“So… wait… I’m… I’m free?”
Psiksi was stuttering. He wasn’t sure if he was stuttering from fear or joy. Standing before him were two of the three leaders of the Thantir, the third was floating off the ground. Retvik was fine, Psiksi and Retvik knew each other closely before, as Tenuk put it, “things went tits up”, but there was something about Litvir that Psiksi found slightly off-putting. Maybe it was the fangs and the strange glowing tattoos and the fact that Litvir’s telepathy was so insanely weird and powerful. Or maybe it was because Litvir was a stranger to Psiksi.
“Indeed. You are free to do as you please!” Litvir smiled, showing off those long fangs. Sure, Skyavok like Psiksi had small fangs, but they were just slightly enlarged canines. According to Psiksi’s little brother, Litvir had a paralytic venom in his fangs.
“How did you do that?”
Arkay shrugged. “I threatened them. People don’t like being threatened by the person who killed that Great Collector Voidborn prick and the Unending Ancient One. That Shadowclaw prick gave in and said you can do what you want. So, what do you want to do?”
“Like… whatever I want?”
Litvir nodded. “Yes.”
“Like… anything?”
“Yep.”
Psiksi fell silent, then sighed. “Can I… can I take a holiday?”
More nods. “Of course. When was the last time you took a holiday?”
Again, Psiksi quietened down. “I… I don’t think I’ve had any proper time off apart from a few hours after I finished my Decay Lord trial.”
“And when was that?” Litvir asked.
“Um… a year-string ago? I dunno. I’ve been stuck with the Alsyr for so long that I regularly lose track of time. I’m not even sure if time is the same between pentaclusters…”
Retvik and Litvir both glanced at each other, and neither of them said anything for a moment. After a couple of seconds, Arkay suddenly disappeared and teleported back into the main office, holding a suitcase.
“So!” Arkay immediately exclaimed. “You not had a holiday lately?”
Psiksi nodded. “Yeah. It’s been a while.”
“What do you want to do on your holiday?”
“Uh… probably buy some actual belongings. Pretty much everything I own is on my ship. And I don’t own much at all. I mean, at least I do actually own my ship, it was a reward I got for saving a superior, but… yeah, I kinda have very little.”
“I see…” Arkay paused briefly. “Aside from the holiday, I assume you want to stay here? You don’t have to be a member of the Thantir if you don’t want to, but we’ll still set up a room for you to call home.”
“I mean, I do want to join you lot properly. I just don’t know what that entails.”
Litvir shrugged. “All we have to do is message Kengana, the Deathven representative around here, and let him know that we have a new member, same way we did with our current Decaylings. If you wish to have a little welcome party, then we can do that.”
“It’d probably be more of a welcome back party!” Arkay smiled. “We had one for me.”
“I would like that, but I kinda want to just… be kinda normal for a bit… Do I have to buy stuff for my room or-”
“What? Of course not!” Retvik grunted. “Just like everyone else here, you get your own room with bed and bedding, a desk and space to store your belongings. Here among the Thantir, we are all mostly equals. Whatever us leaders get, you all get as well.”
“Wow. I kinda thought most other sects were just like the Alsyr. The Justar and the Phantai, whenever we met them, they seemed just as grumpy as the Alsyr.”
Retvik tutted. “Admittedly, until our sect was mostly dismantled, the Thantir were pretty strict as well. But Litvir and I decided to make changes.”
“When did you guys even take over?” Psiksi asked. “Like, was it when you lot were made into a Named Trio?”
Arkay suddenly turned to Retvik and Litvir. “That’s a good question, when did you both take charge?”
“Litvir temporarily was in charge when Galyn and I had the piss kicked out of us by Ahkron, and Galyn was injured for… a while, so Litvir and I took over permanently…” Retvik grunted, then returned to the matter at hand. “So, you want a holiday. Is there anywhere you want to go on your holiday?”
“I don’t even know where I’d even go. But, like, this place is really nice, like a Life Goddess Oasis except run by not-assholes.”
Arkay, Retvik and Litvir all eyed each other nervously. After a moment, Litvir sighed and answered the question.
“The property did belong to a Life Goddess and her army of Voidborns. The Voidborns were killed, and the Life Goddess sold the property to Kal.”
“The cute tiny robot Vohra guys?” Psiksi replied. “I feel bad, I keep on getting their names wrong.”
“Yes. Kal have money beyond belief, as they have been purifiers for so long…” Arkay paused. “Speaking of which, you do get a Deathven-sponsored basic income, right?”
Psiksi nodded. “I get 6k Dlires every 4-ev.”
“That is more than Litvir and I get…” Retvik tutted. “That being said, Arkay also has some good money as a destroyer of multiple universes and originally being categorized as a Life Goddess hybrid. Arkay, do you wish to take Psiksi to the nearby mall and help him with some shopping?”
“Sure!” Arkay grinned. “I want to take Litvir’s ship though. My only concern is that they might not let me in.”
“If they do not, you could just use the very fancy Life Goddess place literally next door?” Litvir suggested.
“Yeah, true…” Arkay turned back to Psiksi. “Do you want to bring Eksi along too or do you just want to go on your own and have me treat you to some nice things?”
Psiksi smiled, properly. “I’ll take Eksi out for sibling stuff some other time. I totally want to be pampered by the old, attractive death god.”
“Wonderful! Litvir, I’m taking your ship. And you can’t argue.”
“The only person not allowed to take my ship is Galyn.”
“Why?” Psiksi went back to being confused.
“I’ll tell you on the way!” Arkay smiled. “Come along now, Psiksi. I’ve got some spare, more comfy armour and wraps for you, if you want. While we’re gone, Retvik will get Kal and some of the Decaylings to build a permanent room for you. Alright?”
“Awesome. Thank you guys, so much.”
“No worries!” Retvik patted Psiksi on the shoulder. “It is the least we can do for our old friend.”