angelesca

[angelesca]

reading this on the train and trying not to look like a creep smiling

hold me tight

content: SFW + fluff + fem!reader + established relationship (you and Caleb are married) + more fluff + kindaaaaaa ooc (i think…) this is just supposed to be a fluffy piece !

—

You open your eyes in haste, blinking away the tears the nightmare you just woke up from caused. You wipe away the fallen tears as you look at the left side of your bed and see the side empty. Exhausted and still wanting to go back to sleep despite your upsetting nightmare, you seek out your husband. Who’s probably (definitely) reading away in his office room, probably coming up with ways to find all the vintage items you’ve lost from the explosion with that brilliant mind of his. It’s four in the morning and you drag your feet across the floor, seeking out Caleb.

You expected to find him in the office, but saw him lying on the couch in the living room, reading some files. He was laying against stacks of pillow against the back of the couch, with his torso bare and wearing checkered pyjama pants.

Caleb sees you entering the living room, rubbing your eyes as you approach him wordlessly. He doesn’t question how you stand in front of him, hovering above him as he lies on the couch. As he was about to speak up, your entire upper body leans down and you immediately flop down on his body.

Caleb lets out a slight grunt from your impact, it wasn’t painful but unexpected to say the least. He knows it was a little painful for you as he hears you let out a muffled groan.

“Such a hard body.” You mutter out as you rub your face on his chest, gripping on his biceps with your hands like a vice, squeezing before you settle to rub your hand on his chest, which was a little hairy and you love it.

“Pips, are you going to sleep right on top of me?” Caleb asks with an amused tone and you hum out an agreeing reply as you stroke his chest and hear how Caleb lets out a chuckle before he continues to read his file. Seeing the logo on the files, it is definitely some classified Farspace Fleet documents you do not wanna know at the moment. Caleb knows that as well, that’s why he’s still reading the file but you don’t care cause at the moment all you want is your man and sleep.

Caleb knew you saw the logo on the files and he wouldn’t usually read classified Farspace Fleet documents in front of you, but because of your state he takes the opportunity to do so because he knows you don’t have the energy to read it yourself.

You remember falling asleep stroking his chest softly, with your cheek on his shoulder before you jolted awake. You blink your eyes in surprise and you feel Caleb rub your back, pressing a kiss against your head, still reading the file and you fall back asleep. Only to jolt awake again and this time, there’s no file in sight and you can feel tears form in your eyes.

“Are you okay, baby? What is it?” You bury your face in his chest as you lightly dig your nails onto his upper body. You feel him still rub your back gently.

“No, I want to go to sleep but I can’t.” You whine, squeezing your eyes to not let the frustrated tears fall down but it’s to no avail. Caleb feels his chest getting slightly wet and he immediately grabs your face to look at you. He was about to speak up but you beat him to it.

“Caleb, can we go back to bed? And can you maybe hold me too.” You slightly whimper out, not helping how the words slip past your mouth, even though it feels so embarrassing to ask for such things in such a pitiful manner to your husband. No matter how long you’ve known Caleb and no matter how many times he’s told you he loves to do everything for you, it’s still so embarrassing.

“I don’t know why you even ask, silly.” He rubs away your tears with his thumb, then presses soft kisses on your eyes, cheeks and nose, before he softly takes your mouth in a soft kiss which you immediately reply to. You melt against his body, leisurely moving your lips against his before he pulls away. His hands trace down your spine before he wraps his arms around your waist.

Not saying anything more, he lifts the both of you up from the couch effortlessly. When he stands on his two feet, he still hasn’t let go of his hold on your body. And you reflexively wrap your legs around his waist, softly squeezing him with your thighs. You feel Caleb pat your butt as he walks to the bedroom and you bury your face in the crook of his neck. You feel so utterly safe and relaxed in his arms. He’s so sturdy and secure, his heart thumping softly against your chest.

He places you on the bed before he joins you. Before you could even move your body closer to his, Caleb pulls you against him instead. Immediately, you sling your left leg over his hips, burrow your face into his chest, lightly wincing in pain when you accidentally hit against his chest too hard.

