Chapter Text
By the time that Phainon and Cyrene return with three bowls of cut-up fruit, Mydei's practically vibrating all over and halfway out of his seat. He needs to be at the castle like, yesterday, especially now that he knows Cipher is in the vicinity.
“What's up with you?” Phainon asks. Or, at least that's what Mydei thinks he asks. He's too busy inhaling the food to really listen, barely even chewing. They could have poisoned the bowl and he wouldn't even have noticed a damn thing.
“Igottagonow,” Mydei says, all in one word. “Thankyouseeyoulater!” In his haste to leave, he nearly knocks over his chair, almost bowls over some hungover guy, and just about misses running into the door. He's never felt more clumsy than today, fumbling for the handle and stepping outside.
A hand around his wrist stops him from tearing down the street. It's Phainon, staring at him in alarm.
“Where in the world are you going?” Phainon demands. “Sit down and eat properly.”
Mydei tugs his hand away as gently as he can manage. “I did eat. I have to leave now,” he says, trying to be calm enough to not just run away.
The Deliverer must see the alarm on his face, because he just pouts at him. “Fine. Can you wait a bit? Cyrene and I will finish our breakfast and go with you.”
No way. “We can't go together because some people here already know my identity,” Mydei hisses, sure to keep his voice as low as he possibly can. “I'd rather not have them kidnap any of you.”
“I can't just let you go off on your own,” Phainon huffs. “Not again.”
“You can,” Mydei says, a little confused. “And you will. This is safer.”
“Safer–?”
“Besides, I can't be late,” Mydei says, interrupting what is likely about to be a pissed-off rant. “If I am kicked out of the tournament for being tardy, I will crash out.”
“Crash…?” Phainon shakes his head. “Fine, I get it. Can you save my sister and I some seats at least? I hear the lineup for the inner arena is crazy.”
Mydei blinks and slips on his helmet. “No.”
Phainon's jaw drops at the bluntness. The prince pats him on the shoulder. “Just eat fast if you want to catch up,” Mydei suggests, and breaks into a sprint before Phainon can grab him again.
⟦ (￣︶￣;) Are you teasing him? ⟧ The System asks as he runs.
“Not on purpose?” It comes out as a question. “It's fine. They know where I'll be. And that I'm busy.” He had to head to the castle for the tournament as directed, and then he had to look for Cipher… Why was he so busy, seriously.
⟦ You know, ⟧ the System begins, conversationally, ⟦ the Protagonist will remember everything you say and do. ⟧
“So?”
⟦ ☆ ～(‘▽^人) Just don't think that you'll always outrun him, ⟧ the System says. Mydei blinks at the warning. Last he checked, Cosmic Impact Rail Zero wasn't horror.
“Who's side are you on?” Mydei wonders aloud. “And more than that, why are you saying this so ominously?”
⟦ Your side, of course! (๑˃ᴗ˂)ﻭ ⟧
⟦ I would just like to point out that you're always running off and doing your own thing. You did this in the Sea of Souls with all the fishermen you met, and then in Aedes Elysiae, and when you were wandering, and then at the Grove, and here in Castrum Kremnos as well. ⟧
“Your point being?”
⟦ ╭( ･ㅂ･)و I don't really have a point. ⟧ Mydei snorts. ⟦ I just think it'd be nice if you could wait a little, just so the people who are left staring at your back could stand with you and defend it instead. ⟧
Mydei… Doesn't really know what to say to that. The words swim together in his head before rearranging themselves into the kindest response he can currently muster. “I had to wait nine winters just to save myself,” Mydei murmurs. “If I always decided to wait, I wouldn't be me.”
⟦ I know, Mydei. ⟧
“I know you worry,” the prince continues. He… Doesn't really have a follow up after that. Yes, the System worries for him. Yes, Mydei's whole situation is worrisome. Moving right along.
⟦ I'm just looking out for your safety, ⟧ the System says, making sad faces at him. ⟦ I can't protect you when I'm just a screen, so I'd like for others to shield you where I can't. (´･д･｀) ⟧
Whenever the System says sappy stuff like that, it makes Mydei's chest ache. “I'm the greatest shield, you know. I can't even die.”
⟦ |ω；｀) You and I both know that's a lie, ⟧ the System says, somber. Oh, geez. These days, the System was going through some kind of emotional whirlwind, fluctuating between peppy and gloomy in mere seconds– but that was totally Mydei's fault, and he felt bad about it.
…Scratch that, it was this world's fault. Mydei didn't choose for all this bullshit to happen to him. Sigh. When could Mydei bow out from all his responsibilities and live a relaxing life? That future seemed way too far off…
“You'll just have to keep that close to your chest," Mydei says, trying to keep his voice light so that the System cheers up.
⟦ I always do. ٩(♡ε♡)۶ ⟧
⟦ If you could be safe and happy forever… I'd consider my existence fulfilling. ⟧
“What's with you today?” Mydei asks, feeling more than a little sheepish. “You're being even more sentimental than usual…!”
⟦ Haha, are you embarrassed? (*/ω＼) I thought you said that you didn't get shy. ⟧
“Stop,” Mydei complains. “We need to hurry and get to round two.”
⟦ Σd=(･ω-)ﾉ You can run and get bullied at the same time, ⟧ the System laughs, but relents.
If the crowd from yesterday seemed insane, it's nothing compared to today's numbers. People are swarming together in the inner city, packed together like sardines even in the wide streets of Castrum Kremnos. Mydei stares at the crowd and sighs. Good luck to Phainon and Cyrene later on– a mosquito wouldn't be able to push past that.
⟦ You can just walk, Mydei! The crowd will part for you, ⟧ the System says, suddenly flashing like fifty saluting emotes at him.
Uh, would they? Mydei isn't sure, especially with this crazy amount of people.
⟦ Yup! Go forth! ☆=(ゝω･)/ ⟧
So that's what Mydei does. Oddly enough, the crowd does make room for him.
“Oh, shit, move.”
“Ah, we gotta let the competitors pass!”
“It's the kid from yesterday!”
Ahh… Mydei is suddenly hyperaware of what feels like a million eyes on him. And now that he's aware of it, he can't ever believe he got this far without noticing each and every gaze on his back– good lord, everyone's staring is so obvious, it feels like a tangible thing.
The crowd pushes into each other and parts to let him through. It's a tiny path, sure, but it's enough to let a child pass. Mydei keeps his head down as he passes the crowd. And then ducks his head down even further when the guards at the gate salute him, what the fuck.
One of the guards, the one with the most impressive armor, approaches him with a rigid back. For some reason, Mydei's getting a bad feeling–
“Your Hi–”
Mydei coughs loudly to interrupt him. What the actual hell. Did all of the guards just know now? And what was this utter lack of awareness? Mydei clearly didn't want to be recognized…!
This must be Krateros’ fault. Briefly, Mydei considers a beautiful fantasy where he beats up his dad and then flees the kingdom to let Krateros deal with everything. That's what he gets for having such a big mouth.
“...Milord,” the guard reluctantly corrects himself. He looks like the new title is causing him physical pain to say, so Mydei decides not to bully him into saying his actual name.
“What is it?” Mydei asks, still very aware of all the eyes on his person.
