Argexes responded to the death threat with the poise of a Monarch, meaning he shrugged it aside and paid it little mind.
However, Kieran recognized that voice.
Slowly turning his head toward the speaker, which didn't require much shifting, Kieran saw who it was — Agrianos.
That should have been an instantaneous conclusion, but it took Kieran a few seconds to digest Agrianos' current appearance.
Contrary to what he knew, Agrianos had a long, untamed head of auburn hair. His eyes were a brilliant silver color and sharp like recently whet blades. Though he felt destructive, it was a kind of sensation Kieran couldn't place.
What he did know, however, was that Agrianos didn't exhibit that air of unbridled carnage that followed him like a loyal shadow. Still, like before, Kieran couldn't fathom Agrianos' power.
Well, he didn't need to because the Flame overreacted with haste.
"It is him! The Great Destroyer, the culprit of the Failed Reckoning! He holds Destruction! That is the Child of Destruction!"
Argexes retracted his hand with a spurt of blood from Grismund's chest before turning all his attention to Agrianos. The Flame's revelation intrigued Argexes, and it showed in his current expression, which was far more lively than before.
It'd be tough to relate him to that earlier hollow state.
In fact, it wouldn't be wrong to assume Argexes was "learning" how to show emotion as he experienced new things. After all, he was a newborn, a blank slate if you discount the ruin… madness… vengeance.
'The list is too long. Fuck all that.'
Kieran shook his head, drifting closer to get an allegorical front-row seat. In all honesty, though, approaching didn't change his point of view, as if it were set to remain in one perspective.
If he drifted too far from Argexes, his position would immediately reset.
'Goddamn it, I just want the best seat possible! But no, it's like I'm chained to him!'
Kieran frowned at that thought.
A disconcerting conjecture tickled his mind, leading him to believe his inkling was a step in the right direction in terms of understanding the purpose of the Oath of the Chained Myths.
However, as he grew confident in that assumption, logic poked many holes in his theory. The rationale behind it was that Argexes was the reason for the Myth's Oath. It held some weight but not enough to explain the need for at least seven Myths.
To place the blame on Argexes would discount the fact each Myth's Chain was attached to a unique Source. There was no relation between any of the powers aside from the Sacred and Natural Myths, but they were more a complement than a relation.
Thus, the grounds for Kieran's argument were a deceptive fallacy. It sounded possible but appeared illogical. Not to mention, it had been explicitly stated that the Oath was a consequence of the earliest Generation of Myth's actions.
'So… the Myths before they were Myths.'
Kieran mulled over that thought.
Who were the original Myths, exactly?
Despite wanting answers to his questions, Kieran couldn't let it detract from what he was learning firsthand. This point in time likely marked a significant change for Agrianos and Xenith.
Otherwise, the Agrianos he knew today wouldn't appear so differently.
Argexes swiped his hand, regarding Agrianos with malice as he swatted Grismund aside like a pesky fly. The moment he made his move, though, Agrianos retaliated in kind, mirroring precisely what the Monarch of Ruin did.
Only, their robust forearms collided, and neither side gave way. They were equals through and through.
That surprised Agrianos, evident by his raised brow and a brief glance at their trembling forearms. Webbed cracks spread across the Ravaged Plain, but their statuesque posture remained unchanged by that.
Contrary to before, Argexes seemed wholeheartedly delighted. His visage lit up with wicked satisfaction as if an ancient yearning had been satiated. However, he was ravenous. Argexes could not be sated for long.
"Father, you called this guy the Child of Destruction? What do you mean by that?"
The Flame measured something before avoiding Agrianos altogether by giving him a wide berth when drifting through the air.
"Do not let his visage fool you. That is no mere man… he is an Ancient. I don't remember his face, but I do not forget an aura I have latched onto before. He has lived through an Age."
Kieran's jaw dropped, listening to previously unknown information about Agrianos.
The Flame seemed keen on continuing to talk, so Kieran listened.
"However, merely living through an Age is not enough to be an Ancient. What is truly required… is to have been born before a Boundary's Dawn — better known as the onset of Ascension. Not long after this Boundary's Dawn, I attempted to bear a Child… and it failed."
Argexes stared at Agrianos silently, taking in the information with a cryptic, almost brooding expression.
"Ah, so he is the reason I was born? I have this… what is your name?"
"Agrianos."
Argexes nodded.
"Very well, Child of Destruction, Agrianos. I am Argexes, Son of Ruin. I guess I have you to thank for my birth. The consequence of your failure led to my circumstances."
Agrianos tilted his head as if he didn't understand what Argexes meant.
"My failure? When have I failed?"
Argexes didn't understand either, looking to the Flame for answers. It was as if the Flame grew bashful and ashamed to speak.
"Ahem… the Failed Reckoning refers to my failure, my child. I failed to maintain control over that child to the very end. At the height of it… he simply woke up and destroyed my authority over him. It was…"
The Flame paused and stared at Argexes before looking alternatively between the two.
"I guess what you did wasn't unprecedented. That child was the first to do it. He defied my command. Only after he assumed Destruction, but it was still a feat unheard of. I could tell he had no innate affinity for Ruin, though. Perhaps he was simply never meant to be mine. Destruction… War is lucky."
"Why do you sound regretful and reminiscent? Are you not pleased by me, Father?"
The Flame noticed the burning in Argexes' eyes. A truly ruinous and vengeful fire raged inside through malevolent orbs.
"Do you feel inadequate? If you can defy me, why do you seek my praise? I have no praise for either of you. It would seem my efforts were in vain. I couldn't account for the nature of our power going against the very thing I despise. Ruin and Destruction know no restraint and can not be controlled. I understand that now. That is why if I want my aspirations to be realized… it is you who must want it too."
Staring at where the Flame lingered, Agrianos' eyes glimmered brightly as if struck with realization.
"Oh. I remember who you are… you're that thing from some thousand years ago that contributed to the destruction of these lands!"
The Flame's hollow face somehow managed a deadpan expression as it stared at Agrianos.
"…That was you."
"Same difference, you ghost. I stole the power from you. The blame is naturally yours to bear."
Kieran jaw nearly hit the ground as he learned the secret behind the Land of Ruin. Agrianos destroyed the very Land he walked upon. But he felt there was much more to that story.
Agrianos didn't seem like someone to inflict wanton destruction.
"Unfortunately for you, old ghost. I know that nothing you do is ever good. Thus, this guy here… yeah, he can't walk free."
Anticipating a thrilling battle, Argexes gave a chilling smile while creating space. Agrianos, meanwhile, stared at the silver gleaming sword.
"Oh, that's a nice blade."
