Relationships when the evolved realm was involved were indeed complex, 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 couldnât possibly find common 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 couldnât. 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.
Khanâs concept of love completely conflicted with that, but his standards had become so high that he had been ready to give up on meeting them altogether.
It had taken Liizaâs reappearance to make that option viable again, and she and Khan still had to pay a hefty price, something that even Yezaâs birth couldnât 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 Jennaâs broad perspective and Ilman himself. His relative simplicity didnât allow deeper problems to appear. It seemed Ilman didnât see any difference between mortals and evolved warriors. His feelings wouldnât suffer over such trivial things.
Of course, that wasnât to say Ilman and Jenna had it easy. The opposite, actually. Khan couldnât 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 Liizaâs.
Jenna was a Nele, and her talent made her suffering go far beyond her speciesâ 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 couldnât 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 Niqolsâ 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 didnât. Still, he had to live through that anyway to find a match for his feelings.
That understanding made Khan dismiss the matter altogether. It wasnât his place to meddle in othersâ 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 didnât even have to make his request anymore, since Ilman had already agreed to it.
"Well, I see no problem with that," Khan exclaimed. "If thatâs what you want, Iâll work something out. Itâs actually reassuring knowing that youâll fight as an evolved asset."
"Thank you, my friend!" Ilman cried, seemingly wanting to rip off Khanâs shoulder, only for it to remain completely 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 isnât 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 wouldnât be a problem. Actually, it was in the regulated universeâs 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. Thatâs what George has chosen."
"Georgeâs choice is honorable," Ilman declared, finally letting go of Khanâs shoulder, "And enviable, but I canât 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 canât let you seize all the glory again!"
"We both know youâll spend the whole time trying to catch up with me," Khan joked. "Trying and failing."
"You are too kind, stirring my competitive spirit like this, my friend!" Ilman laughed, completely misreading the joke. "But I havenât stood still during these years. Iâll show you how strong Iâve become!"
"Thatâs the problem, isnât it?" Khan sighed, genuinely this time. "I know for a fact that you are strong, just like Iâm sure your evolution will be spectacularly successful."
Ilman went silent, sensing something in Khanâs 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 Chaosâ Kings]," Khan said in the Niqolsâ language. "[You are my first choice, so youâd better show me what a true Niqols can do]."