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“Found you.”
Phainon's smile looked chaotic, almost maniacal in Mydei's eyes. Nikador said that he eventually succumbed to the horrors of his past after fighting valiantly. Those bright blue eyes were burning with ferocity, and betrayed no emotion. He didn't look like he was injured.
He learned to shrug off the pain. The stab wound wasn't deep thankfully and would heal on its own with time. That wasn't of any concern to Mydei. His priority was getting his friend out of Nikador's clutches.
And now, he was safe.
Mydei glanced at the door where Phainon was resting and suppressed a sigh. It had been 6 hours since the trial, and right now everyone was sitting ducks, waiting for that stupid swordsman to regain his consciousness after he passed out in his arms. Aglaea's golden threads were in his room, monitoring his condition, but it would be really nice if that birdbrain would wake up soon.
Caelus and Dan Heng had retreated to their room and asked him to call once Phainon woke up. Castorice vanished somewhere right after, and Aglaea and Lady Tribios were busy discussing the next step. Meanwhile he was stuck on guard duty waiting for Sleeping Beauty to finish his nap…
‘A prince of Castrum Kremnos with an immortal body, reduced to a mere guard. Not that their jobs aren't important, but aren't there people that can do it instead of me?’
Yet…Mydei couldn't think of anyone that will actually do their job. Some Okhemans will do as they are told, but they are all with Aglaea at the moment or busy in the baths. And it's not like he can just waltz up to the Kremnoans either, despite being their…their prince.
Their prince who foolishly abandoned the Coreflame of their Titan. Their once sane Titan.
(He also doubt they'd agree. Even if Phainon wasn't from Okhema he still pledged his allegiance. Well, he did the same but the circumstances were different.)
He suppressed a shiver that ran down his body. At some point he's going to have to talk to his teacher about the future of his people. He can already feel Krateros’ wrath from here- only he knows apart from himself how much the Kremnoans have suffered over the years. Getting shot down, beat at, and for what? Castrum Kremnos was now in ruins. His mother was dead, his father's legacy was tarnished and his life ended by his own hands. Even now he could hear that old man's roars, insulting his very existence. That only encouraged to beat The crap out of him more.
And now? Now he was hoping-not praying, he'd never pray- his friend…best friend would wake up soon. As much as he tries to hate the Deliverer, he somehow managed to wedge himself into his life and, subsequently, his heart.
Love. Such a fickle topic. He didn't love anyone romantically, and he doubted he'd ever. He was Mydeimos, the crown prince of Castrum Kremnos. However, denying that his comrades at times brought out the softness in him would be foolish. That especially goes for one white haired, blue eyed idiot dubbed ‘Snowy' by Lady Tribios.
A click of heels made him look up, and he raised a brow when he saw Aglaea standing before him, golden threads wrapped around her hands. Which was odd, considering she never summons her threads directly unless something was wrong. Very wrong.
“Lady Aglaea?” Mydei asked, keeping the weariness out of his voice. Aglaea responded in kind. “Is something the matter?”
“So far, nothing,” Aglaea replied, a soft smile gracing her face. “I only have my threads out to monitor Phainon's condition. So you can relax your muscles, for no one is in danger. For now that is.”
Mydei let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. That was good. The less battles they fought the better. Ironic, when one remembers the Kremnoans thrive off of battle and bloodshed. But the battles done by the Chrysos Heirs are different, and sometimes he had to keep reminding himself that he wasn't only a prince that had to protect his people, but a soon-to-be demigod responsible for safe-guarding everyone and everything.
“So, tell me Aglaea. How much longer before the snow cub wakes up from his beauty sleep?”
Aglaea raised a brow. “Worried about our Deliverer? That’s new.”
“He was in the clutches of Nikador,” Mydei almost spat out. He reigned his temper in and pinched the bridge of his nose. It was just a question. A very simple question. “We all know about Strife and that it shows no mercy to anyone. When I saw him he looked crazy. Like the Titan had ripped his mind from his skull and peered inside to learn about his deepest dark fears. I knew I had to get him out of there as fast as I could.”
Aglaea nodded, the new revelation making her think. Now that Mydei thought about it, he…he never properly explained what actually happened when he and the two outlanders ventured into the basin. They were all exhausted and mentally drained from fighting almost half the city. They got lucky that Phainon found them first, or they would've been in there forever. Small miracles.
He continued to speak. “When we first entered we were separated. Dan Heng was nowhere to be found, so it was just me and Caelus. We were in front of the market, and fought through maddened Okhemans and Kremnoans. Eventually Dan Heng caught up and we made a beeline to the center, where Nikador was waiting for us. The way he spoke…it seemed as if he knew we'd come. After that we were fighting his lackeys until Phainon showed up out of the blue and ran his sword through my stomach.”
(He avoided mentioning what the people said to him while they were fishing for information. Nor did he say anything about him almost losing control. Aglaea didn't need to know all that.)
Aglaea hummed, her gaze holding a bit of uncertainty. Mydei stood his ground, fighting the urge to flinch. If one of her gold threads were wrapped around him there'd be no doubt she'd know about his so-called lies. However there were times where he questioned if Aglaea could figure out regardless of her powers.
