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Literature Text
Chapter 32
Slowly but surely, Thane kept his behavior and language in check, even going so
far as to apologize and offer Mias the chance to punch him back. Mias accepted the apology,
but declined the offer. He understood why Thane acted the way he did – it had been his
natural fight or flight instinct in charge. Within the first two days, Mias turned his
attention to Thane’s reaction to fire... Though his method, he had to admit, was less than
elegant.
Maybe it was a lapse in judgment, or perhaps a true desire to mess with Thane, but
while he was helping Thane redress his wounds, Mias conjured a small, dancing emerald
flame in the palm of his hand. Thane caught sight of it and froze. “What are you—?” Mias
curled his fingers around the flame and threw it into the fireplace. It engulfed the wood
and tinder in a burst of bright green light. “—SHIT!” Thane exclaimed, accidentally
kicking Mias in his scramble to get away. The licking fire slowly faded to its natural
orange glow and grew calmer.
“Ah!” Mias exclaimed softly, rubbing his jaw, which had still been sore from the
first blow. “It was just a trick, calm down.”
“Sorry...” Thane apologized meekly, noticing he had hit Mias. “Can you put it out now?”
Mias heaved a large sigh. “No. I won’t this time. Consider this your first day of therapy.”
“What? Therapy for what?” Thane asked, still eyeing the fire and slowly climbing
off the opposite side of the bed.
“For your Pyrophobia. The faster we can rid you of this fear, the better.”
“I’d hardly call it a phobia.”
“Well, I would.” Mias summoned several more dancing flames that circled around in
his palm. “Now, we can treat this the easy way or the hard way.” Mias suppressed a smirk
at the sight of Thane’s menacing glare.
Mias was able to convince Thane to agree to his terms. Mias instructed him to
simply observe the lit fireplace for at least ten minutes upon waking up every other day –
under his supervision, of course. During the first week, sitting in front of the flames
visibly unsettled Thane. He fidgeted, and constantly trembled. Mias had to scold Thane
after realizing that he kept staring down at his hands rather than at the fire.
“Being around it isn’t going to be enough. Look into the flames the whole time.
The sight of fire is a major reason for your phobia.”
“I can’t.” Thane clenched his fists until his knuckles went white.
“I assure you, you can. You don’t want to... But that’s not how this works, Thane.
You have to.” Mias demanded. He emphasized his point by sending a rush of green flames
whizzing past Thane’s vision. Thane fell back with a yell.
“What... the hell... was that... for?” Thane asked incredulously, breathing
rapidly and clutching his chest. His eye was wide, looking to Mias for an explanation.
“Are you alright?” Mias asked. He hadn’t quite expected that reaction.
“I’m having... a panic... attack... you bastard!” Each breath grew more ragged and
strained. A pained expression twisted Thane’s features, and Mias bent down to sit him up.
“Okay, okay! Just concentrate on your breathing. Take a deep breath.” Mias
instructed, extinguishing the fireplace with a flick of his hand. With several shallow
inhales through the nose, Thane held his breath for a moment. “...And exhale.” He let out
a long breath. Mias prompted him as he repeated the process. His breathing slowed and his
body relaxed.
“Water,” Thane muttered, appearing very drained. His head lulled to the side
slightly as he closed his eye.
“Hey, keep it open.” Mias said, nudging Thane with his foot. “You’ll pass out if
you don’t.” After watching to make sure Thane opened his eye again, Mias snapped his
fingers. The squeaking wheels of the serving cart sounded shortly after, alerting them of
its arrival. Brought on by way of magic, it moved on its own with a crystal goblet and a
pitcher of water. It stopped just outside the door. Mias huffed a little, “Well come in.”
He commanded impatiently. The cart backed up slightly and turned to roll into the room. It
stopped beside Mias, who then stood and poured the water. Mias bent back down and offered
it to Thane. He gladly accepted it and guzzled the entire glass.
“Please don’t ever do that again,” Thane pleaded, passing the empty glass back to Mias.
“I suppose it was a tad too extreme. Just... keep your eyes on the flames from now
on.” Mias received a stern glare from Thane and sighed, “I won’t do it again. Just rest
for the remainder of the day.”
Mias pulled Thane to his feet. With a slight groan, Thane sat on the bed. “Mias,
would you do me a huge favor?”
“Like what?”