“Krateros asked me to guide you to the inner arena,” the guard replies, not looking the prince in the eyes.
“Are you doing that for all the competitors?”
“N-no?”
“Then no thanks,” Mydei says.
The guard pales. “B-but, milord! We can't leave you all by your lonesome!”
Mydei points at the incredibly long line leading into the castle, which would almost definitely still continue up until the inner arena. “I'm literally just following the crowd,” Mydei says. “Should I just get in line?”
“No, the competitors have to arrive first…”
“So there's no issue then,” Mydei says, and walks right past the guards.
“I'll get in trouble!” The guard tries.
Normally this would work on Mydei, but he isn't in the mood to play along. “If Krateros gives you hell, tell him he'll get in trouble with me,” Mydei says.
None of the other guards dare approach him after that, which would be infinitely cooler had their conversation not drawn the attention of literally everyone in hearing range. What a mess.
The castle is as lovely in the daylight as it was the night before, and now with the addition of all these people it seems even more vibrant. Mydei nods at those in line that cheer for him as he walks past– it's incredibly embarrassing.
“Kid, I bet all my money on you today! Don't let me down!”
“If you win, I'll buy this whole line a round!”
“Knock ‘em dead, little man!”
Embarrassing. Really.
Mydei reaches the very front of the line and is now suddenly aware of how goddamn hot it is. Right, the inner arena is also surrounded by lava. With the massive blade sticking out from above the place and the lava bathing the area in a warm glow, it all totally looks like a boss battle arena. Which it was, of course, in game.
“Mydei!”
The prince lifts his head and spots a familiar, smiling face waiting for him at the entrance of the arena. It's Hephaestion, and he's waving at him. “Good morning! Are you ready for round two?”
“Morning. I am,” Mydei says, giving him a nod. He joins Hephaestion and the other competitors waiting at the entrance. “What happens in round two, usually?”
“Combat,” Hephaestion quickly says, which, yeah, guess Mydei should have expected that. “It's always some kind of fight, because we're Kremnoans. But normal fighting can get stale, so there's usually a twist, like yesterday with the ribbons.”
“What kind of fight would you like it to be?” Mydei asks.
“A sword fight. If the round is something that requires me to let go of my sword, we may be in trouble,” Hephaestion admits. “Especially hand-to-hand– I'm not the greatest at that.”
“You shouldn't be admitting that around our competitors,” a voice behind them scolds. Mydei turns toward the voice. It's Gnaeus, because of course it is.
“You really have to teach me how to do that,” Mydei says.
“Perhaps at a later date,” Gnaeus allows, patting the prince on the shoulder. Hmm, perhaps Mydei was just imagining it, but today, Gnaeus seemed taller. Probably some kind of divine weirdness.
Hephaestion glances between Mydei and Gnaeus with a knowing look. “Did you guys bond without me?” Hephaestion asks, pretending to pout. “I feel so left out.”
He's probably kidding, but allies are good. Maybe if Mydei gets closer to others, the System won't fret as much. “Next time I commit a crime, I'll invite you,” Mydei says, nodding to himself.
Hephaestion laughs like it's a joke. It's not. When Mydei and Gnaeus don't laugh along, he stares. “Eh– eh? Are you being for real right now? Did you guys– were you the rumored thieves from last night?”
Wow, that rumor was circulating fast. Mydei had to find Cipher as soon as the round ended. “No,” Mydei says. Hephaestion breathes a sigh of relief. “We did commit a crime, though.”
“Ehhh?”
Hephaestion looks so lost, so Mydei decides to elaborate a little bit further. “I wanted to enact revenge on someone that's committed a grave sin against me,” Mydei tries. “Gnaeus was just there.”
Now that Mydei's thinking about it– Gnaeus really was just there. Mydei was the one breaking the seals and appeasing Krateros! Sure, Gnaeus knocked some guards out, but Mydei could totally do that too!
Hephaestion breathes an even deeper sigh of relief, for some reason. “I'm glad you could get revenge on your father,” Hephaestion says, which– wow. Mydei wonders what he was cooking up in that brain of his. It is true that Mydei told him that he had an issue with his father, but it's funny that he came to that conclusion so quickly. Were revenge plots common here or what? “That is what you did, right?”
“Yes,” Mydei confirms. It's not even a lie. “But I'm not done yet.”
“Perhaps I could help next time,” Hephaestion says, suddenly eager. The Kremnoans truly were excited to throw down anytime, anywhere. Hephaestion didn't even know why Mydei wanted to beat up his dad, but he was still down for it. Maybe that was the true sign of a budding friendship.
Actually, Hephaestion might actually get the chance to. Mydei would totally let everyone who was wronged by Eurypon to get a kick in on the guy, if possible. “Sure.”
“I've always wanted to enact vengeance on the deserving, like in the Kremnoan parables,” Hephaestion says, a dreamy expression on his face. Wow. What a thing to want. Mydei would have to look into those stories once he got access to that library of his.
“By the way, why are we waiting outside the arena?” Mydei asks, deciding to change the subject.
“We don't know,” Hephaestion sighs. “We thought that they were prepping the grounds, but there's been no movement and no official announcement to let us in so we've just been kinda standing around.”
“That's annoying,” Mydei says. “They were the ones that told us to be here at entry hour.”
“I know!” Hephaestion agrees, enthusiastic to complain with him. Truly, nothing brought people together more than mutual irritation. “They're not even letting us in to sit down. Did the thief steal the seats around the arena as well?”
Hm. Was Cipher capable of doing that? It was a funny thought, even if she wasn't.
“They better have a good excuse if they're making us wait,” Gnaeus adds, folding his arms across his chest. As if on cue, a figure emerges from the inside of the inner arena with a scowl on his face. It's Krateros, and he looks like shit.
“I have an announcement!” The man booms. Mydei can see a few people wince at the volume– they must be hungover. “Silence!”
Krateros waits for absolute quiet before he raises his voice again. “Round two is postponed–”
“What the fuck–”
“Oh hell no, you–”
“Did you assholes really make us get up this early when–”
Mydei nods along at all the general discontent. Thank you to all who are gathered, for outwardly expressing how he feels on the inside.
“Let me finish!” Krateros yells, silencing the unhappy crowd. “Round two is postponed by a few hours! If you would like to enter the arena early to claim a seat, then–”
The crowd instantly begins to rile themselves up again, volume rising.
“SILENCE! I TOLD ALL OF YOU TO LET ME FINISH!” It's clear Krateros is losing his patience. “After I am done speaking, you may enter the arena to claim a seat. Leaving the arena prior to the event almost certainly guarantees that you will lose your spot.”
“Who cares about that? Just tell us why the hell you delayed the damn festival already!” One heckler yells. A few spectators echo their agreement.
Krateros sighs. “Your impatience is infuriating. I was getting to that! The second round is delayed due to royal decree. King Eurypon shall be overseeing the second round and directing its objective, so the original schedule had to be altered!”
This announcement, of course, sets off a bunch more questions from the crowd, all of which Krateros ignores. Mydei would probably be able to pick them out if his brain wasn't going fuuuuuuuuck incredibly loudly right now.
He catches none of what's said past this point. He doesn't even realize that Krateros is done talking until he's gently nudged by Hephaestion.
