Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

     “I have a final favor to ask: Please look after the Kremnoan warriors in my absence.” A blonde had asked the man in front of him, taking a deep breath, he spoke again. “They will undoubtedly face challenges while assimilating into Okhema… It is my sole regret that I cannot stand by them during this time…”

     Without hesitation… “Do not worry. Leave it to me.” The white-haired man before him replied, placing a hand over his chest.

     “And while I’m at it… I’m going to find out if the Kremnoan language is really missing that many words.” The white-haired man replied in a lighthearted tone, placing a hand to his chest, a vow to the man in front of him.

     With a sound huff, almost resembling a laugh, the blonde replied, “The Kremnoan philosophy can never be encapsulated in a mere dictionary.” His tone rose slightly from its damp origin. 

“But… If there’s a chance in the next life, you should come visit my library.”

“It’s a date, Mydeimos…”

“Become the dawn, Deliverer…”

—————

     Phainon, hometown of Aedes Elysiae, settled in the grand big city of Okhema to attend university there. Remarkably good in all subjects like advanced math, literature, sciences, philosophy, and more! Though that didn’t include history apparently…

     Ms. Tribios’ history class was awful on his poor little brain. He could absorb the answers to quadratic equations and pre-calc formulas just fine, so what was it with history that had him fighting for his life? He was swimming in bad grades and a missing assignment or two…

     A girl with purple hair was walking beside him silently as he complained endlessly about this upcoming history exam. Castorice, a very quiet and reserved girl, though when they first met in their first semester of classes, he didn’t hesitate to trot up to her like a pleased puppy, introduce himself and declare her his new friend.

     Likely disturbed at first, especially with how he resembled a dog who just found its favorite toy, she eventually accepted the offer. Castorice had mentioned to him once before about her new year’s resolution that year was to be more open, to make more friends, to be liked. Admittedly, Phainon knew her twin sister Polyxia, who was the one to tell him to reach out to her sister, but he wasn’t about to tell her that and crush her hopes of making new friends that weren’t him.

     He was snapped out of his thoughts by her voice. “You’ll live, you may have to pay a few thousand credits for flunking the class, but you’ll live.” Castorice sighed, her hand lightly patting his back, walking into the university’s library building with him. 

     It was an incredible library, the architecture was something out of… When was it? Yeah, he already established he was bad at history… Though he could at least tell that the style was greek-esque. Or was it Roman..? Spartan? Okay maybe he was that bad actually… He couldn’t tell three different architectural styles apart… Philosophy professor Anaxa would surely have rolled his eyes and facepalmed at this crime against cultural differentiation, or rather, lack thereof.

     “The library is rearranged quite frequently, but the history books tend to stay in one general area most of the time. I’ll go check for them for you.” Castorice, offered, gesturing over to an empty table for him to sit at to where he gave a dejected nod, sitting down, and slumping over the table.

     “Snowy! Is that you?” A cheery voice asked, making her way up to him. Pink drill curls with bright blue eyes..? Hyacinthia! A nursing student here at the Grand Okhema University. She always beamed at him with this excitement that didn’t need words to express it. Then again, she was like that with everyone. Dressed in a comfortable-looking dress, holding a nursing textbook, likely to study for an upcoming exam.

     “Yeah… It’s good to see you, Hyacine.” He replied with a smile, one he usually feigned in front of everyone else. He usually wore it out of pure, unbridled happiness, but it was more stress-filled today with a hint of impending doom…

     “You seem a bit on-edge today, Snowy. Is everything alright in your classes?” She asked cocking her head to the side slightly, observing his facial cues and speech patterns it seemed.

     “Well, I didn’t study very much for Ms. Tribios’ history exam… And I need at least a B on it to pass her class at the minimum final…” He explained, Hyacine nodded, understanding of her situation.

     “I see. Ms. Tribios is a bit of a hard grader so I’ve heard… You’re sure you’ve been paying attention to her lectures?” She asked calmly, offering Castorice a small wave once she approached.

     Castorice sat a few books down on the table, sitting across from Phainon who nodded almost pathetically. “Nothing is sticking… No matter how many quizlight flashcards I go through, I can’t remember any of the answers.” He pouted.

     Hyacine looked back up towards Castorice who just sighed and shook her head softly. “Cassie is tutoring you, yeah?” She asked, clutching her book a bit tighter. “I know you can do it. Maybe with a little bit of a struggle, but there’s still hope!” She encouraged him softly.

     “Actually…” Castorice spoke up, sliding the books over to him, taking one from the top of the stack. A psychology textbook. “I’m just here to keep him on track, I’m doing my own studying.” She spoke up once more

     “Ah, I see… Well, I have to check this out and head to my room to study! Good luck studying, and on your exam, Snowy!” She smiled, waving to the two before walking off to the front desk where the head librarian was. Castorice knew the woman as Gorgo. The older woman never gave her last name, but she respected that. It wasn’t any of her business anyway…

     “Alright, boy savior… What chapters does the exam cover?” Castorice asked, Phainon shot her a glare before uttering a number that was definitely far over fifteen… “Start there then… And read it all out loud to me. I heard that it helps the information stick better.” She replied once more.

     With a sigh, Phainon complied, finding his spot, reading the chapters aloud. Castorice half-listening while she filled out her own notes for her psychology exam.

