Chapter Text
It has gotten quite late. A couple of hours have passed since everyone returned and left again, with most people having gone to rest in their own homes. This isn't currently their responsibility.
Several of them went to help the matra deal with the current conflicts, which were already previously exacerbated by the issues in the fallout of the crisis. Things have suddenly worsened to an extreme point.
Tighnari, Faruzan, Kaveh, the traveler and Paimon all remained in the archon's home hours later to monitor the situation and inform Nahida of the details she missed.
They fill her in on what they managed to achieve in this short period of time.
“The puppet should be able to wake up with this temporary fix. We've started storing some of the excess energy,” Tighnari informed Nahida. “Only… it may take some time for the device to remove enough, and it will be up to him what happens after that.”
“...What are you saying?” Nahida asks, worriedly.
“... This energy is also raw information, and I think that's why when I touched him earlier I was able to somehow temporarily view the… contents. So to speak,” Tighnari begins. “... Many different pathways have already been damaged, from what I can tell. While he seems to have been designed to withstand this form of information energy, an excess will still wreak havoc on him. From what I can tell, his core can handle more raw information than currently exists in the world, however his body is not able to keep up with the constant supply without filters in place.”
“... So if I'm understanding you correctly, he won't wake up until we contain a sufficient amount of the excess?” Nahida asks.
“Yes, it shouldn't take too much time, at this rate... He should be able to wake by tomorrow, but it's uncertain how long it will last. We may only have a few days at most with our current resources, and then there is always the matter of finding a place to store the hazardous waste long term. We could probably find more containment devices in the next few days to prolong the time we have for a more permanent solution, but even so, it's still a temporary fix,” Kaveh explains.
“Mhm… I knew that when I went to go and look for one. But we need more time.” Nahida 's voice cracks. “… then, he will be fine… right?” she whispers softly, pleadingly.
“I can promise you I will try my utmost,” Faruzan swears. “It isn't over until we say it's over.”
“We're in this for however long it takes,” Kaveh promises. “Both you and Hat Guy are our friends. I’m not leaving you to suffer alone.”
“I can't promise success, or that I'll even be useful,” Tighnari voices, “but I will do whatever I can until the patient can wake up and speak for himself. I won't let Sumeru come to any harm while he is in my care.”
“... That's all I can really ask of you, then. Thank you… Thank you so much for not leaving me…” Nahida whispers.
“We won't leave you,” Kaveh promises her, “As I said, you're more than our archon. You're our friend. You can rely on us when you need help, too.”
Nahida looks around awkwardly, as though she has no clue how to speak anymore.
Then, she finds it somewhere within her to say, “... It's okay, you guys should go rest now. You have been working too hard for me, I can stay next to him for now.”
And so the others reluctantly obey her wishes, and they go to the guest rooms Nahida prepared for them in her home.
Nahida walks up to the Wanderer’s side, wanting to reach out—
He is clearly suffering, but she cannot feel it. Everything is being blocked out. It remains to be determined whether that barrier is to keep things out or keep them in.
So she stands by his side.
—
From the moment Hat Guy entered the tavern that evening, Cyno sensed something was off. He wasn't sure if it was due to the god within him, or the increased electro sensitivity due to his vision, but he could feel an unexplained increase in the hostility of the air. That is the best way he can describe it.
After discussing everything with Tighnari, many more pieces began to slot into place in his mind.
He wasn't sure if anyone else noticed yet, though. He… realized that whatever disaster was currently brewing would inevitably involve levels of conflicts that could complicate evacuation.
This exact thing was observed not long ago, in the recent crisis. But for some reason or another, the malfunctioning puppet was causing a massive increase in this unrest through his presence alone.
Considering how they, as vision users, argued in the tavern, the effects on ordinary people could be much more extreme. Cyno studies the elements and leylines so this is more his area of expertise than the others. He may be the only one who fully understands their situation at the moment, because he is the only one with sufficient information to connect the dots.
What the others might not realize, and what worries him, is that this could end up far worse if another conflict arises due to their lack of caution.
Elemental hazards, ‘toxic’ (as this one seems) or otherwise, can affect people in numerous ways. If not properly managed…
Cyno would have to worry about this later. For the moment, he was called out to deescalate the current situation and unrest spreading across the nation.
Many citizens were… in disagreements concerning their archon. Some believe she is still too young to rule. While some argue this to protect her rights as (technically) a child, others… dislike the decisions she has made and believe things were better when the sages ruled the nation.
This political divide was fragmenting rapidly into many conflicting extreme groups, and has been for weeks. Cyno has seen this first hand, though the conflicts never reached the scale they were at currently.
