Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was a beautiful, sunny day on Amphoreus, one of the rare, calm days of recent times.. The market was bustling with activity, merchants shouting their offers and people haggling over prices. Amidst all this, a white haired man walked happily whistling, dressed in his typical white cloak, smiling at every passerby. As Chrysos heir he couldn't afford to take a leisurely walk, as the battle with the black tide was still ongoing and the last few weeks had been exceptionally exhausting.Phainon sighed quietly and quickened his pace. Due to the recent titans attacks that seemed to be getting closer to Okhema with each passing day, all of Chrysos' heirs had without exceptions, their hands full of work. Especially he and Mydei. They were sent on missions more often and for longer periods od time. He personally didn't mind, but the fight was exhausting for him, especially since he didn't have Skills like Mydeimos. That man could fight for days and his body would just regenerate. Phainon smiled to himself at the thought of seeing his companion. It had been a while since they had been on a mission together and he already missed him. Not that he would admit it, of course. In any case, Phainon was sure he would see the gold Haired Kremnoan Soon. The meeting of Chrysos' heirs was to begin in less than an hour. The unexpected call by Aglaea was met with mixed feelings.
Phainon sighed.
"That woman”- he muttered under his breath -,,sometimes I wonder what's going through her head”.
He knew that Aglaea had a lot on her mind, especially since the elders had started causing problems again lately. With Tribbie's help, the crisis was averted, but tensions still hung thick in the air. His steps quickened as he approached the entrance to Chrysos's baths.Entering the building he saw that Castorice and the triplets were already there.

,,Snowy! You’re already here!”- Tribbie exclaimed happily, followed by Trianne and Trinon.- "You're perfectly on time." We were talking With Agy before, and she said that this will be a very important meeting, so we’re glad you're not late!”

Phainon chuckled lightly, "Of course I'm on time Lady Tribbie, can you imagine me being late for such an important meeting?" He bowed with a smile to the demigod, Then he turned to Castorice, standing nearby, watching the whole scene with a slight smile on her face
- "Hi there Cas, long time no see" - he raised his hand in greeting.Castorice nodded her head slightly in response and replied with a smile,

-"We met not so long ago, Lord Phainon. I believe it was at Chrysos' last meeting."Phainon groaned theatrically - "But Castorice, that meeting was..." - he stopped to count on his fingers - "a whole month ago" - he said smiling broadly , placing his hand on his chest pretending to be hurt.

-"What's the matter Deliverer.Are you so weak that you constantly need company to fight the black tide?”

- A new voice suddenly spoke from behind Phainon, dripping with sarcasm. He immediately recognized the owner of the voice and turned around.

-"Oh my, if it isn't our dearest Mydeimos," he said loudly, Smiling from ear to ear, as he continued - "I haven't heard any news from you since we last met, is it that your fight has taken you so much that you don't have time to write a letter?" - He said provocatively , standing in front of him, crossing his arms over his chest.In response he only heard a loud hmph and then the annoyed reply:

-,, Unlike you, instead of slacking off, I fought titankins on the outskirts of the city - his vision darkened -,, These damn creatures are getting bolder by the day"

-"Oh? If you want, we can have a competition to see who can kill more of them, what do you think about that Mydei?. Are you going to chicken out? "- phainon answered, Smiling smugly.
,,Me? Chickening out? Hah, in your dreams deliverer.I won our bet last time and I’m going to do it again,”

Mydei snorted in response, shooting him a challenging look.
"Huuh, that's not true Mydei" - shouted phainon - "it was a tie"
A vein popped out on mydei's forehead. It had only been a few minutes since he'd entered the meeting and he'd already had enough of Phainon's chatter. Although, after a moment's thought, it was quite nice to hear his voice after such a long time apart. Mydei stopped suddenly, and Scowled at himself in his thoughts. Him? Missing Phainon? What a joke. He shook his head to clear his mind. Even if he missed Deliverer even a little, he would never admit it out loud, let alone say it to phainon. Kephale above, he wouldn't let him live without reminding him of it. A chill run down his spine. He looked at Phainon, ready to start another one of their arguments when there was the soft clicking of heels on the marble floor and then quiet grunt

-,,I hope I'm not interrupting you anything, Deliverer, Mydeimos" – Aglaea was standing there, and though she couldn't see them, her gaze was piercing right through them both. Warriors turned around, mumbling apologies and looking at each other mockingly.

Tribbie giggled,while covering her mouth, trying her best not to burst out laughing.

-,, Don't be so harsh on them Agy "- she aproached her, happily stomping her feet -,, it's good that they have lots of energy"- she glanced at them mischievously.

-,,If only they would use that energy to something usefull, and not to some foolish challenges”- disaproving gaze of aglaea landed on them, to which Castorice giggled slightly. It was nice to see Chrysos heirs so relaxed, and acting do freely.
Aglaea cleared her throat, drawing everyone's attention back to her. The atmosphere tensed in seconds, as each of them knew that with Amphoreus' situation, there was no room for relaxation.

-"You're probably wondering why I called you here so suddenly," -she began her speech -"As you all probably know, the black tide has been spreading rapidly, which has recently caused a lot of destruction." - she looked around at the faces of everyone gathered. Even though she couldn't see, her golden thread showed her their concern . Despite this, her face remained unchanged. .

-,,I have contacted Lord Hersus, one of our infirmators about the black tide, and where it is spreading"- She paused for a moment before continuing- "According to his information, a large group of titankins was spotted near one of the ruins of the Janus temples," -Her gaze wandered to the two men standing next to each other -,, I want you both to go there and check it out. If there really is a whole group of them there, I believe that with Kephale's blessing you will manage to take care of it "

-,, Of course, Lady Aglaea, we will take care of this immediately ," mydei said, bowing slightly in farewell to Casrorice and the triplets before heading towards the exit.

,,Don't worry Aglaea, you can count on us! - phainon showed a thumb up.

-we'll take care of this without a problem, right Mydei?"

- he turned around with a smile, expecting Kremnoan to stand right behind him. Only to see him leaving the bathhouse. Without him.

-,,H-hey mydei wait for me!"- he shouted before running after him -,,Hey do you even hear me? I said wait!"- he shouted catching up with him and leaving together through the exit .

-,,Ooh, they really are an interesting couple," Trianne giggled, watching the two men leave, then turning to Aglaea she added
-"Don't worry Agy! I'm sure Snowy and Dei will be fine. Just as always"
Blond haired woman sighed resignedly, rubbing fingers on her forehead, sensing an approaching migraine -,, Those two can really give me a headache. But still” - she looked in the direction where they disappeared -,,I never doubted their skills,nor devotion "

She slowly turned around and went towards the exit, while being followed by three Little demigods smiling to eachother all the time,and Lady Castorice keeping her distance, yet still following.

If only they would know, that this one mission would completely shatter the delicate peace among all Chrysos heirs, bringing back something, that should never see sunlight in this world ever again. A name forever forgoten, with memories burried over the thousands of years

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Chapter Text

The darkness of night still hung over the horizon as Phainon and Mydei stood at the gates of the abandoned settlement. The air was thick with moisture, and in the distance the only sound was the rustle of the wind passing through the trees. In their hands they held weapons and bags of necessary equipment. A man dressed in a dark hood stood by the road, clearly waiting for someone.
Two of Chrysos' heirs approached slowly.

"Lord Hersus," Mydei said, "Aglaea ordered us to meet you here, you were to give us all the information about the ruins and the way to them."

