After Phainon told the two Demigods what had happened, Aglaea merely nodded, her expression as composed as ever.
"Amphoreus hasn't seen a new Demigod in a long time."
"If you can fill the void Nikadori left behind, it will be a tremendous encouragement to the citizens of the Holy City."
"I..." Phainon lowered his head, looking troubled.
"I have to be honest with you. I think Mydei is the better choice."
"Besides, I hardly contributed to Nikadori's defeat."
"Brother Yan Huan slew his divine body, and Mydei was the one who had been keeping watch over the Titan."
"I couldn't accept taking the spoils of that victory for myself."
"Mydei was once the crown prince of Castrum Kremnos. I'm sure the people of Xuan Feng would want him to inherit the Core Flame. He's far more worthy than I am of bearing the weight of Strife."
Aglaea studied him, then smiled faintly.
"You naive child. You've considered so much, yet overlooked one thing—"
"Everything you've just said may be precisely why Mydeimos refuses to accept the Core Flame."
"I don't doubt his strength or his qualifications. He must have imagined himself becoming a god a thousand times over."
"But he turned it down because he doesn't want to lead his people down the same path again."
"So..." Aglaea looked at him. "Are you prepared for that, Phainon of Aedes Elysiae?"
Phainon fell silent, deep in thought.
Water rushed endlessly through the Hero's Bath.
At last, Phainon raised his head.
"I understand."
"I'll bear the weight of divinity alongside you both... I'm willing to make the necessary sacrifices."
"Good." Aglaea nodded with relief.
Tribbie beamed. "The day has finally come, Xiao Bai. This is what you've always wanted, isn't it?"
"Yes," Phainon answered.
"If the oracle hadn't found me back then...