“So… you’re the same species as Kaytee and the Loopblades and Arkay?”
Elkay-En had hoped that no one would have noticed him, but this group of visitors were rather curious, and two of them were of a familiar shape to Elkay-En. The much larger one (which was at the upper limits for a Standard-type Retha) hadn’t noticed Elkay-En and spent most of their time chatting with the cute, fluffy four-eyed fox creature while sitting on the furthest ledge of Sini’s Oasis, but this yellow Threan-type-looking creature had quickly sensed Elkay-En’s presence and had immediately started asking questions.
“Yes, I’m a Threan-type Retha. Or, rather, half of one.”
“And the other half is a Life Goddess? That evil Kinisis one who turned herself into a Corruption?”
Elkay-En sighed. “Yes, that monster. Although I was… nearly consumed by another monster. Except Epanophovon made me believe that he was my father and that he wasn’t a monster… Can I ask, who are you, you didn’t actually introduce yourself. Also, you look a lot like my brother except less… pointy, I guess.”
“Oh, I totally got ahead of myself! My name’s Kayel Theanon, KL1492L. Although that’s the first time someone’s said I look a LOT like Arkay. Most people just comment that we’re similar shades of yellow, especially as my eyes are a lot less gold than his, and Arkay is a former death god who can shapeshift…” Kayel paused for a second. “I was gonna comment that you look a lot like Arkay but in the colours of the old All-Ksa but, well, duh, of course you do, you’re literally his half-brother. Same mum, right?”
Elkay-En nodded. “Yes. My mother was called Kayel Theanon-Aspidon.”
“He or she was probably both super lucky and super unlucky considering what you’re like and what Arkay’s like. And, presumably, what your other half-siblings are like.”
“You… would be very correct…” Elkay-En frowned. “Mother’s life was… messy… But I don’t really remember what happened to them. The last time I spoke to her, she was talking nonsense about being a different species, no longer being a Retha and demanding a safe space for herself. I told her that she needed to take a deep breath and have a nap because she sounded utterly exhausted and wasn’t making sense. This was, I think, not long before the six of us were sent off to try and kill or capture Arkay and I… well, I lost track of her.”
Kayel shrugged. “I suppose at least you knew your mum and she seemed alright. I got no idea who my parents were. But it seems we both had crazy lives.”
Elkay-En stopped frowning and went back to nodding. “Indeed. I mean, I was High General before everything went down.”
“Wait, really?” Kayel exclaimed. “The Elkay I know who’s a Rethavok and a Synaisthyn like Arkay, he said he was High General once. Ret’s brother Rethais is High General too! I didn’t meet Rethais but I met Ret’s little sibling Relkir, who was very sweet. Gave them some condoms and a dagger as a gift. So you ruled over the Retha?”
“I did, yes. All ten billion of them.”
“Ten… billion?” Kayel stuttered a little. “Damn… That’s a fuckton of people… I think there are like 250,000 Skyavok tops. And like, I think the population of the Temthans, who were the most populous race, was like 7 billion. According to Arkay, my universe is fucking tiny.”
“It seems as much. But I also assume that your universe isn’t filled with trillions of beings, many of whom were trying to kill each other, while god-like beings cheered them on and consolidated power while normal mortals were distracted.”
Kayel stared blankly at Elkay-En for a bit, then shrugged some more. “Honestly, sounds like your universe sucked. So now you’re just staying here, chilling with Sini?”
“I spent aeons selling bits of my own bones to universes, so they could make anti-Corruption daggers out of of them, thinking I was nothing more than a corrupted monster myself. Then Epanophovon dies and I suddenly find the strength to revert back into… not a Corruption and… well… Yes. I’m just chilling with Sini. Helping her with a few projects. Mostly just sort of keeping an eye on that universe just on the horizon, and killing any little intelligent corrupted lumps that get too close.”
“Oh, good!” Kayel went back to smiling. “Hope that means you’re fine with me and the gals and our Corruption Purges.”
“I am absolutely fine with that. The more dead Corruption, the better!” Elkay-En smiled back. “I was honestly thinking of doing some of that as well. But I think you all have it covered. Same with those… I think they are called Pentathax? They seem to do a lot of that thing. Had quite a few Pentathax Decay Lords stop by for drinks. I… I kept very quiet and low-profile, admittedly.”
“Why?”
“I was literally a servant of Epanophovon.”
“So?” Kayel tutted. “Arkay turned into a Corruption. That’s how he and Sini wounded that Epano-bastard enough to trap him inside a dead universe. I think other Elkay also turned into a Corruption one time to kill a servant of Epano… whatever the fuck he’s called… Actually, you, Elkay and I, we should all go out for drinks.”
“Why?” Elkay-En was caught off by this sudden change in topic.
“Well, we’re all Elkays.”
“I thought your name was Kayel.”
“I changed my name legally like two and a half years ago. My birth name was Elkay. I’m apparently one of the many “Elkane Loops” that Arkay said the old Whenvern was scared of for no reason. Like, why would a time god be scared of a Threanic called Elkay? He’s a time god. He can control time.”
“That is very true. And, maybe, when I’m more settled down, we can do something. I… I don’t really want to visit Savepoint though. Or see my half-brother yet. I don’t think we parted on the best of terms.”
Kayel rolled his eyes. “He told me the shit Sini did to him and he forgave her. Arkay forgives pretty much everyone because he’s a former death god who’s unwillingly killed trillions. I’m sure he’d be fine.”
“Either way, I’d rather meet Arkay when I am ready, and not on his turf.”
“Fair!” Kayel decided to change the subject. “I think I’m gonna go see what Ret and Tanos are up to. You want to join me?”
Elkay-En shrugged. “Why not? You new-universe folks do seem rather interesting. And Ret does… remind me of someone.”
“Someone called Retvik?”
“Yes.”
Kayel grinned. “Yeah, that’s Ret’s real name. I’m sure he’ll tell you all about the time he and Big On Fire Old Retvik met another, even older Retvik. Come on, let’s go say hi to them.”
Elkay-En smiled properly. “Sure thing.”