Backdated to February 6th

Chaos-Two had returned from their journey with Khavur, wandering the caves and learning. They'd felt a gut-wrenching sort of anticipation upon their return, the sound of their staff hitting stone echoing loudly in their ears.

For they were going to have their 'test'. They had no idea what it was even going to be. Fighting, stealth, healing- they'd learned so much and it was scary to think that Vargas was going to make a test to put all of that together. They just hoped they didn't fail.

"Water off a duck's back," they mumbled softly, smoothing down the quills atop their head with a hand, "It'll be fine. Failure isn't permanent."

There were plenty of opportunities to try again.

"Master Vargas?", he called out, ears down, trying to not seem nervous and failing.

@Vargas

- THE LEVIATHAN -

Vargas turned, head lifting, and began long, sweeping strides toward the distant voice. He was in a good mood today, and hearing Chaos-Two's return sparked an almost playful humor in him.

Now, if only Orthoclase-Alpha would finally turn back up.

When he came into sight, it was quickly clear that Chaos-Two was nervous. Vargas greeted him with blunt bluster, in a good-natured sort of way. "Chaos-Two! Unless you've somehow killed some of our children, you can relax." He paused in place, leaned down a little and asked, "You didn't kill any of them, I hope-?"

Was it a joke? Hard to tell; his eyes glowed, so any spark of mischief was hard to make out. But there was humor in his tone, and he turned and swept around into a sitting position before Chaos-Two, regarding him with interest.

Others who had been given time to wander the caves had come back to report myriad lessons learned. Cave biomes explored, fighting styles observed, Gembound behavior and drives noted down. But Chaos-Two had only been gone perhaps a week; he didn't expect quite so much from it. Still, he hoped there was something of use, because--as he'd warned his spawn--it wouldn't have much time for travel soon.

"Tell me, then; what have you learned?" he asked, tail's tip flicking behind him.

@V-Chaos-Two

Chaos-Two blinked and held their spear close to their chest, looking awkward and a little like a child who'd broken something, or hadn't taken the chicken out of the freezer.

"Killed-? Oh no, I haven't um... killed anyone," they assured, "I admit most of my journey was spent thinking about the test you told me about. I spent most of the time trying to weigh the options- raise another child for the Chaos Forge or have a name for myself finally. But that's if I succeed, and I worried about that also."

They bit their lip and stared at their hooves, reluctant to admit that they hadn't managed to actually make a choice. On one hand, having a name would be wonderful, but they hated to be selfish. On the other, making a child would be wonderful, but to have it raised under Vargas' militaristic ways? They'd seen what happened to Alpha and were so... scared for Khavur. Was their sibling's mind falling apart too?

But none of that would even matter if they failed. They didn't even know if they'd get a second chance.

"I didn't learn as much as I wanted," they continued, "I practiced what you taught me before and during my excursion, and I went with Khavur and we went to Orion and explored the caves while we went. It was very... well, it was time well spent. I've also acquired a stone, it's of one of the creatures that live in Pegasus, with striped fur and prehensile tails. The ones that cry, 'kooru'."

Chaos-Two presented the stone, a cordierite, belonging to a kooru with blue fur. They were rather fond of it, if nothing else than because they'd killed and retrieved the stone all on their own. A prize, maybe? Or perhaps a way to give life back from where they'd so easily taken it.

@Vargas

- THE LEVIATHAN -

Vargas stared, listening in silence.

From what it sounded like, Chaos-Two had indeed not learned much at all, but that was its problem and not really his. He would have preferred an actual list of caves the babysitter had learned: the biomes were important to learn about. To that end he pressed, a little. "Have you noticed that each cave is its own ecosystem, so to speak? Its own type of weather, and life, and so on--which ones did you visit? What did you learn from them?"

He made no mention of the gemstone, bar the briefest glance at it; he wasn't sure what it mattered, really, though he always appreciated detail in reports.

And then on to the more pressing matter at hand: "And have you decided which path you want to take?" he asked, studying it closely. "Remember, this is a reward given to you very early. In my era it would take decades, even centuries, to earn such a reward: so the next may take some time to come by. Choose carefully." He rocked back on his haunches. "And then tell me this: are you ready for the test?"

If Vargas could grin, he would have; as it was the twist of features was, though exceedingly faint, enough to those who knew him well. He had something planned, that much was for sure--and whatever it was, it did not dampen his mood one bit.

