Chapter Text
White, thats the first thing Mydeimos see's when waking up. He finally managed to kill his way out the River of Souls, after what felt like forever being stuck there his entire short time in being alive after being thrown in there. Cold is the next feeling, he grimaced in annoyance, why did he have to end up somewhere cold while barely being fully clothed and no shoes. Could die from this but he doesn't want to see the River or Nether Realm anytime soon. He needs to find shelter and food first but he has no idea which direction to in walk....there's only snow for kilometres upon kilometres.
Curiously he picked some of it up, he has never seen snow before, if it wasn't so cold he would like it. It melted in his hand easily, turning back into water which dripped between his fingers back with the rest of the snow. The young boy was curious and picked up some more snow to continue repeating the action.....he continued till he got bored of it. Mydeimos seemed more upset when he realised he walked quite far in a direction he didn't know where he's heading, picking up snow as he went until realising. "This is so annoying, now where the heck am I?" He said to himself. He would have continued berating himself for being so dumb if he didn't come across faint sounds in the air. Sounds like....weaker battle cries? It was faint and he could barely hear it but there is something out there in this bitting cold.
Going in the direction of the sound, he got even more confused when he finally saw something like another person's silhouette near a small ravine. Why would there be someone in this frozen wasteland and they're not cold? Actually this is bad, he's never really talked to any living person before since he's been stuck in the River of Souls all his life and all he has talked to have been dead for centuries. Well he can't really question it now as he's already found the source of the weak battle cries. Going near the ravine, next to the frozen lake there's someone else there, a young girl probably a bit older than him with purple hair which is short hair making the cries. She's clothed in a white dress, and seems to be crying her heart out in this desolate wasteland.
"Hey," he called out. "What are you doing here?" That didn't seem like an appropriate way in greeting someone new but Mydeimos doesn't care. It worked though as the girl gasped and looked back at him, tears still falling freely. He blinked, she's cute, very cute, even with the tears staining her pretty face....he shook his head violently to remove such thoughts.
".....who are you?" She asked instead of answering him.
"Me?? I asked first y'know!!!" He responded gruffly, the girl pinked, the blush making her look very cute. "I just....you don't look like you're from here. I've never seen you before." She turned around to face him from where she is on the bank of the river, she's confused but there's intrigue and trepidation in her eyes which are glassy from the tears.
"Of course I'm not from here, I just found myself here."
"Is that so..." the girl looked confused, but at least she had stopped crying.
"Forget about me why are you here?" He said in returned with a scoff.
"I'm...I'm..." she looked very troubled in answering that simple question. Mydeimos grew more upset that the first living person he has talked to is really weird. He lept down into the space getting closer to her, her big purple eyes widening in fear.
"Why can't you just talk!!" Mydeimos went to grab her but before he could she screamed and lept backwards from him.
"Don't touch me!!! Stay away you'll die." She's shaking so badly that he paused, then resumed being upset.
"What, Why???" He grumbled, confused. The girl in front of him is still shaking like a leaf but she has somewhat calmed down now.
"E-Everything I touch dies please stay away from me, all I cause is death." She burst into tears again. "Thats why I'm here, I'm trying to escape Aidonia."
That suprised the young Prince. Such a cute and pretty girl has such a deadly and fearsome power. However Mydeimos doesn't fear death, he has spent his entire life around it and cannot die from it as his time spent in the river gave him that curse, death rejects him. He scoffed and went after the girl, which is just scaring her more trembling and saying that he should stay away. Reaching for her arm he grabbed it with a firm grip, probably too hard for her lithe arm compared to his as he can't control his strength but she just wouldn't stop crying when he did touch her. She's really warm....he realised the minute he touched her, is this what living people feel like? Then the girl realised after a few seconds that he hasn't died from it, she can feel his warmth from his hand seeping into her. Now she's crying for a different reason.
"H-How, is this....but everything I touch dies!!! You can't, Y-You should...." She stared at this mysterious boy with golden blonde and red hair with the energy of the sun. Her purple iris's were so filled with tears that she can barely see him. Now he smirked at her, in a scary kind of way.