The man scanned them from top to bottom.

"The way won't be easy. According to the notes I found, the ruins are located on the northern edge of the valley. You must keep to the path by the old stone pillars - there supposedly once stood a watchtower. If you stray, you may fall into the mists, and there...

- "Mists? Should I be afraid of mists?"

Mydei grimaced, tightening his grip on the hilt of his sword.
The informant turned a piercing gaze on him and narrowed his eyes.

- Do not underestimate the danger. People died in these mists.

Phainon, who had been silent until now, nodded, indicating that he understood. His gaze was calm but watchful. Then he glanced at Mydei, who sighed heavily and said a short "Alright, alright."

- If everything is clear, let's go. The sooner we get there, the better.

Phainon spoke, moving forward. The man looked at them one last time, as if he wanted to say something else, but in the end he just shook his head. He walked away into the shadows, leaving them with a task that could change everything.

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Phainon and Mydei set off. Their steps were sure, but there was something elusive in the air—an echo of days long past, forgotten tragedies, and secrets that lay among the ruins of the ancient temple of Janus, waiting to be discovered.

Keeping up a quick pace, it didn’t take them long to locate the spot without any major obstacles. Dark, mist-shrouded ruins stretched across the horizon, here and there jagged columns and crumbled statues of old gods. The air smelled of blood and rotting flesh. Titans wandered among the stone debris, their enormous bodies overwhelming the landscape. The two warriors stood facing each other, ready for a bloody contest.

“The rules are simple, Phainon,” Mydei said, twirling his two-handed sword in his hand. “Whoever kills the most Titans wins.”

Phainon smiled predatorily, adjusting the hilt of his curved blade.

-And what is the prize for the winner?

He asked, smiling to himself.

Mydei stopped for a moment and then replied:

-The loser will have to clean the entire Chrysos baths by himself for a whole month.Is this a reward that suits you?
-Absolutely.

The white-haired man chuckled.

-Prepare for defeat, Mydeimos.

Without another word, they threw themselves into the thick of battle. One of the titans, a hideous beast with a deformed face and sagging skin, charged towards Mydei, roaring inhumanly. The warrior dodged the blow of his large hand and in one swift movement severed a tendon in his leg. As the titan fell to his knees, Mydei plunged his sword straight into its neck, ending the matter with a single slash. Meanwhile, Phainon literally danced between the giants. His blade flashed like silver lightning, slicing through the bodies of his opponents. He bounced off the pillar, leaping over the shoulder of one of the titans, then plunged his blade into its skull, piercing it through and through.

"One to one!" Mydei shouted, glancing at his rival.

"Two to one for me!" Phainon replied, dodging another colossus' blow.

The air was filled with the groans and cries of falling titans. Mydei and Phainon raced in their attacks, each killing blow bringing them closer to ultimate victory. Finally, as the last titan fell, the two warriors stood facing each other, breathing heavily.

"Thirty-four," Mydei said, resting his sword against his shoulder.

"Thirty-five," Phainon replied triumphantly. There was a moment of silence.

"Fucking lucky," Mydei muttered, smiling crookedly.

Phainon laughed, wiping the sweat from his face.

"Maybe next time, my friend, because this time I won,"

he chuckled, clearing the dust that had settled in his throat after the battle.
Blood and dust hung in the air, and Phainon's breathing was heavy after the fight. The blade of his sword gleamed in the moonlight, covered in the dark ichor of the titan he had just struck down. The mighty body of the beast lay at his feet, the echo of the fight slowly fading away among the ruins. Mydei stood a few steps away, leaning against a fallen pillar, trying to catch his breath after the long fight.

But it was not over.

A shadow moved in the darkness, among the rubble. A second titan, smaller but just as deadly, crept silently. Mydei saw him at the last moment – the creature's wide, pale eyes gleamed in the semi-darkness, and its huge hand, clenched around a stone shard, was rising to strike.
Mydei managed to scream.

"Phainon! BEHIND YOU!"

But it was too late.

The blow fell, striking Phainon in the back of the head. For a split second, it seemed he would be able to turn, to duck, to avoid the blow... but no. The world around him spun, and then darkness fell. His body collapsed to the ground, and his sword fell from his hand, clattering against the stone slabs.

"NO!"

Mydei roared as he watched Phainon's limp body fall to the ground like a rag doll. Anger exploded in his chest, and fire appeared in his hands. Without a second thought, he threw himself at the titan, pain and rage guiding his movements. He knew one thing - he would not let Phainon be executed. He would not let it end like this.

It was only a moment.

The dead titan fell to the ground with a dull thud, his body freezing in a final spasm. The fire Mydei had felt in his anger still flickered in his chest, but he no longer thought about it. In his eyes there was only Phainon—lying still on the stone floor, his white hair sticky with blood, turning dark. Mydei threw himself on his knees to him, his heart pounding in his chest like crazy.

– Phainon! Can you hear me? Wake up, damn it!

He grabbed his arm, shaking him slightly, but Phainon didn't react. Mydei gritted his teeth. He could see his friend's shallow breathing, but the wound on his head looked bad. Blood slowly dripped down his temple.

– Don't leave me now, Deliverer …

Mydei whispered desperately. He quickly checked his pulse – it was weak, but still palpable. Time was running out. If Phainon was to survive, they had to get back to the city. Right away. Without further thought, Mydei slid his hands under Phainon's arms and lifted him onto his back with effort. His friend's weight almost knocked him off his feet, but he had no choice. He gritted his teeth and moved forward, ignoring the ache in his muscles and the fatigue from the fight. The only thing that mattered was the way back. Every step was a fight. The stony path seemed longer now, and the night air was thick with tension. Mydei breathed heavily, but he didn’t slow down—he couldn’t. Any delay could cost Phainon his life. The lights of the city loomed in the distance. Just a little longer. Just a few more steps…

“Hang in there, Phainon. We’re almost there. Don’t you dare die on my back.”

He clenched his fist and pushed, even though his body was screaming for rest. There was no time for that. Only the goal mattered – the city gate and the salvation that awaited there.

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The room was warm and bright, illuminated by the glow of olive lamps. Aglaea was sitting in a low wooden chair, and next to her, on a wide windowsill, tribbie sat down. The girl waved her legs, staring at the woman with large, curious eyes.

- And then what happened agy?

She asked, taking over, pulling her knees under his chin.

Aglaea smiled slightly
- then I had to deal with all the confusion at the market, which turned out to be ....

She did not manage to finish the sentence when the door suddenly opened with a bang. Mydea stood in the threshold, with a heavy breath, sweaty and covered with dust. Phainon's inert body hung on his back, whose head was covered with blood.

- On the great Kephale ...!

Tibbie covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes expanded in terror.

- We need a medic. Now!
He brought out mydei, in a breathtaking and tension in a voice.

Aglaea was already in motion. She jumped to her feet, her earlier peace disappeared. She reached for a piece of material and headed towards Mydei, who carefully put Phainon on a nearby bed.

- What happened?

- Titan. He attacked him from behind. I didn't make it ... - he interrupted, clenching his teeth and looked away.
Aglaea's eyes darkened.
- Someone call Hyacine! Immediately!
She exclaimed in a tone full of firmness, trying to remain calm.

One of the servants ran out to bring the healer. Mydei sat heavily next to the bed, his hands trembled with fatigue. He looked at Phainon, whose breath was shallow, but still regular.

- He... he won't die, will he?