        —

     By the time he was deemed studied enough for the day, he was slumped over his dorm room’s table, it was just past the parting hour… He was starving. Sure at the action hour, him and Castorice had gone to get lunch after checking their books out (on her card, because he keeps forgetting to put it in his wallet). Castorice is almost positive that he’d lose his head if it weren’t attached to his shoulders…

     “What do you want for dinner?” She asked, scrolling through her teleslate, likely on one of her food catering apps.

     “Halloumi Burgers..? Please?” He pleaded, eyes glistening as if begging, of which he was.

     Castorice simply let out a small sigh with a shake of her head, she really couldn’t say no to him when he acted like that. A toxic trait of her’s, she’d say.

        —

     Castorice had bid him farewell at the entrance to their building, the both of them being on opposite sides. Phainon practically collapsing onto his bed once he got into his room. He was never assigned a roommate, or at least he thought so, because even if he had been, he was never around…

     His brain now refused to shut off, he changed into loose sweatpants and a soft tee shirt, but nothing seemed to be working… Fuck it, he’s going to be exhausted, so he may as well doom scroll until he’s able to sleep.

     It apparently worked, because the next thing he knew, he had woken in the middle of the night to the door of the room being opened. He pretended that it didn’t scare him but he’d seen far too many horror movies with this exact same scenario happening.

     Though, it almost seemed that he didn’t have anything to worry about because the figure slipped into the bathroom, putting in the effort to the best of their ability to shut the bathroom door quietly. Was it his elusive roommate? Why was he here in the middle of the night though?

     Unfortunately, he couldn’t get a good glimpse of him even if he squinted. ‘Screw this, I’m going back to sleep.’ Phainon had thought, checking the time, 3:42AM… For the love of Kephale…

     He didn’t go back to sleep after that, but his supposed roommate had left, weird. Maybe this was all some freakish nightmare he could laugh about to Castorice later. Yeah!

     That in fact, did not happen.

        —

     Upon Entry Hour, he was a zombie, sipping on the coffee he had bought, hoping to get at least some of that energy back… He wasn’t, but he can at least be a bit in denial, right?

     Oh, this is just lovely. The icing on the cake? Castorice couldn’t come to “help” him study today. Polyxia has a doctor’s appointment and naturally, she can’t drive herself so Castorice has to be there for her.

     Off to the library himself, he supposed. Upon entering, there was that lingering sense of nostalgia again… It has to just be deja vu. He’s never been here aside from the few times he’s come with Castorice to pick up a book she had held, or to drop off ones that were due.

     He eventually found a good rhythm and got a lot more than he thought done. Taking a break at lunch, he got some food nearby. He’s never going to beat the “broke college student” allegations in his life… He spends all of his money on fast food…

        —

      Saturday Phainon had gone to the library, less to study, more to find a book he wanted to read that had just gotten in after a return. He really should at least attempt to put holds on the books he’s dying to read…

     After a bit of wandering and asking for help from the head librarian, he found the book, now simply just wandering around to browse. He came across a cover he found interesting, just to find that it was a dictionary. Peculiar.

     ‘P. Khaslana’. A Kremnoan dictionary? Wasn’t that language hundreds, if not thousands of years old? And it’s recorded in a book, in his local library? Opening the book, there were unintelligible letters in it, though there were also direct translations to Amphoreus’ global language… One word stuck out with a pang to his chest as he continued reading, shifting to the side occasionally to allow people to pass him.

“HKS.” - Definitions: Scoundrel, Hyena, Trickster.

     It felt wrong looking at it. Hastily shutting the book, he felt a pit in his stomach. No, he wasn’t going to regurgitate because of it or anything, but it was still painful nonetheless…

     Why were simple words on a page making him feel sick to his stomach? He’d never seen them until now… Never heard those words uttered from someone’s lips.

     Tell him why there’s a husky voice speaking these words when he reads… ‘Likening you to a weak Hyena.’ the voice explained, flustered and frustrated. Though it was just a word on a page. He couldn’t hear the tone… He couldn’t actually hear it speaking to him…

     He soon slid the book back onto the shelf walking away before the feeling became more unbearable than it already was. Staring down at the cover of the book he originally came to pick up, there was a sense of wrongness that filled his veins. After reading that, nothing sat right anymore…

     He soon moved to leave, but before he could pass the front desk he paused.

     The thought of leaving didn’t last long because he doubled back for that dictionary. Maybe he could make an excuse to his literature professor to write an essay on the language itself? Other than the bits and pieces he read, the pronunciations were rather beautiful, the meanings less so, but that wasn’t the point (it was).

     He met with the head librarian at the front desk to check the dictionary out. The older woman seemed almost surprised at the choice but that surprise soon melted into a calming smile. “That’s it?” She had asked, gesturing her head to the other book in his hands, to which he hastily apologized, fumbled the book, and placed it onto the desk for her to scan and check out for him.

     “I never took you as the type to be interested in such history.” The woman spoke up, Phainon jolting in response.

     “Ah, well I have an exam coming up and I need to pass it, but… This is extracurricular. It’s not on the exam and well, I went through some it and I felt like I could learn a bit more from it.” He explained, Gorgo nodded with a small smile.

     “I see.” She responded before speaking up again. “As it happens, my family comes from the heritage that the Kremnoan language came from.” She explained and Phainon looked awestruck before he cleared his throat.