"I can't die. I spent some time in that disgusting River of Souls and I have no desire to go back so soon but look, I'm completely fine in touching you as you can clearly see." He proved his point further by yanking her into standing up and pulled her closer. The poor girl squeaked as he did so, instinctually her arms came around him to stabilise herself. Which scared her some more but held onto him even while trembling. This boy is quite gaunt she noted as her head landed on his shoulder.
"I...." she seemed so shell-shocked that Mydeimos is starting to feel bad for startling her like this. He just wanted to show her that he can't die, but he didn't expect this reaction. Who knew interacting with living people would be so exhausting. Eventually the girl started to calm down again after getting used to touching someone without killing them.
"I've...never done this before." Her voice shoke as she said something. "Thank you, thank you." She said gratefully into his shoulder as she cried again into his torn clothes. Mydeimos turned red with a bright flush but he willed the blush to go, there's no such thing as embarrassment.
"You're weird but we can be weird together. This is also the first time I've had physical contact with anyone!!"
"Really?"
"Death refuses me, I spent years in the River of Souls and didn't die there. You're the first living person I have seen."
"You....were in the river??" Now the girl became bold as she grabbed his face to check, Mydeimos squeaked as he turned increasingly redder. "Hey!!"
"You seem fine...." she said curiously and poked his cheek a few times.
"Stop that!!" He grabbed her hands. "Thats it, you're really really weird, you can't just do that."
"But...you just did the same by grabbing me." She spoke confusingly. The Prince huffed annoyed because she is correct, but he's not going to admit that.
"Well....its different for me y'know!!" The girl laughed then and Mydeimos decided that he liked her laughing.
"That doesn't make any sense." She smiled.
"It makes plenty sense, you just don't go out much..." he doesn't know what he's saying, he just wants to be right all the time. And he can't embarrass himself in front of a pretty girl like this.
Thankfully she didn't take it to heart as she continued giggling. "You have such a lovely face, I don't think I've laughed so hard before."
"L-LOVELY FACE???" Mydeimos sputtered with indignation. "I do not have that."
"Yes you do!!" She poked it some more. "Its very pretty, and warm...I'm just, so happy I can experience touch without someone dying. Thank you." Now she's crying again, though they must be tears of happiness this time.
"So, why did you want to leave Aidonia? Please stop crying." He decided to ask because this must be where he ended up. He has heard about it from some souls trapped in the river, the snow covered land that worships Death. The girl froze, it seemed like she didn't want to answer him.
"I...." she started to speak before both of them heard voices of adults.
"Where is she?? I remember seeing Lady Castorice go in this direction."
"She couldn't have gotten too far, lets continue looking."
"What the—" Mydeimos started before the girl pushed him away from her in a hurry.
"You must go, I spent too much time here they will find me and bring me back." She smiled sadly at Mydeimos.
The girl, now he knew her name as Castorice, had just pushed him away. She looked so sad that it was making him upset. How could she smile at him when being forced to return after expressing her desire to leave this snowy prison. "But....didn't you want to leave?? Why are you going back now??!" His voice became louder when he shouted, confused and frustrated at this. Castorice quickly covered his mouth to quiet him.
"I heard noises from over there!!"
"Maybe its Lady Castorice."
"Please be quiet. I have no other choice but to go back, thank you for giving me a little freedom....away from my duty of holy maiden. It was pointless in trying to escape. Now you must go, you must have a home you can go back to don't you?" More tears started to gather in her beautiful purple eyes, this girl is so quick to tears Mydeimos thought but his rage at this is really strong, overriding his thoughts. Why must this happen to his new friend that he just met, she wanted to be free from whatever she was suffering from she deserved that much. She seems really sweet and gentle, but has a deadly power in contrast to that, that she seems to hate. But what can he do for her, he doesn't belong here and he's just a boy who's also been through alot of hardship of his own.
"But...!?"
"Thank you, for giving me the actual physical touch of a person." Castorice smiled and turned away from her newly acquired friend, the only friend that won't die from her touching them and gave her something more precious than life. She might never see him again, she was about to leave before Mydeimos grabbed her hand stopping her.
"Will you let me go please—"
"Can I ever see you again, in the future?" He interrupted her. This behaviour is very new to him or is it because he just left the River that he hasn't learnt how to interact with people properly yet. There's no such thing as a Kremnoan being courteous, if they wanted something they would just take it and ask questions later. And he just wanted to remember his friend.