Tribbie asked quietly, still standing behind Aglaea, concerned. Aglaea looked at the girl and replied softly, but confidently.

- No. We won't let that happen.

Hyacine was approaching. The air was tense, but one thing was certain - Phainon was among his own. And no one would let him go without a fight.

Chapter Text

Consciousness returned slowly, as if emerging from deep water. Her eyelids were heavy, but eventually they quivered and opened. Candlelight cast a warm light on the ceiling. The room was quiet, but not unfamiliar—someone else was there.

He didn't know who he was supposed to be, but he wasn't himself. Not this body, not this person.

His eyes slowly swept over the room. It was stark, simple, yet cozy. It smelled of herbs, wood, and something that reminded him of cleanliness. His gaze fell on the figure sitting next to him – a muscular man with blond hair, red tattoos covering his body, and tired eyes who seemed… surprised? Moved?

- Where am I...?

He spoke, his voice hoarse from long disuse.

Mydei sucked in a breath. His eyes widened, then narrowed suspiciously after a second. 

-"Phainon?" 

That name. Phainon. He should know it, right? He should have reacted to it. But it didn't fit. It didn't feel like it belonged to him. 

He closed his eyes, trying to focus. His mind was a maze, filled with vague memories that didn't fit this place, this situation. He was... someone else. 

He was Kevin Kaslana.

The name appeared in his head with a clarity that nothing else lacked. He felt like him. He was him. Only… 

He looked at his hands, silently, in disbelief. 

"This isn't my body." 

It was the only thing he could think about now. 

The hands were different, the fingers slightly longer, scars in places he didn't remember. He touched his own face, as if trying to confirm that he was really in someone else's skin.

Mydei looked at him carefully. There was something in his gaze that was unsettling – not surprise, not joy, but rather growing caution. As if he sensed that something was wrong. 

– Phainon…? 

The question rang out again. 

He looked up at him, feeling a cold tension growing inside him. 

– Who is Phainon? 

He asked calmly and firmly, looking at the man next to him.

Mydei stiffened.

The silence that fell between them was heavy as lead. Something was wrong. Something was very wrong.

Mydei just stared at Phainon—or rather, at what should have been Phainon—for a moment. Something in his gaze, in his posture, was different. Alien.

“Wait here. I’ll go get Hyacine"

he got up from his chair, but didn't immediately head for the door. He stared at Phainon for a moment longer, as if trying to find something familiar about him, something that would calm his growing anxiety. But there was none. Instead, there was a cold, analytical gaze and a tension in his shoulders that he had never seen before. 

Finally, Mydei turned and left, closing the door behind him. Every step that took him away from that Hall only made him more anxious.

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After the soft click of the door, signaling that Mydei had left, Kevin—because he was now the one in this body—let out a quiet breath and relaxed into the bed. He didn't want to let on right away that anything was wrong, but the reaction of the man... Mydei, was that what he had called him? He already suspected that something had changed. 

He turned his head and his gaze fell on the mirror across from the bed. The look that greeted him there made his heart beat faster. 

It was his reflection. Or at least almost. 

White hair, blue eyes—the same as always. But the features were slightly different. Subtle differences in the shape of the jaw, the height of the cheekbones. This body was eerily similar to his own, and yet not his at the same time.

He frowned, trying to understand what had happened. The last thing he remembered… What did he remember? He couldn’t recall a specific moment of his death, no catastrophe that could explain this sudden transfer. But something had to have happened. 

But now he didn’t have time to search for answers. He had to focus on what was ahead of him. 

These people—Mydei, Hyacyne, whoever else was here—knew Phainon. And he wasn’t Phainon. If he wanted to understand this world, find a way to return to his body, he had to tread carefully.

“I need to find out as much as I can. Who they are. Where I am. How this happened.”

He couldn’t afford to make any rash moves. He couldn’t let anyone see that anything was wrong.

He had to play his role. That of a Phainon.

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The corridors of the hospital wing seemed longer than usual. Mydei's every step echoed silently off the stone walls, but he didn't hear them. There was only one thought in his head. 

This isn't Phainon. At least not anymore. 

He couldn't say it out loud. Even in his mind, the words seemed too heavy, too unreal. And yet... 

Phainon would know his name. He would laugh, make some stupid remark, and then immediately stick a pin in Mydei, because he wouldn't be himself if he didn't. He wouldn't look at him with that cold, analytical gaze. He wouldn't sit so stiffly, as if he was currently trying to get information out of him. 

Mydei's heart was beating faster, his fingers clenched into fists. He was a warrior. He had fought titans, seen death and bloodshed, but he had never felt such fear. Fear that someone he had known his whole life... had ceased to be himself.

Even though he and deliverer never really stated their feelings for each other, mydei could always feel the warmth coming off phainon when he saw him. At this point, he couldn't feel it anymore. There was nothing left but coldness and confusion.

“It’s just the trauma,” he tried to tell himself. “It’s normal for him to have memory problems after a blow like that.”

But he couldn’t believe it. It was more than that.

Somewhere down the hall he saw Hyacine. She was bent over the table, looking through some papers, but as soon as she lifted her head and saw his face she straightened up.

– Mydei? What happened? 

She asked, looking at him with concern. 

He stopped in front of her, trying to catch his breath. For a moment he didn't know how to say it. He didn't want to panic. He didn't want to sound like a madman. 

– Phainon woke up. 

He began carefully, with tension in his voice. 

Relief appeared on Hyacyne's face, but before she could say anything, Mydei added: 

– But... something's wrong. 

Hyacyne frowned. 

– What do you mean? 

Mydei bowed his head and quietly, almost in a whisper, said: 

– He doesn't remember his name, Hyacyne. He doesn't know who he is.

A brief moment of concern crossed her face, then disappeared, replaced by determination and calm. After a moment, she put the notes down and nodded. 

"Take me to him." 

Mydei turned on his heel and started back, his heart still pounding in his chest. 

He was afraid of what he would see when he returned to his room.

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When the door clicked, announcing that the man had left the room, Kevin took a deep breath and slowly sat down on the bed. He felt… alien. Not only because of this body, which was similar to his own, but different. This place, this room – everything was unfamiliar. 

He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to focus. He remembered who he was. Kevin Kaslana. He remembered his life, his mission, his decisions. But now he was here, in a strange body. How on earth? 

He tried to stand up, but as soon as he got out of bed, he felt the world spinning around him. He leaned against the wall, gritting his teeth. His head was throbbing with pain, and when he touched the bandages, he felt a slight damp mark – the wound was clearly still healing. 

“I was hurt,” he thought, frowning. “Is that why I’m here? Is it because of this injury?” 

He slowly walked to the window, trying to gather his thoughts. The sight he saw made him freeze in place.

The city that stretched out beneath him was vast. The architecture was unlike anything he had ever known. Stone buildings, narrow streets, and a gigantic statue towered over it all. Kephale. 

He didn't know who Kephale was, but he instinctively knew he was a deity, a being worshiped by the people of this world. it must have been the knowledge of this body that he knew this little detail. 

"This is not the Elysian Realm." 

The thought hit him full force. He wasn't in his body. He wasn't even in his world.

Before he could process it, he heard footsteps outside the door. 

He turned around quickly, returning to the bed as naturally as his dizziness would allow. The door opened and Mydei entered, followed by a woman with soft features and warm eyes. 

"You should lie down." 

She said, looking at him with concern. 

