Chapter Text
It was done. After a long fight, they had finally defeated Iron Tomb. They would probably need to review the battle later, but he trusted Dan Heng to remember the details. The birth of Amphoreus had blurred most of it from his mind. For a brief moment, he grinned. If anyone asked, and even if they didn’t, he would say it was sheer dumb luck that everything worked out. Then again, having full access to the scepter’s authority, being under the gaze of countless Aeons (he was pretty sure Aha was there eating popcorn), and millions of spectators witnessing their monumental feat certainly helped Amphoreus come into existence, built upon the foundation of the last cycle.
They had truly won. One more point for Akivili and the Trailblaze, Caelus thought, almost hysterical. So why wasn’t Cyrene waking up?
"Dan Heng… March… what do we do? What am I supposed to do?" Caelus asked, his voice trembling despite his efforts to control it. He thought of the man who had helped them reach this point in the first place. Wasn’t his sacrifice enough already?
March’s voice pulled him out of his panic. "I think she’s okay," she said as she made sure Cyrene was comfortable, or as comfortable as she could be on the ground, he supposed. "I can’t say the same for…" She trailed off and looked behind him.
Caelus followed her gaze. Right. The moment he realized they had won, as a wave of remembrance hit them all, that Amphoreus was forming beneath their feet, he had stopped thinking about Iron Tomb. Some would probably say the view was spectacular, watching that giant husk slowly dissolve like ash in the wind. Just as he would have wanted.
"When the time comes. Promise me. Use the world-cleansing golden blood. To turn everything to ash."
He shook his head. He needed to stop thinking about it or he would go mad with grief.
He was about to turn back to his friends to discuss what they should do when he spotted something gold from the corner of his eye.
It was too familiar to dismiss, and he could swear he saw the silhouette of wings that made his breath hitch. His heart slammed against his ribs. Could it be? He hadn’t dared to hope, not after everything.
"Is that…" The words barely left his lips, trembling with disbelief.
He took a step forward before sense yanked him back. Cyrene. He couldn’t leave her unguarded. His gaze darted to March, desperate.
"March… could you-?" he asked before he knew what he was saying.
She smiled that goofy smile of hers and, as if reading his thoughts, quickly replied, "Silly. I’ll keep an eye on her. Go."
That was all he needed. He ran, barely registering another set of footsteps pounding behind him.
It took far too long to reach the last place where he saw that familiar gold, and the still-dissolving Iron Tomb made it hard to see anything around them.
"Shit," he cursed under his breath. He couldn’t see it anymore. Had he imagined it? That’s when a spot of unnatural white in all the dark and gloom caught his attention. He was running again.
What he saw when he arrived made his heart ache. There he was, his Deliverer. Eyes closed, skin pale as marble, cracks slowly spreading across it. Golden blood glimmered faintly in the fractures. No sign of his godlike form or presence. Like embers about to go out, leaving only white ash behind, he thought absently.
"Phainon," he breathed, falling to his knees. His hand hovered over the fragile body, desperate to do something, but he feared that if he touched him, he would break apart.
To his surprise, those eyes slowly opened, revealing a dazed golden gaze that locked onto him. Phainon’s lips parted, but no sound came at first. A faint tremor ran through his cracked frame. "Hero…of my heart," he finally managed to whisper.
That was all it took for his composure to break. Caelus couldn’t hold back. Before he knew it, he was hugging that frail body close, calling his name, burying his face in Phainon’s hair as sobs broke free. "You’re alive," he mumbled in disbelieving joy. "We did it."
"Yes… you fulfilled… your promise," Phainon murmured, one weak arm lifting to return the embrace. Caelus could barely feel the touch. "As I knew you would."
Caelus took a deep breath and forced himself to regain control. It was then that he noticed Dan Heng’s presence at his back. Caelus let himself rest against Dan Heng as he cradled Phainon’s broken form.
"Um… how are you?" The words sounded stupid the moment they left his mouth.
Phainon chuckled softly, then sighed, resting his head on Caelus’ shoulder. "Relieved," he murmured. His eyes opened again, warm and fond as they swept over Caelus and Dan Heng. "Without you, the new dawn could never have been achieved. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. I wish… I could do more. But I’m sure the others will make sure your names are remembered for eons in Amphoreus. Thank you… truly."
"Don’t say that. I told you. Both of us are the Deliverers," Caelus said firmly.
Phainon smiled softly. "I’m so glad I got to meet you. And that I could thank you one last time."
"Phainon… forgive my words, but you sound as if you’re saying goodbye," Dan Heng said quietly.
"What? No way. We finally got our happy ending. We won, right, Phainon?" At that, Phainon gave him a sad smile. His stomach sank like a stone. "Phainon?" he whispered.
"I’m sorry, partner," Phainon whispered, that sad smile never leaving his lips. "I will not lie to you." Golden eyes lost their focus and stared somewhere Caelus could not reach. "I am tired… and I think it is time I return to the golden wheat fields of my hometown."
"No. No." Caelus’ voice cracked. What did that even mean? Did he want to… He swallowed hard, then raised it. "I refuse."
"Caelus," Dan Heng whispered. Caelus ignored him.
"You of all people deserve to see with your own eyes the new dawn!"
Silence. Gold eyes watched him. Caelus felt suddenly self-conscious.
"Partner…" Phainon began slowly, as if measuring his words with great care. "Is that… your wish?"
He almost said yes. But the words caught in his throat.
He remembered the cycles he witnessed, the endless suffering, the way Phainon had carried everyone’s wishes like chains. Hatred had kept him moving. Hatred had burned because he loved too much to let fate win. It had driven him for hundreds, thousands, millions of lives.
