#phaidei if you squint

[akushixa]

I was doodling Phainon while watching the 3.4 stream...there's also phaidei if you squint

[boobxrry0]

Ok rq Phainon theory/character dive. Includes 3.4 leaks and 3.3 spoilers btw

There is something about his e4 that just. Absolutely breaks me. It’s his eyes. They look so broken. So lonely.

Because he is. All of his friends—all of his family—they’re dead and/or unreachable. He feels as though he cannot lead Amphoreus to Era Nova. As stated in this note after 3.3’s story:

He is afraid. He is hesitant. He doesn’t wish to be in this spot. He is afraid he is not the right person, that this role of “Deliverer” will be the death of all Amphoreus. No matter how hard he tries, no matter how brave he seems, deep down he is truly, truly so afraid. Nervous. Anxious. He truly believes that someone else is fit for the role. It should have been Aglaea, or Mydeimos.

It’s not something new. He knew that from the beginning, ever since he met Aglaea with gracefully accepting Mnestia’s divinity, and when it truly set in when he failed Nikador’s trial, when Mydei took up the title of the Demigod of Strife. When he left to fight the Black Tide alone.

After Mydei left, he went alone in his room and cried. Not only because Mydeimos left, but because it’s starting to set in. He has to lead Amphoreus to Era Nova. After the vote was cast to continue the Flame-Chase Journey, he again went in his room and cried afterwards. He has to bear the weight of the world on his shoulders, alone. Is this how the previous cycle’s incarnation of Kephale felt? Did they feel alone? With the weight of their shoulders, do they feel truly alone? Did they hesitate? Did they feel as though they couldn’t do it—that they aren’t enough?

Or did they lead Amphoreus to victory with their head held high—brought back the light, fought the black tide and swept away the night to hold it off until the Chrysos Heirs of the next Era could begin the cycle again? Did they lead with pride? Honor? Strength? Are they looking upon him right now—scoffing? Rolling their eyes? Clicking their tongue? Cursing his name? Did he end up how Kephale wanted them to?

Why would he? He’s not even confident in himself. Yet he puts on this mask of fake pride and confidence. Of nonchalance. Despite his friends all dying around him.

He knows that death is inevitable along the path of the Flame-Chase Journey, but he wasn’t expecting so many losses of those closer to him all in a row. Aglaea. Castorice. Hyacine. Mydeimos. Trinnon.

Yet that’s what keeps him going—he knows that their eyes are on him. He knows they are watching him with hope. Lead us to Era Nova, Deliverer. I know you can do it.

But what if he can’t? What if the weight of the world is too much, he can’t control it—or even take over it?

No, he has to. For the sake of those counting on him. He’s wracked with insecurity, yet he choses to move forward. Even after all the chaos that just happened. He has to become the dawn. He will become the dawn, for the sake of his people. For his hometown. For Cyrene’s sake.

It’s just like when Mydei departed for Castrum Kremnos, he’s putting on a nonchalant front to ease the pain. Save his dignity. He looks so confident and nonchalant, yet deep down he is so, so broken. He is torn. He wants to put an end to the endless cycle of suffering. Over and over—we don’t know how many times this has happened, but it’s happened enough—too much.

Perhaps when the seemingly endless cycle ends, he will meet everyone again in the next life. Cyrene when he’s young. Aglaea as perhaps a tailor in the big city. Cifera caught stealing in the city. Castorice by a river. Anaxagoras as his professor at school once more, Hycinthia again as his student teacher. Mydeimos at the Kremnos Library. Perhaps all he wanted to do in this life is live a normal life, be a country boy who yearns for the big city. Be a reckless teenager. Find someone. Grow old and die with them.

But he can’t get that until tomorrow. Until Era Nova arrives, he will not get that. So he has to lead them to victory, and hope the Chrysos Heirs of tomorrow will realize sooner that it’s all just a cycle so they can put an end to it and live their lives out. Because right now, there is no turning back. Not until Tomorrow arrives.

[bonknigirlinthehood]

*a/n: a little bit of phaidei if u squint lol

Mydei is the type of dad who will change his tone of voice when talking without shame or hesitation whenever he sees his young daughter in his proximity. One moment he can be berating someone else--especially Phainon, and then the moment he sees his little daughter, he will immediately switch his tone;

“Listen here, Deliverer, I don't care what kind of bullshit you were trying to pull off back there but just so you know I will NOT tolerate that kind of–oh, you are here, are you okay? Do you need something?”

