_Haven

A Prince who yearns to be great and a God who desires to become nothing. 

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Tragedy befalls the island of Salyras every fifteen years. When Prince Nevian’s compelling music does nothing to prevent his island and people from sinking, he wonders what his passionate ability is useful for. 

He drifts for two days across a wild sea and washes upon an island of monsters. Despite being delirious from hunger and grief, he manages to produce one last song to save a man from the snares of a menacing creature. 

Nevian is surprised when he lives and is greeted by the man he saved. An honest-spoken individual named Aestos, who has otherworldly abilities that grant him the title and prestige of a God. Prestige he never asked for. Fascinated by Nevian’s music, Aestos requests that the Prince accompany him to retrieve a fabled sword that would strip him of his supernatural strengths and grant him the ability to live as a simple man. 

Aestos relies on Nevian’s enchanting songs, unable to prevent himself from also becoming bewitched. And despite being unsure of the long journey ahead, Nevian puts his faith in the man and agrees to help, believing if his music is truly destined for anything remarkable, now is the time to test it.

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[ Excerpt: ]

I leaned and kissed Aestos’ face. He swiveled his head—rapidly—and our noses brushed. I laughed tiredly. 

“What is with that reaction, friend?”

His face tightened. But he was not upset. He wore the countenance of a delighted man who feigned confusion because it was comfortable not to recognize what some actions meant. 

“You are always touching me. Every hour, a hand of yours reaches for me. Why?” he asked.

I felt bashful, although confessions came naturally to me. “You must understand by now.”
            
“I am trying to,” he answered sincerely, and he spread his fingers over his chest. “Because here, I feel something I am not used to. Whenever you touch me.”

I smiled softly. “You feel your heart.”

“I feel more than that.”

“Does it frighten you?”

He pondered over it while holding my gaze. “I don’t want it to.”

I stole his other hand and held it against my chest to let him feel the music of my heart. “Do you feel the rhythm?”

His eyes fell to where he held me. “I do not need to feel it,” he murmured. “I hear every time it changes.”

I adored him with an enthusiastic smile. “Your ears are extraordinary, and you notice when affection drums in my chest. For you, Aestos. Because you are becoming someone special to me.”

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A story about love, destiny, (some) mythological creatures, music, magic, family, and tragedy. Takes on minor themes of historical Greek mythology & culture.
 
[ This story centers affectionate friendships between men. BL tag for bromance. ]

[BL] The Musical Prince and his Mortal God

Again. It is happening again!

We could not reach the city fast enough. I had hurried to dress after sleeping naked beneath the stars. Fumbled to push my limbs through holes and strap on belts. I left behind whatever slowed me down and followed Aestos through the forest. Running. Hopping over bushes. Gliding through limply hanging branches and bracing the tears at my skin. My lungs crushed beneath the fear burrowed in my chest.

I feared what little of my people were left would be taken from me. Again. And I couldn't. I absolutely could not lose any more of them. I would not survive it this time.

Aestos had not told me how my people were in danger. I had not given him the chance to. But the anxiety prodded my mind with knives. Had one of my people offended a native? Had a fight broken out?

A devastating, more severe possibility clouded the edges of my mind. I did not want to believe it. To even consider it.

Banishment of the Survivors (1/2)