Chapter Text
From the moment a person is born, life becomes an endless compilation of decision after decision, all of which will result in different circumstances and lifestyles. Some will go on to lead to simple, ordinary days, while others will rise higher in pursuit of something more.
In Phainon’s case, he chose the latter — or rather, he was lucky enough to have ended up in it.
Full of a refreshing, charismatic attitude not typically found in the average person, he was a singer whose voice alone could stop and turn anyone’s head, a lyricist whose words were akin to a warm embrace, and a performer who always gave it his all, no matter what.
With his natural way of drawing people in, it came as no surprise to anyone that, provided with enough time, Phainon's perseverance and dedication would eventually result in his view of standing as the center of attention on multiple stages. Everywhere he went, the loud choir of both cheers and praises would follow him, and everywhere he looked, he'd see the thousands of fans who brimmed with love and adoration for the star he'd come to be.
He was not only the picture-perfect idol, appealing to the masses both young and old, but also the kind of person who, even amidst a bombardment of attention such as this, chose to remain humble and never allowed himself to get swept away by greed.
Nothing was ever taken for granted, and everything he received, Phainon would always make sure to return tenfold.
For this reason, any time his rise to success was mentioned, it was widely agreed upon by practically everyone who knew of the idol now deemed The Public’s Darling, that if anyone deserved it, it was him.
But as grateful as the beloved star was, even he sometimes needed an escape from it all. At the end of every day, he was only human, and humans could only handle being under a never-ending spotlight for so long before needing the time and space to not only recharge, but also be seen as the individuals beneath the masks of the personas they wore.
Sometimes, he just wanted to be himself. He wanted to be Phainon, and nothing more.
With a quiet exhale and a slight swivel, a body slumped onto the desk chair within a bedroom, legs immediately rising to rest against the flat of the desk itself. He rested the back of his head against the backrest and lifted a hand to loosen the tie around his neck, wanting to feel a little more relaxed.
Phainon had just returned home after yet another photoshoot for a modeling job, but he knew he couldn’t get too comfortable just yet — it was still only noon, and he could receive a call to meet with someone else at any given time. Such was the life he’d come to grow used to ever since 5 years ago.
After a moment’s silence, the eloquent writing of the voice both faceless and familiar called to him once more, and he extended his hand forward until the tips of his fingers met the neat stack of unfolded letters within one of the small shelves of his desk.
From this touch alone, a smile had already bloomed across Phainon’s face.
As a celebrity, he was accustomed to receiving his fair share of fanmail, which ranged anywhere from simple letters of gratitude to grander, more elaborate displays of support, both of which were happily received and met with his genuine appreciation.
But among those who often wrote to him, there was one person who always managed to stand out and brighten his mood regardless of how good or bad of a day he’d been having.
This individual, with neither a name nor address to provide him with any hints of their identity, had piqued Phainon’s curiosity to the fullest extent with their sincere words of comfort, support, and wisdom.
This person, this voice, had become one of Phainon’s greatest joys. They’d become someone who somehow always knew exactly what he needed to hear, and just from reading the manner in which they wrote, Phainon could tell they were quite knowledgeable, with a profound understanding of the world, and he longed to know who they were.
He wanted to write back, to thank them for their words, and maybe even get to know them further, but every letter was always the same dead end, and all he could do was re-read them over and over until the next letter came through.
Although he eventually learned to accept the fact that their identity may remain a mystery never to be uncovered, the delight he felt every time he found himself as their recipient never once wavered.
He trailed his index finger across the most recent of them, looking it over for the nth time as a warm fuzziness settled in his chest.
To: Phainon
“What is this life supposed to be about?
Is it money, fortune, fame, or a big house?
When speaking to a man on his dying bed,
none of these answers are what he said.
Family, love, laughter are what we should seek.
These are the precious things that keep life from being bleak.”
A snippet of a poem by M. Jolynn Rawson-Hunt.
In a time where many rise to stardom with the mere goal of garnering riches and opportunities to further their own lives with little regard for others, it’s rare to have come across someone whose artistry instead focuses on consolation, relatability, and, above all, a sense of hope.