“I need you to take me into Norhüt. The villagers will have returned by now to
start the clean up and recovery.”
“You’re hardly in a position to perform any sort of physical labor.”
“I know.” Thane replied sharply. He paused, taking a deep breath and speaking with
a calmer tone, “I know... I just need to be there. It’s really important to me. Please, Mias.”
Mias silently considered Thane’s request. Thane looked him dead in the eye while
he did. “Very well. When do you want to go?”
Two days later, they made their way to the village atop Atlas. Mias dropped Thane
off in Norhüt while he kept at a safe distance. He knew very well his face would likely
start a riot. He sat patiently for hours, eventually reverting to his childish ways –
sitting on the ground and magically catching various flowers and weeds on fire – to pass
the time. It was nearly sundown by the time Thane returned to the small tree where Mias
and Atlas were waiting. He appeared slightly misty-eyed and his cheeks were blotchy.
“Are you feeling well?” Mias asked.
“Yeah... My back aches a bit, but otherwise...” Thane trailed off in a thick voice.
Mias decided it best not to pry. After all, he personally didn’t like people
poking their noses into his business when he was upset. In silence, they rode back to the
manor and changed the dressing on Thane’s back, which had begun to seep a small amount of blood.
Once done, Mias made his way to leave, but Thane stopped him. “Why are you helping me?”
Mias knitted his brow slightly and shrugged, “You were still breathing. I’d have
been as cruel as my brother had I left you.”
“You very well could have left me there. Would it have really made that much
difference?” There was definitely something eating at Thane now, that much Mias knew. Did
he believe he was now in debt?
“Do you think I should have left you?” Mias asked challengingly. Thane said
nothing in response. “Leaving you there would have been as bad as killing you myself.
Though I doubt it would have affected my markings, it would have haunted my conscious for
the rest of my life... And my conscious is full enough as it is... Helping you means one
less burden I’ll have to carry. That’s why.” With that, Mias left for his chambers and
turned in for the evening.
Over the months, Mias helped Thane train physically with sword fighting while
still continuing his Pyrophobia therapy. On the same day every month, Mias agreed to take
Thane to Norhüt to make brief visits and observe how the reconstruction was proceeding; it
turned out they had worked on his home first to make sure it was finished by the time he
came back to Norhüt for good. Mias assumed that Thane also felt a responsibility to at
least check up on the villagers during his recovery, even if he wasn’t able to take care
of their health needs.
While Thane spent time in the manor, they started to become rather good friends,
exchanging jokes and sharing stories and laughter. Mias soon discovered Thane’s
mischievous side, but only after Thane discovered how easy it was to infuriate Mias.
Thane’s previous melancholy demeanor had all but vanished by the time he was fully
recovered.
The day finally came for Thane to go back to the village. Outside the entrance,
and out of sight, they dismounted Atlas. They stood before one another for a moment. With
a smile, Thane extended his hand, and Mias grasped it.
“Thank you for all you’ve done.” Thane said simply.
“I’ll see you around.” Mias replied with a nod of his head.
“If you begin to court dames on a weekly basis again, I’m sure I will.” Thane teased.
“Stay well.”
With that, Thane turned on his heel and entered the town to return to his home and
to all the familiar faces.
“And that’s it.” Mias said. It was a rather lackluster conclusion to the story.
“All the familiar faces, huh?” Thane’s voice asked quietly from the door, making
the three jump. “Sounds like a fairy tale to me. Happily ever after and everything.”
“Thane...” Elle whispered softly. “I’m sorry, I—”
“—It’s not important.” Thane cut her off, “I noticed someone coming toward the
manor while I was upstairs and I figured I’d inform you of it, Mias.” His jaw flexed
slightly before he turned and disappeared from view.
Slowly but surely, Thane kept his behavior and language in check, even going so
far as to apologize and offer Mias the chance to punch him back. Mias accepted the apology,
but declined the offer. He understood why Thane acted the way he did – it had been his
natural fight or flight instinct in charge. Within the first two days, Mias turned his
attention to Thane’s reaction to fire... Though his method, he had to admit, was less than
elegant.
