Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Cyrene! Come quick! You need to see this!"

Blinking her eyes open, Cyrene gently lifted herself from the grass she was laying on under the shade of a couple of large trees still thick with leafage. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes while grumbling out her words.

"Phai, I swear, if you woke me to show me another fish—"

"No! It's not! Some kid washed up on the shore!"

"…What!?"

Wasting no more time, Cyrene followed her brother to shoreline and sure enough, there on the ground was a boy not much younger than her little brother . The waves lapped against his feet as he remained flat-out and facedown in the sand. The clothes he wore were torn, battered, filthy and some parts were hanging off his body in shreds. His body was covered in what seemed to be red markings and wounds that bled gold. His blond hair was a complete mess, dirt almost making the colour seem darker than it was and Cyrene wasn't sure if the red at its ends were another shade of his hair or dried blood.

"Phainon, go fetch someone! Be as quick as you can!"

"I-Is he alive?" Phainon's voice shook with worry as he clutched his fists to his chest.

"I don't know, which is why we need an adult to tell us. Go!"

Phainon ran off towards their house as quickly as his little legs could take him while Cyrene cautiously approached the boy laying on the sand before her. His body seemed too still to be breathing yet the longer she examined him the more a feeling somewhere deep down told her not to give up on him. She carefully turned the boy over so his face no longer buried itself into the sandy shore and tried to inspect for more clues as to his origins. She noticed more scratches and cuts and how much worse the clothes were damaged. Just where did this kid come from? What happened to him? After minutes of investigating and pondering, Phainon had hurried back with their father in tow.

"By Oronyx— have you found out anything about him, Cyrene?" Their father asked, catching his breath and in shock at the sight.

"No. He's covered in wounds and is in a really bad way! I don't know what else to do!" Cyrene replied, scared for the boy's fate as he continued to remain lifeless.

"It's okay, Cyrene. Thank you for staying with him. I'll get him back to the house." He hurried to the boy's side and picked him up into his arms with care. His face tightened in concern as the boy still remained unresponsive and limp. "Phainon, I know you just had to run across the fields but I'm going to need you to run again to the village and find a doctor. Can you do that?"

Phainon nodded, face full of determination.

"Yes! I'll run faster than before! I'll be as quick as I can!" And with that, Phainon dashed off again in the direction of the village with no signs of slowing down.

Cyrene followed their father home, her sights never leaving the boy in his arms in hopes she'd see some sign of life finally manifest itself before them. Unfortunately, by the time they reached their home the boy was still as lifeless as when they first found him. Her mother rushed over as soon as she heard the door open and gasped at the sight of the boy in her husband's arms. Without asking any questions, she immediately got to work gathering whatever she could find to create a makeshift bed for him just in time for Phainon and a village doctor to walk in.

Phainon hurried over to stand next to Cyrene as the doctor approached the mysterious boy. She looked to her little brother to see his face narrowed in sadness, scared as he watched the doctor begin their examination. Cyrene grabbed one of Phainon's hands and squeezed it reassuringly as he looked to her with eyes full of worry. She tried to smile at him in comfort as their mother walked over to them.

"Why don't you two go wait outside and give the doctor some space? We'll come and get you once we have news, I promise," she told them, voice gentle with understanding as she could see her children clinging onto each other for reassurance.

Cyrene guided the both of them outside but noticed Phainon never taking his eyes off the boy until the door was shut behind them.

"Cyrene…do you think he'll be okay?" Phainon asked, his voice shaking.

Cyrene moved to stand in front of her brother, her hands grabbing both of his as she tried her best to keep smiling for him.

"I can't say for a fact but I can say I have a feeling deep inside that he will be. We just have to be patient and believe Oronyx still sees a future for him. Maybe it's Oronyx themselves giving me this feeling of hope, trying to send us a message to keep holding on for him."

Phainon nodded though still clearly concerned so Cyrene walked them to a tree next to the house where they sat under its shade and watched the clouds roll by as they waited for news.

As the Parting Hour began, the two siblings heard the door to the house open and the doctor walk out, turning to say something into the doorway before finally making their way from the house back towards the village. Their father followed soon after and made his way over to them. Phainon leapt up from the ground and rushed over while Cyrene followed behind.

"Is he going to be okay?" Phainon asked, looking up at their father with eagerness loud in his voice.

"The doctor said there are faint signs of life so he's probably going to need lots of rest before he even wakes but if we take good care of him until then, I'm sure he will be."

The siblings looked at each other and smiled.

"He can have my bed while he recovers. I don't mind!" Phainon said without hesitation. "I can sleep on the floor. I can sleep practically anywhere, right Cyrene?"

"That is true," she giggled. "I found him asleep on top of the hay in the barn just a few days ago."

"See?"

Their father laughed and smiled as he lowered himself to ruffle Phainon's hair with pride.

"You're very kind, my son. If that's the case then you two go and make sure the room is tidy and ready for him to recover in, while your mother and myself continue to tend to him."

The two of them nodded and immediately headed back to the house to prepare Phainon's bedroom for their new, mysterious friend. As they head through the door, Cyrene sees their mother washing the boy's arms while taking extra care with the cuts and scratches covering them. Phainon pulled Cyrene in the direction of his room with eagerness as they worked throughout the Parting Hour to put loose items away and make sure the bed was ready.

As the Curtain-Fall Hour approached, their father walked in with the boy in his arms and carried him over to Phainon's bed. Cyrene grabbed the covers and pulled them so their father could gently lay the boy down before pulling the covers back over him. The boy looked a little more alive after their parents cleaned him up as best they could though his clothes were still heavily damaged. His body now had areas of bandages to cover the worst of the wounds though Cyrene swore some of the areas she remembered being heavily scratched were almost clear of anything.

"Your mother and I have made us all food so let's go and have some dinner. You've both worked hard today so make sure you eat well," their father said as he smiled at them.

As they walked out of the room, Cyrene looked behind to see Phainon stood at the doorway looking back at the bed seemingly unwilling to leave their new friend alone. She walked up to her little brother and took his hand.

"He's going to be okay," she said as Phainon looked at her, his face clearly soft with worry. He nodded and allowed her to gently pull him along to the table.

— ☼ ☼ ☼ —

Phainon couldn't sleep. He could only stare up at the bed where the mysterious boy was resting from his own makeshift bed on the floor nearby. His mother had asked him to stay in the room for the night in case their new friend awoke lost and afraid of unfamiliar surroundings. Phainon didn't mind, he would have done so anyway. He hoped the boy would wake up soon, he really wanted to know if he was going to be okay. He kept Cyrene words close to his heart as he prayed to Oronyx in his mind for their new friend to still have a long future ahead of him to look forward to.

After more time passed, Phainon ached from laying but not resting so he sat up, his sights still locked onto the strange kid on his bed. He couldn't stop the many questions rushing around his head like how the nighttime winds under the moons rushed through the grass outside his window. As every minute passed, his curiosity grew more and more. He quietly lifted himself from his bed on the floor to take light and gentle steps up to his real bed. He started by staring at the red markings all over the boy's body, fascinated by their origin. He wondered if any of Cyrene's books would tell them where such designs came from but then he remembered most of her books were stories of myths, legends and fairy tales alike. He then looked at the heavily damaged clothes barely hanging onto the scratched and bruised body of the child, thinking to himself that he'd never seen such patterns anywhere in Aedes Elysiae. Then finally, there was the hair. His parents managed to wash off all of the dirt and muck and now he realised that the colours reminded him of the wheat fields just outside his home with the red shade at the ends reminding him of the trees that guarded the fields as they changed with the seasons, losing the greens on their leaves to become pretty reds instead.

"Just where did you come from?" He whispered.

As he was about to turn around and head back to his bed on the floor, a very faint groan stopped him in his tracks; his body froze in response before eventually making a sharp turn back to look at his bed. He saw the mysterious boy's face begin to twitch and frown as more weak and weary sounds escaped him. Before Phainon could process what was happening, the boy shot up from the pillow and gasped for air like he'd just emerged from the depths of an ocean, scrambling to breathe. His hand clutched to his chest as he tried to steady himself, his eyes wide in terror, admittedly frightening Phainon a little as he could only watch in shock. After a few seconds, the breathing began to ease slightly, his eyes slowly losing the fright as they started to scan the bed and walls around him until he finally noticed Phainon standing there, staring with his eyes and mouth wide open completely lost for words. Their eyes locked for a brief moment as they both were just as surprised as each other before the mysterious boy suddenly scrambled to the end of the bed, cornering to the wall, his chest moved erratically and face furrowed into a harsh scowl. He bared his teeth, his fingers curled against the bed as if ready to lash out should he need to and air escaped his mouth through his teeth like hisses but Phainon wasn't afraid; he knew this was just a kid who was scared.