     “Really? That’s really cool, honestly!” He spoke up, Gorgo letting a soft laugh. “I can’t say the same about myself. I just come from a small town in the suburbs of Okhema, kind of remote.” He laughed sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck.

     “That means you’re a long way from home, yeah?” She asked, giving him a receipt at his request that had the due dates printed on it.

     “I am, but I do call home frequently. My best friend does still live out there after all.” He replied.

     “Good, they’re going to want to know that you accept and are receiving their support on this little educational journey of yours.” She replied, to which he nodded.

     “What about you? Do you also live far from here?” He asked, curious now that she had asked him.

     “I used to. My son goes to this university, so his father and I moved closer, that way if anything were to happen to us or him, he wouldn’t be too far from home.” She explained, Phainon nodding, understanding where she was coming from. “You best head off though, don’t hold yourself up here on my account.” She reminded thoughtfully to where he had just realized what time it was.

     “Oh! Right yes! Sorry to bother you for so long!” He apologized profusely, taking the books from her.

     “You weren’t a bother at all. It was wonderful talking to you. Have fun with your studying and extracurriculars.” She smiled, waving in response.

        —

     On a video call much later with Castorice, she was almost suspicious at how focused he was when studying, and the answers were finally starting to stick. When Castorice asked him questions, he answered with mostly correct responses. He still struggled but less so than a few days prior.

     Once he was finished, his eyes fell to his bookbag which still held the books he checked out much earlier. “Castorice, have you read about the ancient Kremnoans before?” He asked her to where Castorice quirked an eyebrow.

     “Yes? Why?” She asked, looking up from her novel she tended to read for fun. Confused as to why he was asking. “They were a bloodline of fierce warriors born of the Mad King, and Lance of Fury Nikador, an ancient titan that has since fallen into ruin.” She explained from her little knowledge of it.

     “I found a dictionary at the library today. It’s almost unintelligible if not for the author that translated it. P. Khaslana.” Phainon explained his findings, Castorice nodded, recognizing the author.

     “If I recall correctly, you share a name with him, Phainon.” She replied to where his eyes widened.

     “Wait really?” He seemed shocked, going to get the dictionary, sitting back down in his original spot. The uneasiness settling back in. He kind of forgot about that part…

     “I shouldn’t be able to read some of this, but for whatever reason I can… The weird part is, I’ve never seen it until today…” He explained, opening it back to the page from earlier…

“HKS.” - Definitions: Scoundrel, Hyena, Trickster.

     It really shouldn’t feel wrong to read words on a page but… “HKS…” He spoke subconsciously, Castorice remaining confused once more.

     “Hai.. What..?” She sounded confused, sitting her book down, marking her page before she closed it.

     “Oh, I said that out loud… HKS. It’s the Kremnoan word for a fool, basically.” He explained, picking up his teleslate, flipping his camera to show her the definition and the notes left by the author.

     “Wait, there’s a name there in the notes… Mydeimos? As in the demigod of Strife?” She asked, looking closer.

     “Wait really? Wow! How did I not see that?” He asked reading the sentence in its entirety. “The author basically said that Mydeimos frequently used it to address him due to his playful and childish nature.

     “That makes sense. I believe the author was known as the Deliverer of the Chrysos Heirs if you’ve heard of them.” She explained, and Phainon nodded. Simply just knowing this information seemed to send another pang of something nostalgic through his chest.

     “You share a namesake with Castorice, the demigod of death, don’t you?” Phainon asked her, to which she confirmed with a simple ‘yes’. As expected, there weren’t many photographs of these heroes despite how expansive their stories were…

     “Ah, I found it. Mydeimos, commonly referred to as Mydei among the people, was known as the crown prince of Kremnos and more importantly the Guardian of Amphoreus. After the Deliverer’s failed attempt at inheriting Nikador’s coreflame- after his initial hesitation had subsided -had undergone Nikador’s demigod trial and emerged victorious, becoming the new demigod of strife.” She recounted from an article she found online. “It also says that he had a very close relationship with the Deliverer… Like the old mythology of Yin and Yang. They balanced out one another while also still cherishing their youth.” She replied, a small smile on her face.

     “Didn’t the demigod of death also publish poems she had written? They were about them if I recall correctly. We went through a few of them in literature class.” He replied and it was true. After the major historical events of Amphoreus, the Castorice of the past published a few of her poems anonymously, later revealing that they were in fact her’s.

     The both of them kept continuously talking until the Parting hour fell and Castorice hung up because she was going to make dinner for her and Polyxia, Phainon attempting to cook himself something before caving after a few failures, ordering more fast food.

        —

     A blonde man was in his home’s kitchen, making himself and his mom an early breakfast. Having picked up a few things from his dorm room the past few nights. Why did he even bother paying for boarding if he knew he was going to be staying with his parents most of the time regardless?

     “You’re up early.” His mom’s voice spoke up, approaching from the hallway, having freshly braided her hair. Surprisingly, he inherited almost nothing in looks from his father. He didn’t care anyway. That man was rarely around. It’s been solely his mother raising him since he was born…

     “I’m always up early.” He replied sharply, though his tone didn’t hold any aggression, just truthfulness.