Among a tide of darkness, selfishness, and pessimism, your sensitivity and ambition — your passion and dedication — deliver brilliant glimpses of light against it all, and this is an impact I would consider to be both timeless and invaluable beyond measure.
Truly, to have achieved such a feat is admirable, and I am more than willing to continue supporting you on your endeavors, wherever they may lie, and in whatever form they may take, for the years to come.
But as remarkable as it all is, I hope that, above all, you remain true to yourself and your desires. Remember to live for yourself while time is abundant. For the dreams yet to be attained, and the wishes that still remain unfulfilled.
Best wishes,
Anonymous
It had already been months since Phainon’s hands had torn into the envelope this letter resided in with the same eagerness of a child who’d just received a much-anticipated present, though he wished they were a weekly, maybe even daily occurrence instead.
Whoever this person was, he could never get enough of them, and he couldn’t help but wonder… had their paths ever crossed before? If they were a fan, had they attended his concerts? His meet-and-greets? His showcases? Had they ever stood out to him in the middle of a crowd?
He really wished to know.
As he continued reading it over and over, the ringing and buzzing of the phone in his pocket drew his attention away.
He had a feeling he knew whose caller ID would be displayed, but it was to be expected.
“Miss Aglaea?” he asked as he pressed the screen against the shell of his ear.
“Phainon,” the voice on the other end of the line spoke. “Did your meeting with the creative team come to an end already?”
“It did, why?”
“A group of game developers wish to meet with you to discuss a potential collaboration.”
At this, Phainon straightened up in his chair and adjusted the hold around his phone.
A game company? This was the first time such a proposal was even being considered… what would he even bring to the table in a situation such as this?
“I’m a little surprised you’re thinking about their offer enough to bring it up to me, haha. You normally turn them down rather quickly.”
Aglaea hummed. “I was going to originally, but they were very adamant about it. They mentioned being great admirers of your work, and unlike most other companies who have told me the same thing for the sake of working with you, I could sense their sincerity.”
If even Aglaea, who was quite skilled at reading people, believed these developers were being genuine, then it must seriously be true. Phainon couldn’t help but grow intrigued over whatever it was they had planned for him.
Besides, he’s always had a soft spot for his fans, so this was the least he could do in return for their continuous support.
“Alright, I’ll do it.”
“Great, I’ll text you the address. Be there by 4.”
. . .
On the outside, the company’s building was relatively simple and not nearly as elaborate as the images Phainon had been envisioning on his way here, most of which consisted primarily of multiple stories with giant logos and LED screens plastered across it.
But although its outward appearance wasn’t anything particularly breathtaking, its interior was actually very humbly and nicely decorated, with pops of color found against sets of furniture to liven the place up.
As Phainon was led further into the building and through the hallways, the sight of countless posters and giant picture frames commemorating their achievements as a company caught his eye. Despite only being a couple of years old, it seems they’d managed to achieve many milestones already.
Soon enough, he and the assistant he’d been following came to a halt.
“The developers and Miss Aglaea are already inside,” they said, signaling for him to enter. “Please, if you will.”
Phainon smiled his thanks and stepped through. The room had a cozier atmosphere with no long table and aligned swivel chairs in sight. Instead, to the right where the others were awaiting him, there were two sets of 2-seater sofas placed across each other, along with a coffee table between them.
He walked over to them and sat down in the only remaining empty spot.
“Mr. Phainon,” the first developer, a man, spoke. “We are thrilled to have you with us, and Miss Aglaea here has already informed us that you have decided to accept our offer.”
Before responding accordingly, Phainon gave a bashful wave of his hand. “Just ‘Phainon’ is okay, don’t worry, but yes, I am interested in seeing what this project has to offer.”
The woman beside him smiled, pleased to hear about his willingness to participate. She tapped on the tablet she was holding, pulling up a document before handing the device to Phainon.
“You can find the details here, Phainon,” she did a quick scroll through before bringing it back to the start of the document, allowing him to read through it.
“Aside from modeling for promotional advertisements, we also have one other condition.”
“Oh, sure. What is it?” he asked, though he couldn’t help but pause in his scrolling at those words — he’d heard them countless times before, and let’s just say… some requests had been odder than others.
