Chapter Text
Phainon was a person who smiled a lot, that much everyone in the Holy City knew.
He wasn't just a Chrysos Heir on the path of the Flame-Chase. Nor was he the Deliverer (as a certain prince would call him almost all the time) that was destined to witness the new tomorrow alone. He mingled with the townsfolk easily. Well, Lady Tribios as well (Aglaea was slowly losing her divinity-she's at the stage where she doesn't even know how to talk to children anymore, Castorice had to stay 3 feet away from the population and Mydei…well no explanation was needed there), but there was something about those striking blue eyes and snowy white hair that seems to draw everyone in.
However, whether those smiles were real or not, no one could know. After all, he was shrouded in mystery. No one knows where he came from or how he arrived at Okhema. To the people's knowledge, he's been here long. Time has passed. New generations of Okhemans are now living their carefree lives, playing all sorts of games with their friends. People have come and gone, some friends and others strangers. The new tomorrow was near the horizon.
If only the Boy Saviour could feel happy about it.
“Watch it, Deliverer!” Mydei hissed, jumping to the left as a stray arrow nearly sliced his shoulder. Phainon gave him an apologetic look before grabbing another arrow from the quiver and nocking it carefully. The prince sighed and made his way to his side.
Thankfully, the training grounds were empty, and Mydeimos was glad he had the foresight to clear the area before he and Phainon worked on the Deliverer's archery skills. Which wasn't going…so well, as evidenced by the fact he almost pierced his heart. Not that he was worried or anything, but he really wasn't in the mood to be sent to Thanatos’ embrace and come back to life.
Phainon had his tongue stuck out, eyes scrunched as he focused on nocking the arrow to the bow... and failing miserably. Oh, Titans.
This was wonderful. This was fine. Fine. It could be worse.
Mydei tsked in disapproval and flexed his fingers, resisting the massive urge to pinch his nose and sigh. The man thankfully took the hint and handed the bow. “Too slow there, dear Deliverer, the enemy would have killed you ten times over. You need to be faster in getting your weapon ready.”
“Hey!” Phainon huffed, puffing his cheeks and folding his arms. “We've only been at this thrice. I can't become an expert overnight. Have some patience, Mydei.”
‘If only someone could give some to me,’ Mydei thought grimly. Then again, this whole thing was his idea, wasn't it?
Phainon was good with a sword and greatsword. He was one of the best, keeping up with him in a fight. The way he swung his weapon with deadly precision and blocked most blows that would've shattered an ordinary person's arms. But when it came to using long-range gear, his eyesight suddenly decided not to work. At least that's what Mydei thinks.
He couldn't always rely on his sword. Sure it was forged by Chartonus to ensure it never gets destroyed in battle, but what if he loses it at some point? Of course, the possibility of that was very low, but it wasn't zero. Learning a wide array of weapons is always good for improving one's skills and guaranteeing survival on the field.
Mydei mostly fought with his fists, using his gauntlets to punch a hole in the enemy, and he usually never found himself using anything else. However, his mother taught him the ways of the blade and archery, and when things looked desperate he'd grab the nearest weapon and use it. The Kremnoan Detachment largely used swords and shields and preferred to use only those. He knows he can't make them change their mind, and everyone knows who the Prophecy is referring to. ‘The one who will get to see the new tomorrow.’
But this was proving to be more difficult than he previously thought.
Mydei handed the bow back to Phainon. “There you go. Now try to hit the target in front of you and not me. I don't want to die again after yesterday's skirmish.”
“Aye aye teach!” Phainon replied, giving him a mock salute and a wink. Mydei merely glared at him and rolled his eyes. He heard a soft peal of laughter before the swordsman positioned his arms properly and drew the arrow back, one eye closed. At least he managed to nail that consistently.
“Remember,” Mydei started to say, standing behind him, “relax your muscles and calm down. You're not surrounded by enemies. You're only training and therefore, you don't need to be tense.”
“Kind of hard not to be,” Phainon whispered. “I've messed this up way too many times for my liking.”
“Doesn't everyone make mistakes?”
“Does everyone have the time to be here teaching?”
Ah. Mydei shook his head. Yes, he had things to do, and he had a squad to lead in two days with Hyacine to check up on some scholars and warriors who were stationed in a place that he doesn't quite remember (though it was somewhere beyond the Grove and Hyacine knows where, and Mydei trusts her judgment), so he should be preparing for that. All in all, his schedule was packed.
Yet, he still made room for this because he wanted the other Heirs to broaden their horizons when it came to battle tactics and, subsequently, their methods of fighting. Mydei does agree with Aglaea's methods most of the time, and she does acknowledge that brute strength is the solution to half of their problems, but…
Well, deep down he knew- everyone knew- he wasn't going to be in Okhema forever. He and his people were here as refugees. But one day the Kremnoans would have to return home to fight the perilous Black Tide. Nikador would have to be dealt with, and the Coreflame would have to be retrieved. And once that's done he’ll have to follow the prophecy and start his Flame-Chase journey. And until then, he wanted Okhema to be prepared. He wanted his friend to be prepared. That's why he was doing this.
