Audata slowly rose to her feet, feeling she should leave, should give this child from afar, burdened with a heavy story, some space.
Her gaze finally landed on Cyrene, who was watching Phaethon from a few meters away. A glimmer of understanding flashed in her eyes.
She leaned in, leaving her gentlest advice in a voice only Phaethon could hear:
"Whatever the case, child. Find a time to have a proper talk with Cyrene."
"All these years in Aedes Elysia, her favorite thing to do was to sit alone on the windowsill of that little attic, quietly gazing at the winding path that leads out into the world beyond."
"She gazed like that... for a full eighteen years."
Phaethon remained silent for a long time before a soft "Mm..." finally came in response.
Only then did this perceptive mother smile.
***
By the time Phaethon finally composed his emotions and raised his head again, most of Aedes Elysia's residents had packed their belongings and gathered quietly to one side, waiting for Phaethon and the others to lead them away.
Before their departure, Hieronymus found him. The older man's gaze was complex. It was clear Audata had spoken to him.
"Child," he began carefully, speaking on behalf of all the rescued villagers, "We... do not know how to thank you and... him."
"If not for you, Aedes Elysia and all of us would likely have become fodder for the Black Tide."
"Please, tell us what you desire. As long as Aedes Elysium has anything worthy to offer..."
Phaethon was silent for a moment. His gaze swept over the eager, sincere expressions on everyone's faces before he finally spoke slowly:
"In that case, I won't stand on ceremony. We would like half a bag of flour milled in Aedes Elysia, and... a bag of plump wheat seeds. That is enough."
Hieronymus was stunned, his face etched with astonishment and disbelief.
It wasn't that he found the request unreasonable; on the contrary, he felt the repayment was far too slight, so slight it made him uneasy.
"This... this won't do!" he pleaded urgently, taking a step forward. "You saved everything we have! At the very least, let us prepare honey flatbreads for your journey, smoked venison, stored olive juice... these are Aedes Elysia's..."
"Truly, it's unnecessary," Phaethon gently but firmly interrupted him, repeating, "Half a bag of flour, a bag of wheat seeds. Enough to let a child far from home remember the taste of their homeland."
Hieronymus looked into Phaethon's eyes, which seemed to hold countless untold stories, and finally swallowed all his persuasive words, letting them turn into a long sigh as he nodded solemnly.
***
Before heading to Okhema, Phaethon took the half-bag of portioned wheat seeds and walked over to Phainon, who was standing alone in the distance.
Phainon was quietly watching the center of the crowd—the "Phainon" of this cycle was surrounded by the children of Aedes Elysia. Their cheerful laughter was like a sunlit stream, clear and bright.
Intermittently, childish voices could be heard:
"Brother Phainon, you look so much like the two heroes who saved our village!"
"Brother Phainon, will you become a great hero like them in the future?"
"Nonsense! Brother Phainon will definitely become even greater than them! He'll become the hero who saves the whole world!"
The children's admiration was pure and fervent, bestowing their most beautiful expectations without reservation upon the playmate they knew.
"He's quite popular, isn't he? Just like we were back then," Phaethon said softly, offering the heavy bag of wheat seeds, representing life and continuity, to Phainon.
Phainon didn't turn around or reach out to take it. He just silently watched that other self, enveloped in sunlight and laughter, the invisible heat waves around him causing the air to warp slightly.
"I can't take it, Phaethon," his voice was low. "My body's temperature is too high. These life-bearing seeds would only slowly dry out and incinerate in my hands, turning into a handful of lifeless ash in the end."
He slowly turned his head. Those blue eyes tinged with gold looked at Phaethon, holding no discernible emotion, yet feeling heavier than any sorrow.
"They only have a chance to fall into the soil, sprout anew, and grow new hope... in your hands."
***
After Phainon's group stepped through the Infinity Gate, the scene before them opened up.
Hundreds of years had passed, and Okhema was no longer its former self.
Bathed in the eternal light of the Dawn Device, this holy city had developed into Amphoreus's undisputed heart and jewel—a truly eternal holy city.
What first captured attention were the impossibly colossal city walls.
The outermost fortifications alone stood thirty to forty meters high. Looking up from their base made a person feel like an ant. Even a great beast would seem insignificant before this crystallization of human might.
"This... this is Okhema?" Phainon-1's eyes widened, his mouth unconsciously falling open.
His gaze went beyond the enormous walls, utterly captured by the most dazzling marvel at the city's center—a giant stone colossus, mountain-like in scale, stood in a posture as if holding up the sky.
And on its back, it bore a light source like a sun.
The Dawn Device's light bathed the entire city; everything was immersed in sacred, warm radiance.
However, after the initial shock, his attention was quickly drawn to the clothing of the people on the streets.
The residents of Okhema wore luxurious fabrics—silks, brocades, subtly shimmering textiles were everywhere. Although the tailoring was also extremely intricate and exquisite, the color combinations and styles seemed oddly peculiar to him.
"Why do these people's clothes look so opulent, yet not the least bit pleasing to the eye?"
Phainon-1 couldn't help but mutter softly, his face filled with pure puzzlement. "Is this what city folk always call 'fashion'? I truly can't understand it at all."
He concluded with conviction: "It's not as pleasing to look at as my 'yellow top, purple bottom' outfit."
Though his blunt commentary wasn't loud, it made Phainon beside him subtly glance over. A fleeting glimmer of complete agreement passed through those blue-gold eyes.
Just then, a small red figure fluttering its wings flew gracefully through the air to land before the group from Aedes Elysium.
"Trissha-1, are you in charge of receiving this batch of new residents?" Phaethon raised a hand, greeting her familiarly.
"Ya! It's the little saviors!" The little loli called Trissha-1 replied cheerfully, landing nimbly on the ground, her red skirt flaring open like a flower petal. "Yes, that's right! This group from Aedes Elysia will be guided by us!"