Note: lại một con fic được bế từ ao3 sang đây >< Như cũ he, dịch thì comment cho tui với nhe.

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Phainon did not return to his quarter after that fateful day fighting against the Flame Reaver, his whole body was numb even though he had entered countless battles, which meant that this opponent was incredibly strong.

The Grove had its own residence in Okhema where most of the scholars were staying these days, waiting for the tragedy over to go back to the Grove.

There were many rooms in the residence. The first floor was for common rooms, such as a living room, a big library, kitchen and dining room. Scholars lived from the 2nd to the 4th floor. Most students stayed together in a group of 2 to 3 per room; However, the sages could rest alone if they wanted to.

Phainon had to ask around to get to where Anaxa was recovering on the highest floor of the residence.

Although Hyacine put on her smile to greet him as usual, Phainon still noticed shade of gray under her eyes, she also looked a little tired.

"How is Professor Anaxa?" He asked when she let him in the room.

"He passed out the moment he got back to the residence. He is not in any critical rate right now, but I am afraid he is not going to be able to work in the next few days."

Phainon came closer to the bed which Anaxa was resting on. On the bed stand was a hot water basin with a towel, bandages and medicines lying around.

A look of concern and sorrow appeared in the young Deliverer's eyes. One finger gently touched Anaxa's cheek only to flinch at the coldness of his skin.

He learnt from Castorice and the Trailblazer what Anaxa had done at the Grove, even when he was not excellent in alchemy, Phainon did see that it was the most dangerous "miracle" Anaxa would have ever created. He needed to thank Cerces next time he met the Titan for saving Anaxa, bringing him back from the gate of death.

Between his worries, Phainon felt proud too because Anaxa, his dearest professor, could pull off something as unbelievable as that.

"Am I interrupting you?"

Phainon suddenly remembered Hyacine's presence in the room. The young girl was not only Anaxa's important person, his teaching assistant but also a nurse.

"Not really, mister. I was just healing professor Anaxa. His condition is stable now. There is no need to keep healing."

"I see. Then you should take a rest too, Hyacine."

The girl nodded but her eyes never left Anaxa, she came closer, standing next to Phainon with hands holding onto the hem of the dress. She was like a lost child not knowing what to do.

"Mister Phainon." Her voice was small, filled with uncertainty and concern. "I do not know much about professor Anaxa's focus, but is he into something very risky right now, mister Phainon?"
Phainon turned to look at the girl in surprise. Tears started to fall on her pink cheeks.

"Hyacine, why are you saying that?" Phainon instinctively persuaded her against the thought.

"Professor sometimes says strange things like he will disappear anytime, Before the calamity of the Grove, when he bid goodbye to me as I visited Okhema, he spoke a lot. I thought he was worried, but it was more like a farewell than a goodbye."

Her voice shook with emotion, sentences were cut short by soft sobbing as she was holding herself back.

"And now he is barely making it. How can I not think so?"

Hyacine had always been the brightest, friendliest and the most optimistic Chrysos Heir in their group. Seeing her like this felt like a sword piercing through Phainon's chest. Phainon lowered himself so he was at Hyacine's eye level, his hug completely covered the smaller girl.

"Professor Anaxa is good at hiding things from us, isn't he? I don't get what the hell is going on in his brilliant mind either." He spoke as he comforted the girl. "But I do know that Professor Anaxa really holds us dear to him, he will do anything to protect us. That includes you, Hyacine."

The girl's crying made the cloth on his shoulder wet, but Phainon did not care one bit.

'Don't cry, Hyacine. If the professor knows you are crying, he will be sad. You don't want that, do you?"

He managed to calm Hyacine with big fingers wiping her tears. Hyacine took another breath, she looked at Anaxa one more time before turning back to Phainon:

"You are right, mister. I already promise professor to be strong and reliable, I can not cry like this anymore." Using her magic, she checked Anaxa's condition again. "He is recovering now. If you don't mind, mister Phainon, can you please stay with the professor for a while? I need to check other patients of mine."

"You should rest after work too, Hyacine. Leave professor to me!"

Hyacine smiled as she showed Phainon the medicine in case Anaxa woke up and she was not there. The girl then excused herself and left the room.

Phainon sat down on the chair next to Anaxa's bed. His hand went inside the blanket to hold Anaxa's, noticing that even with the warmth from the blanket, his body heat was still low.
Anaxa's hand is much smaller than Phainon's. He could easily cover the professor's hand in his.

"You made us this worried for you, you should wake up and explain this yourself, hm?"

Phainon took Anaxa's hand out, gave it a kiss and held it tightly between his own and his cheek, warming up Anaxa's palm.

"Get well soon, professor."

"So demanding."

Phainon straightened himself in complete surprise, turning his head to see Anaxa's exhausted expression, he was awake.

"Professor, you woke up! How are you feeling?"

Phainon reached out his hands but stopped mid-air as he did not know what do, he wanted to touch Anaxa, to check his breathing, his temperature and so on; Yet he would kill himself if he caused more pain to his beloved professor.

"Tired." Anaxa said honestly, what was the use of lying when his physical state showed it all? "How long have I been sleeping?"

"Hyacine said that after your return to the residence."

