Chaos' Heir Chapter 1491: Choice

Relationships when the evolved realm was involved were indeed plex, but each situation was unique.

In most cases, the evolved side would lose interest in mortal matters due to its vastly different perspective. It was like asking a dragon to understand the concerns of an ant. The two saw the world so differently that they couldn’t possibly find mon ground.

Khan had faced that problem with Monica, and, despite never losing interest and his best efforts to remain involved with her way of life, he simply couldn’t. Her very life had begun to appear so inconsequential that he struggled to see any value in it.

That culminated in the issue with Princess Rachel. Khan knew a relationship with her had always been impossible, but he had been willing to consider it for political reasons.

Khan’s concept of love pletely conflicted with that, but his standards had bee so high that he had been ready to give up on meeting them altogether.

It had taken Liiza’s reappearance to make that option viable again, and she and Khan still had to pay a hefty price, something that even Yeza’s birth couldn’t just cancel.

Khan would carry his guilt his whole life, relying on time and family love to turn it into nothing more than a fading scar on his soul.

The same went for Liiza. Her species and way of experiencing feelings made her jealousy deeply irrational and profound, almost turning it into a curse that would afflict her throughout her life.

Yet, Khan and Liiza had found a way to work through that price, and something told him that Ilman and Jenna might be able to do the same, even if the former entered the superior realm.

That was due to Jenna’s broad perspective and Ilman himself. His relative simplicity didn’t allow deeper problems to appear. It seemed Ilman didn’t see any difference between mortals and evolved warriors. His feelings wouldn’t suffer over such trivial things.

Of course, that wasn’t to say Ilman and Jenna had it easy. The opposite, actually. Khan couldn’t call them lucky since he knew what both of them had to go through. In a way, they had already paid a heftier price than Khan and Liiza’s.

Jenna was a Nele, and her talent made her suffering go far beyond her species’ tragic history. She had to endure more intense urges all her life, suppressing them even when she found someone suitable, so that she could eventually let Khan go.

Meanwhile, Ilman had seen the literal love of his life slip through his fingers after chasing after her for years. He had been forced to change his very concept of that magical emotion to find happiness in seeing Liiza fulfilled with someone else.

That couldn’t have been easy, and Khan knew another truth. Despite Ilman making light of it, the years spent after the catastrophic sunlight had to have weighed on his mind.

After all, Ilman had spent that decade supporting Liiza while diving with body and soul into the Niqols’ customs, attending hundreds of parties, and abiding by their traditions.

The best men in the universe could lose themselves in those decadent practices, especially when pursued for ten years, but Ilman didn’t. Still, he had to live through that anyway to find a match for his feelings.

That understanding made Khan dismiss the matter altogether. It wasn’t his place to meddle in others’ relationships anyway. Also, if Ilman said things would be fine, Khan had to trust him.

If anything, Khan was glad he and Ilman were on the same page. It turned out Khan had no reason to worry or hesitate at all. He didn’t even have to make his request anymore, since Ilman had already agreed to it.

"Well, I see no problem with that," Khan exclaimed. "If that’s what you want, I’ll work something out. It’s actually reassuring knowing that you’ll fight as an evolved asset."

"Thank you, my friend!" Ilman cried, seemingly wanting to rip off Khan’s shoulder, only for it to remain pletely still. "I apologize for causing such problems. I knew you relied on me to take care of the migration, but I must fight."

"The universe isn’t the same as before," Khan reassured. "Almost everyone is cooperating now. It should be easier to handle and even quicken the migration as things stand."

Khan had announced his intentions to give the Nele a key position in the war, so he could also ask forces in the allied front to facilitate their migration. Getting them to Coravis safely wouldn’t be a problem. Actually, it was in the regulated universe’s best interest to improve their work conditions.

"But why is that?" Khan wondered. "I thought you would have preferred to stay with Jenna and your kid. That’s what George has chosen."

"George’s choice is honorable," Ilman declared, finally letting go of Khan’s shoulder, "And enviable, but I can’t stay behind. I want to protect Jenna, her species, and the Niqols, too. I can only do that by helping in the war."

It was always slightly jarring whenever Ilman dropped his seemingly idiotic behavior to make room for seriousness and wisdom. It almost made Khan wonder whether the former was an act, but he had gotten used to it enough not to think about it.

"And here I thought you only wanted to fight at my side," Khan sighed dramatically. "Instead, you are all serious and selfless."

"I also want to fight at your side!" Ilman declared, promptly going back to his idiotic mood. "I can’t let you seize all the glory again!"

"We both know you’ll spend the whole time trying to catch up with me," Khan joked. "Trying and failing."

"You are too kind, stirring my petitive spirit like this, my friend!" Ilman laughed, pletely misreading the joke. "But I haven’t stood still during these years. I’ll show you how strong I’ve bee!"

"That’s the problem, isn’t it?" Khan sighed, genuinely this time. "I know for a fact that you are strong, just like I’m sure your evolution will be spectacularly successful."

Ilman went silent, sensing something in Khan’s tone. The latter met the red glow on him, matching it with his blue one, before switching language to leave no room for misunderstandings in his following statement.

"[I need special evolved warriors to fight the True Chaos’ Kings]," Khan said in the Niqols’ language. "[You are my first choice, so you’d better show me what a true Niqols can do]."