Work Text:
Cerces' blessing, her mind, and the power of life became the roots of the sacred tree. To this day, it has attracted the attention of bright minds who have gathered in the Grove of Epiphany to share knowledge, conduct research and conduct heated debates. The auditorium was empty, the students had already dispersed, discussing the professor's lecture, which was not as provocative as his personality and the size of the material that needed to be memorized before the exam began.
Pinning Anaxa between himself and the table, Phainon leaned towards him with a slight smile and pressed his lips to the other's. He gave the professor a tremulous kiss, gently cupping his lower lip, sucking on it and releasing it, and then slowly repeating and lifting his hands to his slender waist. Every time he saw Anaxa lost in thought in the lecture hall, he wanted to attract attention.…
Already accustomed to the tactile hunger of his former student, who came after a long separation due to business, Anaxa resigned himself to the fact that he, the founder of the Nousporists School, was put in such an awkward position, but when Phainon continued to push, he pinched his neck, hissing in his face like a cat whose tail was stepped on,
"Not here."
"Why," Phainon moaned plaintively and pressed his cheek against someone else's shoulder, refraining from putting his hands on someone else's waist with a familiar gesture, "do we really need to hide our relationship..?"
Anaxa sighed heavily, mentally refusing to continue thinking about the interesting idea that one of the students had expressed, and smoothed the fluffy hair on the back of someone else's head.
"You can tell Aglaea about it, even to every dog in Okhema—I don't care. But the Grove of Epiphany is my workplace and I will not tolerate unethical behavior here."
Neither students, nor teachers, nor researchers had to engage in obscenities in the cradle of science of all of Amphoreus, there was a more suitable place for this, namely home.
Delighted that Anaxa had indirectly confirmed his desire not to hide their relationship, Phainon smiled charmingly and rubbed his cheek against someone else's clothes and couldn't resist hugging the professor and inhaling the familiar scent, which mixed something woody and tart.
Pulling away, Phainon placed a last quick kiss on Anaxa's cheek, which surprised him for a moment, and whispered in his ear:
"All right, Naxy."
Opening and closing his mouth, Anaxa gathered his thoughts, which had been scattered due to the name, and said in a familiar tired tone,
"I am Anaxagoras..."
But watching what started happening next, Anaxa kept thinking back to that moment, thinking that he should have been stricter.
***
Anaxa's reputation and the attitude of others towards him was paradoxical. Those who studied with him or conducted joint research usually spoke well of the professor, often saying how his lectures or advice helped them, as well as looking for a new meeting for lively discussions. Most of the researchers in the Grove of the Epiphany shunned their colleague, who was famous for his blasphemous ideas.
Speaking of the first group, which included students, they liked to approach the professor to continue the idea voiced earlier and argue with Anaxa, who was calm about it.
But something was wrong today.
"Professor Naxy, about the new research of the Nousporists..." seeing that Anaxa was staring at her intently, frozen with books in her hands, the girl asked: "Professor, is something wrong?"
"For days now, I've been hearing my name being distorted over and over again, and now I'm curious to know the reason."
Not only the embarrassed student in front of him, but other professors and researchers with whom he was well acquainted, finally stopped calling him “Anaxa”, but replaced it with an even more unacceptable version of “Naxy"... And even though he knew who exactly could become the distributor, he decided to conduct a small investigation.
Still, Phainon wasn't Cipher enough to spread this nickname of his for the sake of a prank.
"Recently, Mr. Phainon came to the Grove of the Epiphany and I talked with him a little bit to find out about the activities of... the Chrysos Heirs in Okhema," she said, avoiding mentioning the Flame-Chase. "And he informed me that you, Professor, prefer this particular nickname than Anaxa.…"
"That's how it is," Anaxa replied calmly and returned to the original topic of conversation. "Thanks for the reply. So what were you interested in from the new research?"
In his mind, Anaxa was already chastising his former and still problematic student. Let it not hurt his already damaged reputation, but it will make it much worse—it will distort his name even more.
***
"... following from the above, we can say that short names are used for convenience, as well as to emphasize proximity. But then what's the point when everyone uses them, no matter who's in front of you—a friend or a simple acquaintance?"
"Professor Anaxa, I promise I won't call you 'Naxy' anymore,“ Hyacina muttered, going to the window in the classroom and breathing in the fresh air. She had a headache from the professor's sudden monologue.
"I am Anaxagoras," Anaxa corrected her already reflexively, leaning on the table and thinking.
