Chapter Text
Amphoreus took several years to become real and bring with him all those whom the Astral Express had known. The return was filled with celebrations and joy. But it also brought problems.
A new world, still without cosmic protections, was a feast for those who wished evil. It wasn't long before they were attacked by special evildoers, and even though they had powerful people, that world was still a baby in the great galactic game.
There was no option but for Phainon to be the one on the front line in the vacuum of space, his majestic wings born from the gaze of Destruction, his colossal powers. The sight of his battles in space on the ground sounded like explosions of brilliance that, under any other circumstances, would be beautiful. But no. While the other Heirs fought bravely on the ground, Phainon was the only option to stop half the enemy advance, awaiting the allies of the Express and themselves.
But even outside the yoke of cycles, fate could be merciless, and with the arrival of the allies, the brilliant bursts of Phainon's power disappeared, which should have been a blessing... but it wasn't.
And all Mydei received from the Express members were the metallic feathers they found floating in the void of space. Phainon had disappeared.
The allies searched for days for any clue, any body. But nothing.
The hero of Amphoreus fell.
The long funeral in his honor was held. Precautions against a new tragedy were also taken.
Life went on, but Mydei felt his time had stopped. He never let go of his grief. Until one day, stripped of the robes that had always characterized him, of the gleaming jewels that marked his status, and followed by his faithful friends reborn by the power of Remembrance, he also disappeared, deep into Amphoreus. For some time there were still reports of sightings of the blond and robust man. And then, a complete disappearance that neither the speed of theTrickery nor the gates of the Passage could find, nor could the eyes of Heaven see him. But who better to hide from his friends than one of their greatest warriors and a born strategist?
Silence followed for years. The bards sang the story of the heroic lovers who chose nothingness when one of them fell.
That is, until…
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The Express continued its exploration. Countless planets, countless battles and crises, everything proceeded as usual. Unknown planets were rare; after all, it was difficult to find a place Akivili hadn't touched. But that small planet had never been connected to the rail network, and chance led the Express to disembark, forge bonds, and help in a crisis. Not wanting the tragedy of Phainon to repeat itself, the members decided to stay a little longer until the place had connections and the protection of trustworthy people. Stelle, March, and Dan Heng went to visit one of their new friends, hospitalized and recovering from the battle. March ended up separating from the others because he saw a garden with incredible lighting, perfect for a souvenir photo.
Upon arriving, there were well-tended flowers and plants, and some patients sunbathing. The girl was positioned for a good photo when the lens captured a patient further away, seemingly contemplatively appreciating the landscape, lost in thought. March took the camera away from her feverish face and began to look at the man with her own eyes. Hospital clothes, a blanket on his legs, sitting in a wheelchair, but what really caught her attention was his hair: silver.
On impulse, she approached close enough to see better without being noticed. He turned his face without actually seeing her, but the pink-haired girl did.
" Ah…
She stepped back a little and immediately called Dan Heng.
" March? Where did you go"
" It's him! I saw him!
" Saw who?
" He's alive, he's here in the hospital, in the garden! I'm seeing Phainon!
March didn't hear a reply, as his friend simply acted. Stelle, not understanding anything, simply followed the vidyadhara. March then noticed that a nurse seemed to be coming to collect Phainon and, fearing that this precious discovery would be lost, she intervened. She approached the two, resting her hands on the arm of the chair.
"It's you, isn't it, Phainon?!"
" M… March? Is that really you?
When she had confirmation, March felt her legs weaken, falling to her knees, tears welling up.
" You're alive! You're alive! Everyone thought you were dead! How did you get here?!
" Please, don't stress the patient! " the nurse found her own voice again. " Do you know him?
" Yes! Yes, I know him! " she patted her own head. " Of course, you had no contact with the universe until we got here, so you don't know him and you don't have a universal translator!
She paused and explained.
" His name is Phainon, and it is thanks to him that the universe was not destroyed years ago.
Dan Heng and Stelle arrived at that moment and were also surprised by what they saw.
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" So we've been taking care of a legendary hero all these years?!
They were in Phainon's (now) private room, which he had secured as soon as the situation was clarified. They had also provided synesthesia devices so that everyone there could finally understand each other. The doctor in charge of the former hero's case was shocked.
He then began to recount Phainon's years in a coma, who had only woken up two months ago and was therefore still physically weak. The doctor now also understood why his blood was golden, the story of his patient's sacrificial heroism, and of his world.
"I only remember a flash in the middle of the battle, and then I woke up here, with this strange language and feeling very weak. I couldn't even move," Phainon explained. "I don't know if I drifted away, if I was teleported. I only know that I'm here now."
A short, awkward silence fell. But Phainon soon broke it:
"How much time has passed in the system? Is Amphoreus safe?"
"9 years," said Stelle. "Amphoreus is safe and thriving, but everyone thought you were dead…"
"How are the people? Is Mydei still strong? I can't wait to be on my feet again and train with him!"
Phainon's smile contrasted with the bitter reality. Before any of the girls could tell the truth, Dan Heng took the lead:
"It's been a long time since we've had any direct news, we've been busy."
The conversation quickly shifted to preparing Phainon's transfer as soon as the Express committed to taking care of him, and that Amphoreus was modern enough to handle his case with excellence.
The news quickly reached those on the train, who were handling communication with the allies, but they split up to send the good news to Amphoreus.
The Heirs were certainly shocked, but extremely happy… at the same time, the news also brought the bitterness of not being able to contact the person most interested after Phainon's parents: Mydei.
He remained missing, and carelessly spreading the news, hoping the blond man would see it, was not a safe option. They could only pray to the Aeons that, somehow, the news would reach Mydei's ears.
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In a clearing in a forest, there was a small group of humble houses. The space was hidden, but it was enough for the small community to have crops for their subsistence. In one of the houses, at the table in the back, the strong figure was kneading bread, his long blond hair tied in a high ponytail, wearing simple mourning clothes, his skin marked with red lines. Mydei's stern face turned away from the dough and looked at the sky, assessing the floating clouds.
"You really aren't going to let Anne try to enter the Grove?" joked the man eating a biscuit leaning against the wall of the house. "Ptolemy said he'll go as her guardian if that makes you feel more at ease."
"Hephaestion, I already said no. She's too young."
"Anne is 9 years old, it's a good age to start her studies. Honestly, Mydei, she doesn't need to go through your mourning." She doesn't want a life of battles like ours, but rather a life of scholarship, but it's not here, isolated, that she can pursue her dreams.
" I said no.
" Is "no" overprotectiveness or is that "no" you afraid that someone will recognize her and come after you?
Mydei stopped kneading and stared at his friend.
"You make me sound like a terrible father."
"The job of parents is to be annoying. The job of uncles is to be cool." Hephaestion shrugged. "We follow you because we are loyal to you and will remain loyal. But seriously, Mydei… You've already lived through this grief enough, don't drag Anemone into this eternal mourning, she's a child with a future. If you want to bury yourself like a widow, bury yourself."
"Maybe in a few years. For now, Ptolemy's books and teachings are enough."