Caleb giggles and you furrow your brows. He rubs your forehead, grinning at you and you pout. “Better give me some apology kisses.” You mumble and Caleb lets out a slight laugh.

“It’s not my fault my chest is there.” He teases and you shake your head. “No it’s not, I just want more of your kisses.” You say as you pucker your lips. You feel Caleb squeeze your smaller body (compared to his bigger one) against him before you feel his lips take you in for another soft kiss.

When you feel Caleb smile against your mouth, you can’t help but smile too, albeit a sleepy one. He pulls away for the second time and you shake your head, wanting more kisses and he gives you a few more and you have to pull away to give him a grateful smile.

“You’re like…the best kisser in the world.” You mutter against his mouth and Caleb smiles softly, thinking about how you’re triple cuter in your sleepy state uttering cute nonsense (facts actually).

“And I can’t believe these kisses are mine. Wholly mine.” You say dreamily as you rub your lips against his, softly nipping on his lower lip before you nuzzle your face in the crook of his neck again. Caleb almost lets out a hearty laugh, finding it adorable that it looks like you’re drunk but you’re actually just so sleep deprived that you look like a drunk.

“And you’re mine too.” Your voice is muffled against his neck and Caleb nods his head.

“And you’re mine. Wholly mine. Including this cute butt.” He says the last part while giving a gentle playful squeeze to your butt and you giggle against his neck.

“Tell me about the file you were reading about in the morning, okay?” Caleb hears you say and his heart swells up in more adoration for you. He knows that you're not supposed to know anything that’s in the file, but that doesn’t mean there’s not a guarantee he won’t tell you. Because you are excellent at convincing him to spill it out or else you take other measures to find out.

“And make my wife bored? That’s inexcusable!” He dramatically says and you giggle once more, shaking your head. “Nothing is boring for your hunter wife, Caleb.” You sleepily tell him, feeling more and more drowsy the more you speak.

“I know, baby.” Is all he could say with such love in his tone and you nod your head slightly, then you hear him mutter a ‘I love you’ and you’re mumbling a soft ‘i love you’ to him.

Caleb feels his heart flutter at your words you always say to him so easily, like it's as simple as breathing oxygen. He presses a soft kiss on your forehead before he pulls you closer against his bare chest and buries his face against the top of your head, thinking of how he loves you endlessly.

Then he feels and hears how your breath evens out and your body relaxes against his even more. You’re asleep and all Caleb wishes is that you get no more nightmares and that you’re always with him.

—

a little hairy chest caleb is making me wanna ask him just for the ti-WHOA! WHO WAS THAT FREAK?? BE SAFE OUT THERE YALL

if you enjoyed this, a like and reblog would be veryyyyy appreciated <3

[angelesca]

CRIES TEARS OF JOY!!!!!

anaxa redesign

it bothers me how out of context most amphoreus' designs are, they don't look like they belong to their land 😭

next redesign: mydei

[angelesca]

washed away by the tides ꒰ ᝬ amphoreus men

you live on in the shards scattered around amphoreus. spoilers for 3.3 trailblaze mission: the fall at dawn’s rise. features phainon, mydei and anaxa. 2.7k words. angst. fluff.

︶꒦︶꒷︶︶꒷꒦︶︶︶꒷꒦‧

“only the best for you," he says jokingly, stepping into the elevator and pulling you along with him. you’ve been a victim to his ideas before. secret moments in between his daily patrols, seen him in the most atrocious of outfits that he declares the pinnacle of fashion, watch him haggle for hours over an artifact. sneaking into the bathhouse after hours wasn’t really a crime, just something that was frowned upon. but being somewhere you shouldn’t was an entirely different story. 

you’re staring at PHAINON in disbelief, mouth parting slightly as he practically forces you in along with him. you shouldn’t be here, you feel; the hero’s bath was reserved for chrysos heirs and you most definitely were not one. your gaze is questioning, almost, unsure if he was breaking a rule by bringing you with him.