"If the fact is that Mr. Phainon came up with a nickname for you, then... shouldn't we approach this issue creatively?" Hyacinthe changed the subject.
"Creative," Anaxa muttered. "I can't give him an additional lecture about respect, but since he's Chrysos Heirs, I can challenge him to a fight.…"
"Professor, you're not from Kremnos..!"
"Just kidding," he sighed. "So what do you mean by 'creatively'?"
Anaxa was of the opinion that the teacher teaches the student, and the student can also teach the teacher. It was thanks to this exchange of opinions between the old and the new generation of scientists that it was possible not to subject one's mind to stagnation, leaving it open to new thoughts.
Hyacina adjusted her beret on her head and cleared her throat, knowing that her idea was likely to be criticized.
"Why not... fight fire with fire? Come up with an affectionate nickname for Mr. Phaion."
"During the debate, it is important not to forget about the thesis that was said earlier, which is being proved," Anaxa pointed out to her, hinting that he had noticed how Hyacina had reduced their conversation to what to do with his former student. But it was more of a professional habit: reminding students of mistakes in their disciplines than a way to hurt a girl. "Does it make sense to come up with a nickname for someone..?"
"Isn't that part of a relationship?" having already stood at the door with the verified works of other students, Hyacina asked about the students. "Professor Anaxa, you are kindly requested to prepare the exam topics in advance this time."
"We'll talk about this in the next lecture," Anaxa waved his hand, kneading his temples.
When the girl left, Anaxa reflected on his earlier words. Find a creative approach…
'The abbreviated name is used for convenience and to emphasize proximity... Good.'
He used all his brilliant mind to come up with a nickname for Phainon, buying into Hyacina's translation of the theme of his thoughts.
***
When Anaxa moved through the Grove of Epiphany, an empty space quickly formed around him, which was not particularly noticeable from the outside, but it was always noticed ignored. However, the professor himself didn't really care. He had been thinking for days about what kind of nickname would suit Phainon. But for a person who preferred to treat the other person and the name given to him by his parents with respect, it was too... difficult.
Passing by the students who had not noticed him due to the lively discussion, the conversation he overheard brought him out of his thoughts.
"...the white hair and expensive clothes of Dressmaster of Okhema. Is this the Chrysos Heirs, ugh... Phaion?
"Yes, yes, did you see how he looked around with a stupid face? I heard that Mrs. Aglaya brought him from some village. Despite the fact that he received his education in the Grove of Epiphany, the hillbilly will remain a hillbilly."
"Well, don't be so strict. He has such a nice face, should I come over and talk to Phainyusya?" The girl playfully waved her hand and winked.
Watching the students immersed in their conversation, Anaxa stopped in place. He folded his arms across his chest and tapped a rhythm on his elbow with his finger, thinking about something.
Irritation.
That's what this conversation was about. His body was tense, like a taut bowstring that could be released at any moment. He couldn't take a step, feeling like he wanted to catch up with these female students and explain to them where they were wrong. Oh, and he could tell exactly what in their speech had pissed him off and which part of it irritated him the most.…
But with a grunt, Anaxa headed for the auditorium.
... she was just in the place where the students were heading.
Once inside, Anaxa did not glance at the students to find out which group it was. Standing on the podium, he turned to them with a calm expression on his face and began his lecture,
"Today's lecture will be divided into the main part, where we will go through a new topic and an introduction on ethics. The right way to address an opponent during a debate, ways to show respect for him," Anaxa dropped the books with notes on the table with a crash and put his palm on them without opening them. "And other things that students like to forget about in the heat of an argument."
The audience exchanged glances. The things that have just been listed were the basic part of education in the Grove of the Epiphany, which were hammered into the students' heads from the very beginning, and then practiced throughout their studies.
Thinking that Professor Anaxa had caught someone violating the ethics of a dispute, the students sighed in disappointment, because now it would take part of the lecture to repeat the basics.
"Huh, are you really disappointed?" Anaxa grinned, pointing to one of the students who had previously recalled the origin of the Phainon. "You, tell me about how we should address the opponent and why."
"Regardless of the dispute, both sides are equal during public debates, so it's respectful to say 'Mister' or 'Madam'.."
"That's right," the professor nodded. "But do you know what it's for, miss? If you are not interested in the origin of emerging theories or traditions, then you should spend more time studying before starting a series of exams."
