For as long as he could remember falling asleep had always been a problem for Relik.
He could only ever simulate the action when he was exhausted. And even then he would awaken in half the time a normal person would.
Today was no different.
Despite spending the last month either getting the shit beaten out out of him; or him beating the shit out of his legs. He couldn't lay still long enough that he could fully enjoy the rest.
It also served him terribly that getting out of bed required a motivation that seemed to hang just out of reach.
Instead he chose to lay in bed watching as the night brighten and watched as the shadows retreated down the wall of the neighbouring building.
If Wyva was here, he'd make a passing comment of how the sunrise in Rému had no equal. To that Relik would agree wholeheartedly.
It seemed that the every building, every street; was crafted with the sun's movement in mind. Making for stellar scenery every time the sun was out.
It was most unfortunate that he did not plan on venturing out into the city today. He would have enough time to see the people when he was reinstated.
Not that any of it mattered.
He had set himself out in Rému with the intention of bringing justice to everyone that died during his trial. Since then, all he's been granted were distractions and punishment for surviving.
Most didn't seem to care that twenty-two seventeen year olds were murdered in cold blood. Not even given the sanctity of a grave or the religious parity of cremation.
Just discarded pieces of meat left to fester on the floors of a foreign forest.
Conversely, those who did care; were the same ones blaming him for surviving, whilst also claiming him inferior. As though there was anything he could do to help them survive.
Relik ran palm across his shoulders and chest.
This was the ire of his existence.
If he didn't have this his life would greatly improve. According to Wyva he would have higher quality Iké and he would be accepted by Astra. Most importantly of all. He wouldn't be viewed as a commodity to be had.
He would be just like any other teen that succeeded in the trial.
He would be normal.
His self critique was interrupted by the sound of tapping against a window.
He let out a sigh, "go away bird. I have nothing to offer."
The tapping continued with an increased pace.
Relik sat up his face twisted in confusion, "go away several birds."
With another sigh, he swept his legs off his mattress, falling face flat as his they were still very much asleep.
Once he got himself upright he made his way out of his bedroom, at a pace slower than he would like. As soon as he entered his main hall his countenance dropped.
Sitting at the kitchen window staring off into the distance, but still tapping away as though his life depended on it, was Wyva.
The bastard jumped into the kitchen, now that he was standing Relik could get a full look at him.
The Alven was covered in bandages, but Relik being polite refused to ask about it.
But he was going to make fun of it, "You look like a homeless mummy."
Wyva ignored the jab.
"How is your apartment bigger than mine? I have a kitchenette, you have an island," the Alven paused, "with another sink. You have two sinks."
"You got this for me," Relik replied heading towards his living room.
"Well I told my agent I need the typical human apartment," Wyva countered as he rummaged through the cupboards, "didn't realise that this place was an option all along."
"Yeah, not that it matters, can't put any food in the cupboards until I get paid."
"Could have told me this before you invited me in. I don't got food at home either," Wyva shot back, "Jackpot!"
Relik swivelled his head to find the Alven holding up a bag of grain and nuts.
"So how you holding up?"
Relik's eyes fell, "I don't even know man."
"Reasonable, I imagined that your problems would be more psychological than mine."
Relik chuckled then leaned back in his chair, his eyes taking up a sudden interest in the ceiling. The silence of the room feeling less like peace and more like a heavy blanket.
"I just think that if they could get away with using a girl to power a city," Relik finally said. "Then it's only a matter of time before they use me as a nuke. Am I crazy for thinking that?"
Wyva crunched loudly on a handful of grain, the sound echoing in the high-ceilinged room.
"You're not, cause if the system's petty enough to legalise the word Shahari. Then theoretically they could and would pass what ever law necessary to use you as they please."
He hopped down from the counter and wandered into the living room, trailing crumbs, "I'm just baffled that you have two sinks."
Relik didn't move, "I'll probably have to leave those two sinks behind when the Capital's ready for my ass."
"Really? Cause I'll move in ASAP, not even joking," Wyva said, but his tone softening just a fraction.
He sat on the floor, leaning his bandaged back against the sofa, "look we did a bad thing to an even worse person. One thing I trust Jabaani to do is figuring out a way to lie about it. Don't let it keep you awake. That's what the caffeine-pills are for."
"Oh, so she does that often huh?" Relik turned his head to look at his friend, "not gonna lie you look like you're being held together by wood glue."
"I am," Wyva replied proudly, "and I'm still better looking than you."
The statement was followed by a heavy, rhythmic thud on the front door.
Relik sighed, his legs finally finding enough motivation to move, "If that's the Sar, I'm telling him this is your home."
"If that's the Sar, I'm jumping out the window," Wyva muttered, reaching for another handful of grain.
