As disgusting as those words tasted, Khan knew they were true. The Nak had succeeded in their mission. They had created a stable host that could inherit their legacy, an heir that could challenge the scarlet eyes.
Meanwhile, the rocky face on the wall was one of the countless byproducts of the Nakās attacks on the universe. Khan could sense it in his bones. He was standing before a fake host, a being that had lost its mind to the Nakās nightmares.
The wall trembled again, releasing emotions Khan instinctively translated. "Potential heir" resounded in his brain, making him shake his head.
"Thereās nothing potential about me," Khan announced, still relying on the Nakās way of speaking. "I know about the Nakās task. I know what they want from me. I only have to find them."
The wall looked unconvinced, but Khan promptly added something. "Ah, right. I have my mind. I may be a tool, but I have my freedom."
Of course, even the Nakās way of speaking couldnāt ignore language barriers completely, especially when trying to convey complicated messages. Yet, that wasnāt Khanās first time having such conversations. Something might get lost in translation, but its deeper meanings would reach its target.
The wall reacted to that announcement. Intense but confused emotions flooded the rocks, giving birth to a conflict. A profound unwillingness tried to resurface and take over the general dutiful determination, only to fail and be pushed back every time.
Khan recognized that process and couldnāt help but feel some pity. That strange lifeform was different from Cegnoreās natives. The latter had accepted to become mindless tools, but it seemed the creature in the wall was still trying to break free of that curse.
Khan dropped the arrogant and sarcastic stance while his aura became gentler. That could have been his fate if his Father hadnāt sacrificed himself to grant him additional time. That strange lifeform was no different than an unluckier version of himself, a fellow curse-bearer who had lost the battle for its mind.
As for the lifeform itself, it was quite peculiar. It was a mass of energy that had seamlessly fused with the rocks, almost bringing them to life. Khan couldnāt recognize specific organs, but the wall was unmistakably alive, even performing something that resembled breathing.
"[Potential heir]," The wall spoke through its usual tremors. "[You have your mind]."
"I do," Khan confirmed. "I only need to find the Nak. Can you help me?"
The wall didnāt immediately answer, but Khan could see it pondering his words. The internal conflict happened again but was resolved quickly. Still, that mass of energy continued to "think", and Khan calmly waited for a reply.
Truth be told, Khan didnāt believe the strange lifeform could help him. He had already gotten to the bottom of his nightmares, learning everything the Nak wanted him to learn. Theoretically, if Khan didnāt have clear directions for the azure star system, no one had them.
However, a sliver of hope still existed. Lifeforms who had lost their minds to the curse could have developed a more profound, instinctive connection to the Nakās call. They might feel a stronger pull toward the azure star system, which could save Khan a lot of time.
Also, different species came with their unique perspectives. The rock-energy lifeform might have interpreted the Nakās curse in ways Khan couldnāt on a biological level, giving it access to valuable information.
Sadly, that didnāt seem to be the case in Chuwei.
"[Potential heir must find the Nak]," The wall eventually said. "[Potential heir must follow the call and inherit the mana]."
āAnd how am I supposed to do that?ā Khan cursed in his mind. āStick my head out of the canopy while flying through space? I tried that already.ā
That was sadly true. Khan didnāt limit himself to checking his sources and flying in those months. He had also occasionally strolled outside his ship, relying on the pilotās techniques to survive the deadly emptiness of space in the hope of sensing something.
Yet, the space was empty. It had no symphony, nothing Khan could sense. He had hoped to perceive something distant but to no avail. Either he was too distant from his destination, or that approach was bogus.
Nevertheless, Khan didnāt let any of that annoyance seep into his words. As pointless as the reply had been, he didnāt blame the strange lifeform. That creature was only another victim of the Nakās genocidal mission, just like he was.
"Do you know where the call is?" Khan asked. "Do you know how I can find it?"
"[Potential heir has the call]," The wall replied. "[Potential heir must follow his call]."
Khan sighed helplessly, crossing his arms and diverting his gaze. His expectations werenāt high, but the issue was annoying nonetheless. It seemed that finding the Nak was another piece of their grand mission, the last test those they infected had to overcome to be worthy of their inheritance.
Still, not all hope was lost. Khanās glowing eyes fell on the destroyed ship as more ideas appeared in his mind. He had already guessed that Chuwei was filled with debris from the Nakās invasion and that the underground world had better, bigger remains. There was a chance he could find more intact things to study.
āHow do I even ask that?ā Khan wondered before pushing aside complicated thoughts and hoping the lifeform would understand him anyway.
"Do you know where I can find more of those?" Khan questioned, dramatically pointing at the broken ship. "Maybe even bigger versions, too?"
Khan tried to help explain his request through his hands, performing uncharacteristic broad gestures. He wasnāt even sure the rocky lifeform could see him, but it was worth a try.
The wall fell silent, the energy inside it resuming its pondering. Khan didnāt know whether it had understood his message, but the rocks eventually split open, creating a new cavity.
"[Potential heir will follow]," The cavityās edges trembled, conveying that message.
Khan inevitably hesitated. The underground chamber had other natural tunnels, and the lifeform might have misunderstood him. Following it might make him lose track of the ship he had already found, leading him to nothing at all.
Yet, Khan eventually stepped forward, calmly approaching the new cavity and diving inside it. The hole was slightly narrow and shallow but more opened at his arrival, creating a path. The rocks behind him closed with each step, but Khan ignored the potential danger.
The walk lasted longer than what Khan was comfortable with, but its destination turned out to be more than satisfactory. The moving cavity finally opened into a different, bigger underground chamber littered with foreign items, the very items he was looking for.
From the cavityās edge, Khan stared at a vast graveyard of Nakās ships, and the call in his nape had never felt louder.