Chapter 23 - Imprisonment

Phos muttered under his breath as he fiercely pulled on the chains pinning him to the wall.

"If I had known you were so weak to water…."

In an air-pocket cave deep underwater, Phos and Pyre sat bound together by thick silver chains. After the guards arrested the two, they were sentenced before Hydor to a couple days in prison for trespassing.

Who knew that such a beautiful merman would be so vicious? Hydor waved them away without even a second glance.

Now, stuck in this precarious, all-too-familiar position with his nemesis, Phos only felt regret for being too trusting of ancient Lords. Just because they were billions of years old didn't mean that they were kind. Evidently shown through Aer and Hydor.

"What would you do? If you knew I was weak to water?" Pyre reiterated Phos's grumbling, asking in a tone that slightly raised in anticipation.

"I… I don't know." Phos stared at Pyre, his eyes becoming dull. "I would have… what would I have done?"

Pyre released a sigh, trying to blow his reignited flame-like blue hair out of his face. He closed his eyes, turned his head down, and balled his hands.

Phos wondered if the Fire Lord felt mad or defeated. His expression showed both. Taking pity on Pyre, Phos went quiet.

The sound of dripping water echoed throughout the small cave of air.

"How do you know Hydor?" Unable to suppress his curiosity anymore, Phos decided to ask some simple questions.

Who knew the answer would be so long and complicated?

Phos felt like hours were passing as Pyre rambled on and on about how in the beginning, Hydor was better acquainted with Helios, but then he was born, leading to a power imbalance on Earth. At the end of that story, all Phos remembered was how Pyre stole Helios's job, just like how he stole Pyre's.

"Don't look at me like I took the Sun God's job. He just let me have it, in exchange for becoming my legal guardian."

"Legal guardian??"

"Yes. Helios adopted me. I am the younger brother of the Sun God."

Saying it like this gave Pyre a regal air, and Phos found himself casting his eyes down and away.

Right… Phos was finally alone with Pyre again. A multitude of unanswered questions popped up in Phos's mind like whack-a-moles. Where should he begin…

"Pyre," Phos cut off Pyre's words, "I have a question. Please don't dodge it like you do every time."

The Flame Lord tilted his head with a nod. "What do you mean 'dodge?' "

"Every time I bring this up, you insist on changing the topic."

"Well, what is it?"

"Uhm."

"..."

"Am I really dead to you…?"

Phos let out a sigh and hung his head. The metal binding him tinkered like bells.

Suddenly, a low laugh escaped the man beside him. Phos turned to Pyre, a hint of bedazzled confusion in his eyes.

"Little Light Lord." Pyre's magnetic voice made Phos shift away uncomfortably. "Don't be so distant."

"Why do you keep calling me that??"

"One question at a time."

Even when Pyre was restricted by chains, his handsome features were prominent. The reflections of the waters below illuminated his sharp jawline and high-cut nose, like a statue from ancient Rome. Pyre's white irises were tinted pink—Phos couldn't tell if this was his eye-changing magic or if he was crying. Tentatively, he lowered his eyes to give Pyre time.

"Little Light Lord?" Not long after, Pyre spoke again. "What's wrong? You keep looking away when I'm about to answer your question."

A vein popped on Phos's forehead as he held himself from yelling at Pyre. I was trying to be considerate of you!

Upon further examination, Phos could 1000% confirm: Pyre was not crying! In any way! It had just been a misconception caused by the rippling water surface.

Although…. The pink eyes suited Pyre's blue outline quite well.

Pyre opened his mouth, breathing in a small gasp. He hesitated.

"Little Light Lord, I like you very much."

A sudden confession?? Phos blinked twice, both his body and his mind freezing at the same time. His head creaked to meet Pyre's gaze.

Since when did Pyre look so serious? Phos found himself asking that often. There were always moments from time to time where Pyre's personality would slightly shift.

This was one of those moments: Although Pyre's tone and expression showed every sign of ease and carefreeness, his eyes betrayed his real thoughts and emotions.

What was behind those multi coloured eyes…?

"I can say this now, because we are not on land basking in the rays of the Sun."

A minute passed while Phos collected his thoughts. He didn't hear the end of what Pyre had to say.

"Sorry… what?" The Light Lord snapped out of his daze, intently watching Pyre.

"It's… complicated. I'll repeat it once more, don't expect me to say it again." Almost expecting it, Pyre sighed with a smile.

"Alright…."

"Light is precious." With a pause, Pyre's eyes met Phos's. "It can stay on for months without end, glowing eternally."

Phos forgot to breathe as he listened to Pyre talk. Why didn't he ever notice just how flowy Pyre's voice was…?

"But the Sun and fire are different. The Sun is strong, but only for a while. Then he has to transfer his light to the Moon." Pyre thought for a minute. "Little Light Lord, do you know what the light source of the night was before you came?"

"I… do. Lamps of oil or gas, right?"

"Correct." Pyre beamed. "These took up precious materials and left a trail of destruction on Earth over time."

"But what does your mistake have to do with you wanting to kill me?"

"You're as blunt as always. I'll get there."

"Oh."

Like a dejected child, Phos puffed up his cheeks and sat silently.

"To save energy and resources, the light bulb was invented. It was such a novel invention that, well, you made it here."