The developer laughed at the look on his face and gave his shoulder a light pat.
“Don’t look so tense! All we’re asking is that you participate in a livestream event that will take place six months from now.”
Hearing this, the tension in Phainon’s shoulders eased away as he probed further and set the tablet down on his lap.
“A livestream? What would I have to do?”
The first developer spoke again. “We’ll be promoting a new major update for our MMORPG game during it. It will be the first in over a year, so it’ll be a pretty big deal. We were hoping to include a special segment for you to fill.”
“We’d love for you to perform a song for the game’s upcoming OST,” the woman beside him said. “It’s already been prepared in advance, so you’d only have to add your own personal flair to your performance.”
That sounded simple enough.
Having expanded on what they were looking for, Aglaea finally spoke up, and all heads turned in her direction.
“I noticed that this game has been growing in popularity recently.”
The male developer nodded enthusiastically in response.
“It has! Which is why we decided now was the perfect time to seek out a celebrity like Phainon to expand its promotion. After all, he wasn’t crowned the Public’s Darling for nothing.”
Phainon laughed a little awkwardly at the mention of his title.
It’s not that he was embarrassed of it, quite the contrary, actually, but hearing it in person had a different feel to it than just reading it online. It served as a verbal reminder of the way his public image was perceived, as well as how he must never betray it.
But that didn’t matter right now.
“Alright, I’m fully on board,” he said with a smile. “Thank you for reaching out to me with this opportunity.”
Both developers cheered at his words, and the rest of the meeting proceeded smoothly as Phainon signed the provided contract. Once it came to a close and he was free to go, Aglaea informed him that he could take it easy for the time being — the showcase was still a while away, so no schedule was set in stone just yet.
With everything settled, Phainon made his way back to his car, fully prepared to go home and rest for the remainder of the day.
The sound of the vehicle stirring back to life sounded as he inserted the key into its ignition slot, but just as he was pulling out of the parking lot and steering his way in the direction of the familiar streets, a thought flashed across his mind.
Should he buy a gaming PC and check the game out for himself? These developers had sought him out specifically, yet he knew little to nothing about gaming due to always having preferred to invest his time in pursuing his passion for singing and songwriting.
But he couldn’t allow things to stay this way, especially not when it was clear that this company poured a lot of love and care into their work.
Returning home could wait.
Thankfully, it was still early enough for the nearest tech store to be open.
. . .
Stepping foot into the vast establishment left Phainon marveled as he had a look around — he was surrounded by a myriad of gadgets and gaming essentials, all of which were either displayed behind glass cases or up on shelves.
Unsurprisingly, considering the hour, he was one of the only customers, but at least that meant he wouldn't struggle with finding an employee who could spare him the time to guide him to a starting point so that he could embark on his gaming journey.
Being as tall as he was, he had no problem craning his neck to look over shelves before spotting a light green haired man in what appeared to be the store’s uniform, which consisted of a white shirt tucked into a pair of black pants, as well as a lanyard around his neck. He approached him, slowly, not wanting to startle him too badly since he was currently standing atop a stool while diligently sorting through the shelves.
“Excuse me,” he called out.
The employee’s shoulders jolted at the sound of his voice, but he played it off and turned his head towards Phainon.
“Yes?” he asked.
How surprising. It wasn’t often that Phainon could go up to someone without them recognizing him and asking for an autograph or selfie. He hadn’t even bothered covering his face like he usually did when he ventured out on his own.
He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, already embarrassed over seeming so clueless about the matter he was about to bring up.
“I don’t mean to be a bother at this hour, but do you think you could help me with finding a gaming PC?”
“What's your budget and what are your performance expectations?” the man asked as he stepped off of the stool and neatly folded it. Such an action revealed just how close to the ground he was in comparison to Phainon, but that was besides the point. Now that he was standing right in front of him, he could see the badge attached to his lanyard.
Anaxagoras.
“Performance… expectations?” he questioned after giving his name a quick look.
After a silence that dragged on for roughly 10 seconds as Anaxagoras blankly stared back at Phainon, he finally asked, “Have you ever owned a PC before?”