“the hero’s bath?” your breath hitches as the elevator ascends. immediately you think of the consequences of getting caught; you’d probably be breaking an unspoken law by being here without the permission of the lady goldweaver. 

he catches your questioning gaze, noticing the disbelief and uncertainty in your expression, chuckling softly at your questioning expression, and squeezes your hand reassuringly. "don’t worry; i’m allowed to bring guests. besides, i’m the only one here right now, so no harm in having some company."

it’s quiet and ambient without the sounds of the other patrons, only the two of you here. the water looks almost magical, tiny gold flecks shimmering beneath the surface. the tranquil atmosphere is a stark contrast to the crowded main bath area, and he enjoys having the entire place to himself. he’s even more gorgeous you realise suddenly when he beams at you, you don’t mind getting lectured now, if it means he’ll smile at you like you’re his world. 

looking at you with a cheeky grin, he sheds his tunic and enters the pool, the water lapping at his waist. "are you coming in?" he teases.

when you finally emerge from behind the shade, he takes in the sight of you, sitting at the edge of the pool, with your toes touching the water. with a teasing glint in his eyes, PHAINON pads over to you and stops by the edge, his hands on either side of your thighs. so he inches even more closer to the edge of the pool where you are, resting his chin on your knee and looking up at you with feigned innocence. instinctively your palm reaches out to cup his face; his cheeks puff at the gesture of affection. only to you would he melt in your hands, the blazing sun destined to rise now the moon aching for the presence of warmth.

he leans into your soothing motions as you thread your fingers through his wet hair, a small shiver running down his spine. you could’ve sworn the low hum rumbling in his throat sounds like a purr or maybe a moan, you’re not too sure with the sound of water rushing from the waterfalls. closing his eyes for a moment, savouring the feeling of your touch before opening them again, his gaze fixes on you. 

he clears his throat, beautiful ocean eyes sparkling in the night like stars in the sky, wet hair covering his gaze before your other hand gently brushes it away.

"it isn’t fair, i know," he says suddenly, the conflict in his voice palpable, catching you off guard from the sudden turn of a conversation. "but please, believe me when i say that my heart is yours."

you’re quick to reassure him, thumbs rubbing gentle circles onto his dimples as if soothing him with your mere touch alone. “i don’t doubt you for a second. so…don’t take it upon yourself to hold the weight of the world alone. i’m here if you ever need anything.”

he nods, his voice taking a tone that was gentle but yet intense. "i know you do," PHAINON whispers, his voice soft but firm. "and i’ll always be grateful for it. but i wish it could be different—that i could promise you more than just my heart."

“you’ve given me your time; that’s more than enough to me.” your words cut deep through your shared bond. his expression falters at the implication of your silent affirmations, so you take it upon yourself to turn that frown upside down.

so you splash water at him playfully, and he sputters as he’s caught off guard, water spraying his already damp hair, looking more like a wet puppy as he pouts at you. before he retaliates, of course, arms wrapping around your waist and pulling you in with him.

you shriek while PHAINON laughs, a husky yet melodious sound that echoes through the empty bathhouse. for just a second, everything feels perfect when your eyes meet his, the purest blue you’ve ever seen, and his lips touch yours reverently.

══════════════════

“actually, i was wondering if you could try this. was thinking about replicating your own, but i think it's about the same.” you perk up, pulling out a plate of honey cakes coloured pink from behind your back, the same he usually prides himself with baking.

his golden eyes fixate on the pink-tinted honey cakes that you're presenting to MYDEI, his features subtly shifting to a state of perplexity and caution. a small wrinkle appears on his usually smooth forehead.

he observes the pastry with wariness, the sudden feeling of dread sending a chilling sensation down his tenth thoracic vertebrae. "i see," he begins slowly, his voice a mere hum, "where did you obtain these?"

“i made them, of course.” you’re a little puzzled now by his reaction, sparing a glance at the honey cakes before turning back to him.

