Chapter Text
The Holy City of Okhema gleamed beneath the midday sun, its white marble columns and grand amphitheaters casting long shadows over the bustling arena. Massive statues of winged steeds and warriors lined the entrances, their stone gazes watching over the vast coliseum. Banners representing the cities of Amphoreus fluttered in the wind as the tournament grounds buzzed with anticipation. With tiered seating carved into the mountainside, the arena offered a perfect view of the sprawling, open track below. The scent of freshly turned earth and the crisp mountain air mingled with the electric energy of the gathered crowd.
In the audience stands, Mydeimos sat with his arms crossed, his sharp golden eyes scanning the field below with practiced indifference. Beside him, Phainon leaned back lazily, the Trailblazer sitting on his other side, both eagerly awaiting the next event.
He had no particular interest in the race. The inter-city tournament was little more than a political spectacle meant to feign unity between the fractured cities of Amphoreus. Peace was an illusion, a flickering candle in a storm of grudges and betrayals. Mydei tolerated it only because it was necessary. For now.
Then he saw you.
At first, he thought he was mistaken. The banners fluttering in the wind cast shadows over the procession of riders leading their mounts into the arena. But then, stepping into the light, he saw you, his most trusted companion, walking beside a stallion as dark as midnight, its massive wings tucked neatly against its sides.
His breath caught.
You hadn’t told him you were racing.
Phainon must have noticed the shift in his demeanor because he let out a soft, amused chuckle. “Ah, so that’s what finally gets your attention.”
Stelle turned toward Mydei with a curious glance. “You know her?”
“Of course he does,” Phainon said smoothly, leaning forward, resting his chin against his knuckles. “She’s been at his side since they were children. Funny, though—I don’t recall her mentioning that she’d be participating in this particular event.”
Phainon smirked, his voice laced with mischief. “Now, Mydei, you wouldn’t be worried about her, would you?”
The Trailblazer leaned in, catching onto the teasing. “He does look worried.”
“Maybe he’s more than worried.” Phainon shot Mydei a knowing look, his blue eyes gleaming. “You are awfully tense.”
Mydeimos exhaled sharply through his nose, but his fingers tightened around the armrest. “She should have told me.”
“She probably knew you’d react exactly like this,” Phainon mused. “All brooding and intense.”
The Trailblazer stifled a laugh, while Mydei shot them both a warning glare. But he couldn’t deny it; his pulse was an unsteady drum against his ribs, and his hands curled into fists at his sides.
He didn’t like this. He didn’t like any of this.
And as the race prepared to begin, the tension coiled even tighter in his chest. His eyes were locked onto you, his mind a storm of questions. Why hadn’t you told him? And why - by the Titans - were you removing the saddle and bridle?
A murmur spread through the audience at the sight. Riders typically secured their pegasi with reinforced tack; it was the only way to properly control them in midair. Yet you stood beside your beast, your fingers running down its sleek black coat, murmuring something only the animal could hear. The stallion flicked its tail, shifting on its hooves, but it did not resist your touch, nor did it move when you pulled yourself onto its broad back.
Then, as if sensing his burning gaze, you lifted your head, your eyes locking onto his.
And you winked.
His grip tightened on the armrest of his seat.
Before he could fully process his rising frustration, the race began.
The riders surged forward in an explosion of movement, hooves striking against the earth with thunderous force as the pegasi galloped down the stretch of track. The ground quaked beneath their powerful strides, muscles rippling under sleek coats as wings twitched in anticipation. Dust billowed in their wake, the air alive with the wild energy of the race. Then, as if obeying some unspoken command, the first of them leaped, wings unfurling in a magnificent display, catching the wind and propelling them skyward. One by one, the rest followed, launching into the air with breathtaking precision, their powerful wingbeats scattering the dust below like a storm breaking over the arena.
Mydei’s heart pounded in a way he refused to acknowledge as he watched your black-winged stallion charge forward, seamlessly shifting from ground to air in a powerful ascent. The way it moved, with the sheer force of untamed strength beneath you, sent a sharp pulse of unease through him. He had seen this horse before a wild, untamable creature that had once thrown any would-be rider who dared approach. A beast that had once lashed out, teeth bared and wings flaring, refusing to be broken.
