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“What are you doing?” a white-haired boy asked curiously. His eyes were fixed on a boy his age. The boy was crouching in front of a puddle of water that rippled from the fall of a stone. Without responding, the boy dropped another stone, creating a small splash that slightly hit him.
Curious, the white-haired boy crouched down opposite the boy he had just met. He picked up a rock no bigger than the one held by the boy in front of him and dropped it into the puddle of water. A rather large splash wet both of their clothes. The blond-haired child, who had been looking down, stared angrily. Like the gaze of a lion ready to pounce on its prey.
“Uh, I'm sorry! Don't hit me!” he said panickedly as he took a step back. The more he backed away, the more the child in front of him followed him. So, he had no choice but to quickly run away. A relentless chase ensued. The blond boy, who had seemed quiet earlier, turned out to be a wild animal ready to pounce on anyone who disturbed him.
Both of them fell when the pursuer crashed into him with force. The white-haired boy groaned in pain while the blond boy raised his fist, ready to strike. However, an adult man approached them. He scolded the blonde boy named Mydeimos, who was now running away from ethics class.
Still in the same condition, Mydei replied lazily, “That old woman keeps repeating the same lesson. I already remember it.”
“But you shouldn't skip class like this just because you don't like the lesson.” Mydei shook his head. Although there was still annoyance in his eyes, his expression changed to a frown. His mouth was pursed in a pout.
Mydei got up after taking out his frustration on the child he had just pinned down. He had hit the white-haired child's head hard, causing the child to complain of pain for the second time. Then he got up, still pouting. He left the old man and the child just like that.
The old man helped the child who was lying helplessly. “Are you okay, kid?”
Holding his head, the child replied, “I'm fine, uncle.”
“Are you sure?” After making sure the child wasn't seriously injured, he said goodbye and walked in the direction Mydei had gone earlier. “What was his name again...?” As if trying to remember, Phainon walked in the opposite direction. There was still tomorrow for him to find out.
~~
“You're the kid from yesterday,” Phainon called out. His index finger pointed directly at Mydei, who was eating a ball-shaped snack covered in powdered sugar. The blank expression on his face changed to one of annoyance. Phainon innocently walked closer. He waved his hand high in the air.
Two people standing behind Mydei told Phainon not to come any closer. They explained that their young master was enjoying his afternoon snack and did not want to be disturbed. Hearing this, Phainon just nodded. His mouth opened in a perfect O shape.
However, as children do, even though he was far away, Phainon still took the initiative to talk to his peer. “What's your name? We didn't get to know each other yesterday.” Hoping for a response, Phainon crouched down.
Mydei looked at him in amazement. This was the first time he had encountered someone who was more eager to talk to him than his parents. 'Who is this kid?' he thought. Under Phainon's curious gaze, Mydei exhaled wearily. He finished his snack then roughly wiped his mouth. Only then did he stand up and walk closer. He crouched down with him. Even though he was blocked by the two servants behind him, Mydei didn't care.
“My name is Mydeimos. What's your name?”
Shouting with excitement, Phainon replied a little loudly. “My name is Phainon!”
“Noisy!” Mydei covered his ears, which were ringing a little. He seemed to be starting to regret talking to the child named Phainon in front of him. That kid laughed innocently.
Phainon extended his hand, inviting a handshake. Seeing this, Mydei did the same. Once again, this was the first time he had shaken hands with a stranger who had no interest in him. They shook hands for quite a while until one of Mydei's servants called him.
“I have to go.”
“EH?! When will you be back here?”
“I'm not sure,” the young master said. He stood up, followed by Phainon. “Maybe tomorrow, at afternoon or evening. Or maybe not at all.” Phainon's eyebrows twitched when he heard this.
Seeing Phainon's gloomy expression, Mydei chuckled softly. He rubbed the top of the white-haired boy's head. “We'll see tomorrow, okay?”
Phainon watched Mydei leave with a pounding heart. This was the first time he had made a friend that on the same age as him in Okhema after moving here a month ago. He clenched his fists in front of his chest, trying to calm his wildly beating heart. “I can't wait to see him again!”
~~
The two grew closer day by day. Every now and then, Phainon would bring his precious belongings, a wooden sword given to him by his father, and show Mydei his mother's handiworks. Likewise, Mydei would also bring his belongings. Most of them were food and clothes given to Phainon. He did this because he thought Phainon looked a little thin.