“you made them?” he reiterates, his response tinged with disbelief, as if he couldn’t quite fathom the words you were speaking.

with slight hesitation, he picks up a honey cake from the plate, observing its appearance with a mixture of curiosity and caution. sniffing it carefully like a chimera cat, it smells the same as the ones he’d make.

yet, something nagged at him.

“tell me," MYDEI continues, his voice stern, “what did you add to these cakes?”

“pomegranate milk like you usually do? i know you like your treats pink.” you’re getting more confused by the minute, unsure why he was acting so off. guarded as if he was facing a titankin and not a plate of desserts.

“why don’t you try them? i really want to get your input.” you press on, looking at him intently as you hold the plate out to him.

his eyes harden at your insistence. sighing and looking at the pastries, he knew you meant no harm, and he couldn’t quite bring himself to doubt you.

“alright.” he relents, picking up one of the pink cakes and taking a tentative bite, his expression unreadable.

it’s like an assault on his taste buds. he’s died before, multiple times. that’s the reason why one of his many names was ‘MYDEIMOS the undying’, but he thinks this, has been the closest to actual irreversible and absolute death that he will ever get. instantaneously, his jaw locks as if preventing him from taking another bite.

his mouth is dry from the horrendous flavour that attacks his tongue, and the lump in his throat makes it difficult to swallow. wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he tries to eradicate the taste that lingers there, only to be left with a nauseatingly sweet aftertaste that clings to the inside of his cheeks.

you look at him expectantly, eyes sparkling innocently as you wait for his opinion, oblivious to the fact that you nearly sent him alone to the sea of flowers. “so…how does it taste?”

he swallows once, twice, to moisten his throat. his voice is hoarse as he responds, "it’s... wonderful."

“you’re sure? it seems like you didn’t like it. did i do something wrong?” you ask in scepticism, the paleness of his expression not reflecting the praise he’s just given you. looking back at the plate of pink cakes, pondering an idea for a moment. “maybe i should try just to be sure.”

his face contorts into one of mild panic, and his mind races.

so MYDEI quickly snatches the plate out of your hands and, in a twist of events, starts scarfing down the pink pancakes at an alarming rate.

his stomach aches with every bite he takes of the cakes, the sweet flavour now a torment he can’t escape. the texture, so soft and spongy, feels like sandpaper against his throat.

but, he manages to keep a calm demeanour as he swallows the last bite, his heart pounding as he looks at you, a forced smile plastered on his face.

"delicious," he manages to choke out, trying to sound convincing.

“really? i’ll get you something to wash away the taste. i have some juice.” you nod with a relieved sigh, about to make a beeline to the kitchen. he’s learnt his lesson, four times actually, with each honeycake he’s gagged over, catching your wrist before you leave and pulling you flush back to him. chests touching, your eyes are wide at the sudden proximity, and your hand brushes his bare chest where tattoos ink his skin.

“i have an idea of something that’ll help.” this is his revenge, MYDEI thinks; he’ll scrape the taste of those vile cakes away with a kiss, maybe one for each bite he's taken. he’s gentle as he can be, gloved hands tilting your chin up as his lips brush yours. you don’t notice the flavour of your failed attempt at desserts, addicted to the taste of him as your eyes shut.

══════════════════

"one wish, no boundaries, no limits. what would it be?” your voice a low hum that echoes across the room of his laboratory, feet barely touching the ground as you sit on the edge of his desk, watching curiously as he sifts through the papers. you’re not sure how he keeps track of his documents, from the essays of his students, his own personal experiments, and receipts for droma merchandise that he’s had shipped to the grove.

his gaze lingers on you for a moment as ANAXA pauses, breaking down your question into pieces before he carefully crafts his answer to fit his ideals.

"i want a world where truth,” he begins, “where truth isn’t locked away beneath the weight of power. where people could learn and understand without the fear of retribution."

“that sounds like a very… you answer, professor. you’re not scared of it? the truth and the consequences it may bring, i mean. sometimes…they don’t hold the answer you want.”

a faint, amused smile touches his lips. it was an answer he was accustomed to hearing, and yet, there was something about the way you said it that made it sound less like a rebuke and more like a warning.