Kevin looked at her, then at Mydei, who still seemed tense. For a moment he wondered what to do, but the answer was obvious. He didn't know this world. He didn't know these people. The best option was to pretend to have amnesia. 

He frowned, as if confused. 

"I... I don't know what's going on.

He mumbled quietly.

Hyacyne looked at him sympathetically and moved closer, gesturing for him to sit on the bed. Kevin did so without a word, allowing her to examine the wound. Mydei stood silently beside him, staring at him as if trying to read some truth from his face.

"Don't you remember what happened?"

She began softly.

Kevin hesitated for a moment, then shook his head.

"Nothing. I don't know where I am... Who I am."

Hyacyne and Mydei exchanged glances. Mydei still had a hint of suspicion in his eyes, but Hyacyne seemed simply worried. 

"It could be the result of the trauma. Don't worry, we'll help you remember everything." 

she said soothingly. 

Kevin just nodded, even though he knew deep down that he didn't want to "remember" anything. He was never the Phainon everyone here knew. 

"I need to learn more about this world before I start asking questions. I need to pretend I'm one of them." 

He began to play his ,,Role".

Chapter Text

Kevin sat on the bed, watching the woman who introduced herself as Hyacine. She was gentle, her tone calm and caring, but he could see the tension in her eyes. She knew something was wrong, but she didn’t press the issue. Not yet. 

“You were on a mission with Mydei. You were sent to investigate the ruins. Then a Titan attacked you… you fought back, but you were seriously injured.”

She told him gently. 

Kevin took this information with feigned concentration, as if trying to digest it, although in reality it meant nothing to him. Titans, ruins, mission—all of it was foreign to him. 

Hyacine reached for a small vial of medication and handed him one of the pills along with a cup of water. 

“This is for the pain. It should help with the dizziness.”

Kevin took the medication without a word, feigning gratitude. He could feel Mydei still looking at him—intense, almost piercing. He alone did not look reassured.

"You should rest. In the meantime, I will go inform Aglaea that you have woken up."

She smiled slightly, but Kevin sensed a note of caution in that smile. There was not the pure relief one would expect. 

When she left, the room was silent. Kevin could feel Mydei's gaze on him and knew that he wasn't going to just leave. 

"You really don't remember anything?" 

He asked the question, even though he had already guessed what the answer would be. 

Kevin hesitated for a split second. He knew that Mydei was suspicious, that he wouldn't believe it easily. But what else could he say? He didn't have enough information to improvise something more complicated. 

So he answered quietly, with a slight hesitation. 

"No... nothing." 

Mydei pressed his lips together, as if he wanted to say something, but stopped himself at the last moment. After a moment, he just nodded, although there was something in his eyes that Kevin could already recognize - distrust.

Finally, Mydei turned and headed out. 

"Rest." 

He didn't wait for an answer. He followed Hyacine out to join her on her way to Aglaea. They had to figure out what to do about this situation. 

Kevin was left alone. He stared at the closed door, feeling the tension ease a little. But he knew it was just a momentary lull before more questions. If he wanted to find a way to return to his body, he had to find out more about Phainon as soon as possible... before someone discovered he wasn't. 

Kevin tipped his cup and quickly washed down the pill with water, feeling the cool liquid slide down his throat. The medication was supposed to help with the headache, but it couldn't ease the chaos in his thoughts. 

The situation was clear - not only was he in a strange body, but he was in a completely different world. He had no idea how this had happened, but one thing was for sure: he had to find a way back. 

He didn't have the luxury of waiting for answers to come to him. He had to act.

“I need information.”

He began to formulate a plan in his head.

Point one: Find the library.

He had no idea how sophisticated the knowledge was here, but if there was anywhere information about this world—its history, its religion, the way it worked—it was there. Maybe he would find something that would help him understand how to return to his body.

Point two: Understand who Phainon was.

He couldn’t just walk around the city and act like a stranger—he would arouse suspicion. Mydei no longer trusted him. If he was too “different,” people would start asking questions, and he didn’t have enough information to answer them yet.

“I need to find out what kind of person Phainon was. How he spoke, how he moved, how he reacted to others.”

Point three: Find a way to return to his body, or a way to contact someone from his world. Knowing life it wouldn't be long before Elysia realized he was gone, and the sooner she did, the sooner everything would be fixed.
He looked in the mirror across from the bed. White hair, blue eyes – so familiar, yet not his. He stared at his reflection for a moment, analyzing every detail. What was slightly unsettling to him was the fact that Phainon looked so much like him. Of course, there could be many explanations and theories for this, but right now Kevin couldn’t be sure of any of them. 

“If I want to survive here long enough to find my way back, I have to learn to play his part.” 

He tightened his fingers around the rim of the cup. He had no choice. He had to adapt. 

It was the only way to get his life back.
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Mydei quickened his pace, catching up with Hyacine, who was walking at a determined pace down the corridor leading to Aglaea. His heart was beating faster, and one question was still ringing in his head – what the hell happened to Phainon? 

“Something’s wrong. This isn’t normal.” 

He said urgently, the tension radiating from his posture. 

Hyacine looked at him with slight surprise, but didn’t stop. It was obvious that she had been expecting this conversation. 

“Mydei… He has amnesia. That happens with head injuries. After what he’s been through, it’s a miracle he woke up at all.” 

“But he didn’t even recognize his own name! He didn’t ask for anyone, he wasn’t disoriented in a way that felt like he was missing something… but like he really didn’t know who he was!” 

Hyacine slowed down a bit, considering his words.
- We're not talking about a simple concussion. His wound was serious. He may have lost more memories than we thought... but that doesn't mean they won't come back. He needs time. 

Mydei didn't look convinced. There was suspicion in his eyes, but also something else - fear. He couldn't explain it, but he felt that the person sitting on the bed in that room wasn't the same person he knew. 

- What if they don't come back? What if this isn't just temporary? 

He continued stubbornly. 

Hyacine sighed and stopped, looking him straight in the eye. 

- That's why we have to give him support. We can't leave him alone with all this. 

Mydei clenched his fists, but didn't answer right away. Hyacine was right... even if his suspicions were correct, Phainon - or whoever he was now - still needed help. 

Hyacine sighed and then added with a slight smile, "We could ask Aglaea if Phainon could live with you until he regains at least some of his memories. That way, you can keep an eye on him."
Mydei looked at her in surprise, but nodded slowly. It wasn't a bad idea. If something was really wrong, he'd be the first to notice. 

"Alright. Let's talk to Aglaea." 

They continued down the corridor, and Mydei's mind was swarming with one question - if Phainon really lost his memory, how long would it take him to regain it? And if not... who was he now? 

Mydei and Hyacine reached the spacious room, where Aglaea was already waiting for them. She stood with her arms folded across her chest, her expression as calm and composed as usual. Tribbie stood next to her, her eyes sparkling with interest. 

"So? What's the news?"
Hyacine took a step forward and bowed her head slightly before speaking. 

"Phainon has woken up. His condition is stable, his wounds are healing properly, but... it seems he has lost his memory. He doesn't even recognize his own name." 

There was no trace of surprise on Aglaea's face, as if she had expected it. Tribbie, however, let out a quiet "oh" and looked at Mydei with concern. 

"Poor Snowy... It must be terrible, to forget everything so suddenly!" 

"Yes..." 

Mydei muttered quietly. 

Hyacine continued, breaking the tense silence for a moment. 