     “Uh huh.” His mother replied with a small laugh. “I had an interesting boy checking out yesterday. He checked out “Love in the Court of Stars,” and a Kremnoan dictionary.” She listed, he stiffened, there were only 4 lifetime checks on that book.

     “Who?” He asked, turning his attention away from the food for a moment to face his mother.

     “A young man with white hair, he was rather talkative and charming, very curious about that dictionary’s contents and the history behind it.” She explained, the young man’s eyes narrowing slightly.

     “I think I’ve seen him around. The fool that’s always with that girl with purple hair?” He asked, wanting to confirm his suspicions.

     “That’s the one. Castorice is the girl’s name, she’s volunteered a few times. We’ve had many meaningful conversations.” She explained, soon gaining a bit of a smug expression. “Why? Are you interested in her?” She asked, resting her chin in her palms on kitchen island countertop.

     “No. I don’t have any interest in romance, let alone her. Besides… There is no word for romance in the Kremnoan language…” He shot back, turning back to the food.

     “Sure you don’t.” She laughed softly, shaking her head. “That theory was disproved a long time though, Mydeimos.” Gorgo replied. It was true, the Deliverer over a hundred years ago had discovered the romantic language in Kremnos long after the final battles and returns of the Chrysos Heirs to the world of the living.

     “Aren’t you supposed to be getting ready for work at the library, mother?” He asked to which she let out a small chuckle.

     “Ah, right. How could I be so clumsy as to forget that.” She stated, getting up from her position. “Mydeimos, have a good day in classes today, alright?” She asked, and he silently nodded, knowing better than to argue with her on that.

        —

     That Entry Hour Phainon had yet again tried to convince himself that it was just his imaginary roommate coming into his dorm room at ungodly hours of the night. No evidence pointed towards that, but the figure hadn’t approached him so he’d just started getting used to it.

     He was yet again at the library, having just finished a study session with Castorice after she got back from home with Polyxia. Castorice had to leave shortly after to catch the bus to a class that started not long after, and Phainon was left to his own devices after that.

     The library seems to have been rearranged, so that was something. He gets to explore all over again. Fingers brushing and eyes glazing over each book spine, inspecting books that caught his attention, re-shelving them shortly after.

     After a while of wandering, he had eventually lost his way back to the entrance. Now he could call Castorice to guide him out over teleslate, but the problem was, he left said teleslate in his bag back where he was studying. Worst. Decision. Ever.

     He let out a sigh and soon moved to wander the shelves of books again until he stumbled across a librarian. Hopefully it’ll happen soon(?).

     He soon stumbled across a section full of Kremnoan literature, he’d have to keep this in mind next time he returned to visit… Some of these books were romance novels, old battle chronicles and records, fantasy novels… 

     He lost count of how many steps he had taken when he realized that he was lost. (Yes he had been counting.) He’d lost track of time since he’d gotten there that Entry Hour… Having read one of the romance novels while sitting down against the shelf. It was strangely calming reading books like these. Why wasn’t he panicking that he was lost? Because he knew Castorice would come to find him if he didn’t pick up his teleslate within thirty missed calls. It’s terribly sad, but true…

     A romance novel he found was part fantasy, mixing a royal monarchy setting with some old authors he knew a few names to. Vampires? Yes please! The main character was being arranged into a marriage with a princess he hadn’t known beforehand. Little does he know that a vampire he meets later on will become his sole lover! What a plot it was! It’s an unfinished series and a somewhat new release, so he’ll probably have to wait to pick up the next part… Truly agonizing because of that cliffhanger!

     “That’s it? Come on! You know some drama is going to happen! It can’t stay that still forever…” He pouted, re-shelving the book before standing up, wandering off again, soon finding a desk with someone organizing a cart of books nearby.

     A librarian by the looks of it, a red cardigan that refused to stay over the shoulder of his white button up shirt. Blonde hair that reached his shoulder with a braid on his right shoulder, glasses perched on his nose.

     “Excuse me, sorry to bother you, but could you help me find..” The white-haired man trailed off before a sudden ache settled in his chest, meeting the golden eyes of a blonde man.

     “Yes? What do you..?” A familiarity… A beat of silence. Had they met somewhere before..? The blonde was frozen just as he was… Eyes wide, the glasses slipping from his nose slightly.

That voice… Was so familiar, but he’d never heard its sound. Had never felt the rough edge, and yet…

“Stay alive until the final act, Deliverer.”

Why did he feel like he’s seen this scene in a film before?

He hated the ending.

——————

Chapter Text

     “Yes? What do you..?” A familiarity… A beat of silence. Had they met somewhere before..? The blonde was frozen just as he was… Eyes wide, the glasses slipping from his nose slightly. “Need…” He eventually finished his sentence.

     Phainon couldn’t move, just staring. Why did this librarian seem so familiar to him? A flicker of a face he’d never seen before, a memory of a friend he’d never met. That nauseating feeling sat far worse, like a pressure in his stomach, his mouth going dry…

     —

     “Mom? Do you remember what you felt when you met dad?” A small voice asked, a woman preparing dinner in the kitchen, her son sat at a table nearby, studying for his finals as a senior in his high school.

     “Why? Are you planning on seeing someone?” She replied, sauteing the vegetables she was cooking, not turning her gaze from the pan.

     “Not right now, but… I have a feeling that when I go to university I’ll meet someone, you know? Like some sort of premonition.” He answered, turning himself to have his mom in his line of sight better.

