
Galyn shrugged. “You are just going to have to talk to them both about it. But you don’t need to rush. Took Itaviir and I a good fifteen year-strings to finally sleep together, and we only did it because Vikalos convinced us it was perfectly fine to love each other.”
Arkay blinked. “Oh. I… I didn’t know you two… uh… Are you guys intersex like I am?”
“No.”
“Oh… Are there female… Beh’evok?”
“Yes. A long time ago, before I was deified, I had a wife and daughter. But I was an intrauniversal Beh’en. Itaviir has always been a divine, he was pretty much born into the Phantai. Admittedly, if you didn’t have fangs, claws and plating on your arms and legs, you’d actually look like a Beh’ena.”
“Oh…” Arkay blinked some more. “I’m sorry, I had no idea you were in an actual relationship.”
“It is fine. And, like all relationships, it is complicated.”
“It is. And it’s made worse by the fact that everyone kinda wants to sleep with me. Was bad enough when it was just Kayel, now I have him, Eksi and my old crush from when I was mortal all thirsting for me. And apparently there’s five or six other Teekays out there too. And Elkay and I keep on picking up on each other’s thoughts.”
Galyn tutted. “This place is, admittedly, a bit of a hive of romance. It is awkward. But not as awkward as when Sini called me out for sleeping with Kinisis.”
“Yeah… I’d be annoyed at you for doing that, but I can’t talk. Kinisis did… utterly unspeakable things to me. But right now I just want to climb into bed and snuggle with Retvik and Litvir.”
“Go and do that then.”
Arkay looked up at Galyn. “You think?”
“Yes. You have the chance, take it. Everything else will come later.”
Arkay thought to himself, then clambered to his feet. “You know what? I’m gonna go do that. Thanks for talking to me, Galyn.”
“No worries, kid.”
“Hah! I’m probably about as old as you are.”
Galyn grunted. “You know what? Probably. Loopblade-1 joined the Phantai the same time I did. I never put things together and realized the “Thantophor” he was talking about was you.”
“No, stop that, that’s a scary thought. I’m going away now.”
Galyn got up and patted Arkay on the shoulder. “Alright. Have fun. Call me if you need me, yes?”
Arkay smiled, then bowed. “Sure. See you later, Galyn.”
“Bye, Arkay.”