"Don't be frightened, I won't hurt you. I'm actually really happy to see you're awake!" Phainon said, a little shaken but he tried his best to put on a smile hoping the boy would see he wanted to help.

"Frightened? I—…I don't know what that means." The boy growled at him. Phainon took a small step towards the bed but the boy snapped. "Don't come any closer! I'm not afraid to hurt you! Tell me where I am!"

"Please, don't yell! My family is still sleeping!" Phainon pleaded, slightly panicked at the boy's sharp distrust and threats of violence. "You're in a village called Aedes Elysiae. Do you know it?"

The boy continued to frown as he shook his head.

"It's a small village where we grow lots of food and have lots of fields to run around in. It's lots of fun— you should try it!"

The frowning started to ease but the boy's eyes still watched like a beast staring down a threat.

"We found you washed up on the shore at the edge of the village," Phainon continued. "Do you remember anything before you woke up just now?"

The boy's breathing relaxed but only slightly as he continued to glare at Phainon almost unblinking and unshaken.

"Ocean…many monsters. I tried to fight them off. I kill one, another appears. I kill that one, another. I kill that one too then another appears. I keep fighting, they keep coming. It was endless." The boy's voice was dark as he tried to recall his nightmare. "They pull me into the water, I fight, I kill, I get back up to breathe and then I get pulled again. No end. Just fighting. Just monsters. Just more water and darkness."

Phainon could only stare in horror hearing such words leave the mouth of this kid not much younger than he was.

"I—…uh…are you sure that wasn't just a bad dream?" Phainon asked hesitantly.

The boy shook his head.

"No! It wasn't! It was the Sea of Souls!"

Phainon's eyes went wide.

"Sea of Souls? Isn't that where people go after they pass on? You can't have been there, you're alive!"

"That's what I hear the people there call it."

Phainon couldn't quite bring himself to believe the kid knew what he was talking about but he decided not to push it anymore. The boy was finally awake and that's what mattered. He decided to change the subject.

"What's your name?" Phainon smiled at the boy again but despite the slight relaxation in body language, he still furrowed his brows at Phainon. "You have a name, right? Mine's Phainon and I promise you that I'm no monster."

The boy stared for a few moments, his mouth twitching slightly as his fingers started to straighten and relax. He continued to never take his eyes off of Phainon. Eventually, he spoke and his expression eased a little.

"…Mydeimos."

"Mydeimos?" Phainon pondered. "That's a nice name!"

"Nice?" Mydeimos raised an eyebrow but for the first time since he had woken up, his face was no longer frowning.

"Yeah! Like…it sounds nice to say, I guess."

Mydeimos stared at Phainon, confusion clear on his face which made Phainon giggle.

"Forget I said anything. It's nice to meet you, Mydeimos!"

Phainon leaned onto the bed with his arms outstretched in front of him to keep him propped up, beaming his golden smile at his new friend. Mydeimos no longer inched away, his body finally relaxing away from the corner as he sat up on the end of the bed.

"I guess we should go back to sleep now. You probably still need more rest."

"But the monsters—"

"There's no monsters in Aedes Elysiae, Mydeimos. You're safe here, promise!"

Mydeimos shifted awkwardly and Phainon could see he was still unsure.

"Where you're from, were there always monsters?" Phainon asked to which Mydeimos nodded. "Well, I've never seen any monsters here. I can always sleep peacefully…except when dad wakes me up super early to work in the fields with him."

Phainon let out a soft laugh. Mydeimos was starting to show signs of settling as his legs and arms relaxed over the bed as he stayed upright.

"If it helps, my bed is just there on the floor." He pointed to his little makeshift bed. "If there were any monsters, I'd probably hear them and with two of us in here, we could fight them off together no problem!"

Mydeimos' face started to shift as he gradually lowered his defences much to Phainon's relief. He didn't seem comfortable enough yet to settle back into his bed properly but he did seem more relaxed then before, resting on the wrong end of the bed. Phainon figured he wasn't going to get much further than this with Mydeimos' trust overnight as he felt his own eyes become heavier with the desire to sleep. With a quiet yawn, he made his way over to his own bed and tucked himself back into it.

"I'll be right here if you need anything, okay? Don't be afraid to wake me," Phainon said as he settled on his side to face Mydeimos' bed where he remained resting opposite the pillow end. "Goodnight, Mydeimos."

— ☼ ☼ ☼ —

"Oh my goodness, you're awake!"

Cyrene watched as their mother almost dropped the cup in her hand when she saw Phainon emerge from his bedroom with the mysterious boy next to him, looking around the main space of their home in curiosity. The both of them had wondered why Phainon was a little late waking up this morning and now they understood why, their answer standing there a little wary. Their mother walked over slowly and lowered herself slightly, trying to make herself as the least bit intimidating as possible for someone so small with an unknown history.

"My name is Audata, what's yours?" She asked with a voice as gentle as she could make it.

The boy simply stared; he did not flinch or shy away but he did not smile nor move himself any closer either. His little lips remained shut as he seemingly had no intention of speaking — whether it was by choice or an inability Cyrene wasn't sure until her mother's expression shifted into a slight sadness and disappointment she wasn't getting the boy to talk to her that finally made the boy's face react.

"…Mydeimos," he finally said, averting his eyes away from everyone. Their mother smiled, happy to hear the boy speak to her and learn his name.

"Well, good morning, Mydeimos. I hope you're feeling better?" She asked and Mydeimos gave a small nod in response. "You're welcome to stay here until you recover fully so feel free to make yourself at home for the time being. Please don't hesitate to come find me should you need anything."

She continued to keep her smile as she went over to grab a couple of plates to serve some breakfast. Phainon brought his new friend over to the table where Cyrene was sitting reading one of her scrolls after finishing her own breakfast already. Upon sitting down, Cyrene decided it was her turn to introduce herself.

"Hi, Mydeimos! I'm Cyrene, Phainon's big sis and also the prettiest in the family." She smiled with a little wink and Mydeimos blinked before tilting his head ever-so-slightly to one side.

"You have titles like that in your family?" He looked at Phainon. "What's yours?"

Phainon giggled before putting on a prideful face, fists to his waist and puffed out his chest as he sat in the chair with his feet kicking under the table, unable to contain his joy.

"I'm the most heroic of the family, of course!" He replied with a grin.

Their mother's soft and quiet chuckle could be heard as she affectionately shook her head from the other side of the room making Cyrene also chuckle along with her. She brought the boys' breakfast over and then disappeared into another room leaving the three kids sitting at the table to amuse themselves.

Phainon wasted no time taking the first bite of his food meanwhile Mydeimos sat there and stared at the plate in front of him, almost like he was trying to judge the food before moving towards it. He seemed a little unsure of it.

"Have you never eaten this kind of food before, Mydeimos?" Cyrene asked as she continued to watch the boy look around his plate with curiosity. Mydeimos stopped to look at her and shook his head. Admittedly, Cyrene thought it was a little strange he didn't even recognise at least some of his plate considering some were a common food across Amphoreus and now she was even more curious as to where this boy had come from. Phainon looked up from his breakfast to see Mydeimos still contemplating over his own in front of him.

"Here, Mydeimos, watch me," Phainon said and proceeded to take a piece of bread and neatly push some of the food onto it before shoving it into his mouth, a large smile visible through his chewing. Mydeimos copied Phainon step-for-step and took a large bite.

After a few chews, Mydeimos' eyes widened and now looked at the food on his plate with a different kind of stare. As soon as he finished the first mouthful, he immediately dove in for more; his face continued to light up with every bite and for the first time, Mydeimos began to smile. Cyrene smiled herself seeing the once dying boy now fully enjoying his first meal since waking up. She glanced at Phainon to see he had paused his own eating to watch Mydeimos, open-mouthed and in awe of finally seeing his smile and Cyrene couldn't help but giggle quietly at the sight of her brother looking like he just saw a vision from the Titans themselves land at their table to join them for breakfast.

Once breakfast was finished, the three of them wandered outside to show Mydeimos the fields of their home and along the way, introduce them to their father who was hard at work amongst the wheat. Their father was just as stunned to see the boy awake but gave him a warm welcome much like their mother. He gave Mydeimos a ruffling of the hair and walked away to return to work leaving their new friend confused at the gesture while the siblings laughed themselves almost to tears at the expression on his face.