“Mydei?” Hephaestion questions. “We can go inside now.”
Ugh, what is he doing, zoning out so easily? “I have something I need to do before I go in,” Mydei says, trying not to sigh.
“Shall I accompany you?” Gnaeus offers. Though Mydei still can't really tell with the helmet in the way, he knows that he's being shot with a knowing look.
“Don't worry about me and just go in,” Mydei insists, waving Hephaestion and Gnaeus away. “We have time. I'll be there.”
He needs to speak with Krateros to see just how badly he fucked up by breaking the seals last night instead of waiting for the end of the festival. Mydei doesn't regret doing it, of course, but he would like to brace himself if necessary.
“Um, okay!” Hephaestion says. “Just so you know, if you saw your dad and that's why you're stepping away, I can absolutely threaten him with my sword!”
“...I appreciate it, but that's not it.”
“Alright then. See you inside!” Hephaestion says, and finally leaves, Gnaeus behind him. Mydei doesn't doubt that Gnaeus would appear behind him if he truly wanted to, so he goes to find Krateros.
And it seems like Krateros was waiting for him as well, staring at the prince from a distance. They duck into an empty corridor, a good distance from the crowd.
“Your Highness, did you sleep well?”
“Yeah, but that's not important right now,” Mydei says, wanting nothing more than to skip the small talk. “Is the theft real, or is it a coverup? Or is it both?”
Krateros groans and rubs the back of his head. “You are correct, your Highness… It's both. While we were busy with the seals, someone took the opportunity to lift some valuable items from our treasury. While the king is more angry over the loss of the statues, his remaining advisors made it seem that he is angry over the break-in– any excuse to disguise his furious madness for what it is.”
With Krateros confirming Mydei's suspicions, he's more than a little pleased. Anything that generally made Eurypon unhappy would please Mydei. He's about to ask after the thief when a thought occurs to him.
“Remaining?”
“He killed most of his advisors and the High Elders once they either tried to “overstep” or made an attempt on his life,” Krateros explains dutifully.
Right.
What the hell did Eurypon even do besides piss people off? He was literally potential king– 0 happy subjects, 0 happy gods, 7 daily attempts on his life.
⟦ See, Mydei! (•́⌄•́๑)૭✧ You don't have to worry about your own reign, because you can't do any worse than your father! ⟧
“That doesn't actually make me feel better,” Mydei mutters. “But thank you for saying so.”
“What are you talking about, your Highness? I didn't quite catch what you said.”
Mydei waves a hand. “Don't worry about it. Did the thief take anything of note?”
“Right now, we're going through the ledgers to confirm what's missing,” Krateros dutifully replies. “Strangely enough, our thief left something behind. A coin shaped like a cat's head.”
Just like that lady said, so it was definitely Cipher. “I'll look into it when the round's done,” Mydei declares, hoping that Krateros doesn't question his eagerness. “Speaking of, why has Eurypon decided to get involved with the festival now?”
Krateros swallows, like he's hesitant to explain. “...Seeing bloodshed seems to calm him down. As much as the king can be calmed, anyway.”
Awesome. “So the second round is going to be a fight of some kind?”
“I can neither confirm nor deny, your Highness, but we did have to alter it to better suit his Majesty's needs. My original idea would have contained much less fighting than he would have liked to see.”
Mydei frowns at Krateros. The man instantly looks away so as to not be affected. Boooooo. Fine then.
“What was the second round supposed to be, if you don't mind me asking?”
“A test of pure strength,” Krateros says, looking proud. “Tug of war, but you're allowed to attack your opponents.”
Wow. That didn't really sound like a test of pure strength to Mydei. “Sounds. Fun?” It sounded like something Mydei would find fun to watch, but participating in it himself? Ehh…
“Yes, if we don't go straight to finals after this round, and if his Majesty decides not to interfere, I'll reuse the idea. So don't go around spreading the word, alright?”
“Okay,” Mydei agrees easily. Telling his teammates wouldn't count as spreading the word, right? Anything to win.
“I must go down the line and inform the rest of the people about the delay,” Krateros says, bowing his head. “May I be dismissed?”
“Go ahead,” Mydei says. “You don't have to wait for my say-so.”
“On the contrary, your Highness,” Krateros shakes his head. “I must. And you must become accustomed to how you will be treated from now on– there is no one in this kingdom nobler than you.”
Wow, Mydei is uncomfortable! “What about Nikador?”
Krateros coughs. “That's–”
“I'm making fun of you,” Mydei says, before he can work himself up.
Krateros stares at him. Forget being teased, he looks like he's never even heard of the concept of a joke in his life.
“You should become accustomed to what I'm like,” Mydei says, throwing the man's words back in his face. When Krateros does nothing but stare at him, Mydei raises his brows. “Didn't you want to go and tell the rest of the people that the second round is postponed?”
“Ah– Yes. My apologies. I'll excuse myself now, your Highness!”
Mydei watches him go. Krateros is too upright to actually run away, but he sure does look like he's in a hurry. When he's finally out of sight, Mydei rejoins the crowd and enters the inner arena.
As expected, it's as glorious as everything is in the kingdom, especially with the Blade of Fury hovering so closely. He's really gotta ask Gnaeus if he can actually wield that thing. And though he appreciates the aesthetic of it all, why put the seats clearly meant for the royal family in front of the lava waterfall? Lavafall. Was that a word?
Wait, he can't get distracted– Where is Gnaeus and Hephaestion?
Eh. Mydei would find them eventually. He follows the crowd to the stands, sinks into the nearest empty seat and sighs. Really, he can't believe that so many people decided to enter the inner arena despite the longer wait for the upcoming round–
Right, he should look for pink and white hair in the crowd. Mydei squints into the audience to get a good look, but someone steps in front of him, blocking his view.
“Hello,” the stranger greets.
Mydei has to take a moment to realize that they're speaking to him. “...Greetings.”
The stranger sits next to him, wearing a cat-like grin. “Is this seat taken?”
“You already sat down, so yes,” Mydei says, suddenly recalling this person's face. It's the guy that ran around yoinking ribbons the other day.
“You're Mydei, right?”
“I am,” Mydei says. Why did they sound so eager to chat at such an unholy hour? “Who are you?”
“I'm Leonnius,” they say, an amused lilt to their words. Why did that sound familiar? “Thanks for letting me take those ribbons yesterday!”
Ugh. Mydei dodges when they try to pat his head.
“So wary!” They smile at him like they're both in on some inside joke. “I don't bite, you know.”
Leonnius, Leonnius, Leonnius… It was ringing a bell, but Mydei didn't know why.
⟦ That's the name of one of Mydeimos’ friends, ⟧ the System says. ⟦ Mydei, I think you should put your lion ears on. (^..^)ﾉ ⟧
Mydei squints. The System would never say anything like this without reason. “Hold on,” he says. With a thought, the headband drops from his inventory and right into his hands. It was probably a dumb idea to take his helmet off now, but he needed the lie detector, especially if this is who he thinks it is. So he removes it and places it on his lap.
“Oh? Cute,” the stranger says. “How'd you pull that little trick off?”
“I should be asking you that,” Mydei says, frowning as he puts the headband on. With the System's warning, he's already suspicious. “What did you say your name was again?”
