The L-Class sat in silence around the dining table, picking at a reheated, overly processed meal that none of them really wanted. Occasionally one of them would get up to pour themselves a drink, a meagre plastic cup of water. Every so often, one of the Ksa would look up from their plate, as if to say something, only to change their mind.
It was Emel who finally decided to break the silence.
“All this magic learning is taking forever…”
His statement was met partially with agreement, but there was also a lot of unspoken thoughts, all disagreeing.
“Well, duh!” Zitel exclaimed, making Veeyel next to him jump in shock. “It’s fucking magic. We’re not going to be expert magicians in a week or so!”
“Actually, the proper term is mages, not magicians…” Kayel muttered under his breath.
Zitel shrugged. “Magicians, mages, whatever. It’s gonna take time to learn this stuff. No one magically becomes a master of stuff in a week.”
“But that’s exactly what happened when we were made into Ksa!” Arel protested. “You roll your eyes at Emel’s dumb statement, it’s not really that dumb when you think about it.”
“Yeah but that was when we were literally babies. Months old. We’re all closing in on seventy. We’re older now, we can’t automatically learn things!”
Thiel and Veeyel both nodded in agreement with Zitel’s argument.
Arel wasn’t convinced. “We haven’t done anything yet.”
“I don’t think what we learned so far is even that useful…” Ayel added. “Honestly I miss being part of civilization. This is just… It’s like an extended camping holiday.”
“Kayel and Ksiel informed us all about everything that we’re doing!” Thiel butted in. “You agreed to this.”
“Doesn’t mean we can’t change our minds though,” Efel sighed as he stood up. “Although it’s worth pointing out that there’s someone at the door.”
The Rethans all glanced at the door. Kayel cursed under his breath for forgetting to install a proper doorbell. Efel walked over and opened it up, revealing a well-dressed, delicately armoured Rethan with beautiful white and gold wings.
“Am I interrupting anything?” the Rethan asked.
“No, you’re not…” Efel almost hissed. “Ayvee-En, what are you doing here?”
The old leader of the N-Class Ksa stood gallantly in the doorway, feeling very proud that he’d found this group of hard to find, reclusive Ksa.
“I am here with an offer, open to all Ksa who no longer have a duty!”
The L-Class all looked at each other, blinking.
“What… What offer?” Enel tentatively asked.
“And more importantly, how the fuck did you find us?” Kayel snapped as he leaped to his feet and stomped over to Ayvee-En. “How did you know we were here?”
Ayvee-En hesitated. “Uh, Veeyel is still wearing his Ksa tracker. I asked at the nearby hospital and they pointed me this way. But that’s beside the point. I want to talk to you all. I’ve been visiting as many Ksa as I can. Because I know how we all feel dumb and pointless ever since we lost our jobs. The N-Class, we’ve stuck together and we’re trying to build a new… group.”
The delicate Ksa stepped inside, his wings folded away. There was a sparkle of joy in his eyes.
“While the majority of Ksa either went off on their own or joined specific legions of the Stratos to keep that ‘old Ksa-y’ feel, a loophole was left by the Rethan council, allowing the former High General to keep his own legion of Ksa. So that’s what he did. And because he doesn’t do a lot or go outside much any more., we’re basically patrolling an empty fortress with full facilities, individual rooms, lots of food, plenty of time off, easy shifts… That is why I was sent out to recruit other Ksa. Because the N-Class Ksa are lonely and want to share.”
A flicker of excitement whizzed through the room.
“So you’re basically offering us a nice place to live while we do something similar to our old jobs?” Ayel asked.
“Yes.”
“And we don’t have to… do anything?” Enel asked.
“Nope. You’re all perfectly qualified. We’ve even got a job position for Veeyel, we could always do with a guy to monitor cameras and video.”
Ksiel tutted to himself and got up from the table. “Ayvee-En, could we have a minute to ourselves, please?”
Ayveen-En nodded and stepped outside, closing the door behind him. They all knew he could probably still hear them, but that wasn’t the point.
“You’re not happy, are you?” Ksiel growled. “We planned all this but you changed your minds.”
“No offense, Ksiel,” Emel butted in. “We’ve got three choices here. We stay in this place, as pretty as it is, living like, well, Thanatians and learning something we might not even be able to use. Or we accept Ayvee-En’s invitation and go live a life of luxury. Or we bugger off back to whatever it was we used to do. I don’t know if I’m speaking for all of us, but a life of luxury and an easy job sound lovely to me.”
Efel, Enel, Ayel and Arel all nodded in agreement. Deeyel seemed a little hesitant, and glanced over at Veeyel, who was still sitting at the table.
“What about him?” Deeyel asked. “This was all… your idea, Veeyel.”
Veeyel lowered his head, sighing to himself.
“Veeyel?” Ksiel wandered over and sat down next to his friend. “Veeyel… Are you…”
“Just do what you want!” Veeyel snapped. “I don’t care. Do what makes you all happy. You shouldn’t have to hold yourselves back because of me.”
“You don’t want to join them?” Ayel blinked. “You could-”
“I don’t trust the N-Class. And I won’t ever walk again if I go with them. I’ll get lazier and more dependent on my braces and my medication. This is my chance to live a happy life doing something I want to do. Ayvee-En’s offer might be your chance to live the lives you want. I won’t judge you for that. I can’t judge you. Your happiness is more important than sticking around to make me happy.”
The other Ksa all stared at Veeyel.
“Are you… sure?” Ayel asked.
“Yes.”
“Well I’m not going!” Zitel shrieked. “We spent all this effort getting here!”
“Would be a shame to let it all go to waste,” Thiel added.
Ksiel stepped forward tired of going around in circles. “Alright, fine. Who wants to stay here with Kayel?”
Veeyel, Zitel and Thiel raised their hands. Ksiel lifted his hand a little, then tutted.
“Who wants to go with Ayvee-En?”
The rest of the L-Class, Emel, Enel, Ayel, Arel, Efel and Deeyel, all raised their hands.
Ksiel tutted. He watched as Kayel returned to the table, looking quite upset but obviously trying to hide it. Zitel went and joined him, while Thiel remained where he was. Veeyel just seemed slightly annoyed, rather than being sad.
“Fine. I guess you guys should get going,” Veeyel growled, pointing at the door. “Have fun working for General Photeianos. The rest of the L-Class Ksa will carry on without you.”
“You can always join us later,” Deeyel smiled a little. “I’m sure they’ll let you join up if you change your mind.” The rest of the Ksa grabbed their bags and started to leave. “And it’s not like we won’t see you again!”
“Bye, brothers!” Ayel waved, as did the others.
“Bye…” Ksiel tutted, “Have fun, I guess.”