They spent a majority of the daytime running around amongst the long grass and wheat, Phainon excitedly explaining every part of their home as well as trying to encourage Mydeimos to enjoy the freedom he had here. Their new friend still showed few smiles and excitement but nevertheless, his curiosity for the new world around him was evident in the way he'd gaze at every bird that flew by, every bug that jumped into their path and the way he'd perk up like a cat at all the new sounds. Eventually, they would head back towards the house to start winding down ready for when their parents would return from working in the fields and begin preparations for dinner. Cyrene went inside to grab something to read and returned outside to see Phainon and Mydeimos sitting under the tree next to their house. She walked over to join them, Phainon smiling at her as she did while Mydeimos stared at the book in her hands.

"So, Mydeimos," she began while opening her book to where she remembered last reading, "where did you come from to wind up at our shores?"

"Sea of Souls is the only name I know of," Mydeimos replied and Cyrene's eyes went wide.

"As in…the River of Souls? Where those who have lost their life travel through to their afterlife?"

Mydeimos shrugged his shoulders.

"He told me the same thing last night. I still don't know if I can believe it, maybe he was dreaming but wait until you hear this." Phainon looked to Mydeimos. "Hey, Mydeimos, tell Cyrene about what happened there before you woke up in my room."

So Mydeimos did. He recounted to Cyrene his tales of fighting the monsters of the terrifying deep as they fought to take his young life away from him only for him to eventually drift his way out, wounded and unconscious. She now understood Phainon's confusion to believe his words; a child of his age shouldn't have such grim tales of battle.

"And you've lived in the River of Souls your whole life?" Cyrene asked in disbelief.

"Sea of Souls was the only place I knew until I woke up here. Usually I would drift to the bottom and swim back up when I woke again."

That would explain the confusion at breakfast, Cyrene thought to herself, but what an awful place to grow up in.

"Cyrene, are there any stories you've read where someone lives in or survives the River of Souls?" Phainon asked, looking at his sister with hopeful eyes but she could only disappoint.

"I've not read any. I know there are mentions of a ferryman and I've seen mentions that supposedly anyone who can survive such harsh waters can be likened to a god among men but real accounts or fleshed out stories, I'm not familiar with them."

"Figures." Phainon said with a little pout.

Mydeimos looked between them, confused so Cyrene gave him a small smile as she settled against the bottom of the tree.

"Perhaps our parents might know something. We can ask them after we've all eaten. For now, let's just be happy that you're here with us, safe and sound!" Cyrene said and the two boys nodded as Phainon returned to chatting excitedly with their new friend while she gave all her attention to the pages of her book.

— ☼ ☼ ☼ —

"Don't worry, Mydei! They said we'll still get to see you and you can come to see us so we can still play in the fields or in the village. Soon we'll be able to have classes together!" Phainon said as a village elder made his way over to them.

A week had passed since Mydeimos had woken up in Aedes Elysiae and showed many signs of being fully fit and healthy so with this, a village elder had come forward to allow him to stay in the village itself as well tutor him to help catch up on reading and writing skills so that he could attend the school with the other children. Phainon watched as the elder guided Mydeimos away from the house, the boy giving one last look behind him to Phainon and Cyrene to which they both smiled to reassure him but deep down, Phainon hated this.

Over the past week, Phainon had come to love having Mydeimos live with them, affectionately calling him Mydei instead, which the rest of the family caught onto as well. Mydei seemed to become attached to the name as well, his smiles becoming a little less rare to see. Sometimes the two of them would squabble, one such instance landed the two of them in a fight rolling across his bedroom floor after Mydei insisted he could have his own bed back but Phainon refused saying he should continue to rest in a proper bed. Eventually, they fought for so long they ended up both falling asleep on the floor in the process. As a day would draw to a close, Cyrene would share the stories from her books to help Mydei understand the wonders that awaited him in Amphoreus after only knowing the dark environments of the River of Souls. He became so fascinated by the tales, Phainon found him sitting under the tree one day trying to read a scroll she'd left there for just a brief moment but unfortunately, while he picked up enough from passing boats, vivid dreams and whisperings of souls wandering by to figure out his speech, the Sea of Souls provided next to no means to grow his reading and writing abilities. It was at this moment that his parents realised he was going to need someone to give him the extra time and attention to catch up on things the sea he grew up in could have never provided him. Their parents had not enough time to offer, being so busy with their existing work so they looked to the village for help with an elder answering their pleas.

The first night without Mydei there, Phainon did not sleep. He'd become so accustomed to having someone else in his room that it now felt empty and cold. He couldn't stop thinking about what Mydei could be doing at that moment; was he sleeping okay? Was the elder being kind to him? Was he getting tasty meals? Was his bed comfy?—

…Does he miss me too?

After a couple more days, their father said they could go and see how Mydei was getting along. Once school was finished for the day, Phainon and Cyrene dashed over to the elder's home, excited they could finally find out how their friend was doing in his new home.

The elder laughed at the sight and sounds of the siblings rushing towards his direction, charmed by how eager they were to see Mydei and the many questions they had about his well-being and progress. The elder informed them that Mydei was an eager learner, so interested in developing his reading skills that the boy would stay at the village library long past the curfew he was given. He took them over to the library and sure enough, sat on a cushion with his legs crossed and eyes focused on the scroll in front of him was Mydei.

"Little Mydeimos, I've brought you some visitors," the elder announced.

Mydei glanced up from his scroll and upon seeing who was waiting for him at the entrance, his eyes lit up and a little smile formed on his lips. He carefully put his scroll down on the floor and lifted himself up to walk over to his friends who just as eagerly smiled back at him. As he passed the elder, he looked up at him with hopeful eyes and the elder gave a small, slightly raspy but compassionate laugh.

"You may take the rest of the day to play with your friends. Make sure you come straight back home afterwards. I mean it this time, Mydei. If I find you've returned to the library before returning to me there will be consequences," spoke the elder, voice gentle but words firm. Mydei nodded and with that, the three children ran off to hangout under the shelter of a small canopy of trees not far from the shore.

"What's it like at your new home?" Phainon asked as he and Mydei laid on the grass looking up at the beams of light peeking through the leaves above while Cyrene sat across from them writing on a scroll.

"It's nice," Mydei responded, straight to the point. "Food is good. I got a bed. House is quiet. Library is nearby so plenty to read."

"With the amount you seem to be reading, I'm sure you'll be joining us at school in no time," Cyrene commented cheerfully.

"Yeah and then I can start beating you at the tests and quizzes!" Phainon teased with a cheeky grin to match. Mydei shot him a glare.

"The elder said I'm a fast learner so soon you'll be the one falling behind!" He returned with a smirk.

"Nuh-uh!" Phainon snapped.

Soon, the jabs and teases escalated to childish wrestling. The two boys rolled along the ground, giggling and growling, a few silly names thrown between them and a few tugs of their hair for good measure. Cyrene rolled her eyes and shook her head at them but couldn't help grinning at the sight, seeing her brother so full of life and having fun with their friend.

Soon, moments like these became a part of their life in Aedes Elysiae. The siblings would come to check on Mydei daily but every couple of days they would get to play for a while until it was time to wind down for the day's end. After a couple of months passed, Mydei was given the approval of his elder and the teacher to join his friends at the village school. From that point onwards, there wasn't a day the trio didn't spend time with each other becoming almost inseparable. When the season of harvest arrived and the school shut to allow full focus on working the fields, Mydei went with Phainon and Cyrene to help their family with the wheat fields. Phainon had never worked harder during the season until Mydei was in the picture; the two of them challenged who could harvest the most every day, driving their small bodies to their limits with results that often were not that far off the experienced parents.

On the last day of the harvest, they managed to finish the job early so to celebrate, they all got to eat a hearty lunch to help recover from days of hard work. Spirits were high to see another healthy and successful harvest wrap up and Mydei found himself fully caught up in the atmosphere with laughs all round and large, bright smiles that could fuel the sun for an entire era.

After the celebrations, the kids wandered to the shore and lazed around on the grass nearby. Cyrene opened a book she brought along which Phainon immediately recognised as the book she used for card readings. He leaned towards her to look over her shoulder. Mydei tilted his head at the book, an eyebrow raised in curiosity and at that moment, Phainon remembered this was the first time Mydei had seen it.

"Hey, Cyrene. You should let Mydei pick an oracle card!"

"Oh, that's right! Mydei hasn't seen this before." Cyrene excitedly pulled out a stack of cards and began to lay them out in front of her. "Mydei, come sit in front of the cards and pick one."

