It had been a good day for Retvik. Everyone involved in today’s Dessaron Battle Arena matches had gone home happy, including all the losing teams. The only bad thing that happened today was that Gath had things to do, some negotiations with the team’s sponsor, so he wouldn’t be around until later. Right now, though, Retvik was feeling great.
The sun was beginning to set, and Retvik decided to go and watch it dip down below the horizon. The best place to do that was from the Raptor’s seating area of the Tower Top Arena.
There were several cleaners wandering around, doing their job. Each area, especially the VIP seating areas, always needed cleaning. The visitors always left a lot of mess, and of course fights in the arenas needed tidying up and resetting. Most of the cleaners were Thanatians and Vreka that Phovos had hired many years ago, and Retvik hadn’t really had the opportunity to properly meet them all, so he was slightly surprised to see a Rethan working among them.
That was being a bit unfair. Retvik knew that some Rethans worked here, but he didn’t expect to see a Rethan like THAT cleaner working here. Bright yellow Rethans had always been uncommon, and Retvik had only ever met a few in his life.
As the sun finally disappeared and the automatic lights popped on, Retvik decided to go and see this mystery Rethan. In hindsight, he shouldn’t have snuck up behind the poor kid.
“Sorry, ser, you scared me!”
“I am sorry, little one. I have not seen you around here before!” Retvik smiled.
He was a Hertan-type Rethan. Black skin, warm yellow armour, silver accessories. He had arm-blades but they remained fully retracted underneath his organic armour. His eyes though were a nice little sky blue. Wasn’t very tall, barely hitting the two meter mark.
The Rethan stepped back, then scurried back to work. He was either unaware that Retvik was essentially his boss, or was aware and wanted to just do his job.
“What is your name?” Retvik asked, sitting down on a nearby seat.
“Phovos Aspid, ser.”
“Unusual name for a Rethan. I assume you were born here?”
Phovos shook his head. “No, ser. I hatched on Thanatia 2. My family was kinda from here so we moved back here when I was twelve.”
“Why is that?” Retvik asked more questions. Phovos was only half concentrating on what he was saying.
“Don’t know. I was promised we’d have a swimming pool. It’s not too bad though. I have a decent job.”
Retvik decided to change the subject. “Are you registered?”
Phovos looked up. “Of course, ser. Wasn’t always though. A lot of my family were exiled a long time ago. I spent a lot of time with Thanatians. Hence my dumb name.”
“You consider it dumb, the Raptor’s name is Phovos.”
“Would have been better if I was a Thanatian though. Rethans get confused with my first name, Thanatians with my second name…”
“Well I like it.”
Phovos went back to work, ignoring Retvik’s claim, sweeping up dust and litter into a neat pile, before scooping it into a bag. He then emptied the last bin, tied up the rubbish bags and started taking them away.
“It was nice to meet you, ser.”
“It was nice meeting you too, Phovos. I hope to see you round here more often!” Retvik waved as he watched Phovos leave.