Whenever Mydei had seen Phainon before, Phainon had seemed to be with his companions or staying at his temporary lodgings in Okhema.
"I don't think I've ever been to Aedes Elysiae."
Mydei folded his arms and regarded Phainon calmly.
"You came back to Amphoreus and didn't go home first?"
"I did." Phainon nodded, his expression softening.
"I talked with my parents for a long time. The village is much the same—quiet, with fields of golden wheat."
A trace of nostalgia crossed his eyes.
"But I returned to Okhema soon afterward, in case anything happened. I wanted to see if there was anything I could do... After that battle, there's so much to rebuild."
"But it looks like everything's moving in the right direction now." He glanced at the peaceful, bustling scene around them.
"..." Mydei fell silent for a moment, as though considering something, then said:
"In that case, why not invite us to visit the village?"
It was his own suggestion.
"I'd like to try the local specialties, too. If I remember right, the Little Fairies in the Lost Illusionary Realm make a rather unusual fruit drink."
"Huh?" Phainon looked at him in surprise.
"Are you serious?"
"I don't have much to offer you."
"Everything in the village is simple. It can't compare with Okhema's market."
"Who said you had to offer me anything?" Mydei stepped forward and passed Phainon, deftly snatching the bag of oranges from his left hand.
"I just want to meet the Little Fairies in the Lost Illusionary Realm."
"I'm sure they'd still prefer Master Wan's cooking."
He lifted the bag of oranges and weighed it in his hand.
"To think that without me, you'd trick them into paying a fortune to eat grass. Those poor things..."
"Hah?" Phainon turned and gave him a disdainful