"Huh?" Mydei said as he slowly shuffled over.

"Here, let me show you." Phainon moved himself to sit next to Mydei and gazed down at the spread of cards. "Which card you pick is supposed to indicate the kind of person you are and the kind of person you'll grow to be too. Even though the cards are flipped so we can't see what they are, I still pull out the Deliverer card every time!"

Phainon leaned forward and hovered his hands over the cards. A few seconds rolled by as he hummed in thought before finally picking a card out from the middle of the line up. He flipped it over to reveal an image of what looked like a heroic warrior holding a large sword in front of him rather honourably, decorated in golds and blues.

"As he said, there's the Deliverer card," Cyrene informed. "The Deliverer is said to be a nameless hero who carries the hopes, dreams and wishes of those around them towards a new dawn where all may know peace. Harmony and perfection is what this card represents."

"You hear that, Mydei! I'm going to be a hero one day just like the Deliverer!" Phainon beamed with pride.

"Oh, yeah? Well, settle down, Deliverer and see which card I pick!" Mydei playfully said as he thoughtfully looked over the cards in front of him. After a second of staring and without hesitation, he reached for and carefully picked up a card from the left half of the lineup. He turned it around to see an image — decorated in golds and reds — of someone sitting on some sort of throne, pouring something from a goblet as if it meant nothing to them.

"Interesting. You picked the Ruler!" Cyrene appraised as she had leaned forward for a look. "The Ruler is said to be a king whose existence forever remains stained with bloodshed whether it be of the enemy or their own, violence being a constant. The Ruler represents discipline, authority and glory but also…isolation and warfare."

Phainon watched Mydei as his eyes remained focused on the card in his hand, face unreadable — perhaps processing what he just heard. For a boy who supposedly had only known about fighting for survival before washing up at their homeland, the card already spoke some truth. Isolation…No, maybe that one is wrong. He's not alone anymore. I won't let him ever be alone again. He'll always have his friends now, especially me!

"Authority and glory!" Phainon cheered, trying to lighten the mood. "Ruler—…what if you're the long lost heir to a throne somewhere but somehow got lost at sea and now there's a kingdom out there waiting for your return? Aren't there stories like that in your books, Cyrene?"

"There are some fairy tales that speak of children of royalty being stolen from their kingdoms and once grown, learn the truth and return to reclaim what is theirs," Cyrene mused before she gave the boys a little grin, changing her tone with a quick wink. "What if Mydei becomes a king and you, Phainon, are meant to be his most loyal and heroic knight! Now that would be a wonderful tale — almost romantic.~"

"I don't need a knight! I can fight by myself so no one else needs to risk getting hurt!" Mydei demanded.

"But Mydei," Phainon whined, "don't you want us to fight side-by-side? We could be heroes together!"

Mydei paused as if considering Phainon's words. Eventually, he grinned with teeth on show.

"We could do that but you have to be able to keep up with me first, Deliverer!" He remarked and Phainon replied with a grin of his own.

"Keep up with you? Are you sure it's not the other way around, your highness?"

Within seconds, the both of them were wrestling on ground with Cyrene quickly grabbing her cards to store them safely back in her oracle book with a huff then a sigh. The two boys fought for the remainder of the waking hours while Cyrene read nearby, occasionally looking up to see them chasing each other before hands would scramble in a contest of strength all over again, laughing, grinning and exchanging petty attempts at insults. As the Curtain-Fall hour drew closer, the elder walked over to the shore to bring Mydei back home.

— ☼ ☼ ☼ —

Phainon and Mydei's antics became a daily occurrence for the residents of the village as they grew, often resulting in Cyrene having to apologise on their behalf to save as much upset for their folks and guardian as possible. While no major crimes were committed, the two's constant need to best the other could often end in disturbing the locals or creating some sort of inconvenience. Even when they grew old enough to start training with wooden weapons and exercises to build their strength, they still had plenty of energy left over to unintentionally cause some sort of trouble. Some residents found it somewhat endearing, simply rolling their eyes when the two crashed through the village while some watched with disapproving eyes and a glare that could bore holes through their heads were it physically possible. Even when punishments were given, they would joke and rile each other up throughout it.

The two boys became almost inseparable; if time allowed they would find each other and spend whatever free time they had with each other. While Cyrene was close with her brother and their shared friend, the bond those two had was something unique to them and Cyrene knew that; she admired it both up close when they would hang out to share stories together in their favourite spots or from afar when the two boys still had energy to burn, running through the fields or honing their skills by the shore. While she didn't share their endless reserves of energy, their strong connection inspired Cyrene's creativeness and emotions as she would sit nearby and write her own stories that she hoped would one day inspire children of the future just like the legends and fairy tales she adored throughout her life. She wanted to make sure the world always remembered that bonds like this existed so even in the darkest of days, humanity never forgot what gave them the strength to keep looking forward to the light, with or without a leader, a ruler or a 'Deliverer' to help guide them.

Cyrene scribbled away on her scroll, enjoying the warm breeze as she sat at a small wooden table just outside the village with Mydei sitting opposite, reading one of the many scrolls from the library containing historical facts from around Amphoreus. Phainon had gone fishing for the day with their father, both she and Mydei had been invited but Cyrene refused knowing she'd drift off before catching anything and Mydei — as much as he didn't mind being near water — never felt comfortable being out in the middle of any body of water. While he never mentioned why, they all figured it was due to his early life with the sea. Instead, the two of them decided to settle for a peaceful afternoon and appreciate quieter company.

"Mydei," Cyrene began as she looked up from her writing, "did you know Phainon recently decided he wants to try and get into Castrum Kremnos to train and sharpen his fighting skills once he's old enough to leave the village?"

"Yes," he replied, eyes still fixed to scroll in front of him. "He told me about it this morning when he came to the village to ask about fishing."

"If he does go, would you go with him?"

Silence fell between the two of them. While Mydei still faced down to his scroll, his eyes were no longer travelling along the flow of sentences before him. Cyrene could feel the shift in the air like she could almost sense the struggle in his mind. Hesitation was rare for Mydei, something troubled him.

"Speak whatever comes to mind, Mydei. You know you can trust me. I won't tell Phainon if you don't want me to and you know I won't judge."

Mydei continued to keep his eyes on the scroll but Cyrene heard the long sigh release through his nose as if he was trying to breathe out the inner conflict.

"There's a part of me that wants me to go with him, I would also want to sharpen my skills too but there's another part I don't know how to describe. Whenever I hear the mention of Castrum Kremnos, I get a weird feeling within…"

"Good or bad?"

"I don't know. There's a sense of…familiarity but at the same time there's a looming dread not far behind." Mydei finally looked up from his scroll and Cyrene could finally see the agitation in his eyes. She had a feeling this isn't something he experienced just today, most likely he's experienced this before and Phainon's future plans must have raised it further to the surface.

"Is it possible it could be linked to the parts of your childhood you don't remember?"

Mydei shrugged.

Before the discussion could go any further, a voice yelled from the distance, calling their names so they both turned their heads to see Phainon proudly walking over holding up a handful of fish with his father not far behind. They both let out a soft laugh at the sight and briefly looked back to one another. Cyrene gave Mydei a gentle smile and a nod which Mydei gave back in return in understanding. They got up from the table and made their way over to meet Phainon before he could crash into their scrolls in excitement.

"Wow, that's the most fish I've seen either of you return with." Cyrene praised.

"I actually beat Dad. Can you believe it?" Phainon boasted.

"We'll be eating well tonight," their father said as he caught up. "Mydei, you should join us since we'll have plenty of grilled fish to go around. Phainon did also claim that his biggest catch would be for you."

"N-no I didn't!" Phainon blurted out, the colour of his cheeks changing to a light pink. Cyrene giggled while Mydei folded his arms, trying to play it off.

"Shouldn't the biggest catch go to its captor for their efforts?" Mydei asked to which Phainon nodded eagerly in agreement.

"While that normally would be true, a prince should also eat well for a hungry prince could also mean a hungry kingdom! Your most loyal knight is trying to take good care of you," Cyrene playfully informed.

"Cyrene…" Phainon whined, his pride deflating with every chuckle he heard from his father.

— ☼ ☼ ☼ —

Mydei took in the cool breeze as the trio enjoyed the shade near the library, all three of them trying to focus hard on the information in front of them as they prepared for an upcoming test. Cyrene mostly remained quiet but occasionally let out a hum in understanding or realisation. Phainon fidgeted every now and again but otherwise, he remained locked onto the scroll he was reading. Mydei had no trouble keeping his eyes on the words before him but after some quints he started to hear voices from the central area of the village until they kept getting louder to the point all three of them looked up and at each other. Without any words needing to be spoken, they all got up from where they were sitting and followed the sounds of commotion.

