This script is all wrong!
Phaethon stared blankly at the half-piece of the 'Savior' card in his hand, its edges still rough.
Which absolute madman wrote this script? How can this thing even have a half? Expecting an ordinary person like him to save the world alongside the most perfect Golden Descendant? What kind of dream was he having?
"Cy... Cyrene. You're joking, right? I know you always fairly split snacks and toys between me and Phainon."
"But... is this something that can actually be torn?" Phaethon's eyelid twitched uncontrollably as he stared at Cyrene in disbelief.
Phainon watched Phaethon. Though he had been just as bewildered at first, after a moment he suddenly seemed to snap out of it, exclaiming excitedly:
"Haha, I don't really know why I became a Savior either, but this is just too cool! Phaethon, looks like us brothers might really become heroes who save the world! Uh... or maybe just save Aedes Elysiae?"
Cyrene placed her hands behind her back, swaying slyly. "Mmm~ If it's something that belongs to both Phaethon and Phainon, it should be divided equally."
"And... if a calamity truly is coming, having two Saviors is definitely better than one, isn't it? There, there. How about we look at the other cards you drew?"
"No, it's not about equal division! I..." Phaethon tried to argue further.
"Alright now~ Alright~. Little Phaethon. Go see the people you will meet in the future. Phainon has already gone over there ♪" Cyrene manifested the responses from their card draw as physical memory echoes, scattering them throughout the plaza.
Phaethon looked somewhat dazedly at the few familiar memory fragments around the plaza, and at Phainon who had already started conversing with them eagerly.
『Golden Weaver』— Aglaea
『Gatewright』— Tilisibiothos
『Monarch』— Myriad Foes
And the 『Sojourner』— Cypher...
Wait!
Had Phainon already finished drawing his cards? Didn't that mean...
Phaethon suddenly charged frantically towards the exit of the Membrance Maze, the half 'Savior' card in his hand fluttering down to land at Cyrene's feet.
"Brother?"
"Phaethon? Your oracle..."
"Child? You..."
"Cyrene, whatever you do, don't leave the Membrance Maze! Phainon, come with me, now!" Phaethon had already reached the vicinity of the Maze's exit.
*It's fine. You've been preparing for eighteen years for this. Haven't you? It's fine.*
*You secretly dug a hole at home big enough to hide two people for snacks, let your parents 'discover' it, and casually mentioned that hoarding snacks was for hiding in case of danger. Phainon has only just finished drawing his cards...*
Phaethon rushed to the exit, quickly dropping to the ground and scrambling out.
*As long... as long as they hide...*
*And Piso, Livia... those hidden spots you told them about when playing hide and seek a few days ago...*
*And the hunter uncle...*
*No... Don't think too much. Phainon is right behind me. Everyone... everyone will be okay.*
Noises came from behind, mixed with Phainon's confused shouts. Halfway through crawling out, Phaethon felt the surrounding earth shudder violently, his heart pounding wildly. It's here! The Black Tide that destroys Aedes Elysiae! It's here!
The moment he emerged from the tree hollow, Phaethon immediately retrieved the somewhat rusty iron shovel he had hidden prematurely in a corner. He kicked the hoe he had prepared in advance for Phainon to a conspicuous spot near the tree hollow, then ran towards home.
[Individual detected...]
The colors in his peripheral vision blurred with his sprint. Phaethon swatted aside a s all Black Tide creature that pounced at him. But he seemed to hear a voice...
[Core Protocol Activated]
No time to worry about that. Home was just ahead. Father, Mother...
[Individual's 'Vital Signs', 'Core Abilities', 'Spirit Brand Fragments'...]
There! But why was there damp soil at the doorstep...
[New 'Folder' created. Abilities can be freely utilized.]
...
"Phaethon!"
"Phaethon!"
Two calls, growing closer, came from behind. A hoe swung from behind, knocking down a humanoid Black Tide construct approaching Phaethon, then swung towards another.
But all Phaethon could see in his vision was—
[Detected complete cessation of vital signs within observation range.]
[Core Protocol Activated.]
[Individual's 'Vital Signs', 'Core Abilities', 'Spirit Brand Fragments' collection complete.]
[New 'Folder' created. Abilities can be freely utilized.]
[Please name the new folder ______.]
So... it wasn't that I didn't have a golden finger... but... that no one had died in front of me in these eighteen years!
(Golden Finger: See, he's not happy now that I've actually appeared...)
Name these two folders... Father. Mother.
[Naming successful! Files archived!]
"Brother, are you okay?" Phainon, having dealt with the two Black Tide constructs, turned and helped the kneeling Phaethon to his feet.
"Phaethon, you're not hurt, are you? Don't scare me?" Cyrene ran over, her face full of concern as she grasped Phaethon's arm.
Cyrene was out too? But why hadn't he seen the Flame Reaver? So... he had traveled back to a time before the cycles began?
"I... I'm fine." Phaethon's voice was hoarse. "It's just... Phainon, let's clear out these... monsters."
...
You'd thought of this long ago, hadn't you? The fall of Aedes Elysiae. You should have been mentally prepared for it, shouldn't you? Phaethon's shovel accurately pierced the throat of a "monster."
[Individual detected...]
Name this folder "Hunter."
[Individual detected...]
...
"Phaethon, are you really okay?" Cyrene looked at Phaethon with deep concern, her voice slightly trembling.
The small area Phaethon had cleared was eerily quiet, yet the dozens of Black Tide creature corpses surrounding them spoke volumes about the intensity of the recent battle.
Cyrene sat hunched in the center of the cleared area, her eyes filled with fear and sorrow, but mostly concern for Phaethon.
She knew Phainon had ventured deeper into the village, but the villagers were likely beyond help.
Sensing Cyrene's worry, Phaethon forced himself to perk up, offering a faint smile of reassurance. "I'm fine, Cyrene. Don't worry," he said as he slowly walked over and sat down gently beside her.
Around them lay several Black Tide creature corpses, their bodies twisted and deformed, emitting a nauseating stench.
"Cyrene, you... must have many questions for me, right? Go ahead, ask. Don't worry about me not being able to handle it." Phaethon took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice steady.
Cyrene hesitated for a moment before finally gathering the courage to ask, "You... did you know beforehand...?" She didn't finish, but Phaethon understood.
Phaethon was silent for a moment, then nodded. "Yes, since I was little, I've been having a dream. The scene in the dream was exactly the same as now, over and over again. Even several times where you, Cyrene, also..." He had originally wanted to say that he knew the entire fate of Aedes Elysiae was a predetermined tragedy, but ultimately chose to conceal that fact, offering an explanation she could accept instead. "I also wondered if it was an oracle from Oronyx, but... I had no proof."
"Is that so? You've really had it hard then... Oh, Phaethon, your thing." Cyrene gently placed the half-piece of the 'Savior' card with its rough edges into Phaethon's hand.
"Thanks, Cyrene." Phaethon stared at the white-gold half card for a long while before finally sighing and pocketing it. He struggled to his feet. "Phainon should be coming back soon. I'll look around nearby to see if there are any more 'monsters'."
Cyrene nodded, her gaze fixed on Phaethon as he walked away, his figure gradually blurring. She hugged her knees tightly, curling into a ball, as if only this could provide her with a little warmth and sense of security.