"not scared?" he repeats, the words rolling off his tongue like a quiet laugh, "perhaps i’m not… or perhaps i’m simply too tired to fear anything any more."

he tilts his head slightly, gaze flickering over you again. "i never said the answer would be one you wanted.”

“you’re perceptive as always; it’s infuriating. i’d expect no less from one of the seven sages. you make the rest of us look like naive chimera cats next to a verax leo with your insights and observations, don’t you?” a huff of exasperation leaves your lips, shaking your head at ANAXA. there’s dry humour in your tone, a hint of sarcasm that he finds almost refreshing.

"am i now? i think you give me too much credit. i am but a feeble scholar with too much time in his hands." his faint smile deepens into a barely audible chuckle, a rare display of amusement. while many others might have bristled at your words, he only seems mildly amused.

he regards the night sky out the window as if for guidance, stars mocking. "naive chimera kittens, you say? i don’t doubt they’d scratch just as fiercely given the chance."

“didn’t answer my question. are you scared about what the truth brings? not everything’s sunshine and rainbows, especially in amphoreus. never here.” you roll your eyes at him, fingers digging into the side of the desk as you wait pointedly for his reply. a truthful one this time instead of an attempt at deflection.

he sighs, dry humour and nonchalance giving way to seriousness once more. "of course i’m not scared," he says quietly, his words a mere breath on the wind. "the truth is always a risk. it could be a miracle; it could be a nightmare. it could free us or condemn us."

he finally peels himself away from whatever he was doing, straightening to his full height from his previous slouching position over one of the laboratory tables as he approaches you. in the softly dancing light, he seems to cast shadows, a reflection of dark uncertainty that he’s familiar with all too well.

"but some risks", he murmurs, "are worth taking."

“even if it means losing everything along the way. even if it means you’ll pay the price with your soul?” you asks hesitantly, yelling inwardly at yourself for letting your guard down. you can’t help but lay your heart bare to him; it’s a curse in itself, one you can’t cure.

his gaze softens ever so slightly, the crimson of his eye flashing with a hint of something—understanding, perhaps. ANAXA took another step forward, closing the distance between you.

"even then," he murmurs, his voice barely above a whisper. "even if the world turns against me, i will not shy away from the truth. too long have i lived in the shadows, in deceit and lies. better death, better damnation, than to live in ignorance."

his words hang in the air like a promise, or maybe a threat. you’re not too sure, he wants you to figure it out on your own. 

“you’ve thought long about this, haven’t you? you’re always two steps ahead of me.” you nod quietly. your own confession is reluctant; you don’t know how he’ll respond to it, but that shouldn’t worry you. everyone has their own opinions and beliefs, but some part of you wants your answer to please him, but you speak up regardless. “i don’t know what i’d do actually. is that so bad?”

he seems to consider your question more carefully this time, and you hope he won’t go overboard with his reactions like he usually does, cackling himself into a frenzy out of his own lectures. "not bad," he says finally, "just...surprising."

reaching out, his fingertips barely skimming the edge of your cheek, as if he couldn't quite bring himself to touch you. his fingers lingered there, in that space just millimetres from your skin, and you resist the urge to lean your cheek into his palm to close the distance between you both. "you, with your secrets and half-truths..." he murmurs, words a breath against your ear.

“then i hope you don’t mind if you unravel the truth, with me by your side then?” another question, this one soft and gentle that it tugs on the heartstrings he thought he had severed long ago.

he purses his lips thoughtfully. he looks away, a glint of something in his scarlet eye.

"with you by my side..." he echoes thoughtfully. "i suppose i could make an exception."

he steps closer, his presence closer than ever before. eye lingering on your mouth for a moment before returning to your gaze. hand curling to cup your face, you feel the cold metal of the rings on his finger against your cheek.

"i think it would be...enlightening. shall we give it a try?” ANAXA murmurs, noses brushing and lips tantalising.