Relik pulled the door open. Standing in the hallway, looking entirely too large for the architecture of the building, was Veech. The Hurc was dressed in a shirt that looked like it was screaming for mercy across his shoulders, and in his massive hands, he held a steaming glass dish.
"Wyva said you were hosting a get together," Veech rumbled, "and that everyone was invited. I didn't have time to get decorations, so I brought a casserole. It's potato-based. Very stable."
Relik blinked, looking past Veech's shoulder into the empty hall, then back at the Hurc. "I didn't invite-"
"Get in here, big guy!" Wyva shouted from the living room, "I was just telling Relik his kitchen was too big for one person."
Relik stepped aside, and Veech shuffled in, ducking his head to clear the doorframe. "Nice place, Relik. Very... symmetrical. Why do you have two sinks?"
"Don't ask," Relik muttered, closing the door, "Is that cheese? I haven't eaten real food in forty-eight hours."
The three of them gathered around the kitchen island. Veech had managed to find a spoon that looked like a toy in his grip, while Wyva had abandoned his bag of nuts for a legitimate plate.
"The secret to a good casserole," Veech was saying, pointing a spoon at Relik, "is the layering. You can't just throw the starch in. It needs a foundation. You don't build a house top to bottom. You know what I mean?"
"I think the secret is the salt," Wyva countered, "Relik, your salt shaker is empty. How do you live like this? It's like living in a desert."
"I don't live like this, I just haven't shopped-" Relik shot back but stopped to throw a scowl at the Alven, "you have even less at your place."
"You don't know that," Wyva replied then quickly changed the topic, "Veech my man. Why are you still in Rému?"
"Oh," the Hurc seemed to become flustered by the question. The two boys shared knowing glances.
"I like the city's infrastructure," Veech lied.
"Oh and by chance is infrastructure Souki's last name," Wyva asked to the chorus of Relik's laughter.
"He requested to be moved from Potaan to Rému the moment we got back" a voice said from the seat directly next to Relik.
Relik's soul nearly exited his body, letting out a strangled yelp. His chair screeching back against the tile as he scrambled away instinctively drawing Iké before he had time to analyze the situation.
Logun was sitting in the stool that had been empty a second ago. He was leaning back, one arm draped over the counter, looking as though he had been there for the last twenty minutes.
He was currently holding the bag of Wyva's grain, inspecting the nutritional label with a look of profound disappointment.
Veech didn't even look up from his casserole.
"You came all this way to leak my business."
"Yes. And this surprisingly delicious," Logun said, as he swallowed, "sit down, Relik. And explain to me why your apartment is bigger than mine."
Relik sighed then did as requested, "are their any other guests, I need to expect?"
"Yes," Wyva nodded then turned to Logun, "and they were all supposed to bring food."
"Almost forgot," Logun grinned then hoisted up a barrel of ale onto the island.
The boys stared at it for a moment before ultimately deciding that it was not worth the argument.
"By the way Wyva, you look like a laundry basket."
An hour had gone and with it more of Wyva's friends from across the city.
The apartment had gone from silent to filled with uncontrolled sections of chatter. At the very least he had food.
People from various occupations and walks of life had congregated to argue about the cost of various products and ferry tickets. Segued into debates of whether the Hurc sector had better bakeries than the Alven sector. An argument spearheaded mostly by Veech and Wyva.
Logun had found a section of ambitious hands who were interested in explanations of efficient distribution of Iké.
For a moment, the memory of Salaam didn't exist.
The decisions of the Sar were inconsequential.
Relik had reverted from a prized piece to just a teenager who's biggest problem was ensuring that no one threw up on his carpet.
By the time they were all satisfied with their gathering the sun began to dip lower, casting long, orange shadows across the kitchen island.
They were back down to four Logun stood up his eyes groggy, his breath rank with the stain of alcohol.
"Enjoy the day off tomorrow, guys."
Veech chuckled to himself, "that was today boss."
Logun paused with narrowed eyes before turning to Relik, "I'll see myself out."
"Don't worry, I'll make sure he doesn't drop asleep in your stairwell," Veech said escorting the man to the door, "don't forget to add salt to your shopping list."
Relik let the sound of the two struggling to make it down the hall way die off before turning to the Alven.
"Thanks by the way."
"You owe me one."
Relik snorted then moved to his living room to straighten up his furniture.
He could admit that this was a welcomed distraction in his life. It gave him a peace of mind that he assumed impossible when he crawled into bed last night.
This brought his life back into perspective.
If the system didn't have him, then he could at least rely on his makeshift friend group to keep him grounded.
Somehow that was enough for him.
"Hey Wyva," Relik looked up towards his kitchen, only to find that his last companion had fallen asleep on the countertops.
Relik smirked, before tossing a throw pillow at him. The sudden attack jolted him awake and lead to him crashing onto the floor.
"Wake up! You gotta help me clean this shit."