Although there were many arguments between the two, in the end Phainon gave in. He still felt that fighting with Mydeimos, the crown prince of Castrum Kremnos, was wrong. So as much as possible, he only fought with him when they were alone.
“Just finish the food I brought!”
“I can't eat much, Mydeimos!”
“I don't care! Just finish it!”
Even their uncle (called Krateros by Mydei) could only shake his head at their childish behavior. No matter how hard their lives were, they were still just 10-years-old children. Their instincts were only about interacting and playing.
Phainon's mouth, smeared with sauce, was wiped by Mydei's plain cream-colored handkerchief. “Huh?”
“Your mouth is dirty,” Mydei said casually. He helped feed the super creamy sauce-covered meat into his little mouth. They ate with laughter and jokes.
Several adults who saw them smiled. The children's joy brought happiness to the adults as well. Occasionally, Mrs. Gorgo came to visit and watch her son play with other children. The residents of Okhema were usually afraid to approach the residents of Kremnos because of the rumors that circulated. However, unlike the white-haired child carrying a wooden sword, Mrs. Gorgo could feel how kind-hearted the child was.
“May happiness always be with them both.” A mother's prayer for her child.
After they ate, Phainon would invite Mydei to play for a while. Of course, if Mrs. Gorgo was there, he would run to ask her permission to take her child to the nearest field. Phainon usually showed off his sword skills. They would also play with the nearby chimeras or nymphs. Sometimes Phainon would invite him to compete.
Gradually, the Okhema children would also join in the game. Mydei, who was used to being ostracized because people feared his strength, was now the most sought after because he was considered cool. Phainon arrogantly said that without him, Mydei would not be so famous. After that, they would return to arguing as usual.
~~
Five years have passed, and Phainon has grown into a teenager with excellent sword skills and physical strength above that of other normal teenagers. Meanwhile, Mydei has returned to his hometown after completing his elementary education in Okhema. They have never met since then.
Phainon's days in Okhema are peaceful. All the peoples loved his friendly attitude. His strong hands were used to lift heavy objects and his large feet made it easy for him to take long strides and run. His agility and nimbleness made other men jealous and women fascinated. Phainon's days were always surrounded by many people, from the old to the young.
“Oh, Uncle Krateros?”
The old man, who was called out by Phainon, was picking up some fruit that had fallen from an old woman's basket. Phainon walked over and helped pick up the two pears that were left on the rocky floor. Unfortunately, as a reward for helping, the woman let them both eat the fruit. This made Phainon feel that his efforts had been in vain.
Uncle Krateros patted Phainon hard on the back, making the young man stand up straight. The loud pat attracted several eyes to look at them. “You're this big now, huh!” he said joyfully. Phainon's cheeks flushed red at the compliment.
“Hahaha, you're funny, uncle.” Phainon's hand moved to rub his head. Seeing Uncle Krateros again brought Phainon a special kind of happiness. His eyes peeked out from behind Krateros' broad shoulders, hoping to find Mydei behind him. “You're looking for the young master, aren't you?” Of course, Phainon was immediately found out. The teenager nodded shyly. His hands moved uncomfortably, gripping the hem of his shirt.
Uncle Krateros smiled. He joked that Mydei might already be here but didn't want to see Phainon. This made Phainon smile sadly. His eyes reddened slightly. Even though no tears fell, Phainon looked like a sulking child.
A large hand covered Phainon's view, the palm rough. It felt rough when it touched Phainon's face. There was a familiar fishy smell coming from between the fingers. In addition, Phainon smelled a scent he hadn't smelled in a long time. It had probably been 5 years, but his sense of smell still recognized the scent. The scent of milk mixed with pomegranate.
A deep voice greeted him, “How are you, Deliverer?” Phainon grabbed the hand, lifting it halfway so his eyes could see the figure of Mydei standing behind it. “Mydeimos! Long time no see, my friend!”
Mydei took a step back. They faced each other. Only then did Phainon realize that Mydei had changed a lot. Not only did he look much more muscular, but his taste in clothes had also changed, and a slight smile was etched on his face. Phainon remembered clearly that when they were children, Mydei rarely smiled, but now the man in front of him did so without hesitation. Or maybe not.