══════════════════

the memory shard whirs, crystals forever frozen in time as the pink creature floats around the two figures. it’s a stark contrast against the red sky and the fire falling from the horizon.

“do you think they got their happy ending?” the creature called mem asks, blue curious eyes staring intently at the memory, itching to replay it again despite knowing how the story ends.

with a heavy heart, the shard hums to a close, sealing whatever wish it carried. some romance stories end with tragedy after all, like how not all dreams come true. and this was just another memory lost to the black tides and cruel fate.

© FROSTYRESOLVE 2025. DO NOT PLAGIARISE, REUPLOAD OR FEED MY WORKS INTO AI

[angelesca]

[angelesca]

Is this better than the picture I send to you 👀?

Still trying how to shading the hair and eyes

ooooooooo it definitely improved imo! the hair rendering stands out to me + eye details looks really good!!!

ദ്ദി/ᐠ｡‸｡ᐟ\ keep it up!

[angelesca]

👀 can you give this a rating? Not that good, but I'm proud of this art I made by myself and I wear this as my profile in wattpad

I havent make a art of full body, since its so hard to do except for chibi

I cut the picture since its shows my instagram account name

your art is soososoo cuteeee i love your art style!!!!!!!! (ㅅ´ ˘ `) it's looks like shoujo anime -- reminded me of amu from shugo chara🫶💗personally, i think feedback is more helpful than ratings!! ^_^ so these are just my (unhelpful) thoughts below:

☆i love the colours; it stands out but also goes together very nicely, its satisfying to look at! the colouring of the lines are a really nice touch, and i can see your shading on important parts like the neck and nose Σd=(･ω-)ﾉ the face is harmonious and looks really good, i think its your strong suit! i also like the curve to your lines in the hair especially!

im not really good at this since i don't know a lot of things myself haha, but if i had some suggestions:

don't be afraid to use more colours when shading! e.g. the jacket can def be tricky to shade since its already dark. try using light/other colours (i like to use purple!) to add depth to dark objects

your art style, which i assume is an "anime" style (like mine!), is very popular, so you have many amazing artists to look at! i def reccomend having your fav artist's works as references when you draw ᕙ( •̀ ᗜ •́ )ᕗ it really improved my art when i started doing it!! + i still do this!!! always!!!! i love my references!!!!!!!!

i totally understand having trouble with body anatomy (•̀ᴗ•́ )و i like using posemanics, or a 3d model poser if i need a specific one. oh, for shading, i found this really cool resource: screenmusings; its a bunch of movie screencaps with dynamic lighting

honestly i don't have much else to say! your art is really good!

keep up the good work! as you draw more, you will start to see how you improved from your older works~~ ( ˶^ᗜ^˶ ) if you have more questions, feel free to ask!

[angelesca]

uuuuuuuuhhh if anyone saw me post a fic, it was a mistake while i was editing it and trying to tidy my drafts🤡🤡i almost had a heart attack gawddamn😭😭😭

i hate using tumblr on my phone, this happened with my stupid sunday isekai fic too👎👎

[angelesca]

[angelesca]

[angelesca]

Except for when he's suffering I don't care for Phainon but like... In your art style with long hair... oughhh

you are so real anon😭i gave him hair growth serum and all of a sudden he looks like he's been yearning for centuries/been waiting for you all his life😫😫

i gotta give him dimples too, bro smiles too much to not have some dimples

[angelesca]

WHAT

POV: Your First Time with Mydei

PREVIOUS PAGE

Read from LEFT to RIGHT

eeeeyyy whose been waiting since You Are Under Mydei, happy scrolling

NEXT PAGE

[angelesca]

slapping a wig on phaimon hoyo please give us more elongated hair im begging

guys hear me out on long haired holy knight phainon + forbidden yearning and childhood friends UGH

long phaimna pooped in my head while i was looking at jeritza from fe3h and i was like hmm they have that similarity🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔do you guys see it

ouugh i havent posted a fic in a while (exams were breaking my kneecaps and i was fighting for my life writing my dissertation) but im freed from the shackles. i was in a drawing mood, but i kinda wanna write now😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃hopefully i stick through with this bc i have too many unfinished drafts

uuu i should probably play 3.2 and 3.3 first shouldnt i

[angelesca]

phaimon dewdle doo

omg i posted on accidne ti oh well💀

did you get mysssterious messaaages?

