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On the night Phainon gets back to Okhema after a month of expedition, he receives a letter from Anaxagoras.
Phainon, the letter reads, while I understand the fatigue you must have felt must be excruciating, I must implore you to come see me in two days time. This matter can not be delayed any further, and your assistance is needed to see this through.
- Anaxagoras
Sensing the urgency, Phainon sets off immediately. He pays for the fastest dromas and arrives only one and a half days later.
Of course, his beloved professor is surprised when he sees Phainon wander in front of his office like a mad man. Anaxa asks why he had come sooner and the former student retorts by reciting the content of the letter and how worried it makes him. Only then Anaxa realizes his mistake.
Anaxa immediately apologizes. He reassures Phainon that there is nothing to worry about, and that he is as healthy as he can be. Though, he isn’t lying about needing Phainon’s help. Unfortunately, Anaxa still has a class to teach and the problem can only be seen at night.
So, Phainon awaits at Anaxa’s office, trying to calm himself down. Thankfully, Anaxa’s myriads of dromas plushies prove to be supportive.
Phainon sighs. Professor Anaxa is lucky that he is adorable and Phainon loves him very much.
At the third quint of Curtain-Fall Hour, Anaxa takes him to a clear spot near the Luminary Throne. Phainon asks what he is planning there, and Anaxa only says that he has clearance to use the place. Phainon certainly hopes so since he isn’t keen enough to deal with the paperworks should it prove to be a problem. He hasn’t even finished his report to Lady Aglaea yet!
When they get there, Anaxa asks Phainon to help unpack the bags they’re carrying. He finds two pairs of telescopes, a laser pointer, and several snack bars. The random assortments piqued Phainon’s curiosity. “Are we having a picnic?”
“No. We’re doing observations. The snack bars are for the telescopes.”
“What.”
“It’s an offering to Aquila so we can have a clear sky.”
“I thought you don’t believe in Titans?”
“No, but Hyacine does.”
That doesn’t really answer Phainon’s question. But Phainon misses his mark for a follow-up and the conversation dies right there.
Phainon feels a tap on his shoulder. Anaxa then tugs to him to come closer—so close that he practically breathes the same air as Anaxa.
“Phainon, pay attention.”
His professor, ignorant of Phainon’s inner struggle, stretches his right hand forward onto the horizon and folds his fingers into the shape of L. He later lifts his hand to the sky north of the Grove.
“Look through my hand and follow its movement.” Anaxa instructs. “Do you see three bright stars with v-shape?”
To be honest, Phainon isn’t too sure if he’s looking at the right one. But he doesn’t want to sour Anaxa’s mood with his stupidity so he just nods.
“If you go downward, you’ll see another star. See?” Phainon nods again. “And if we follow the star trails to the right you will make out a body—are you listening?”
“I am! I am! It’s just, um,” Phainon scratches his head. “I’m not really sure what I’m supposed to see so ….”
Surprisingly, Anaxa doesn’t berate him. He just grabs the laser and fires it towards the sky. “It’s alright. I shall teach you how to draw them. Now, follow closely.”
Now that Anaxa’s pointing at the stars using the laser, Phainon can see it more clearly. Like his professor said, there are three stars with similar luminosity forming a v-shape. Then, if you go a bit down, there is the most luminous star Anaxa has shown today. Then, a bit to the right, there are two sets of four stars that form two squares … Is that supposed to be a body?
The whole thing looks like Lady Trianne’s stick figure drawing. Astronomers sure are imaginative because Phainon can’t even fathom what this is supposed to be.
As if reading Phainon’s mind, Anaxa quickly supplies Phainon with an answer. “This is the constellation of Great Dromas. It is highly visible around the Month of Georios.”
Phainon tries to contain his smile. Of course, it would be dromas.
Next, Anaxa’s laser points to a constellation with similar structure but much smaller in size. “This is Little Dromas. Unlike its larger counterpart, this one can be seen all year long.”
“Got it, prof.”
“Good. Now, I will also teach you how to see them with a telescope. Unlike the Grove, the rest of Amphoreus doesn’t experience true night. The flickering light from the Dawn Device might make things difficult.”
Anaxa patiently guides Phainon with the telescope, showing him how to adjust the lens, and which stars to look out for when searching for said constellations.