“...No.”
Anaxagoras glanced at the time on his phone. “I have time. Come with me, I’ll walk you through it.”
For the next 45 minutes, Phainon tried his hardest to follow and keep up with Anaxagoras' words, but his sentences were a jumble of jargon so unfamiliar he may as well have been speaking an alien language. By the end of it, he could practically feel the steam of his overworked brain flowing out from his ears.
However, this employee proved to be quite the helper — he’d thoroughly provided him with everything he would need to get started with building a PC, and even after scanning all of his items and sliding the heavy boxes over to him, he managed to sense Phainon’s lingering confusion.
He pointed to a small, squared image that was attached to one of the boxes.
“If you need further assistance, just scan that QR code and it will lead you to a step-by-step video. You shouldn’t face any more issues after that.”
Phainon craned his neck to see what he was referring to, letting out a quiet oh as he spotted it. Then, he looked back up at Anaxagoras behind the counter and smiled.
“Thank you very much! I’ll make sure to leave a 5 star, no, a 10 star review with your name on it!”
“Our store’s reviews only go up to 5.”
“Then 5 it is!”
“That’s unnecessary.”
“That word has never stopped me before,” he responded playfully. “But seriously, I appreciate your help. I hope the rest of your night goes wonderfully.”
“...Take care.”
. . .
Having received so much guidance, Phainon was confident that the rest of the night would pose no further issues, but he was humbled into reality when he found himself sitting between various components he’d never seen before. Even with the step-by-step video he’d been provided with, its audio would only play for 5-10 seconds at a time before he either paused or rewinded to look at the own parts in his hands and compare.
This was much more confusing than he could have ever imagined, but Phainon refused to give up — he was determined to get started by the end of tonight.
He closed his eyes and rubbed at his temples, urging his brain to wake up and make itself useful. When that didn’t work, he resorted to giving himself some quiet pep talks and words of encouragement, and although it may have sounded silly, it proved to have been exactly what he’d needed to acquire a moment of clarity as his hands began rapidly working and piecing it all together, almost as if the spirit of a PC technician had laid their gaze upon Phainon and possessed him.
A while later, he’d successfully built his very first gaming device, and he couldn’t have been prouder, as evident by the flashing of his phone as he took multiple pictures and sent them to everyone in his contact list.
But now that the worst of it had been done and over with, he could finally sit at his desk and turn the monitor on so that he could handle the startup process, which he was already familiar with, and move on to installing the game itself.
An Heir’s Journey
That was the name the developers had mentioned throughout the meeting. It was intriguing, and by the looks of its reviews, it seemed to be a positively received experience.
He navigated through the main website and scrolled down to select the option to begin the installation process, which was predicted to take 30 minutes to an hour to complete. Seeing this, Phainon decided to step away to have a quick dinner and take a shower.
By the time he’d returned to his bedroom, he was pleasantly surprised to discover that the game was ready to be played.
With a happy hum, he settled back down and officially got started, though nothing could have prepared him for the beautiful visuals of the title screen that appeared across his screen not long after — if the graphics were already leaving him this astounded, then how much better was the rest of it going to be?
He took a minute to appreciate it, wanting to spot as many little details as possible before continuing. Behind the lettering of the game’s name, he could see a vast, vibrantly colored fantastical world that stretched far into the distance. Closer to him, there was a forest filled with lush greenery, but beyond that, villages, caves, and even castles were spread throughout the land. In addition to that, various little avatars, each with unique appearances, brought the scene to life as they interacted with the bustling environment. Above them, up in the sky, various creatures, both ordinary and mythical, flitted across the screen.
Once he felt that he’d appreciated the title screen enough, Phainon moved his mouse so that his cursor could press the “START” button found at the center of it all, and he was then thrown into a cutscene with visuals that, despite thinking it unlikely, actually managed to leave him even more astonished. He became immersed in the world and its storytelling almost as soon as it’d begun, and he could feel himself already bursting with excitement to continue exploring it further.
