Chaos Heir

Chapter 1234 Hopelessness

The red tattoos contained Khan's aura, but Zalpa saw through them and shuddered. The annoying, cursed, but resolute kid she had met ten years ago was no more. A monster had replaced him.

Ilman smiled proudly from behind Zalpa, approving Khan's behavior. It was unclear whether he realized that the threat involved his species or Nitis, but that wasn't an impending issue. Ilman only knew that was how a true Niqols and a man should act.

Instead, Liiza saw and felt far more than the two visitors. Khan was hardly selfish but had finally drawn a line that couldn't be crossed, and she was on the other side with him. Even if his decision brought countless problems and untold suffering to others, he would never give up on Liiza again.

"[Zaza]," Liiza called, her tone carrying a trace of affection as she lay her head on Khan's shoulder. "[Don't put us against the Niqols. We will fight them]."

Zalpa's eyes darted left and right, shining on the couple's faces. For a second, she forgot how strong those two had gotten, recalling who they had been just ten years ago.

Truth be told, Zalpa had accepted Khan back then. She would never admit it, but she had also started to find the relationship cute. As much as Zalpa understood the Elders' decision, she pitied what Khan and Liiza had been forced to do.

Fate had been cruel but not hopeless. Khan and Liiza had found each other again and were now standing before Zalpa, wearing expressions and stances incredibly similar to their first meeting. She almost saw their younger versions replacing those more mature ones, but that was probably her getting old and sentimental.

Nevertheless, even if Zalpa wanted to indulge in her sentimental side, the situation was too problematic. Her entire species was at stake there, so she had to try, even if it wasn't fair.

"[Lii]," Zalpa said, dropping her grumpiness. "[You can still fix this]."

That wasn't entirely true, but it didn't matter since Liiza shook her head, rubbing it on Khan's shoulder while reaching for the knot on her left shoulder. She undid it and lowered that torn part of her hoodie to reveal her white tattoo.

Ilman's proud smile disappeared, turning into a serious look. Meanwhile, Zalpa's eyes widened, revealing the faint redness in their whiteness.

"[What have you-]?" Zalpa gasped, interrupting her own line by throwing an angry look at Khan.

"[Don't look at me]," Khan claimed, glancing at the white and red hair on his right shoulder. "[If I had known, I would have stopped her]."

"[He would have tried to stop me]," Liiza corrected. "[It's too late, Zaza. I bound our lives. Even the Elders wouldn't allow me to marry into the Kros if they saw this]."

As knowledgeable as Khan had become, the Niqols' symbols continued to escape his understanding. He could ask what they meant, but they were more than superficial words for the Niqols. They had deep, intrinsic relevance that touched on their customs and traditions, giving them power.

Still, that reaction told Khan that the conversation was over. Making Ilman wear such a serious face was no easy feat, and Zalpa even confirmed that point. She didn't say it, but her expression told Khan that she had given up on the matter.

"[Nitis had such great hopes for you]," Zalpa sighed. "[To think you'd throw it all away for this human]."

"[I was hardly human even back then]," Khan rebuked.

"[And look at what you made her do]," Zalpa snorted. "[What life can you even offer her? I knew she would have gotten hurt in your place]."

Khan could answer, but the insult hit home. Both had sacrificed much to be together, but Liiza had given up on her entire species for him.

Yet, before Khan could find ways out of his guilt, Liiza's eyes widened, recalling a troubling thought. She straightened her head, wearing a timid, almost innocent face, and her following pleas echoed those traits.

"[Zaza]," Liiza called, her voice reeking with trust that didn't take the situation into account. "[I need your help with something]."

Zalpa was about to voice an angry remark, but Liiza suddenly let go of Khan's arm, taking her hand and adding another word. "[Please]."

The event surprised both Khan and Zalpa. Actually, the former experienced Liiza's storm of emotions through the mental connection. She felt shy but also hopeful, and the depth of those sensations highlighted the matter's seriousness.

"[I'll come back soon, okay]?" Liiza said after turning toward Khan, knowing how his brain worked. "[Do you trust me]?"

Khan had no idea what was happening but could only nod before Liiza's pleading face. She leaned in for a kiss, adding another line when their lips separated. "[Remember that neither of us know how to fly a ship]."

The explanation for that last line arrived immediately. Liiza and Zalpa seemed to have reached a silent understanding, walking together into the Niqols' ship and disappearing behind doors Khan couldn't see from his position.

That development left Khan alone with Ilman, but he kept his blue eyes on the entrance, confused and searching for answers in the mental connection. The intensity of the foreign emotions that reached him fueled his puzzlement, but no amount of thinking revealed possible explanations.

Meanwhile, Ilman silently stepped to his right, eventually leaning to his side to get a better look at Khan's back. Red symbols filled him there, too, but a satisfied expression spread on Ilman's face when he spotted the blue tattoo.

"You saw it ten years ago," Khan complained, unable to deal with his confusion and Ilman's suspicious behavior at the same time.

Ilman didn't immediately answer. He patted Khan's shoulder again, brimming with pride before his loud voice filled the area. "How could I forget? I cheered for you for ten years!"

Khan couldn't help but glance at that loud Niqols. Their friendship didn't have the best beginnings, but their bond was undeniable, and Khan couldn't help but be happy seeing Ilman again.