As the centre of the village came into view, Mydei could see a large gathering of people circling around something. Faces were frowning, voices were raised, small children clung to the legs of their folks for reassurance as the sounds of bickering continued to increase. As the trio approached, Mydei recognised the siblings' mother and father among the crowd, both their faces in scowls, their father especially with his teeth on show in frustration.

"What's going on?" Mydei asked.

Both their heads shot around to look at the three youngsters but upon seeing Mydei they shuffled themselves with haste to close them in away from the crowd.

"All three of you need to go and hide in the fields. Now!" Audata said, her face dropping the scowl to show her fear instead. "Do not leave until one of us comes to find you!"

"Why? Please, tell us what is—"

"We will not leave until we have Mydeimos!"

Mydei froze. Phainon and Cyrene slowly turned their heads to him.

"Why should we when you won't even tell us your reasons for needing him!? You come waltzing in here with swords and knives attached to you and expect us to just hand you a child? Leave this village immediately!" Mydei recognised that voice; it was his guardian.

"Listen, I don't want to start any trouble. That boy is important to us, we need him. We heard multiple accounts through traders and fisherman that a child washed up here some years ago with his age and features matching someone we might be looking for. At least let us talk to him!" The stranger spoke with a voice rough and aged.

"I said enough! Leave!" The village elder insisted once again.

Gasps sounded through the crowd as the recognisable sound of a sword being pulled from it's scabbard travelled through the air and without thinking, Mydei sprung forward — barging through the crowd with his friends close behind, to the opening in the centre where a sword was pointing threateningly at his guardian.

"Don't you dare hurt him!" Mydei growled, staring unwavering at the stranger before him.

The stranger was a man, hair and beard greying with age, a scar through his eye and armour marking the man as a soldier of some kind. Two other men stood with him, both looked to be very young adults but both carried swords of their own on their belts. One had his hand hovering near the older soldier as if to try and reason with him. Upon Mydei's interruption, everyone turned their heads to him.

Mydei braced himself as the stranger turned to him, eyes narrowed and mouth opening, ready to shout but before any words could sound, his eyes suddenly went wide, his sword slowly lowered and then his expression softened slightly. One of his companions looked at him in confusion.

"Krateros?" The young man asked.

"Are you…Mydeimos?" The man referred to as Krateros asked with a voice much less harsh than before as he continued to stare at Mydei like he was looking at a ghost. "No…I know you are. I can tell just by looking at you. You look so much like her."

Krateros walked towards him but Mydei continued to stand his ground. He suddenly felt hands on his arms and knew without having to look that both Phainon and Cyrene were holding him by the wrists, standing shoulder-to-shoulder either side of him; their faces glaring up at the old soldier to stand in solidarity with their friend.

"What do you want with me!?" Mydei yelled, unmoving and firm. He felt his friends' hands tighten their grip.

"Do you know anything about where you came from?" The soldier questioned. Mydei glared and shook his head.

The stranger grumbled a sigh and returned the sword to his belt.

"Let us find somewhere to talk and—"

"No," Mydei's guardian interjected. "Whatever you have to say to him, you can say here where we know he's safe."

Krateros narrowed his eyes at the elder and mumbled words unknown to Mydei. Eventually, he looked back at him and relaxed his stance.

"Mydeimos, you originally lived in Castrum Kremnos. You were born to Queen Gorgo and King Eurypon but unfortunate events led to you winding up in the sea. A year ago, my group learnt that you had survived and now we are here. Political reasons require you to come with us and eventually head back to your home in Kremnos."

The crowd whispered and murmured as Mydei stood there, staring up at the older soldier in disbelief. He could feel Phainon and Cyrene's eyes on him as they secured the hands on his wrists further.

"Mydei?" Phainon asked, voice soft with worry.

He couldn't answer him, he was stuck processing the story he was told. Is it even true? What political reasons would demand his return? How did he end up in the sea to begin with? Who was this man to the king and queen? Can he even trust these strangers?

"How do you know I'm the one you're looking for?" Mydei asked as he finally returned his focus to the situation at hand.

"The red markings across your arms signify your heritage," Krateros informed before his face softened slightly. "And you also look very much like your mother. She was someone I knew well. The events that led you to the sea devastated her in such a way words could not do it justice. When rumours reached us of you being alive and well, I immediately made it my goal to find you so that I could respect her wishes of seeing her son grow into a fine warrior, much like she was. A warrior who valued their strength but also understood that a sharpened mind could be just as lethal as a sharpened blade."

Mother…

While Mydei never got to personally know his mother, sometimes when he would dream he could feel a presence that reminded him of what people would describe as motherly. Sometimes it would just be a feeling, other times it was a voice that could soothe his sorrows as he continued his struggle back when he was in the River of Souls.

"Regardless of your intentions, the decision on whether he goes with you or not is his to make," His guardian reminded the stranger.

"There is no choice in this matter! The Kremnoan peop—"

"He is a boy with his own life and choices to make, not a tool for whatever political dramas your nation currently faces. He has the right to decide where he goes and where he stays."

Krateros glared at the elder but did not argue any further. He looked back to the two young men he arrived with and after a brief moment, they nodded at him to which he let out a short sigh and returned his attention to Mydei.

"We have set up camp not far from the north of this village. In three days time we will depart to continue our travels. You have three days to decide whether you stay here or join us." He gave a quick glance to his friends on either side of him. "You are also to come alone. There are no negotiations on bringing any companions. It's difficult enough as it is to keep supplies well stocked for six people and the situation back home is no game. We will be leaving just before the Entry Hour begins on the third day."

The three strangers gave the crowd one last look before making their way back out of the village with a few of its residents in tow to ensure they left for good.

The crowd began to disperse, most giving Mydei one last look either curious, pitiful or concerned. Mydei found himself unable to move from his spot as this new weight had been placed onto him and he had no idea what to do with it. He had three days to make a life-changing decision; stay in the village with his friends and continue his mostly peaceful life with Phainon and Cyrene along for the ride or finally learn of his origins, of the people of his birthplace and try to find his place in this world but at the cost of leaving behind people he grew to hold close.

He finally moved his head to see his guardian looking at him with an expression that read like sorrow. He gazed at both of his friends who shared similar looks and then finally turned to see behind him were Audata and Hieronymus whose faces matched the others. An ache grew and spread in his stomach and suddenly he couldn't bear to see their faces looking at him like that.

"I need to be alone to think," Mydei said, looking away from everyone and shaking the hands from his wrists.

Phainon started to reach out again but Mydei narrowed his eyes in warning, causing him to hesitate before finally returning his hand to his own side, his expression torn.

"Of course," the elder said, his voice quiet but no joy. "Just remember to be back home for dinner. Thinking on an empty stomach is one of the worst things you could do at this time."

Mydei gave no response. He walked off without giving anyone a word or a glance, heading straight for the edge of the village where he could be left well enough alone.

Giving one last look at the elder fast asleep in his bed, Mydei sneaked his way out of his home and made his way out of the northern side of the village. He followed a dirt road surrounded by what seemed like endless fields with crops coming close to their harvest. The breeze was cool and gentle, helping to keep Mydei's mind steady as he kept an eye for any sign of a camp. The resting hours were quiet, not many insects were out at this time and the wildlife slumbered much like the residents back at the village. It was so quiet in fact that after some more walking, Mydei swore he could hear an echoing of footsteps. He froze in place and listened. Nothing. A few more steps and sure enough, he could hear a few more to match. He froze again, waited then turned with haste to see a few stems of wheat rustle for a very brief second on the edge of the field behind him.

"Come out, whoever you are! I know you're following me so you might as well make yourself known."

A couple of seconds of silence were then followed by a rustling of wheat as a boy emerged from the field, a sheepish smile on his face.

"Phainon!? What are you doing out here?" Mydei asked, conflicted between anger and relief to see a familiar face.

"I could ask you the same thing!" Phainon said, trying not to raise his voice too much but making sure his own anger was heard as he walked up to Mydei. "Don't tell me you've already decided you're leaving with them!?Without saying goodbye to me or Cyrene no less!"

A growl slipped past Mydei's throat.

"Idiot," he mumbled as he raised his bare arms and stretched them out to the sides. "Does it look like I'm packed and ready to go anywhere?"

Phainon glared at him before relaxing his brows and sighing.

"Then what are you doing out here?"