     “I felt the exact same way at your age.” She laughed softly, taking the pan off of the stove, placing it onto a pot holder sat atop the counter.

     “You did?” He asked, tone full of wonder, eyes glistening just ever so slightly before he stood up, making his way over to the counter, sitting on one of the stools, fully invested into this story.

     “It was this gut feeling that I’d meet someone who loved me more than the sun loved the moon. Admittedly it was a bit childish, I just knew I’d find that someone.” She replied, taking her son’s hands into her own. “Your father was my second lover, my first ghosted me after the first date embarrassingly enough.” She laughed softly. She knew she held no resentment for the first now that she had both the loves of her lives.

     “I see… I’m glad you didn’t end up with him though. Not only do relationships like that end up neglectful or abusive… You wouldn’t have had me either.” He beamed happily and his mom just let out a soft bittersweet laugh.

     “You do pose a compelling argument.” She murmured, releasing his hands so she could ruffle her son’s hair, her husband arriving not long after.

     The rest of that night was spent with peaceful and engaging chatter at the dinner table. The young boy felt lighter than he usually had… There’s no need to rush finding his person, he’ll find them someday, maybe he won’t, though it’s not everything he needs in life.

     —

     By the time Phainon had come back to reality, he hadn’t realized what had happened, a burning in his eyes, painful memories not his own setting in… Numbing his every sense with a bitter sense of destruction. Then warmth… He hadn’t realized it was there until a warm wetness had started trailing down his face.

     His skin felt clammy, he felt dizzy, though strangely grounded…All because of this man… The touch of his warm hands on his tear-stained cheeks, muffled words he didn’t quite hear over the ringing in his ears and hyperventilating.

     Without any warning, he wrapped his arms around his shoulders an embrace that grounded him, it felt familiar… It felt like they’d met before… 

“Heh… Found you..!”

     The blonde man in front of him was warm, but for some reason he always remembered him running this warm… Let us reiterate that he has never met this man before, not in this lifetime at least…

     “I’m…Sorry…So sorry… Please just…Don’t move…at least for a little while longer…” He got out between shaky sobs, his right hand wanted to ball the back of the man’s shirt into his fist, but he didn’t dare do so, be it out of fear, longing, or just a calm feeling settling in that nauseous pit in his stomach.

     One name continuously kept echoing in the back of his mind. He wanted to desperately brush it off as a coincidence… Deja Vu? Some dream..?

Mydeimos… Mydei.Mydei.Mydei.Mydei.Mydei.Mydei..MYDEI…

     The man merely, and ever so hesitantly returned his hug. “That’s fine… Let me know when you’ve calmed down…” He spoke so calmly and attentively, despite how husky and rough it sounded… He could tell him to get lost for all he’d care and he’d do it without question…

“Ugh… What..? You chickening out already..?”

A voice eerily similar to his own asked, though he couldn’t recall saying that, nor the context.

“...Get lost…”

The other man’s voice echoed again, though this time… He remembered exactly what it sounded like… Husky, rough around the edges, competitive, unwavering… 

That’s right… Mydeimos… His friend..His rival… In every universe… No matter how astronomically distant… They always found one another…

     —

     Oh, this was absolutely not happening… Mydei told himself that he wouldn’t trust anyone again… Not after the countless other times he's been here before. Waiting, meeting, loving, and then parting. No matter what it was always the same.

     No matter how many times he met someone like this, they always left him, whether it be through illness, or a fallout… It all ended the same… 

     Bitter breakups left him distrustful of others, but it felt different in this still moment. A weak voice in the back of his mind begged for him to be vulnerable, though he wouldn't allow it. He couldn't let this singular interaction with a stranger destroy every single moral he’d set for himself…

     Not when he’d worked so hard to build everything back up from the ground time after time…

     —

     “I'm sorry, I really am… I don't know what got into me!” The white-haired man, who Mydei learned was named Phainon, apologized profusely. 

     “Yeah, yeah… I get it, enough of your apologies already…” He sighed, crossing his arms over his chest with a pensive expression on his face.

     “Sorry..!” Phainon replied reflexively, noticing another glare from the blonde man in front of him. “Yeah nevermind, I’ll just shut up, actually!” He laughed, sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck.

     A moment of silence passed before Mydei spoke up again. “You needed help finding something?” He asked, Phainon being snapped out of his trance, expression morphing into that of a curious puppy…

     “Oh..! Yes actually… Could you point me in the direction of the lobby? I got a bit lost while taking a break from studying.” Phainon replied.

     Mydei merely had a confused expression grace his face before walking him to a nearby staircase. “Downstairs, two lefts and then a right.” The blonde directed to where Phainon nodded gratefully, walking down the stairs shortly after.

     Mydei lingered for a moment too long, and he didn't understand why he did… He just did… His mother would tease him endlessly if she saw him right then. Thankfully she was supposedly at her desk up front right now…

     “Well, who was that charming fellow?” A woman's voice spoke up behind him with a small tease in the tone. He just had to ruin it for himself, didn't he?

     “Aren't you supposed to be at your desk?” He asked with an exasperated sigh. A light flush creeping up the back of his neck, thankfully covered by his hair.

