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They have been talking for quite some time now, standing a few meters away from the spirit basin in the Vortex of Genesis. Mydei has been telling Phainon about the famous warrior of Geocles, the Mountainbreaker. Who either saved his people or pushed them further towards pain and suffering, depending on who you ask. The story that mimics Mydei’s own inner turmoil.
Mydei is about to enter the trial of Strife. Once he passes the trial, he will become a god imbued with the power of Strife coursing through his immortal body. This outcome is not something he has any doubts about. Yet this is the cause of his fears.
Mydei is scared of what he will become. Even the titans couldn’t escape the black tide. Nikador was one of the first ones to fall. What chance does he have? Who can possibly stop him? Will he go mad like his father and turn against the ones he love? He needs to make sure that it never happens.
Mydei finishes telling Phainon about Geocles. Phainon getting the hint asks, “You’ve made up your mind, haven’t you?
Mydei nods, turns his back to Phainon moving toward the spirit basin and says, “I'll be leaving Okhema soon to fight the greatest darkness of this world... and to shoulder Nikador's destiny.”
Mydei stops in his steps and thinks to himself. ‘No this is not enough. I need to make sure the past doesn’t repeat itself.’ He turns back to face Phainon, who looks just as lost as Mydei feels in his heart.
Mydei moves closer to Phainon. He hesitates for a moment, unsure of how to tell him. He looks into his eyes. Then with his left hand he takes Phainon’s right hand and moves it to a spot on his own spine as he continues to hold his gaze.
“Listen well: If there comes a day when we meet again on the battlefield, and I stand opposed to the flame-chase...opposed to you. Remember to stab your sword into my back through my tenth thoracic vertebra. Right here," he pushed Phainon's hand against that spot. "That's my weak spot, and the only way to kill me.”
“W-what are you s-saying?” Phainon stammers out his words, while he tries to pull back his hand. But Mydei holds onto his hand more firmly and presses it further into his back.
“Promise me, Deliverer. That if I ever go mad, you will end me.”
“You won’t turn—” Phainon tries to protest.
Mydei leans forward and moves his head to rest on Phainon’s shoulder. “Please Phainon, promise me”, he says with a hint of desperation seeping through.
‘I need to know that you can stop me from hurting you. ’
“You have my word.” Phainon replies with an understanding of the depth behind Mydei’s request.
Mydei let out a sigh of relief, letting go of Phainon’s hand. But his head still remains on Phainon’s shoulder with Phainon’s hand still pressing on his bare back.
They stayed like that for a bit, holding each other.
Phainon is the first to break the silence. “Why me?”
Mydei moves away and looks at him, wondering if Phainon really doesn’t know. He brings his right hand to hold Phainon’s face and strokes his cheeks.
When Phainon leans in instinctively, it makes Mydei smile and he says, “It has always been you. And it will always be you. There is no one else I trust more.”
They hold each other's gaze. At that moment, it’s just them. There is no upcoming battle, no uncertainty about the future. Just them and the trust they have in each other.
But time stops for no one. The enemy is getting a step closer with every breath.
They slowly separate and turn away from each other. Mydei starts walking toward the spirit basin where the trial awaits him and Phainon walks in the other direction to fight an enemy from his past.
Mydei says as he arrives at the spirit basin, “Go now. Your battlefield calls. Send that flame-thieving hyena to their death. But if you find yourselves with no other recourse, then pray to that blade in the sky...”
He smiles looking up towards the constellation. “..And loudly call out the name of the new god.”
Phainon continues walking without looking back. He doesn’t see Mydei disappear into the trial but he feels the lack of his presence. He then smiles and says, “Next time I see you, I will tell you my weakness. See you soon, new god of mine…Mydeimos.”