Tags: Romance, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, follows the canon story, no use of Y/N or other variants, other characters show up, smut in chapter 7
Author's Notes: This one's a bit shorter but the following 2 chapters will each be twice as long :3
Reblogs and feedback are welcome ā”
AO3 Link
Prev Chapter
The golden threads flickered before falling away like wheat stalks drifting away with the wind.
Aglaea was gone.
And with it the protection surrounding Okhema and still, he did not make a move. He could not make a move. Yet.
Aquila still reigned in the sky, its Coreflame has not been claimed yet and at this pointā¦ Khaslana looked at you. He could not take you there and seize it himself. Not if he wanted to keep you safe until the very end.
He would wait. This cycle, he would wait for the Chrysos Heirs to get the Coreflame and bring it to the Vortex before claiming it himself instead of confronting Hyacinthia in the sky.
He had to. If he didnāt want to see you perish before he reset it all.
ā ā ā ā ā ā ā
You found him staring into the sky again.
As you came back from that little stream you found earlier, washed and freshened up again after yourā¦ earlier activities - you saw him standing at the edge of a cliff, masked face turned to the sky. The way he stood there made you wonder if someone with keen eyes from Okhema could spot him in the open like this.
Yet, knowing why he did it and that he once more spent the minutes and hours like this, made your smile - subtle as it was - drop.
Before, you have found it odd how he so often seemed to be lost in thought, staring into the never-changing sky. A sight you had deemed confusing as it made this dark and dangerous swordmaster look almost calm and peaceful.
Now that you knew the truth behind him and the gesture, it left nothing but an ache in your chest.
You approached him slowly, allowed your hand to brush his arm as you came to stand next to him. Warm. Not burning. Just a warmth flickering beneath the surface, a vague promise - or threat - of the blazing storm underneath the layers of fabric and the charred bones.
He didnāt look at you but he made a sound, low, guttural. More a groan of discomfort than a way to acknowledge you. You looked at the ground. If his condition got worse again? The memories youāve seenā¦ You saw how his mind deteriorated the more time passed, sometimes worse than in others. Sometimes he faced the current cycleās Phainon with a clear mind, other times he could barely hold on, only capable of transferring his memories to Phainon by sheer will.
You followed his gaze, stared into the dark sky. A dark gray mass, as if clouds refused to let the stars and moon peek through. You wondered what a clear starry night sky would look like. Beautiful probably. Like the depths of the purple flames that escaped through the cracks on his headā¦
Would you ever see a sky like that? Would he ever do so? Not until he got help, someone capable of breaking these cyclesā¦
Butā¦ Wasnāt that someone already in Okhema?
This Stelle and her companion. They were outlanders, said they came from far away, but after Khaslana has shown you his memoriesā¦ They couldnāt be from a simple village far away from Okhema, he wouldāve recognized them, he wouldāve seen them before in those 33 million cycles.
But if they werenāt from Amphoreus, that meantā¦
āThese two outlandersā¦ā you said. āThey might actually be from beyond the sky.ā
āā¦ā A sound escaped him from behind the mask akin to a thoughtful sigh but he didnāt say anything in response. Only his gaze turned down and towards Okhema, still within reach, still beautiful and peaceful. Youāve talked about Stelle some time ago when you saw her running down the street leading out of the city.
The way he had looked at her and then up into the sky. He had made that connection back then already. That silent flicker of hopeā¦
āWe saw her a few days ago, but I donāt know if they even still are in Okhema now. Still, they seemed close with lady Aglaea, and when I met her she was eager to help her and Phainon,ā you paused and looked at him.
He has told you that Aglaea was gone. Killed by the Cleaners, the same people that had attacked you, that he had protected you from, but you didnāt ask for more details as to not push him in his condition further. But the thought of her being gone still left an emptiness within you that was hard to fathom.
You were never close. You barely ever met her before, but ever since you remembered, Lady Aglaea has been there. She has been the pillar of the Flame-Chase journey for over a thousand years. To think she simply wasnāt there anymoreā¦ You shook your head, pulled yourself out of these thoughts.
āIām just saying that there is a chance. She didnāt seem like the type to just leave when people need help and if anything, she might try to help bring the Flame-Chase to its conclusion. So maybeā¦ā you trailed off but the implications hung heavy in the air.
āI mustā¦ continue,ā he said. āKephaleāsā¦ Coreflameā¦ left Okhema.ā
āWhat?!ā the words left you without thinking, without realizing how much he struggled to get the words out.
What did he mean? Kephaleās Coreflame was contained - and guarded like nothing else in Okhema - it couldnāt just vanish. Did someone steal it? Now that Aglaeaās golden threads were gone? But who would dare to? And why? The Council? As a final push against the Flame-Chase? But the people could hardly take kindly to that. Even if they were doubtful towards the Chrysos Heirs, taking a Coreflame - Kephaleās no less - was a crime - a sin - that was not tolerable. Or fathomable.
āTime isā¦ running out,ā he said, ignoring your shock at the revelation. Perhaps intentional butā¦ after knowing the truth and learning the toll each cycle took on his body and mind the further it progressedā¦ The thought sent a shiver down your spine.
Time was running out. For Amphoreus. But also for him.
You hoped you didnāt accelerate the process. Remembering your time together, you could only imagine how straining it mustāve been for him. Not physically perhaps, but on his soul. He struggled so much already to not lose himself to the fury and fire of the Coreflames, how much of a toll did it take on his soul to linger and focus on emotions and sensations that have seemed out of reach for so long? Or to cling to memories after so many cycles?
You knew he had to do this. Heās shown you his memories. Youāve seen it all. The revelations of that Theoros, the implications of it for rest of the universe, the idea of Khaslana and that young woman and how they stuck to itā¦ For millions of times. He couldnāt stop now. He sat out on this path at the beginning of the new cycleā¦ he had to stick to it.
Butā¦ that didnāt mean you couldnāt wish for a better life - existence - for him. Regardless of what you have experienced with him in past cycles, no matter what you have done in this one mere hours agoā¦ No one deserved that much suffering.
Stillā¦ nothing you could do. You mustnāt do anything. There was no telling what could happen if you tried to interfere yourself or told others about the situation. Khaslana had done so in the past, the outcomes remained unchanged, but who was to say this would remain this way?
You would be with Khaslana.
Until the end.
ā ā ā ā ā ā ā
āCoreflameā¦ here,ā he said once you sensed solid ground beneath your feet again. The air felt odd here, heavy. Like a weight that pulled not only on your shoulders but also on your soul. It sent a shiver down your spine that made you want to wrap your arms around yourself. To shield you from the cold or what lingered in the air.
You didnāt. As a Holy City Guard it was your utmost duty to face any obstacle and threat with fearless determination and a straight, unwavering posture. Yet, coming face to face with the Styxia - and the River of Souls - brought with it a sensation that remained hard to ignore.
May the people forgive you for faltering for a moment.
Something about this place, however, seemed strangely fascinating andā¦ pretty. With the giant moon breaking from the dark blues and greys in the sky, casting down a pale silvery light that made you wonder if this is what a true night sky would look like as well. The River of Soulsās water resembled a purple, shadowy surface, not like water but something darker, deeper and more sinister. As if the river itself tried to tell you to stay away.
The Worldbearing Coreflame was supposed to be here?!
Khaslana had opened the portal without a word, has told to you to come and you had followed without a second thought as he took you away from your supposed destination of Okhema.
Why was it here? How did it get here?
You stood by the end of the bridge, the closed gate of the city ahead, foreboding in its desolated state and yet, fascinating - almost inviting - with the mysterious air surrounding it.
As you stepped forwards onto the bridge, Khaslana stopped you.
āDonāt,ā he said. You looked at him, head tilted, blinking up at him. āYou canātā¦ come.ā A noise that sounded like a heavy exhale escaped him before he continued. āStayā¦ hereā¦ waitā¦ for me.ā
You inhaled sharply. That he asked you to stay behindā¦ What did he expect to encounter here? What was going on in this abandoned city-state? Even more soā¦ It took him so long to get the words out.
Was he trying to avoid involving you in whatever came next? Because he struggled to remain focused on his task, making sure you were safe could prove to be too much? Too risky?
It stung butā¦ you nodded. āAlright,ā you said. You didnāt like it. You could fight! Itās what youāve been trained to do, your duty! Butā¦ your eyes fell onto the river around you. The entire city might be flooded by the river, no one could withstand its depthsā¦ Maybe Lord Mydei could - according to the stories he had - but you? Unlikely, or Khaslana wouldnāt be so concerned for you.
He looked at you from behind the mask. In silence. And you couldnāt tell if he wanted to say something but couldnāt or if he was ensuring you would stay. You had no intention of betraying him.
You didnāt say anything as he left. In his condition, merely comprehending your words could prove difficult, you didnāt wanna add more strain. Not if there was a chance you had accelerated the process with your time together already.
ā ā ā ā ā ā ā
Waiting in this desolated place proved to be an arduous task. Nothing happened, not even sounds from whatever occurred within the cityās walls managed to reach you here, and yet, your neck felt stiff from all the tension in your muscles.
The dark purple color of the river around you made the air feel somber, oppressing the longer you stared at its calm surface. You walked back and forth on the platform, the wood beneath your feet creaking with every step. Almost a welcome sound with the otherwise eerie silence around you with only some noise from nature itself keeping you company.
The sound of harsh wind made you stop instantly. You wheeled around, your hands ready to pull out your bow to fight and defend from the sudden presence - potential threat - appearing at the entrance of the city.
But you paused as you came face to face with Lady Cipher, the demigod of Trickery.
She wore a smile on her face, satisfied, as she gazed over her shoulder at the tower peeking out from far behind Styxiaās walls. Though her smile dropped when she turned around and spotted you. Still, she blinked, confusion written all over her features rather than wariness and caution.
āWho are-?ā she said but then stopped herself, her eyes wide as her hand reached up to her neck only to be met withā¦ nothing? Panic flashed in her eyes for a moment as she was obviously looking for something but you could hardly pay attention to it.
You stood frozen in place, wondering why she was here. Styxia was abandoned, and you couldnāt imagine she enjoyed this place surrounded by so much water. So thenā¦ Did she bring Kephaleās Coreflame here? The demigod of Trickery was more than capable of stealing it and taking it out of Dawncloud without anyone noticing. If she did then-
And within the blink of an eye, Khaslana was back.
He paid you no mind, his gaze focused on Lady Cipher in front of him. You watched as he raised his closed fist, before he opened his hand and-
Time seemed to stand still and pass by in a flash at the same time. Too fast for the mortal eye to follow and yet, you seemed to notice everything around you with such clarity that you didnāt know what to focus on. The calm waves of the water, the sharp wind around you, the overwhelming warmth Khaslana exuded, the panic in Lady Cipherās eyesā¦
The instance faded away within a moment - no longer than a heartbeat - and when you blinked the sound of an impact reached your ears.
