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- Of course, this will be a romantic story like none that has come before. You think so too, right?
- — Cyrene to Phainon.
Phairene is the het ship between Phainon and Cyrene from the Honkai: Star Rail fandom.
Canon[]
Phainon and Cyrene are characters from Honkai: Star Rail, they were first introduced in Golden Epic Trailer – “Amphoreus’ Saga Heroes.” Phainon and Cyrene are childhood friends from their hometown of Aedes Elysiae. In one flashback, she was shown talking with a young Phainon, calling him the "Deliverer" in the prophecy. At some point later, she was seemingly stabbed by the Flame Reaver, bleeding golden ichor.
Heroic Saga of Flame-Chase[]
Hero, Bear Thy Coreflame[]
Phainon and Cyrene are shown to have known each other as children in Aedes Elysiae. In a flashback, Cyrene reads Phainon's fortune and tells him that he is the "Deliverer." When he asks what that means, she says the interpretation is long but explains that it means he’ll be a hero worshiped by all, who will save many people from scary enemies. Phainon replies that he doesn't want to be everyone's hero—he just wants to stay in the village with the people he knows.
Cyrene then asks, if the day ever comes when they have to say goodbye to Aedes Elysiae, could he become a Deliverer then. Phainon hesitates, and Cyrene reassures him that she was just teasing, saying Aedes Elysiae is a peaceful place and bad people won’t reach them. Their conversation ends with her inviting him to go play with the fairies again, which he excitedly agrees to.
Later, Cyrene is shown mortally wounded after being stabbed by the Flame Reaver. She bleeds golden ichor and, before dying, says: “May this world never have need for a Deliverer.” These words reflect her hope that Phainon would never need to take on the burden of being a hero, suggesting that she deeply cared about his fate and the prophecy tied to him.
Light Slips the Gate, Shadow Greets the Throne[]
Memories, Veiled in Blazing Mist[]
Phainon reflects on Aedes Elysiae and the loss he suffered. He tells Mydeimos that the village was a small place that vanished in the flames of war. The only times he sees it now are in dreams or during the Lance of FuryStrife Titan trial. During the trial, he relives the moment when Aedes Elysiae was engulfed in flames, witnessing the deaths of his family, friends, and kin. Among them, he saw Cyrene being killed.
He describes the attacker: a black cloak, an eerie mask, and a broken, ominous giant sword. Although Phainon has trained and grown stronger, he admits he still couldn't defeat the figure in the trial. Overwhelmed by hatred, he nearly lost himself, but expresses gratitude to Mydeimos for grounding him.
Arcadia of Woven Dreams[]
Membrance Maze's Serene Treehouse[]
In Arcadia of Woven Dreams, a clear glimpse into Phainon and Cyrene’s childhood is presented, confirming their close bond as childhood friends. During this time, they were referred to by the fairies of the Membrance Maze as “Snowy” (Phainon) and “Reney” (Cyrene). The event recounts their first encounter with the Maze, the lasting memories they created there, and the promise they made — one that was eventually forgotten.
In this story, a village chief announces the arrival of the Brew Festival, a seasonal celebration for the fairies. It is revealed that in the beginning, the Membrance Maze was a barren land, until a small boy and girl from Aedes Elysiae—later revealed to be Phainon and Cyrene—arrived bringing seeds from the outside world. They taught the fairies how to plant and nurture these seeds. As the flowers bloomed, the fairies followed the children's lead by harvesting nectar, which later became part of the Brew Festival tradition. The nectar would be buried underground to ferment into a potion that helped with both the cold of winter and the pains of growing up.
In the present day of the story, one of the fairies named Relimem is found asleep by the door of a treehouse. In its dream, it remembers the two children—Snowy and Reney—who had once promised to return. The dream shows the children trying to wake Relimem, who has become a giant blocking the entrance to the maze. Despite their efforts, it cannot hear them, and the dream ends with Relimem waking up, sad that the children still haven't returned after many Brew Festivals.
Membrance Maze's Wishing Whistle[]
The story continues to recount the very first meeting between the two children and the fairies. Phainon and Cyrene had fallen into a deep tree hole while playing hide-and-seek in the yard with their friends, landing in the Membrance Maze where they met a group of fairies. They quickly formed a strong bond and spent a fun-filled day together:
- “Their friendship with the fairies was like a thousand shooting stars — sudden, sparkling, and unforgettable. They spent a day full of laughter together. But soon, it was time to go. If they didn’t head back, Mom and Dad would start to worry.”