"That is why we would like to ask permission to let Phainon live with Mydei while he recovers. That way he will be under constant care and not lonely, and Mydei can keep an eye on him." 

Tribbie brightened up immediately and clapped her hands. 

"That's a wonderful idea!" Dei will definitely take good care of him!

Mydei glanced at her with slight irritation, but before he could say anything, Aglaea nodded slowly.
- A sensible solution. Mydei, you have my permission. 

Mydei breathed a sigh of relief, but before he could thank her, Aglaea smiled slightly, a hint of amusement in her eyes. 

- I have to admit, Mydei, you're surprisingly soft on Phainon. 

Mydei felt his face heat up and immediately looked away, clearing his throat nervously. 

- I don't know what you're talking about... He just needs to be watched so he doesn't do anything stupid. 

Tribbie giggled, and Hyacine smiled to herself. Aglaea only raised an eyebrow slightly, but didn't say anything more.
– Then it's all settled. Hyacine, make sure Phainon has everything he needs for the duration of his stay with Mydei. Mydei, you better prepare yourself for a difficult time. Taking care of someone who doesn't remember themselves is no easy task. 

Mydei just sighed, feeling that the coming days would be exceptionally long. After all, at least now he had the chance to hold Phainon close and watch over him... 

"If something's wrong, I'll definitely find out."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kevin's last few days in the hospital wing were spent undergoing endless tests. Hyacine checked his wound regularly, making sure it was healing properly. The headache was slowly subsiding, but the fatigue was still there. If he really was Phainon, he would probably be worried about it—but in this situation, he was more irritated by the inaction and lack of information. 

Mydei would appear from time to time, but he never said much. He would come, sit in the corner, observe. Sometimes they would exchange a few brief words, but Kevin could sense that the man didn't trust him. It was understandable. If the roles were reversed, he wouldn't trust someone who couldn't remember his own name either. 

But today, something had changed.
– Good news. Your wound is healing well, there are no complications. But you have to be careful not to hit your head and keep overexerting yourself. You may still be weak. 

Kevin listened carefully, mentally noting every word Hyacine told him. He couldn't allow himself to be weak, not here. 

– You can leave the hospital wing. You'll be discharged tomorrow. 

Kevin raised his eyebrows, feigning slight consternation. 

– And where exactly is my home? 

Hyacyne opened her mouth, but before she could answer, a quiet and decisive voice rang out. 

– You'll live with me until you regain your memory. 

Kevin glanced toward the door. Mydei must have entered the room silently, because he only just noticed him now. The man leaned against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest, his face as unreadable as ever.

“This is an order from Aglaea.”

Kevin sensed an opportunity. If this woman was important enough to decide his accommodations, she could be the key to understanding this place.

“And who is Aglaea?”

Instead of a specific answer, Mydei just shrugged.

“Our friend and superior.”

Kevin gritted his teeth. It was an obvious avoidance of the question, which only confirmed his suspicions – Mydei was hiding something from him. But he had no choice but to play along.

Hyacine sighed and cleared her throat, breaking the tense silence.

“You can leave the hospital tomorrow, but you need clothes. Mydei, can you bring something for him?”

Mydei nodded and turned away without a word, heading out. Kevin just watched him, wondering how long he could keep this game up before Mydei started asking uncomfortable questions. 

Mydei walked slowly through the city, hands in his pockets, head bowed. The evening lights spilled out onto the streets, casting long shadows on the cobblestones. People passed him by, minding their own business, laughing and talking, but he was somewhere else—lost in his thoughts about Phainon. 

From the moment Phainon had woken up, something had been wrong. Mydei could see it in his eyes—cold, watchful, too calm. Like he was constantly on guard, like he felt like a stranger in his own body. This wasn’t the same Phainon he knew. He didn’t crack jokes, didn’t tease him with that slightly spiteful but warm edge of his. Instead, he kept his distance, as if every move he made was calculated and controlled. 

"Maybe it really is because of the memory loss," he tried to convince himself. "Maybe it's natural that he's tense, that he's not finding himself. Maybe I'm exaggerating." 

Nevertheless, doubts haunted him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Finally, he stood in front of a familiar door. Phainon's house. He had been here countless times before, so his feet led him in the right direction. He turned the key Aglaea had given him and entered. 

Silence greeted him. 

No one had lived here for over two weeks, which was obvious from the thin layer of dust that had settled on the furniture. The air smelled of stale air, mixed with a faint hint of something familiar - Phainon. Mydei closed the door behind him and slowly walked across the room, avoiding the notes and books scattered on the table. 

His gaze fell on the walls. There were photos on them - Phainon with other soldiers, with Aglaea, even with him. A few shots from joint missions, one of the celebrations after the victory over the titan. Mydei rolled his eyes when he saw Phainon making a silly face in one of them, deliberately ruining the serious group photo. Typical.

He walked closer to the bed and noticed a pile of books on the nightstand. He ran his hand over the covers, recognizing some of them. One caught his attention more than the others – a book on the Kremnoan language. 

Mydei's heart sped up for a moment. 

He remembered that night. It was late, after a celebration organized by the people of Okhema, and Phainon was completely drunk. It was one of the few times that Chrysos heir could relax a little and indulge in the celebration. Mydei was a little tipsy himself, but sober enough to lead his friend home. Phainon was staggering slightly, laughing at something that had long since lost its context. Finally, they reached the door, and Mydei leaned him against the frame, reaching for the key in his pocket.

And then Phainon looked at him closely, his eyes gleaming in the twilight, full of unspoken feelings and emotions. 

"I want to know more about you, Mydei..." 

Their faces were centimeters apart. If Mydei wanted to, he could just... 

But he didn't want it this way. Not when Phainon was drunk, not when he might not remember it the next day. So he just sighed, opened the door, and ushered him inside, ignoring the throbbing in his chest. 

Mydei shook his head, tearing himself away from the memory. He rubbed his face with his hand and turned to the closet. He opened it and began to look through the clothes.

Nothing extravagant – plain shirts, trousers, a few warmer items. Other than that, dress clothes, carefully folded as if Phainon always kept them in perfect condition. He ignored the purple trousers and bright yellow T-shirt lying next to him. Mydei remembered well that Phainon's "unique" style of dressing had almost sent Aglaee into a breakdown when she had seen him in it for the first - and by the way last - time. Kremnoan snorted under his breath. Deliverer might have lost his memory, but he certainly wasn't going to try to bring that style of dressing back to him. 

Finally, Mydei packed a few sets of clothes into a bag. He slung the strap over his shoulder and looked around the room one last time, feeling a strange heaviness in his chest. He knew that this Phainon - the one he knew - was gone, replaced by this cold and distant version of himself. Maybe he would come back. Maybe not. But at this point, this place was just an empty house. 

Without looking back, he left and closed the door behind him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kevin sat on his bed, leaning his back against the wall and staring at the ceiling with obvious impatience. He had been here for a few days now, and he still had no concrete information. They had told him nothing useful. "You've lost your memory," they said. "Rest," they repeated. But no one had bothered to clearly explain who the hell Phainon was or exactly what world he was in. He also didn't know what his mission here was. Based on the facts he had been able to piece together, Phainon had to be in some organization, and a battle-hardened warrior. He frowned, trying to summon some memories from this body. That was another interesting detail he had noticed. Some facts and fragments of memories sometimes popped up in his mind like snippets of a movie, making some things make a little sense. From what he could gather, they were Phainon's memories, and since they were appearing to him, one of the theories he had managed to form seemed to fit the situation. Namely, the theory that Phainon was still in this body, but his mind was blocked, or put to sleep.