As the dust settled and you looked up, Lady Cipher sat on the ground, slumped over, against the cityās gate. Wounded. And Khaslana in front of her. The cape swayed in the wind, concealing her from your gaze each time it picked up again.
You didnāt know what happened, how they had suddenly crossed that bridge without you seeing anything. The demigodās powers? His?
She spoke, the sound of her voice carried even across the bridge, yet you couldnāt make out her words.
Khaslana tossed something aside - a vase? - before his sword appeared in his hand.
You breathed heavily, shoulders tense because you knew what was happening - what was about to happen - but you remained in your place. With trembling hands and a pounding heart. But you didnāt move. You couldnāt.
It needed to be done. You knew that. Youāve seen why. That didnāt make it easier to watch. You have never spoken to her, you wondered if you have ever seen her in Okhema or if that has only been in the memories Khaslana has shown you, butā¦ She was part of the Flame-Chase, a demigod, and if she took Kephaleās Coreflame it must have been for a reasonā¦
You closed your eyes, turned your head as Khaslana raised the sword, and tried to ignore the sound of flesh tearing and the painful gasp that seemed to carry through the air like a scream.
When you opened them again, he stood in front of you again. No sword, no Coreflame, just the silent figure of the person who once again had to claim the life of a friend to keep this world from plunging into darkness.
You tried to focus on him, tried to fight the urge to look past him and see what he has done. You knew the sight that would greet you, you knew what hid behind his form and flowing cape on the other side of that bridge.
Ever since he has taken you with him for the first time, you havenāt stepped into his portal by yourself so quickly and willingly the moment its blue and pink colors lightened up the platform around you.
hello :>> i'm here (again) to announce that ASTRAEA went through a small revamp! but wait... what exactly is ASTRAEA?
ASTRAEA is a small discord server for 18+ people to hang out and socialize in! we have some cool channels for art, fandoms, and all that jazz. we started hosting some interactive days (like music monday, selfship sunday...)!
it's a place for 18+ people who: like to write (or create in any form)! we have a writer bot to help us sprint and channels for help or discussion! we may be heavy on fan-fiction, but that's also a place for all you original writers!
ASTRAEA also welcomes all yumeshippers! we have yet to host our first selfship sunday, BUT! there's already a few channels set for all kinds of fun content! do you want to share a writing piece with your f/o? or maybe you have a nice art of you? you can share it with us!
we also have bots like mudae (we don't talk about it......) but also there's this cool cat bot! get a fun cat reaction under a specific command! if you want to get to know us more, there's also a QOTD ! and a loooooot more cool stuff!
yeah, so if you feel like socializing in a small community, why not join us?
Tags: Romance, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, follows the canon story, no use of Y/N or other variants, other characters show up, smut in chapter 7
Author's Notes: Will update the fic every 2 weeks (give or take 2 days)
Reblogs and feedback are welcome ā”
AO3 Link
Prev Chapter
You didnāt know how much time passed. How long you sat there, trembling, silent, staring into nothing and yet, seeing everything.
When you finally returned to yourself, toā¦ reality - was it really? - the breeze felt cold on your face. Your fingers shook as you touched the wet stains on your cheeks. You wiped them off and inhaled sharply, though even your breathing shook. Everything felt off. Wrong. Your own body as you struggled to your feet, the rough surface of the rock behind you as you leaned against it, the cool wind on your skin as it blew through the trees and rocksā¦
And then your eyes fell on him.
The Flame Reaver.
No. He wasā¦
Your stomach churned as you saw him standing there. Imposing, all sharp edges, the fabric of his clothes torn like what remained of him beyond the clothes. A broken, shattered soul, burned to ashes by the Coreflames and his own fury.
You put a hand to your forehead, winced as you recalled the images. The memories. They were not your own. And yet, they were.
Your heartbeat accelerated as you saw moments of him and you sitting on a hill outside of Okhema, sharing wine and laughter as the Dawn Device shone down on you, your stomach flipped as you recalled sensations of his fingers intertwined with yours and strong, warm arms around you, your mind grew foggy with the yearning these images and memories of his smile and presence awoke within youā¦
Nothing you experienced yourself. These memories felt like sweet dreams and yet, they felt as tangible as the grass beneath your feet right now.
You looked at him again. At the flowing cape in the wind, at the way he gazed up into the sky, waiting - hoping - against all odds for someone to break through that sky and break this endless cycleā¦
How often has he been going through this?
You have seen the same times, moments, years - you werenāt sure - over and over again. How he stood and gazed upon your body after your life has faded away, how he has killed the Chrysos Heirs over and over again, how the Coreflames - millions of them - have burned his body awayā¦
Heās shown you fragments. Parts of experiences and encounters heās gone through countless times clear and real, but those agonizing times, moments of torment and suffering, remained torn, broken, as if they slipped through. Nothing you were meant to see and everything he couldnāt hide regardlessā¦
They made you feel nauseous.
Phainonās smile appeared in your mind. Bright, cheerful, but even the Phainon you have met a few times in this life has always seemed more optimistic in the presence of others than how he presumably was insideā¦
How much of that man still remained behind that mask?
Butā¦ what now? What were you supposed to do knowing all that? You got your answer. You knew everything.
And it made your heart clench in your chest when you realized he saved you from the Cleaners and pulled you along with him because he wanted to keep you safe. That he stopped his fight with Lord Mydei as you stepped in-between them because he refused to hurt you. Because he has seen you fall too many times and now, something has changed, a difference in the way these endless cycles played out, and heā¦ held onto it. Clung to it still knowing the end would be inevitable.
Knowing his consciousness would be burned to embers as days went on, only meant to fan the flames for this cycleās Phainon to keep it all going. Again and again.
Such a cruel fateā¦
Was there anything you could do? To make it easier for him? To stop the Coreflames from burning him away?
This wasnāt your fight. Perhaps, it shouldnāt make you consider following his path - as destructive as it was - butā¦ he was trying to protect Amphoreus. He wanted this world and the people to have a chance to define their own fate. Wanted to keep it from plunging into the darkness and destruction it would face the moment he strayed away from this mission.
How could you with all that knowledge turn away from him and leave him to suffer by himself when heās shown you - here and in his memories - how much you still meant to him?
Despite knowing there was no glee or a happy ending waiting for him or Amphoreus at this point, how could you walk away when you provided a flicker of light that went beyond - deeper - than the Dawn Device ever could? If only just for him?
And those memoriesā¦ Knowing what you and him have had in previous cycles, what might have happened in this one tooā¦ They were yours, it was you and him, even if these sensations and feelings felt strange - detached - from your very soul and heart.
You swallowed, tried to take a deep breath before you approached him. Slowly. Not knowing what you wanted to say - what you could say - to him. You couldnāt take the burden off his shoulders, couldnāt bear the millions - or billions - of Coreflames burning his body for him, butā¦
Maybeā¦ just maybe you could follow him, stay with him and make the road until the end a little bit easier. Even if that simply meant not demanding any more answers - what more did you want and need after all - or trying to find a way to escape from him. Your presence gave him something. And whatever it was it required little effort from your part.
Even if you couldnāt imagine standing by while he kills the Chrysos Heirs. You saw why he did it, why he had to, butā¦ You closed your eyes and took a deep breath. You had to put that aside for now. One step at a time. Maybeā¦ as impossible as it was after everything youāve seen, maybe you could hold onto the hope that it could be avoided. That there was no need for bloodshedā¦
You walked up next to him, turned to him but words escaped you as you looked up at him.
What could you say? What could you offer? What did he want - expect - to hear?
The Flame Rea- no, Khaslana - turned his gaze away from the unchanging sky to you. But he did not just look at you from behind the mask. His stance shifted until he faced you. His entire attention on you. Yet, he didnāt say a word. Stared down at you with the sharp tips and edges of his mask reflecting the pale light of the Evernight.
He struggled speaking, you knew that, you understood why. This was not why he remained silent however. He waited for your reaction, your decision how to proceed.
āIā¦ā you said, searching for the right words. Your gaze fell onto his hand, the one he cut himself and while your own hand trembled, there was little hesitation - little thought - when you reached for it.
He made a sound but let you prevail.
His hand was warm. Heavy. The armor covering it did little to hide the heat from his body. No, the Coreflames. It soaked through the armor and into your skin like a lit fuse that slowly burned its way to become an inferno. It didnāt stop you. Merely hours ago you wouldāve recoiled from him, fled from him if a success was within reach, but nowā¦
You observed his palm, where the armor didnāt cover his skin and traced the cut in the black fabric with a single finger. No pressure on his hand, just your finger hovering over the cut, though in the darkness and with the black fabric still covering him where the armor didnāt, you couldnāt see an injury. Nor did you find any blood.
You let go of his hand.
āIām not gonna try to leave again. Iā¦ Thereās a lot I donāt understand yet butā¦ Iām gonna try.ā
You couldnāt interpret the sound he made in response.
ā ā ā ā ā ā ā
What was he thinking?
As you sat in the soft grass and looked at his back you had no idea how to read him. Not his gestures, not his posture, not the few sounds he made.
After learning the truth, he paused more often, gave you more time to rest. Perhaps you needed it, maybe it was his way of showing concern.
You didnāt complain. Mostly it gave you time to think. But your thoughts always returned to the sound heās made when you told him you would stay.
Was the sound a sigh of relief? Of disapproval? Of joy? How was he feeling? Calm? Tense? Was he scared? You couldnāt take a guess. All you saw were sharp edges, torn and dark fabricā¦
Even when he has been holding your hand to keep the blade still, when he cut his own hand to - somehow - show you these memories, when he has been close enough that you couldāve touched his faceā¦ all that met you was the mask, covering and hiding everything from you.
What remained of him after all these Coreflames? How could he sustain his body when so many Coreflames were burning him from the inside out?
Was there truly still the man beneath the mask you knew from the streets of Okhema? The Chrysos Heir with the bright blue eyes and even brighter smile? The person everyone held in such high regards not because of his strength as a warrior but because he carried himself like a man - a hero - one could approach and talk to, one who tried to help the people wherever he could.
If he took off the mask would you gaze into the eyes of the man who stood by your side through countless cycles? The one who held your hand as you walked the streets during Parting Hour? The one who embraced you when the losses and hurt after a battle became too much to bear? The one who grieved and mourned you when you fell or when the cycle began anew over and over again?
You rose to your feet before your mind could follow.
He acknowledged your presence with a subtle shift of his mask, a side glance, but remained silent. Either waiting for you to speak first or him having nothing to say. You didnāt know butā¦
You took a deep breath. āCan you take off your mask?ā
He stared at you and you so wanted to know what his expression was. Disbelief? Shock? Contemplation?
āā¦ No.ā
Your face fell, though you expected as such. The question for the reasons danced on the tip of your tongue but you held it back. No more questions, you promised to yourself to not demand more explanations from him. Stillā¦
Your hands reached up, slowly, cautiously, and he flinched, pulled his head back the moment your fingers came close to reaching the metal of the mask. It made you pause, your hands hovering in the air. And it made you believe the Coreflames did have an effect on him that he tried to hide from you. From everyone.