As soon as Mydei turned his head to Uncle Krateros, who was greeting him, his face became blank again. Stiff and expressionless. Phainon breathed a sigh of relief. Mydei had indeed changed in appearance, but inside he was still the same.
Phainon noticed that the two men were planning something, but not wanting to get involved, Phainon decided to eat the fruit he had received earlier. He finished both pieces of fruit in silence.
“Why did you eat both of them, kid? I wanted one too!” Krateros tease him.
“Huh?” Cold sweat ran down Phainon's hands, which were covered in fruit juice. Mydei just shook his head. He patted Phainon's head a little too hard. Even though they hadn't seen each other in a long time, Mydei still treated Phainon as his friend.
Starting from that moment, Phainon often met Mydei again. Sometimes he found him at the market chatting with Chartonus, sometimes feeding dromas with Professor Anaxa, sometimes running races with the Okhema children and Miss Trianne and Trinnon the judge. Phainon was always fascinated by Mydei's aura, which seemed fierce on the outside but was full of gentleness on the inside.
Mydei also occasionally helped Phainon with his work as a delivery boy. With his large hands, he could carry at least two or three boxes on his shoulders. This sparked a competitive fire within Phainon.
“Let's see who can complete this delivery faster!” Phainon also picked up three boxes like Mydei.
A slight smile appeared on Mydei's face. “Are you sure you want to challenge me?”
“Afraid of losing?” teased Phainon. Mydei replied, “There is no such word as ‘afraid’ and 'losing' in the Kremnos dictionary.”
Then the two ran ahead of each other. The result? A tie. They completed the delivery mission at the same time.
“Next time, I'll beat you.”
“Dream on, Deliverer.”
“Why do you still call me like that?” Phainon gulped down his drink. Wiping the water that spilled from the corner of his mouth. His legs were stretched out on a wooden chair near the edge of the pool. “My name is Phainon, you know!”
Mydei was silent for a moment before replying, “I know.” He said goodbye and left Phainon with a big question mark in his head. Mydei wasn't the talkative type, but whenever he did speak, Phainon could never understand what he meant. It seemed that because of the differences in culture and language, Phainon could never follow the flow of the conversation.
“It's not like I'm stupid,” he whispered softly, “maybe...?” Phainon ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. The sunlight filtering through the leaves of the vines swept across his face. Phainon's blue eyes sparkled in the light. Phainon patted his cheeks, trying to cheer himself up.
He got up and went back to work as usual.
~~
The sun was scorching hot in the city of Okhema today, unlike usual days. Even the animals and some chimeras went to hide under the trees. Phainon came out of the antique shop carrying two vases he had just bought at a bargain price. Although he didn't feel too hot inside the shop, as soon as he stepped outside, sweat immediately poured from his forehead.
“Oh my,” he complained as he placed the vases on the table where the chimeras were training, “why is it so hot today?” He wiped his wet forehead with his shirt, taking advantage of the fact that Aglaea was out so he could do it casually, otherwise she would scold him mercilessly.
Several chimeras approached Phainon. Their eyes sparkled with curiosity at the man's belongings. “Awoo?” One of the chimeras climbed onto the table and nudged the vase. Phainon tried to shoo it away so it wouldn't accidentally knock it over.
“This is an order for Hyacine. Maybe she found some new flowers, I'm not really sure.” Phainon brought down the orange chimera and stroked its head. This made the adorable creature purr softly. “By the way, have you guys eaten yet?”
“Awoo!” The dark purple chimera cried out loudly, as if annoyed. Its cry was echoed by the other chimeras. In unison, they wanted to say, “We haven't been fed yet!”
Phainon slowly put down the orange chimera that was sleeping on his lap. He walked to the food storage, followed by the chimeras. They trailed right behind and beside the young man. “Hahahaha, you guys!”
Right now, the sky was overcast with gray clouds. As he walked, Phainon noticed that the plants looked wilted, as if they hadn't been watered for several days, even though it had rained quite heavily the night before. Miss Tribbie also said that outside Okhema, there were many monster corpses that were nothing more than empty shells. This strangeness also affected the people of Okhema. Some of those Phainon had met looked sickly.
They had headaches that caused vomiting, high fevers, numb hands and feet, and hoarse voices that produced bloody phlegm when they tried to speak. Hyacine was also confused about what this disease was, but she only said that the cause of this disease came from the corpses outside Okhema that were carried by the wind. He was also trying to find out the cause with several other doctors, while Phainon was told to take care of the Chimera for a period of time.