Anaxa let out a soft sound instead of any verbal reply, but Phainon understood. The professor closed his eyes for a moment, still between the border of sleep and being awake.

"Do you want to sleep more?" The deliverer asked. Hyacine instructed him on how to use sleeping pills before.

"It is fine, I want to stay awake for a while."

Exhaustion was forgotten by Anaxa when he saw his Samoyed puppy's concern for him. His old, silly student must have had many things to say to him, but he was holding himself back.

"Did I wake you up?" Phainon was referring to his self-talk earlier.

"No, I heard Hyacine crying."

Anaxa had been caring for Hyacine for a long time, people even mistook them for siblings, although he never stated it, they could easily see that Anaxa had a soft spot for her. Hyacine in turn took care of Anaxa.

So, when she cried, he wanted to wake up, faking that he was okay now and calmed her worries. But then, he heard Phainon's soothing words towards the girl. In a daze, Anaxa found the man's voice calming him too, he felt safe with Phainon being around and he felt proud that Phainon was such a gentleman.

He drifted off to sleep for another short moment, only to wake up to Phainon's soft begging.

"You really dote on her."

"I care for my students, Phainon."

"Including me?" Phainon joked.

"Why do you think I am still willing to humor you after you threw my classroom?"

Also, why did this Samoyed think Anaxa still allowed him to engage in physical contact with the professor, come to his office anytime he wanted and end their meetings with kisses in private?

Anaxa did not have to say because both got the answer.

"Aw, this student is truly touched, professor."

Phainon giggled when he came closer to give Anaxa a kiss on his forehead. Anaxa could not help showing his hapiness with a smile as he looked into Phainon's innocent, contented puppy blue eyes.

Though it did not last long.

Phainon was reminded of Anaxa's sacrifice the moment he kissed his professor. The memories of knowing that Anaxa was the target, of him fighting alone with the Flame Reaver and nearly being hit by that sword, of catching Anaxa when he was staggering on his feet made Phainon downhearted.

A great sage like Anaxa would, of course, understand that.

"You would have done the same if you were me." He gently coaxed his deliverer. "This is also my duty, Phainon."

This was his duty as one of the sages of the Grove, a Chrysos Heir to defend the place and the Titan's coreflame until his last breath, his duty as a professor to give guidance to Phainon and the others, also his duty as an Amphorean to aid their deliverer against the black tide.

"But I don't want to lose you."

Phainon's voice broke. He hid his face between Anaxa's neck and shoulder while completely trapping the smaller one in his embrace. The sound of Anaxa's heartbeat was too small to be noticed unless they were close like this, his whole body missed the usual warmth that comforted Phainon whenever he sought Anaxa's presence. He could not help tightening his arms against his will not to hurt the professor.

Phainon had lost his hometown, his family and childhood friend. He could not afford to lose anyone else, especially his dearest Anaxa – the one that guided him, put up with him and loved him as much as he cherished the professor.

He was destined to be a deliverer, but then why could he not protect anyone? Why did they sacrifice for him instead?

Anaxa tangled his fingers with Phainon's white, fluffy hair before moving to pat on his broad back. This student had grown a lot compared to when they first met.

"And I don't want you to leave me, either." He whispered into Phainon's ears.

Phainon nodded, hiding himself further into Anaxa's lingering heat.

Anaxa did not say anything else, but Phainon knew that just as Anaxa, Phainon had his duties. Maybe he would not make it back one day and leave Anaxa alone. In this era of war, uncertainty and temporary peace, no one could say for sure if they would be able to live together forever.

"Can we at least discuss things beforehand?"

Discuss what Anaxa was planning with his own soul and body, what the future held in store for them, what the next plan would be, what Phainon wanted to do. So that they would know what to hope for.

"Fine, let's do that."

Anaxa did not need to look to see that Phainon was smiling with satisfaction when he heard a happy sound coming from his neck and a pair of thin lips kissing his exposed skin.

Anaxa had no idea if Phainon found out he was already dead and only revived by Cerces' power, but he hoped Phainon would never know, or else, his pure puppy would surely be depressed.
Phainon also held back his questions due to Anaxa's state.

"Phainon, I am touched that you care for me, but you are crushing me, you big, silly dog!"

But the said man did not move, instead, he kept himself glued to his lover.

"I don't want to let go." He jokingly whined, only half joking, because he, in fact, wanted to keep Anaxa in his arms forever.

"Don't push your luck." Anaxa made no effort to push him away even when he was against being in this position any longer.

Phainon suddenly raised his head, looking straight into his eyes before giving him a kiss on his lips that totally took Anaxa in surprise. The scholar soon accepted his lover's affection and kissed him in return.

"Get well soon, my love."

"You too, rest well, Phainon." Anaxa spoke, this time, he could not help feeling sleepy.

Phainon delightedly kissed his palm and smiled brightly like the sun.

"You know what, professor? Since we are both in dire need of rest, I will ask Hyacine to let me stay with you until you are better!"

Anaxa managed to let out a soft laugh as he caressed the other's hair. This child was definitely spoiled rotten by his very professor.

"Alright, stay by my side."

He registered Phainon left one more kiss to his wrist before he drifted off to the land of dream.

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The End.