The stranger looks at him like they know what he's up to, but smiles anyway. “My name is Leonnius,” they repeat, drawing out the last syllable.
“Right,” Mydei says, watching the stranger's guise slowly dissolve from head to toe as the lie pings the headband’s function. “I don't suppose that the Ladies Tribios asked you to check on me?”
The responding laugh changes in pitch the longer Mydei listens to it. “How precocious! And silly, like she said.”
Sitting before him now is Cipher, the demigod of Trickery. Though Mydei was indeed searching for her during his time wandering… Now that she's next to him he has no idea what to do. At least he didn't have to go looking for her later. Why approach him now, though? Was it because he was alone?
⟦ Nuh-uh! ヽ(￣ω￣(。。 )ゝ I'm here too. ⟧
She doesn't know that, Mydei thinks. Don't worry, I didn't actually forget about you.
⟦ Good! ⟧
“What happened to the real Leonnius?” Mydei says, trying not to stare so obviously. She looks exactly as she does in-game– her smile curved like a cat's and a sharp fang peeking out of her mouth. Behind her, her tail swings from side to side, drawing Mydei's focus.
“No need to bristle, he's fine,” Cipher laughs. “Poor thing couldn't make it to the festival this year. He's down with some awful, awful cold. Really too bad, especially when he's only just made a name for himself as the fastest runner in Kremnos.”
“How convenient for you,” Mydei says. And how nice for him, that the headband hasn't gone off once.
“Nyahaha, isn't it just?”
She's staring him down like he's the fascinating one here. Hello? Mydei's in his element, but Cipher so isn't. Cipher being in Castrum Kremnos was like– like Mydei being at the Grove.
No, wait, he was there before. Guess this wasn't that weird.
“Why are you here?”
Cipher pouts at him. “So cold! You should be nicer to me– we're both cats, y'know.” She points at the ears atop her head, and then the ones on Mydei's.
Mydei can feel his cheeks heat, but he refuses to take it off. Not yet. He's got a few questions he needs answered.
“I don't get it– why approach me now? Especially after what happened the night before?” Mydei asks, because there's no point in playing dumb. “I wouldn't have noticed you at all. I've never spoken to this Leonnius person before. Revealing yourself might be dangerous.”
“Aww, are you worried about lil ol’ me?” Cipher chuckles, lifting her hand for another pat. Mydei huffs, but allows it this time. Even though she's dodging his questions, she should be trustworthy.
He is immediately punished for his assumptions when she yoinks the lion-ear headband from his head with a grin. Mydei instinctively tries to grab it back– but misses horribly.
“I heard about this dangerous stuff you've got on you,” she says. “Don't worry your little princely head! I'll keep it safe– just for you, my fellow kitty cat.”
Okay, Mydei gets that she wouldn't want a literal lie-detecting item to exist when she's holding Amphoreus together with a lie, but hey, that's his! He paid good points for that!
“It's safe with me,” Mydei insists, trying to take it back. She dodges easily. “Hey. That's mine.”
“How safe can it be? I just took it from you!” Cipher teases him, holding the headband above his head when Mydei tries to grab at it.
“Please give it back.”
“Hmm… You did say please…” Cipher trails off, giving Mydei false hope. “But nooope. Sorry, kiddo! Mine now!”
“If you return the headband to me now, I swear to never allow another person to wear it,” the prince tries, as she keeps holding the damn headband out of arms reach. Truly, he hates being short. He can't wait for the day that he's tall again.
“Nuh-uh,” Cipher says, playfully. “Mine now. Here, take this instead.”
Out of nowhere, she procures a handful of candies decorated in a fancy, frilly wrapper and drops them into Mydei's hands. Mydei stares down at the sweets and then up at the demigod.
“They're honey flavor,” Cipher beams. “You like honey, right? Before you think I'm some kinda creep, blame Tribbie and the rest– those old girls wouldn't stop yapping about the most random things about you. So, I didn't steal this from you– think of it like a trade. You get something you like, I get something I like. Win win!”
Mydei bites down a sigh. He doesn't want to fight her to get the headband back, and exhausting himself by trying to take something from the fastest demigod sounded like a terrible idea, especially before the next round…
Well, if Mydei was in her shoes…
System, can I buy another headband?
⟦ Of course you can! (b˙◁˙ )b ⟧
Good. It'd be kind of a waste of points, but if it made Cipher feel better, Mydei didn't mind if she cast it into the lava or whatever.
“Fine,” Mydei relents. He'll give the candies to Phainon and Cyrene so they can share them later.
“You gave that up suspiciously fast,” Cipher says, still smiling.
Mydei makes a face. “There must be a reason you want that thing,” the prince says, making a go ahead gesture at her. “I'm not really using it right now anyway. Take it.”
“Okie dokie, if you insist,” Cipher says. The headband disappears, Mydei has no idea where– he's not going to think too hard about it.
“But I don't think candies are good enough of a trade, so– if you took any of my mother's stuff, I'd like for you to return it,” Mydei continues, deciding to put his helmet back on. “If you took any of my father's stuff, you can just go ahead and keep it. Hell, take more.”
“Hmm, okay!” That was easy. “Though I don't really know what might belong to your mother, so I'm gonna have to make you check it out later. Cool?”
Mydei didn't know what belonged to Gorgo either, but he's certain he can tell. Probably. “Okay. Why leave a coin behind?” Mydei decides to ask.
Cipher rests her chin on her hands and bats her eyes at him. “I wanted you to know I was here!”
“You could have said hi.”
“But that's so booooring,” Cipher whines. “I wanted to see why you're so different. Tribbie and the rest of them haven't taken an interest in anyone like this in forever.”
What sort of thought process was that? “So you decided to steal from the kingdom.”
“No, I already decided to steal from here before I settled on meeting you,” Cipher admits, giving him a playful wink. “Or maybe I didn't. Maybe this is all a coincidence. Maybe I've never even met a Tribbie in my life, and you're just yapping away to some random stranger that stole your stuff and gave you suspicious candy.”
The way she put it made it sound really bad, but the prince has literally no idea what to say to that, so he decides to just move on.
“Are you going to keep participating in the tournament?” Mydei asks.
Cipher hums, swaying into Mydei's side like she's an actual cat. “I dunnooo… I might, I might not. Depends on if the second round is fun or not.”
“What would make it fun?”
She chuckles. “What about a competition to see how many people in the audience have to lose their wallets before they notice?”
“No,” Mydei says.
“I'm kiddingggg,” Cipher drawls.
“So… You're not leaving?” Mydei had to drop a lore bomb on her after the tournament, so she better stay awhile.
“Mmm, I gotta watch a certain kitty cat trash a man's behind and make sure he doesn't die or whatever,” Cipher tells him. “They begged and pleaded and gave me all sorts of shiny goodies– and I always follow up on a deal, so. Your kingdom will just have to deal with lighter pockets for a bit!”
Mydei tilts his head to one side. So Tribbie and the rest probably told Cipher everything already. Saved him some trouble. “I appreciate it, but I can't die. Please don't interfere in my fights.”
“I dunnooo–”
“Please,” Mydei repeats, looking Cipher dead in the eye. “At least in the fight between my father and I, okay? This is personal.”
