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“You got it, didn’t you?”
Mydei’s barely set one toe into Phainon’s room and he’s already been found out. Of course. He scoffs at Phainon’s turned back. “That obvious, isn’t it?”
He can almost feel Phainon’s wry smile as he rests his elbows on the balcony, staring at the everlasting morning sky. “Who else would it be but you?”
Rolling his eyes, Mydei crosses the room to join him. He faces away from the blinding sun, far too bright to suit the mood, and crosses his arms as he leans back against the railing. Phainon can’t even hope to hide from him at this angle.
The dull sadness in his eyes, his strained smile, the crease between his eyebrows, his half-curled fingers…
“I’m sure you don’t believe me, but I’m not here to gloat,” Mydei says, eyes narrowed.
Phainon shakes his head. “I do. I mean, you didn’t even want it in the first place.” His gaze remains fixed on the sky as he frowns in confusion. “There was no time to ask before you went, but… why undergo the trial at all? You’re one of the most stubborn people I know.”
“You think I didn’t notice the look in your eyes? You were about to volunteer me.” Not just because Phainon tremendously believed in him, but because he was so willing to give up this goal for someone he thought was more deserving.
A good-natured yet practiced laugh cuts through the tension. A step in the right direction. “True, but you could have refused again. Don’t tell me you were afraid of the sad puppy eyes.”
Mydei clicks his tongue in annoyance. “That doesn’t work on me and you know it.”
“What was it, then? My heartfelt pleas?”
“Don’t push it.”
“Then?”
The only reason he’s entertaining this is to distract Phainon from his pain, or so Mydei tells himself. It’s certainly not the traces of the first genuine smile he’s seen on Phainon all day. He relents with a sigh. He was going to tell Phainon sooner or later anyway.
“There are only so many Chrysos Heirs,” he grumbles.
Phainon hums, dragging his thoughtful gaze from the sky to Mydei. The softness in his eyes is nothing new to Mydei, not while they’re alone, yet it makes his breath hitch. “Your honour and loyalty to your duty know no bounds, noble prince.”
Mydei drags an exasperated hand down his face. If Phainon has the heart to tease him, he has nothing to worry about anymore.
To his relief, Phainon changes the subject instead of prodding further. “So, if you’re not here to flaunt your victory, what brings you here? Don’t you have celebrations to attend and congratulations to wave off?”
“It hasn’t been long enough for the people to have heard.”
Phainon’s eyes widen. “How quickly did you walk here?” he asks slowly.
Mydei dodges the question. “You were in rough shape when you got back,” he says instead. “Did Nikador pummel you into the ground?”
Phainon snorts and says nothing more for a moment, simply staring into the distance. “I really shouldn’t be surprised you noticed.”
“No, you shouldn’t,” Mydei states. “And you know what? Deep down, you knew the outcome before you went in.” He pauses before continuing in a softer voice. “We both did.”
That frown returns in full force, directed at himself more than anything else. Phainon leans more heavily against the railing, practically slumped over. His bangs obscure part of his face as his head hangs low. “Yeah, I know.”
With Phainon lost in thought and stewing in his conflicted emotions, there isn’t much else he can do. Mydei patiently waits for him to continue.
“It’s just… obtaining Nikador’s Coreflame has been my entire reason to train for so long,” Phainon starts, then lets out a clipped chuckle. “You know that better than anyone else. But at the same time, I couldn’t— Ugh. I had to retreat while you fought them alone. Then when I went to officially receive the Coreflame, they made it very clear that something was off about me being the one. Especially when I couldn’t even…”
As he trails off, Phainon buries his face in his hands with a frustrated groan. “I just couldn’t,” he whispers in defeat.
Mydei would have understood even if he hadn’t done the trial himself. Who would understand the god of his land’s values better than its prince? Nodding, he says, “It was Sacrifice, wasn’t it?”
Phainon’s silence tells him all he needs to hear.
“I get it.” Mydei nudges his shoulder, both sympathetic and an attempt to cheer him up. “If I were you, I wouldn’t let go so easily either.”
