Chapter Text
K’rae straightened up from his hunched over stoop, leaning away from the newest scroll, and grunted with the effort. He turned his head towards the window, admiring the way the sunlight reflected through the aetheryte crystal in the plaza of Ala Gannha. It was here, a stone's throw away from Rhalgr’s Reach, that the New Fist of Rhalgr had taken up residence, so it would be here that he would recover from his injuries.
It had been a few days since the Liberation of Ala Mhigo, and almost as many days since he had tenured his resignation from day-to-day operations of the Scions. He would continue to act in his capacity as the Warrior of Light, but he had fought long and hard to liberate his father’s homeland, and would take his time to enjoy the fruits of those labours.
It had been the sound of his fellow monks and villagers going about their business - a rarity in the settlement these days - which had drawn him out of the scroll before him. As riveting as high priest Heimart’s thoughts on meditative practices were, there was only so much reading K’rae could stomach before his eyes began to wander.
K’rae winced as he moved the lectern from his lap and swung himself out of bed. After some effort, he eased himself over to the window. In the plaza, he saw monks leading the older residents through a group exercise designed to encourage balance, reduce stress, and increase flexibility.
He sighed and placed his hand against the window, longing to be out in that sun. Most of his own injuries had healed by this point. He had argued that more than anything he was just stiff from days of bed rest, and a good walk would have done him good, but he had been pursuaded otherwise by his carers.
Instead, he had been confined to a room in Ala Gannha with all the reading materials that he had retrieved from that vault in the palace of Ala Mhigo - as Foremost Fist, one who had opened all fourteen chakra, he and he alone could be granted access to this reading material, and now he had the unenviable task of vetting the documents to determine if it was safe for the consumption of his fellow monks.
It had been a few days, and while he had made some remarkable headway on his project, he felt he was in over his head with some of these concepts. Other more senior monks, all long dead, who had all opened their fourteenth Chakra had tried to describe the indescribable sensation of seeing the flow of Chakra, and their words felt flat when compared to the sheer majesty of seeing it in motion. He only had one other person to speak to who had seen things in that manner before, but H’raha had mysteriously disappeared after they had returned to Ala Gannha. All he had left was a note saying that he had to go find himself.
K’rae opened the window to let some air circulate, and watched the surprisingly graceful form of Widargelt as he flowed from step to step and loudly led the residents through their exercises.
That alone was a sight worth the aches and pains - seeing the New Fist of Rhalgr out in the open, practicing where the people could join them. The man was smiling as he called upon others to join him. K’rae stepped back a little from the window… and then slowly raised his arms as he joined in on the exercise. His shoulders and back clicked in protest as he stretched and tried to expand his range of motion beyond turning pages and occasionally turning for meals. He let his mind wander to the teachings he had been sifting through, as his body flowed through the steps.
After a few repetitions, K’rae was in a world of his own, and blissfully unaware of the door opening behind him, or the sound of footsteps. He turned, stepped with the flow, and– saw Tchakha staring at him over the tray of food she had brought in, smiling gently at the sight.
“And what do you think you’re doing out of bed?” she teased, catching him in the act. “You know Krile said no extraneous movements.”
K’rae looked somewhat embarrassed, and said, “Yeah, but she also said not to strain myself. I’m feeling nothing but strained with all these texts…”
Tchakha gestured for him to sit on the bed. “Very clever, but we both know that’s not what she was getting at. Come now, shirt off,” she added, setting the tray down on a nearby counter.
K’rae obliged, unbuttoning his bedshirt as he sat down, revealing bandaged wounds and salved aether burns. The appearance of the captured Shinryu atop the palace of Ala Mhigo hadn’t nearly been as surprising as Zenos’ absorption of the primal’s aether, and fusion with the creature’s form.
However, after K’rae slew the dragon, the Viceroy finished the deed himself, and put himself out of everyone’s misery. Along with himself, Zenos killed any hope of the imperial war machine to withstand the crushing force of the Ala Mhigan Resistance.
Tchakha got to work removing K’rae’s bandages and redressing his injuries. He winced as she reapplied salves to the burns.
“For the Warrior of Light and Foremost Fist,” Tchakha teased quietly, eyes on her handiwork, “you certainly do squirm a lot when someone’s taking care of you. Arms.”
“I should be out there, helping people,” K’rae complained, gesturing to the world outside of his window, before offering her his arms to redress.
“You’re helping Zentsa and I to no end by staying where we can keep an eye on you,” she assured him. “Shouldn’t that be your top priority right now?” she added with a knowing smile.
