“So let me get this straight,” Tenuk growled as he stomped across the room. “You gave up your own soul to die in a short amount of time and serve Death for eternity, in exchange for a bunch of people you didn’t even know and a guy who is immortal?”
Arkay blinked, unsure how to answer Tenuk’s question. Retvik and Elksia were both similarly confused.
“Which one of them is immortal?” Elksia finally asked. “I’m pretty sure Kass ain’t immortal. Vel told me he’s secretly terrified of dying.”
“Psiksi’s the immortal one!” Tenuk shouted. “He’s a fucking Time-Drake, just like Arksi.”
“Just because he is Arksi’s sibling, does not mean he is a Kronaron, Tenuk…” Retvik sighed. Tenuk had been on edge for days, seemingly even more worried than Arkay was about his little predicament. This was the first time the four Dessaron had sat down together to discuss everything that had happened.
“Trust me, he is!” Tenuk snapped. “I’m not sure how the Whenvern deals with immortality in his children, but he has to be. If one is, then the rest of them are!”
“But last time we spoke, you claimed that Arkay’s brother Veekay was a Deitic?” Elksia was still very confused. “I thought they all, I dunno, hatched at the same time? Arkay, can you clarify please?”
Arkay continued to blink. He wasn’t really sure what the problem was. “Uh… I don’t know. We, uh, did discuss it and came to some sort of conclusion, but I really don’t understand what your problem is.”
Retvik grunted as he found a chair and sat down next to Arkay. “I believe Tenuk is just worried about you risking your life yet again. Your deal was rather fair anyway, since the three of us are doomed to become Veth when we die anyway, but you know what Tenuk can be like.”
“That’s not what I’m talking about!” Tenuk was snapping at everyone today. “Arkay, you handed yourself over on a verbal contract that can be totally and utterly altered by anyone! Particularly HER. And for what? Extending the lives of a bunch of people who will be dead in a few decades anyway?”
“Did you seriously just say that my friends’ lives are worthless?” Arkay gasped, not sure whether to feel shocked or insulted.
Tenuk immediately fell silent, realising what he had just said. “I… I didn’t mean it like that.”
“What what DID you mean?”
“I… I meant that you are more valuable than you think, Arkay, and you shouldn’t throw your life away because you’re told to… But clearly I overstepped the line there…”
Arkay crossed his arms, tutting loudly. “You don’t understand what it’s like, being essentially programmed to protect everyone, no matter the personal cost. Heck, you seem to have forgotten what sacrifice means.”
“I don’t want you to suffer any more though. You always suffer. You’ve had enough, you could have called for help or something, I don’t know…”
“What else could I have done?”
Retvik watched as Tenuk and Arkay continued to argue. He realised that something else was going on. “You both have valid points, but I have a feeling that Death may have intentionally tricked Arkay into giving up his soul. She intentionally made his friends start to die, with no other solution apart from Arkay pleading for their lives, while knowing that you’d do anything to save them.”
Arkay sighed. “I guess that makes sense. I swear Death is obsessed with me.”
“Most likely,” Tenuk also sighed. “I’m sorry I said all that. I didn’t mean it.”
“It’s okay. I know you didn’t mean it…”
“So!” Elksia randomly interrupted. “You lot want ice cream?”
Tenuk’s frown turned into a smile. Arkay and Retvik liked the sound of Elksia’s idea as well.
“I always want ice cream!” Tenuk grinned.
He leaped up, stoop up straight then followed Elksia outside. But as Arkay went to do the same, Retvik grabbed him by the shoulder.
“Arkay, a word, please?”
“Of course.”
Retvik breathed deeply, his next words seemingly worrying him before they even left his mouth.
“I admire your bravery about what you did. You are a good kid, always have been. Just… Make sure you live your life as much as you can. Over the next decade or so, perhaps.”
“Why?” Arkay asked.
“Because I fear that Death will not give you the twenty five years she promised you.”
“What makes you think that?”
“Stasis did not keep his promises to us. Why would Death? I may be completely wrong. I often am. But don’t leave your life until the last minute. Just in case Death changes her mind. Alright?”
Retvik patted Arkay on the shoulder, then headed outside, where Tenuk and Elksia were waiting. Arkay hesitated for a moment, then slowly followed, doing his best not to think about Retvik’s warning.