A week later, the full seven days passing without any sign of Beast activity or issues amongst the worlds within the alliance, saw Xerxes meeting with Virian and Zera on Ice, the two asking him aside privately after a recent gathering with Pyrus, Blaze and Flare. Xerxes raised a brow lightly, seeing only the two females in the training room that was intended now as an incoming teleport location, as several rooms throughout the alliance world palaces or capital ships had been set aside for such, where the Ahr'aht would send supplies when requested, within reason.
Zera and Virian then quickly had Xerxes follow them to Zera's room, the Ahr'aht blinking almost comically but refrained from scanning their minds for their reasons for being secretive. Xerxes went along happily, glad for the distraction from the mundane questions being asked daily, sometimes hourly, by the Firian people through the outreach program. Said program had begun with a few close calls, one where an ambassador from Rock had almost been attacked because of a mistaken motion, the event having Xerxes himself quickly intervening to explain the perceived slight and stopped the fight before it had begun. Several other close calls had occurred, another involved Flare himself nearly being attacked for working and laughing alongside Virian, in which Virian stepped in and rebuked the older Firian male for assuming she was a commoner and treating her as he would a Firian female.
Those events became fewer and fewer as the days had progressed, Xerxes having multiple relay units -the case-like machines with the viewscreens atop them- placed in common areas and some of the more interested and willingly invested members of house Blaze were provided with the new data padds to connect to the Ahr'aht communications and information system. They were given brief overview of what they could do with the devices, encouraged to delve deeper and if they had any issue, that tapping a spot on the side of the metallic portion three times quickly would have an Ahr'aht or Taalrulthian attempt to reach them psionically in order to answer questions or help with navigating the screens.
Xerxes had only a brief moment to look around Zera's private chambers, smirking at the small statuette of Femur on one of the bedside tables, before the two females appeared to relax, though Zera appeared notably uncomfortable. Xerxes' head tilt and curious trill at her let her know he had caught on to her anxiety, the petite Princess sighing and briefly looked to Virian who smiled knowingly and nodded, her smile and motion for Zera to 'go on' alerting Xerxes to something he was familiar with, but had no experience to fall back on.
"I'm certain you know already that... We Iceans go through periods of Molt, instead of the standard continual growth of other species..." Zera started, Xerxes grinning toothily and nodded, shifting into his Icean form, which Virian had not yet seen herself. Galen, hero to the royal family, standing before her in a robe befitting a scholar had the older Icean gaping at him in shock, Zera's reason for bringing him to her room briefly forgotten. Galen, who Virian now understood to be Xerxes, winked at her, moving to carefully move around Zera, observing her and frowning lightly.
"You're not showing any of the signs of such, no lifting or cracking of your exoskeleton?" Xerxes smirked as Zera shook her head, crossing her arms and eyeing him lightly. Virian moved to get a closer look at Xerxes, who chuckled lightly at her. "I take it Cryos didn't tell you?"
"No, he hinted but didn't tell me specifically who you had been... anyway, please continue Princess." Virian blinked, then sheepishly stepped back, Zera smirking and simply shaking her head at the two. Xerxes went serious, able to tell Zera became further anxious and uncomfortable on the topic of Molting as she continued.
"I know I'm of age to expect my adult molt, but I was so young when I had my juvenile molt I don't remember how it happens. Losing mother... I didn't really feel I needed to have many close friends, or attendants really." Zera motioned for them to sit, Virian moving a chair for Xerxes, the two females sitting on the side of her bed with him across from them. He sat forward, elbows on his knees and hands lightly clasped together, focus completely on Zera. Virian was surprised most by his restraint, letting Zera say her piece without going into her thoughts and finding out what she wanted in a breath.
"I know my father has asked Virian to watch out for me, to make certain I'm not alone, but... I don't have anyone here I really trust, not to see me like... that." Her nervousness tinged her voice ever so slightly, Xerxes' antennae straightening up and comically blinking doing nothing to alleviate her anxiety in talking about such a personal topic. Virian almost fell off the bed when Zera had mentioned Cryos, not realizing just how intuitive the Princess was in figuring out the motives of those around her, Xerxes straightened in his seat, closing his eyes for a long moment.
"While I understand your reason for approaching me with this, I... I am just as uncomfortable as you are in talking about such, though my reasons are more as a Uncle would be to a Niece. I couldn't possibly be of more help to you than an Icean who has experienced it before. Have you spoken to Sam on this? She'd be more helpful and objective with her assistance when the time comes." Xerxes' rational response surprised Virian, who still had issues believing Xerxes' restraint and understanding of so many things within the workings of other races was not without his own ulterior motives, Zera perking up at the mention of the Taalrulthian they had all interacted with, if only briefly.
