Retvik grunted as a knock on the door behind him broke his concentration. He was currently working his way through a series of videos and course books, all about what he needed to learn when it came to the Decay Lords. A lot of it was simple stuff. Rules, guidelines, terms of service. But some of this material was incredibly dense and required Retvik to reread multiple parts of it. Didn’t help that Retvik was weirdly distracted, and recent events had held back his Decayling education.
The knocks on the door were just another distraction.
With a tut, Retvik got up from his desk and stomped over to the door. His room was just about big enough, with a bed, desk, cupboard space and a comfy chair, but he lacked anything to make the room actually his. He had no belongings, aside from a large, ornate gun-staff that he had been found with.
Peering through the peephole in the door, Retvik didn’t see anyone at first. Then he looked down and saw nothing but yellow.
“Hi? Are you in?” a voice squeaked.
Retvik opened the door, still tutting. “I am in, Arkay, but I am somewhat busy right now.”
“Oh…” Arkay stuttered. “I… I can come back later, if you prefer?”
“No, no. You are here now. Come in.”
The tiny Decayling stepped inside and Retvik closed the door behind him, before grunting some more and heading back to his desk. With one last grunt, he put his books away and turned to Arkay.
“What is troubling you?”
Arkay didn’t answer at first. He was busy looking around. “Cor, your room is way bigger I expected. And way, way bigger than the medical cell thing I was in.”
“I am twice your height, Arkay. I need twice the space.”
“You have a book case and a big desk!” Arkay smiled. “I’m sorry, I got distracted. I’ll be quick, because I know I’m interrupting your studying, but I wanted to ask you something quick.”
“Hm?”
“Well, the Decay Lords said I can have a normal room. I’m all clear now, all the nasty stuff is gone. Any medical stuff, I can have done in my own personal quarters. I asked them if I could have a room next to or near your room and they said to ask you first.”
Retvik crossed his arms, surprised by Arkay’s question. “Well, I am… somewhat glad they wanted my opinion…”
Arkay nodded. “Yeah. My, uh, worry is that I am being a bit too… clingy. A room next door to you will make me feel safer, but I don’t want to be intruding on your privacy or anything. After all, we’re equals now, and you probably want to live your brand new Decay Lord life without an annoying little yellow prick hanging off your arms.”
“That is… needlessly harsh.”
“Yeah well…” Arkay sighed. “I feel like I’ve been selfish and lazy and all that lately. I’m still trying to get used to things and I’ve been leaning on you a lot.”
“You really have not been as bad as you believe, Arkay,” Retvik interrupted. “You have been alright, considering all the explosions we have had lately.”
“I feel like I’m… in your way.”
“If you were, I would tell you.”
“Still…” Arkay sighed. “I really don’t want to be too clingy.”
“You are not. But if you don’t want to seem too clingy, why not take a room nearby, rather than next door to me? That way you are still close, but you can also give me plenty of space as well.”
Arkay’s eyes lit up. “That’s a great idea!”
Retvik shrugged. “It is nothing special. Now, if you do not mind, I have studying to do.”
“Do you need help?” Arkay asked.
Retvik glanced at the pile of books. “You understand this stuff?”
“Yeah.”
“Well…” Retvik smiled a little. “Sure. I could do with a hand…”