"I....I don't know—" she answered stuttering before gasping hearing the adult voices get closer to their location. "But please just go. I'll remember you I promise." She smiled at him one last time before running off, leaving Mydeimos there frozen and in shock. Not before listening to the reunion between Castorice and the adults.
"Ah Holy Maiden there you are. Where had you been?? You had everyone worried sick, we can't have you running off before you grant glorious death to people."
"I understand....I won't do it again." Castorice spoke meekly and followed them back, their footsteps getting weaker and weaker before Mydeimos was just alone again like he was at the start. He clenched and unclenched his fist not sure what to do with himself right now. But slowly figured out he should leave to return back to his home, Castrum Kremnos. And find some food before he starves to death in this frozen wasteland.
He must find a way out of this land of death. Meeting that girl Castorice though was really something....she really did have such a nice smile, he'll find her again, he'll make sure of it Mydeimos vowed.
......................
Seven hundred years have gone by in Castorice's long life. Now Aidonia has already been destroyed by the Black Tide and is now in annals of history. Castorice herself has changed, even a little though her life up until this point of entering Okhema had been the same over the centuries. She'd let her hair grow and now it reaches her legs. Many butterflies adorn her white dress, gloves and shoes. She's pretty but she still has to deal with this curse of death she has, unable to get close to people, keeping her distance. Except the is this one person, a boy who was rejected by death, someone like her who can't be on the side of life and walks in the shadow of death and could actually touch her. She'd been so young meeting him, their meeting so brief that she feared she'd forgotten him but every now and then tries to recall his red hair and the firey warmth he emitted which does help. Regrettably her younger self forgot to ask for his name, but she remembers his face.
Though right now she can't think about him as she has more important matters to do. Aglaea has asked her to do something as she stood at the hero's baths. "Cas....you have come." The older women greeted. Castorice stood in front of her as she nodded her response. "Yes. Did you need something Lady Aglaea?"
The golden woman looked thoughtful, her sightless eyes still having a piercing gaze. "Castrum Kremnos has fallen, but a detachment has still been causing Strife whenever they go. Now they are on their way to Okhema.....I want you to go and talk to them and their leader about joining Okhema's forces it would be beneficial for both of us."
"You...want me to do it???" The Servant of Death asked suprised that Aglaea would ask this of her. Castorice has no opinion on Castrum Kremnos as she has never been there before it got destroyed. She'd heard that its the land that worships Nikador the Titan of Strife and Competition, and seeks glory through battle and dying in battle. Such a unique prospective on death she wishes to know what a Kremnoan thinks about it....perhaps this is a good opportunity for her.
"Yes, I feel like this could be a good thing for you. I know you can convince them to better the Flame-Chase journey Cas."
"Okay..." Castorice nodded again in agreement, knowing Aglaea can feel her answer through the golden threads and shortly left the baths to go do that. Now standing just outside the gate she saw a giant mass coming her way, a large army. The detachment has grown in considerable size and quantity it rivals some city states army in size she's still not sure how's she's going to convince them. Her conversation skills aren't that good since she has to stay away from people because of her curse so she hopes she sounds good enough so this army can stay. Suprisingly when the army reached her some of the soldiers at the front came closer to her, causing her to take a step back.
"Woah...." one whistled. "This one is a beaut'~....I thought that heartless women Aglaea wouldn't give us a welcome but I guess I was wrong."
"I know right, now where did you come from pretty thing~" the other one tried to grab her face but she moved out the way.
"Please keep five paces away from me as I'm the embodiment of death. I'm Castorice, I'm here on the behalf of Lady Aglaea to ask for you to join Okhema...." she greeted. Though the soldiers reaction had suprised her as they started laughing at her.
"Join Okhema?? That woman has lost it."
"Ah who cares what the golden woman has to say, she gave us such a cute woman for entertainment~"
"Wait....but embodiment of death??? Thats not something trivial."
