In the slightly oppressive atmosphere.
Mydei left the Marmoreal Palace alone, preparing to head to the Marmoreal Market to look for someone he had not seen in a long time.
But just as he passed a hot bath inside…
Amid the bustling crowd, a few children spotted him.
"Hey, it's the crown prince Mydeimos!"
"The prince is here!"
" Are you also here for a bath?"
These children were wearing robes clearly different from Okhema patterns.
At a glance, it was obvious they were from the Castrum Kremnos.
"The crown prince...? Are you Kremnoans?"
Mydei stopped and looked at the few little ones in front of him, his expression complicated.
"Yeah, we are! The grown-ups said we used to live next to the arena! ...Well, next to the parts next to it anyway!" One lively child said excitedly.
Another quickly followed, "My dad is a centurion with the Hydra Lancers, and my mom is the bravest warrior in the Godshield Brigade. We used to get tons of silver coins from Mr. Krateros!"
The group chirped noisily. They talked about their families, trying to get closer to Mydei.
Then they eagerly asked him to tell them some stories about Castrum Kremnos' past.
They had grown up listening to Mydei's stories. But Mydei's expression was dark and unclear as he faced them.
After receiving a confirmed answer, he prepared to leave.
At that moment, one of the children suddenly asked excitedly, "Wait, Your Highness!"
"I heard you retrieved Nikador's Coreflame... Does that mean... we get to go back home soon?"
Mydei paused, then turned around and said, "Have you ever been to Castrum Kremnos? You were all born in the holy city and are living lives no different from the Okhemans. Everything you know about our people comes only from the tales of others."
"You have never even witnessed that blade in the sky with your own eyes... How, then, is a city you have never seen your home?"
The children were young. But after hearing Mydei's words, they all spoke in unison, "Because this place is definitely not home."
The child from earlier continues, "Mom and Dad told me that the children of Kremnos are born to wield swords and fight on the battlefield."
"They also said that the Kremnoan army in exile led by the crown prince is the bravest army across all of Amphoreus. No one can defeat them!"
Hope and admiration shone on the children's faces as they stared at Mydei without blinking.
Mydei did not interrupt them. He simply listened as they recounted what they had heard, their own imagined heroic deeds.
And also their less-than-pleasant peaceful daily life in Okhema. The children of the Holy City were unwilling to play with them.
As soon as they learned they were children of Castrum Kremnos, they would stay far away.
Children never hide their emotions. Their chirping voices made Mydei fall silent, and also sink into thought.
It was only a side description. Many things no longer needed detailed explanation.
The audience could already imagine how difficult life was for these children in the Holy City.
So in the end, whether it was the parents or the children themselves, they placed all their hope on Mydei.
Mydei ultimately did not know how to respond to this expectation.
He could only use the tone of a prince to order the children to immediately leave the dangerous high-temperature bath and spend their remaining time on meals and training.
Only by using such a clumsy and almost laughable method could he try to set their lives on the right track.
...
: So Mydei's pressure is actually this great…
: All the Kremnoans living in Okhema seem to be struggling under heavy burdens.
: But Mydei simply can't accept this kind of life anymore.
: From birth, the lives of Kremnoans seemed to consist of nothing but war.
: It's precisely because he doesn't want the remaining people to live like this that Mydei is unwilling to accept the Coreflame.
: Yet his people expect him to accept the Coreflame and become their ruler.
: Just thinking about it is tormenting.
...
While the audience discussed Mydei's situation, the scene shifted.
Mydei had already arrived at the Marmoreal Market.
The moment he stepped in, two Okhema soldiers began following him closely. This was not due to Aglaea, but because of the Council of Elders.
Mydei was already used to it. He walked through the market on his own, and following the directions given by the children, he soon found Krateros amusing himself in front of Verax Leo.
He was a slightly aged man with graying hair. But his physique was still strong, and the muscles and scars visible on his bare arms showed his experience.
He was a battle-hardened warrior. When he saw Mydei arrive, Krateros smiled, then glanced at the two Okhema soldiers trailing behind him.
"Let's find somewhere quiet." Krateros smiled just like an ordinary old man.
Mydei understood what he meant. Under the confused gazes of the two soldiers, Mydei and Krateros began leading them in circles.
Soon they stopped in an empty alley of the market. The moment they stopped, before the two soldiers could react, their vision went black and they collapsed straight to the ground.
"Hmph... Some privacy at last." Krateros withdrew his fist, glanced at Mydei who had done the same, and smiled. "So, tell me, why have you come to seek this old man's counsel?"
Mydei took a breath and said, "I came to discuss... the future of the Kremnoans."
Krateros looked up with interest. Up until now, Mydei's attitude had always been avoidance.
"Interesting. I heard the Coreflame of the Lance of Fury has been restored, though not by your hand, and you're even considering giving up Nikador's divine power. Is this true?"
The old man's face carried a questioning expression.
Mydei was silent for a moment before admitting frankly, "Those rumors are not entirely groundless."
Krateros crossed his arms and stared straight at Mydei. "In other words... you did entertain the thought of giving up the throne of Kremnos and forsaking your people."
"The divine power is not equivalent to the throne. The path of Strife is also not our people's only way-" Mydei finally spoke his true thoughts.
But the moment the words left his mouth, the old man in front of him suddenly raised his voice, anger evident in his tone, "...Enough with the word games! You, of all people, should understand the plight of the Kremnoans!"
"Think about all the warriors of the Kremnoan detachment who left their homeland with you! Think about their children! ...Only the yearning for our former glory days has kept us going all this time."