The Achievement Junkie - 621 Perchet's Chat With Kylon

As The Storm Goddess was about to leave alongside her divine attendants, she turned around to bow her head. “Perchet, what can I do for you?”

“Would you mind if I joined you?” asked the Nocturnal Dragon. “Given our shared circumstances, I wondered if we could gather our candidates together? It would offer another layer of protection for us and give us a person to chat with. Would you mind?”

“That’s fine. I would enjoy the rare company,” replied Kylon, motioning for Perchet to step beside her.

The two gods left the conference room and began walking through a vast hallway. Kylon’s attendant Flood Dragon gods kept close behind them but so close as to impose on their master’s conversation.

Once out of direct earshot of the others, Perchet asked, “Kylon… Are you okay?”

“Of course I am. There’s no need to ask that,” Kylon confidently and calmly replied.

“But your eyes tell a different story,” stated Perchet. “I understand that you don’t need much sleep, but the exhaustion on your face leads me to believe something else.”

“Oh… And what’s that?”

“You don’t seem physically tired but you seem… mentally exhausted. Perhaps you’re trying to sleep but are failing to sleep well?”

“Perchet, there’s no need to–”

“I understand that this is personal, but that’s why I ask. Sometimes, no matter how proud we are, it helps to have a listening ear. And listening happens to be my specialty.”

“Was that a joke?” Kylon chuckled. “Since when have you had a sense of humor?”

Smiling, Perchet responded, “I see no reason for me to entertain Halmut’s wicked thoughts so there’s no reason to smile while handling business. Right now, we’re just chatting, something I believe is rare for the both of us, since the Godly War at least.”

“Right…” Kylon’s chuckles fell into sighs. “I guess chatting isn’t too bad.”

“Feel better after laughing a little? Talking this over will help even more,” reasoned Perchet. “Let’s head to my room first for some tea. Afterward, we’ll use my teleportation circle to reach Fulken and select three divine candidates. Then we’ll bring them back here and repeat the cycle in the depths of Kustram.”

“I… think I’d like that.” Kylon nodded. “It’s been some time since I’ve chatted with another reputable god.”

“Nearly five hundred years.”

“What?” asked Kylon.

Perchet repeated himself, “Nearly five hundred years. That’s how long it’s been since you’ve had a casual conversation with a god.”

“That’s not–”

“Perchet, I haven’t changed. Sure, I may see things a bit differently after what happened to Kustram, but I’m still the same person as before,” stated Kylon in a somewhat teasing voice.

“There it is!” Perchet smiled and pointed to her. “I haven’t heard you talk like that for all this time, so chatting must be helping you. But, Kylon, I do find it somewhat hard to believe…”

When Perchet paused, Kylon couldn’t help but ask, “Find what hard to believe?”

“That you’re the same person as before… Actually, I highly doubt it…” Perchet sighed and shrugged, leaving Kylon unsure of how to respond. “Kylon… what do you think of Skaryn?”

“He killed my people!” Kylon firmly stated. “Skaryn slaughtered an island of his own believers and obliterated my people in the process.”

“But what do you remember before that?”

“What do you mean?”

“What do you remember from your conversations with Skaryn?” Perchet rephrased.

“I… I never talked with Skaryn, so–”

“Impossible.” Shaking his head, Perchet slowed his steps as they neared the door to his room. “You really don’t remember?”

Kylon acted more stern, stating, “Perchet, I never–”

“Then what about your nightmares?”

“My what?!” Kylon shouted without realizing it. “How did… I mean…”

“Believe it or not, I’ve heard you mention it a couple of times during your visits to the chateau.”

“You… That’s not possible.”

“Then did your attendants seem surprised by my statement without question?”

The Storm Goddess nearly bit her tongue in search of something to say. She glanced at her attendants who avoided eye contact and followed her mistress into the room.

Perchet closed the door and mentioned, “Don’t worry, our conversation has been unheard of by the others. I soundproofed the air around us the moment we entered the hallway. And now that we’re here, we can relax and share our true thoughts without fear of the others. No one, not even Halmut, can listen into this room.”

Seeing that Kylon was hesitant to respond, Perchet sighed and placed a tea kettle over a flat, black stone. Upon doing so, an inscription lit up over the stone and the matching kettle. In seconds, the inscription vanished and left the water at a perfect temperature. As Perchet poured numerous glasses for all his guests, Kylon and her attendants took a seat.

When Perchet brought the tray of teacups to the lounging area, he set it down and took a sip from his cup. “Kylon… I want out of legendary gods.”

“What?!” Kylon immediately leaned forward and nearly spilled her tea, as did her attendants.

“I want out of the legendary gods,” repeated Perchet, taking another quick sip. “I’ve wanted out for quite some time, for many centuries in fact. But I only thought it possible recently, so I haven’t acted on that thought until now.”

“What do you mean?!” questioned Kylon, rushing to her feet. Her attendants did the same as they were clueless about what would come next.

“Kylon…” Perchet took one last sip before returning his cup to the small table in front of them. “Do you love Skaryn?”