[angelesca]

[angelesca]

I miss my Kiryu-chan, Tails. I miss him a lot.

[angelesca]

Collar X Malice HBD (2022)

2000x2000 pixels

[angelesca]

EHEHEHEHEHEHHEHE SO EXCITED TO READ THE NEXT PART!!!!!!!!!!!!😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫

Player 2: Prologue

Amphoreus isekai series concept based on the "Amphoreus is a timeloop and simulation theory"

Might edit this once 3.3 comes out idk-- or might revise the entire concept entirely.

Tw: vomiting, slight!yandere (Phainon's hinted to be unhinged low-key), possible body horror elements

"No, no--" the whispers are panicked as hands grasp your frame. The cold of Thanatos is starting to creep in as your sight blackens. You're aware your eyes are open and yet you cannot see, but still, you feel the distant touch of metal upon your skin and hear the agonized voice of a friend who begs for you to stay.

"It wasn't supposed to go like this." He murmurs, frantic and tinged with a madness held back for too long. Distantly, you remember he's been fraying at the ends for years, taking what little comfort he could from the weight of the world he's forced to bear.

Once, he told you he's not meant for great things. You, however, had been meant for a greater purpose. He tells you on a summer night that you're more worthy of being "Deliverance" than him, but you cup his face between your hands and tenderly tell him he is worthy of the title, and that you are more than willing to carry half of the burden with him even if it means you will not be recognized for such kindness.

The Deliverer cries for you, his tears spilling into your cheeks as the cold of Thanatos finally dulls the feeling on your skin til there is nothing. You remain unmoving in his arms as your hearing lingers, hearing him mutter an oath under his breath that you wish he would take back.

"I will bring you back, and I will make sure no one else suffers."

"I love you."

"I'm sorry."

[System alert]

Respawn successful

Location: The Grove

Mission: [Error has occurred]

A loud thud echoes through the empty yard as your body hits the ground. You wheeze and cough, the pain seizing your every nerve as you recalled your end from the second life you've had.

You remember the feeling of the blade against your guts, the whispers, the regret.

You spill the contents of your stomach into the concrete, the black and red sludge a horrible obvious stain against the grey as the distant face of Kephale remained indifferent to your strife. Your head hurts, and there's tears spilling out of your eyes as the sludge continues to uncontrollably spill out of your mouth no matter how much you try to reign it in.

More of it drops into the concrete as you hack and wheeze, your coughs becoming grotesquely wet at the tar like substance inside of you. You writhe back into the ground, your feeble legs unable to support you due to the pain as you grit your teeth.

Your consciousness starts to leave you as you weakly beg for help in the empty area for whoever might hear; at this point, you don't care who. You just wanted this to end.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When you finally come to, you see an unfamiliar ceiling. It takes you a moment to realize you've been inside of this room. Here? Again? Why? The questions ring inside of your head as you slowly turn your body to face the person that owns this home.

Phainon.

He's asleep on the chair, soft breaths escaping him as his chest rose and fell. This is not the first time you've met him-- you doubt he'd remember, though. In your first "life", both of you had been children in Aedes Elysiae.

It's ironic to be living there considering what the name of the place meant. You found it morbidly funny at the time when you were simply surrounded by the fields, and in a similar state that Phainon had found you in possibly hours prior.

You still remember the clean smell of the air and the tar from your body spilling across the golden stalks like mud. It was afternoon then, the sun not quite glaring at you as the coolness of the breeze made an attempt to sooth your pain; you remember that your saviour at that time had been Phainon too.

You remembered his mother-- her soothing songs, and her hand on your head and the steady presence of his father.

You scan the features of the man in the chair and finds he's slightly younger than the man you remember in the last loop. From what you remember the system telling you, you're at the Grove.