“I see,” she muttered under her back. “I've always told him Strife was a tricky little thing to handle. I'm sure you've also mentioned it as well. That Titan doesn't like being conquered by anyone. Well, that is until we got their Coreflame.”
Mydei chuckled darkly. “Believe me, Aglaea, I'd know. Or more accurately, my foolish father does.”
Neither of them spoke. What was there to say? Certainly not about the future of the Kremnoans, and about the Coreflame. It still remained unclaimed, and someone had to. He had to. But would he be a worthy leader? Could he steer clear of the path of non-stop violence that drew them all to madness? He himself almost lost it back at the Vortex. And Phainon would have killed him if his body wasn't made of steel. That was the reason why he preferred to wear minimal clothing.
Mydei noticed the thread around Aglaea's finger trembling slightly and raised a brow, hoping she'd get the message. Fortunately, she did and nodded her head. That was all the confirmation he needed. Without asking anything he headed for Phainon’s room.
The first thought that crossed Mydei’s brain when he entered the bedroom was ‘What the fuck?’
The second thought? “What in the actual fuck?”
Third? “Are you kidding me?”
And then…“HKS…”
Well, he said that under his breath lest he make his presence known to the stupid swordsman, who was supposed to be sleeping! Not slaying training dummies! He's gonna get himself killed one day because his excuse would be sleep deprivation. Even immortals like himself needed rest.
Then again, Phainon would do anything for Okhema, the self sacrificing fool. Just because he was the Deliverer doesn't make him special when it came to doing mundane, everyday activities. Such as eating and taking a nap. The Holy City wasn't in any danger.
Mydei stood there leaning against the door with his arms crossed, suppressing a scowl. ‘What an absolute idiot. And this is the person Aglaea thinks is the flawless creation? ’ He'd never admit it aloud, but he respected the white haired man. Even if he had zero manners. He's kind to the townsfolk, helping Aglaea and Lady Tribios carry on the Flame Chase, and protecting Okhema from the Black Tide. He's caring, too caring. He's caring to a fault, and one day it's going to bite him in the back.
And if that day were to come, Mydei finds himself wondering if he could carry on without him. He has to, for he is the Crown Prince of Castrum Kremnos. He'll have to return to the city and rally his men into battle against the black tide and the other Titans, should they ever pose a threat. However, breaking the cycle of violence was going to be tough.
But he could think about that later. Right now he had to give Phainon and earful once again. For all the ‘training’ he was doing, he didn't even once suspect that someone else was with him, and that was bad. Very bad. So, it was time to make his presence known.
He cleared his throat. Very loudly.
Just as he imagined, Phainon yelped loudly, dropping his sword in surprise. Swiftly picking it up, he twirled around, scanning the room for the source of the sound and, finally his eyes landed on Mydei and widened. He smirked.
“Good morning, Deliverer. I see you're up and about.”
“Uhh…Ahh! Mydei!” Phainon shouted, sheathing his sword and tossing it behind the bed, where it landed with a loud clang! He swore up and down as he quite literally jumped head first onto the mattress , slamming his nose hard. Mydei couldn't help but wince at the sight, but Phainon seemed to not care as he got back up and scrambled to the end of the bed, kicking the poor sheets. He grabbed his sword and examined it carefully, blue eyes scrunched and fingers running meticulously across the scabbard. After carefully setting it on the wall, he faced him again, squeaked and frantically started readjusting the covers. If Mydei were any other person, he'd pity the man.
Instead all he felt was amusement.
But he let Phainon take his sweet, sweet time arranging (and failing. Miseraby) his room, hiding the evidence of his mini training session. He wondered how long this would be going on if he hadn't entered his room. It took around 10 minutes for the man to finish (and he hadn't exactly done a good job either-the room was even more of a mess) before he jogged up to him and said, “So then, my mighty prince, what brings you to my humble room?”
Mydei raised a brow. “Really? Saving face now of all times when you know it isn't going to work?”
“....I'm sorry,” Phainon sighed, dragging his tired body to his bed and flopped down face up. Mydei moved to join him, sitting carefully. “I wasn't trying to save face or anything, I just…well..”
“Well, what?”
“I thought I could handle Nikador's trial,” Phainon said softly. Mydei had to strain his ears to catch that. “I thought I managed to overcome the fears in my heart. I thought that the scars I accumulated over the years were healed. Oh, how wrong I was.”
Mydei sighed and shook his head. “Wounds always take time to heal. You can't expect them to go away over night dear Deliverer. Regardless whether they are physical or mental.”
“But I almost killed you!” Phainon shot back, sitting up and looking at him with that same wild look as before. Mydei's breath got caught in his throat. “I went mad back there, Mydei. I couldn't recognize friend or foe. All I wanted was to kill everything that was in my path, and it led to me almost killing you.”
“Have you forgotten I'm immortal?” asked Mydei, grabbing both of Phainon's shoulders. Shaking him gently he continued to say, “One cannot easily kill me unless they know me very, very well, and I can assure you, no one does. Not even Krateros. You understand?”
