Chapter Text
Phainon was being suffocated by his burdens. His tears have emptied, the blood of red and gold had dried into his clothing. His wounds seemed to never heal. The hair that his lover used to play with was once a pure white was now a tainted pink.
As he finished the last monster and stumbled on the path. He stepped over the carcasses and ashes of his foes. Oh Titans, he couldn't do this.
Was this the world Kephale wanted? Complete nothingness. A reset so they could play with those who follow. If it was then being the Deliverer truly was a curse.
To be alone at the end of the world. Who else could bear this suffering other than him? The survivor of every tragedy. Aedes Elysiae. Chrysos Heirs. The damn world.
Even if he wants to stop and give. He couldn't due to those same losses. His golden blood was dipping as he continued to hold Ornyx and Kephale's coreflames to his chest. Cerces' word echoing in his head, "If you stop at any moment before getting to the location you'll lose your chance to change things. So don't ever falter."
He hasn't. Cerces gave him this opportunity as he ascended up to the final steps. The pillar was right there, surrounded by monsters. When was that new.
He summoned with broadsword and launched himself to the pillar. Blocking every monster from the coreflame even using his body. Coughing up blood as the ashes of fading monster blinded him. He slammed into something. Fuck-
His back hit the floor. The sound of monsters still around as he fumbled to grab whatever he hit.
It felt like a pillar. Hopefully, it was the right one.
A loud sound snap deafened him.
He could only pray that Cerces' plan would work as the darkness covered him.
How did he even get here?
"Well aren't you a fun one," the Titan twirled his white locks between her fingers. Phainon stomach turned as he pulled away from the Titan.
The woman before him was elegant despite her messy appearance. "What in Amphoreous could you want from me, Cerces?" Her giggle as she started floating away grating on him, "Gloating as your favored has finally gone to the Nether realm."
"Why would that ever be fun for a Titan, Kephale's favored? For our favored to fall means our efforts were for not-
"Cut the shit, Cerces or should I refer to you as Calypso-" The plants wrapped around his neck, everything seemed to fade… Finally, he could see them again.
Not for long as she let him go. Crashing into the ground as he heaved. Air rushing to his lunges as Phainon hissed through gritted teeth, "Are you not Reason? For what reason would you want me alive?"
The Titan pouts, curiosity overtaking her as she states, "Your professor never mentioned that you as the snappy one nor the suicidal one."
"Yeah, and that was before everyone I cared about were fucking dead. So just get it over with- I want to see hi-"
"That's enough, Kephale's favored."
Phainon snapped, "Being favored by that Titan has brought me nothing, but pain and suffering. The professor claimed that your the Titan of Reason so continue. Why can't you let me die?"
Cerces glared at him, "Because you haven't fulfilled your purpose."
"What purpose-" Phainon swung his arms to the blood red sky and the bodies of both monsters and people before them, "There's nothing left." The tears couldn't stop as he turned away.
She crossed her arms, "Stop the sulking, Deliverer. That is what Anaxa called you. Right?"
He scoffs, "Yeah-"
"There's something we can do." Just like that the man who was broken turned into a puppy who heard it's owner was going on a walk. The never ending tears seemed to dry up entirely. It's strange how effective that was.
"What?"
"It obviously comes wi-"
"Anything."
"Quiet sure of yourself aren't you Deliverer?" She saw it in his eyes. The cost would be heavy of them, but it was nothing compared to the reward in store. The symbol in those heavy blue eyes turned a bright gold. Kephale truly picked a perfect lamb. "Not asking for the details? Your professor would be ashamed."
He rolled his eyes, "He's dead and I'm not what does that say about anything?"
She nods, "True, I have to give you credit for that. So let's get a move on."
Something was getting close.
Murmuring.
He hasn't heard another person in a year.
"Hey," now that voice was similar to one he hasn't heard in years. It's too close. He snatched it. "Dammit, let go!"
He glare at the person. Only to see pink hair with a strand of white framing her face. He froze. She looked like Cyrene if she was able to grow up. His older sister that's been dead for twenty years. He could only let go. His fingerprints on her wrist healing up instantly.
All he could remember was the Flame Reaver's weapon going through her as she covered him. The red was all over him.
She winced, "So that's how we ended in that your world."
He leaned forward, gritting his teeth, "What the hell are you talking about?"
The blue eyes that match his own started building with tears. Phainon knew what was about to happen. "Wait, wait!" She tackled him as she sobs, "You were so stupid! You weren't supposed to die!"
Landing on him sent the world spinning. "Holy shit! Get off," he started to hit her shoulder to get her off his injuries. "That fucking hurt!" It seems she remembered as Cyrene threw herself off crying, "I'm so sorrry!"
It took forty minutes for Phainon to calm the woman down. Her sniffles finally starting to calm down as she got up and straightened herself out. "Okay, I'm sorry about all of this."