"I... Hadn't thought to ask her. You both will keep this to yourselves?"
"Of course, Sairyllia will only be called in the event something happens that Samateus will not be able to tend herself. And even then, only if an emergency." Xerxes reassured the two, quickly glancing to the door and stood, shifting back to his natural form and promptly moved the chair back by the wardrobe it had sat next to when he entered. Before they could ask why he rose, Zera and Virian turned to the door as a knock lightly rapped on it, Xerxes offering a brief wink to both as Zera called out for the person outside the door to enter. Jade stood at the doorway when it slid open, Zera perking up noticeably, Xerxes and Virian sharing a glance at the exuberance of Zera moving to greet the Empress of Rock.
"I was wondering where you scurried off to, I wanted to talk to you on some of the wedding arrangements before our training." Jade bowed her head, raising a brow at Xerxes and asking wordlessly why he was here, in Zera's room, with two much younger females. Xerxes lightly stuck out his tongue at her with a grin.
"Virian wished to see who I was as an Icean, most private place we could conceive of doing so." Xerxes explained simply, smiling at Zera who directed a 'thank you' at him for his quick and pointed redirection of Jade's concern.
"And I still feel as if I've just been included in some massive joke." Virian grinned herself, Xerxes and Zera chuckling.
"We all have felt that way around this one, in one way or another. I'm just glad he is genuine in his concern and care for the rest of us and our peoples. Ready to try and pin me again?" Jade grinned, Virian smirking at Zera.
"I've been showing her a bit of what her Great-Grandmother had likely learned at her age, you might find she'll surprise you." Virian waggled her eyebrows lightly, Jade smirking herself.
"I welcome the challenge. Xerxes, will you be joining us or did you have someone else who needed you right now?" Jade's smirk never faltered, until she looked to Xerxes with concern ever so slightly marring her brow. Xerxes thought for a moment, shaking his head.
"I don't have anything else for at least an hour. I know your sessions are usually longer, however as it is Cryos who asked to see me later, I don't see any harm in letting him know I'll meet him here instead." Xerxes purred lightly under his speech, letting them know he was fine and quite content, the three females leading the way back to the training room. As they entered, the lights in the ceiling dimming to almost nothing for a moment, a sign that the room was occupied that sent an alert to the Ahr'aht command center with Khilseith to postpone Ice-bound teleport deliveries until the room was clear.
Xerxes found himself sitting by the door and watching as Jade and Virian took up sparring positions, Zera tossing each a staff from the rack near him, either end wrapped with padding to avoid causing injury while training. Zera watched as Virian launched herself at Jade first, Jade expertly dodging and blocking the reversed swipe meant to take her legs out from under her as she spun and tried a counterattack, Virian blocking and using her crouched position to push up and back on Jade's staff with every bit of strength she could muster. Jade fell back, quickly rolling aside and dodging a follow-up, managing to land in a crouch as Virian gave her a moment to breathe, lowering her staff to show a brief truce.
"You fight better than Sternum, he never uses his leg strength like that." Jade grinned, rising to her feet easily. Zera wore an expression of awe for the brief skirmish between the two, Xerxes smirking and half tempted to show the trio what he had been able to do as a Firian.
"Now imagine if I was using two staves and my back arms." Virian grinned, turning to look at Zera.
"I'd rather not, I heard you bested Flare, I now see why." Jade laughed, the trio beginning their training session in earnest as Xerxes watched on quietly.
Xerxes had not realized that he had dozed off until much later, Cryos lightly tapping his shoulder and Xerxes startled, eliciting a string of Ahr'aht profanity as he quickly attempted to calm his overworking heart. Jade and Virian laughed lightly from nearby, Zera smiling but more concerned for the large feathered being.
"I apologize, I hadn't expected to fall asleep. These three have been quite entertaining, I suppose a bit too much." Xerxes cautiously rose, leg-armour re-engaging to add extra support for his still strained right leg. Cryos chuckled while shaking his head lightly.
"Getting a bit too enthralled by the movements of females, should I be concerned for Zera, or warn Graveheart?" Cryos grinned playfully, Xerxes letting out a brief bark and laugh.
"I'm too old for tail-chasing. Besides, these three have more than enough training to wipe the floor with me."
