“Hello.”
“Oh, uh, hello!”
Truthtalkers were strange beings, named after the original Truthtalker, one of the Claws of Justice. Leoalitheon Thynoloun was the first Truthtalker and he was a colossal, armoured monster with the ability to see through lies, tear through his enemies and rip truth and honesty out of others. His power was so renowned that he originally ruled over the Justarian Circle with an iron fist and an army of his own children, all blessed with the same power Truthtalker had.
However, the Circle of Truth, as the sector was originally called, was slowly torn away by the Golden Doom, a gigantic cult of Voidborns. At some point, Peacebringer, an at-the-time young, rogue Beh’evok, had convinced Truthtalker to let him and some allies he’d picked up from nearby universes between the Circle of Truth and the Golden Paradise assist in the area’s protection. They were later joined by Lawruler, the leader of a legion of godly animals, and the three of them ended up working together to create an area of stern safety and justice, the Justarian Circle.
But over the aeons, while Truthtalker himself remained strong, his children slowly withered away. Some were killed by Voidborn incursions, others by Corruption, others still were stolen away by Life Goddesses wanting an alternative to unruly Voidborn servants. Before long, Truthtalker ended up childless. But somehow, miraculously, Truthtalker ended up with a new son. A son that was nearly identical to Truthtalker in both abilities and appearance.
That child, named Kalobaidos Televteon, ended up being too powerful though. As powerful as Truthtalker potentially was. And as Truthtalker watched his last son grow, he became wary and envious of him. Worried, almost. So Truthtalker sealed Kalobaidos away within a veil of darkness, which sapped away most of his son’s power. This power was then fed back into Truthtalker, not only making him even more powerful, but also allowing him to start creating new kids, all of them female and far weaker than Truthtalker was.
Eventually though, Kalobaidos managed to escape. The tattered child fled to the Windblown Expanse (now known as the Ventra Expanse), taunted not just by their weakness but what others expected of him. He abandoned his name and identity until he ran into the other two members of what later became the Ventra Gales.
Alongside Soulstorm and Zephyr, Truthtalker’s son renamed himself, becoming Kahlos Velspastis, better known as Veilbreaker. But his sect, the Ventra, was never as successful as the Justar, and it soon disbanded after they (and other nearby sects) were used and abused by the Kronothrax, who had declared war against the Golden Doom.
Kahlos never really recovered from his losses. He always felt like a failure. And that failure was bothering him particularly right now, because he’d been dragged to a party, where Truthtalker was present. And both Zephyr and Soulstorm had suggested that he at least try and socialize a little whenever Truthtalker was distracted elsewhere. While he hated his father, the majority of the Justar these days were much more varied beings. Kinder too. And some of the beings around here were somewhat resistant to Kahlos’s truthtalking traits. Which was why Kahlos had approached Flamebearer, a being that looked a bit like a young Beh’evok but wasn’t.
“Are you alright?” Retvik asked as he gazed up at Kahlos.
“No.”
“Oh. I am sorry to hear that. Is something wrong?”
Kahlos glanced around, making sure the coast was clear. It wasn’t. Truthtalker was lingering around.
“Yes.”
“Do you want to talk?”
“Yes. You have thoughts too. Secrets and desires. But you resist.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I cannot force truths from you.”
Retvik shrugged. “Is that a good thing?”
“Yes. Means we can converse. Like normal beings.”
Again, Kahlos inspected his surroundings. Truthtalker was present but preoccupied.
“I assume being partnered with both Litvir and Arkay does give me some extra protection. But you seem troubled. And you do not want to be here.”
“No. I do not.”
Retvik tilted his head with curiosity. “How comes? Also, you are actually talking. When you, Thyel and Zephyr visited Savepoint, you remained somewhat silent.”
“Too many people here. Many Psions. Focus on you. Cannot force. So I can talk.”
“Oh. Fair enough. So what is bothering you?”
“Having to spend time near Truthtalker.”