For a moment, the demigod only stares at him. And then she pats his helmet like she's patting a cat's belly– all cuteness aggression, and zero finesse.
“Aww, how can I say no to those big ol’ eyes?” Cipher croons, shaking Mydei by the head like he's a pair of maracas.
“You can barely see my eyes through the helmet,” Mydei counters, voice wobbling from all the shaking.
“It's the principle of the thing,” she insists, finally setting his head free with a small giggle. “Who am I to stand in between a delicious blood feud? I'll just be in the stands cheering you on, then.”
“Thank you,” Mydei says. “If you don't mind, when the tournament's over… Would you mind staying in the kingdom for a little bit? I have to tell you something.”
“What a coincidence,” Cipher drawls. “I was told to stay in the kingdom after the tournament anyway. And I've got something to say to you as well.”
Wonder what that could be.
“Here, gimme your phone. I'll put my number in,” Cipher says, making grabby hands at him. “It'll make it easier for us to talk.”
Mydei takes his phone out of his inventory and she whistles when it appears out of thin air. “You've really got some tricks, huh, little prince?”
“Don't call me that,” Mydei huffs, and does a double take when she just puts :3 as her name in his phone.
“Don't worry about putting your info in my phone, I've already got it,” Cipher says, with a wink. This isn't even the tenth weirdest thing to happen to him within the past 24 hours, so Mydei doesn't comment. “Alrighty– I think I'm gonna bounce for now! Leonnius has got some teammates to touch base with!”
“Are others still seeing you as Leonnius?”
“They should be,” Cipher says lightly. “I can feel your teammates’ glare from across the arena. And other glares too. Man, aren't you popular?”
“I thought the disguise would fade if someone saw through it,” Mydei says.
“Mm, but you're not just someone, are you?” Cipher replies, which is just baffling. “By the way, if you're still looking for those kids you were with, they're in the second row literally across from ours,” Cipher suddenly announces, pointing across the way. Mydei follows her finger and immediately spots Phainon and Cyrene, who are definitely staring at him. They wave once they notice him staring back. He can't really see their faces from this far away, but they're definitely not smiling.
The prince winces. He's suddenly a lot more grateful for that candy.
“...You've been watching me for awhile?” Mydei asks. How else would she know who he's been hanging out with?
“Who's to say?”
⟦ I'll widen my sensing range, ⟧ the System murmurs, almost to itself.
Mydei frowns at her, but she can't see his disapproval, so it does absolutely nothing to wipe the smirk off her face.
“See you later, little prince,” Cipher pats him on the shoulder. “Don't get knocked out in this upcoming round!”
And with that, she's skipping away. The second that she disappears in the crowd, a few chimes go off in Mydei's head.
⟦ QUEST START! ⟧
⟦ More Than Nine Lives. +100 P-Points upon completion. ⟧
⟦ Current Quest Objective: Speak with Cipher after the Kremnos festival. ⟧
Hm, as expected.
⟦ QUEST START! ⟧
⟦ Calamity Comes In Threes. +100 P-Points upon completion. ⟧
⟦ Current Quest Objective: Wait for another. ⟧
A second quest? And what the heck did wait for another mean? Another person? It did say that calamity comes in threes, so if Mydei and Cipher were two “calamities…” Who was the third?
⟦ Hehe. ⟧
“You and your hehes,” Mydei mutters, a little amused by the System's good mood. Who hasn't he met out of the Chrysos Heirs so far? Hyacine, and Castorice… Did the Trailblazer count?
Well, between Hyacine and Castorice, Castorice fit the calamity bill more than the Chrysos Heirs’ resident healer. Plus, Mydei thinks he remembers that the Cipher, Castorice, and Mydeimos trio was dubbed the Calamity Trio by the fandom… But did that have any real relevance to his life right now? It must, considering that there was a sudden quest about it.
…God, was Castorice coming to the festival too? Mydei would be happy to see her, but there was too much happening already. Also, now that Mydei thinks about it, Castorice had like zero reason to be here, so he probably was safe from explaining his backstory to another person.
⟦ ☆⌒(≧▽° ) For now! ⟧
“Now why do you sound excited?” Mydei asks. “I haven't even told Cipher anything yet.”
Who knows how much Tribbie told her besides his preference for honey. Mydei combs over their conversation for anything that stuck out– Cipher was as cryptic and as playful as she was in game, but–
Mydei's thoughts come to a screeching halt.
“...She…”
⟦ Mydei? ⟧
“She said phone, and not teleslate,” Mydei whispers.
⟦ Did she? ⟧ The System asks. ⟦ I didn't even notice she did. ┐(￣ヘ￣;)┌ Maybe you misheard? ⟧
“No, I definitely heard phone!” Mydei exclaims, slapping his thighs and standing. “System, where did she go–”
Before Mydei can start sprinting after her, two figures appear in front of him. It's Hephaestion and Gnaeus– and they don't look happy.
“Did that guy bother you?” Hephaestion demands, stopping Mydei in his tracks. Ugh, he doesn't have time for–
…No. He needs to relax. Mydei wouldn't have enough time to interrogate Cipher anyway, and the festival was literally going to start up again soon. He didn't want their conversation to be interrupted.
Besides, Hephaestion and Gnaeus look worried. Mydei wills his heart to slow and he sits back down.
“No, he didn't bother me,” Mydei replies, trying to convey calm. He is totally not freaking the fuck out. “We were just chatting.”
“He was patting your head,” Gnaeus points out.
Mydei shrugs because he's so cool and normal about everything. He can be so chill about someone else potentially being isekai'd like him. “It's fine. People seem to do that.”
“But you shouldn't let just anyone pat you on the head, Mydei! That guy took a ribbon from me yesterday,” Hephaestion scowls. “Did you catch his name?”
“Leonnius,” Mydei says, even though he's unsure if he should be perpetuating Cipher's lie when the real guy was apparently sick in bed. Eh. It should be fine, right? Mydeimos’ friends were all supposed to meet anyway. “He took a ribbon from a guy I beat up yesterday before I could, too.”
“I'm going to make him regret that,” Hephaestion decides, his smile sparkling.
…Well, they do say that some of the strongest friendships start off on the wrong foot!
⟦ (´･ω･`)? Who's they? ⟧
“I don't know, I'm making shit up to cope with the fact that I may have messed up a first meeting,” Mydei murmurs.
“Mydei?”
“Don't worry about it,” Mydei says, wondering how many people were going to catch him talking to himself today. In an attempt to change the subject, Mydei casts his eyes down to the arena. “Should we join the other competitors now?”
Hephaestion hums. “There hasn't been an official announcement to gather quite yet, but it couldn't hurt!”
Gnaeus nods. He's still looking at Mydei with a searching gaze, like he's waiting for the prince to tell him that Cipher's headpats were actually unwelcome and that he needed Gnaeus to enact revenge. Or something. Mydei's just guessing. He shrugs at the man again and he finally turns away.
They make their way down to the lower part of the arena and start warming up. Being here in the innermost part of the castle is daunting– if Mydei thought that yesterday was loud, it's got nothing on today's noise. He can see that the spectators are practically sitting on each other to fit more people on the seats like it's the finals and not round two.
“Is it just me, or is the audience bigger today?” Mydei asks, looking to Hephaestion.
