Chapter 14: A fine Dinner
Elias frowned, running a hand over his chest as if expecting to feel some hidden shard lodged there. "That's not exactly comforting," he muttered. "What if it's still in there, just waiting to burst out or something? What if I wake up one morning with a glowing spike sticking out of my side?"
Ikona tilted its head, looking thoughtful. "That... sounds pretty painful. But I don't think that'll happen. If it was going to, wouldn't it have already? Besides, I think the fusion thing makes us different. Maybe the shard isn't just in you—it's part of you now. Like, fully integrated. That's gotta count for something, right?"
Elias sighed, his frustration bubbling beneath the surface. "Great," he muttered sarcastically. "I'm a walking mystery even to the tiny alien bug living inside me." He leaned his head back, staring at the ceiling again. "You're trying your best, Ikona, I get that. But so am I. And right now, none of this makes any damn sense."
"Well, I suppose there's not much to do right now," Ikona said, floating lazily. "Where do we go from here?"
Elias stretched and stood up, heading toward the kitchen. "First, I'm going to cook some dinner. Then... I guess I'll take Geras's offer. Even if I don't fully trust him, he made it pretty clear I don't have a choice." He paused, grabbing a pan from the cupboard. "I wonder if Elara has a creature like you. And if all of you call yourselves Ikonas, what's your actual name?"
Ikona tilted her head, her antennae twitching. "Wh-what? I'm just... Ikona."
Elias smirked, setting the pan on the stove. "That could get confusing, don't you think? I mean, I don't call everyone I meet 'human.' If you're an Ikona, then shouldn't you have a name?"
Ikona floated closer, her small arms crossing as she considered the thought. "I guess that does make sense... human. I mean, Elias." She giggled softly, her antennae bouncing lightly.
Elias chuckled, catching her between his hands as she playfully swayed in the air. She lay on her back, staring up at him as he studied her closely. "You're like a little polka-dotted phantom or something," he teased. "Maybe that should be your name."