He wasn't going to say that out loud though.
“Well, I have the time now,” Mydei said instead, wincing at how harsh his words came out. Phainon, thankfully, looked undeterred. He silently hoped he hadn’t kept the man waiting for so long with his internal monologue- now how embarrassing would that be? “And you aren’t the only person I’m teaching this to, Deliverer. You just happened to be my first victim.”
Phainon laughed again, this time sounding brighter than before. Now that sounded much better. Lowering his arms, he teased, “Come on now, Mydeimos, you and I know the truth. Who are you trying to lie to? Yourself? There’s no one here to pretend to.”
“It’s called dignity, dear Phainon,” Mydei hissed and grabbed his arms and raised them again. “And just because I chased everyone away won’t stop one random fool from waltzing in here. And you know I can’t lock the doors.”
“Because that would look suspicious.”
“Phainon–!”
“🎶No matter how much you may think it, you can’t kill me 🎶”
…That was infuriatingly true. Mydei groaned when he taunted him with his stupid sing-song voice. He twisted Phainon’s arms, ignoring the surprised yelp that came out of his mouth, and pointed him to the target. “Let the arrow fly.”
“Er, you sure?”
“Trust me,” Mydei smirked. “I’d never waste a precious arrow. Now let it go.”
And Phainon did just that. After Mydei took a step back, he released his hold on the shaft and cried out in joy when it made its mark right at the center. The prince felt his smirk grow wider.
He turned his head to look at him. “So, you think you can hit the spot on your own now?”
“I mean…wait what am I saying? Of course, I can!” Phainon exclaimed, blue eyes shining in determination as he grabbed another arrow and nocked it as fast as he could. Mydei peered over his shoulder and was satisfied that it didn’t almost fall through his fingers this time. He straightened his back, pulled the string back, and planted his feet firmly onto the ground. He kept his hand steady, one eye closed, and took a deep breath. Mydei raised a brow, relieved that the idiot was finally easing up a little, and took a step forward. He didn’t say anything, but nothing needed to be said.
And, a few seconds later, Phainon let the arrow soar…
Right into the middle.
Silence. Then…
“BULLSEYE!!!!!!!!”
Phainon pumped his fists into the air, laughing so hard he nearly fell to the ground, had it not been for Mydei to catch him at the nick of time. He couldn’t bring himself to be mad at the egghead for screaming like that. Those cheerful-sounding giggles were infectious– even Mydei himself wasn’t fully immune to it. He doubted he ever would be. He still scolded him though.
“Be a little more careful, would you? I’m not going to be here for a week, and I’d hate to find your dead body here when I return.”
“Oh, me- my- Mydei,” Phainon gasped between laughs, his chest rising and falling rapidly, “Yo-you re-a-lly thin-k I’m gon-n-a die th-at eas..eas-i-ly?”
“From the way you look, yes. You’re going to choke on your spit if you don’t quit it right now.”
“We-well, good luck try-na…st–op me!”
Mydei sighed loudly. There was no way he was going to stop him, and if he wanted to try, he’d be subjected to his flailing limbs smacking him everywhere. It’s better to let it run its course.
It only took a mere five minutes before the laughter died out, replaced by him heaving, stray giggles escaping his mouth once in a while. And all the while Mydei’s eyes never left him. After all, how could they? It was like he thought earlier-Phainon’s joy was contagious to anyone.
But what he didn’t expect was that small, crooked smile to appear on his face as he stared at him from the ground. That smile that he saw him rarely wear. The smile, dare he say, was reserved only for him. It was that kind of smile you would know was genuine and not a mask to hide anything. It was raw, real, and it was no secret that Phainon was a man who wore his heart on his sleeve. He sucked in a sharp breath the moment he laid eyes on it.
Phainon raised a hand, and Mydei took it, helping him up to his feet. They didn’t let go, and ‘Snowy’ squeezed his palm carefully. “Thanks, Mydei. I…didn’t think I’d ever need to learn to use other weapons. I’m so used to using my sword all the time, it never crossed my mind that I might not have it on me all the time. And I’m still learning to use my fists,” he joked at the end.
“And that’s why I always tell you that gauntlets are far superior than any other weapon,” Mydei retorted, punching him in the chest. “And that’s also why I tell you to wear the training ones that Chartonus made for you before you decide to have a fistfight with me. You know mine are sharp.”
“Yeah, yeah, next time I will.”
“We’ll see about that.”
“Now, don’t you have troops to prepare and a certain healer to talk to?”
“Dodging the claims, are we?”
“Not at all. Just reminding you that you have your hands full, and the Curtain-Fall Hour is nearly upon us.”
“...Shit,” Mydei nearly yelled, checking the time on the wall. Sure enough, it was nearing six, and he promised Hyacine he’d meet her at 6:10. She was waiting for him at the market. Well, there was no time to lose now, was there?
Phainon chuckled upon seeing his face and nudged him gently. “Go. I’ll take care of cleaning up. I owe you one for taking your time to teach me.”
That was all the confirmation Mydei needed before taking off. The “Stay safe!” doesn’t go unheard either.