Maybe it was a lapse in judgment, or perhaps a true desire to mess with Thane, but
while he was helping Thane redress his wounds, Mias conjured a small, dancing emerald
flame in the palm of his hand. Thane caught sight of it and froze. “What are you—?” Mias
curled his fingers around the flame and threw it into the fireplace. It engulfed the wood
and tinder in a burst of bright green light. “—SHIT!” Thane exclaimed, accidentally
kicking Mias in his scramble to get away. The licking fire slowly faded to its natural
orange glow and grew calmer.
“Ah!” Mias exclaimed softly, rubbing his jaw, which had still been sore from the
first blow. “It was just a trick, calm down.”
“Sorry...” Thane apologized meekly, noticing he had hit Mias. “Can you put it out now?”
Mias heaved a large sigh. “No. I won’t this time. Consider this your first day of therapy.”
“What? Therapy for what?” Thane asked, still eyeing the fire and slowly climbing
off the opposite side of the bed.
“For your Pyrophobia. The faster we can rid you of this fear, the better.”
“I’d hardly call it a phobia.”
“Well, I would.” Mias summoned several more dancing flames that circled around in
his palm. “Now, we can treat this the easy way or the hard way.” Mias suppressed a smirk
at the sight of Thane’s menacing glare.
Mias was able to convince Thane to agree to his terms. Mias instructed him to
simply observe the lit fireplace for at least ten minutes upon waking up every other day –
under his supervision, of course. During the first week, sitting in front of the flames
visibly unsettled Thane. He fidgeted, and constantly trembled. Mias had to scold Thane
after realizing that he kept staring down at his hands rather than at the fire.
“Being around it isn’t going to be enough. Look into the flames the whole time.
The sight of fire is a major reason for your phobia.”
“I can’t.” Thane clenched his fists until his knuckles went white.
“I assure you, you can. You don’t want to... But that’s not how this works, Thane.
You have to.” Mias demanded. He emphasized his point by sending a rush of green flames
whizzing past Thane’s vision. Thane fell back with a yell.
“What... the hell... was that... for?” Thane asked incredulously, breathing
rapidly and clutching his chest. His eye was wide, looking to Mias for an explanation.
“Are you alright?” Mias asked. He hadn’t quite expected that reaction.
“I’m having... a panic... attack... you bastard!” Each breath grew more ragged and
strained. A pained expression twisted Thane’s features, and Mias bent down to sit him up.
“Okay, okay! Just concentrate on your breathing. Take a deep breath.” Mias
instructed, extinguishing the fireplace with a flick of his hand. With several shallow
inhales through the nose, Thane held his breath for a moment. “...And exhale.” He let out
a long breath. Mias prompted him as he repeated the process. His breathing slowed and his
body relaxed.
“Water,” Thane muttered, appearing very drained. His head lulled to the side
slightly as he closed his eye.
“Hey, keep it open.” Mias said, nudging Thane with his foot. “You’ll pass out if
you don’t.” After watching to make sure Thane opened his eye again, Mias snapped his
fingers. The squeaking wheels of the serving cart sounded shortly after, alerting them of
its arrival. Brought on by way of magic, it moved on its own with a crystal goblet and a
pitcher of water. It stopped just outside the door. Mias huffed a little, “Well come in.”
He commanded impatiently. The cart backed up slightly and turned to roll into the room. It
stopped beside Mias, who then stood and poured the water. Mias bent back down and offered
it to Thane. He gladly accepted it and guzzled the entire glass.
“Please don’t ever do that again,” Thane pleaded, passing the empty glass back to Mias.
“I suppose it was a tad too extreme. Just... keep your eyes on the flames from now
on.” Mias received a stern glare from Thane and sighed, “I won’t do it again. Just rest
for the remainder of the day.”
Mias pulled Thane to his feet. With a slight groan, Thane sat on the bed. “Mias,
would you do me a huge favor?”
“Like what?”
“I need you to take me into Norhüt. The villagers will have returned by now to
start the clean up and recovery.”
“You’re hardly in a position to perform any sort of physical labor.”
“I know.” Thane replied sharply. He paused, taking a deep breath and speaking with
a calmer tone, “I know... I just need to be there. It’s really important to me. Please, Mias.”
Mias silently considered Thane’s request. Thane looked him dead in the eye while
he did. “Very well. When do you want to go?”
Two days later, they made their way to the village atop Atlas. Mias dropped Thane
off in Norhüt while he kept at a safe distance. He knew very well his face would likely
start a riot. He sat patiently for hours, eventually reverting to his childish ways –
sitting on the ground and magically catching various flowers and weeds on fire – to pass
the time. It was nearly sundown by the time Thane returned to the small tree where Mias
and Atlas were waiting. He appeared slightly misty-eyed and his cheeks were blotchy.