“Do you get all that, Phainon?”
“Um ... yeah. I think. But what is it for? I mean, I like spending time with you. I’m just confused.”
The Nousporist Sage lets out a long sigh. He asks Phainon to copy his L-shaped fingers from earlier. Anaxa puts his hand on top of Phainon’s and guides him upward from the dromases constellation.
“When we start, the constellations are at this point.” Anaxa explains, his tone still full of patience. “But now, it's much further below. Where do you reckon it will fall come Entry Hour?”
“Um … Okhema?”
"Well done."
Phainon purrs at the praise.
“Remember them. They shall serve you as a compass to guide you home, should you need it.”
Phainon’s breath hitches.
It couldn’t be …?
Could it?
“... Is it because of the expedition?” Phainon takes a deep breath. He can feel his heart pounding loudly inside his chest. “Did I worry you?”
Anaxa’s gaze falters under Phainon’s question, yet it still shines as brightly as the stars above. The silence between them feels heavy, but Phainon lets it linger for he knows Anaxa is trying to find the right answer.
After a while, Anaxa clears his throat and darts his face away. A habit that Phainon has become too familiar with.
“As your teacher, I have a responsibility to teach you about the world.”
As much as Anaxa tries to play it off, his red face gives it away.
Phainon’s lips contorts into a smile so wide it threatens to split his face open. He can’t help it. He feels very happy by this rare occurence of honesty from his beloved teacher.
But Phainon has to control himself lest he ruins this moment. “Thank you, Anaxa. I will not forget this.”
“You'd better be, if you still claim to be my best student. And it’s Anaxagoras.”
“Of course, my dearest Professor.” Phainon laughs. He clutches his chest tight so his heart doesn’t jump out.
Phainon wants to say more. Like, how poetic it is that the constellations that his professor taught is of his favorite animal. They rise from the general area of Aedes Elysiae, reach its peak on top of the Grove, and set on Okhema.
Instead he says, “Will you teach me more constellations, Professor?”
Anaxa raises his eyebrows. “Getting cheeky, aren't you?”
“Perish the thought! I just thought you might as well, since we're already here.”
Anaxa laughs, warm and tender. He picks up the laser and spins it around. “Fine. But pay attention. I shall quiz you later.”
“Of course, Professor!”
They talk and talk until they exhaust every constellation in the sky. And suddenly, the light of Kephale’s Dawn Device begins to shine upon the Grove, signaling that Entry Hour has arrived.
Phainon wants to keep Anaxa, who looks especially ethereal under the morning sun, here. But he can’t ignore Anaxa’s eye bags, so one final question before they wrap this up.
“Professor, may I ask one more thing?”
“Only if it’s related to this.”
“You said that the constellation of Great Dromas is only visible during the Month of Georios. Why is that?”
“I said, highly visible. The constellation is still there for the rest of the year.” Phainon murmurs an apology as Anaxa continues. “If the myth is to be believed, then the constellation should be visible all year long since the Dawn Device took over Amphoreus’ sun. I suspect there is another force at play.”
“Such as …?”
“I have yet to delve deep into the topic, since astronomy is not my main interest. But perhaps there is nothing wrong with the sun despite Aquila’s disappearance and the Dawn Device’s function.”
Phainon can already hear pitchforks in the distance. “Maybe it’s best for you to focus on your research on souls instead. I don’t want you to get crucified by the sages.”
“You speak as if you don’t know me. I care not for their opinion.”
“I know. I just wish you don’t get into trouble when I’m not around to help you.”
Uh, that sounds infantilizing instead of cool. Phainon is about to apologize when Anaxa’s snickers beat him into it.
“I see. I shall keep that in mind.”
This beautiful man, Phainon muses. If he’s brave enough he’d have kissed him stupid.
Since he is not, he continues their earlier conversation. “So, Little Dromas will always be visible in the sky?”
“Based on a millennia of observation, yes.”
“Thank Kephale above.” Phainon whistles. “Wouldn’t want to lose my way back home, to you.”
Anaxa rolls his remaining good eye. “Cheeky bastard.” He says, clear fondness in his voice.
Phainon just smiles at the reaction, unaware that if the professor’s physical heart still exists, it too would jump out of his chest, just like Phainon’s.