āYou showed me the truth and Iām still here,ā you said. āIā¦ I might not fully understand whatās going on butā¦ even if it might surprise me, I wonāt leave. If what you showed me didnāt make me leave your face wonāt make me either. No matter what you look like. Let me see youā¦ please.ā
He remained silent but he did not retreat again when you reached for him this time.
The metal came off easily. It wrapped around his face as if it molded around it, a shape that didnāt require hooks or bands to make it fit perfectly. Someone made this for him. Chartonus? He has appeared a few times throughout the flood of memories heās shown you. The one who made his weapon too.
You pulled the mask off, slowly, gently.
Yet nothing could prevent that gasp of surprise - of shock - from leaving your lips the moment you laid eyes on his face.
You had expected cold eyes. A gaze that had lost its light, had faced the same tragedies unfold over and over again, and yet, had grown numb to the pain of things heās done, of things heās had to do, butā¦
ā¦ not the shell of the man he used to be. Crumbling and falling apart.
He looked like ashes. Like coal that has burned for too long and left only white ash behind. Yet, the fire still raged on. The purple flames of the Coreflames tore through the cracks of his head, untamable and uncontainable.
Your heart clenched in your chest, like a layer of ice engulfing it, contrasting the scorching heat he must be feeling all the time. You swallowed, tried not to let it show on your face as you looked at his face.
His eyeā¦ The clear, bright blue had faded, left behind only deep gray and purple and a gaze that was unfocused and piercing all at once. Nothing like the cheerful and optimistic expression you remembered.
Even without the memories heās shown you, simply seeing him like this - falling apart under the weight and fire of it all - and knowing who he was, made your eyes burn. You suppressed it. Tears would not help. Neither you nor him.
You looked up at him, searched the one eye not scorched by the fire. He held your gaze, unreadable but burning into your soul all the same. Was he waiting for your reaction? Was he feeling nervous? Scared? That you might recoil? Leave after seeing the state he was in?
And although you didnāt expect this, how could you walk away when you could see just how much he was suffering all the time? Now more so than before?
You held his masks tightly in your hand, before slowly reaching out for him with your other. His gaze shifted, from your face to your hand, uncertain as if not knowing whether to retreat or let you prevail. He didnāt move away.
He was warm to the touch. As you cradled his cheek, barely applying pressure of fear to worsen his crumbling state, you could not help but think howā¦ pleasant it felt. Like before when he has carried you away from the battlefield. No scorching heat, no blazing flares, no fear of getting hurt. Whether intentional or not, all this warmth conveyed was a strange sense of safety.
āCan youā¦ Can you feel this?ā you asked. Beneath the warmth there was a smooth, hard surface. Not skin. It didnāt feel like it. Your stomach churned at the realization that it was nothing but bone. Nothing but charred bone of him remained.
āA faintā¦ warmthā¦ lingering,ā he replied and you smiled, weakly, uncertain, yet your heart swelled in relief that this little bit of sensation was still within his reach.
Your lower lip began to tremble and it took all your will to resist the urge to sob. How you went from contempt - fear - to almost crying because of him within such a short time span was beyond your comprehension. And yetā¦ Has it really been a few hours or a day since your stance has shifted? The things heās shown you, the things youāve seenā¦
It all seemed like years. Centuries even. And perhaps, in vague sense, thatās what happened. Caught in your - no, his - mind for centuries while mere minutes have passed in your reality.
Until your heart stopped when he tilted his head, leaning into your touch.
You closed your eyes, inhaled sharply, but it did little to make the burning behind your eyelids disappear. Tears didnāt fall but the heavy weight never ceased pulling on your heart.
Yes, you would stay. Stay and provide what little comfort you had to offer him and maybeā¦ just maybe get a chance to delve deeper into these memories heās shown you. Perhaps his presence and time would allow you to understand - connect - with these feelings and moments youāve seen and experienced, despite howā¦ detached they seemed to you now.
Regardless, if staying with him made his suffering and the things he still had to do a bit more bearable before he would have to embark on this journey all over again - and all alone - maybe that too was part of your duty as a Holy City Guard.
After all, he still was Amphoreusās Delivererā¦
Tags: Romance, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, follows the canon story, no use of Y/N or other variants, other characters show up, smut in chapter 7
Author's Notes: The fic is completely drafted and will have 10 chapters plus an epilogue. Still need to edit the chapters but I will probably post a new chapter every 2 weeks from now on ā”
Reblogs and feedback are welcome ā”
AO3 Link
Prev Chapter
He needed to bide time. The Evernight would not descent upon Okhema yet butā¦
His gaze turned to you. You followed him, stepped through the grass and over stone with precise and confident steps. No fear. No hesitation. No attempt to flee. You have shaken off the dread that has made you cower and run from him before. It twisted something within him. A pleasant sting, muted among the burning hatred in the void of his chest, but not extinguished.
Stillā¦ your presence - unexpected and unfamiliar throughout millions of cycles - brought upon a change he could not evaluate. Heā¦ did not know if things have occurred in this cycle thatā¦ were different compared to before as well.
Like that gray-haired person from the Groveā¦
Heā¦ needed to know.
ā ā ā ā ā ā ā
You havenāt said a word out loud, but the more time passed the bigger Kephale became on the horizon, the Dawn Deviceās light visible but weak, nothing but faint hue on the area around you. You didnāt understand why you returned, what the Flame Reaver planned, but your heart thumped harder in your chest the closer you got.
The mountains and cliffs around you rose high above the Holy City in the distance. You could catch glimpses of it. Small peeks and glances brightly illuminated by the Dawn Device. A sense of home and yet unavailable to you as the Flame Reaver stepped towards the edge of the cliff, but didnāt make any further move to move down the mountains to enter the city.
Could he even? Lady Aglaeaās golden threads served as the highest protection Okhema had at its disposal, maybe it was strong enough to keep a threat such as him out of the city too.
You followed him and still, the corruption from the Black Tide crushed the beautiful and hopeful sight of your home. The black and red patterns spread across the area far and wide. While none of it was in your imminent proximity, ignoring the bright red proved to be an impossible task. It peeked through the trees, lurked behind the rocks and hillsā¦ This area has completely fallen to its destruction.
And still, the space in front of you revealed a serene sight that almost allowed you to ignore the corruption.
Grass covered the soil and stone on the ground and little flowers blossomed between the patches, their petals catching the pale light from the Dawn Device that managed to fight its way through here.
It wasā¦ pretty here.
You stepped into the little field of flowers and crouched down, letting your fingers hover and slider over the tiny petals which would probably be bright yellow and pristine white in broad daylight. Maybe one day Amphoreus could actually enjoy the sights.
The Flame Reaver walked back into the trees, but you only watched how his black robes disappeared in the shadows, you didnāt follow. He clearly intended to come to this exact spot, and even so, he would come for you regardless. At this point, that was one thing you could be sure of.
He did return eventually. With fruits andā¦ nuts. Huh? You didnāt spot any pistachio trees around on the way. Still, you werenāt about to complain and you did appreciate the thought of him as he apparently didnāt need to eat. The steps he took to make sure you were safe and sustained were as confusing as they were commendable. Nothing you would question, at least you would have the strength to keep going. For whatever purpose remained to be seen.
You would kill for some bread to dip into olive oil at this point thoughā¦
The scene carried a sense of peace and calm that became almost laughable the moment your eyes fall on him again. How he stood at the edge of the cliff, gaze behind the mask fixated on the parts of Okhema he could observe, his black robes flowing in the breeze. All dark, terrifying power, with Okhema not knowing that the biggest threat to the Flame-Chase stood right here, outside its bordersā¦
The air around him didnāt change as you walked up to stand next to him, but it became easier to approach him. No longer ruled by fear of a huge, sharp blade when you took a spot close enough that you could easily reach out to him. You followed his gaze in silence, saw the outer streets of the Holy City and sighed. Quietly. So close and yet utterly unreachable as long as he was keen on keeping you around him.
Not much happened on the streets you could see. A dromas passed your view, its heavy steps almost tangible even from that distance, a caravan of perhaps merchants rolled across the white stone, until eventually you spotted that girl, the outlander - Stelle - running down the street as if chasing after something.
The Flame Reaver next to you made a sound.
āWhoā¦ isā¦ she?ā he asked and for a moment you wondered if his voice sounded more strained than usual. You shook it off.
āIām not sure. She and a friend of hers came to Okhema when Titankin invaded. Lord Phainon introduced them as outlanders from afar,ā you replied.
He made a sound, acknowledging your words. He looked at the spot where Stelle has been in view before his gaze turned towards the sky. He did that so often. Just staring wordlessly into the dark, never changing, sky. You didnāt dare to ask why.
Instead, you decided to step back, give him time to contemplate whatever was going through his head but also to enjoy the rather peaceful atmosphere in that tiny field of grass and flowers.
Until you heard a noise. Somewhere from within the trees. Like rustling of leaves when someone walked through thick bushes. You narrowed your eyes, glimpsed over your shoulder at the Flame Reaver but he did not seem to have noticed anything. The noise sounded again. A bit further away this time.
Yetā¦ With furrowed brows you followed the sound. Were you being watched? Followed even? If it was a person they could provide a chance maybe to get out of your situation. Your steps stayed quiet, careful to not alert the Flame Reaver as you walked further into the trees. Of course he would notice but if there was someone out here any second you avoided his attention could mean a success or even victory for you.
The sound slowly drifted away but as you kept walking, behind a constellation of rocks and down what once was a small path between them - now overgrown with moss and roots from the trees - the noise of multiple steps reached your ears. Scurried. Frantic. Mixed with the flapping of wings.
Realization dawned on you before you caught a glimpse of what lay in front of you.
You ducked behind a bigger rock, peeked around its edges. Your gaze darkened and your fists clenched.
The bright red spreading and corrupting the area caught your eyes before anything else.
Though the creatures emerging from its corruption quickly diverted your attention. There were a lot. Reminded you of a small herd of animals, corrupted and corroded by the Black Tide, but who didnāt stray away from their initial territory. Didnāt matter what they once were. With their minds gone theyāve become a threat to every living being in Amphoreus not yet touched by that destructive force.
Your bow appeared in your hands with a quiet buzzing sound that got lost in the wind. Okhema wasnāt that far away and you would neglect your duties if you allowed these creatures to roam about any longer.
The first arrow pierced the winged creature before anything processed you had emerged from your hiding spot and had drawn your bow. It fell with a shriek, a piercing sound that alerted the others before its demise could. You narrowed your eyes, your gaze hard, steeled your mind and thoughts before the upcoming battle.
Staying on your feet, moving swiftly across the rocky ground, proved to be a necessity in this fight. The enemiesā numbers rose, more emerging from the nooks and behind the rocks and trees to support their kin. You didnāt care. You couldnāt focus on that. You had to remain on your feet, dashing and sprinting around that small area as you let your arrows rain down on these creatures from as many angles as you could manage.