Notably, in the original Chinese, the phrase laobalaoma (老爸老妈) used here means “the children’s parents” and is not pluralized in form. However, the English translation used “Mom and Dad,” which caused some confusion among players. Some thought this meant Phainon and Cyrene were siblings. But in the context of the story, it simply means that each of their parents would worry if they stayed out too long — not that they share the same parents.
When it was time to leave, the fairies did not understand the idea of "goodbye," as no one had ever left the Membrance Maze before. Realizing the children were sad to go, Relimem gave them a farewell gift: a handmade flute called the Wishing Whistle, shaped like a fairy's ear.
The flute had seven holes and produced musical notes that matched the names of the fairies: Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Ti. Relimem told the children that if they ever wanted to return, they just had to blow the whistle and the fairies would hear them no matter what they were doing and would reopen the path to the maze. The girl—Cyrene—made a pinky promise to return. This moment marked the beginning of the fairies' tradition of waiting for the sound of the Wishing Whistle.
Relimem would always get excited whenever the whistle sounded again. But over time, Phainon and Cyrene left Aedes Elysiae and grew up, remembering many things about their childhood—such as broken toys and burnt wheat fields—but forgetting the buried whistle and the promise they once made. The fairies continued to wait, with Relimem clinging to the memory and hoping the two children would one day return:
In the same version, a related dialogue hints at the nature of Arcadia:
- Trailblazer – “Have you heard of Arcadia?”
- Ctesiphona – “Arcadia? Dear customer, I see you must be a most experienced reader. Arcadia is a common setting people love to use in ancient adventure stories... It's the Golden Land under the protection of Mnestia!
It's a paradise for poets, artists, and those in search of romance. The main characters in these stories would meet their true love here and receive Mnestia's blessing... This is all recorded in the classic work Secret of the Golden Carpet.”
This confirms that Arcadia is canonically described as a place where romantic destinies are fulfilled, and lovers receive blessings.
The Fall at Dawn's Rise[]
Golden Thread, Relay the Savior's Fate[]
Phainon is seen speaking with an illusion of Cyrene. Cyrene remarks on the beauty and poignancy of Phainon’s journey, acknowledging that it is still ongoing. She tells Phainon that he has become the "Deliverer" in the story. In response, Phainon reflects on the personal growth he has experienced during Cyrene’s absence — meeting new people, discovering new determination, and letting go of former attachments. He emphasizes that he is no longer the same person he once was. However, Cyrene gently counters this by stating that to her, Phainon has never changed.
Dawn, Shine at the World's End[]
Phainon's past and identity, his real name is censored and unrevealed. He engages in a deep conversation with Lygus, where themes of fate, despair, and rebirth are explored. Lygus speaks cryptically about “the gaze of distant stars” and instructs Phainon to disregard the presence of the observer, urging him to fulfill his role. Phainon, still referred to as █████, reflects on his former belief that relentlessly pursuing his ideals—represented by flames—would clear away the fog of uncertainty and reveal the truth of fate. However, he now acknowledges that many who followed this path never received the justice the prophecy once promised.
Lygus foresees the world outside the Vortex collapsing, with humanity's cries growing louder. He proclaims that Phainon will bury the old world using the Coreflame and lead all things into an uncertain future. Phainon, hardened by the pain of the Flame-Chase Journey, declares that he has abandoned his fantasies. He no longer believes in an ideal paradise awaiting them. Instead, if chaos lies ahead, he vows to tear through it and bring forth a new beginning—what he calls the "first ray of blazing sunlight."
As this exchange unfolds, young Cyrene is shown walking toward Phainon and Lygus. Lygus hints at the possibility of breaking free from endless cycles, suggesting that this moment might begin a new chapter. Phainon, upon seeing Cyrene, seems to recognize her and asks softly, “Is it you?” She responds with a smile, saying, “Of course. This will be a romantic story like none that has come before.” Phainon smiles gently in return.
Hero, Honor That Crimson Call[]
Hero, Return to That Peace of Home[]
This section is in need of major improvement. Please help improve this article by editing it.
Hero, Shatter That Woeful Effigy[]
Hero, Ignite That Primal Sun[]
This section is in need of major improvement. Please help improve this article by editing it.
Quotes[]
- Cyrene – “Hmm...”
- Phainon – “Is something wrong?”
- Cyrene – “Mmm...?”
- Phainon – “Ugh, don't keep me in suspense. Come on, tell me already. What did you see?”
- Cyrene – “Haha, I just wanted to get a reaction out of you. Alright, I'll tell you.
...This card is the Deliverer.” - Phainon – “Deliverer...? What does that mean?”