K’rae sighed softly, knowing when he was beaten. “Yes, dear; Of course, dear,” he said in a teasing tone of his own.
“Good boy,” she assured him, with no hint of sarcasm as she tied off the bandage. He blushed as the praise ran through him, and raised his hand to cup her cheek. She kissed his palm and leaned into his hand, closing her eyes with a soft sigh.
Not too long after, K’rae was sitting back in bed, with Tchakha curled up against his side and resting her head against his shoulder while he ate. She was looking through the notes K’rae had taken on today’s allotment of scrolls.
Yes, it was awkward, and yes, it was inconvenient, but K’rae would not have things any other way. If anything, he would have Zentsa on the other arm, rendering him unable to eat comfortably.
“We will need a proper library to keep these findings in,” Tchakha mused, leafing through his paperwork.
“And someone to maintain them,” K’rae agreed.
There was a brief pause of thought, before both of them agreed, “Maybe not Erik.”
“But if we opened up a library, maybe we could host some of his private collection?” Tchakha mused.
“Mmh,” K’rae agreed. “I’d love a chance to cross-reference any of his books.”
Tchakha looked up at him in surprise, her ears pinned back.
“What?” K’rae asked curiously.
“That… is oddly attractive coming from you. Would you... look me in the eye and say that again?” she asked, lightly scratching his bicep with her nails. Her eyes were fixed on his face, and her cheeks flushed as she tried to hide a grin.
K’rae looked a little surprised by that, and then grinned knowingly. “What was that about strenuous activity?” he asked as he set his plate aside.
Tchakha set the notes aside and moved to straddle his lap, one hand on the headboard and the other under his chin. K’rae met that gaze and grinned warmly, slipping his hands around her waist.
“Trust me,” Tchakha said, her voice low with warmth. “I’ll handle all the work. Just say it ag- –?”
The door opened, admitting Zentsa into the room. She was carrying a letter, and was already speaking as the door swung in.
“Hey, sweethearts? There’s a letter here for –” she began, before looking up.
K’rae was still shirtless. Tchakha was still atop him, still straddling his lap and leaning towards him with her hands on the headboard. Seeing her lovers in a compromising position, clearly on the verge of something intimate, Zentsa slowly closed the door behind her. Without looking, she then latched it, while keeping her eyes on the pair of them.
“... It’s exactly what it looks like,” K’rae said, seeing that honesty was the best policy here.
“Oh, it better not be,” Zentsa frowned, setting the letter down on the bedside. She moved to kneel on the edge of the bed. “You’re not having ‘Glad you’re not dead’ sex without inviting me,” she grumbled, already unfastening her shirt. “Now scootch over!”
Tchakha laughed brightly and moved to straddle a leg, giving Zentsa space to arrive, and kissing her sweetly as she planted her hand on the other side of K’rae’s shoulder. She was flushed with embarrassment as K’rae stroked her arm, but settled as he leaned forward and kissed her on the lips.
“... I’m glad you’re okay,” she said, sincerely, as they separated, and she gently pushed him back against the headboard…
Some time later, the trio were a tangle of limbs with K’rae in the middle. He sighed and stroked his hand lovingly up Tchakha’s waist. She stretched her arm up behind her head and combed her hand through his hair. K’rae responded by kissing up the side of her neck.
Zentsa, who was clinging fiercely to him from behind, kissed him between the shoulderblades. She grumbled against his shoulder as kisses seemed to not convey what she wanted in that moment, and resorted to biting his shoulder gently. K’rae’s hand travelled down Tchakha’s side, to her hip, and then made the transfer to Zentsa’s thigh. That seemed to satisfy, and she kissed that stricken spot as thanks.
“Mmmh,” she murmured as she lifted her head up. “Letter for you. On the bedside.”
“Busy,” K’rae purred between kisses on Tchakha’s neck and throat. “I’ll read it later…”
Tchakha heaved a playfully put-upon sigh and reached over to the bedside, pulling open the letter and sought to read it while K’rae lavished her with affection.
Tchakha’s eyes scanned the page, pausing briefly when her beloved found a good spot on her shoulder, and resumed with a delightful shiver and a clearing of her throat.
“Rae, this looks important…” she breathed, trying to keep the page steady despite his best efforts to distract her.
“Not as important as you both right now,” K’rae assured her, leaning away and keeping a hand on her thigh as he rolled atop a giggling Zentsa to give her the same level of attention.