     “Well, Nikador forbid I bring my son his lunch so he doesn't starve while working to death.” She replied with… Wait, was that sarcasm? Was his mother being sarcastic? “All jokes aside, if memory serves me right, that's the boy that checked out the dictionary.” She explained, Mydei nodding solemnly.

     “Did he mention why he did?” He asked, taking the small bag of food from his mother, making his way back to his desk.

     “He just mentioned that he was interested in the history behind the language, that’s all.” She replied, following a few paces behind him. 

     “I see.” He sighed, taking in her words, sitting back atop his desk chair after placing the bag of food onto the tabletop, returning to the repetitive motions of sorting the books on the couch by section so he could organize what goes where when he makes his way back to the entrance.

     —

     Sat in his mother’s lap, a young boy was having his hair braided in a small section over his right shoulder whilst they watched a movie. “Mama?” He spoke up after a moment, eyes dampening significantly.

     “Yes, my love?” She replied, hands deftly combing through the hair her son had said he’d wanted to grow out to look like her’s.

     “Where's Dad? He’s almost never home, and when he is, he’s really angry at us…” The boy asked, and in that moment, the woman's expressions went from shocked to solemn.

     Her son wasn't ignorant, she knew that much already… He’d always been a surprisingly good listener, and extremely empathetic for a boy his age… “He’s at work, love.” A lie. One she always told to ease his worries. Only this time, her son's face scrunched up in some form of anger.

     “Stop lying, mother! That's always your excuse! Is he really at work or is he out drinking like he always is with those pigs in suits!?” He snapped, the woman's hands ceasing their careful, practiced threading motions.

     No more words were said. A carefully crafted lie she had created to preserve more her own sanity than her son's innocence had slowly started to unravel just out of reach of her fingertips.

     “Mom..? Are you okay? I'm sorry! I didn't mean to hurt your feelings… I just..thought you already knew, and…” He trailed off, tone starting careful before it became frantic, then spiraled down to silent crocodile tears.

     “No… No, baby… It's alright… You’re just being honest…Realistic…” She murmured, consoling her son, though that coddling did nothing to quell the tears.

     After a moment, she sighed bringing his head to rest atop her chest, the boy’s tears gradually calming as he listened to the strong beating of his mother's heart. “You want the truth, yes?” She asked, to where the young boy nodded softly.

     With a deep intake of breath, she answered the words and questions that died in her son's throat.

     “Your father doesn't work this late, not as of late at least… Your assumptions are likely correct, though I would have worded it slightly differently.” She laughed, though more bittersweet than out of amusement.

     The boy merely stayed silent, taking his mother's words in with small sniffling sounds. “Truth be told, it worries me. Him out at the bar so often, I mean…” She sighed, petting a hand over the top of his head.

     “He doesn't love us anymore, does he?” The boy asked, the woman's bittersweet expression morphing into a more solemn one.

     “To tell you the truth… I don't know. I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't, given he spends every waking moment working, or at that godforsaken bar…” She sighed, smaller hands tightening on her shirt.

     “He did. Once upon a time.” She recounted. How she and her husband met in their senior year of high school, her husband having transferred from his 8th school that year after getting expelled for the ‘inconveniences’ he’d caused.

     She sees now how it was a warning sign… Silent alarm bells that he was bad news. To stay away. And in the end, she lost many friends because she trusted a horrid instinct.

     “Really?” The younger asked, a hesitant nod following his question, his golden eyes like that of her own turning gaze up at her, glassy, and still-teary.

     “Yes, how would you be here otherwise?” She asked, the bittersweet expression and tone returning.

      A silent thought passed his eyes before he nodded, “Yeah…”

     It was a painful half truth, but it seemed to sate his pain and curiosity for now.

     There was no true or pure love in their relationship, only a sick fascination for power and status.

     He was a privileged mayor's son. Castrum Kremnos, her own town. But just because he has that status, he wasn't benevolent or kind, quite the opposite. He had rarely done anything for anyone.

     In fact, the only reason he agreed to court her was for the fact that she matched him in brawn, though not quite brains, she was far smarter in that regard.

     They fought for nearly an hour in the school’s courtyard before teachers had to break them up. Thankfully it was her first instance of this behavior, so she was let off with a warning. She couldn't say the same about him though.

     “Mama?” Her son spoke up again, snapping her out of her reminiscence.

     “Oh.. Sorry, honey. Did you ask me something?” She replied, her gaze turning back down to him, a lot softer this time around.

     “Yes. Do you still love dad?” He asked, The obvious and reflexive answer would have been ‘Of course’ but she had to actually sit there and consider if she was speaking the truth to her son.

     “I… Don't know, baby… It’s been a long time, I haven't thought about it.” She answered. She shouldn't have to. She shouldn't have to think, make excuses, or even consider it.

     A long silence passed before she had undone the unfinished braid in her son's hair that had fallen loose, separating the strands to start again.

     “I hope you’ll find someone who makes you much happier, Mydeimos. I’d love to meet them, and welcome them into our home.” She spoke calmly, that was the truth. She hoped that whoever won over her son's heart in the future was someone who was kind, doting, and worthy of his affection.

     “Don't be silly, the only person I’ll ever love so much is you, mom.” The young Mydeimos declared, to where she simply let out a small laugh.

     ‘I don't think so, but I’ll look forward to my victory later on.’ She thought to herself. Her gaze softening impossibly further.