“How comes?”
“He sealed me away as a child. Took my name away. Destroyed my sense of self. Wrapped me in a veil of pain. Is why I am called Veilbreaker.”
Retvik blinked. “That is horrible. You seem like a decent person, I do not know why someone would do that.”
“Was too powerful. Truthtalker is my father. Was scared.”
“Oh, I see. Scared of your potential, of knowing who you are and who you could be, yes?”
“Yes.”
Retvik tutted. “Well, funnily enough, I have had some experience in that. So have my partners. Arkay in particular was chained to a Life Goddess or three.”
“You were stuck beneath siblings’ shadows.”
“Somewhat. But I like to think I did alright for myself.”
“Your sibling is like your partner. You do not fear him. Unender is a good person. So was your other, mortal sibling.”
“My siblings and I are… were good people. My parents were… not the best. But they cannot have been as bad as your father.”
Kahlos grunted. “Bad beings with a veil of goodness. Claws of Justice all are. Similar to Life Goddesses. Never admit though.”
“Of course not. They do not want to part the curtains and reveal their true selves. I assume, at one point, you tried to do that?”
“Yes.”
“And it went badly?”
“Very.”
Kahlos hesitated, then undid a strap around his neck and chest, then moved a piece of armour and some dark fabric to one side. Retvik expected to see a scar, but instead, there was a deep wound that was still weeping with a black, glimmering, starlit substance.
“Your father did that to you?”
“When I broke the veil. When I broke free. Permanent pain. Zephyr and Thyel keep me going. Numb the pain. Give me reason and purpose…” Kahlos covered himself back up, then looked around again, making sure that Truthtalker wasn’t present.
“That is good. But despite who your father is, you are your own person.”
“I sometimes forget that.”
Retvik shrugged. “It is understandable, especially when family holds more power than you do.”
Kahlos nodded in agreement, but very suddenly fell silent. Someone was approaching and, to Kahlos’s dismay, it was Truthtalker. Neither of them spoke out loud, but Truthtalker glared at Kahlos, lifting his visor and revealing a pair of glowing white eyes. This clearly intimidated Kahlos, forcing him to back away, but Retvik stood before him.
“Excuse me, we are talking.”
“Talking to a mistake. A bad being.”
Truthtalker’s voice was cold and empty, harsher than Kahlos’s.
“No, talking to a fellow Decayon. It is rude to interrupt, and belittle others, you know.”
“Says you. Small. Weak.” Truthtalker seemed rather unrelenting, and was clearly trying to intimidate Retvik. Retvik didn’t care and remained strong.
“Yes, says I, the small, weak person. You know, the leader of a Hidden Named Trio. Someone who survived the torture of Kenostaton, who killed Krystahamos of the Crystal Doom and tussled with Ahkron, the Ancient Collector. I know a bad being when I see one, and Kahlos here is as honourable as they come. Especially considering his past and what you did to him.”
Truthtalker’s gaze left Retvik, turning to Kahlos.
“I wish you gone, Kalobaidos.”
“Kalobaidos is already gone. You killed him. I am Kahlos. I am Veilbreaker. Leoalitheon is as dead as Kalobaidos. You know your sins.”
Truthtalker immediately paused. They glanced back at Retvik, wondering if he had understood Kahlos’s statement. When he realized that Retvik did somewhat understand, Truthtalker immediately backed off and moved on elsewhere. After a moment, Kahlos also turned to Retvik.
“Thank you.”
“No thanks are necessary, friend. At some point, come and visit us again at Savepoint, when you have time. I will ask Phovos to have a look at that injury of yours.”
Kahlos bowed, then raised a part of his helmet that covered his mouth. Beneath the metal plating, Retvik spotted a tiny smile.
“Thyel and Zephyr are no longer occupied. I will return to them now.”
“No worries. I ought to go and see what Litvir and Arkay are doing anyway. Have a good one, Kahlos.”
“You too, Retvik.”