"I'm going to find out more about my parents and Kremnos," Mydei said, looking back down the dirt road. "If I'm to make a decision then I deserve to know more before doing so. I was hoping that man would tell me more away from the ears of the other villagers."

"Let me come too!" Phainon demanded as he rushed to Mydei's side.

"Did you not hear me? They're unlikely to tell me anything with another person there. I have to go alone!" Mydei growled.

Phainon frowned at him.

"It's dangerous for you to approach these armed strangers with no weapon of your own let alone by yourself! Let me be there in case things go bad," he insisted.

He had a point; Mydei didn't want to admit it aloud but it was rather reckless of him to be walking straight into a group of soldiers of unknown origins without any means to defend himself besides his own fists. He had plenty of experience brawling with beasts but armed soldiers whose tactics were unknown to him was incredibly risky but what choice did he have? The village certainly wasn't going to arm him when he was still of an age where he and Phainon could only practice their skills with prop weapons that couldn't even slice bread.

"Fine," he finally said and watched as Phainon's face practically lit up. "However, you must stay hidden and watch from some sort of cover. I need them to tell me as much as possible and I can't risk failing this with only a couple days left to think it over. If anything goes wrong then you must run back to the village to warn the elder. Agreed?"

"No way! If anything goes wrong I'm jumping in there and—"

"Deliverer, if you jump in then we'll both be dead. You're just as unarmed as me." Mydei watched his friend's eyes look to the ground in frustration. "Besides, if I'm that important to them then perhaps I can stall them long enough to either get away or for help to arrive."

"…Fine," Phainon replied almost in a huff, frustrated at the lack of options. "Ugh, I hate this! Why couldn't we have real swords already?"

The two boys continued following the road, staying silent to keep themselves from alerting anyone nearby. As a woodland came into view so did a soft, orange glow just outside it. The duo looked to each other and nodded before following the source of the light and sure enough, there it was; a camp lit up by a fire at the centre and six men sat around it — some of whom had drinks in hand, laughing and playfully shoving each other as they walked past. Mydei could recognise the man called Krateros who sat by the fire with his arms crossed and a distant gaze as he started down at the flames. Mydei gave one last look to Phainon who took cover in some bushes that marked the edges of the fields behind them. He took a deep breath through his nose and approached the camp.

"Well, well, well! We have a guest!" One of the soldiers called out as Mydei walked closer to them. The same man stood up and began to unsheathe a blade he had picked up from the ground next to him before a hand gripped his sword arm.

"Leo, wait!" Another man spoke. "Look closely. He's just a boy!"

"Wait…" The first man put the blade away. "That's not just any boy."

Krateros looked up from the fire and his eyes widened.

"Mydeimos?" He said as Mydei walked into the clear view of the glow from the flames.

"So that's the son of Gorgo, hm?" Spoke another man sat with a scroll further away from the commotion of the merrier soldiers. His eyes scanned him so Mydei narrowed his eyes in warning but the guy seemed the least bit phased.

"Have you decided to come with us?" asked a different man.

"No," Mydei responded, keeping his voice firm. "I don't want to make any decision until I know more. I need to know everything about my parents, Castrum Kremnos and why I'm so desperately needed that you would pull out your sword on a village elder."

"Well, at least he's got his head screwed on," commented the man with the scroll.

"Shut up, Ptolemy…" One of the others grumbled, throwing him a weary glower.

Krateros growled a sigh before indicating with his hand to sit by the fire to which Mydei did.

"Do we offer the prince a drink?" Asked one of the men.

"He's barely into his teens, one sip of our booze will knock him out for a week," responded another.

"Enough," Krateros growled again and with that, the camp went silent.

Krateros stared into the flames once more as if pondering his words before finally looking to Mydei again.

"Where do you want us to begin?" He asked.

"My parents and how I ended up in the sea," Mydei replied.

The older soldier nodded and began to tell the story of his parents, the King and Queen of Castrum Kremnos; how they had married after they tied in a grand contest of strength. How they saw a bright future for Kremnoans with new ideas that could make Kremnos stronger than it already was. How Mydei's birth brought happiness not just to his parents but to their people as well. Then finally, how it all fell apart as his father descended into madness; throwing Mydei into the River of Souls when he was still a baby and killing his mother who tried to both protect him and end his father's madness.

In return, one of the men asked what happened to Mydei after he was thrown in so he told the group about how he survived growing up in the Sea of Souls; how he'd fight the beasts of the dark waters until he no longer could and would sink to the bottom only to awake again and start the brawls anew. How he'd only rest when wandering souls would quieten enough for a moment's peace. How he had to learn to stomach the disgusting taste of sea monster flesh, raw and pungent to ensure he wouldn't go hungry. The men all looked on in either horror that someone so young would have to live such a life or in pride that their prince possessed the strength to survive one of the most brutal environments in Amphoreus.

As the Curtain-Fall drew on, Krateros explained the political state of Kremnos. He went into detail of how Eurypon's madness was rotting the once proud nation and took him to such lengths as disgracing the body of a Titan by pulling it apart and taking away the parts he believed were of no use, driving the Titan into a madness beyond Eurypon's own. With the state's ruler and it's god both fuelled by insanity, the people of Castrum Kremnos were left to watch it crumble; some chose to remain loyal while others sought to try and remove the king from his throne, end the Titan's suffering and restore glory to the crown and its citizens.

"So that's why you need me…" Mydei mused. "You want me to take Eurypon's place and take the crown for myself?"

Krateros nodded.

"You're the only one left who can. While I'm no believer in prophecies, the fact that you survived being thrown into the Sea of Souls and could continue to awaken from death itself I believe is a clear sign you were meant to take the crown and restore the glory to your people, perhaps even take up Nikador's flame."

"All hail, Mydeimos," said one of the soldiers in an almost tuneful and teasing manner. "The immortal god king of Castrum Kremnos."

"Write that one down, Peucesta. It's got a good ring to it!" Spoke another.

Mydei gazed into the flames in front of him as he let his mind shift through the new information.

"If you were to come with us," Krateros started to inform, "we would teach you everything you need. Real Kremnoan combat training, strategies and planning, Kremnoan history and its politics as well as keeping up your general knowledge and skills. It will take a few years at least but we can't just march you in, slay a mad king and then hand you a crown with a lack of tact and understanding. We want to ensure our best chances and for you to be as prepared as you can be."

The other five men all nodded in unified agreement.

"The books we have on Castrum Kremnos mention nothing of Eurypon's madness," Mydei said, still looking at the flames in thought. "They still talk of a nation standing strong and talk of the people's love for a good fight to prove or hone their skills further."

"Villages this far out from a lot of the large cities of Amphoreus rely almost entirely on updates and information being given to them rather than sending political aides to seek it out instead," the man sat with his scroll explained. "As far as we're aware, not long after your birth — when the king started to lose his mind — was when Kremnos stopped handing out any form of communication full of prideful words and boasts of strength. The only words to travel from Castrum Kremnos to other states from that point on were declarations of war."

Well, there goes the Deliverer's dreams of training within Castrum Kremnos.

Thinking of his friend had Mydei wondering how he was doing hiding away somewhere nearby. He resisted the urge to look out to the fields and kept his eyes fixed to the camp.

"What if I were to refuse your offer and stay here in Aedes Elysiae?" Mydei asked.

"Then we'd have no choice but to respect it," Krateros answered. "I'm admittedly tempted to say you have no choice in the matter and rush you away from the village while you're here now but having more time to think on it — such an action will only leave you feeling resentful of us, the crown and Kremnos. What good is a king who resents his kingdom?"

"Let's be honest with ourselves," said one of the soldiers, "there's not really a choice here. You could stay and continue to live peacefully in this little farming village but Eurypon advances across Amphoreus and won't stop until all is under his control. A place like this will be trampled and burnt to ash within hours of his army arriving."

"Not if we train hard to defend it!" Mydei snapped, almost insulted at the idea his home will be laid to ruin so fast.

"Hephaestion is right," Krateros said, staring into the fire again with eyes that seem to be looking into a far away distance Mydei cannot see. "If that 'Black Tide' doesn't get here first, Eurypon will eventually burn it to the ground. Your village doesn't hold the numbers to protect the land itself. You could get the people away but the current climate of Amphoreus isn't kind to outsiders in need of refuge. There's a large city far from here that might but Eurypon's army will track you down before you can get there."

"So…" Mydei began. "Regardless if I was to stay or go, war and bloodshed will eventually come…"

The man Krateros referred to as Hephaestion nodded his head with a solemn expression as he spoke.

