Chaos Heir

Chapter 1237 Doku

"[Turn around]," Ilman ordered. "[Let me see]."

Khan couldn't help but feel a bit on the spot. He believed he had grown used to fame and attention. He had even hosted a tournament in front of a massive crowd, but that specific situation gave birth to some unfamiliar anxiety.

Nevertheless, Khan complied, facing Ilman to show his attire. He had donned one of Ilman's dark grey robes retrieved from the Niqols' ship, and the two had done their best to adjust it to fit him. The clothing was casual and comfortable, but the situation added an official vibe to it.

"[You look like a proper Niqols]," Ilman proudly approved, slamming his hands on Khan's shoulders. "[We even adopted the same style. We truly are lifelong friends]!"

Khan felt the urge to complain, especially about Ilman's unnecessarily loud voice, but the truth was evident for everyone to see. Due to a twist of fate, Ilman had also adopted sleeveless clothing, matching Khan's latest style choices.

"[I guess we are]," Khan sighed, even if a genuine smile appeared on his face. "[By the way, Ilman, thank you for doing this. I know you didn't have to]."

"[Nonsense]," Ilman scoffed, crossing his arms. "[It's my honor to be your best man! Who else better than me to do it]?"

'George, Doku,' Khan half-thought while grabbing his cup on the control desk. Jokes aside, Ilman was perfect for the job, and having learned about his reasons behind the trip with Zalpa only deepened that point.

"[I wasn't talking about that]," Khan explained, lifting his glass to wait for Ilman.

"[It was the best choice]," Ilman said, using a more mature tone while seizing his cup to perform a Niqols' toast. "[My tribe always dealt with fusing alien arts to ours. I understand a species' prowess better than others, so I know we aren't ready for a war]."

It turned out Ilman had volunteered to help Zalpa in her secret search for Liiza. That didn't exactly count as treason, but it could come close to it depending on its outcome.

Ilman's point was also reasonable. The Niqols had faced the sunlight merely ten years ago. The tragedy had dealt a heavy blow to their species, leading to a complete overhaul of their society. They had grown strong since then, but a decade wasn't enough to recover and become able to afford a war.

That wouldn't even be any war. Humankind had shared troubling knowledge after the arranged marriage, telling the Niqols and Kros exactly what they were up against.

Ilman also knew Khan. The latter wouldn't have given up on Liiza so easily, so meeting him as a friend was the only way to avoid the worst-case scenario.

"[I also wanted to meet you again]!" Ilman laughed, resuming shouting. "[This is exactly the reunion I hoped for]."

Ilman's laugh became infectious, making Khan fall prey to it and imitate him. The two turned toward the bridge's exit at the same time, leaning on the control desk while a pensive mood gradually descended.

"[What happens if the Niqols don't want to hear our reasons]?" Khan asked.

"[You didn't do anything wrong]," Ilman reassured. "[Both you and Liiza have followed your feelings. That's something every Niqols was taught to respect and protect]."

The topic was inevitably hard on Ilman. He was an intense guy, a loyal follower of the Niqols' customs. Many even believed he embodied what a true Niqols should be back in [The Pure Trees]. Yet, reality wasn't so simple, especially when politics came into play.

"[But]," Ilman continued. "[A true Niqols also serves his species despite his feelings. We complete our duty and celebrate later, be it for joy or sorrow]."

Khan glanced at his almost empty glass, knowing full well what Ilman meant. After all, some of his fondest memories were from Nitis, where he fought, loved, and celebrated according to the Niqols' ways. He knew that species, which was why he didn't hold much hope for a positive resolution.

"[I guess we'd find out who's faster now in that case]," Khan eventually exclaimed, gulping down his glass.

"[I couldn't have said it better]," Ilman claimed, also emptying his drink before wearing a confident smirk.

A pensive silence spread again. The day since Ilman and Zalpa's arrival had been quite full. The two Niqols had shared everything they knew once they were done moving their cargo to Khan's ship, and the problems weren't minor.

The Niqols' ship had been the easiest issue to deal with. Ilman had simply set the autopilot to send it flying in a random direction, hoping it would act as a decoy, but that was the end of the solvable problems. All the others could only be discussed.

"[Is Doku really looking for me]?" Khan wondered.

"[He is an excellent warrior and Chief]," Ilman explained. "[He also knows you. He was the perfect choice to lead the scouts looking for you]."

Doku had always been a loyal soldier. His seriousness often made him argue with Azni, so Khan could easily believe he had risen through the military ranks, becoming a [Chief]. Khan couldn't think of anyone from his generation more deserving of the role.

Nevertheless, the Niqols had actually put Doku in charge of finding Khan and Liiza. That was undoubtedly smart, but Khan's heart couldn't help but grow heavy. He didn't resent Doku for going through with that mission. Khan was scared of what he would be forced to do if and when he met him.