"She's so dainty, I bet she means she seen lots of death before....as a Kremnoan she shouldn't say no to my advances~"
All the soldiers in front of her spoke but it seems that the one closest to her didn't get the hint to stay away from her as he tried to grab her face. Quickly and uncomfortably she tried to stay away from him, even without her touch of death which actually keeps her safe during stuff like this she wouldn't want these advancements. She sometimes has to deal with men like this who try to touch her but find out the hard way that what she says about death is the inevitable truth. As she backed away further her back hit the Okhema main gate, she gasped seeing the soldiers perverted grin as he stepped closer. "Please stay away death isn't a joke...." she said again.
"Stop trying to run away, I just want a taste of what I'm looking at~" a calloused dirty hand reached for her face, Cas closed her eyes so she doesn't see the man dying in front of her. However something weird happened right that second he screamed in agony which caused her to open her eyes back as a spear pierced his body, falling over dead instantly. The soldiers harassing her quickly dispersed in fear, leaving Castorice confused as she didn't kill him because he didn't touch her.
"What....?" She breathed out.
"Damned idiot I should have killed him ages ago. Couldn't you tell she was uncomfortable? What have I said about harassing women when causing Strife upon entering a new area?" A new deeper voice rang out causing the energy to shift as the soldiers became terrified all of a sudden. Castorice looked forwards and the breath was taken from her lungs. He was tall, the first thing Castorice noticed was the bright red tattoos that adorn his exposed muscular chest. One of his arms being uncovered rippling with powerful muscle and gauntlets that covered both arms, though that wasn't what shocked her it was his eyes. Piercing golden eyes that looked through her as he looked down at her and a gorgeous face framed with autumn coloured hair. He also looked....familiar, like she knew him from somewhere before. Then it suddenly clicked this is the same boy she met centuries ago in Aidonia's snowy landscape, just taller, older and more muscular. He's also really handsome she feels embarrassed and can't seem to get her words out right.
"You're—" Castorice started to say but got interrupted.
"I heard what you said about Aglaea, wanting this detachment to join Okhema you said? Hmph, who does she think she is, does she really expect that to happen so easily considering our histories." He spoke harshly, he didn't seem to recognise her as he stared down at her. She shrunk a bit under his powerful gaze, she's not used to such attention and from such a handsome person like him.
"Would you at least reconsider....mr....?"
"Mydeimos, do well to remember that. However unlike these lot I know the value of allies so I'll consider this proposal and meet with Aglaea herself. You will accompany me yes?" He asked and raised his hand for her to shake. She shook her head quickly.
"Yes I will but please lower your hand, I cannot touch any living person as I cause death." Castorice spoke quickly. Mydeimos stared at her for a second longer before lowering it back down. He then walked past her to enter the Holy City, his considerably large army understanding that they should stay here until he returns....a truly great leader that has earned the title of leader and respect of his soliders. Though all that isn't what she's thinking about, she's wondering if he even remembers her?
"Cas, you have returned. And with a new guest.....the golden threads tell of the Okheman's worry about the large Kremnoan army just outside the gate." Aglaea greeted them without turning around.
"They will wait until I get back, thats my orders and they will do well to honour it or incur my wrath. Unlike you held up here in your lofty baths." Mydeimos bit back firmly. Aglaea didn't have a response to that and only when the two Chrysos Heir's walked up to her did the Demigod turn around. Castorice stood five paces away as she watched the Demigod and the presumptive fellow Chrysos Heir stare at each other sliently.
"Mydeimos the undying, that's the curse the golden blood gave you, and the Crown Prince of Castrum Kremnos. Your reputation proceeds you." Aglaea started off nicely, Mydeimos just scoffed at her attempt of being civil.
"And you? Aglaea the Goldweaver, I just noticed that you're blind so how did you know I'm here. How are you able to rule a nation like that, I did some digging about this nation it seems the council of elders slowly gaining power.....how are you dealing with that?"
"Be careful Crown Prince or you'll fall into baseless accusations too. I have my own ways for those sharks on the council. However I didn't think you would look into the politics of the nations you're pillaging ." Aglaea hummed.
Mydeimos raised an eyebrow at such a ridiculous question. "You think Kremnoans are some kind of barbarians that don't know how to gather information?"
"....if the shoe fits as the saying goes." Aglaea smiled.