“Not just you,” the teenager confirms. “Most Kremnoans jump at the opportunity to enter the castle just to see the Blade of Fury up close.”
“I see…” That made sense.
“King Eurypon closed the castle to the general public long ago, so…” Hephaestion makes a what can you do gesture with his hands. “Any excuse, right?”
Out of the corner of his eye, Mydei can see a group of bards start to set up their instruments in the stands by the royal seats. They must be starting soon.
“I hope the round goes by quickly,” Hephaestion chuckles. “I won't be able to handle too many tests of endurance.”
“You need to work on that,” Gnaeus comments.
“Hey…!”
Mydei's about to reply too when a red screen pops up in front of his face.
⟦ REMAIN VIGILANT. ⟧
Ah, the Other System. “What's wrong?” Mydei asks, now warily scanning the stands. He shuffles away from his teammates as naturally as he can.
⟦ I ⟧ ⟦ SENSE ⟧ ⟦ THE WINDS ⟧ ⟦ OF CHANGE ⟧ ⟦ INCOMING. ⟧
“They've kinda been blowing for awhile,” Mydei says, but doesn't let down his guard. The Other System popping up must mean that some shit was about to go down. “Anything in particular I should keep an eye on?”
⟦ YOUR ⟧ ⟦ WELLBEING. ⟧
“I was thinking more along the lines of Eurypon,” Mydei says, though he can't deny that he's a little bashful at that reply. “Don't fret too much about me. You and the System are total worrywarts.”
⟦ WITH GOOD REASON. ⟧
Fair.
⟦ IF YOU ⟧ ⟦ ARE STRUCK ⟧ ⟦ IN YOUR WEAK ⟧ ⟦ SPOT. ⟧ ⟦ THE WORLD ⟧ ⟦ WILL END. ⟧
“...No?” Hopefully Anaxa would end up warning the rest of the Chrysos Heirs about the future so that didn't come to pass.
⟦ YES. ⟧ ⟦ I WILL ⟧ ⟦ WE WILL ⟧ ⟦ END ⟧ ⟦ EVERYTHING. ⟧
Ah, that's what the Other System meant… Is it weird that Mydei's a little flattered? “Don't do that,” Mydei huffs, thinking that they're mostly kidding.
⟦ HATE ⟧ ⟦ WILL ⟧ ⟦ OVERFLOW ⟧ ⟦ WE CANNOT ⟧ ⟦ CONTROL IT ⟧ ⟦ SHOULD ⟧ ⟦ YOU ⟧ ⟦ PERISH ⟧ ⟦ FOR GOOD. ⟧
Hate? “Don't end the world for one person. Can you even do that? Are you like god or something?”
The Other System doesn't reply right away, and Mydei's heart picks up speed in record time. “...Wait. No way. Right?”
It might explain how Mydei's here, in a completely different world, and not dead…
⟦ I WOULD ⟧ ⟦ HAVE TO ⟧ ⟦ GO ⟧ ⟦ WITH ⟧ ⟦ “OR SOMETHING.” ⟧
Huh. So, not god?
⟦ THE CONCEPT OF ⟧ ⟦ A GOD. ⟧ ⟦ IS EVERCHANGING. ⟧ ⟦ WHAT DO ⟧ ⟦ YOU THINK ⟧ ⟦ A GOD IS? ⟧
Uhhh. “Someone super powerful?” Mydei can't really say that he's thought about it too hard.
⟦ THEN.⟧ ⟦ BY YOUR ⟧ ⟦ DEFINITION ⟧ ⟦ I ⟧ ⟦ COULD ⟧ ⟦ BE A GOD. ⟧
Hmm. If they were powerful enough to say that, then no wonder they offered to fight Nikador on his behalf. “We should fight.”
⟦ NO. ⟧
“I would like to get a measure of your strength,” Mydei adds.
⟦ YOU ARE ⟧ ⟦ NINE. ⟧
Laaaame. Mydei would ask again when he was older, then. Speaking of things he'd like to ask… “I've been wondering– why do you speak in multiple text boxes?”
A weird beeping sound goes off in Mydei's head.
⟦ IT IS ⟧ ⟦ DIFFICULT ⟧ ⟦ TO SPEAK ⟧ ⟦ TO YOU. ⟧
That wasn't the reason he was expecting. “Why?”
⟦ SO MANY THINGS ⟧ ⟦ I WANT ⟧ ⟦ TO SAY. ⟧ ⟦ BUT ⟧ ⟦ I CAN'T. ⟧
Oh?
Seriously, the Systems were just too mysterious to Mydei. Whether or not they were gods, or people, or artificial intelligence– the prince didn't know anymore, but he wanted to find out.
⟦ TAKES ⟧ ⟦ SO MUCH ⟧ ⟦ WILLPOWER ⟧ ⟦ TO SPEAK. ⟧
“Does it take less power for the System to talk to me in comparison to you?” Mydei asks.
⟦ IN A ⟧ ⟦ SENSE. ⟧ ⟦ SPEAKING ⟧ ⟦ TO ⟧ ⟦ YOU ⟧ ⟦ IS ⟧ ⟦ A PRIVILEGE ⟧ ⟦ I DO NOT ⟧ ⟦ DESERVE. ⟧
Ehh. “Says who?”
⟦ SAYS ME. ₍ᐢ. ༝ .ᐢ₎ ⟧
Bunny kaomoji… “Well I say you deserve to speak to me,” Mydei counters.
The Other System laughs. It doesn't sound like any noise that either System has ever made before. In fact, it sounds almost human– like someone's actually laughing in his ear. It's deep, rich, and self-loathing.
⟦ YOU ⟧ ⟦ WOULDN'T ⟧ ⟦ BE SAYING ⟧ ⟦ THAT ⟧ ⟦ IF YOU KNEW. ⟧
Mydei watches in disbelief as the red screen actually crumples in on itself and disappears. That was crazy enough on its own, but there was the added weird comment of “if you knew.” Knew what? Did the System do something bad to him? As far as Mydei knows, both Systems have only ever been good to him. Mysterious, maybe a little presumptuous at times, but good.
He swears, every day he gets more questions than answers. Mydei's about to call out to the System when someone approaches to pat him on the back.
It's Hephaestion, with Gnaeus not too far behind. “Look alive, Mydei,” he says, raising his voice to be heard over the band. “It's starting.”
Right. Mydei shakes his head to snap himself out of his funk. Did the hours really go by so quickly? Time really did fly when you didn't know what the fuck was going on.
All of the guards in the inner arena turn as one towards the royal seats and salute with their weapons in hand. Naturally, everyone's attention turns with them, Mydei being no different. There was only one man that would warrant this amount of scrutiny– and Mydei was dying to get a good look at the bastard.
“Here he comes,” the prince hears Hephaestion mutter, jaw audibly clenched.
The prince clenches his fists.
Come on out, Eurypon.
As if on cue, the king arrives, not entering from the gates like the rest of them, but from behind the stream of lava. Must be a hidden set of doors there. Eurypon sweeps out like he's hot shit, cape flowing out behind him. The prince is trying to take him seriously, but he resents that man so badly, it just looks to Mydei like he's in severe aurafarming debt. Behind the king, an army of warriors marches in– Krateros being the closest one. Yeah, it would be a domineering, dignified display if Mydei cared enough about that nonsense.