As the first initial cutscenes came to an end, he was thrown into a character and class selecting screen, where he was then provided with four types to choose from: a knight, a mage, a bard, or a summoner. Each class had its own special set of skills, as well as unique strengths and weaknesses that he could build upon the more he leveled up.
Phainon pondered over this decision for a while as he read through their different stats and descriptions. He didn’t know whether or not he’d have the option to switch his class around later on, so he wanted to be sure he selected something he wouldn’t regret.
After some careful consideration, he settled on being a knight — he’d always been someone who loved lending a helping hand and looking after others, so this seemed to suit him best.
He couldn’t help the giddiness he felt as he was then given the option to customize his avatar, though the beginner options were a bit limited. Still, he made do with what he had and adjusted everything to his liking. He gave himself a head of messy, shaggy blond hair, as well as eyes of a similarly intense golden color and a default set of armor.
Satisfied with his appearance, he tried to click to continue, but a box appeared at the center of his screen for him to type a username into.
Phainon gave it some thought before gliding his fingertips across the keyboard.
NeiKos. Luckily, it was available, and he was finally able to proceed into the game’s world itself.
He moved his mouse around to glance around at his surroundings, and as expected, they were even more impressive now that he was viewing it from the point of view of an actual player. He’d loaded into one of the villages and was standing in front of a merchant who, once spoken to, would initiate the set of quests he’d have to complete as a beginner.
All around him, he could see the avatars of other players scurrying about and engaging with one another. Their outfits were much more intricate than Phainon’s boring armor, and some of them even had giant pets following after them… suddenly, he really couldn’t wait to obtain better accessories.
But setting his silent jealousy aside, he proceeded to press at random buttons on his keyboard in an attempt to figure out what each one of them did, which proved to be a terrible decision.
By complete accident, the sporadic tap dancing of his fingers had resulted in him accidentally whacking an innocent passerby whose proximity he’d been completely unaware of until he heard an “Oof!” beside him.
Phainon panicked and ceased his movements to take a look at them — their avatar’s full appearance was concealed beneath a white hooded cloak with half of a yellow sun etched into the front’s left side. Since they’d just been cruelly attacked by the cold-hearted noob who hadn’t even made it to level 2 yet, the avatar had flashed red as the health bar above their head decreased, though not by much.
But just the sight of having caused them any harm at all left Phainon shaken, so he hurriedly tried to figure out how to communicate his apologies before they even had the chance to say something first, but he was too slow. Within seconds, he saw speech bubbles appear above them.
[Global] SkeMma: Ow.
[Global] SkeMma: ?
Phainon sucked in a breath and resumed the frantic tapping at his keyboard, desperately trying, and failing, to open up the chatbox, but his chaotic ministrations were only tormenting his poor victim even more. This time, he’d even unleashed his skill, which turned out to be a quick lunge followed by a long slash. How much crueler could he be!
[Global] SkeMma: ?
Another question mark.
[Global] SkeMma: Press the Enter key.
Seeing this, he did as told and was relieved to see the option to type. He quickly wrote out an apology.
[Global] NeiKos: I’M SORRY
[Global] NeiKos: I’M NEW
[Global] NeiKos: I DON;T KNOW HOW THESEBUTTONS WORK
He didn't even care that he’d forgotten to disable the caps lock, he just wanted to defend himself and clear up any misunderstanding. The last thing Phainon wanted was an enemy when he hadn’t even managed to get past his loading point.
[Global] SkeMma: Ok.
With that simple response, they took off, and Phainon could only watch as their cloak fluttered behind them, emitting an almost heroic aura with their every step.
That’s it?
Whatever, it didn’t matter so long as they weren’t mad at him. With a sigh of relief, he decided to stop DJing on his keyboard, and instead pulled up a control guide on his phone. It turned out to be too much for him to memorize as a noobie, so he only bothered with the basics, such as the ones that controlled his movements and attacks, to prevent himself from coming across as a bloodthirsty madman to anyone else.
Once he’d gotten the hang of that, he finally began looking through the tutorial windows and spent the next couple of hours completing the starter quests and unlocking access to the game’s early content.
Who could have ever guessed that this game, and Phainon’s decision to play it, would mark the beginning of him finally re-learning something he’d long forgotten?