They launched at you with blades that merged with their bodies, claws that tore through wood and stone and the sound of it rang in your head like a scream in a cave, yet you didnāt let it disturb you. Your gaze sharp, hands calm as you drew your bow and you watched as another winged creature dropped from above before it had any hope of reaching you, shattering into burning red and black fragments as it hit the ground.
You didnāt waste any time, dashed to the side to avoid the sharp claws tearing through the air and-
The pain hit you so hard and unexpectedly that it made your vision swim. The world lost its focus, the ground spun, colors and shapes blurred as a ringing in your ears drowned out any other sound around you. Your head throbbed. A hand instinctively shot up to hold the spot. Something dull had hit you. There was no wetness on your hand, you still realized that despite how you couldnāt see or hear. Or think. Instincts kicked in and yet-
You had to focus. You could not let the pain overwhelm you. Creatures surrounded you, waited for the chance to take you out. You could not-
A groan left your lips, the breath knocked out of your lungs as your back collided with a hard rock behind you, its cold, moss-covered surface digging into your skin and making your head spin all over again. Your knees buckled, one hand blindly reaching for the stone to keep you upright. If you went down here, if you couldnāt remain on your feet-
You had to get your bow, keep fighting-
With your eyes narrowed, your head throbbing, you braced yourself on the rock behind you - trembling and dazed - and tried to force your vision into focus, yet all you made out were blurs. Reds, oranges and black. Blood rang in your ears. You had to move. Fight. Defend yourself.
Sounds reached your ears through the daze and you tried to hold onto the thought of having to leave, to get out of the way of the inevitable incoming attack-
You lost the ground beneath your feet.
The sudden movement made the throbbing in your head so much worse, caused you to squeeze your eyes shut until you werenāt sure anymore if you were about to faint or-
No, no, no, you couldnāt faint. Youād be dead ifā¦ Butā¦
The impact of the attack never came.
Instead the air grew warm. So warm. It seeped into your skin and bones and engulfed you as if you had stepped close to a furnace. The ringing in your ears dulled, your spinning vision ceased as you came to sit on a surface. And then your head leaned against something. Firm and yet cushioned. Securing you. Cradling you.
Something warm and soft. It pulled you in, let you lower your guard and believe that the danger was gone. You wereā¦ safe. And as you dared to open your eyes, your vision - still unfocused but not as strained - met the dark blacks and purples of a torn coat and the golden colors of metal reflecting the pale light of the night.
It shouldāve startled you. Shouldāve made you struggle and fight until you could flee and escape.
But as he carried you away from the battlefield - that has now been silenced thanks to him - you did not find it in you. Your head hurt and with the adrenaline and urgency of the battle fading it left you strangely drained.
Still, you couldnāt tell if you fell asleep or if the consequences of the hit youāve taken took its toll on you after all, but your consciousness slipped away from you regardless. Foolish and dangerous perhaps just as much butā¦ your body and mind couldnāt resist either.
He hasnāt hurt you until now. He wouldnāt do it now. He wouldnātā¦
ā ā ā ā ā ā ā
The throbbing had subsided by the time you stirred again. Though the silence and cool breeze in the night did help to remain calm, to push off the sensation until your consciousness fully returned to reality. Still, you did squeeze your eyes shut once more before you opened them and let them adjust to the dark surrounding you.
And the more you woke up the more you noticed your surroundings. The cool bark of the tree behind you, the grass beneath youā¦ Gone were the flowers and cliffs as now trees and bushes surrounded you. Like a cave. A hiding spot. And as your hand shifted around, intending to push you onto your feet again, your fingers met the textured surface ofā¦
ā¦ fruits?
Your eyes traveled around the area - he wasnāt around - before they settled on the pomegranates, oranges andā¦ nuts? While you truly missed a proper meal - golden honeycakes sounded so tempting right about now - this helped immensely.
Butā¦ as you ate, you had to appreciate the gesture for you had no idea in what condition you would be without these.
Even so, the thought spun around your head that the Flame Reaver took the time to gather these again. For you.
This imposing figure, a swordmaster who could take on the demigods and Chrysos Heirs in a fight, went out of his way to provide you with food to regain your strength. The image really didnāt match anything you knew of him. Just like him keeping you from harm while he hunted down the Coreflames without mercy.
Why?
He clearly found you after the amount of creatures overwhelmed you, took them out and carried you away to safety before letting you rest here.
Perhaps it was time to finally demand an answer.
Your heart beat in your throat as you looked for him and found him at the edge of a cliff again behind the line of trees, gazing up into the dark sky. Lost in thought? Searching - waiting - for something? You couldnāt tell and yet, you saw him in this very same position so very often.
He only slightly lowered his head to acknowledge you, the sharp tips of his mask reflecting the pale light of the night sky. You swallowed, your fingers fidgeting. He hasnāt hurt you yet, he wouldnāt do it now. You could speak your mind without fearā¦ right?
Stillā¦ the first words that left your lips were as unexpected to you as they were appropriate.
āā¦ thank you.ā
A sound like a quiet grunt escaped from behind the mask. āYou areā¦ too reckless,ā he said.
You paused, your words and thoughts fading away as if a harsh wind blew through your mind. He has said this before. For you to not be reckless butā¦ you werenāt, right? None of your actions had been out of line orā¦ reckless. Jumping into a battle when you saw enemies was appropriate for your responsibilities as a Holy City guard.
True, usually you acted in a team. You never took on hordes of enemies on your own, you were not supposed to as per rules of engagement. But letting them roam about freely would be going against anything you stood for. Never mind the vow you took to protect the Holy City and its people.
āDid you expect me to let them live? These things canāt get closer to the city. If I can keep Okhema safe for even a moment Iāll do it despiteā¦ whatever this is.ā
āSameā¦ as always.ā
āWhat do you mean?ā
He made a sound behind his mask, his head shifting, away from you and away from this conversation. But you were having none of it. After saving your life, keeping you away from harm and even providing for you, you deserved an explanation
Fire burned in your eyes and you reached for his arm, grabbed the torn black fabric, refusing to let him ignore you, and stepped in front of him. Even the fabric felt hot in your hand, still you clenched it and glared up at him, refusing to back down, even when all the sharp edges of his mask stared down at you.
āWhy are you keeping me here? Why are youā¦ protecting me when you did nothing but try to kill the other Chrysos Heirs? What are you hoping to gain from any of this? From me?ā Questions blurted out of you, without hesitation and ridden with frustration.
He stared you down as if contemplating, considering his options and what to do with you. And for a long while you thought he wouldnāt budge, his silence deafening.
Until a hand shot forwards and lifted you up by your collar.
ā ā ā ā ā ā ā
His grasp was harsh, unrestrained despite it being you. He did not intend to hurt you, to be rough until he drew sounds of discomfort - of pain - from your lips but he couldnāt hold onto a memory of where his touch has been one of tenderness, meant to care and not destroy.
And yetā¦
Seeing you as he pushed you against that rock, struggling, trying to pry his hands off of you, groaning from the effort, something in him stirred. He did not want to see you like this. He did not want to be the cause of your suffering.
His hand let go of you and with a hesitation and uncertainty he didnāt deem himself capable of anymore, he reached towards your face instead. He held it there, hovering next to your head as if he tried to cradle your cheek in his palm but did not dare.
He no longer knew how to be gentle and yetā¦ he wanted toā¦ longed for something he hasnāt felt in millions of cycles.
Stillā¦ You werenāt his. You didnāt know him. Or anything. He looked at you, studied you. You wanted an answer, an explanation and he shouldnātā¦ He shouldnāt reveal the truth to you, nothing ever came from it, but maybeā¦ Maybeā¦
The ceremonial blade appeared in his hand before he could form the thought.
Your eyes widened. He caught the fear in your eyes, the color draining from your face, but you froze. With the weapon and him so close to you, you knew you couldnāt escape, but your expression told him that you expected him to end your life here and now. How could heā¦ Never.
This fury and fire may consume his body and soul but he would never allow it to claim your life. Never.
Though the terror in your eyes faded to make way for something else entirely when he turned the blade around and held it in your direction. He reached out to you, grasped your hand and guided it around the hilt of it. He held it there, his grasp rough, tight, painful. But necessary.
āDo notā¦ move,ā he said, no, demanded. He needed to remain precise - careful - or else he would take rather than give.
The blade pointed at him, a memory all too vivid in his mind but you were never the one pointing it at him. Never you. Never at this time and place. A dangerous move. Too risky.
And still he moved. Raised his other hand towards the curved blade and allowed it to cut his palm.
A gasp tore from your lips and his grip on your hand tightened, keeping you and the place unmoving but in place. The wound sizzled, shone with the power of the ceremonial blade and the flames of his body and he let it slide in just a bit deeper, the pain irrelevant - unnoticeable.
His gaze behind the mask shifted. From the wound to your face.
It took a mere blink of an eye until your gaze lost its focus and turned inward. Into your mind, your soul.
And everything he allowed the blade to give to you.
A flood of memories and sensations more powerful and more agonizing than the Black Tide itself butā¦ you needed to see. You wanted an answer from him. His reasons for doing all this, why he was keeping you by his side, why he had to push forward. Further and further.
You deserved an answer before these flames consumed what was left of his mind. When nothing but the rage remained to keep the cycles going, when this body didnāt remember more than his missionā¦ you deserved to know why he did all this.
The ceremonial blade let you see, experience, keep his own memories. Not all or else he would perish and fade away with you taking on the burden he and no one else had to bear. He would never allow that. But it granted you enough to know him, to know his reasons, how he became a body burned to ashes but still carrying on, still pushing, still continuing.
For all eternity if he had to.
It took but a few moments until he pulled his wounded hand away and the onslaught of memories faded.
When he released your hand and let the blade vanish again your body slumped against the stone in your back. Your gaze unfocused, tears gathering in the corners of them and streaming down your cheeks, your lips parted and yet, you remained silent.
He stepped away from you. Even he knew you needed space and a moment to collect yourself, to comprehend what you have seen and gained, butā¦ something in the hollow void of his chest clenched as he awaited your reaction.
hello to every one of you in the new year of 2026! for this year i want to finally write and get out of slump! which is why i'm opening a small event/slots for writing requests!!!
THERE IS 5 SLOTS AVAILABLE (as of 1/01). ALL WRITING MUST BE XREADER (preferably fem! or gn! please and thank you).
TO GET A SLOT: send me through askbox a character(s) (fandoms listed below) and what gender or what pronouns should the reader use. you are ENCOURAGED to add any tropes, au, songs, quotes that you want me to include. [max. 2 characters for an xreader pairing + one sender = one slot] please do it either off-anon or put some kind of emoji/any kind of recognition! i'd prefer to list it here so we all know who gets which slot :>>>
FANDOMS include: HONKAI STAR RAIL, genshin impact, blue lock (anime only), obey me (first game, i am not up to date with the rest)
WHAT DO YOU GET BACK: a short (max 1k words) piece of writing! i intend it to be readeable for everyone so please DON'T MAKE IT SELFSHIP-CODED! otherwise i might decline!