Liiza's revelations and fond memories inevitably popped into Khan's brain. Doku and Azni had been his first real friends on Nitis, and they were now married and with kids. Killing Doku wouldn't only hurt Khan. It would also turn Azni into a widow and leave her two children without a father.

That wasn't something Khan wanted to have on his already tainted conscience. Ideally, he wouldn't fight Doku at all, but that possibility became more real by the day, and the reason for that soon arrived, pushing away those troubling thoughts.

The bridge's entrance opened, revealing two figures. Liiza had donned a clean white robe, which had miraculously ended up in Zalpa's wardrobe. Meanwhile, Tamara was wearing a simple, makeshift white dress sewn from bigger clothes.

Both Liiza and Tamara's attire was quite improvised, but the ships didn't have anything better to offer. Still, Liiza didn't mind and, looking at Khan, told her that he didn't, either. The event's nature added a magical vibe on its own, so the simple white robe became the most beautiful dress in the world for Khan.

The cute Nele holding Liiza's hand reminded Khan of another issue, and his glowing gaze snapped to his right, but Ilman promptly nodded at him.

"[I drank the potion]," Ilman whispered, reassuring Khan and allowing him to refocus on the two girls.

"Aren't you the cutest maid of honor in the universe?" Khan announced, and Tamara failed to contain herself, letting go of Liiza's hand to run toward him.

"Liiza did my hair," Tamara excitedly revealed when Khan crouched down to stand face-to-face with her. "Instead, Aunt Zaza made the dress."

"Aunt Zaza, huh?" Khan voiced, glancing at the smiling Liiza walking toward him. "How nice of her."

"But," Tamara muttered, tilting her head in confusion. "She also said not to trust any human ever. Aren't you human, Uncle Khan?"

"Don't think too much about it," Khan awkwardly laughed, lightly pinching Tamara's cheek. "Aunt Zaza is a bit old. She says strange things at times."

Tamara didn't look convinced, but Liiza had arrived at that point and came to Khan's aid.

"Why don't you go with Uncle Ilman to the cargo area?" Liiza suggested. "Khan and I will come soon and start the ceremony."

"Okay!" Tamara nodded, turning and waiting for Ilman to reach her, lifting her arm toward him.

Ilman glanced at the couple in confusion, only to find two glares darting between him and Tamara's hand. He eventually oohed, taking that small palm in his fingers to accompany Tamara outside.

"Uncle Ilman, you are warmer than Liiza," Tamara chirped.

"My raging feelings make me hot," Ilman laughed.

"No, you are still cold," Tamara commented, forgetting about the topic entirely while the bridge's door closed behind her.

Khan and Liiza chuckled at the scene, but their remaining alone brought their gazes to each other. She didn't hesitate to wrap her arms around his head, diving her hands into his hair and studying him.

"Ilman undid all my braids," Liiza complained. "I'll have to redo them tonight."

"I don't know if we'll find the time tonight," Khan joked.

Liiza feigned ignorance while still nodding in agreement, leaning in for a simple but long kiss.

"Aunt Zaza?" Khan wondered once Liiza placed her forehead on his. "Really?"

"I'm starting to think children are her soft spot," Liiza guessed. "That would explain many things."

"I'll never call her anything but Aunt Zaza from now on," Khan swore, making Liiza explode into a laugh.

"Wait until she marries us first," Liiza cutely scolded, retracting her head. "She might refuse out of spite otherwise."

"No, she won't," Khan shook his head, keeping Liiza's waist close. "Nothing will stop us from getting married today."

"Are you saying that just to get between my legs?" Liiza teased, smirking. "You already got me pregnant, you know?"

"I was ready to marry you ten years ago," Khan admitted in a burst of honesty. "Now that I'm here, I feel that everything since I left Nitis was just to prepare me for this day."

A tremor ran down Liiza's spine, making her lose control of her body and dive into Khan's mouth again. A second, more passionate kiss unfolded, ending only when the couple risked removing their clothes.

"[That honesty of yours will be my doom]," Liiza whispered, her half-closed eyes telling a story on their own.

"I've already knocked you up," Khan shrugged his shoulders, switching to the human language in the hope of restoring some self-restraint, "And we are about to get married. I'd say we are past that point."

"What's knocked you up?" Liiza frowned.

"Getting you pregnant," Khan explained, understanding the confusion.

"Is it like that silver plate where your head had to go?" Liiza wondered.

"Something like that," Khan guessed, "But I think we are past that point, too."

Liiza giggled, pursing her lips while forcing herself to leave Khan's hug. Yet, she remained before him, lifting her left hand and inviting Khan to take it. He didn't hesitate to seize it, and the couple walked toward the bridge's exit, heading for their marriage.

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