“I wonder what Mydei is doing?” he asked himself. He was busy taking a sack of chimera food and pouring it onto plates outside. Phainon counted at least 12 chimeras eating, “hmmm, where are the others?” he thought.
So Phainon set out to find the rest. When he returned to the storage, Phainon's eyes were distracted by a reflection of light in the corner of the room. Perhaps the previous attendant had left something behind and forgotten it. Phainon was about to pick it up when a whisper filled his ears and stopped him in his tracks.
“Stop... don't go...”
The heavy voice that echoed in his ears made Phainon's head ring. His vision blurred as he held his head in pain. Sweat poured down as Phainon pulled his hair tightly. The sound of rough breathing filled the room, causing the chimeras that were about to approach, retreat in fear.
A moment later, a huge explosion occurred. An explosion that burned down part of the building. Phainon was affected by the explosion, but strangely, the young man's body still looked healthy and only had minor injuries. His clothes were also not torn too badly. It was as if his body was covered by a protective bubble.
As the pain in his head faded, Phainon blinked several times, trying to see again. When his eyes adjusted to the light around him, he realized that something was wrong. One of the chimeras was whimpering weakly behind him. Phainon hurriedly checked on the poor chimera.
Its breathing was very weak. Blood was flowing from its side. In addition, there were also several chimeras that were too late to escape and were also injured. Phainon quickly carried one of the severely injured chimeras and ran out of the building. He shouted for help. However, instead of getting help, he only got looks of fear and judgment.
Standing in front of the storage door, many panicked people had gathered upon hearing the explosion. The only person in the warehouse at that time was Phainon alone. Of course, people would immediately blame Phainon, even though they were certain the young man wouldn't dare do something so evil.
“What have you done...” A hoarse voice that Phainon recognized very well. His head turned to an old friend standing not far away. His face showed surprise. His mouth opened slightly, but no sound came out. Only a soft sigh.
Tribbie and Hyacine arrived at the scene. They tried to calm the citizens and carry the injured chimeras to the treatment area. “Mr. Phainon, if you are still strong enough to walk, please carry two of them. Mr. Mydei, please help us too.” Without further ado, Hyacine and Ica rushed to provide treatment.
Though still slightly shaken, Phainon followed behind Mydei. His entire body trembled as the chimera in his arms groaned in pain. “You'll be treated soon, just a hang on a little bit...”
~~
Phainon sat on the sand at the edge of the desert, accompanied by tiny lizard-like creatures. Watching their tails move dynamically from side to side reminded him of the chimeras. “How are they doing now?” Phainon wondered to himself. Since that incident, he had been too afraid to return to Okhema.
Gathering in the middle of society, mingling with everyone. Miss Tribbie said that Phainon was definitely innocent, as was Miss Aglaea. However, there was no evidence to support this claim, so he was still designated as a suspect by the council of elders.
Phainon wiped his hair, which was wet from the evening rain. Night was his refuge, far from prejudice. The moon shone dimly, as if sharing in his sadness. Clouds moved slowly, covering the view of the starry sky.
He exhaled heavily. Honestly, if he could defend himself in this case, perhaps his head wouldn't be spinning so hard like this. “Oh, Kephale, what should I do now...?”
“At least you're still okay even though you're feeling depressed, Deliverer.”
Phainon looked away, staring at Mydei's arrival in disbelief. “Mydeimos,” he called weakly. “Why are you here?”
“Just making sure no one is planning to end their life in a place as lonely as this.”
He was definitely referring to Phainon. “Hahaha, do I really look that fragile to you?” A very hollow laugh.
“Sometimes.” Mydei sat down next to Phainon. His hand wrapped around the gray-haired man's head with a slight jerk, landing it on his broad chest.
“Eh? Eh? Mydeimos?!” he stammered. Panic and fear mixed together. Phainon's hands tried to break free from Mydei's solid embrace. “I don't want to hurt you either!”
“Hmmph, how could you possibly hurt me? I am the last prince of Castrum Kremnos, I am the demigod of strife. I can handle Nikador's wrath, let alone a small explosion like that. Ck, I'll be fine.”