SLOTS:
[slot 1: free!]
[slot 2: free!]
[slot 3: free!]
[slot 4: free!]
[slot 5: free!]
additional notes: kind-of inspired by @/kazuinvocation but also by my own need to get out of slump. the length of each piece WILL vary but please don't take it personally! besides that, i might also open slots for headcanons in another post
Tags: Romance, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, follows the canon story, no use of Y/N or other variants, other characters show up, eventual smut later on
Author's Notes: Reblogs and feedback are welcome ā”
AO3 Link
Prev Chapter
Stepping across that bridge made you feel so small. Between the ruins of statues and the vast expanse of what was left of Castrum Kremnos below and in front of you, your form felt like a flicker instead of a vibrant presence.
Countless people, entire armies, kings and demigods crossed this bridge to reach the inner layers of the city and now you among the memories of them.
Not even the dreadful darkness of the Evernight around you nor the rumbling of thunder in the air could take away from the sense of awe and respect this place left within you.
Neither could he.
The Flame Reaver walked in front of you, his cape swaying with his steps. The metal of his boots on the stone ground echoed in your head as if you found yourselves in a cave and his presence radiated nothing but an imposing threat.
One that made you want to flee and yet, you stayed. Followed after him as if you didnāt have a choice. Perhaps you truly didnāt.
The empty ruins made the city feel even more suffocating and imposing that even the Flame Reaver felt small amidst them. The buildings loomed above you, casting their shadows in the depths of the Evernight until the flames from the torches looked like futile attempts to fight them.
And still, the sight made you pause.
Thunder and lightning had roared the night before, the wind had carried the screeches of creatures as they fell to the demigod of Strifeās attacks and now, as you stood in what once was magnificent streets and structures, only the howling of the wind reached your ears.
Silence ruled over the city despite the long, arduous battles Lord Mydeimos mustāve been fighting.
āItās so quiet,ā you said, your voice a whisper the wind carried through the empty ruins. The Flame Reaver shifted, sharp tips of his mask peeking out from beneath his hood as he turned his head and you inhaled sharply, mouth shut.
āThe waveā¦ has subsided. It willā¦ return soon,ā he said, voice distorted, a strain showed in it that reminded you of a person who struggled to breathe, although you knew this was hardly the case for him. If he needed to breathe in the first place.
You didnāt reply. You had nothing to say and the less reason you gave him to gain his attention the better. And the more likely your chances for an escape would be.
Stillā¦ What wave? The Black Tide? You had assumed these creatures would just spawn endlessly from those corrupted areas. Was there more to it? A limit? A pattern? Nothing of the sorts was known. There was such scarce information available about this destructive force.
But of course, a being that was born from it, would know. You swallowed as you stared at his back, but followed him in silence through the broken roads.
The true severity of the Flame Reaverās presence and intention here in Castrum Kremnos only dawned on you when you entered the wide open area of what used to be an arena of sorts.
With Lord Mydeimos standing - no, waiting - at the far end, his back turned to the Flame Reaver and you. A wave of ice washed over you, flooded your body and grabbed your heart in an agonizing grip. Your stomach sank.
You knew - you knew the whole time - why the Flame Reaver sought out Castrum Kremnos and yet, the gravity of the looming threat became tangible at the sight of the demigod of Strife.
His presence - proud and impressive - clashed with the imposing and dark air the Flame Reaver carried with him like two opposites, both burning in their own way, standing on the far opposite of an approaching conflict in an arena that seemed to have witnessed countless of these in the distant past.
And you in the midst of it all.
You followed the Flame Reaver, but the moment his arm moved and his sword - broken and sharp, its edges flickering in the light of the torches - appeared in his armored hand, your steps faltered.
The air shifted, shadows appeared and within an instance - no further movement from the Flame Reaver, no sound nor word left his mouth - a clone of his stood in front of you. Towering above you. Facing you.
The shadowy figure looked like a pale ghost and yet, not any less imposing. Was it tangible? Would your arrows clash with him or fly right through him? You knew it would be foolish and dangerous to test your luck but the thought didnāt leave regardless.
The Flame Reaver moved, stepped further ahead but the clone in front of you didnāt move. It hovered above the ground, gaze behind the mask locked on you and not letting you move past it.
Was heā¦ holding you back?
Did he not want you to get involved? Why? You could hardly do anything in a fight between them. Even if you tried to protect Lord Mydei and keep the Coreflame from getting into the Flame Reaverās hands. You were a Holy City guard, a Chrysos Heir, it was your duty to protect the Flame-Chase and-
You paused. Was that it? Was he trying to keep you from getting involved? From trying to protect Lord Mydeiās Coreflame regardless of how futile it would be? Orā¦ was there something else?
He has kept you safe this entire time. Protected you from the Cleaners, provided you with food and the time to rest, didnāt harm you despite how dangerous he was or what heās done to the other Chrysos Heirs before.
Did heā¦ want to keep you safe from this as well?
Why?
Caught up in your thoughts, in the storm of confusion and dread that ruled over your mind and heart, you barely noticed how the demigod of Strife turned around, his voice a rumble carried through Castrum Kremnos, and stepped forward to meet the Flame Reaverās threat and challenge.
ā ā ā ā ā ā ā
Nothing but emptiness ruled over what remained of his soul and were it not for the scorching Coreflames consuming his body the sensation wouldāve made him falter. Even now. After 33,550,336 cycles.
But as his vessels rained down on Mydeimos he only looked upon the Chrysos Heir as he fought and unleashed his very own fury. And waited. For the opening. For the moment the demigod of Strife revealed his one weakness to his gaze and allowed him to render the final blow.
Just like before.
It never changed. The time changed. The place changed. But it always happened. It remained his fate. Cruel. Agonizing. Unavoidable.
He needed to retrieve the Coreflame. One more flame to consume him and fuel his wrath.
He sent more vessels, pressuring the Kremnoan, and then finally. He turned around. Exposed his back. A mere flicker of a moment.
Yet, it would be enough.
His broken sword clutched in his hands as he surged forward, eyes fixated on that one spot he needed to strike, to end Mydeimosās life for good and-
The arrow pierced the air so close to his head that it made his hood flutter. The dull thud as it collided with the stone structure of the arena remained lost on him as he halted.
The fight ceased. Movements halted. Crystals of the Demigodās blood crumbled into dust as he too paused his attacks. Khaslana hovered in the air, not lost butā¦ caught off guard, until he shifted his gaze from behind the mask to the side. To the direction the arrow came from.
And to you.
He gazed upon your form. How you stood there with a heaving chest, your bow still in hand, and a fire burning in your eyes that he remembered. He knew that look. From when you accepted his challenges to spar, when you fulfilled your duties to Amphoreusā¦ From the very first cycle to now. It never faded. Not even when you faced your final battle in the Fallen City-
A sound left him, carried away by the howling wind, as he realized his vessel still remained behind. Not beaten, not vanished. You outran it. Expected and yet, he failed to assess your loyalty, your dedication to your duty as a guard. One that didnāt stop because he made a choice. A decision that put this cycle onto a different path than the ones before.
Yetā¦ he caught your fear. The hesitation, the dread as you gazed upon him, fully aware of your provocation, your involvement in this battle now.
Butā¦ he had a task to fulfill. He must not falter.
āIā¦ may not be able to defeat you,ā you said. Your voice shook and something within him clenched at the sight. Something that hasnāt felt a flicker of life beyond scorching hatred and blazing fury for innumerable cycles. You still saw him as the monster that laid waste to villages and brought death to the demigods. None of it a lie and yetā¦
āBut I will not let you kill him or any of them. I will oppose you and if you want to get to them youāll have to strike me down as well.ā
If there had been any part of his former self left he wouldāve huffed at that, smirked and chuckled maybe. However, admirable as your courage and sense of duty wasā¦
ā¦ you were in his way.
A sound left him as his hand clenched around the hilt of his sword.
Mydeimos looked between you and him, his gaze blazing - confused but not losing any of the fire and tenacity to keep fighting - though he did not make a move to attack. Neither you nor him.
āStep aside,ā Mydeimos said, his voice strong - commanding - as he turned to you. āI fail to understand your involvement in this nor why you bear the armor of a Holy City Guard when youāre in allegiance with him, but this is my fight.ā
Though you didnāt budge, your gaze locked on his behind the mask. You swallowed. He saw the subtle motion of your throat. Nervous. Doubtful. Afraid.
āIām sorry, Lord Mydei, I canāt do that. I will not let him take your Coreflame.ā
Foolish. A futile attempt to prevent him from taking it when you were aware you stood no chance. Butā¦
For whatever remained of that part of him that still held on - somehow - it brought a sense of warmth to his fragmented soul that you have never been burdened with the task of joining the Flame-Chase. That he had never had to claim your life to keep the cycles going.
The hand around his sword relaxed. As if he could. You bore no Coreflame. As if he could end your life. You who once used to be his one remaining anchor in this endless endeavor and the agonizing burning of the Coreflames, the last reminder of his humanity-
He caught a glimpse of Mydeimosās expression. Of the furrowing brows, the downward curve of his mouth as his body tensed and his stance shifted. The blood crystallized around the Demigodās body before he raised his arm. The move aimed at him. Not you.
The motions came naturally to him, instinctual, repetitions of countless occurrences before this one. The portal manifested with a thought. He did not have to retreat. He could bring it to an end here and now but youā¦ You would get involved, in the way, and he would not allow you to fall to a battle that was not your own.
For all what remained of his heart and soul, he had to watch you fade away and fall too many times to allow it once more now that this recurrence treaded down such a different path.
He had grabbed your wrist and had pulled you through the portal before Mydeimosās fist could collide with either of you.
ā ā ā ā ā ā ā
When you felt the soft surface of grass and moss beneath your feet again you allowed yourself to take a deep breath. The scenery shifted. No more stone and metal, no more torches and magnificent structures. You were back in a forest area, surrounded by trees and plants dipped in the pale glow of the Evernight.
The Flame Reaver stepped away from you without a word the moment the portal closed. You looked at your wrist where his armored hand had grabbed you before. The skin felt hot. It didnāt hurt, but the warmth lingered. As if you had stayed in the hot bath for too long. So strange. Even more so knowing his hand was engulfed by metal and armor.
Was it the Coreflameās doing? But he wasnāt holding more than the Demigods, was he? And their body temperature never rose because of themā¦
You looked up at him, watched as his dark figure disappeared between the trees. And followed him. He gave up on fighting Lord Mydei, forsake the Coreflame and while you were glad Lord Mydei was safe, if he was willing to abort his mission to take you away he would not allow you to escape him now.
He didnāt say a word. Didnāt even seem to look at you as you left the woods behind and stepped into the ruins of an old city, which you didnāt recognize. You didnāt know where you were, where the Flame Reaver took you but you couldnāt see Kephale on the horizon anymore at all. Only the dark sky of night greeted you when you gazed up.
Even so, this city has been long lost to the Black Tide. The evidence glared you in the face.