The tone switch caught Phainon so off guard he couldn't help but be amused at how this rough-looking man who just scolds his ears off one second ago can be so sweet and gentle towards children, especially his own daughter.

Mydei is currently checking if his little girl is okay, from brushing her hair and checking for any injuries (Phainon truly curious what kind of willpower Mydei has for being able to carefully stroke someone's hair with gauntlet like that). His golden eyes softened so much people might have a heart attack if they didn't know anything about this side of the Prince of Kremnos.

After done inspecting his daughter, Mydei scoops her up in one of his arms and looks back to Phainon. His eyes are now back to their usual sharp one.

“You got lucky, Deliverer. Next time I will make sure your ears bleed.” 

Phainon laughs at the threat, then proceeds to pat the young princess's head, messing with her hair. “Then I must thank our little princess right here, isn't that so?, Thank you so much princess~” Mydei quickly spat the hand off his child’s head with an angry expression. 

“Don't.touch.her”

He growls angrily. Phainon raises his two hands and backs off, “sheesh, okay okay, your highness” still, his expression is a smug one, taunting the prince. Mydei turns back to walk, his voice is once again cooing and soft,

“What do you want for dinner?, do you still want the strawberry honey cakes like yesterday?” 

Gosh, Phainon sincerely hopes no one hears or sees that. Mydei looks very vulnerable whenever he's like this, and the Deliverer is certainly very afraid of people attacking the prince in that situation even though he's more than sure Mydei could handle it. 

Phainon walks slowly behind the two, watching them exchange words and giggling at each other. Oh how he wished he could protect that sight…. .

[xthelastknownsurvivorx]

master list - greatest hits

the best of each fandom, plus links to fandom-specific master lists (link in section title) for more content

updated march 2025

hsr

hsr x jiaduobao collab promote video translation

most recent post: lightcone powercreep [phaidei]

most popular post: not just follow-up characters [ratiorine]

recommended post: ratio + rubber duck debugging [no ship]

underrated post: not in bed with the stellaron hunters (or are we) [renheng]

rwrb

comprehensive timeline

most recent fic: doesn't he know (i've had him memorized for so long) [firstprince]

most popular fic: some element of mystery [firstprince]

the passion project: every time my heart swings back to you [firstprince]

recommended fic: snl | season 45 episode 2 | hrh prince henry & fsotus alex claremont diaz [firstprince]

underrated fic: not a day I don't miss (those rude interruptions) [firstprince]

favorite post: an incomplete list: things alex (and us readers) love about hrh prince henry of wales [firstprince]

orv

most recent full fic: i told you, i don't usually- [joongdok]

most popular post: lgy and knw: unexpected companions [no ship]

favorite post: yjh's love language [no ship]

interesting meta: i (the realist) must protect him (the optimist) [implied joongdok]

svsss

most recent post: is sy an incel? [implied bingqiu]

favorite meme: sy vs transmigrating [no ship]

interesting meta: sy comp cis vs comp het: which would win? [no ship]

bts

most popular full fic: special instructions [jikook] (bffs vmin, pizza delivery boy!au)

most popular hc: dope au  [jikook] (mutual pining)

favorite video: how to make your bandmates uncomfortable in under 10 seconds [jikook] (+ bts being done w them)

underrated fic: 161204: 화양연화 (161204: the most beautiful moment in life) [no ship] (yoongi character study)

personas au

most recent full fic: all night (stay with me) [seagull x christian]

most popular hc: high school au [tattoo × baby g]

favorite hc: alpha!christian [no endgame specified] (non-trad abo, bffs seagull & christian, park clan, km 6)

featured hc: you should've seen the other guy [mentions of tattoo × baby g, ian × christian] (bros tattoo and christian, kid!seagull)

underrated hc: ian's "coffee" [no ship] (jeon clan antics)

cql

most recent full fic: the quintessential experience [no ship] (juniors trio, potentially romantic subtext if you squint)

hc contribution: mdzs idol au [no ship]

underrated fic: autumn rain, red lanterns, and bygone memories [no ship] (jiang cheng character study)