- Cyrene – “Uh... The interpretation is really long. Maybe I should just skip it.
All you need to know is, this card means... you'll be a hero worshiped by all! You will protect this world and save lots and lots of people from scary enemies with your sword! Do you like the sound of that?” - Phainon – “But...”
- Cyrene – “What's the matter? This is a good card!”
- Phainon – “But I don't want to be everyone's hero! I just want to stay in this village with everyone I know.
Grandpa and grandma said the outside world is full of bad people. That's why they're always at war... Who wants to save bad people like them! I can be a hero, but only our village's little hero!” - Cyrene – “Haha... Well, little hero... If the day comes for us to say goodbye to Aedes Elysiae, could you become a Deliverer then?”
- Phainon – “Do I... have to leave the village?”
- Cyrene – “Mm-hmm. If something like that happens, someone will have to save the world.”
- Phainon – “Then... Then I'll...”
- Cyrene – “...”
- — Flashback of Young Phainon and Cyrene[1] (1/2)
- Cyrene – “Haha, I'm just teasing you. Don't worry. Aedes Elysiae is a peaceful place. Bad people won't reach us here.
Are you going home already...? If you're not in a hurry, should we go play with the fairies again?” - Phainon – “Fairies! Okay! I love playing with them! Hmph, I'll win back the wooden sword I lost to them!”
- Cyrene – “Heehee! Look at how excited that got you. Let's go then.”
- — Flashback of Young Phainon and Cyrene[2] (2/2)
- Phainon – “Yes, I saw it all. Aedes Elysiae ablaze, with everyone — my family, friends, and my kin — lying in a sea of flames.
A blood-red half-sun hung in the sky, just like on that day. And before my eyes, that murderer...
...killed Cyrene.
But I saw its form this time... A black cloak, an eerie mask, and a broken giant sword that carried an ominous aura...
I fought it in the trial. But even though I've been fighting, improving, and resolutely getting stronger all this time... I still couldn't defeat it.” - Mydei – “You were blinded by hatred and almost lost yourself in that trial.”
- — Phainon and Mydei's convesation.[3]
- Cyrene – “...What a poignant, yet splendid journey.
And it's still not over yet... is it?” - Phainon – “Yes, Cyrene.”
- Cyrene – “I was right. In the end, you did become the Deliverer in this story.”
- Phainon – “A lot has changed while you were away. I've met so many people and tried so many things. I've found new resolve... and let go of some attachments.
I'm not the same person I used to be.” - Cyrene – “Hee...
But to me —
You've never changed at all, Phainon.” - — Phainon talking to illusion Cyrene.[4]
- “Of course, this will be a romantic story like none that has come before. You think so too, right?”
- — Cyrene to Phainon.[5]
- “She always said that she hoped for the world to no longer need a Deliverer. She must've known deep down that, as long as there are still people who love this world, a Deliverer is destined to appear.”
- — Phainon's voiceline about Cyrene.
Fanon[]
Many ElyKevin fans were excited when Phainon and Cyrene were first introduced in the Golden Epic Trailer – “Amphoreus’ Saga Heroes.” Honkai Impact 3rd players quickly noticed how similar the two pairs were—both in appearance and personality. Phainon and Cyrene closely resemble Kevin Kaslana and Elysia, especially in their hair and eye color, the way they act, and even their voice actors. Phainon shares the same Chinese voice actor as Kevin, while Cyrene shares both the Chinese and Japanese voice actresses with Elysia, which made the connection feel even stronger.
Fans were touched when they found out that Phainon and Cyrene had known each other since they were kids and shared a teasing and warm friendship. This reminded many of Kevin and Elysia’s bond—especially how Cyrene likes to tease Phainon, just like how Elysia teases Kevin. Because of this, a popular saying spread among fans: "Kevin and Elysia are still together in another universe." Many believe that Phainon’s emotional and protective reactions in the flashbacks are signs that he might have had feelings for Cyrene since childhood.
At first, Phairene didn’t get much attention and was seen as a rare ship. Other ships like PhaiDei and Phainaxa were more well-known. But over time, more fans started to enjoy the emotional connection and similarities between Phainon and Cyrene, and the ship slowly grew in popularity.
Post Version 3.4[]
Phairene gained a lot of popularity after the release of Version 3.4: For the Sun is Set to Die. This update gave Phainon and Cyrene a lot of screen time together, so much that fans jokingly called it the “Phairene Version.”