You saw the deformed creatures amidst the ruins from your elevated position on the hill. They roamed the pathways between the rubble and half-torn down walls of the broken buildings as if they patrolled the area. Your brows furrowed. Doubt crept up inside of you that you would get past this place without fighting.
The chance to take a detour around it was gone with the wind the moment the Flame Reaver stepped forward. Down the hill. Straight into the ruins of this small city.
A screech filled the air, shrill and piercing that you fought the urge to cover your ears yet forced yourself to remain focused. Vigilant. The screech faded, made way for the sound of steps - hectic and swift - and within a heartbeat dark, distorted figures emerged from behind the debris and ruins.
Mindless and aggressive as they launched themselves at you, no regards for who they were up against or what your intentions were. Nothing but violence and destruction on their minds. Your gaze darkened. If a fight couldnāt be avoided you could strike these abominations down. Your duty to the Holy City didnāt end simply because you left its borders behind.
Your bow manifested in your hands before you could finish the thought and you stepped forwards - past the Flame Reaver - eyes locked on your targets.
And yet, before the arrow formed, before you pulled the string, the Flame Reaverās broken sword obscured your vision. With wide eyes you stared at him, a question in your expression that didnāt leave your lips.
āDonātā¦ be reckless.ā He didnāt look at you, just kept from you throwing yourself into the upcoming battle.
Butā¦ why would it matter? Why would he care?
This entire time he has kept you from harm, brought destruction upon Amphoreus, killed Cleaners and attempted to take Lord Mydeimosās Coreflame with you being present. You were no match for him, if anything a hindrance or else he would hold the Coreflame of Strife now.
Why was he keeping you from harm? Your hand clenched the bow in your grasp. Why? It didnāt make sense to you. He didnāt speak, didnāt offer an explanation aside from those vague and cryptic implications about fate, and you were not weak. No demigod, no swordmaster like him either, but those Black Tide creatures wouldnāt stand a chance against your arrows and swift feet.
āI donāt need your help,ā you hissed and you dashed to the side until you could duck around the sharp, broken blade and aim your bow once more at the creatures closing in rapidly.
But before you could shoot the arrow, these silver, shadowy clones of the Flame Reaver appeared once more in front of you. Just like in Castrum Kremnos. Only this time there were three. Surrounding you. If you wanted to outrun them again you could only move backwards.
He adjusted his ways of restraining you, of keeping you out of the battle.
You made a sound, but all you wanted was to scream. You didnāt understand this - him. Why?! Why did he go to such lengths for toā¦ protect you?! Why did it matter to him if you acted recklessly in his eyes? He was a creature of the Black Tide himself, a dark figure that brought nothing but destruction to Amphoreus, so why-
A whirring sound filled the air and you could only stare as more of these clones appeared around him. The shadowy figures moved through the air like specters, so swiftly that they looked like flashes of silver in the dark gloom of Evernight.
The Flame Reaverās clones charged through the air, taking down the Black Tide creatures with nothing but a single slash of their blades. They fell and crumbled like paper, disappearing in the same strange black and red pattern that corroded so much of Amphoreus.
You stared at the scene, at the clones that kept you away, but as moments passed none of your questions found an answer.
ā ā ā ā ā ā ā
Your legs shook. Every step took an effort that made you breathe heavily until you anything but dragged your feet forward. No injuries, just the sheer exhaustion of innumerable hours and distances youāve walked ever since the Flame Reaver took you through that portal the first time. Let alone that you had been on your feet by then for the entire day already.
You havenāt slept since then and that break before you ventured into Castrum Kremnos had been nothing but a short moment to rest your feet. You looked up ahead.
Nature seemed to quiet down as you reached the seaside. The trees parted and made way for small plants that spread until the row of cliffs made it seem as if the world ended right there were it not for the gentle sounds of waves crashing against the stones far below.
You couldnāt tell why you came here. The ruins of the city have been left behind for a long time by now and there was nothing ahead of you. Just the endless sea. Dark and mysterious tipped in silver light and yet, beautiful.
Still, you didnāt find it in you to cross that final distance to take a proper look.
Your hands found the rough surface of a tree and you just let yourself slide down to the ground. The sigh of relief that left your lips as your legs could finally relax was what drew the Flame Reaverās attention. The moment felt reminiscent of before you entered Castrum Kremnos, but now as your form slumped in front of that tree your eyes grew heavier by the second.
Howeverā¦ you couldnāt sleep. You couldnāt allow yourself to let down your guard that much around him. Despite how no harm has come to you until now, no way you could put your life into his hands that much.
Stillā¦
You rubbed your eyes as if the threat of sleep could vanish this way but it only made it worse. The ground was so soft, the sounds of the waves against the cliffs so soothingā¦
The heavy steps of his metal boots against the ground pulled you out of your thoughts. You looked up, blinking, but even as he approached you, it didnāt take away from your body and mind yearning for some proper sleepā¦
āRest,ā he said, his voice calm despite the distortions. You blinked, confused, your lips parted as if to say something butā¦ what could you do? You were tired, to the point your body would claim the rest it demanded whether you wanted to or not. And in this moment you had no choice but to trust him, to put your life into his hands, and pray and hope that he would keep you from harm just like he has done up until now.
You didnāt see or hear him step away before sleep claimed you.
ā ā ā ā ā ā ā
When you stirred and the sound of the waves reached your ears once more, you groaned. You blinked, your eyes adjusting to the dark of night, though the sleep faded from your mind quickly. A dreamless rest and yet, refreshing. Your energy replenished and you wondered for how long you have been asleep.
Your neck cracked as straightened up, before your eyes fell on the dark figure standing at the cliff, gazing up into the night sky.
The scenery seemed almost tranquil. His cape swayed in the gentle breeze and all the sharp and dangerous edges from his mask and armor remained hidden behind the torn but flowing fabric.
As imposing and terrifying he was, in this moment he looked calm, almost thoughtful.
And now that you were standing up again, more rested and invigorated than you had anticipated beforehand, you couldnāt shake off the thought that you truly had an undisturbed sleep. Possibly for hours.
Nothing had disturbed you and as you looked at him - your gaze still wary, still cautious - the hesitation crept up within your soul. You were well and safe, no injury, no harm has come to you since he took you through that portal. He protected you, prevented you from fighting in the first place(a somewhat ridiculous gesture given how fighting was your entire life, the task you dedicated your life to)ā¦ Even though you knew about the Destruction he brought upon Amphoreus and people you cared about, it didnāt match your own experiences with him.
And you couldnāt deny the possibility that there was more. Something else. Something that remained obscured and hidden to you and everyone else at this point in time.
Your steps remained slow - hesitant - as you approached him, your heart beating in your throat. If there ever was a moment to talk to him, to ask for an explanation, you doubted fate would present you with another opportunity.
The distance you kept between you as you moved to stand next to him was not enough to prevent his sword from reaching you, but far enough to allow you to dash and sprint away if needed. You hoped.
He acknowledged you only with a small glance from behind his mask and a distorted sound before his gaze turned towards the sky again.
You frowned, eyes following the motions of the waves so far below you as you struggled to speak up. His presence was daunting, the air around him still oppressing, the sheer power he wielded almost tangible. Stillā¦
āWhy did youā¦ defend him?ā
Your gaze snapped up, startled to hear him speak first, caught off guard by the question. His voice sounded strained, as if he struggled to get the words out, as if it took immense effort to speak at all. It didnāt fit to how effortlessly he was acting on the battlefield.
āIā¦ā you started. You swallowed, gathered your thoughts. āHeās a Chrysos Heir and a demigod. And heās been fighting the Black Tide all by himself. I canāt possibly let you take his Coreflame just like that.ā
You closed your eyes, tried to calm your breathing, but your heart fluttered in your chest. Proclaiming your loyalty and allegiance to the Flame-Chase could be nothing but foolish in his presence, but the thought of lying to him or trying to understate your decision and attitude not once occurred to you.
āā¦ā He stayed silent for a long moment as if lost in thought. āā¦ how reckless.ā
You stared at him. Dumbfounded. You expected anything. An angry remark, a drawn sword, pain because he finally snapped and ended your life just like all the others beforeā¦ But not this.
He has called you reckless in the ruins before as well. Why? Why did he pretend to know you? Why did he care? None of this made sense.
You blinked up at him but not a word left your lips, not daring to confront him or argue about this statement. Silence ruled between you for a long moment until you found your voice again.
āWhat are you planning to achieve by doing all this?ā
You held your breath waiting - hoping - for an answer. He seemed calm, maybe he was willing to tell you something. Anything that could clear the confusion fogging your mind.
āEverythingā¦ must be reset,ā he said finally, his words distorted and strained, yet the message remained clear. You looked at him, studied the mask with all its sharp edges, its tips catching the pale light of the Evernight, as if staring at him could explain his words.
āResetā?! Aā¦ literal phrasing? Or did he mean something else? He had difficulties speaking, it wasnāt far-fetched nor would it surprise you that he could not find the right words. What did he mean? He was after the Coreflames. By any means necessary after the stories youāve heard about him. The Coreflames had to be brought to the Vortex of Genesis and-
You paused and furrowed your brows. Did it have something to do with that?
āAre youā¦ talking about the Vortex of Genesis?ā you dared to ask. He made a grunting, yet affirmative, grunt. But that would meanā¦ He had the same objective, the same goal as the Chrysos Heirs. Why did he resort to violence and destruction when you couldāve worked together this whole time?
āBut, youāre gathering the Coreflames too,ā you said, your voice louder - steadier - than you anticipated and your change in tone drew his gaze to you. You didnāt flinch nor retreat. Not this time. Your heart pounded in your chest with a fire that yearned for answers, that demanded clarity, and burned away any fear of provoking him.
āEra Nova must notā¦ come to pass.ā
You paused, your eyes looking for any sign - gesture - to interpret, as if you could look beyond the metal and darkness covering his face. To no avail.
āBut why?ā your voice became quieter, not hesitant, simply ridden with disbelief and confusion. This didnāt make sense. None of it.
He remained quiet. His gaze left you and he looked back up into the sky as if studying something there. As if he tried to find something among the dark sky of Evernight. Your own gaze turned to the ground and you held your arm with the other. You really wished you would be home right now. Off duty and gathering with your colleagues for a drink or a nice, warm bath at Marmoreal Palace.
The fabric of his torn and loose cape entered your peripheral vision, pulling you back into reality and the situation you were stuck in.
You couldnāt outrun him. Couldnāt escape from him. Butā¦ he kept you safe. For some reason he didnāt intend for any harm to come your way and at this pointā¦ you began to trust him on that. Risky. Perhaps utterly foolish. And yet, sticking with him of your own volition could make him give you more answers with time.
What heās truly trying to accomplish by opposing the Flame-Chase or maybeā¦ Maybe you could learn how to beat him, expose a weakness that could tell the other Chrysos Heirs how to defeat him without having to face another casualty along the way.