A few minutes later, Xerxes and Cryos bidding the three females a good evening before they went on a walk through the palace halls, briefly stopping in the throne room where Xerxes paused before the painting of himself as an Icean. He chuckled, shaking his head lightly before he moved to follow Cryos through the room, to the back of the hall and through a hidden door leading into Cryos' private chambers. Xerxes had been here before, long ago, the Ahr'aht's pause at the doorway concerning Cryos.
"Apologies... I was here with your Great-Grandmother once, before your father came of age and took her place here. Something made me wish I would see her here, even after..." Xerxes trailed off, looking away in shame, shuddering lightly with his emotional turmoil. Cryos placed a hand on Xerxes' shoulder, nodding his understanding.
"I can relate, coming in here I think of my parents almost daily. It just reminds me of why I'm still here, what I need to do for Zera and our people." Cryos then motioned to the balcony nearby, which opened out onto the outer edge of the palace, just below the highest point of the underground cavern. From here, they could see the entire city below, including the area where Xerxes had sacrificed himself to save Cryos, nearly four decades ago. Xerxes' eyes widened with realisation, seeing the reinforced metallic pillars rising up from either side of the pathway that had been his temporary prison, marking the spot that had been collapsed and rebuilt.
"Galen's pass. Renamed after your sacrifice to save me. The metalwork was inscribed with your name, and has been added to with the names of those who have fallen in battle against the others during the resource wars, and now those against the Beast. Before you ask, yes, both my parents and Grandmother's names are there." Cryos explained, Xerxes swallowing down the emotions of loss that threatened to overwhelm him, smiling after a few minutes, eyes still glassy from unshed tears.
"I am honoured... Admittedly, I loved your Grandmother deeply, more than would be expected of someone toward their savior." Xerxes explained, eyes still focused on the towering pillars, smirking as he realized that the crew there working on the pillars were likely adding the many names of the Firians lost to the Beast in the now week-old incident. "I more than underestimated the temperature difference here, my shield unit barely protected me for the first few hours, she found me huddling in a cave out of the wind during a blizzard, my feathers stiff and coated in ice. Unlike Coal, she intended to kill me right then and there, and I likely would have done nothing to stop her." Cryos' eyes were wide, mouth lightly agape at Xerxes' words, but motioned for him to continue, swallowing the lump that had formed in his own throat.
"That I did nothing to stop her was what made her reconsider, I wasn't a beast, but not of the cluster either... She stayed with me a full day, helping me warm up at first and get the excess ice off my feathers before she offered me some of her blood, after I had explained how my shapeshifting works. I worried that her exoskeleton wouldn't be able to recover, which she reassured me would be possible with minimal issue thanks to the nanite technology you use." Xerxes smiled at the memory, letting the single tear streak from his left eye, which he quickly wiped away. "She gasped when I shifted, which was more smooth than I had expected, saying I looked uncannily like her dead brother. Hence, I became Galen after Gust. The rest, you already know."
"Thank you... For everything you have done, for her, for me... For Zera." Cryos barely held his own sadness, Xerxes resting a hand on his shoulder to help him steady himself.
"I will continue to look out for those who have helped me find a purpose again, no thanks necessary. Though appreciated." Xerxes smiled, gently squeezing Cryos' shoulder and chuckling a bit lightly, straightening his neck and sticking his head out a bit to ensure none were out on balconies near them before he said his next piece. "She knows you had Virian watching her for signs of her Adult Molt, and they hadn't even discussed it yet when Zera asked me aside earlier."
"That's why you were in her room, of course." Cryos chuckled, thanking him for the change in subject and motioning for him to continue, leaning on the railing with his elbows on it and hands lightly clasped together, the two almost mirroring each other in pose.
"I've mentioned for her to reach out to Samateus as well, if Virian is otherwise indisposed when the time comes. Not just because I'm more her Great-Uncle but because I have no experience with such... We molt our feathers infrequently, but nothing so... invasive." Xerxes smirked, Cryos nodding lightly.
"I knew I could trust you in such, I was going to bring it up today as well, thank you for that. She's been alone so long, I feared I had failed her or lost her trust..." Cryos raised a brow at the chuckle from Xerxes.
"Imagine how things will be when my other secret gets out."
"Of course, ruin the moment why don't you." Cryos laughed, playfully pushing the Ahr'aht. "Come, let's get a drink and talk somewhere less... Emotionally taxing."
"Gladly, though I might have to have something teleported over that you might enjoy, Mineral Spirits do nothing for me."