     —

     That night, Mydei had been cleaning up their kitchen after he and his mom had dinner. Leftovers were in the fridge for whenever his father got back from whatever hookup he’d had that night. Absolutely disgusting for him to even think about anyway.

     That conversation between him and his mom back then… He understands why she lied so much to him. To protect him from the harsh reality that his father was a dirty, privileged hyena of a liar.

     He wanted a trophy wife, and a perfect son to eventually take his spot and continue spreading the rot they call justice in his hometown.

     Jokes on him, he wasn't doing that. In fact, he was pursuing a degree in Veterinary medicines. No, he has never owned a pet, but after he graduates, he plans on adopting or fostering, especially from high kill shelters. Those places disgust him beyond belief.

     Eventually, a familiar form approached beside him, picking up a dish from the sink, washing it with him.

     “Still wanting to become a vet?” Gorgo asked, breaking the silence, getting his mind off of the subject of his father.

     His grip on the plate he was on the verge of shattering loosened significantly, accompanied by a soft nod.

     “You are really selfless when it comes to animals, you know.” She replied, a soft smile on her face. You don't plan on doing it alone, surely.” She teased lightly, nudging him with her elbow.

     This would normally annoy him, end in a fight or some hurtful words, but for some reason… He could bring himself to deny it… To tell her no…

     All because of a flash of a memory… Of one person.

“Same goes for you, don't die too easily.”

     An echo of a voice he now recognizes… The same words he's heard for years…

     “HKS…” He mumbled under his breath, his mother looking rather amused at the simple word in their tongue.

     The rest of the cleanup was mostly silent, an occasional joke or two cracked by his mom to where he bit back the slightest chuckle, shaking his head with a sigh as an alternative. 

     —

     Heading to bed, he had undid his braid he tended to wear, his eyes finding himself in his mirror. Eyes narrowing slightly, as if scrutinizing his appearance.

     He remembers similar moments that he was like this, sitting in front a mirror, gazing at himself, not recognizing the person staring back at him.

     He shouldn't be this ridiculous. It was his reflection… But it felt so foreign… As if it belonged to someone else entirely.

     Some war-torn soldier, maybe? Or even a loving partner to someone… 

     Maybe that soldier liked to bake, had comrades who were his closest companions… Maybe he sacrificed himself to save a world he’d barely lived in… Maybe he’d loved someone. More than life itself… Maybe they could match his strength blow for blow, maybe they doted on him subtly… What if their words of affection were unspoken? What if…

What if he died before they could be uttered?

     Perhaps that's the thing he hated most about relationships. Some fall apart without a word even needing to be said…

     But still… What was he feeling when he was with that white-haired man? 

     He felt as if they’d met somewhere before. Not here. He’d never seen him before and yet…

     As his gaze drifted off into the mirror, he saw a figure appear beside him, clad in armor, the guy he met at the library… Moving to sit beside him…

     ‘What has you so deep in thought?’ He had asked in an almost teasing manner.

     Mydei’s eyes widened, snapping his gaze away from the mirror, and to no one's surprise. No one was there… Even looking back at the mirror, it was just him…

     He must be staying up far too late… Perhaps the godawful library coffee was giving him food poisoning as well… God knows how often those machines are cleaned…

     Eventually laying down, he slowly drifted off into a supposedly dreamless sleep.

     —

     “Who are you.” Mydei had asked, it wasn't a question. He demanded an answer. He knew the man before him could give him an answer.

     He woke in this dream, Greek architecture, flowing water, though soundless, a bright artificial sun keeping everything alight.

     ‘A rude way to greet your elders, don't you think?’ The man asked, holding his hands up in surrender.

     Mydei just narrowed his eyes, as if glaring into the no longer existent soul of the man before him.

     ‘Apologies for the rude re-introduction.’ The man apologized, breathing a soft, unheard laugh. It almost made Mydei wonder why it was silent.

     ‘My name is Phainon, of Aedes Elysiae, Deliverer of Amphoreus.’ He introduced himself, strangely… This man bore the name and title of that ancient Khaslana figure…

     A beat of silence passed. ‘You’re the Mydeimos of your time, yes? You look just like him.’ What that was supposed to entail, he didn't know.

     “What do you want from me? Why am I here?” Mydei asked, the man perking up like a puppy.

     The man opened his mouth and spoke, but all that followed was silence, ear deafening silence.

     Something about a “Prophetic Dream” or something…

     —

     Mydei woke slowly, hearing the sound of shuffling, then the front door shutting. Likely his father leaving early for work… Or whatever he called work at this hour.

     Deciding he wasn't going to return to sleep, he got ready much earlier. It was that same dream every night…

     That same person, face usually blurry, but clear this time… The face was the likeness of that guy he’d met the day prior…

     This is starting to piss him off…

—

     An alarm had gone off at 8:15AM Entry Hour. A hand reaching to snooze it, but ultimately failing, instead pushing the teleslate to the floor with a loud ‘thunk’ sound.

     Phainon waking with a groan. Hopefully the people staying under him don't hate him for that…

     Castorice couldn't meet him today due to her exam that afternoon.

     Phainon had his in a day or two anyways, great God Kephale, he was going to try his best, then fail…

     After slowly waking up, he’d done his usual morning routine, then sent a good luck text to Castorice, not that she’d need it, considering she's a thousand times better at what she does than he is.