“But it doesn't change the fact that I hurt you,” Phainon whispered. “That time…that was the first time I lifted a blade with the intention to kill you. And I don't think you'd care, but I am so, so sorry for that. I really am.”
Tears started to spring out of his eyes and oh Nikador that blasted trial drained him more than it should have. Strife never showed mercy to anyone, everyone knows that. Phainon was no exception to that rule. That was the laws of the Titan. Of Nikador. And the poor Deliverer was known for wearing his heart on his sleeve. He felt emotions on a range he'd seen no one else feel.
Phainon always looked at the positives, encouraging others to fight and push and live their lives. He dishes out so many advices, yet he doesn't follow them himself. The irony. That's why he desperately needed someone to ground him and remind him he needs to put himself first before others. Aglaea was too busy to check up on him, and so was Lady Tribios. And everyone knows Castorice avoids close contact thanks to her curse. So naturally the responsibility fell on Mydei.
And if he must say the truth, he doesn't mind one bit.
Mydei sighed again, and used his hand to gently push Phainon back down. He yelped under his breath and he paid no mind to it. Carefully encircling his body he lifted him gently until his head was resting in his lap. The man gasped softly and turned to bury his head on his thigh. His pants started to feel a little wet, which he also ignored.
“Listen to me very carefully Phainon, because I'm not going to repeat myself. What happened today doesn’t mean you're weak. The fact you went in there and held your ground for as long as you could prove how strong you are. Nikador is a Titan who is relentless, and you know that very well. You did your best, and no faults you. Even now everyone's worried.”
“They…they are?” Phainon's voice came out, muffled.
He nodded. “I can assure you I have no reason to lie. Mydei lifted his hand and, with slight hesitation started to stroke his back. “Lady Tribios was worried sick when they laid eyes on your pale skin. I think that was the first time I ever saw them that anxious over anything. Our two friends, the outlanders were also asking many questions while helping you up on your feet. Caelus looked like he'd seen a ghost back there.” It made him wonder if something similar happened to the gray haired boy. And as for Aglaea…
He smirked. “Aglaea has set up her golden threads in your room to monitor you my dear Deliverer, therefore she knows everything that you…were….doing….”
Mydei's hand stilled, and his little smirk fell as soon as it appeared. Aglaea threads were here, so therefore she knew. She knew Phainon wasn't resting. And that conversation they had earlier, was it a distraction of some sorts or was she genuinely curious and also wanted to see if the swordsman would go back to sleep on his own without assistance?
‘Ugh, curse you Aglaea,’ he thought bitterly. That cunning women.
And unfortunately he hesitated a bit too long because Phainon had turned around once he felt those fingers no longer caressing his body and looked at him curiously. Those blue eyes carried a child-like curiosity with the way they were widened, and his tear stained cheeks did not help with the look. Mydei cleared his throat, looking away before the urge to wipe them away consumed him.
“Er, Mydei? Is everything Ok? Did Aglaea do something?”
“No, not exactly,” he replied, looking at Phainon's hand. “Don't be concerned, it's nothing major.”
Phainon hummed. “If you say so.”
“But I mean everything I said earlier. We're all here for you Phainon. Do not beat yourself down over this. Nikador is a tough Titan to beat. And don't think for a second I take offense to you stabbing me. You weren't yourself back there. You went through the horrors you faced long ago all over again. Anyone would've acted the way you did.”
“Even you?” Phainon asked weakly, forcing a smile on his face. Surprisingly, he found himself smiling right back, his lips slowly turning outright.
“Even me.”
“Well, that's a relief.” Phainon sighed and adjusted himself so that he was comfortable. “I don't think the guilt’s gonna go away for a few days, but thanks to you, they'll go away faster. Thanks alot Mydei. I mean it from the bottom of my heart.”
There was that smile on his face. The smile that always managed to itch his brain in a weird way. That smile that everyone in Okhema found endearing. That damn smile that actually makes him weak . The second is sweets. The fact that the man was so sincere just wanted to make him to…to..
‘Argh! Curse everything in the world! Curse violence! Curse love! Curses, curses, curses!’
Of course he didn't say any of that out loud, because mind you, he was a prince. The crown prince of Castrum Kremnos. So he opted for a, “you're welcome.”
Which now that he thought about it, wasn't something he said either. Wonderful, just wonderful. He was very lucky Phainon was out of it, or the teasing he'd have to endure would want to make him rip his ears out.
And so the pair stayed like this, Phainon's eyes closed and whispering about random stuff while Mydei listened, he damn sure was a good listener.
At some point he's going to have to get up and have that talk with Krateros. At some point he's going to have to make the hardest decision of his life. At some point he must ascend to demi-godhood and claim a Coreflame, regardless whether it is Strife or not. At some point he'll have to.
But he still had time. He also had time to tell the others that their Deliverer was fine. For now, he may as well enjoy the peace and tranquility while it lasted before he had to throw himself into battle once more. And whether it'd be with Phainon or not. Only time will tell.
Phainon.
The Deliverer.
His Deliverer.
Why does that sound nice?