"HKS, your insolence knows no bounds, any more of it and I'll reject this proposal." He spat with contempt.
"I truly mean no disrespect Mydeimos, no person in Okhema can confidently say they understand anything about Kremnoan culture outside of rumours and slander, being the ones who cause Strife wherever they go to conquer nations. I just think its beneficial for the both of us to work together, Okhema is the last bastion of light in Amphoreus and in need of protection. Your detachment having no where else to go so you might as well stay here to embolden our forces greatly. Having one more Chrysos Heir gather here is also beneficial for the Flame-Chase Journey too." Aglaea spoke to him with calm logical that was hard to argue with. The Prince stared at her for a second longer before huffing.
"You're truly insolent. And shrewd, do your peaceful Okheman's know of this side of you?" He continued sarcastically.
"This side only comes out when making deals that would save Amphoreus and usher in Era Nova. Isn't that a great thing Mydeimos?"
"...I never really took much stock in the Flame-Chase Journey, but this cursed golden blood and Immortal body of mine are undeniable facts that I am a Chrysos Heir. Saying all that won't just suddenly convince me." Mydeimos crossed his arms in front of himself.
"So you're rejecting my proposal?" The Demigod inquired.
"I'll consider it." He corrected. "After getting sleep."
"And your detachment?"
"They will make camp when I don't return for at least a day...."
"You know Mydeimos, I heard that you just killed the former King of Kremnos in cold blood earning you the title of patricide but you didn't take the title of king. Why is that?" Aglaea suddenly brought up his past, he glared at her with such ferocity but didn't dignify that question with a response, she didn't need to know the answer to that.
"Thats none of your concern."
"I think that brings this productive conversation to an end." Aglaea changed the subject gently, she turned to the second women here. "Cas would you be so kind as to take Mydeimos to a empty room here in the baths?" She asked but Castorice did not answer her back as she continued staring at Mydeimos in a heated daze that she herself didn't realise she was under. The Demigod of Romance just laughed quietly and used her golden threads to wrap it around her wrist and tugged hard enough to bring her back to the Mortal Realm. Castorice squeaked in suprise.
"Y-Yes do you need something?" She blinked, Aglaea and Mydeimos were just staring at her in mild confusion, its like she didn't hear the conversation at all.
"I was just asking you if you could take our exemplary guest to one of the empty rooms in the baths. Are you okay Cas you seem out of it just now that isn't like you."
"I promise I'm fine, I've been studying at the Grove a bit too hard lately its eating into my work time as a mortician." Castorice assured, while it was true it wasn't the full truth of why she was so lost in thought. She could still feel his gaze on her...
"You sure?"
"Yes, please do not be worried Lady Aglaea. I can take Lord Mydeimos with me."
"....Lord?" Mydeimos repeated like the title offended him, Castorice's blush deepened she felt bad for staring at him so intently but she couldn't help it. She thought she would never see him again but now he's standing in front of her again. Completely different to the cute emaciated boy who comforted her in the snowy lands of Aidonia just coming out from the River of Souls and able to touch her without dying, giving her first and only hug. It's hard to wrap her brain around the two being the same person so she has been a bit out of it, it doesn't help that's he's ridiculously handsome its making her stomach flutter in ways she scared to admit. She has just met him again she cannot be feeling things like this. She finally knows his name too she feels happy for that!!
"Is....the title not to your liking?" She asked tentatively.
"No its just most people say my name with fear and respect. You on the other hand say it like you have no right to, its different. Castorice was it?" He asked, she's still not sure if he recognises her but hearing her name coming from his mouth made her stomach flip again, what's wrong with her she shouldn't be feeling this.
"I....that is my name yes." She didn't have a response to that other than the confirmation of her name. The Kremnoan didn't seem to care all that much for her answer as he walked past her and almost dragged her with him but she managed to dodge his incoming hand and walk beside him instead. Aglaea just 'watched' them leave with an unreadable expression, the Crown Prince is certainly going to be a unique addition to the Chrysos Heir's.
.............................