Tags: Romance, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, follows the canon story, no use of Y/N or other variants, other characters show up, eventual smut later on
Author's Notes: Reblogs and feedback are welcome ā”
AO3 Link
Prev Chapter
Stepping across that bridge made you feel so small. Between the ruins of statues and the vast expanse of what was left of Castrum Kremnos below and in front of you, your form felt like a flicker instead of a vibrant presence.
Countless people, entire armies, kings and demigods crossed this bridge to reach the inner layers of the city and now you among the memories of them.
Not even the dreadful darkness of the Evernight around you nor the rumbling of thunder in the air could take away from the sense of awe and respect this place left within you.
Neither could he.
The Flame Reaver walked in front of you, his cape swaying with his steps. The metal of his boots on the stone ground echoed in your head as if you found yourselves in a cave and his presence radiated nothing but an imposing threat.
One that made you want to flee and yet, you stayed. Followed after him as if you didnāt have a choice. Perhaps you truly didnāt.
The empty ruins made the city feel even more suffocating and imposing that even the Flame Reaver felt small amidst them. The buildings loomed above you, casting their shadows in the depths of the Evernight until the flames from the torches looked like futile attempts to fight them.
And still, the sight made you pause.
Thunder and lightning had roared the night before, the wind had carried the screeches of creatures as they fell to the demigod of Strifeās attacks and now, as you stood in what once was magnificent streets and structures, only the howling of the wind reached your ears.
Silence ruled over the city despite the long, arduous battles Lord Mydeimos mustāve been fighting.
āItās so quiet,ā you said, your voice a whisper the wind carried through the empty ruins. The Flame Reaver shifted, sharp tips of his mask peeking out from beneath his hood as he turned his head and you inhaled sharply, mouth shut.
āThe waveā¦ has subsided. It willā¦ return soon,ā he said, voice distorted, a strain showed in it that reminded you of a person who struggled to breathe, although you knew this was hardly the case for him. If he needed to breathe in the first place.
You didnāt reply. You had nothing to say and the less reason you gave him to gain his attention the better. And the more likely your chances for an escape would be.
Stillā¦ What wave? The Black Tide? You had assumed these creatures would just spawn endlessly from those corrupted areas. Was there more to it? A limit? A pattern? Nothing of the sorts was known. There was such scarce information available about this destructive force.
But of course, a being that was born from it, would know. You swallowed as you stared at his back, but followed him in silence through the broken roads.
The true severity of the Flame Reaverās presence and intention here in Castrum Kremnos only dawned on you when you entered the wide open area of what used to be an arena of sorts.
With Lord Mydeimos standing - no, waiting - at the far end, his back turned to the Flame Reaver and you. A wave of ice washed over you, flooded your body and grabbed your heart in an agonizing grip. Your stomach sank.
You knew - you knew the whole time - why the Flame Reaver sought out Castrum Kremnos and yet, the gravity of the looming threat became tangible at the sight of the demigod of Strife.
His presence - proud and impressive - clashed with the imposing and dark air the Flame Reaver carried with him like two opposites, both burning in their own way, standing on the far opposite of an approaching conflict in an arena that seemed to have witnessed countless of these in the distant past.
And you in the midst of it all.
You followed the Flame Reaver, but the moment his arm moved and his sword - broken and sharp, its edges flickering in the light of the torches - appeared in his armored hand, your steps faltered.
The air shifted, shadows appeared and within an instance - no further movement from the Flame Reaver, no sound nor word left his mouth - a clone of his stood in front of you. Towering above you. Facing you.
The shadowy figure looked like a pale ghost and yet, not any less imposing. Was it tangible? Would your arrows clash with him or fly right through him? You knew it would be foolish and dangerous to test your luck but the thought didnāt leave regardless.
The Flame Reaver moved, stepped further ahead but the clone in front of you didnāt move. It hovered above the ground, gaze behind the mask locked on you and not letting you move past it.
Was heā¦ holding you back?
Did he not want you to get involved? Why? You could hardly do anything in a fight between them. Even if you tried to protect Lord Mydei and keep the Coreflame from getting into the Flame Reaverās hands. You were a Holy City guard, a Chrysos Heir, it was your duty to protect the Flame-Chase and-
You paused. Was that it? Was he trying to keep you from getting involved? From trying to protect Lord Mydeiās Coreflame regardless of how futile it would be? Orā¦ was there something else?
He has kept you safe this entire time. Protected you from the Cleaners, provided you with food and the time to rest, didnāt harm you despite how dangerous he was or what heās done to the other Chrysos Heirs before.
Did heā¦ want to keep you safe from this as well?
Why?
Caught up in your thoughts, in the storm of confusion and dread that ruled over your mind and heart, you barely noticed how the demigod of Strife turned around, his voice a rumble carried through Castrum Kremnos, and stepped forward to meet the Flame Reaverās threat and challenge.
ā ā ā ā ā ā ā
Nothing but emptiness ruled over what remained of his soul and were it not for the scorching Coreflames consuming his body the sensation wouldāve made him falter. Even now. After 33,550,336 cycles.
But as his vessels rained down on Mydeimos he only looked upon the Chrysos Heir as he fought and unleashed his very own fury. And waited. For the opening. For the moment the demigod of Strife revealed his one weakness to his gaze and allowed him to render the final blow.
Just like before.
It never changed. The time changed. The place changed. But it always happened. It remained his fate. Cruel. Agonizing. Unavoidable.
He needed to retrieve the Coreflame. One more flame to consume him and fuel his wrath.
He sent more vessels, pressuring the Kremnoan, and then finally. He turned around. Exposed his back. A mere flicker of a moment.
Yet, it would be enough.
His broken sword clutched in his hands as he surged forward, eyes fixated on that one spot he needed to strike, to end Mydeimosās life for good and-
The arrow pierced the air so close to his head that it made his hood flutter. The dull thud as it collided with the stone structure of the arena remained lost on him as he halted.
The fight ceased. Movements halted. Crystals of the Demigodās blood crumbled into dust as he too paused his attacks. Khaslana hovered in the air, not lost butā¦ caught off guard, until he shifted his gaze from behind the mask to the side. To the direction the arrow came from.
And to you.
He gazed upon your form. How you stood there with a heaving chest, your bow still in hand, and a fire burning in your eyes that he remembered. He knew that look. From when you accepted his challenges to spar, when you fulfilled your duties to Amphoreusā¦ From the very first cycle to now. It never faded. Not even when you faced your final battle in the Fallen City-
A sound left him, carried away by the howling wind, as he realized his vessel still remained behind. Not beaten, not vanished. You outran it. Expected and yet, he failed to assess your loyalty, your dedication to your duty as a guard. One that didnāt stop because he made a choice. A decision that put this cycle onto a different path than the ones before.
Yetā¦ he caught your fear. The hesitation, the dread as you gazed upon him, fully aware of your provocation, your involvement in this battle now.
Butā¦ he had a task to fulfill. He must not falter.
āIā¦ may not be able to defeat you,ā you said. Your voice shook and something within him clenched at the sight. Something that hasnāt felt a flicker of life beyond scorching hatred and blazing fury for innumerable cycles. You still saw him as the monster that laid waste to villages and brought death to the demigods. None of it a lie and yetā¦
āBut I will not let you kill him or any of them. I will oppose you and if you want to get to them youāll have to strike me down as well.ā
If there had been any part of his former self left he wouldāve huffed at that, smirked and chuckled maybe. However, admirable as your courage and sense of duty wasā¦
ā¦ you were in his way.
A sound left him as his hand clenched around the hilt of his sword.
Mydeimos looked between you and him, his gaze blazing - confused but not losing any of the fire and tenacity to keep fighting - though he did not make a move to attack. Neither you nor him.
āStep aside,ā Mydeimos said, his voice strong - commanding - as he turned to you. āI fail to understand your involvement in this nor why you bear the armor of a Holy City Guard when youāre in allegiance with him, but this is my fight.ā
Though you didnāt budge, your gaze locked on his behind the mask. You swallowed. He saw the subtle motion of your throat. Nervous. Doubtful. Afraid.
āIām sorry, Lord Mydei, I canāt do that. I will not let him take your Coreflame.ā
Foolish. A futile attempt to prevent him from taking it when you were aware you stood no chance. Butā¦
For whatever remained of that part of him that still held on - somehow - it brought a sense of warmth to his fragmented soul that you have never been burdened with the task of joining the Flame-Chase. That he had never had to claim your life to keep the cycles going.
The hand around his sword relaxed. As if he could. You bore no Coreflame. As if he could end your life. You who once used to be his one remaining anchor in this endless endeavor and the agonizing burning of the Coreflames, the last reminder of his humanity-
He caught a glimpse of Mydeimosās expression. Of the furrowing brows, the downward curve of his mouth as his body tensed and his stance shifted. The blood crystallized around the Demigodās body before he raised his arm. The move aimed at him. Not you.
The motions came naturally to him, instinctual, repetitions of countless occurrences before this one. The portal manifested with a thought. He did not have to retreat. He could bring it to an end here and now but youā¦ You would get involved, in the way, and he would not allow you to fall to a battle that was not your own.
For all what remained of his heart and soul, he had to watch you fade away and fall too many times to allow it once more now that this recurrence treaded down such a different path.
He had grabbed your wrist and had pulled you through the portal before Mydeimosās fist could collide with either of you.
ā ā ā ā ā ā ā
When you felt the soft surface of grass and moss beneath your feet again you allowed yourself to take a deep breath. The scenery shifted. No more stone and metal, no more torches and magnificent structures. You were back in a forest area, surrounded by trees and plants dipped in the pale glow of the Evernight.
The Flame Reaver stepped away from you without a word the moment the portal closed. You looked at your wrist where his armored hand had grabbed you before. The skin felt hot. It didnāt hurt, but the warmth lingered. As if you had stayed in the hot bath for too long. So strange. Even more so knowing his hand was engulfed by metal and armor.
Was it the Coreflameās doing? But he wasnāt holding more than the Demigods, was he? And their body temperature never rose because of themā¦
You looked up at him, watched as his dark figure disappeared between the trees. And followed him. He gave up on fighting Lord Mydei, forsake the Coreflame and while you were glad Lord Mydei was safe, if he was willing to abort his mission to take you away he would not allow you to escape him now.
He didnāt say a word. Didnāt even seem to look at you as you left the woods behind and stepped into the ruins of an old city, which you didnāt recognize. You didnāt know where you were, where the Flame Reaver took you but you couldnāt see Kephale on the horizon anymore at all. Only the dark sky of night greeted you when you gazed up.
Even so, this city has been long lost to the Black Tide. The evidence glared you in the face.
You saw the deformed creatures amidst the ruins from your elevated position on the hill. They roamed the pathways between the rubble and half-torn down walls of the broken buildings as if they patrolled the area. Your brows furrowed. Doubt crept up inside of you that you would get past this place without fighting.
The chance to take a detour around it was gone with the wind the moment the Flame Reaver stepped forward. Down the hill. Straight into the ruins of this small city.