Kevin sighed heavily.

The few bits of information he had managed to glean from Hyacine and the other patients, and flashes of memories—nothing more.

He hadn't learned much in all that time, and what he remembered as "his" life didn't fit here. There was no Elysian Realm here. There was Kephale, whose name seemed to be everywhere. And there was the war with the Titans.

Feeling a headache growing behind his eyelids, he rubbed a hand across his face. He needed to find the library. And someone who would actually tell him what was going on here. 

A knock on the door tore him from his thoughts. 

"I'm coming in." 

Mydei entered the room, holding a bag. His expression was as grim as ever, but Kevin noticed something else—a subtle tension in his shoulders, something that looked like caution. Like the man was prepared for something. 

"I brought you some clothes. You can change, then we'll leave."

Kevin didn't answer right away. He looked at the bag, then at Mydei, analyzing his posture. He had felt the same gaze on him for days - suspicious, watchful. As if Mydei was constantly looking for something that was wrong. And, honestly, he was right. 

Finally, Kevin simply nodded, stood up, and wordlessly headed for the bathroom. He closed the door behind him and opened the bag. Nothing fancy - regular pants, a simple blouse. Clothes that might as well have been his, if not for the fact that they didn't feel like his own. 

While he changed into clean clothes, Mydei was left alone in the room. The man sat down on a chair with a sigh, resting his elbows on his knees. He felt that something was wrong. Phainon wasn't Phainon. It wasn't just that he had lost his memory. There was something... alien about him. Colder. Phainon had always had this unbearable confidence about him, a lightness in his bearing, a touch of effrontery that drove him crazy but was also… his. And now? Nothing.

Before he could delve any further into his thoughts, the bathroom door opened and Kevin stepped out, now in his regular clothes. Mydei stood up.

- Let's go.

Kevin didn't answer, just followed him out.

Hyacine was waiting for them in the hallway. Seeing Kevin, she smiled warmly, but at the same time looked at him carefully. 

"Well, you finally look like a human being." She handed him a small package. "Here are your medications. Take them in the evening, without exception. And you still have to come to your appointments. Don't overdo it, remember that you may still be weak." 

Kevin took the package and nodded. However, his look said clearly: "I don't intend to comply with this, but I don't feel like arguing." Hyacine narrowed her eyes as if she was reading his mind, but said nothing more. 

"Mydei, will you make sure he doesn't overexert himself?"

– Hmph. 

Hyacine smiled slightly and shook her head. 

– Well, that's right, Mydei's classic answer. 

She didn't prolong the conversation, letting them leave. 

As soon as they left the hospital, the cool evening wind brushed their faces. The streets weren't completely empty yet, but they were slowly emptying out. Mydei turned into a side alley, and Kevin followed him. 

– We won't go through the main streets. It's best not to stir up rumors. 

Kevin looked at him sideways.

- Why?

- Because you disappeared for two weeks. People will ask questions.

Kevin nodded, though more as a formality than out of actual understanding. He had no idea yet who Phainon was in this world, but one thing was for sure - he was someone others knew. And if he wanted to avoid arousing suspicion, he had to learn that.

The rest of the way passed in silence. Mydei seemed thoughtful, as if something was gnawing at him. Kevin wasn't going to push it. He had one goal now - to understand how he had ended up in this world and how to get back to his own body. And if he had to start by watching Mydei, then that was what he would do.

Mydei's house was modest and located in a quiet area, far from the hustle and bustle of the city. There was no unnecessary ostentation here, just a simple, functional interior that immediately revealed that its owner was not a man who attached importance to decoration. Everything had its place, and the space was organized almost mechanically - as if Mydei arranged things not according to aesthetics, but according to cold logic. 

As soon as they entered, Mydei pointed to the door on the left without unnecessary words. 

"Your room. Make yourself comfortable. I'll make dinner in a moment.

Kevin nodded and headed for the indicated room. The room was as plain as the rest of the house – bed, desk, wardrobe. Nothing personal, no signs that anyone had lived here before. Perfect for someone who didn’t plan on staying here for long. 

He closed the door behind him and threw his bag on the bed. He unpacked mechanically, trying not to think about how strange this all was. He was in a strange body, in a strange world, surrounded by people who knew him better than he did. He felt like an intruder, like someone who had accidentally entered Phainon’s life and now had to pretend to belong there. 

To occupy his thoughts, he focused on analysis. Mydei… The man wasn’t very effusive, but Kevin could feel his suspicion. The careful glances, the short answer, the subtle tension in his voice. He could feel that Mydei was testing him at every turn.

Well, if Mydei had his suspicions, then Kevin had to be even more careful. 

Meanwhile, Mydei went to the kitchen. He wasn't a culinary master, but he cooked regularly - among the Chryzos Heirs, he was usually the one taking care of meals. It didn't bother him, on the contrary, he liked doing it. There was something relaxing, mechanical about it. Something that could be controlled, which was rare in his world. 

For a moment, he stood thoughtfully in front of the shelves, wondering what to prepare. Normally, he would make something simple, but now... Now he had a chance for a little test.

Phainon always complained about his cooking – not because it was bad, but because Mydei loved to tease him by serving him something either extremely ordinary or something so strange that it was hard to classify. And Phainon always reacted the same way – a theatrical sigh, false despair, and that little spark of amusement in his eyes. Even if he didn’t admit it out loud, Mydei knew it was their little ritual. 

Maybe now… 

He sighed and decided on the classic. Bread with some not-so-great homemade spread he found in the pantry, plus the simplest soup he could make with what he had on hand. If Phainon really had lost his memory, then maybe he wouldn’t react to that. But what if something in him did remember, even if only subconsciously…? 

He prepared two plates and called from the kitchen:

– Done. Come eat.

Now all that was left was to wait for a reaction.

Kevin entered the kitchen, walking with a firm but quiet step. The room was cozy, simple, without unnecessary decorations – just like the rest of the house. There were two plates on the table, and Mydei was already sitting at one of them, leaning his elbows on the counter and watching him carefully.

Kevin nodded in thanks, sat down, and simply began to eat. The soup was warm, the taste neutral, the bread a bit dry, but he had no reason to complain. He ate calmly, in silence, showing no major emotions.

Mydei waited. He waited for some complaint, an exaggerated gesture of despair, even a quiet groan of dissatisfaction – anything to remind him that this was still Phainon. But he didn’t get it.

He pursed his lips and narrowed his eyes at him. 

"Just like that? No complaints?" 

Kevin looked up from his plate, slightly surprised. 

"Why would I complain?" 

Mydei snorted quietly, but there was more sadness in it than amusement. 

"Because you usually did. You loved teasing me." 

Kevin froze for a second, spoon in hand. He didn't know how to respond. He didn't know who exactly this man was to Phainon, but something in his tone, in that subtle disappointment and nostalgia, made him feel... guilty.

He knew that feeling. He had seen it in the eyes of people he had to leave behind. He knew what the sadness Mydei had tried to hide meant. And even though it wasn't his fault, he still felt the weight of responsibility. 

On impulse, quietly, almost unconsciously, he whispered, 

"I'm sorry." 

Mydei raised his eyebrows, clearly not expecting that reaction.

“For what?”

Kevin looked away, focused on his plate as if suddenly the food was the most interesting thing in the world.

“I don’t know. For everything, I guess.”