He shook his head as he pat her on the head, "I would appreciate an explanation."
Cyrene's usual flat hair was all frizzy as she puffed out her chest. "If it isn't obvious I'm the Cyrene from this world and an S Ranked with spacial abilities."
Phainon proceeded to clap as he whooped. "Hush young one, let me finish before we can celebrate." Her eyes shifted and Phainon straightened his posture. Any teasing and playful tones vanishing in an instant. "In this world, you were my little brother same as your world. One of my abilities is to read the memories of those I come into contact with."
Wait did mean she saw everything with him and Myd-
Her eyes began to glow as glass figures were summoned. It was them as children running away as the Flame Reaver chased them. Instead of Cyrene covering him, it was Phainon who was slammed into the wall. Before the Flame Reaver could finish him off, Cyrene seemed to have awakened and froze their surroundings.
She did everything in her power to pick him up and run. Stumbling as she managed to find the nearest hunter. A woman who stepped out portal. Nothing, but gold and white with eyes that seemed vacant despite their beauty. Aglaea.
"So your telling me that I could've saved you and everything ended up all better." He joke as she smacked the hell out of him. Reaching the back of his head, "Fucking OW!"
"No. Don't ever say that about yourself again. Your efforts were worth it."
"So how am I here?"
"I was getting to that before you got all self-deprecating moron. So I bargained with the system to bring you back to life."
"You would do that for me?"
The look she gave Phainon spelled stupid, "Look around you dipshit. You wouldn't be here if I didn't. So the system said I could get a Phainon back since mine was gone."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't bother, I saw your memories. Your world. After all that lost, giving you another chance at living is the least I could do for any version of my little brother." She couldn't look at him in the eye. He can't blame her. "I guess- No matter how far you travel. Your bound to become the Dawn. At least my Phainon was given that peace at your cost."
The chuckle given was empty, "Your right, at least he's safe from all this chaos." His eyes not bothering to hide the pain as his older sister still understood him. Even if she was from another world.
"So- How are you going to explain all this?" Gesturing to himself. Because assuming that he was supposed to be comatose his body is still his. Not the Phainon that used to be here, but his with all the scars, wounds, callouses and tattoo to boot.
His poor sister had to see the sorry state his body was in.
"Luckily, your sister is an S Rank. So they'll believe anything I say and if they don't then all I have to do is change their memory," she said that as if that wasn't one of the scariest thing he's ever heard with the brightest smile.
Blinking as he turned away, "I going to use plausible deniability to my advantage here."
She was hopped as she clapped, "Good! Let's give you a run down on basic things. Since you just woke up and get you right back to bed."
This world... is very different compared to his old one. There are more Titans and they're not called that. They're called Aeons. The world is much bigger here with places he's never heard of. That was a worry for later.
Staring at his phone or really, "I still think a teleslate is a stupid name for a phone."
"Can't change it. It been like this is it was created so suck it up princess!" Cyrene laughed as she passed him a plate of food. "I'll admit that Titans are a better name." Where the food came from he'd never remember. It was the best thing he's eaten in years.
He didn't even notice that the world was blurry.
It was just a honey cake with eggs and he started crying like a damn child. Phainon was surround by his sister hugging him and laying on his shoulder.
Everything was overwhelming for the both of them.
A lifetime. Worlds apart yet they left exactly how they did as children in their respected hometown. No matter what they'd be siblings in bond or blood.
This is a home. Not his home, but a home nonetheless.
"I have a surprise for you." She says getting to the curtain, holding the edge of it. "Ready?"
He put the fork down. As she opened the curtain, the tears seemed to come back with a vengeance. The wheat fields were back. The small home were filled with people that were supposed to be long gone.
He wasn't in that random apartment anymore. Phainon couldn't breathe as he sprinted, the heat surrounding him as his hearing captured the final moments of those around him. The cries, the screams and fighting as they were taken over by the black tide. The cracking and shifting of their bones. The screeches of the newly formed monsters following them.
Phainon bit into his forearm to stop from screaming. The pain brought him back. He wasn't there anymore. Cyrene tried to pull him away as golden blood was staining her hands. Her words fading into the background of his mind.
If Cyrene was normal, she would have been crushed by his grip on her arm. Thankfully she wasn't.
They sat there for what seemed like forever as Cyrene's apologies went on deaf ears. Phainon mumbling, "not your fault."
Cyrene started to clean up the blood on his face. Pulling his hoodie sleeve to clean the wound. Her chuckle was hollow, "Already adding an injury one hour into your new world."
He didn't say anything else. This was enough excitement and reopening of old wounds for the both of them today.
"I'm going to play a show in the background so you could rest."
He nods as she helps him lay down. Cyrene sitting on the chair next to him.