Chapter 927: Ka-Han Tribe
The morning had yet to arrive, so the bedroom's artificial illumination was dark. However, Khan's open eyes shone on the wall while he sat naked at the mattress' edge. Monica cutely snored behind him, and he occasionally glanced at her before refocusing on the empty surface.
Khan had returned late, and his mood didn't leave much room for words. He knew Prince Thomas had updated Monica about Khan's decision, but the two had yet to talk about it properly.
It didn't help that the day had another important event waiting for Khan. He had to rally the Scalqa for the imminent war, which wasn't that hard to achieve. The Scalqa had been itching for proper battles after that long training period. Khan simply didn't like sending people to their potential death.
'Heavy is the crown,' Khan thought, sighing. He actually couldn't wait to jump into the chaos of the battlefield after spending months dealing with politics. Yet, he had responsibilities, and they weren't minor.
Underlings' lives aside, Khan had to pay special attention to Moses since Princess Rachel's position depended on him. He had also given his word to the Foxnor family, so avoiding losing Roger would be ideal, too.
Also, Khan had his training to keep in mind. He had just stepped on a path that had never felt more right, and a planetary war was the best place to improve. Showing his superiority would even reinforce the Scalqa's faith in him, making them feel like a proper tribe.
Time flowed slowly while Khan lingered on those thoughts. Occasionally, he would stretch his arm behind his back to caress Monica's exposed leg. She voiced sleepy moans at those affectionate gestures, bathing in them until she eventually opened her eyes.
Khan noticed Monica's awakening but kept looking at the wall. Sheets rustled behind him until her arms closed around his chest. Monica didn't say a word as she climbed Khan's back until she could lay her head on his shoulder.
The couple remained silent, enjoying that cozy and temporary moment of privacy. Both Khan and Monica knew they would soon lose the chance to have those short retreats, but neither wanted to address the issue.
"I'll make preparations with my Uncle in case I don't return," Khan muttered, earning him a jab in his ribs. He expected that reaction, but those words needed to be said.
"No matter what happens," Khan continued, ignoring the second jab, "You and your family will be taken care of. Even if I miss the chance of marrying you, you'll be a noble."
Monica completely woke up by then, and her jabs gained more strength. The topic made her livid, but Khan caught her fifth punch before it could land, peeking past his shoulder to look at her.
"I don't plan on dying," Khan declared, "But this is your role. You taught me that."
Monica couldn't help but fall for Khan again at his serious face. His political maturity had reached levels she couldn't dream of, and seeing him wearing his role so perfectly forced her to play her own.
"[Ka-Han promised Ka-Han Tribe will take the Sky]," Khan announced, the screens spreading his voice throughout the encampment.
The different dialects started to disappear in that period, and the language had also grown more complicated, allowing for better explanations. A few Scalqa had also taken it upon themselves to learn the human language, expanding their overall ability to understand complex sentences.
"[Ka-Han will go to a new planet]," Khan continued. "[Ka-Han will Kru-gru-xa the planet, making it Ka-Han Tribe]."
The excitement in the symphony intensified. Many Scalqa understood what he was about to ask them but still silently waited. Something about their leader had changed, and they instinctively didn't want to interrupt him.
Khan let his previous words linger in the air for a few seconds before adding more. "[Ka-Han wants an army, and Ka-Han Tribe can be the best army, but Ka-Han wants to see how strong
you are]."
Some Scalqa started stomping their feet and slamming fists on their chests, triggering a chain reaction. The noise stretched from tent to tent, soon involving the entire encampment. The earth shook under those thousands of heavy noises, which only intensified Khan's battle
intent.
The steady, beating rhythm echoed in Khan's chest, hitting his rib cage and fueling his aura. His wild urge to fight expanded past the terrace, turning into a beacon that inspired the Scalqa below, making them add more strength to their stomps and punches.
Khan suddenly slammed his right fist on his chest, digging a hole in the bone armor. The gesture silenced the noise below as every Scalqa acknowledged his physical strength and waited for his following words.
"[Follow Ka-Han into the Sky]," Khan requested, "[And Ka-Han will show you the best war of your life. Ka-Han will lead you into victory, and Ka-Han Tribe will become the strongest]."
A moment of silence unfolded before a lonely cry resounded from the middle of the encampment. The shout triggered a chain reaction, and every Scalqa soon voiced their primordial desire to put their strength into practice.
The shouts washed over Khan, seemingly brightening the light from his eyes. That primitive species were his people. The Scalqa were an extension of his arms, legs, and knife, and they desired nothing more than to be his weapon. His aura inspired them, but they inspired him, and his mouth opened to voice a cry every race on every planet could understand.
Khan roared, a clicking cry carrying his unreasonable search for freedom and battle intent escaping his throat. The scanners struggled to capture his voice, and the screens flickered, unable to convey the entirety of Khan's feelings.
Nevertheless, the clicking cry echoed through the symphony, reaching every corner of the encampment. Soon, the Scalqa stopped looking at the screens and focused on the distant terrace. They could barely see Khan up there, but an intense light existed in their eyes, highlighting his position and earning him excited shouts.