"Thank you for supporting me and Liiza," Khan exclaimed. "You are a real friend."

"Khan, I spent years chasing after Liiza," Ilman stated in an unusually quiet and serious tone, glancing at the ship's entrance. "I spent even longer working with her after you left. I was losing hope I'd see her real smile again."

The strange urge to hug Ilman invaded Khan, but a different sensation suddenly replaced it, making him frown.

"Do you still love her?" Khan asked.

"My feelings aren't something time can defeat!" Ilman proudly shouted, crossing his arms before throwing a serious look at Khan. "That's why I knew it had to be you. Only you are right for her."

Khan didn't know whether to feel jealous or truly hug Ilman, so he opted for neither. He sighed, scratching his head before defaulting to the Niqols' ways.

"Let's get a drink, shall we?" Khan suggested. "We must celebrate this reunion."

"That's what a true Niqols should say," Ilman laughed, following Khan as soon as he turned to leave.

Khan planned to head directly to the bridge, but a familiar aura touched his senses, making him turn toward a door in the opposite direction.

"Tamara, it's bad to eavesdrop," Khan scolded, and the metal door opened, revealing the little Nele.

Ilman couldn't help but be surprised. That was his first time seeing a Nele, and the connection with that green appearance and that species didn't instantly happen.

"It was loud, Uncle Khan," Tamara muttered, lowering her head in apology.

"I know," Khan chuckled, heading for the little girl. "Uncle Ilman is quite loud."

"Uncle Ilman?" Ilman and Tamara wondered simultaneously.

"That big guy," Khan said, reaching Tamara and kneeling toward her before pointing at Ilman. "He is Liiza's friend and my friend, too."

Tamara peeked past Khan while he caressed her hair, and Ilman did the same, walking toward him. Yet, Khan didn't forget about the pheromones and didn't hesitate to warn him.

"[She is a Nele]," Khan said in the Niqols' language. "[Watch out for her pheromones]."

"[Ooh, a Nele]!" Ilman shouted, confidently advancing. "[Don't worry, my friend. My feelings aren't something-]."

Khan had remained wary of Ilman's advance the whole time, so he didn't miss the moment he entered the range of Tamara's pheromones. The Niqols had merely stepped into her area of influence, but a frown instantly appeared on his face, sparking an internal conflict.

Khan grabbed Tamara's shoulders, ready to carry her away, but Ilman reacted quickly, jumping back and crossing the whole room in one leap before slamming into the opposite wall.

The new distance from Tamara allowed Ilman to deal with that ethereal infection. Luckily, he wasn't exposed to the pheromones for long, so a few deep breaths got rid of his internal struggle, restoring his sanity.

Everything had happened too quickly for Tamara to notice anything. She only saw Ilman's sudden jump and an amazed expression lit up on her cute face.

"Uncle Ilman can jump really high!" Tamara praised, voicing a suppressed complaint when Khan hugged her head to prevent her from seeing his glare at Ilman.

Ilman had calmed down, so he understood his situation and avoided complaining, performing a Niqols' bow in apology. That honesty weakened Khan's glare, especially since the event had confirmed another point.

'At least Liiza isn't his one,' Khan sighed internally, refocusing on Tamara when she started struggling out of his hug.

"Uncle Khan still has to finish talking with his friends," Khan revealed, lightly pinching Tamara's cheek. "Can you be a good girl for a bit longer?"

Tamara nodded but lowered her gaze and voice. "You aren't leaving Tamara, are you?"

"Hey," Khan called, lifting Tamara's head from her chin. "I would never, and neither would Liiza. Do you understand?"

Tamara nodded again, this time with more conviction, earning herself a hug from Khan.

"Good girl," Khan praised, releasing the little girl. "Now go ask Carlos to show you something else."

Tamara nodded for a third time, hesitating a bit before turning to leave. Khan could finally seal the door again at that point, but the time to relax hadn't arrived yet.

The foul presence returned to the area, warning Khan about Zalpa's arrival. Khan also sensed she wasn't with Liiza, but looking at her revealed a few curious details.

Drops of a dense black liquid fell from Zalpa's dirty and long fingernails. Also, she wore a hopeless but serious expression. She kept her eyes on the floor, seemingly lost in thought, but pointing them at Khan added a feeling he couldn't recognize.

The hopelessness was still there, but a trace of anger had joined it, as well as a well-hidden sense of acceptance. Something monumental seemed to have happened, and Khan couldn't focus on it since a foreign, timid happiness seeped through the mental connection, making him look at the entrance again.

"[Khan, go to her]," Zalpa sighed. "[She is waiting for you]."

That was Zalpa's first time using Khan's name after the reunion, but he couldn't focus on that. The seriousness in her voice made Khan too anxious to dwell on that detail or utter his usual warnings. He shot toward the entrance, jumping into the Niqols' ship and following the mental connection.

Zalpa heaved another sigh when she heard a metal door closing behind her. She sat on the floor, supporting her head while mumbling incomprehensible words. The scene worried Ilman, putting him in his most serious stance yet.

"[What happened]?" Ilman asked.

"[Once they are done]," Zalpa said, pure helplessness in her voice. "[Move our things here. She'll need all the support I can give her]."