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"I'm working to strengthen their bond a little more," Zeal said.
"I don't think that's necessary," I assured him. "Talin said he knows it's stupid. He understands this has more to do with him being given so much as a boy, and less to do with any rational fears about Ela leaving him."
"Leaving?" Roek asked.
Zeal just flipped his hand as if dismissing that. "Their rings don't work. Their relationship is mutual. Wraythe with Nari, Talin with Ela, Ela with Nari, and so on. A perfect quartet, if I do say so myself."
"Quintet," Saval countered, tipping her head at me.
"Soon, I think," Zeal agreed. "It's not there yet, but that's my hope. I'd like the pair of you to encourage that."
"I still don't fuck," I reminded Zeal.
"And love is about a lot more than fucking," Zeal told me. "I'm sure Roek can explain that to you. I'm only slightly disappointed that he didn't in your primary years."
"His sexuality wasn't under my authorization," Roek said.
"But you could have been an example," Zeal countered. "Anver came out as asexual early, and loudly. I'm proud of him for that, for embracing his own desires. The problem was that he had no one to learn from, Roek."
"I'm not sex-repulsed," Roek countered.
Which was when I understood. "You're asexual?"
"Many guardians are," Roek said. "And I was a guardian for many years. I lost my desire thirteen years ago to illness and requested a reimmersion rather than a reassignment. I begged Zeal to allow me to do something else, thinking I would get the Path of Action."
"But you're a better teacher," Zeal told him. "Yes, Anver, I often collect those who don't fit the standard idea of sexuality. Too much, too varied, or even too little. It all falls under my power, because your temptation is to be loved for who you are. It's no more or less valid than Ela's desire to hurt someone or Nari's need to never be left again."
"I have sex, though," Roek said.
"But you can understand his lack of sexual attraction," Zeal pointed out. "Anver, I also want you to stay in touch with Grath. He and Valira may have graduated, but I don't think that has made them forget you. She wants her guardian to have more friends, and the man honestly cares about you. He is loyal to a fault."
"Ok," I agreed. "And I'll talk to Roek if I find myself confused. I promise, Zeal."
"Hopefully, you won't need to," Zeal assured me. "That was more a reminder to Roek that he can still do more for his pupils, and that maybe this is the Path he belongs on most." He smiled at the priest, then looked over to Saval. "Kinen will not approve of how you're training these students, you know."
"I also have plenty of reasons why," she assured him. "We lost a priest last year. We know that Oryll and Ghale were more interested in temple politics than their actual responsibilities. I'm sure I can simply cite gaps in their education a few times before I need to come up with something better."
"The man is a fool," Zeal grumbled. "He wants to make the temple match the rest of the world instead of teaching the rest of the world to think like we do in the temples."
"Yeah," I said, "but I'm not the only one who has another class now, Zeal."
"We have students waiting in the next room," Saval admitted.
Zeal tipped his head at me. "He's important too. Anver is mine, Roek. I've told Saval that, but you need to know as well. He's mine as much as Nari is. If you doubt it, look at his lace."
"And ignore the others," Roek said, proving he'd been warned. "We're trying to make this work, Zeal. I assure you that we'll do everything we can."
"Then make sure Anver has the best chance possible." His kaleidoscope eyes shifted to me. "Because if you need a push, I know these two will push you, but today was a good step."
"Nari helps," I assured him. "All of them do, if I'm honest, but she reminds me that it's not so much that I missed out on something."
"It's that your beauty lies in your other strengths instead," Zeal said. "She's happy you want to walk her to lunch, so you know. She's just scared to admit it yet, worried she'll chase you off."
"I'm done running," I promised. "And Saval, if you'd like to use me as your excuse, I'm fine with that."
"I think I shall," she said, draping her arm behind my shoulders to turn me to the door. "Goodbye, Zeal."
But there was no answer. When I glanced back, our god was already gone.