Stunned, the girl was embarrassed by the attention to herself. Anaxa usually let the students think about such questions for themselves and then deduce a hypothesis, but today he looked so furious that it was scary to get a word in.
"Listen carefully, this concerns everyone present. You've already memorized the words that we have to treat our opponent as an equal during a debate, but what does that mean? A debate is an argument during which a new hypothesis is born, and in order to achieve this result, your ancestors and the founders of the Grove of Epiphany came up with several rules that can be reduced to three points: respect the opponent's point of view, respect his personality, and have the dignity not to violate all of the above, despite the outcome."
It seemed that these three points were no different from "treat your opponent as an equal," but as students of the Grove of Epiphany, everyone thought about the deeper meaning.
"You can think about it later, now I will make the last addition and we will return to the topic of today's lecture," having already opened the books with the material, Anaxa cast a brief glance at the frightened girl who remembered meeting with the professor in the corridor earlier. "In the future, you will have arguments with different people: those who you like, or, conversely, are so hateful that you want to kill them. You may come across people you've never thought of. Therefore, it is important to remember what and where you are saying so as not to look stupid."
His gaze shifted to the girl next to him, who moved away from her friend.
"In fact, the topic of appeals is much broader than you are given in lectures. I recommend that you look at the textbook, it will be on the exam."
The girls nodded together, burying themselves in their notes and hiding their faces with their hands. There was nothing wrong with joking about guys or discussing them.… But there are those who should be treated with minimal respect. For example, to Dressmaster of Okhema Aglaea, who has been keeping the peace in Polis for a millennium, or to one of her chosen Chrysos Heirs Phainon.
One can think of the two of them in different ways, with hatred or awe, but their achievements and contribution to the preservation of peace in Ohem and other nearby polis cannot be denied.
While Anaxa returned to the real topic of the lecture, one of the "students" appeared from behind the table, sitting down and hiding behind the young man in front of him. When those sitting next to him noticed his presence, he put his finger to his lips, winking mischievously.
Poking the girl in front of him several times, who had been scolded first, he asked in a whisper,
"I wonder why Professor Anaxa was so angry?"
"Th-this is… I was just thinking about the life of one of the Chrysos Heirs before Mrs. Aglaya brought him to Okhema. Was it really worth the public humiliation..?"
"Oh," he chuckled. "Well, it was quite mild, unlike the angry shouts and condemnation of the crowd when the professor speaks."
The girl wanted to be outraged that this was due to Anaxa's blasphemous beliefs and could not be compared to a simple joke between two friends, but as soon as she turned around, she swallowed the words that were about to escape.
Phaion smiled at the two female students, and then continued to quietly admire how his lover led the lecture. It was even reminiscent of the old days, when he himself was sitting on a student bench.…
He didn't know why, but he was incredibly happy. So much so that he wanted to stand up in the middle of the explanation and hug Anax, ignoring his displeasure.
'Eh, it's been so many years, and I'm still looking forward to the end of the lecture... something doesn't change.'
***
After the training period was over, the students did not stay in the classroom for long, packing their things. Phainon, who was still hiding behind them, slowly approached Anaxa, watching them leave right up to the last one.
As soon as it was just the two of them in the audience, he hugged the professor from behind and rested his head on his shoulder, looking at a familiar book with notes.
"It makes no sense for you to attend these basic lectures. If you want to hear something new, find out about the scientific meetings of the Nousporists," Anaxa commented, picking up books with one hand and ruffling his fluffy hair with the other. He hadn't noticed it before, but they had a calming effect.
"Professor, don't scare me. I'm not tired enough of my duties to return to the Grove of the Epiphany," a hand from Phainon's hair slowly groped his ear, slightly tugging at such words. "Haha, I'm here for you."
"Mgm."
At times, Phainon was frustratingly straightforward. So much so that Anaxa was speechless, not knowing how to react in such situations.
Noticing that the professor was lost in his thoughts again, Phainon, who was still in high spirits, pressed his lips to the base of his chin and left a kiss, and then licked this place. Startled, Anaxa pushed aside the completely arrogant former student with his palm, wanting to quickly take the textbooks back to their place and return to his own research.
Trailing behind Anaxa, who was running away at a fast pace, Phainon heard a grunt of displeasure,
"Like a persistent dog..."
Despite a sudden burst of inspiration, he still couldn't come up with a nickname for Phainon. But now, every time he stroked his fluffy hair, the professor couldn't help but think that he had accidentally tamed the big dog that Aglaea had sent to him.