Mydeimos is now staring at the reserved and beautiful girl in front of him who was leading him somewhere. As they are on the lift now going down to the citizens baths, her long hair frames her back nicely. She's gorgeous, absolutely beautiful but from what he gathered her curse from the golden blood is touch of death. What a lonely fate.....he remembers her, he remembers meeting a lonely girl who wouldn't stop crying in the bitter cold lands of Aidonia who's purple eyes glistened sorrowfully. He had just left the River of Souls then so he can't remember everything clearly but he recalls her face. He noticed the minute he saw her but he isn't sure if she remembers him at all, it has been centuries and he was really young he sometimes feels like it could have been a dream he had. But Mydeimos remembers the feelings he felt with the young Castorice, those can never be faked.
The lift reached the bottom and she continued leading the way to somewhere, the Prince noticed that all the Okheman's were staring and whispering to themselves about what Castorice was doing here and about the handsome stranger she's with, which is obviously him. Such mindless chatter is beneath him but they were saying it so loudly he couldn't help but hear them. "What is that omen of death doing here??" "Hush, she has such a handsome man with her today. Who is he?" "Woah such muscles....and tattoos....probably one of the only good things she has done." he looked at her to see her trembling, seems the people's harsh words do hurt her but she keeps up a brave face, how admirable. The people's gossip is so insipid he truly doesn't care as he rumours of his own.
He looked around the baths, they were impressive but he can tell the water isn't hot enough for his taste. After walking for some more they finally reached the place, this room is very from the other rooms, which is good since he likes his privacy. He still hasn't decided if he'll let his detachment join Okhema but at least he has a reason other than being a Chrysos Heir or having no where else to go. Getting to know Castorice after its has been centuries since their brief encounter is a surprising motivator for him, even if she remembers him or not he's going to engrave his existence into her memory. It does help thats she's gorgeous too, and terribly loney so he can help with that. This Immortal body of his actually having a good use for once other than reminding him of his past.
"Here we are, Lord Mydeimos. You may stay in this room if you want...." Castorice spoke while turning to look at him, she jumped a bit when she noticed that he's staring intently at her and that his face has gotten close to her. At this distance she could study his face more closely....her face feels like it would erupt into flames but he's too close, her curse— so she tried to back away, but his close proximity means there's nowhere else for her to go except get pinned to the door. Mydeimos placed his right arm on the door to cage her, she's very cute right now with her red cheeks, he definitely remembers that about her. Seems she's equally as curious about him as she turned her head slightly to look at his muscled arm near her head. He smirked playfully, he's throughly enjoying this.
"....what are you doing Lord Mydeimos?" She asked, keeping her hands to herself.
"I just wanted a good look at you." He's not sure if Castorice would buy such a flimsy excuse but she didn't complain and kept looking at him, her elf ears having the same red colour. From this distance he can make out the planes of her face, how her hair frames her beautifully. He looked down to her hands that she's holding onto her chest which were shaking from the restrain, the desire to reach out towards him but can't bring herself to do so. Heh, adorable everything about her is, even her lips which his eyes have inadvertently went towards. He almost wants to say she can touch him like she did when they met as he can't die but she'll definitely refuse.....which will make him want to grab her like he did before but he won't do that as he has learnt. He's not that clueless boy anymore who just wandered from the River of Souls.
"But why? You're too close to me please get back you don't deserve death." She finally turned away from him, which Mydeimos thought was a shame. He stayed there for a couple of seconds more before moving away from her. The Kremnoan didn't say anything else to her and quietly went inside the room. As soon as the door shut Castorice slide down the door and sat on the floor, her heart beating rapidly.
She felt....lightheaded, that whole encounter making her feel things she didn't want to identify. Being able to see the boy who comforted her again was so great and the fact he could touch her back then too. But now she's not sure, how could this hunk of a man, royalty she came to understand, remember such a brief moment with her from such long ago? Maybe he does, he seems interested in her but he probably did that as a form of politeness, after all she doesn't know much about the people of Castrum Kremnos.
But at least for now she can recognise this emotion as being attracted to him....maybe getting to know him better will allow this to fade with time.....but does she want that to happen? The Servant of Death isn't sure anymore but, she recognises that she does want to be his friend despite her touch of death, Phainon and Hyacine taught her she can have close friends like them while still being the embodiment of death.
"Mydeimos...." she said softly with a smile on her face.