Chapter 1335: Cauldrons
The Niqols had a slightly different interpretation of the evolution compared to humankind, but Liiza’s words had still hit the mark. Both she and Khan had yet to achieve their full potential, and ti was running short.
Of course, Khan and Liiza had their respective reasons for that delay in their training. Khan couldn’t make any aningful progress while inside artificial environnts, and Liiza had the pregnancy to prioritize.
Liiza had tried to start using the Niqols’ training thods on Khan during the trip, but the pregnancy had gotten in the way there, too. She needed too many supplies, so the couple had to abandon the idea almost right away.
Yet, Yeza was born now, and the couple had to stay on that unnad planet until the technicians fixed the special ship. That probably wouldn’t give Khan and Liiza enough ti to beco actual evolved warriors, but it could act as a good first step toward that final realm.
Needless to say, Khan didn’t worry about himself. His evolution was pretty much done. His problem was and had always been about quantity, and he already had the tools to solve it at his disposal. Khan simply needed ti.
Instead, that significant step promised to be more problematic for Liiza. Evolved warriors were rare for a reason, and Liiza’s knowledge and expertise could only lower the dangers of the process so much.
Moreover, Khan didn’t forget Liiza’s vow during their marriage. Her elent promised to make her beco sothing that barely counted as alive. She had already started moving toward that terrible goal, too, inevitably deepening Khan’s worry.
Still, Khan’s warmth detector noticed his darker thoughts and woke up, filling the small, dim room with her shrill cries.
“[You made our daughter cry again],” Liiza scolded, rocking the baby between her arms in an attempt to calm her down. “[You have such an apprehensive Papa].”
“[Papa is sorry],” Khan whispered, helping Liiza in that rocking motion. “[I’ll stop worrying as soon as Mama reassures ].”
Little Yeza kept crying, but neither Khan nor Liiza worried too much about it. If anything, they smiled seeing that their daughter had such a healthy reaction and perceptive senses.
“[I’m not who I was on Nitis anymore],” Liiza reassured, continuing to rock the baby. “[I’m not Liiza of the Niqols now. I’m your wife].”
“[So, no more turning into ice]?” Khan asked.
“[Ice is my path],” Liiza stated. “[But you and Yeza have changed it. My feelings won’t allow to beco who I was supposed to beco].”
Liiza’s answer was unclear, but that probably ca from her uncertainty. She didn’t know what her evolution would imply, either, but was sure it wouldn’t lead to her worst fears anymore.
“[It’s you who I’m worried about],” Liiza revealed, continuing. “[I know you won’t give yourself ti to explore your elent. Perhaps I should set up rules like back then].”
Khan understood where Liiza was coming from. He had the inclination to push his needs to the backseat to prioritize his loved ones, and that selfless but troubleso habit was bound to intensify now that his daughter had been born.
“[Co on],” Khan jokingly said while Liiza sensed the slight panic in his mind. “[We don’t need to involve your legs in this. I will work out every ti I have the chance. I want to learn what I can do, too].”
“[Of course you will],” Liiza confird, pointing a chilling smile at Khan. “[And I’ll guide you every step of the way to make sure you won’t do sothing stupid that will undo all my work].”
“[I admit I don’t mind this student-Guru scenario],” Khan comnted, obviously hinting at sothing impure.
Liiza exploded into a laugh, resting on Khan while the two continued caring for the still-crying Yeza. Of course, she ant every word, which also applied to the current situation.
“[Did the party start]?” Liiza asked.
“[It might have],” Khan revealed. “[I didn’t really keep track of ti while you and Yeza slept].”
“[Don’t even try],” Liiza scolded, knowing what Khan’s sweet words’ true purpose was. “[Kiss and go. We can’t risk insulting the Niqols again].”
“[Our daughter needs ],” Khan said, his voice gaining a childlike tone. “[Don’t you? Mama doesn’t want Papa to spend ti with his family].”
“[Mama needs to feed you],” Liiza reminded, “[And she will join Papa outside when she is ready].”
Liiza then looked at Khan, addressing him as if she were speaking to Yeza. “[Mama wants everyone to see Papa’s family].”
“[I’ll go],” Khan agreed, nodding. “[I’ll just say goodbye to my beautiful wife and daughter first].”
Liiza smiled, welcoming the incoming kiss, and her expression sweetened when Khan leaned toward Yeza, kissing her small head, too.
The married couple didn’t exchange the usual jokes afterward. They looked at each other while Khan jumped off the bed, and Liiza’s white light illuminated him until he exited the room.
The outpost was empty upon Khan’s return in the open. He had given the order to help and join the party to his forces before isolating himself inside the room, and his soldiers had complied.
However, exiting the do revealed a troubleso but unavoidable arrangent. The Niqols had set up two fuming cauldrons and had placed makeshift seats and cups everywhere. The human soldiers had also accepted the drinks, but the crowd remained split into two different groups.
Khan almost felt he had returned to his first parties on Nitis when the human team was hesitant and distrusting of the Niqols. Even Wayne and Deni suffered from that problem since the Niqols seed inclined to avoid them. Khan had to break the ice there, and he wasn’t the only one with that mindset.
A figure among the Niqols group stood alone, sitting on a tal box while awaiting sothing. That sothing arrived when the dark do opened, making him stand up and approach one of the cauldrons to fill two drinks.
Khan walked through the now-open camp without greeting anyone, even ignoring all the attention he attracted. He also avoided replying to Wayne’s inevitable shout, reaching the second cauldron and the figure still waiting for him.
“[I was afraid you had lost your taste for booze],” Doku announced, offering one of the cups in his hands to Khan.
“[As if that could happen],” Khan scoffed, accepting the cup. “[Besides, Liiza kept telling how good you had beco. I had to try it myself].”
Doku didn’t add anything and rely held his drink forward, and Khan t it with his cup, his glowing eyes locked on the source of the white glow to perform a traditional Niqols’ toast.
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