“Alright, you charmer,” Tchakha sighed, rolling her eyes playfully as she laid on her back, into the space K’rae had vacated. “At least listen to this?”
“I promise you I’m listening,” K’rae assured her as Zentsa wrapped her arms around him.
Tchakha sighed, and sat up against the headboard and stroked a hand through K’rae’s hair with her free hand. Once she was settled, she began to read.
Dear K’rae,
Arenvald here - Hope this letter finds you well? Or at least better than the state I saw you in last. Heard the news from Hoary and Coultenet. I’ve been spending my time after the attack on Ala Mhigo exploring, so I missed the announcement.
While I understand your reasoning, we’ll miss seeing you around the Rising Stones. Don’t take that as an incentive to stay, of course - after routing the imperials and liberating Ala Mhigo, I reckon we’ve earned a little respite, and you’ve got to do what’s right for you and yours. Who knows, if you do decide the monastery life is for you, maybe you can give the rest of us with the Echo a little chance to shine, eh? Haha!
Anyroad, I just wanted to gauge interest in a little adventure I had planned. After all, you and I were “adventurers” before we joined the Scions, were we not? And what better way to spend it than by returning to our roots. Alphinaud overhead me planning this little excursion, and already invited himself onboard. Given how things have been between you and the Scions as of late, I thought it best to warn you.
K’rae groaned as if a good thing had been ruined. Tchakha scratched him behind the ear as he came up for air.
“It was going so well,” K’rae grumbled.
“I know, darling,” Tchakha said in a consoling tone as Zentsa kissed his cheek. “Do you want me to keep reading about what he had in store?”
“Alright, keep going,” he said, before leaning back in to bury himself in Zentsa’s neck again.
I know you know your history, and know the King of Ruin’s in particular, but for a bit of context; In the latter years of his rule, he was seized by the unshakable belief that unseen forces were conspiring to steal his crown. And so he ordered that every soul with a claim to the throne be executed ─ including his own family.
The wealth of the poor sods he put to death became the property of the king, and it's said that these royal treasures were hoarded somewhere in the palace. Thus was born the legend of the “mad king's trove.”
Following Ala Mhigo's liberation, more than a few eager soldiers turned the palace upside down in hopes of claiming an easy fortune, but even after scouring every room from dawn till dusk, they uncovered not a single coin. Their gold-lust drained away as quickly as it had come, and the legend of the mad king's trove remains simply that ─ a legend.
That’s where we come in -- I have no intention of letting the story end there. Imagine: the three of us, delving into a decades-old mystery! Tell me the thought doesn't set your heart to racing!
Anyway, I get it if you say no. It’s been a rough ride for you, and I wouldn’t put it past you if you didn’t want to reunite with the lad so soon. If it’s a no on this one, I’ll keep you in mind for the next.
Next time you and yours are in Mor Dhona, we’ll buy you a round.
-Arenvald
Tchakha looked over to her side where K’rae was leaning up from the bed, despite Zentsa’s whine of complaint as he stopped plying her with affection.
“Should I decline the invite for you?” Tchakha asked.
“I'll send him a letter soon,” K’rae assured her, shaking his head. “He and the others deserve that much,” he added as he cupped Zentsa’s cheek.
Tchakha moved to cuddle their boyfriend from behind while Zentsa playfully nipped at his thumb and looked him in the eye.
“You've got all the adventure you could want right here,” Zentsa pointed out, taking his hand and moving to place it over her own heart.
Tchakha nodded in agreement, nuzzling against his back as she agreed. “Could we go on an adventure together soon? Just the three of us?” Tchakha offered with a bright smile.
“We have ruins to explore,” K’rae mused, “and I want to bring you both to Kugane. It's really beautiful there…”
“All wonderful ideas, which we should save for when you're fully healed,” Tchakha nodded, stroking her hands over his arms and shoulders despite herself.
“Well, if I'm to be confined to bedrest,” K’rae chuckled warmly, “the least you can do is give me ways to keep fit.”
“Don't you worry about that,” Zentsa grinned, raising her arms to link fingers with Tchakha on his shoulders. She squeezed invitingly. “We can probably think of a few ways…”
“Now, Zentsa,” Tchakha warned in a manner that suggested she wasn't entirely against what was being proposed, “we have our own duties to the Fist to attend to as well… Besides, he needs time to recover…” she kissed the back off his neck and pressed up against him a loving embrace.
Zentsa looked down, and then back up with a vicious grin. “Not that much time, it would seem…”