However, not everyone liked the ship. Some Western fans disliked it and gave reasons such as the two acted like siblings, that Cyrene viewed Phainon as immature, or that Cyrene was in a child’s body. Because of this, many people prefers them as siblings rather than the canon relationship between them as Childhood Close Friends. Things got worse after a leak claimed that Phainon and Cyrene were siblings. Many haters were happy about this, thinking it would stop people from shipping them. But when the update came out, it cleared everything up. It was confirmed in-game that Cyrene is a short adult, that she and Phainon are childhood friends who live in separate homes, Cyrene treats Phainon like a kid because he still dreams about being a hero, and she thinks that’s childish for an adult—not because she sees him like a little brother. These facts turned things around, and more people started liking the ship again.
In this patch, more fans became interested. Many loved that Cyrene’s weapon has a moon symbol while Phainon represents the sun, which fits the popular Sun and Moon trope. Their friendship was also shown when other characters teased Phainon by asking, “No Cyrene today?” This made fans think that the two are always seen together. Phainon confidently said that he was actually on his way to see her, which made the moment even more sweet.
Because of their backstory, many fans love the Childhood Sweethearts trope. It’s canon that Cyrene often teases Phainon just to see his reaction, but Phainon usually doesn’t catch on and seems unaware of her intentions. Even now, Cyrene still teases him, and fans enjoy the headcanon that Phainon is too shy to admit his feelings and young Phainon tried to impress Cyrene.
At the same time, other ships like PhaiStelle and PhaiCae also grew in the fandom and started to rival Phairene’s popularity. Still, many fans continue to support Phairene for its deep bond and sweet moments.
After all the drama and ship wars, Phairene shippers felt like they had won. A popular meme started spreading, showing Phainon and Cyrene kissing with the words: “Absolute Cinema.” This meme became a fun way for fans to celebrate the ship’s victory and love story.
Fandom[]
- FAN FICTION
- Phainon/Cyrene tag on AO3
- Phainon & Cyrene tag on AO3
- TWITTER (X)
- Phairene hashtag on Twitter
- Phairene posts on Twitter
- @Timely Phairene on Twitter
- @Regularly Phairene Yapping on Twitter
- @Daily Phairene on Twitter
Trivia[]
- Phainon and Cyrene strongly resemble Kevin Kaslana and Elysia from Honkai Impact 3rd, another game by HoYoverse. Phainon shares the same Chinese voice actor as Kevin, while Cyrene shares both the Chinese and Japanese voice actresses with Elysia. Additionally, much like Phainon and Cyrene’s connection, Kevin and Elysia have a close friendship as well. Later in the story, it was revealed by Cyrene that Phainon's name is "Khaslana."
- Phainon’s name may derive from the Greek word Phaenon (Φαίνων), an epithet meaning “shining” or “bright.” This was sometimes applied to different deities associated with light, such as Cronus or Apollo. Apollo himself was also called Phoebus (meaning “bright” or “radiant”), a name that emphasizes his role as a god of light and the sun.
- Interestingly, Apollo had a lover named Cyrene, a huntress he loved and carried away to Libya. This mythological pairing is mirrored in the names Phainon and Cyrene, suggesting that the characters may draw inspiration from Apollo and Cyrene’s legend.
- The dynamic between Phainon and Cyrene parallels other myth-inspired relationships in the setting, such as Elysia and Kevin, who are thematically based on the Hindu deities Parvati and Shiva—another example of the series blending mythological lovers into character archetypes.
- The Arcadia of Woven Dreams, a Planar Ornament Relic Set, appears to be the same place that held Phainon and Cyrene’s childhood memories and was their playground. Ctesiphona described this place as:
“It's a paradise for poets, artists, and those in search of romance. The main characters in these stories would meet their true love here and receive Mnestia's blessing... This is all recorded in the classic work Secret of the Golden Carpet."[6]
This Relic Set's story is based on Aedes Elysiae of Amphoreus, the following passage describes their shared childhood with Mimi:
“The friendship between the children and Mimi came quickly and brightly like a thousand shooting stars. They spent a happy day together, but soon, it was time to say goodbye. If they didn’t go back, their parents would be worried.”- Notably, in the original Chinese, the phrase laobalaoma (老爸老妈) is singular in form (since Chinese doesn’t use plural inflections) and simply means “the parents of the children.” The English translation rendered it ambiguously as their parents (suggesting two children with shared parents), which caused some confusion. In context, the line simply refers to the children’s respective parents being worried if they didn’t come home.
- In Version 3.3, Phainon is shown to be highly aware of Cyrene’s presence. Even without seeing or knowing she is alive, he can sense her nearby. This detail is emphasized when he reacts to her presence instinctively.