Oddly enough, Mydei feels some relief at seeing him. Not because he's happy to see Eurypon, but because Mydei can recognize that there's not a single trace of what he sees in the mirror on that man's face. Luckily for him, Eurypon's genes didn't even bother putting up a fight. Admittedly there is some royal mien in his bearing, but it's overshadowed by the obvious instability displayed on his face.
The crowd is oddly silent. It isn't a reverent sort of silence– sure, they're clearly waiting for the king to speak, but it doesn't seem like they want to hear whatever he's got to say. Mydei holds his breath as Eurypon plants his disgraceful ass in his designated seat. The king looks– well, he looks like shit. And yes, Mydei is biased, but he really does look like he spent the past few hours red in the face from fury.
⟦ (￢‿￢ ) Three guesses as to why, ⟧ the System says, playfully. The prince would crack a smirk, but he's too busy trying to resist the urge to fly over to his father and start throwing punches.
Eurypon clears his throat. Mydei swears that you could hear a pin drop in this arena right now.
“I shall be overseeing this round,” he announces. “Fight in a manner that honors Nikador.” And then he stops talking.
…Really? Was that it?
Everyone's looking around, confused. Hell, Krateros is, too. He shakes off the confusion faster than the rest of them though, and takes a step forward.
“Y-yes, what a true honor. Thank you, your Majesty.”
Yeah right. Mydei rolls his eyes.
Krateros clears his throat to regain his composure and takes another confident step towards the audience. “Your task for round two is to quell as many Titankin as possible in the designated amount of time!”
Ah, that did indeed have more fighting than tug of war for Kremnoans, Mydei supposes.
“The Titankin will come in waves– A numerous amount. We will not announce how many rounds of Titankin will appear, nor how many teams will advance,” Krateros continues. The prince glances over at Hephaestion, who looks paler than ever. After all, this certainly was a test of endurance. Ah, they'd be fine. He and Gnaeus could cover for Hephaestion if he felt ill.
Mydei tunes the rest of Krateros’ words out to stare some more at his father. The years haven't been kind to him. He's lost most of the presence that he previously possessed, and it looks like there's permanent shadows beneath his eyes.
Good.
Everyone's attention turns to the doors of the arena, so that's where Mydei looks to as well. Two guards are in the process of opening the gates, revealing a genuine army of Titankin on the other side. To Mydei, they're small fry.
To the majority of the competitors…
What did the game say about Titankin, again? He knows that the Kremnoans used them for training and in war– and that was about it. Of course, he knew that they were the generic enemy in-game, but in terms of lore, they were relevant to Nikador. Or so he thinks.
⟦ Ooh, I got this, Mydei! Here, I'll rattle off the description from the game. ⟧
⟦ Titankin sculpted from "Strife." They are infused with Nikador's golden ichor. They contain plundered "rationality" within their vessels. The reason behind their creation is not truly toward the study of universal knowledge, but to delve deep into brutal martial tactics and the merciless laws of survival, further spreading madness masquerading as philosophy. ⟧
“Thank you,” Mydei murmurs.
Sculpted from Nikador, hmm?
“Didn't you make the Titankin or something?” Mydei asks, moving to tug on Gnaeus’ clothes. “You can control them, can't you?”
“I can command them,” Gnaeus confirms, leaning down to hear better.
“If it gets dangerous, can you stop them?”
“If that's what you want.”
Mydei nods. “It is.” No unnecessary killing needed. “Please make sure no one actually dies.”
Gnaeus grunts, then leans in, voice dropping. “It is fortunate that I am here. I can sense a greater number of those things waiting in the distance, far more than the eye can see.”
Hmm. Mydei stares at the number of competitors remaining with a frown. He's not really confident in everyone's skills. “Can you maybe make them walk into the lava?”
“Unnecessary. I can even command them to die.”
Interesting. “Then, at my say-so, would you?”
“I would.”
Mydei's about to declare a signal of some kind when Krateros sweeps out a hand. “The round shall begin at my word! Prepare yourselves!” That was far less dramatic compared to yesterday. Eurypon must be getting impatient.
⟦（˶′◡‵˶）Mydei, I believe in you! ⟧ The prince gives the screen a little smile.
“I'll just yell,” Mydei says, to which Gnaeus nods. “You'll know.”
“AND….. BEGIN!”
The roar of the crowd heralds the arrival of the Titankin storming into the arena. Come to think of it, would the people in the stands be protected from stray arrows or attacks–
A sword swings past his head, as if punishing Mydei for daring to be distracted in battle. Right. He throws himself into the fray.
Fighting Titankin is easier than fighting humans, because Mydei doesn't need to hold back at all. When one tries to unseam him from hip to head with a blade, Mydei can just kick the sword away and punch it through the neck. When another tries to shoot him full of arrows, he can catch one and send it flying straight back into its skull.
One Titankin tries to punch him, but Mydei grabs its massive arm and rips it clean from the socket, using it like a baseball bat. A swing, and a good handful of Titankin go flying.
Easy peasy.
The problem is, the waves of Titankin are truly endless. More and more push their way through the gates, filling the arena so thoroughly that some Titankin actually fall into the lava in their haste to get to the competitors. It's like some scene from a zombie movie, only the zombies are less bitey and more stabby.
When Mydei glances over at the other competitors, he can see that they're starting to sweat. All except for Gnaeus, of course. He looks bored. And more than that, he keeps glancing over at Eurypon like he's measuring the distance between them, and how fast he could cross said distance.
“He better not,” the prince mumbles to himself, ducking under another fist.
More and more Titankin bodies pile up in the arena, carpeting the floor. As they're filled with golden ichor, the ground is becoming damp– Mydei nearly slips and trips over the amount of carnage in everyone's wake.
The smell of this much blood and ichor is nauseating, but hey! This is actually going better than what Mydei expected! From the looks of it, no one's gotten worse than a nasty gash or broken bone, likely thanks to what Mydei told Gnaeus earlier. And though the participants look tired, it doesn't seem like anyone's going to pass out from exhaustion.
Yeah, this is going well.
Too well, if you asked Mydei.
As though the Titankin can read his mind, they all freeze in place as one, all combat coming to a screeching halt.
“Eh?”
“What's going on?”
“Hey, what happened?”
Confused murmurs rise up like a fog from both the participants and the audience in the stands. One of the warriors near Mydei even pokes the closest Titankin experimentally– but nothing happens. They're all frozen, like someone just hit the pause button on them.
The prince scurries over to Gnaeus, who is surprisingly– or perhaps not surprisingly– covering for Hephaestion, who is taking the chance to catch his breath. “Are you doing this?”
“...No,” Gnaeus says. “The Kremnoans have the means to create Titankin– so they too, can control them.”
Mydei immediately catches his drift and turns towards the royal seats. So does everyone else.
“What is he trying to do?” Mydei mutters, waiting for Eurypon's next move.
He doesn't have to wait long. The king stands. A hush falls over the arena, instinctively waiting for Eurypon to speak.
“Why have none of you died yet?”
It's the very first thing that the king has bothered to say since the beginning of the round, and, impossibly, the crowd becomes even more silent.