Mydei watched him for a moment longer, but didn’t press him. He simply went back to eating, letting the silence fall between them like a thin, taut thread.

And Kevin, though he tried to remain impassive, couldn’t help but wonder what part of himself Phainon had left behind in this house—and whether he could ever replace it.

Dinner ended in silence. There were no more questions, no more conversation. Mydei ate calmly, and Kevin, although he could feel the tension between them, had no intention of breaking it. He wasn't Phainon, and trying to pretend to be someone he wasn't seemed pointless at the moment. 

When Mydei finished eating, he got up from the table and silently walked over to the cabinet. After a moment, he placed a small container of medication and a glass of water in front of Kevin. 

"Hyacine said they're supposed to help you regain your memory." 

Kevin looked at the capsules, then at Mydei. He didn't believe any medication could make Phainon's memories suddenly come back to him - but he didn't want to arouse suspicion. He nodded quietly and reached for the pills.

- Thank you.

He swallowed them without a word and washed them down with water. They tasted bitter, but he didn't pay any attention to it.

Mydei sighed and nodded toward the hallway.

- The bathroom is at the end. If you want, you can wash up before bed.

Kevin nodded and went there, leaving Mydei alone in the kitchen.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hot water flowed over his body, washing away the tension of the day. Kevin leaned his hands against the shower wall, closing his eyes. This body was… different. Now that he finally had time to look at it more closely, he noticed a few details. It definitely had fewer scars. He didn't feel the pulsing Honkai energy in his veins. His body was clean, devoid of the corruption that had been a part of it for years. Despite this, he still couldn’t shake a certain feeling of unease.

He didn't know if Parvati's genes would have a negative effect on Phainon's body, as they were closely tied to him. 

He sighed and raised a hand in front of his face, clenching his fingers. Before, his body had been powerful, his strength beyond human limits. But now? He had no idea if he could still use his abilities in this world. When he regained his strength, he would have to check it out. He could already feel that his body temperature was a little lower than it should be, which wasn't a big deal at the moment, but it was worth keeping an eye on.

After a moment, he dried himself and changed into clean clothes. He looked at his reflection in the mirror. For a moment, he had the impression that he was himself again. His hair, limp after washing, was arranged in the hairstyle he usually wore.

He looked at it for a moment longer and then turned away. There was no point in thinking about it now.

As he exited the bathroom, he glanced briefly toward the living room, where Mydei was sitting. There was something about his posture that suggested he was deep in thought. But Kevin wasn't about to distract him. 

He paused for a moment, then said quietly, 

"Good night." 

Mydei lifted his head and looked at him as if he hadn't expected him to say anything at all. After a moment, he nodded slightly. 

"Good night, Phainon."

Kevin felt an unpleasant pang in his chest at the sound of that name, but he didn't say anything. He simply turned around and went to his temporary room, closing the door behind him. Another night in a strange world. Another night in a strange body. 

But how long would it last? He couldn't predict that. It all depended on whether he could determine what had happened to Phainon's consciousness, and how quickly Elysia would make her move in the Elysian Realm. Bringing him back and returning to his world shouldn't itself be a problem but he still needs to find Phainon conciousnes.

Kevin fell asleep quickly, exhausted by both the medication and his own thoughts. It wasn't long before he began to dream. It was a dream, but it wasn't an ordinary dream. In one moment, he found himself in a field full of flowers, as if in some unknown place. The sweet scent of plants hung in the air, and the colors of the flowers shimmered in a soft light that had no obvious source. It was beautiful, but also overwhelming in its strangeness.

Kevin tensed, clearly sensing that wherever he was now, it wasn't an ordinary dream.

he began to walk, taking cautious steps, as if something in the scene was wrong. He had no idea where he was or why he was there. He moved forward instinctively, not understanding what was happening. Then he saw the figure. One look was enough to know who he was.

Phainon - no, it wasn't Phainon in the full sense of the word. It was just a shadow of his consciousness, clearly there but still... something was missing. He seemed to be there, completely sealed off by something Kevin could only describe as a some kind of seal.

Kevin began to walk quickly towards him, wanting to touch him, calling out in his mind. But at the same time, a thick, impenetrable darkness began to surround him. The fog that began to thicken was like a wall that separated him from Phainon. He was getting closer to him, but no matter how fast he ran, the gap between them was growing wider and wider. He wanted to scream, but his voice was lost in this strange space that seemed to absorb everything, including his attempt to reach this person. 

Phainon didn't react. he tried to scream his name, but he didn't move, he didn't look at him. As if his entire mind was locked behind some invisible barrier. 

Finally, everything began to shimmer, everything turned black, and Kevin felt something squeeze his heart. Pain began to appear in his body, as if it was tearing him apart from the inside. The feeling grew, became stronger, more intense. He wanted to scream, but at that moment pain dominated all his thoughts. It was something new, something he had never experienced before – pure agony. He doubled over, his body falling to the ground, tears streaming down his face. His body couldn't take the pain, as if it was going to be shattered into pieces.

- What's going on...?

Everything began to fade, and the pain became unbearable.

Kevin woke up from his sleep, feeling a cold sweat on his body. His heart was beating fast, and his whole body was shaking with pain. As if he couldn't catch his breath. After a moment, he realized that the pain he felt in the dream was still there - now it was real.

He began to lose air, and his body throbbed in pain as if it was going to rip itself apart. At first he didn't understand what was happening. Then he felt blood start to pour from his nose, hot and sticky. He began to hit the walls, literally rushing to the bathroom. He hit the door frame, ignoring the pain, feeling only the throbbing pain in his head and stomach. A moment later he was at the toilet, leaning over it as if he couldn't hold it in any longer. He started to vomit instinctively. 

As he looked at his hands, he saw a red stain spreading across his shirt. Blood... Blood everywhere. He felt dizzy, his vision becoming increasingly hazy.

His body felt like hot lava, ready to explode. The last bits of food left his stomach, but the pain didn't go away. The blood didn't stop leaking. 

Then he felt someone approach him. A hand fell on his back, and a voice that sounded almost as scared as he was but also worried echoed in his ears, giving him a strange sense of stability. 

"What's wrong, Phainon? Answer me!"

Kevin didn't have the strength to answer. He only knew that he had to endure it, that he didn't have time to explain, to do anything. It was too late for anything. Before he could move, he felt his body weaken. 

He had no strength left to stand. As the last bit of vomit left his throat, he felt his body begin to wobble. The vision in the corners of his eyes was turning black, and his breathing was becoming increasingly erratic. 

The last thing he heard was Mydei calling out to him, trying to support him, holding his head in his hands, before he lost consciousness.

And then Kevin fell into darkness, losing consciousness.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mydei sat in the living room, lost in his thoughts. Phainon's goodnight words still rang in his ears. How calmly he took everything, how nothing seemed to affect him... This wasn't the Phainon he knew. Something about him was wrong. Mydei sighed quietly again and dropped his head into his hands. He felt like he was trying at all costs to find some kind of reaction, even the smallest sign from the past. But no, still nothing. Phainon was completely alien, lost. He stared into space, as if he wasn't fully himself.

His thoughts began to mix, and fatigue slowly took over him. He was emotionally and physically exhausted. After a while, he decided to take a nap, hoping that some sleep would help him organize his thoughts. He took a deep breath, and his body began to relax, until he suddenly heard a loud bang. He froze in place, jumping up from the couch in an instant. He didn't know what was happening, but his heart began to beat faster. Suddenly, he heard the sound of quick footsteps, like someone running in panic. Before he could understand, the bathroom door burst open with a bang, and the sounds of vomiting came from inside.