     Noticing a familiar book spine on the floor, he picked it up flipping to the page it was opened on.

Adoratio - Definitions: Adoration, Worship

Note: Mydeimos had told me that there weren't any words for romance in his language many years ago. While this word itself doesn’t have to be inherently romantic, I see adoration as a form of affection and love. After all, this was the first word I found when researching the Kremnoan language. I feel it also ties in well with the following words and definitions.

Amour, Cultura, Caritas, and Dilectio.

See their independent pages for their individual definitions.

xx, xx, xx, xx

     Oh right, he had been reading this… But the pit in his stomach from earlier wasn't there, not until he flipped to one of the related definitions…

     “Amour” directly meant love… And the description there made him shut the book before he could even finish reading the note…

     Not-so surprisingly, he found himself coughing over his bathroom sink.

     He should be over it. He physically feels fine every time he's not reading that dictionary. So he's ruled out sickness… It has to be that Mydeimos figure…

     Could the guy from the library have been… No, that is far more mortifying now that he thinks about it.

     He bawled crocodile tears in the arms of someone he’d known for three seconds…

     But his hands were so warm… His touch was careful… Doting… And…

     He had to take a break from his thoughts to let out another cough whilst he doubled over once more and tightly gripped the edge of the porcelain counter.

     What about this whole thing was causing him so much agony?

     He couldn't tell, everything was too much at that moment. He looked like a wreck, sure his hair was usually this unruly, but he just looked sick… Especially…

     An armored hand slid over his shoulder through the mirror, though the touch wasn't present whatsoever. ‘You should really be taking care of yourself, Deliverer…’ A familiar deep baritone resounded in the back of his mind.

     Phainon merely blinked, and then it was gone. He should really see a sleep therapist if he's hallucinating about someone who's been dead for over 500 years…

     Why wasn't he freaking out about it in the first place? Call it sleep depravity or mental illness. Maybe a combination of both if you would.

      —

     “How’d your exam go?” Phainon asked Castorice, his teleslate wedged between his ear and his shoulder as he finally was cooking something edible-looking. The girl silently proud of him for opting to cook instead of destroy the environment with single-use items from fast food.

     “I’d like to say that I did well. Yours is this week as well, isn't it?” She asked, a muffled shuffling coming from her end of the line, the noise being her organizing her bookshelf in her dorm room.

     “It is. I actually feel pretty confident, but I'm going to study up a bit more to make sure that I’m ready.” He replied, eyes fixed solely on the food in the pan that he was cooking.

     “That seems like a good idea. I also see that you’ve been at the library more often.” She voiced her observations to where he let out a hum of confirmation.

     “I have, it's nice and quiet. Perfect place to study, thanks to you.” He replied with a honeyed laugh.

     “It's not problem, Phainon. I enjoy sharing safe spaces like those with you.” She hummed softly, a smile possibly evident with the way her voice sounded.

     A moment of comfortable silence passed before a thought crossed his mind and he spoke up. “Do you know the name of the one librarian guy there?” He asked.

     He couldn't see it, but Castorice deadpanned on the other side of the line. “There are many librarians there, you’ll have to describe him to me.” She sighed.

     “Oh! Right..! Yeah… Great Kephale where do I even start…” He muttered, Castorice getting a bad feeling.

     “You know how girls have this thing where they sometimes see guys as ‘hot’ then spew absurd things about them?”

     Unfortunately Castorice did hear something similar before… “Yes..? Where is this going?” She asked nervously.

     “Just hear me out here!” He spoke with a desperation only a smitten man would have. “He was JUST that… Blonde hair with the reddish ends, a single braid in his hair… His eyes looked like gold, Cas… Gold..!” He cried, and if Castorice didn't know any better, she would have assumed that he was in love with this librarian…

     “You're referring to Mydei…” She sighed, and Phainon just stopped.

Mydei…

     It had to be a sick coincidence. His namesake didn't mean anything, these memories coming back in fragments were just delusion…

     —

“What's with the look, deliverer?” A gruff voice asked.

“... Nothing. Just taking in the moment.” His voice replied.

It was as if he was viewing a past life from the view of a spectator…

“Heh, when did you become so sentimental?” The other man, who he assumed was Mydei asked.

“Ever since you came back to me…” He replied seriously. The moment he said that, Mydei’s expression softened ever so slightly.

“I always do.” Mydei replied, but not before letting out a surprisingly gentle sigh despite his rough appearance.

A comforting silence passed between the both of them before Phainon spoke up.

“You know? I might just take you up on that Library offer…” He muttered, nuzzling into a palm that Mydei placed onto his cheek.

Mydei simply just let out a small huff of a laugh, that was where that hazy memory ended…

     —

     “Phainon? Are you still there?” Castorice asked, clearly worried by his silence.

     “Oh… Yeah… I’m fine.” He replied, right hand balling into a fist stop his knee.

     “Are you sure? You don't sound fi-” She insisted, being cut off after a moment.

     “I'm sorry, I'm gonna hang up, Cas. Something came up… Talk to you later.” He moved to grab his teleslate.

     Before Castorice could protest, the line had gone dead. The only sound being a dull beep.

     Phainon on the other hand was in over his head at this point. Memory of this man came and went, and this version of him was far gentler looking than the others…

Oh he was so doomed…