"Each cycle, it’s your wishes that guide me to the end… that pass the flames to the next me."
"But… what about you?
What about your wishes… the wishes of all the countless versions of you?"
And suddenly Caelus knew. If he uttered those words, Phainon would do it. He would follow them even if it broke him. Even if he suffered. He would do it just because Caelus said so. And after all Phainon had endured, Caelus couldn’t bring himself to do that to him.
A shaky breath left him as he lowered his head. "I want you to do what you wish to do," he said at last. Because what else was there to say?
At that, Phainon’s eyes widened before softening with so much affection that Caelus felt like crying again.
"I truly… don’t deserve you, partner."
"Just…" Caelus swallowed. He wouldn’t force Phainon to live a life he didn’t want. But he wouldn’t stand by and watch him fade, either. "Just, could you give us a chance? Let us show you tomorrow is worth living for. A few weeks. That’s all I ask… please."
Phainon stared at him, studying him in silence. Caelus wondered if he was searching for a gentle way to let him down. But he didn’t care. He didn’t look away, hoping Phainon would find whatever it was he was looking for, anything that would convince him to stay.
"Don’t force yourself," Dan Heng started.
But a soft chuckle cut off Dan Heng’s words, dissolving into a cough. Caelus stiffened when he saw a small amount of golden blood at the corner of Phainon’s lips. Maybe it wasn’t just a matter of wanting but of-
"For you, anything," Phainon inadvertently interrupted his thoughts, filling him with joy. "But… I do have one condition," Phainon said, faltering. "Is that all right?"
"Name it," Caelus said resolutely. Ask me, he thought. He would give Phainon anything he wanted.
Era Nova was finally here. Cipher stretched her arms above her head as she stared at the rising sun. They had done it. Truly done it. She watched as more and more people emerged from their homes to witness the dawn. It had been a shock to everyone to realize they were alive after feeling that wave of destruction tear through them.
"Cifera," a voice called from behind. "Step away from the edge."
And wasn’t that another surprise.
"Well, if it isn’t the seamstress herself." Cipher grinned. "Worried about little old me?"
"Cifera."
"Ugh, fine. Look, I moved. I’m not going to fall, you know. Who do you think I am?"
Aglaea’s expression didn’t change. "Let’s go. The Deliverer wishes to speak with us."
Cipher groaned but willingly followed. After all, Aglaea had come herself instead of sending someone. Aglaea's World-Wound Web still wasn’t up and all. It had been a trying time for everyone.
When they arrived, Cipher spotted a familiar streak of gray hair. "Oho? If it isn’t Okhema’s hero himself."
"Cipher, Aglaea!" Caelus turned toward them with a big smile, though exhaustion clung to his features. "I need-"
He was about to say more, but Cipher couldn’t hear him over the roaring in her ears. Her gaze had locked onto a figure walking behind the Deliverer. The clothes were different, but the key details were unmistakable: a dark cloak and that cursed mask. The figure who had killed her.
"You shall walk with greed, and die over petty change..."
But wasn’t she alive? The memories were fuzzy. No matter. She could still feel the broken blade sinking into her chest as she desperately tried to protect Kephale's Coreflame as requested by Ph-. She gasped.
"Cifera," Aglaea warned, but Cipher was already moving. Her claws reached for the mask, ready to tear into flesh, only to slam against a shield.
"Wait! Don’t hurt him!" The Deliverer’s voice rang out as he moved to stand in front of the executioner.
"Drop the shield!" Cipher hissed. Instead of listening to her, the executioner turned his head slightly. Unconsciously, she followed his gaze, and froze. The owner of the shield was none other than the holder of the Earth Coreflame, Dan Heng. She stumbled back when she saw he was holding someone who was not in good shape.
"Now is not the time for fighting. Can I trust we won’t be attacked?" Dan Heng said as he stepped up beside the Deliverer.
Cipher bristled, but before she could speak, a warm hand settled on her shoulder. She stepped back as Aglaea moved to stand beside her.
"We would never attack the heroes of Amphoreus," Aglaea said calmly, her eyes sweeping from the Trailblazers to the girl in Dan Heng’s arms, then lingering on the figure in the dark cloak and mask. "However, I cannot say the same for your companion."
A pause followed. Cipher shivered as golden threads seemed to hum faintly in the air.
"Please explain."
"Of course! The thing is… uh-" The Trailblazer began, but his words faltered. His eyes glazed over, and he collapsed sideways.
"Caelus!" Dan Heng called, but his arms were already full. Before Aglaea or Cipher could react, the executioner moved to catch Caelus, letting him rest against his side. One arm went around Caelus’ back for support.
"Talk later," a rough voice said as Caelus leaned into him without hesitation. Cipher wanted to rip him away, but even Dan Heng seemed to trust the Flame Reaver for some reason. "Rest now."
From the corner of her eye, Cipher saw Aglaea frowning. After a pause, Aglaea crossed her arms and nodded. "Very well. I’ll call for Hyacinthia. However, while I trust you have the Flame Reaver under control, it would give us peace of mind to take some added measures."
"But Aglaea-!" Cipher began, only to fall silent when Aglaea shot her a look. Unfair.
The Trailblazers exchanged glances. To Cipher’s suspicion, they looked at the Flame Reaver, who gave a subtle nod.
"Of course," Dan Heng said after a beat, his tone softening as he bowed his head. "We can talk more after the immediate injuries are taken care of. Thank you."
"No need for thanks. We should have offered aid first. Follow me."
Cipher trailed behind the group, every sense locked on the executioner. She ignored the pounding headache behind her eyes and the inconsistencies in her memory. None of it mattered. Her only goal was to make sure her family was safe.