Mydei stood up quickly, his heart beating faster. A series of events ran through his mind, and all he could think of was Phainon. He stopped for a moment in the hallway, hearing loud, painful sounds coming from the bathroom. He knew Phainon hadn't eaten in weeks, and his stomach, weakened by long days on drips, might not hold up, but these sounds... sounded particularly bad. 

He rushed to the bathroom, jabbing his hand into the handle and quickly opening the door. For a moment, he froze when he saw Phainon leaning on the edge of the toilet, his body trembling, his face contorted in pain. But what really scared him was the blood - blood on the man's shirt and hands. 

"Phainon! What's happening?!"

Without thinking, he walked over to him and began to gently rub his back, trying to help relax the muscles that were tense with pain. Phainon didn't respond, and Mydei could only feel his heart pounding with worry. 

"What's wrong, Phainon? Answer me!"

Phainon didn't react, his body was getting weaker and weaker, and each breath seemed more shallow. Mydei could feel Phainon weakening, that he didn't have the strength to get up. Terrified, he leaned over him, seeing the man fall, sliding towards the tiles. Mydei didn't have time to think - he caught Phainon in his arms, trying to hold him so he wouldn't hit his head on the hard surface. 

- Phainon! Fuck, hold on! 

Without thinking, he sat him down on the floor, resting his head on his lap.

He saw Phainon's eyes grow dimmer, as he began to lose consciousness. Mydei called his name once more, but it was too late. Phainon collapsed in his arms, completely unaware of what was happening.

- Damn it Phainon!

Mydei gently picked up Phainon, cradling him in his arms as he tried to focus on what he had to do next. The pain evident on Phainon's face made him wince involuntarily.

Mydei glanced once again at the unconscious Phainon, who he held in his arms. He felt his heart beating harder and harder, as fear and anxiety prevented him from thinking calmly. Fortunately, his mind still had some remnants of sobriety. He lightly grabbed his hand, in which the blood had not yet dried, and placed two fingers on Phainon's wrist, searching for a pulse. 

His fingers trembled slightly, but he immediately felt the quiet, steady rhythm of his heart. Although Phainon was unconscious, his vital signs were fine - his heart was beating regularly, his breathing was not rapid. Mydei breathed a sigh of relief, although the pain in his chest did not disappear. Only now did he feel how terrified he was by what had happened, but at least now he could calm down. Phainon was not dead. He must have just been exhausted, both physically and emotionally.

Before he did anything, he checked his condition once more – he made sure his breathing was regular and his pulse was beating evenly. Once he was sure that everything was fine, he felt a little calmer. Now he could move on to the next steps. He gently lifted Phainon, trying not to cause him any pain, and laid him on the floor to deal with the blood on his hands and face.  

He gently took a wet cloth, washing Phainon's hands, removing all the stains, and then he quickly wiped his face. He flinched at how fresh the blood was still, and it only intensified the feeling of unease that wouldn't leave him. But now he had no time to think. He quickly replaced Phainon's clothes with clean ones, trying not to move him too much. As soon as he was done, he felt that he was not able to put Phainon back in his room. He couldn't. He felt like he had to leave him to his fate, and he couldn't do that.

So he decided to take him to his place. He picked him up gently, trying to disturb him as little as possible, and carried him to his room. He placed him carefully on the bed, seeing how peaceful he looked now, as if the pain and all his worries had disappeared in his sleep. Mydei stood next to him for a moment, looking at him thoughtfully. What had happened? What was this disturbing symptom that had to occur for Phainon to suddenly lose consciousness in such a state?

Mydei blinked his eyes, still not knowing what exactly had happened. He had to tell Hyacine about it, for sure. If something was wrong with his body, it could have serious consequences. Finally, tired and worried, he lay down next to Phainon on the bed. His thoughts began to mix, and the fatigue of the whole day and stress finally took over. He wiped his face with his hand and stared at Phainon's face for a moment, whose features now seemed gentle and calm, as if nothing had happened.

He could barely contain the urge to hug Phainon close. It was too much. Too many emotions, too many uncertainties, too many unanswered questions. Still, lying next to him, Mydei felt restless, but also... tired. He eventually fell asleep, but he couldn't stop thinking about what was happening. Phainon, who was supposed to be back home, was still a complete stranger, and Mydei had a feeling that something had changed, and more than just amnesia. And not just in Phainon's body, but in what was between them. In that quiet night, with Phainon's features calm in sleep, Mydei couldn't calm down. But he had to find a way to find the answers, even if he didn't know where to look.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kevin woke up slowly, feeling a little dizzy and aching in his body. He opened his eyes with difficulty, trying to remember what had happened. His mind was a bit dull, as if something was overwhelming him, but what he remembered didn't make sense. The dream that accompanied him, the pain, the blood... Everything started to mix, not giving a clear answer. He felt that something was wrong, that this pain in his body, especially after yesterday's incident, had some deeper cause. And he was sure that it had something to do with his dream and Phainon's condition. He had to investigate what he saw in the dream. Whatever energy was there was too strong for his weakened body.

He blinked, trying to gather his thoughts. After a moment, he realized he wasn't in his room. He was in another bed. And it wasn't his bed—or rather, Mydei's. He glanced to the side, noticing that Mydei was lying next to him, falling asleep on his side. His breathing was calm, his face relaxed in the silence of sleep. Kevin frowned, remembering what had happened. He must have been the one to bring him here after his unconsciousness last night. Mydei kept an eye on him, as if afraid something else would happen.

He stirred slightly on the bed, trying to get up, but he felt even more dizzy. At that moment, Mydei, sensing the movement, opened his eyes and immediately looked at Kevin. 

"How are you feeling?" he asked, quietly, but with concern in his voice. He noticed that Kevin was avoiding eye contact, and his movements were a bit stiff. 

Kevin was silent for a moment, wondering how to answer. He turned his head towards Mydei with difficulty, trying to gather his thoughts. 

"Better..." he said coldly, not entirely convinced. "What exactly happened yesterday?" he asked after a moment, trying to remember the details of what had happened.

Mydei looked at him for a moment, then began to explain briefly.

"Something happened to your body, and it clearly took its toll on you." Right after the "incident" I brought you to my place to keep an eye on you," he replied, not looking down. "I thought it might be related to your condition. You'll have to describe what happened at your next visit with Hyacine so she can check you for internal changes." 

Kevin felt aversion to the thought. Too many questions still swirled around him. And he couldn't understand why he felt as if something disturbing was happening inside his body. But he knew he couldn't ignore it. He had to check it out, even if it meant facing even more uncertainty. 

"Yeah, fine," he said with dissatisfaction in his voice, raising his eyebrows slightly. 

"I'll have to investigate myself what exactly these dreams are about and whether these changes in his body are caused by my presence or by this seal."

Mydei nodded, seeing that Phainon wasn't in the best of moods, but he didn't press the issue. 

"I understand," he replied quietly. "If you need help... you know where to find me." 

Kevin didn't respond right away. Instead, he was silent for a moment, staring at the ceiling. He felt more and more questions flooding his mind, and he couldn't find any concrete answers. The one that puzzled him the most was burning in his mind. Why did Phainon seem so distant, and why had his consciousness separated from his body.

He's really going to have to find that damn library.