A screech filled the air, shrill and piercing that you fought the urge to cover your ears yet forced yourself to remain focused. Vigilant. The screech faded, made way for the sound of steps - hectic and swift - and within a heartbeat dark, distorted figures emerged from behind the debris and ruins.
Mindless and aggressive as they launched themselves at you, no regards for who they were up against or what your intentions were. Nothing but violence and destruction on their minds. Your gaze darkened. If a fight couldnāt be avoided you could strike these abominations down. Your duty to the Holy City didnāt end simply because you left its borders behind.
Your bow manifested in your hands before you could finish the thought and you stepped forwards - past the Flame Reaver - eyes locked on your targets.
And yet, before the arrow formed, before you pulled the string, the Flame Reaverās broken sword obscured your vision. With wide eyes you stared at him, a question in your expression that didnāt leave your lips.
āDonātā¦ be reckless.ā He didnāt look at you, just kept from you throwing yourself into the upcoming battle.
Butā¦ why would it matter? Why would he care?
This entire time he has kept you from harm, brought destruction upon Amphoreus, killed Cleaners and attempted to take Lord Mydeimosās Coreflame with you being present. You were no match for him, if anything a hindrance or else he would hold the Coreflame of Strife now.
Why was he keeping you from harm? Your hand clenched the bow in your grasp. Why? It didnāt make sense to you. He didnāt speak, didnāt offer an explanation aside from those vague and cryptic implications about fate, and you were not weak. No demigod, no swordmaster like him either, but those Black Tide creatures wouldnāt stand a chance against your arrows and swift feet.
āI donāt need your help,ā you hissed and you dashed to the side until you could duck around the sharp, broken blade and aim your bow once more at the creatures closing in rapidly.
But before you could shoot the arrow, these silver, shadowy clones of the Flame Reaver appeared once more in front of you. Just like in Castrum Kremnos. Only this time there were three. Surrounding you. If you wanted to outrun them again you could only move backwards.
He adjusted his ways of restraining you, of keeping you out of the battle.
You made a sound, but all you wanted was to scream. You didnāt understand this - him. Why?! Why did he go to such lengths for toā¦ protect you?! Why did it matter to him if you acted recklessly in his eyes? He was a creature of the Black Tide himself, a dark figure that brought nothing but destruction to Amphoreus, so why-
A whirring sound filled the air and you could only stare as more of these clones appeared around him. The shadowy figures moved through the air like specters, so swiftly that they looked like flashes of silver in the dark gloom of Evernight.
The Flame Reaverās clones charged through the air, taking down the Black Tide creatures with nothing but a single slash of their blades. They fell and crumbled like paper, disappearing in the same strange black and red pattern that corroded so much of Amphoreus.
You stared at the scene, at the clones that kept you away, but as moments passed none of your questions found an answer.
ā ā ā ā ā ā ā
Your legs shook. Every step took an effort that made you breathe heavily until you anything but dragged your feet forward. No injuries, just the sheer exhaustion of innumerable hours and distances youāve walked ever since the Flame Reaver took you through that portal the first time. Let alone that you had been on your feet by then for the entire day already.
You havenāt slept since then and that break before you ventured into Castrum Kremnos had been nothing but a short moment to rest your feet. You looked up ahead.
Nature seemed to quiet down as you reached the seaside. The trees parted and made way for small plants that spread until the row of cliffs made it seem as if the world ended right there were it not for the gentle sounds of waves crashing against the stones far below.
You couldnāt tell why you came here. The ruins of the city have been left behind for a long time by now and there was nothing ahead of you. Just the endless sea. Dark and mysterious tipped in silver light and yet, beautiful.
Still, you didnāt find it in you to cross that final distance to take a proper look.
Your hands found the rough surface of a tree and you just let yourself slide down to the ground. The sigh of relief that left your lips as your legs could finally relax was what drew the Flame Reaverās attention. The moment felt reminiscent of before you entered Castrum Kremnos, but now as your form slumped in front of that tree your eyes grew heavier by the second.
Howeverā¦ you couldnāt sleep. You couldnāt allow yourself to let down your guard that much around him. Despite how no harm has come to you until now, no way you could put your life into his hands that much.
Stillā¦
You rubbed your eyes as if the threat of sleep could vanish this way but it only made it worse. The ground was so soft, the sounds of the waves against the cliffs so soothingā¦
The heavy steps of his metal boots against the ground pulled you out of your thoughts. You looked up, blinking, but even as he approached you, it didnāt take away from your body and mind yearning for some proper sleepā¦
āRest,ā he said, his voice calm despite the distortions. You blinked, confused, your lips parted as if to say something butā¦ what could you do? You were tired, to the point your body would claim the rest it demanded whether you wanted to or not. And in this moment you had no choice but to trust him, to put your life into his hands, and pray and hope that he would keep you from harm just like he has done up until now.
You didnāt see or hear him step away before sleep claimed you.
ā ā ā ā ā ā ā
When you stirred and the sound of the waves reached your ears once more, you groaned. You blinked, your eyes adjusting to the dark of night, though the sleep faded from your mind quickly. A dreamless rest and yet, refreshing. Your energy replenished and you wondered for how long you have been asleep.
Your neck cracked as straightened up, before your eyes fell on the dark figure standing at the cliff, gazing up into the night sky.
The scenery seemed almost tranquil. His cape swayed in the gentle breeze and all the sharp and dangerous edges from his mask and armor remained hidden behind the torn but flowing fabric.
As imposing and terrifying he was, in this moment he looked calm, almost thoughtful.
And now that you were standing up again, more rested and invigorated than you had anticipated beforehand, you couldnāt shake off the thought that you truly had an undisturbed sleep. Possibly for hours.
Nothing had disturbed you and as you looked at him - your gaze still wary, still cautious - the hesitation crept up within your soul. You were well and safe, no injury, no harm has come to you since he took you through that portal. He protected you, prevented you from fighting in the first place(a somewhat ridiculous gesture given how fighting was your entire life, the task you dedicated your life to)ā¦ Even though you knew about the Destruction he brought upon Amphoreus and people you cared about, it didnāt match your own experiences with him.
And you couldnāt deny the possibility that there was more. Something else. Something that remained obscured and hidden to you and everyone else at this point in time.
Your steps remained slow - hesitant - as you approached him, your heart beating in your throat. If there ever was a moment to talk to him, to ask for an explanation, you doubted fate would present you with another opportunity.
The distance you kept between you as you moved to stand next to him was not enough to prevent his sword from reaching you, but far enough to allow you to dash and sprint away if needed. You hoped.
He acknowledged you only with a small glance from behind his mask and a distorted sound before his gaze turned towards the sky again.
You frowned, eyes following the motions of the waves so far below you as you struggled to speak up. His presence was daunting, the air around him still oppressing, the sheer power he wielded almost tangible. Stillā¦
āWhy did youā¦ defend him?ā
Your gaze snapped up, startled to hear him speak first, caught off guard by the question. His voice sounded strained, as if he struggled to get the words out, as if it took immense effort to speak at all. It didnāt fit to how effortlessly he was acting on the battlefield.
āIā¦ā you started. You swallowed, gathered your thoughts. āHeās a Chrysos Heir and a demigod. And heās been fighting the Black Tide all by himself. I canāt possibly let you take his Coreflame just like that.ā
You closed your eyes, tried to calm your breathing, but your heart fluttered in your chest. Proclaiming your loyalty and allegiance to the Flame-Chase could be nothing but foolish in his presence, but the thought of lying to him or trying to understate your decision and attitude not once occurred to you.
āā¦ā He stayed silent for a long moment as if lost in thought. āā¦ how reckless.ā
You stared at him. Dumbfounded. You expected anything. An angry remark, a drawn sword, pain because he finally snapped and ended your life just like all the others beforeā¦ But not this.
He has called you reckless in the ruins before as well. Why? Why did he pretend to know you? Why did he care? None of this made sense.
You blinked up at him but not a word left your lips, not daring to confront him or argue about this statement. Silence ruled between you for a long moment until you found your voice again.
āWhat are you planning to achieve by doing all this?ā
You held your breath waiting - hoping - for an answer. He seemed calm, maybe he was willing to tell you something. Anything that could clear the confusion fogging your mind.
āEverythingā¦ must be reset,ā he said finally, his words distorted and strained, yet the message remained clear. You looked at him, studied the mask with all its sharp edges, its tips catching the pale light of the Evernight, as if staring at him could explain his words.
āResetā?! Aā¦ literal phrasing? Or did he mean something else? He had difficulties speaking, it wasnāt far-fetched nor would it surprise you that he could not find the right words. What did he mean? He was after the Coreflames. By any means necessary after the stories youāve heard about him. The Coreflames had to be brought to the Vortex of Genesis and-
You paused and furrowed your brows. Did it have something to do with that?
āAre youā¦ talking about the Vortex of Genesis?ā you dared to ask. He made a grunting, yet affirmative, grunt. But that would meanā¦ He had the same objective, the same goal as the Chrysos Heirs. Why did he resort to violence and destruction when you couldāve worked together this whole time?
āBut, youāre gathering the Coreflames too,ā you said, your voice louder - steadier - than you anticipated and your change in tone drew his gaze to you. You didnāt flinch nor retreat. Not this time. Your heart pounded in your chest with a fire that yearned for answers, that demanded clarity, and burned away any fear of provoking him.
āEra Nova must notā¦ come to pass.ā
You paused, your eyes looking for any sign - gesture - to interpret, as if you could look beyond the metal and darkness covering his face. To no avail.
āBut why?ā your voice became quieter, not hesitant, simply ridden with disbelief and confusion. This didnāt make sense. None of it.
He remained quiet. His gaze left you and he looked back up into the sky as if studying something there. As if he tried to find something among the dark sky of Evernight. Your own gaze turned to the ground and you held your arm with the other. You really wished you would be home right now. Off duty and gathering with your colleagues for a drink or a nice, warm bath at Marmoreal Palace.
The fabric of his torn and loose cape entered your peripheral vision, pulling you back into reality and the situation you were stuck in.
You couldnāt outrun him. Couldnāt escape from him. Butā¦ he kept you safe. For some reason he didnāt intend for any harm to come your way and at this pointā¦ you began to trust him on that. Risky. Perhaps utterly foolish. And yet, sticking with him of your own volition could make him give you more answers with time.
What heās truly trying to accomplish by opposing the Flame-Chase or maybeā¦ Maybe you could learn how to beat him, expose a weakness that could tell the other Chrysos Heirs how to defeat him without having to face another casualty along the way.
BREAKING: THE STELLARON'S VESSEL GETS HIS FLAT ASS GRABBED AND CLAIMED AS A CHRISTMAS GIFT.
i am trying my best not to malfunction as im typing this but it's hard jhskgshfs LIKE @haliyamori DID SUCH AMAZING JOB WITH THIS PIECE I CANT!!!! i am getting flustered merely thinking about it jhdhfihjiwjfwg and no better caption im afraid :((( but yes!!!! comm by mori <3333