Had you trained it? Had you risked yourself taming such a beast, and he hadn’t known?
Memories surfaced; of you standing at the edges of the stables, arms folded as you studied the stallion pacing within its enclosure. The stablemasters of Castrum Kremnos had written the creature off as a lost cause, too wild to be ridden, too dangerous to be kept near others. They had spoken of selling it off, of sending it away where it could no longer be a threat.
But you had refused to let that happen.
He recalled the stubborn fire in your eyes when you had told him, with absolute certainty, I can reach him. And when he had scoffed at the idea, when he had told you it wasn’t worth the risk, that the creature would get you killed, you had simply smiled,"You don’t always have to fight something to make it listen, Mydei".
And somehow, despite all odds, you had done it. Through patience, persistence, and what he could only describe as sheer force of will, you had turned the untamable beast into a mount that now carried you through the skies with unwavering trust.
Phainon hummed, watching the unfolding spectacle. “She’s always been stubborn, but this is something else.”
Mydei said nothing. He didn’t like this; didn’t like how you had risked yourself for this animal, didn’t like how you had done it without telling him. He had always known you were reckless, but this... this was something more. Something that twisted deep in his chest, unfamiliar and unrelenting.
And as the race continued, that feeling only grew stronger.
The race shifted into the aerial phase, the pegasi climbing higher, their wings cutting through the air with powerful beats. You rode without reins, guiding the stallion with subtle shifts in your weight and the sound of your voice alone. It was reckless. Foolish. Brilliant.
“What in the name of the Titans…”
A rival rider veered too close and it was clearly not an accidental miscalculation of the distance between you. Their hand shot out, aiming to shove you from your mount. You barely managed to shift away, but it was enough to send you off-balance. Mydei surged to his feet, his jaw tightening, but you righted yourself just in time. He knew that the races could get tricky, the contestants underhanded in their pursuit of victory and glory. He knew but his chest still burned with something dangerously close to fury.
Phainon exhaled sharply. “That was deliberate.”
“She can handle it, right?” Stelle asked, but Mydei wasn’t convinced. Not when he saw another rider close in from the other side.
You jerked a moment later, your body recoiling, but you didn’t fall. You didn’t fall.
Mydei felt his pulse hammer against his skull. “Something’s wrong.”
The racers weren’t flying as high as they should be. He could see it now, the slight falter in your posture, the way your arms trembled as you gripped the stallion’s mane.
Before Phainon could stop him, Mydei turned sharply and left.
XxxOxOxOxxX
The wind roared past your ears as you urged your stallion forward, the world blurring into streaks of blue and gold. The rush of flight was exhilarating, your heart hammering in time with the powerful beats of the stallion’s wings.
You patted the stallion’s neck. “Bravo, Argos! You did amazing! Now let’s push for victory!”
But then movement to your right caught your attention, a flicker of motion too close. Instinct flared, and you twisted just in time to see one of the other racers veering toward you, his pegasus’ wing clipping dangerously near yours. You barely managed to shift your weight, avoiding a collision by inches. A warning? No. His eyes were sharp, calculating. This was intentional.
You gritted your teeth, refusing to be rattled.
Another rider, this time from the left. You caught the flash of their arm just before the impact; a hard shove against your shoulder meant to throw you off balance. Your grip tightened, your body swaying but holding firm. They weren’t just racing. They were playing dirty.
The crowd below was not close enough and the whipping wind made it hard to see the details. Mydei, where was he? Was he watching? You felt a prickle at the back of your neck, an awareness that his golden gaze was surely locked onto you, his eyesight far superior to yours. If he had noticed what was happening, you knew he’d be furious. But there was no time to focus on that now.
A sharp pain suddenly bloomed in your side.
You gasped, a jolt of white-hot agony slicing through your ribs. A dagger. Someone had struck you—quick, taking advantage of your momentary loss of focus. Blood seeped into your tunic, the warmth contrasting sharply against the cold wind. The world tilted for a terrifying moment, your vision blurring as your grip threatened to falter.
No. Not now. Not when you were this close.
Argos let out a distressed snort, sensing your pain, but you forced yourself to stay upright. The finish line was ahead, so close it almost hurt. You pressed your heels against the stallion’s sides, whispering hoarse encouragements as you pushed him to go faster, faster.