"Unfortunately, that's the reality. You can either stay and try to enjoy whatever peaceful years remain ahead of you or take action now and not only help to keep Eurypon away from here but also save many other places in Amphoreus yet to fall to his rampage. This isn't just about Kremnos, we're preventing a bloody war that will achieve nothing from spreading further than it already has."

"People may see Kremnoans as bloodthirsty warriors but the truth is we fight for pride and a noble death," Krateros added. "We fight to win, to conquer and perhaps achieve a death worthy of Nikador's honour. Eurypon's war is one of blind rage and destruction. There's no land left to conquer after his armies march through. Kremnoans sent to his wars are dying not for the good of their nation but for a mad king's greed. Our god who bestowed us their strength and honour now only seethes somewhere behind Eurypon's throne."

Mydei felt his stomach ache again as the weight of his decision returned and fell upon him— who was he kidding? There wasn't a choice. Mydei was glad he made the move to sneak out and get more information but now he finally understood what people meant when they would say ignorance is bliss. Mydei would never wish to be ignorant to the world around him but he was already internally grieving his future in the village with his friends before even getting to live it.

"I think I have all I need to know," Mydei said as he rose from the ground to stand. "Thank you for sharing everything with me. I'll be returning to the village before the earliest risers can catch me out here and I'll come back soon with an answer."

He gave a small nod of appreciation and walked away from the camp leaving the murmurs of the soldiers behind him, trying not to hear their words for he'd heard enough tonight. He decided to make sure he was well out of sight from the men before checking Phainon still followed and sure enough, as the glow of the fire grew faint, his friend strolled out from the shelter of the wheat and joined Mydei at his side as they made their way home.

"I heard everything," Phainon said, voice low and face grim.

"Then you probably already know what's going to happen next," Mydei said back, his tone matching the boy beside him.

"…Would it be selfish of me to say I don't want you to leave?"

"I don't want to leave either. Maybe we're both selfish."

They walked in silence the rest of the way until they sneaked back into the village, feeling somewhat blessed that no one was awake and wandering around yet. As Mydei headed for the elder's home, he felt a hand grab his own and hold it with a firm grip. He stopped and looked over his shoulder to see Phainon standing there, staring at their hands, his face twisting before finally opening his mouth to speak.

"Don't go back in yet…" He barely got the words out, his voice rough like he was trying to hold in more. "Can we…go sit under the trees not far from the shore?"

Mydei watched as Phainon's lips would move as if to say more but stop before any words could sound. He didn't need to say anything anymore, Mydei understood. He doubted he would be able to sleep anyway so there was no hurry now that they were back in the village at least. Mydei shifted his hand so it could hold Phainon's hand more comfortably.

"Let's go," he said to which Phainon looked back at him and finally gave a smile albeit one that seemed closer to sadness than happiness.

The two of them sat with their backs against the trunk of a tree, shoulders touching, a hand still held as they gazed up at the sky above them as the colours changed in preparation for dawn. This time tomorrow, Mydei will be leaving the village one last time to give the Kremnoans his answer. The thought made everything inside hurt but on the outside, he remained strong. Neither of the boys said a word, they both wanted the comfort of each other's company now fully aware their time together was short. Mydei wasn't sure when he lost track of the dawn but a gentle voice brought his consciousness back to realise his vision had gone dark. He stirred and finally opened his eyes to see Cyrene gazing down at them, a small smile on her face and eyes that showed empathy.

"You left the village last night, didn't you?" She asked in a soft whisper.

Mydei's eyes widened.

"Were we spotted!?" He tried to keep his voice quiet despite fearing possible consequences but he soon settled again when Cyrene shook her head.

"Let's just say, I had a hunch," she said with a little wink. "Don't worry, I already let the elder know I found you two asleep here and he allowed me to come wake you. You're not in trouble. I think they understand emotions are difficult right now."

Mydei looked to his side to see Phainon was still asleep against him, his breathing gentle and face still peacefully unaware of the waking world.

"Cyrene," Mydei began, "I've made up my mind. Will you come with me while I tell my guardian?"

She nodded and pointed to her brother.

"Of course but first, we should wake sleepyhead number two."

Mydei gave Phainon a gentle shove to stir him awake. The boy groaned wearily and proceeded to bury his face into Mydei's shoulder in protest, likely forgetting where he was right now. Mydei felt a minor blush on his cheeks, a little embarrassed by how clingy Phainon was being in his half-asleep state; meanwhile Cyrene giggled cheerfully, enjoying the moment rather than helping.

"Deliverer, you idiot. Wake up," Mydei growled to ease his friend awake. Finally, Phainon lifted his head off of Mydei and rubbed the sleep from his eyes followed by a loud yawn.

Cyrene guided them to where she last saw the elder and sure enough, there he was not far from his home talking to their teacher and Audata.

"Ah, Mydeimos! Good to see you awake. If you ever need to get some fresh air please just leave a note for me, I was worried sick when I saw your bed empty," his guardian explained, trying to keep a steady smile.

"I'm sorry for worrying you but I need to tell you something."

All of the adults' eyes shifted and eyebrows raised. They knew what this meant.

"You've made a decision, haven't you?" The elder questioned. Mydei nodded.

"I've decided to go with the Kremnoans."

His guardian dropped his smile while the other two silently gasped.

"Are you sure that's what you want to do?" Their teacher asked, failing to hide her doubt.

"Yes," he replied. Sure and steady. "I couldn't sleep because I was thinking things over very carefully hence why I came out for fresh air. I believe what is affecting Kremnos is not something that will stay in Kremnos and could potentially become a danger to everyone. Instead of waiting for it to come to us, I should try to fix it as soon as possible if we're to believe I really am the heir to the throne."

"Oh, Mydeimos…" The village elder lamented. "The struggles of a nation are too much for your young shoulders."

"I'll be okay. Those Kremnoan soldiers will teach me everything I need."

"I think you'll make a great king, Mydei," Cyrene said with her signature smile. "Even greater than the ones from the legends and fairy tales we used to read under the trees."

"As much as I don't want Mydei to leave," Phainon began "I support his decision. If I had to travel away from home to protect it, I would do it in a heartbeat."

"Phainon…" His mother looked at him with a mixture of pride and sadness.

The elder and their teacher exchanged a look before looking back to the trio in front of them.

"You three can take today off school," their teacher said, "Spend all the time you need with each other and don't let it go to waste."

"Thank you," all three said in return.

"If your mother allows it, you two can stay overnight with Mydei so you may see him off when he leaves the village before the sun rises," Mydei's guardian offered and Audata nodded in approval. "For now, come and have some breakfast. You all have a long day ahead."

The three of them did not waste their final day together. They ate their breakfast, exchanging ideas on what Mydei needed before he left and what foods would weigh less but last longer. Once they cleared their plates, they headed to the shore where they first found each other to reminisce about their early days. After a few quints they made their way to the wheat fields so Mydei could enjoy the freedom one last time. Phainon ran through the wheat, calling out to Mydei to join him but he found himself walking amongst it instead, brushing his hands delicately along the stems and blades of long grass that grew alongside the crops. He wanted to imprint all into his mind; the sights, the sounds, the smell and the feeling of wheat brushing against skin as he would race the day away in fields of gold with the sun that warmed him from skin to soul.

When they returned to the village and to Mydei's home they found Phainon and Cyrene's folks had worked with the elder to cook up one last giant feast so that Mydei could leave tomorrow with both his stomach and heart as full as he could make it. All six of them gathered around the table and enjoyed hearty foods and warm conversation, everyone wore their best smile and gave their jolliest laughs. As Curtain-Fall approached, Audata and Hieronymus said their farewells leaving the trio to finally help Mydei pack for the early leave. His guardian had gifted him a light sack to fill with what he needed so Cyrene assisted by picking foods to last while Phainon picked at his brain for essentials to survive. Cyrene tried to encourage Mydei to pack some tools to write with but the sack was starting to gain weight so he had to refuse as tempting as it was to have at least something to note his journey down. Phainon tried his luck in suggesting a wooden sword for days where he'd need practice but Mydei reminded him the group of Kremnoans would likely be giving him real weapons to train with.

When the time finally arrived for sleep, neither of the three could do so. The elder had generously provided comfortable materials and soft furnishings to make spare beds but after a quint passed, the trio gazed between each other and silently agreed to sneak out their favourite spot on the edge of the village; a gathering of trees providing a thick cover of leaves for shelter where they could feel hidden away from the world. They laid themselves on the ground below — Mydei between the siblings — and watched the gentle breeze of the night sweep through the branches and green above them like the night itself was trying to lull them into sweet dreams.

