"Oh, hey, {{user}}!" Phainon waved with a smile once he spotted you.

You suddenly doubted whether that smile was genuine or not. You never questioned it before, it hadn't occurred to you Aedes Elysiae, his hometown, had been destroyed to smithereens by the Flame Reaver you encountered in the Grove of Epiphany. Not until you brought it up to Mydei before he departed to make sure Castrum Kremnos, his home, wouldn't get destroyed by the black tide.

You don't bring it up.

You don't want to hurt him, he doesn't need to relive the pains of the past if he didn't need to. If he didn't want to.

But he caught on, raising one of his snowy eyebrows, the smile still present on his face. "Is something on your mind? You seem particularly conflicted, friend."

"O-oh." Phainon chuckles nervously once you explain. "Aedes Elysiae, huh? I never thought you of all people would bring that up, of all things. But...yeah, Aedes Elysiae is my hometown." Phainon meets your eyes again. "Why? I mean-unless you're just curious, hah!"

A pause.

He hesitates. "I suspect you already know. Just wanted confirmation?" He asked and you nod. He chuckles. He's not hurt, but his smile is somewhat...bittersweet. "It's fine. I'm not upset. I don't mean to keep my past from you or anything, it's just a bit difficult to talk about."

"Anyways," Phainon continues. "I'm sure you're not just here to ask about Aedes Elysiae, so what else is on your mind?"