- Phainon and Cyrene were childhood companions. They both appear in Amphoreus as part of the same cast of Companions.
- In Nikador’s simulated trial, Phainon loses control after seeing Cyrene’s death. This moment causes Phainon to mentally break. He becomes so distressed that he cannot recognize his best friend and ends up stabbing him.
- Cyrene’s death is shown as the cause of Phainon’s breakdown in the trial. The story directly states that seeing her death again affected him too much.
- In Hyacine’s voice line about Phainon, she says: “Lord Phainon is kind and friendly to all companions, but there’s always a sliver of pain in his smile… He must have lost something very important to him.”
- All of Phainon’s friends are aware of the pain linked to someone from his past which is Cyrene. The story confirms that this loss is well-known among his companions.
- Writer Shaoji (a lead writer of Star Rail) confirmed the Amphoreus story is romantic. This was stated outside of the game, so it is not just a character’s opinion but an official creator statement. The romantic classification is not just from the Elysia variant. While Elysia (a character variant) refers to the story as romantic in-game, Shaoji also described it that way, validating the label as canon.
- Shaoji also wrote “Thus Spoke Apocalypse” in Honkai Impact 3rd, a story known for featuring emotionally intense character relationships (noted for comparison by fans).
- During the 3.3 quest, the order in which characters speak with Phainon goes from those least close to him to the one closest—Cyrene. She is the last person he addresses, even though she had already passed away years before.
- In the 3.2 quest, when Phainon talks about his family and friends, he mentions his parents and some random friends we don’t know anything about, but here he refers to Cyrene as neither of them, placing her completely separate from the topic of his family and friends.
- As Phainon talks to illusion Cyrene, the sky changes from blue to pink, a color often associated with love.
- Phainon tells Cyrene that he doesn’t want to be everyone’s hero and that he only wants to be a hero for Aedes Elysiae. This conversation is kind of similar between Kevin Kaslana and Dr. MEI in Honkai Impact 3rd, where Kevin declares he wants to be her hero, not everyone's.
- A masked swordsman, known as the Flame Reaver, was tied to the Black Tide and was ultimately responsible for Cyrene’s death and the destruction of Aedes Elysiae. He was later revealed to be Phainon himself—specifically, Phainon from Amphoreus’s original cycle—who took on this role in his mission to prevent the birth of the Lord Ravager Irontomb. In the 33,550,336th Eternal Recurrence of Amphoreus, Phainon, as the Flame Reaver, was the one who killed Cyrene and destroyed Aedes Elysiae. Even so, he carried Cyrene’s soul with him for over 33 million years as the crescent moon-shaped weapon the Flame Reaver wields is Cyrene's ceremonial blade.[7] It's also the same weapon that Phainon used to stab himself.
- Phainon and Cyrene love to play hide-and-seek in their yard.
- Both lived in Aedes Elysiae, their hometown.
- According to Phainon, Cyrene was really good at stargazing and divination, especially with cards.
- Both were stabbed in the sternum by the Flame Reaver, bleeding golden ichor.
- Although Phainon grew taller than Cyrene, Cyrene believed she was the more mature of the two.
- They had a secret place known only to them.
- The villagers often remarked that Phainon and Cyrene were always together.
- They loved to play together with the fairy Mem.
- Mem affectionately called them “Phai” and “Rere” (or “Kyure”).
- Cyrene’s favorite place was the swing, and Phainon knew it.
- Cyrene loved to tease Phainon, and he always fell for it.
- Cyrene disliked getting her dress dirty, so Phainon would willingly get dirt on himself instead to keep her clean.
- Cyrene sometimes liked to cheat at games, and Phainon never realized.
- Even when they were far apart, they were always thinking about each other.
- Cyrene was the brain, while Phainon was the strength.
- They wielded weapons that represents Sun and Moon.
Gallery[]
Cutscene[]
Commissioned Artwork[]
Fan Arts[]
- All art in this section is fan made, and must be sourced back to the original artist. It also must have permission from the original artist to be posted here. If your art is here without your permission and you wish to have it taken down, please inform an admin, so that we may delete it.
References[]
- ↑ Hero, Bear Thy Coreflame
- ↑ Hero, Bear Thy Coreflame
- ↑ Memories, Veiled in Blazing Mist
- ↑ Golden Thread, Relay the Savior's Fate
- ↑ Dawn, Shine at the World's End
- ↑ I Once Was In Arcadia
- ↑ Cyrene : "And it will be a glance that spans time and space, granting each incarnation of me the power to reset time — imbuing my soul into this ceremonial blade, and creating an endless Flame-Chase Journey."