Mydei watches as Krateros whirls on Eurypon, alarmed. “Your Majesty–”
“Silence,” Eurypon commands. Krateros’ jaw snaps shut as the king begins to pace. “I should hear naught but eagerness to offer oneself up to our god-king, so allow me to ask you again– why have none of you died yet?”
The prince already knew that Eurypon wasn't in his right mind– had seen it for himself, actually– but experiencing it again after so many years was off-putting. No one speaks. Hell, Mydei swears that people aren't even breathing.
Eurypon's muttering something too quiet to be picked up by Mydei's naked ear.
System? What's he saying?
⟦ He's rambling on and on about how there isn't enough strife! And then something like valorous death before glorious return. And not enough. Not enough. Repeat over and over again. <(．＿．)> ⟧
Greaaaat.
Eurypon finally stops muttering and lifts his head, revealing an all too-bright gaze that promises nothing good.
“Last night, a rat snuck into our holy domain and destroyed that which was keeping Nikador whole,” Eurypon begins, voice low. “I don't expect any of you to know anything about that, no– but I do expect my subjects to act, as even the lowliest of mortals have their uses. I have seen redemption in each and every single one of you. Rejoice!”
What did that even mean…?
“This year's festival will not end until we've shed enough blood to summon Nikador,” the king continues, eyes wild with madness. “I call for the heads of each and every competitor, guard, and spectator here. As king, I command you to die in our god-king's name.”
…
…What?
Woah, woah woah woah. What?
Mydei looks around at the gathered crowd to see if he's hallucinating what Eurypon just said. Nope! Basically everyone is looking at the king like what the fuck.
No wonder Eurypon wanted the round altered– he wanted everyone here to die, and quickly.
Krateros is the first to snap out of it. “Your Majesty?! How could you say such a thing?”
“How dare you raise your voice at me?” Eurypon demands, ice-cold. “Count yourself lucky that I am not holding a weapon– otherwise I would have already skewered you with it.”
He's never seen Krateros so pale.
Fight back, Mydei mentally urges him. Say something!
Krateros says nothing at all. In fact, he ducks his head in subservience– eyes on the floor. This is why Mydei loathes his ingrained loyalty to the royal Kremnoan family.
Eurypon casts his gaze back to the spectators and raises a brow. “Well? Get to it. The sooner that blood is spilled, the sooner that Nikador will return to us.”
“Your Majesty!” Someone nearby yells. Mydei turns and sees that it's Hephaestion, of all people. “You're not serious, are you? You're calling for the deaths of everyone here?! How can you call yourself king when you order the deaths of your own people so callously? Are you not ashamed?!”
When the king replies, his voice is much colder than it was in comparison to when he was speaking to Krateros. “Someone so insignificant dares to challenge my orders?”
Mydei watches as Eurypon approaches the guard closest to him and rips the spear from his hands. Wait, is he…
The king points the spear at Hephaestion and lets it fly– but it doesn't meet the mark. A wall of red crystals emerges from the ground, stopping the weapon in its tracks mere centimeters away from Hephaestion's chest.
“You dare defend yourself when I've deigned to pass judgment onto you?!” Eurypon screeches, face turning a violent shade of red. But Hephaestion isn't even looking at the king anymore– nor the weapon that came scarily close to ending his life.
He's looking at Mydei. Hell, everyone in the arena is. Thanks to yesterday's events, the prince is certain that they all know that it was him that defended Hephaestion just now.
The System pops up in front of his face, screens vibrating so badly that it's near impossible to read the displayed text. ⟦ ( ✧Д✧) Are you doing this, Mydei? Here and now? ⟧
“...That man's given me no choice,” he mutters, instead of what he really wants to say, which is just fuck and shit. “I think I really am doing this.”
⟦ Squeeeeeeee! ヽ(▽ ｀)ノ♪ヽ(´▽｀)ノ♪ヽ( ´▽)ノ ⟧
⟦ Eeeeeeeeeeeeee!!! (/ω＼) ⟧
⟦ Mydei, Mydei, Mydei! Ahhhh! ₍₍⚞(˶˃ ꒳ ˂˶)⚟⁾⁾ Is there anyone mightier than you in this world?!?! ⟧
⟦ The answer is no, by the way! ⟧
⟦ (((ꎤ’ω’)و三 ꎤ’ω’)-o≡ Beat his ass!!!!!! ⟧
The System's sheer excitement is the only thing stopping Mydei from screaming at the top of his lungs. God, he can't believe he's doing this right now. He thought he had more time…!
As if his name was called, Mydei turns his head.
Gnaeus– no.
Nikador is gazing upon him. The Titan nods, and gestures towards the king as if saying all yours.
Right.
Okay.
The prince takes a deep, deep breath and steps forward.
“It was I who defended him,” Mydei declares, stepping forward. Eurypon's focus quickly shifts, and he glares so harshly that Mydei can feel a chill run down his spine. Not from fear, but anticipation.
“Oh? How noble of you to volunteer to be the first to die,” Eurypon suddenly chuckles, darkly amused.
“No thank you,” Mydei replies.
Eurypon's smile quickly fades. “No?”
“If you're so eager to sacrifice lives in Nikador’s name, you should be the first to do so,” Mydei tells him, voice clear and strong enough to ring out through the entirety of the arena.
The king snorts. And then begins to double over in laughter. It's the only audible thing in the arena.
What a prick. Fine, let him have this last moment of amusement. When Mydei’s done with him, he won’t find a damn thing funny anymore.
“Do you think that I am joking?” Mydei asks, once the laughter dies down. “That tossing lives away on a whim is funny?”
“I–”
“I did not actually want you to reply,” Mydei interrupts him, causing Eurypon to snarl like a dog. “In fact, I already know your answer. You found it hilarious enough to sacrifice the lives of your own wife and son instead of your own. How pathetic.”
It's Mydei's turn to laugh in Eurypon's face, which obviously displeases the man. He points an accusing finger at the prince.
“How dare you?!”
“HOW DARE I? HOW DARE YOU?!” Mydei erupts. His yell is loud enough to make Eurypon reel back. “You spineless, monstrous, hypocritical piece of shit! There is no one, no one more unworthy than you to be king– hell, forget being king, you're unworthy of drawing breath for a moment longer!”
Unrepentant laughter. An even voice when telling living beings to die.
Ah, he can't stand it any more!
Mydei had little to do in the Sea of Souls as an infant besides die, talk to the System, and turn his mother's final words over in his head, time and time again.
It is her words that give him the final push to step forward. Screw the festival finale, screw isekai, and screw this damn king. They were going to get even today. Mydei rips off his helmet and tosses it to the ground. He hears gasps, but the prince doesn't turn. Right now, he's only got eyes for the king.
It's funny– Eurypon is perhaps the only person in the kingdom to look surprised at the reveal of his identity.
“...Gorgo?”
Mydei grits his teeth. How dare he speak her name?
“With the Blade of Fury above us and the people bearing witness, I, Mydeimos, hereby move to challenge the throne in accordance with the laws of Kremnos! O unworthy king, in the name of the citizens of Castrum Kremnos, I demand that you duel me!”
Mighty is he, the Undying Mydeimos.
Is he aware of his splendor? The glory he would bring?
Every wanderer, every warrior throughout the land
Has been waiting for their king.