“Are you feeling well?” Mias asked.
“Yeah... My back aches a bit, but otherwise...” Thane trailed off in a thick voice.
Mias decided it best not to pry. After all, he personally didn’t like people
poking their noses into his business when he was upset. In silence, they rode back to the
manor and changed the dressing on Thane’s back, which had begun to seep a small amount of blood.
Once done, Mias made his way to leave, but Thane stopped him. “Why are you helping me?”
Mias knitted his brow slightly and shrugged, “You were still breathing. I’d have
been as cruel as my brother had I left you.”
“You very well could have left me there. Would it have really made that much
difference?” There was definitely something eating at Thane now, that much Mias knew. Did
he believe he was now in debt?
“Do you think I should have left you?” Mias asked challengingly. Thane said
nothing in response. “Leaving you there would have been as bad as killing you myself.
Though I doubt it would have affected my markings, it would have haunted my conscious for
the rest of my life... And my conscious is full enough as it is... Helping you means one
less burden I’ll have to carry. That’s why.” With that, Mias left for his chambers and
turned in for the evening.
Over the months, Mias helped Thane train physically with sword fighting while
still continuing his Pyrophobia therapy. On the same day every month, Mias agreed to take
Thane to Norhüt to make brief visits and observe how the reconstruction was proceeding; it
turned out they had worked on his home first to make sure it was finished by the time he
came back to Norhüt for good. Mias assumed that Thane also felt a responsibility to at
least check up on the villagers during his recovery, even if he wasn’t able to take care
of their health needs.
While Thane spent time in the manor, they started to become rather good friends,
exchanging jokes and sharing stories and laughter. Mias soon discovered Thane’s
mischievous side, but only after Thane discovered how easy it was to infuriate Mias.
Thane’s previous melancholy demeanor had all but vanished by the time he was fully
recovered.
The day finally came for Thane to go back to the village. Outside the entrance,
and out of sight, they dismounted Atlas. They stood before one another for a moment. With
a smile, Thane extended his hand, and Mias grasped it.
“Thank you for all you’ve done.” Thane said simply.
“I’ll see you around.” Mias replied with a nod of his head.
“If you begin to court dames on a weekly basis again, I’m sure I will.” Thane teased.
“Stay well.”
With that, Thane turned on his heel and entered the town to return to his home and
to all the familiar faces.
“And that’s it.” Mias said. It was a rather lackluster conclusion to the story.
“All the familiar faces, huh?” Thane’s voice asked quietly from the door, making
the three jump. “Sounds like a fairy tale to me. Happily ever after and everything.”
“Thane...” Elle whispered softly. “I’m sorry, I—”
“—It’s not important.” Thane cut her off, “I noticed someone coming toward the
manor while I was upstairs and I figured I’d inform you of it, Mias.” His jaw flexed
slightly before he turned and disappeared from view.
←Previous ⁞⁞⁞ Next→
Holy scheisse! This flashback has gone on long enough! Mias, you may be smooth with the ladies, but not so much with men. That is totally a bromance moment there at the end of it. They both probably shed a single, manly tear on the inside.
The alternate name for "Pyrophobia" is "Arsonphobia"... And I just felt like Pyro sounded better than Arson. >.>
**Also a note about the depth perception thing: most people seem to think that losing an eye or going blind in one eye greatly affects depth perception to the point where it would take months to get used to. In reality, the change of depth perception is not at all extreme. It's a little weird at first, but it may literally take a few hours to get used to. As long as you move your head and eye to see your surroundings, your brain can stitch together the image and there's hardly a difference between having one eye and two eyes. I did my research on what it is like to have one eye, and I also experienced it when I dressed up as "Thana" for Halloween. I wore the eye patch and all, so I experienced that change in depth perception for the days I dressed up for work.
BUT WHO'S COMING TO THE MANOR? Are they good? Are they bad? Who knows! That's why you'll have to wait for the next chapter!
~Anni
Mias, Elle, Elias, and the character "Tovi" belong to
.Atlas belongs to
.Thane and the name "Tovi" belong to
. © 2013 - 2024 fairygodpiggy
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This is my favorite brotp!!!