Cloudstone Celestial Palace, the bathhouse.
"You've come, Mydeimos… It seems you're ready."
Aglaea faced Mydei with a gentle smile.
"Yes." Mydei gave a slight nod.
"You helped Okhema overcome yet another crisis. No words can express my gratitude."
"Isn't this exactly what you wanted?"
Aglaea sighed. "Not everything falls within my plans. In times like these, I can only proceed step by step. Besides… even without the promise you made to me, you were already prepared to offer everything, weren't you?"
"During my time in the holy city, I've been learning from you: formulating strategies, leading others, responding to unexpected changes… But only recently did I finally see what truly makes people submit to you."
"What is it?" Aglaea asked curiously.
"The 'gravity' you possess. People gather around you of their own accord, listening to your guidance. They don't want to disappoint you—not out of fear of punishment, but because they genuinely believe in your ideals. That is exactly what the successive usurpers of Castrum Kremnos lacked."
"..." Aglaea fell silent for a moment. "I'm deeply honored that you think so. You have become the most powerful demigod in this world, Mydeimos. How do you intend to use this power?"
Mydei raised his head and gazed into the distance beyond the walls. "I will complete the unfinished business of Nikador—become Amphoreus's strongest wall and stand against the Black Tide.
I will buy enough time for the Flame-Chasing Journey until you lead everyone to the miracle of 'Creation.'"
[Oh, so he's already prepared to go down fighting together.]
[He even slapped Nikador across the face by himself before. I love it.]
[This is a real man. Can't criticize him at all.]
[So… what about Phainon? Losing such a partner—I bet Phainon will feel pretty lonely.]
——
Aglaea gave a self-deprecating smile. "Amphoreus will be reborn, Mydeimos… but it doesn't necessarily have to be you or me who leads everyone to the end."
Mydei snorted. "After taking up Mnestia's divine role, what did you see?"
"…Even after a thousand years, the words of that prophecy remain clear." Aglaea spoke slowly and deliberately. "'You shall take your final bath in warm, dazzling gold.'"
"…Heh. As expected, a meaningless doomsday prophecy." The next moment, as if something occurred to him, Mydei suddenly burst into laughter. "Hahahaha…"
"Why are you laughing?"
"I was just thinking—if an ordinary person saw these words, they probably wouldn't go near a bathhouse for the rest of their life."
"But I can't give up the comfortable feeling a bath brings. So… you saw it too, Mydeimos?"
Mydei paused. "'One day, you shall die with wounds on your back.'"
Aglaea clicked her tongue. "That's quite a direct image."
"But if I could be scared out of my wits by some randomly appearing delirium, I never would have caught your attention and joined the Flame-Chasing path in the first place."
"You're right. May a powerful fate await you, and may we meet again in the new world promised to us…" Aglaea's unfocused eyes turned toward Mydei.
"Goodbye, Mydei."
What followed was Mydei bidding farewell to the other Chrysos Heirs one by one.
Hyacine, Castorice, and Chartonus's scenes were relatively normal.
Even at the last moment, Mydei couldn't forget Phainon. He instructed Chartonus, "But Chartonus, please continue looking after Phainon. I have a feeling that his fate… may be heavier than all of ours combined."
——
Then came the time to say goodbye to Caelus.
Dan Heng and Caelus were outside on the balcony, enjoying the view.
Suddenly, Dan Heng slowly turned around. He sensed a different presence.
"…Mydei?"
Mydei gave a faint smile. "Outlander… no, Trailblazers—I'm setting off for Castrum Kremnos. If all goes well, we may never meet again. Thank you for everything you've brought to Amphoreus."
Dan Heng nodded politely. "Reexamining the past and stepping boldly into the future—I've gone through that struggle too. Although we never had the chance to open our hearts to each other, after experiencing so much together… Mydei, you are also an ally of the 'Trailblaze.'"
"That means a lot. I also wish your 'Trailblaze' success in all things." Mydei smiled and slowly shifted his gaze to Caelus.
Caelus looked half-asleep, yet his eyes were filled with tears.
Mydei asked, "Heh… What are you thinking? Should I take a guess?"
"About to spout nonsense again, Trailblazer?"
The next second, tears streamed down Caelus's face. "What are we supposed to do without you, waaaah."
Watching this, the corner of Mydei's mouth began twitching violently.
[Seeing that Caelus's mental state is still this good, I'm completely at ease.]
[This is hilarious.]
[Can't laugh at all.]
[Hahaha, he made Mydei speechless again.]
[Mydei: This guy actually left me speechless, you know?]
[That's something the Trailblazer would say.]
Faced with the awkward atmosphere, Dan Heng quickly stepped in to smooth things over. "If you don't know how to respond, just smile."
"Ah…? Hahahaha…"
"Now that I carry divine authority, I can faintly sense… that you two are extremely important to Amphoreus's future. This journey may have no return. May I entrust my back to the two of you and ask you to… continue assisting the Flame-Chasing Journey?"
Dan Heng nodded solemnly. "…Please rest assured. We will do everything in our power."
"Thank you very much. Farewell…" Mydei understood and turned to leave.
"Wait." Caelus stopped goofing around and took out his camera.
Mydei looked puzzled. "Hm?"
"Let's take a photo together. At least we'll have a memento."
"Ha… Of course. Come on."
[Feels like this camera has some foreshadowing.]
[It definitely does. After all, March isn't here, so we only have this camera left.]
[Is it possible that Amphoreus gets destroyed, and then they restore the entire place using the photos inside the camera?]
[That makes sense.]
Mydei held the camera and looked at the photo inside.
Dan Heng said from the side, "It turned out pretty good. What do you think, Mydei?"
"Hmph. How should I put it… It feels weird? Not the photography technique—I just don't take photos of myself often… But this photo… it's actually really nice."
Caelus gave himself a thumbs-up. "As expected of me."
Dan Heng had completely given up on Caelus. "As long as you're satisfied—don't leave any regrets."
Mydei turned and walked toward the door, speaking softly the whole way. "I also hope the two of you leave no regrets in Amphoreus."