“Oh, hey, uh… looking good, Staton!”
Vekeus was trying very hard to hold his tongue as he, Kesistatir and Theocydes made their way across Savepoint. Their young friend Staton had run away briefly, gotten lost and ended up at Savepoint, confusing it for the Pink Paradise Life Oasis he had originally run away from, and they were there to pick Staton up. Somehow though, in the brief time Staton was missing, he had crystallised, creating a more mature, physical form for himself. Thankfully, the people at Savepoint had a Voidborn and a Life Goddess on hand to help Staton through the process, and the two Raptors were keeping Staton calm.
“Good?” Staton asked. His words were still a bit static-y, as he hadn’t quite finished learning how to process communications and language.
“Yeah. You look… a lot like my dad, except with way less obnoxious gold. And a healthy mask on your face, not an awful full-face gold covering. And you’re clearly jacked…”
Staton wasn’t really sure how to respond. However, the other beings present seemed confused.
“You have a father, Vekeus?” Vikalos asked. “And a mother?”
Vekeus nodded. “My mother was Kayel Theanon-Aspidon, who was also Arkay’s mum. And Elkay-En’s mum. My dad was Kenostaton, one of the Stolen Princes, who was bound to the Final Mother, Kinisis… who… uh…” Vekeus paused. “Um… well, turns out… Kinisis was Elkay-En’s father and… uh… Phovos’s mother?”
“Oh dear,” Elkay muttered. “You have the same problem Retvik and I have. But far worse. Either way, we have checked Staton over and he seems healthy enough, as far as we can tell.”
“What was Kenostaton like?” Phovoula asked. “I guess he was a massive cunt, especially if he was the husband of Kinisis.”
“Definitely!” Phovos nodded. “Tenuk and I saw him die. Arkay impaled the bastard, then disappeared. But you say that Staton here isn’t Kenostaton. Staton told us that too, but he does look like Kenostaton.”
Theocydes grunted. “My theory is that Staton pulled himself out of the Eternal Darkness just outside the universe Kenostaton died in, and potentially picked up some of those lingering traits. Kesistatir thinks Staton is Kenostaton reincarnated.”
“Because he is!” Kesistatir grunted back. “Otherwise Staton would not look so damn much like his former self!”
Kesistatir’s words angered Staton and clearly annoyed Vekeus as well.
“I am NOT Kenostaton! Am not Kenon! I am Staton! Only Staton!” Staton shouted, making everyone else a tad uneasy. “I am ME and only ME!”
“Kesistatir, friend, you need to drop this…” Vekeus warned.
“I am the only one here not denying the truth. You said it yourself, you called Staton your father-”
“Yeah, in a way, maybe, but the more I look at Staton now he’s crystallised? I don’t think he is Kenostaton at all. I think Theocydes is right. Because Kenostaton would have pulled himself out of the Eternal Darkness a second time as a whole being, and with lingering memories and an already crystallised form, more like a broken respawn, rather than appearing as a Newling. Staton looks like Kenostaton, sure, but, like, I would look like Kenostaton if my mortal mother’s genetics weren’t so stupidly powerful as well, and pretty much every Voidborn from the Goldtorn Remains kinda looks like Kenostaton or Kesistatir, because we all descended from the Grand Golden Lord in some way!”
“What is that?” Phovos whispered to Phovoula.
“Asking the wrong person…” Phovoula whispered back. “I know fuck all about local Voidborn history.”
Kesistatir tutted. “The Grand Golden Lord formed the original Golden Doom alliance and directed each of the cults when they split.”
“Is he still alive?” Phovos asked. “And if he is, do you know where he lives?”
“Why… why are you asking?”
Phovos crossed her arms and smiled. “I’d like to pay him a visit.”
“A Mother visiting the Grand Golden Lord is probably a terrible idea…” Vekeus muttered.
“I’m not a Mother.”
“You definitely are! You are a daughter of the Final Mother!” Kesistatir snapped. “If you wanted, you could return to the former paradise, and I am certain the Grand Golden Lord would reappear to try and stop you, since he wants them all dead. Including you.”
Phovos smiled some more. “I’ll definitely have to go visit then. I hope he reveals himself. We can bring a party and maybe commit some righteous murder.”
Vikalos raised his hands, suggesting that everyone calm down a little. “Phovos, I know you like your righteous murder, but we are all getting distracted here. Also, let’s clear a few things up. Staton is just Staton, he seems healthy enough and I assume that you Voidborns will be taking him with you?”
Kesistatir nodded. “Of course, Staton will accompany us. He has a lot to learn.”
“Well, he’s going to have to accompany you or Theocydes for a bit until we can get him a ship of his own…” Vekeus frowned. “He’s 3m tall, as tall as you both, he won’t fit inside my ship. Speaking of which, Phovoula, have you worked out how to make your own ship yet?”
“That… is a thing I can do?”
“Eventually, yeah. But you’re also pretty young, so I was going to guess the answer is “not yet”. That’s fine though, took me ages to work it out myself.”
Phovoula blinked, then turned to Phovos. “Wow, being a Voidborn is nearly as weird as being a Life Goddess.”
“Yeah, it is… Staton, are you okay with going with these guys? It might be better for you, since my fellow Raptor doesn’t know much about Voidborn stuff either.”
Staton thought for a moment, then sighed. “I think I want to stay here. But I need to learn… I wish to go with Theocydes though, not Kesistatir.”
“Why?”
“He does not call me Kenostaton. I am just Staton. Nothing more.”
Kesistatir grumbled slightly, then teleported away in a puff, presumably back to his ship.
“Oh well…” Vikalos eventually shrugged, then patted Staton on the shoulder. “Don’t fret too much, little one. Once you are sorted out, you can come back and visit. Theocydes and Vekeus will look after you, yes?”
“We will, of course!” Theocydes smiled a little. “After all, we taught you how to be a good little Adogtic Newling, now we have to teach you to be a good little Adogtic Youngling. Do you want to come along now with me, Staton?”
Staton nodded. “Yes. Please. I want to learn things.”
“Alright. Let’s head out of here. Vekeus has left his little starter pack on my ship, and I have a few things I need to give you as well. Come along now, we have a lot to learn.”
Theocydes turned to leave, and Staton followed, but not before waving to Phovos and Phovoula. Vekeus though remained where he was for a bit.
“Anyway, in other news, when is Arkay getting back?” Vekeus asked.
“A couple of hours.”
“Mind if I stick around until he gets back? There’s things I kinda need to discuss with him.”
“About Elkay-En?” Phovos queried.
“Yeah.”
“Fair enough…” Phovos trailed off briefly. “Anyway, Vikalos, Elkay, you guys busy? Phovoula and I were about to go get something to drink.”
“I have guard work and Vikalos has office work,” Elkay tutted. “Perhaps later?”
“Sure thing. You want to join us, Vekeus?”
Vekeus thought for a minute, then smiled properly. “I don’t see why not? Sure, I’m in.”