“Then what kind of Chrysos Heir am I?!” Phainon hisses, nails digging into his scalp as his eyes squeeze shut. “They said I can make my peace with putting my life on the line for others, with getting hurt in someone else’s place, but I’m not willing to give everything up for our mission. That’s why I failed. If I don’t leave the past behind, I can’t be trusted with the future in my hands. It’s the last thing I heard before I came back.” His voice cracks and he shakes his head. “I’ll never get a Coreflame at this rate—”
“Hey,” Mydei sharply cuts him off. “Stop that. That line of thinking will get you nowhere.” He pries one of Phainon’s hands away from his head, revealing one despair-filled eye. “You will get a Coreflame, just not Nikador’s. You’re a Chrysos Heir for a reason.
“Besides.” He waits for Phainon to look at him, then grins. “You already have four out of five traits. I wouldn’t worry about you getting one of the other Coreflames, Deliverer.”
Phainon watches him closely. As his other hand comes to rest on the railing, his lips twitch into a smile. “It… is a small relief that I failed, I suppose. Now your Coreflame is where it rightfully belongs. It was always meant to be you. I’m glad.”
Mydei sighs, scowling to hide his fluster. “There you go again. How many more times are you going to say that?”
“I mean it.” Phainon chuckles, though there’s a tinge of sadness in it. “I’m happy for you, I’m just a little… lost, I guess.” He waves a dismissive hand. “It’s not important right now, though. What is important is your astounding achievement! You’re making it a bit hard to keep up with you, you know.”
“Discouraged already? And here I thought you’d be training twice as hard and asking me to spar every day.”
“Is that a generous offer I hear?” Phainon’s eyes have that playful glint Mydei didn’t realize he’s begun to miss in its absence. “Because I’ll be happy to take you up on it. For now, though…” He tips his head to the side as he thinks. “How about a celebration, just the two of us? Before all of Okhema finds out about our glorious hero.”
Just the two of them? Mydei’s head nearly spins on his shoulders. What could that possibly mean? A relaxing bath, a stroll through the city, a ride on the dromas?
At his visible confusion, Phainon throws his head back and laughs. “Oh, your face is priceless. It’s nothing extravagant, and most definitely nothing compared to what Aglaea and Tribbie might have planned, just a little lunch. A certain… meal you’ve endorsed in the past, perhaps.”
“I don’t even—!” Mydei grits his teeth, clenching his fist as his face burns. “I’ve never eaten those damn honeycakes in my life. It was one advertisement to boost morale. I don’t know what they taste like.”
“And now you will.” Phainon shrugs. “Don’t worry, we don’t have to walk in together. I’ll go and order while you wait outside. But I can’t say you’ll get any less people jumping all over you for autographs that way. Those dessert shops love their Honey King oh so much.”
If he could throw Phainon clear across the rooftops and feel no guilt, he would. He hopes he conveys that message through his withering glare.
Judging by the growing smile on Phainon’s face, he doubts it.
“I’m not hearing a no,” Phainon practically sings.
“Shut it already.” Mydei finally drops Phainon’s wrist, casting it aside as if it’s contaminated. “Get your honeycakes if you want. I’m eating something else.”
“Come on, not even one bite?”
Mydei gives him a flat look. As long as they take the food to one of their rooms, as long as nobody’s around to take photos and gossip about it, he’ll consider it. All those rave reviews have to mean something. Besides, Phainon’s already said he enjoys them. Not that his tastes matter that much.
He holds up a finger. “One.”
And Phainon lights up like a star. Mydei’s finally achieved his goal. “Perfect! I know just the place, not the one you did the ad with, that would be asking for trouble, and it’s got plenty of options for you too.” He takes a step toward his room and pauses. “Oh, before I forget.”
Before Mydei can even open his mouth to speak, Phainon sandwiches one of Mydei’s hands between both of his own and squeezes.
“Congratulations on the Coreflame, Mydei.”