Mydei's words were true. For his immortal body, death was a close friend. How could he be afraid of being blown up by a man who would never even think of hurting a passing ant?
Phainon blushed, embarrassed by Mydei's words, “Mydeimos, please move your chest away from my face first!”
Mydei chuckled. He released his embrace. Phainon’s face was bright red, redder than the blood of the fallen warriors of Kremnos. He hit Mydei’s broad chest once and shouted angrily, half-jokingly. Finally, after so many moons, Phainon could laugh freely without a care in the world.
~~
During that indefinite period of time, Phainon felt he did not want to be around Okhema. He did not want to be pelted with rotten fruit or sour milk when he was out on the streets. He did not want to see the faces that used to be friendly, now looking angry because of his presence. Phainon tried so hard to stay as far away from Okhema as possible.
And then the day of judgment arrived. Phainon came before the Demigod Council, where he will be judged by representatives from each city and the heavenly community. They had one goal: to punish the suspect or free him from punishment (for a crime he did not commit).
Some men who disliked Phainon cheered the loudest. Several other felt that Phainon did not belong in this courtroom but were unable to help him. So the (really) only ones on Phainon's side were the Chrysos Heirs
With Caenis as the chief judge and as leader of council of elder, the judge's gavel struck.
“To all participants that present at today's trial, we, the council, have considered that the defendant's deliberate act of detonating explosives, which resulted in serious injuries to a number of chimeras and caused deep unrest and fear among the citizens. Its truly an act that violates the law. Therefore, the council will impose a strict and appropriate punishment to deter the defendant and others.”
There were no objections. Everyone just whispered nonsense to each other. Phainon accepted the sentence gladly, hoping that all these bad events would pass.
Aglaea, Tribbie, and Hyacine stood staring at Phainon with sad expressions. They couldn't do much to help at the moment, but at least with them there, Phainon regained his will to live. Phainon closed his eyes as the judge's gavel struck once. He prayed to the Titans to get him out of this mess immediately. And his prayer was answered right then and there.
“That young man is not the culprit.” Mydei stood up loudly, clutching a damaged bag. “I found a bag that was similar and exactly the same as the one at the chimera's place.”
One of the Amphoreus residents asked with a confused expression. “If that’s the only evidence, can’t Mr. Phainon still be considered a suspect?”
“That’s right!” another replied.
“You are wrong.” Mydei walked up to Caenis and handed the bag to her. Her expressionless face changed to one of utter shock. She stared in disbelief at Mydei and then at Phainon.
Her mouth moved rapidly. “If this had been found earlier, this trial would never have happened.”
Caenis held the bag high, not just to show its shape, but also its logo. It was a logo depicting flames burning a sheep's leg. It was a logo well known to the public as the “Cloven Flame Legion*.”
The sounds of shock overlapped, like thunder suddenly striking in broad daylight. Almost everyone was incredulous at Mydei's findings. However, no one dared to contradict a Kremnos people, let alone a descendant of the royal family. In the end, Phainon's trial was canceled and the investigation shifted to the organization in question.
Krateros escorted Phainon to his temporary residence to work on some administrative paperwork before he was finally released without charge. Phainon could only comply, looking extremely confused. He saw Mydei in the distance, still busy discussing with the leaders. Perhaps after the trial was over, Phainon would thank him directly.
~~
Mydei stood next to Phainon. Finally, they were free. Especially Phainon, who was now free. They stood in front of the gates of Okhema.
Phainon's heart was beating faster than the sound of the dromas passing by on the road. His breath came in ragged gasps. He clenched his fists in front of his chest, silently praying to the titans to give him courage.
Mydei patted the young man beside him on the back. “Puff out your chest, lift your chin. If I see you make even the slightest mistake, I'll make sure your feet never touch the ground again.”
“Huh?” Phainon was confused by Mydei's words. His eyes moved up and down, observing the man beside him. “Are you trying to cheer me or what...?”
“Both,” said Mydei softly. He pushed Phainon strongly, telling him to go in and meet the peoples who were waiting for his return to Okhema.
“Are you sure this will work…”
“Of course. Come on, Khaslana. Your task still awaits at the tip of Kephale’s fingers and at the tip of Nikador’s spear, I will stand as your strongest weapon.”
“Hahahaha, I’m back, Mydei!”
“I knew you would return, Phainon.”
The End