Rethais’s buttocks briefly left the surface of his chair as the massive, armoured Banikan plonked herself down next to him.
“Hello.”
“Hello, High General.”
Ct’Era wasn’t the leader of the Banikans. As a race, the colossal, horned, marsupial race were incredibly tribal and segregated, mostly in ways that other species didn’t really understand. But due to most of the universe going missing, the Banikans had finally united themselves and, in the process, elected Ct’Era to be their representative. Not because she was particularly good at the job, but because, unlike most Banikans, Ct’Era had actually met other races.
That being said, there was something off-putting about the flame-coloured Banikan. Mostly an unpleasant, musky smell of ash and soot.
“Can I help you?” Rethais asked as politely as he could. He was definitely one of the larger beings in the room, nearly three meters tall when standing upright. But compared to the bulk of the Banikan next to him, Rethais seemed genuinely small.
“Yes.”
“How so?”
Ct’Era lowered her head down, so she was on equal level with Rethais. “This feels like a trap.”
Rethais couldn’t help but snort. “No, really?” he replied with probably too much sarcasm.
“You do not agree?”
“I completely agree. The Allbirther has imprisoned us and is bribing us with a good time. As to why, I have no idea.”
The Banikan let out a low growl. “You do not know the Serpent’s intentions?”
“How could I?” Rethais grunted. “They are literally the Goddess of Life, powerful enough to pull us out of reality and trap us in a room, while also providing each of us everything we need without any sort of outside interference. No one knows what the Allbirther wants.”
“Not just Allbirther…” Ct’Era lowered her voice further. “Allbirther and Thantophor.”
Rethais turned to Ct’Era, giving her a surprised look. “I thought the Thantophor disappeared again?”
“Yes. Free now. After the Dark Leveller finally claimed His vengeance against the Void Lord. There were none in His seat, but the Allbirther eventually took it for herself. Now the Great Serpent is both Life and Death.”
“That does not give us any clue as to why she has imprisoned us all. Even if she has imprisoned us in a rather… spectacular setting.”
Ct’Era growled some more, leaning back up. “You really do not know?”
“Of course not!” Rethais didn’t want to snap. But he didn’t like how this Banikan was assuming things of him. “Just like every other vok here, I have been in survival mode. I have a lot of Rethavok that need looking after and a lot of non-Rethavok that need looking after too. The fact that I am stuck here annoys me greatly.”
“But you had the Void Lord guiding you.”
“Ah yes, the Void Lord that enslaved us, destroyed the Secret and still was not satisfied. Yes, he was very helpful!” Rethais hissed, now genuinely a bit upset. “I understand that this is problematic for us all, ser Ct’Era, but what do you expect us to do? The Allbirther wants something from us all, I am not going to risk myself because of suspicions!”
The Banikan sneered, then stood up, the wood of the bench beneath her creaking. “I expected better from you.”
Rethais tutted, watching Ct’Era wander back to her designated area. He had no comeback for her statement, but he didn’t particularly care. After all, now really was not a good time to start scheming against the gods.