Every breath burned. Every movement sent a fresh wave of pain through your body. But you didn’t stop.
And then, with one final burst of speed, you crossed the finish line.
The moment your eyes met Mydei’s, you managed a small, triumphant smile.
Then the world tilted, darkened, and you collapsed from the saddle.
XxxOxOxOxxX
He moved with purpose, ignoring the murmurs of the crowd as he descended the marble steps, pushing through the guards at the track’s edge. He positioned himself at the finish line, his jaw clenched, his hands curled into fists at his sides. Come on. Come on.
Then, like a shooting star streaking across the sky, you appeared.
The black stallion surged forward, wings tucked in as it spiraled downward in a controlled descent. The moment its hooves touched the ground, the crowd erupted in cheers. You had won.
You were smiling.
His chest clenched.
And then, before he could take another breath, you collapsed.
Mydei was at your side in an instant, catching you before you hit the ground. The warmth of your blood seeped through his fingers as he pressed his hand to your side, his voice sharp and commanding. “Get the healers. Now.”
The world around him blurred as he lifted you into his arms, carrying you away from the chaos of the arena. He didn’t trust anyone else. He would not let anyone else care for you. Not when you had been so close to being taken from him; a realization that sent a ripple of something he hadn’t felt since his childhood down his spine: fear.
XxxOxOxOxxX
You woke to the scent of burning incense and the soft flicker of candlelight. The ache in your side was dulled but not gone.
You knew where you were before you opened your eyes.
“…You’re awake.”
Your heart stuttered at the voice, low, rougher than usual, filled with something unspoken. You turned your head, finding Mydei seated beside your bed. His golden eyes burned, his expression unreadable, but his hands...his hands were shaking.
You swallowed. “You’re mad.”
“You bled out in front of me.” His voice was like a storm contained within a single breath. “You didn’t tell me. You signed up for that race without a word. And then...” He exhaled sharply, his control fraying. “You winked at me.”
Despite the heaviness in the air, you huffed a weak laugh. “It was a good wink.”
He shot you a look that could have burned through steel. “Do not make light of this.”
Your smile faded. Silence stretched between them, thick and unyielding.
Then, softer, more raw than you’d ever heard him, he whispered, “Why?”
You turned your head fully now, searching his face. You had always known him, the fire that lived within him, the rage that simmered beneath his skin. But around you, he had never let that fire burn too close. He had always been different with you.
Your fingers twitched before you reached for his hand. He stiffened slightly but didn’t pull away as you laced your fingers with his.
“I wanted to do something for myself,” you admitted. “And I didn’t want you to stop me.”
His jaw tightened, golden eyes flashing. “You think I would have stopped you?” He shook his head, a hollow laugh escaping him, but there was no humor in it. “Gods, you truly don’t understand.”
You frowned. “Mydei—”
“No,” he cut you off, his voice raw. “You could have died.” His free hand curled into a fist on his knee. “You think I wouldn’t have let you race? Fine. Maybe I wouldn’t have. Maybe I would have tried to stop you. But not because I doubt you.” His grip on your hand tightened slightly. “Because I saw you lying there, broken, bleeding, and I could do nothing to stop it.”
Your chest ached, not from the wound but from the sheer emotion in his voice. Mydei had always been a force of nature; unrelenting, powerful, something others feared. But here, now, his strength meant nothing. His voice was frayed at the edges, barely holding himself together.
You squeezed his hand gently. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
His breath hitched, and for a moment, he just looked at you. Then, without warning, he brought your joined hands to his lips, pressing a lingering kiss to your knuckles.
When he spoke again, his voice was nothing more than a confession. A quiet, desperate thing. “I would have never stopped you.” His grip tightened slightly. “But I never want to see you like that again.”
The weight of his words settled between you, heavier than anything before.
You let out a shaky breath. “I’ll be more careful.”
“That’s not enough,” he murmured, his gaze piercing. “Swear it to me.”
You swallowed. “Mydei—”
“Swear it,” he repeated, voice hoarse. “Because if I ever have to watch you bleed like that again, I—” He exhaled sharply, closing his eyes. “I won’t survive it.”
Your heart ached at the depth of his words.
Neither of you spoke the truth aloud, but in the silence, it was deafening.
TBC