"When you finally defeat that mad king, I want to be there to watch you be crowned the new king of Kremnos," Phainon said, a weary smile evident in his voice. "I will await the news and rush over to Castrum Kremnos to show the world that you're a king worthy of the Deliverer's approval."

Mydei let out a soft and light chuckle, the thought of Phainon's face beaming up at him with pride from a crowd filled his chest with warmth.

"I want to see it too," Cyrene chimed in. "I want to record the moment, quill in hand, so everyone in Amphoreus will know of the day Kremnos returned to glory."

"You both paint me like a king of kings yet I've still only been able to wield a wooden sword," Mydei joked along with them.

"But you forget you fell beasts with your bare hands as a small child! Surely that's a sign of strength?" Phainon asked to which Mydei let out a small hum.

"I'd say so! I mean, look at Phainon — he still falls on his ass when the goats headbutt his knees!" Cyrene teased.

"Cyrene…" Phainon whined while the other two laughed.

"In fairness to the Deliverer, those goats can be pretty relentless."

"Thanks, Mydei…" Phainon sighed.

A brief moment of peace returned to them as they continued to admire the nature in front of them. Mydei wondered what sights awaited him after he left this small but scenic village. He enjoyed staying here in Aedes Elysiae; there were plenty of places he could be alone to think (and sneak in a quick nap), the work around the fields and farms surrounding the village offered plenty to keep hands and the mind busy and there were no wild beasts to worry about meaning he could always focus on enjoying the time he spent with his friends without expecting something to jump out and grab him before he was fighting for his life. However, no matter how many years went by in this quiet village, Mydei could always feel an itch he couldn't quite scratch. It started off small, easy to ignore especially as he settled into the village life but as he grew, so did this itch he couldn't quite figure out. He never felt it when he made his way through the Sea of Souls, perhaps too busy fighting for his life or watching for the next attack but sometimes thinking intently of his battles with the beasts of the shadowy deep made the feeling worse. He'd slowly come to notice his spars and rough play with Phainon were the closest he'd come to satisfying it but he still couldn't understand why.

Mydei's thoughts eventually returned to his friends as he felt the both of them shuffle closer until their arms pressed against his.

"Do you…think we'll get to see you again?" Phainon asked, voice fading with woe as reality settled in with every passing moment.

"I don't know," Mydei responded, honestly. "I don't know where we're going while they prepare me to challenge Eurypon. I don't know how long it will be until the day arrives when I have to face him. I don't know what will happen once I succeed. I don't even know if the Kremnoans will accept me."

"Who would have thought that our little Mydei is the prince of a city built upon conquest, strength and strife…" Cyrene mused trying to keep spirits above the gloomy mood. "We used to joke about you two being a hero and prince straight from a storybook and now, here we are — watching our friend about to take his first steps to claiming a throne meant for him."

"Then, if I really become a hero," Phainon started to think aloud, "do you think that would mean we could get a happy ending for all of us?"

Phainon's words made something in Mydei's chest ache, his throat close and a very minor but quick sting behind his eyes.

A happy ending… Does such a thing really exist or does the price of happiness still come at a harsh cost? He had to survive years in deadly waters to finally live peacefully with friends in a beautiful village and now the call of battle summoned him once more. Would there be a promised light at the end of whatever trials awaited him or would taking the crown mean isolation and more violence until Thanatos could finally drag his soul to the depths of the river for good?

Mydei never gave much thought to these things. Spending his first years of his life in a harsh environment, he'd learnt to lock away any thoughts of something brighter in fear of falling to despair. He wondered if he even knew how to create such thoughts back then. Aedes Elysiae had shown him what life could be when given a warm home, the freedom nature can offer, food on your table every day and people who care regardless of how much he could return in kind. Knowing all of this will be taken away once he walks away tomorrow hurt in a way no physical wound could match. He knew he'd be able to push past it, if he's done it once he can certainly do it again but that didn't change what he felt at that moment as the sky above moved towards his final hours in a place he wished he could continue to call home.

"I believe with you as a hero, you could make anything happen," Cyrene said, her voice carrying her smile. "If we always move forward and keep our heads high, all of us can find our desired ending like the characters we grew up reading about."

"I want to help us all get our desired endings though," Phainon muttered as his gaze seemed lost in the branches above them.

The three of them fell silent again as warmth from each other and the weariness from chatter caught up to them and soon they all fell asleep, clinging to each other as if they were trying one last attempt to keep Mydei there forever.

When the time to leave was soon upon him, Mydei's guardian came to wake them up, inviting them in for one last meal together. Their breakfast together was quiet; Mydei didn't know what to say, Phainon's face was a picture of woe as he chewed his food and Cyrene kept her smile as she always did but even Mydei could tell she was working hard to keep it there.

Finally, the moment had arrived to say his goodbyes.

As Mydei walked to the north side of the village he was followed by his friends and the adults that had helped him since he washed up in Aedes Elysiae. As the road came into view, he noticed a figure standing not far from the village and after a few more steps, he recognised the long hair, weapon on his side and clothes you could not find a match for in Aedes Elysiae. Hephaestion had come to wait for him.

The man noticed Mydei at the edge of the village and walked up to meet him. Mydei took this moment to turn around to look at the village and the people that made it home for him one final time. Phainon, Cyrene and the elder walked up to stand closer, their faces a mix of emotions.

"Should you ever get a chance to come back and visit, you're always welcome here, Mydeimos," said his guardian with a smile that quivered as it fought back the bitterness of goodbye. It seems even with many years behind someone, the goodbyes never get any easier.

"Thank you for everything you've done for me. I won't waste an opportunity to return to see everyone again should it happen," Mydei said in return, genuinely grateful for the elder's words but deep down, he knew this was likely the last time he'd see this place though he couldn't bring himself to admit it aloud.

The elder nodded and took a step back to allow Phainon and Cyrene a moment with him.

"I'm no real oracle…yet but I have a feeling you'll become a strong leader and I have faith the decisions you make will give your people a better future," Cyrene said with a wink.

"I have no reason to doubt your senses, Cyrene. Thank you."

"This won't be the last time we see each other. I'm going to travel the land, sword in hand and eventually find myself upon Castrum Kremnos' gates, asking the guards to allow me entry for I'm the king's greatest friend and ally!" Phainon said, trying to keep his spirits up as Mydei could see the battle of emotions on his lips and eyes.

"In that case, I expect a great fight to match, Deliverer. I want to see what I missed while I was away," Mydei replied with a grin and Phainon, through his sadness, grinned back like he always would when a challenge presented itself.

"I won't disappoint!" He promised.

They stood there in silence as Mydei, for some reason, struggled to turn away. Before any more seconds could tick by, both the siblings grabbed Mydei and brought him into a tight hug. He froze up, unsure how to respond at first but eventually, he instinctively brought his free arm up around Cyrene while he let his face rest into Phainon's shoulder. He could hear Phainon's shaky breathing, clearly still fighting with himself and it pained Mydei to hear. He had no choice in this, he had to leave but a part of himself yearned to stay with the people he'd come to hold closest to his heart. He had no idea if he could ever find bonds like this again and as he felt Phainon's hand tighten over his shoulder he knew — no one could ever replace this.

Finally, they let him go, smiles pained but remaining as Mydei finally turned around and walked to meet up with Hephaestion. He was tempted to look over his shoulder once more but fought against it knowing if he saw tears, it would break him apart to his core.

— ☼ ☼ ☼ —

As Mydei disappeared from view when he and the Kremnoan followed the turn in the road, Phainon could only continue to stare as if he was waiting for something. The adults behind him began to disperse, woefully quiet but they knew life had to go on and work still needed to be done. Phainon knew this too but that didn't stop him from staring into the road for a few minutes more. Cyrene stayed by his side and squeezed his hand in her own. He looked at her and while she kept the smile she always wore, her eyes began to cloud over as she spoke to him.

"Phainon, it's okay. You can let it all out, you don't have to be brave for me." A tear rolled down her face and that's all it took to finally break Phainon's struggle as he felt the tears begin to fall down on his own. Cyrene brought him into a hug and there they stayed for a moment, clinging onto each other, sharing their pain as the tears tried to dispel their sorrow.

Mydei was going to find his place in this world but the thought of it meaning Phainon may never see him again made his chest ache and the tears flow further. They had spent every day together since Mydei awoke that first night in his home and became an important part of his life. No matter where the future may take him — whatever plans Oronyx had in store for Phainon, nothing else could place itself in the space within where his friendship with Mydei resided.