@V-Chaos-Two

Chaos-Two looked up and nodded, "Er... yes, they all do. I've seen some of them before when we came here from that tunnel and went to Leo with Over- Orthoclase-Alpha and the Sentinel. It was interesting to see the other biomes though. The animals and flora are so different and interesting, and the caves themselves."

They bit their lip and looked down, knuckles white as they gripped their staff.

"... A name," they said, "I've thought about it since I was small. Khavur was given a name before they learned to speak. A title too. 'Khavur, Reaver of the Dark Above'. Created to be amazing right out of the chrysalis."

As opposed to them. Born mostly blind with legs that barely functioned and a gemstone that still cut their mouth. Vargas hadn't fixed that either. But then again, they'd worked harder than anyone to prove themselves, pushing until they quite literally dropped.

They weren't going to give up now.

"I'm ready," they said, eyes flicking up and quills fluffing up as if to make them look bigger, ’Maximum effort.’

Hi please note that the threads Chaos-Two is referring to don't exist so they literally can't answer the things Vargas wants Chaos-Two to, and if they do I'm being very vague for that reason. Unfortunately said threads have been delayed.
@Vargas

- THE LEVIATHAN -

Vargas gave a soft snort of amusement at the mention of Khavur's name. "A different sort of creation, and let me admit a touch of vanity on my part. Khavur was my first attempt at a creature... wholly made from nothing," he went on, but as he spoke he was turning, pacing away to face the Black Spire. "And such creatures have a purpose in mind. Khavur will never fulfill that purpose, but others will. And it is a good choice," he added, though of course he'd have let Chaos-Two choose what it wished. "It means you will have a good amount of time to travel, if you choose, before settling in to raise a spawn of your own. Something I would advise," he added. It was not a judgment; the creature simply hadn't had enough time to truly take in the magnificent variation the caves had to offer, yet.

"Now, as for your test." He came to a halt, the edge of his tail flicking as he eyed the Black Spire. "We will begin momentarily. Tell me: what do you think is the single most important lesson that you must teach a new spawn, child or no-?" Vargas asked, and when he glanced at Chaos-Two it was with mischief again in his gaze.

@V-Chaos-Two

Chaos-Two breathed out slowly and nodded gently. They'd considered that. Time to explore, time to think, time to... distance.

"Er... is that a trick question, sir?", they asked timidly.

How to get their own food, water, and shelter was obvious. But maybe Vargas wanted more? Maybe Vargas wanted them to teach a child to utilize their strengths, to figure out their weaknesses before anyone else. To teach them to be a weapon or at the very least useful.

"There's no one answer," they said slowly, "At least, I don't think so. Could you maybe rephrase to be more specific?"

They were definitely nervous about Vargas' look. It was difficult to judge the facial expressions of one who emoted similarly to a rock, which was to say, not at all, or at least very little. But Vargas acting coy? It was a whole new experience, like being presented with some odd food and being asked to tell if it was toxic or not. Dangerous.

@Vargas

- THE LEVIATHAN -

That Chaos-Two sensed some sort of ulterior motive behind the question was a testament to its cleverness, or at least, its empathy. But there was no trick, precisely, and Vargas made no attempt to be sinister or sly as he answered.

"Their first lesson--or shall we say, theoretically, if there is only time to teach a child one. What lesson would you choose to impart? This is not a trick question; obviously, all are important. But pick one, Chaos-Two. I have my reasons."

There was still good nature in it, it seemed--or at least, some sort of amusement.

Whether Chaos-Two would find that reassuring or foreboding, only they could say.

@V-Chaos-Two

Now Chaos-Two knew what to say.

"Survival," they said, "Survival as in eating, drinking, and finding safe shelter, but also to defend against hostiles and to make allies. As much as I can cram into them."

They weren't anymore relaxed but they didn't feel like a deer being stalked. It was strange to have such a feeling despite their 'predator' sitting before them, muscles slack and simply asking questions.

@Vargas

- THE LEVIATHAN -

Vargas listened. He was still, silent, his body language giving away nothing of his thoughts. When Chaos-Two finished, he spoke in booming tones. "A good choice! Anything else can be learned later on, so long as the spawn does not die straightaway. Now, as to your trial. Your test. You are to teach that lesson..."

Vargas began to step backward, to clear the space between Chaos-Two and the Black Spire. "...to her. DRACONUA," he bellowed, turning to face the catacombs in which she rested.

@Draconua