“What’s wrong with Arkay?” Iatre asked as he helped himself to some of Istoria’s popcorn. “And why are you three just watching him rather than helping him?”
Below them, the Veth Prime, the most powerful of the Veth, was tearing things apart in an arena known locally as “Death’s Playground”. It was supposed to be a training area, but it normally sat empty and ignored. Most Veth prepared to hunt live prey, not the ghastly, marshmallow-filled forms that could be manipulated, ripped to shreds then remade with ease.
Syklos stole some of Istoria’s popcorn and shovelled it into his mouth. After a second mouthful, he decided to explain. As he spoke, bits of chewed up food dribbled from his jaws.
“Pfft. Idiot’s all depressed again. So he’s actually using this place.”
Sick of her food being stolen, she slapped Syklos and gave a proper explanation.
“Arkay finally snapped. His last connection to mortality was severed, and he’s under the same control as the rest of us. Mostly. He still feels betrayed and all that, but he’s no longer tied to that old mortal anchor that we all had.”
Iatre blinked, still not really sure what either Veth was talking about.
“Mortal anchors? What?”
Continuity decided to be the voice of reason and explain what was going on in a way that the young Veth could understand.
“Most Veth when they get here are sad that they died and want to go back to being alive and mortal. That feeling fades away a few days after one becomes a Veth. If it doesn’t, it generally gets beaten out of us. Either way, after a week, that feeling is gone and we embrace our new, Vethic forms.”
“But I don’t remember-” Iatre was about to interrupt, but Istoria slapped him.
“Shush and listen.”
Iatre fell silent and sat down, so Continuity could continue.
“As I was saying, many of us embrace this. Those who take longer to crack tend to have something on them, a reminder of their mortal selves. In Arkay’s case, when he manifested in Kinigi, he was wearing a necklace made by a friend of his. Something he treasured dearly. That necklace was recently destroyed by Kinisis. By accident, of course.”
“And that broke him?” Iatre asked.
“Somewhat,” Continuity rambled on. “Arkay’s Vethic form makes him hard to pin down. That necklace was both his mortal anchor and his Vethic anchor. So he’s… kinda having a breakdown.”
“And we’re all watching him break shit!” Syklos grinned. “He’s a fucking monster when he wants to be. Stronger than a Light Beast’s tongue.”
Iatre continued to blink in confusion. Continuity offered him some sugary sweets, but he declined, instead just watching Arkay swing wildly below.
“How comes I didn’t really have a mortal anchor thingy?” he finally asked.
Istoria shrugged. “You probably died happy.”
“You don’t know how you died?” Syklos butted in.
“No. Don’t really mind. I just wondered why I wasn’t like other Veth, and I’m pretty sure something like that is the reason why.”
The Veth fell silent, their eyes drifting back to the arena, which had suddenly gotten quieter. Arkay had noticed them and was no longer really trying. Soon, he flat out gave up, leaving the ghastly training dummies to fade away. After a few moments, he sat down on the fine sand, drawing lines in it and letting the sand fall between his fingers.
“He needs help…” Iatre whispered.
“He doesn’t want it…” Continuity sighed as the other Veth got up and left. “Trust me, we already tried.”
“Maybe we should try some more?” Iatre insisted.
“Later, when he’s calmed down a little.”
Iatre remained seated. “Alright. I’ll see you guys later tonight then. I’m going to wait here for Arkay. I think he could do with some silent company…”