This must mean Phainon is still a student of Anaxa at this time judging from his clothes too; an ugly combination of banana yellow and an obnoxious shade of purple. Aglaea has not quite saved him from his horrible choices in clothing just yet-- maybe you would in her stead, but you doubt you'd be polite about it.

You smile gently, also remembering that he simply got put into Anaxa's school for being so inquisitive that it annoyed the other schools in Okhema.

You feel bad though. While Phainon was admittedly quite annoying, he didn't really mean any true harm in his questioning.

The memories of your second life linger and show a different side to Phainon, one that you also feel a tinge of pity for, although in a level more personal and intense. He wasn't very far from being the young man on the chair-- still the same person, but that future self had shattered under the pressure he felt unworthy to carry. This time, you think you'll have to try harder to show him he's worth being the person everyone thinks he is.

"You ought to stop feeling sorry for him." The system tells you, bearing the voice of a kindly grandmother chastising you gently. "He will not remember your bonds, dear. Do not get too attached. Don't be too forgiving."

'He hasn't done anything wrong.' You tell the system as you stare at him pensively.

"Has he, now?" It doesn't sound like it believes you. "Maybe not yet, but he will eventually. Come now, darling, even after all this time you still choose to believe things will change?"

You remember his agonized voice, his tears, his vow.

'Yes.' you answer, although it's not entirely altruistic; there is some mistrust in you after knowing what your friend would become (but what had gone wrong? You don't know yet.)

'Third time's a charm.' the system goes silent at your little comment, yielding at your show of stubbornness.

You're not exactly certain if your answer will still hold true in this life, but for your own sake, you choose to believe in a kinder fate and pray that things will end well this time.

You are a stranger to him in this life, not the child that grew up with him in the fields and met their end in front of him too early. Not the person he knew, and certainly not the person he claimed to love in the last cycle that Kephale built.

You are you, a stranger he's found in some courtyard writhing in their own vomit and pathetically begging for help.

Your shifting stirs Phainon awake, with him opening his eyes blearily to look at you simply staring into his frame. A sense of relief crosses his face as he immediately stands from his seat and hurriedly pours water into a cup from a small jug.

"You must be thirsty." He says with a small smile as he hands you the water with a gentleness you're well familiar with in another time.

You take it from his grasp and take small sips, almost cringing at the lingering taste of bile and blood in your mouth mixing with the cold of the water before you forcibly swallow. The taste dissipates, replaced with the sweetness of the water and the relief that immediately follows.

"Thank you." You weakly croak, and as if he could read your mind, Phainon places a soothing hand on your back.

"No need to talk if it's too painful for you." He says. "Professor Anaxa said you shouldn't even be waking up yet. I guess he's finally wrong for once." He scoffs at his own little joke softly. "Anyway, I'm glad you're alive and awake. You were in pretty bad shape."

You nod, all the while trying to find the proper words to explain as to why you were there in the first place. Should you lie?

"I'd rather you not, dear. We know how your friend takes to being lied to." The system's grandmotherly voice advises against it. Emotions and expressions from a lifetime ago appear in your mind's eye.

You furrow your brows, pointedly ignoring the way your hands had gone cold as Phainon's expression morphs into one of concern. "Are you alright?" He asks, his warm palm still on your back as you nod again; it's hesitant-- slow, cautious.

Then, he seems to have realized something you didn't and parts his hand from you. "I must have overstepped." He says, chuckling nervously as the tips of his ears go red.

"It's alright." You whisper to him as gently as you could to not hurt your throat. "You didn't do anything wrong." It's not a lie- He doesn't know, you tell yourself as you force your mind to not remember the blade or the dulled blue eyes that looked at you. Your grip on the cup tightens as your hands start to feel numb.

He. Doesn't. Know.

"Do you want me to leave you alone for a while?" You think you need time, and so you nod. "I'll be outside if you need anything." He gives you a small smile before taking his leave, closing the door behind him and leaving you alone with the cup in your hands.