Of course, there were still those who supported Lord Kusanali wholeheartedly—but, even fragments of that group had those who were unsympathetic to the great responsibility she had to her nation and the extreme amount of work she had to do. Some of them believed she should be doing far more than she is, even though most of her people love and support her.
Sumeru is a nation of thinkers. When people are allowed to think freely, many good things can come from the uniqueness of each perspective. But once one idea spreads through the minds of many, it is very easy to turn people against one another.
Everyone in Sumeru has differing opinions, but when they stop listening to the views of others, the ability to think critically about each idea on its own disappears. The population will divide while becoming more alike.
People feel justified in condemning whatever it is that they disagree with and writing it off as nonsense.
Now, Cyno has to go and ensure that no one takes more extreme measures.
He wouldn't tell the archon of this because it would only put excessive pressure on her, but the growing divide in Sumeru could become quite dangerous. Not too dissimilar to what occurred in Inazuma, though it would be slightly different here in Sumeru. In the recent crisis, the nation was as united as ever, for a time.
In the aftermath, issues came up before long and people needed food, shelter, and water. Even with the funds from Snezhnaya to help, the amount of work that needed to be done in terms of reworking broken buildings and systems, restarting trade with other nations, and managing the sick and injured was a lot to manage. They didn't have the manpower, even if they had the funds and resources.
So, conflicts would inevitably arise. But now there was something else, something more… foreign, increasing the load and rate of conflict that couldn't be properly managed.
Others stepped in to help out, but as the General Mahamatra, a lot of it fell to him. Not to mention… this could affect his friends personally, if nothing changed for the better soon.
Cyno was concerned because there wasn't really anything else he could do or be. He could only warn and work.
He would have to speak to everyone once he was finished with his work and they were all back together.
Unfortunately, he was occupied the entire night with his duties, so much so that he wasn't exactly thinking rationally the following day.
—
The wanderer was dreaming, he knew this was a dream. He could remember… he could remember blacking out in the tavern, but nothing after.
Though, somehow, he could sense his body returning to the Sanctuary of Surasthana, where Nahida's presence was noticeably absent. How he knew this while he was ‘asleep’ is difficult to explain, however he is attuned to sensing her energy, and she is his. Neither of them can tolerate the anxiety of not knowing the location of the other for too long.
That's why when he felt that she was gone, it terrified him (because it probably had something to do with him)
And he left her. He left her with the traveler, and because- of that, she left. (There was nothing he could do right now, he couldn't even wake up.)
He was in a dream.
(A few dreams, actually. Less dreams, and more memories. Ones that have passed in the past hour. He was stuck in a loop. He was destroying everything around him. The people he cares about were leaving him, one by one— and it was his fault. Everyone died while he remained. He burned, burned, burned— over and over and over— until he felt nothing, and nothing ever changed, and he was numb again to it all.)
But now, the loops of those dreams have ended— and he is idle in an odd space. Then—
‘Hello again, puppet.’
The Doctor. He's dead. He knows the man is dead. But why does he sound so— so real? …
‘What’s with that shocked look on your face, Scaramouche? What, did you believe I wouldn’t stay to witness the fallout of my greatest experiment?’
(Is this a nightmare, or a warning? This can't actually be real. He's dead. But he doesn't see the Doctor’s face anywhere, he can only—
‘Oh, Scaramouche… You have always been oh so— suggestible. So quick to believe everything you are told… and yet, you should know better than to think I could ever completely disappear.’
(That's his voice. That's Dottore's voice. But where is he? He isn't anywhere near him, how does he know the look on his face— he knows this is a dream, and probably just a fabrication of his broken mind, but still— his core does not create logical inconsistencies, even in dreams—)
‘Did you think you were safe in your cushy new life now that you believe me to be gone? You've always been so unbelievably naive, Scaramouche.’
(Wait— that, that lizard— did he…?)
‘I have never truly left you. Don't you ever forget that I was the one who made you, Scaramouche. Everything you are, everything you have, everything you know… it's all thanks to me.’
(The Doctor is inside his head. The Doctor split his soul, multiple times— and, the doctor performed experiments in Nod Krai swapping the bodies of humans with animals—)
‘Your friends may have forgotten what you've done, but it will never truly be erased. Do you truly believe that they would not hold the same resentment for you as you do for me? You and I, we’re one in the same.’
(He's just trying to mess with him, to get in his head— none of this is real, it's just a message Dottore must have planted before he dies within the puppet's memories— that man is not in control, he has autonomy, he controls his body, he owns his past, his sins and his suffering, everything falls to his own choices—)
(He is his own entity, and he won't allow that to be taken from him—
‘A puppet whose strings have been cut… Do you truly believe yourself to be capable of anything without anyone to take hold of those strings? Oh, Scaramouche… You will never be in control, because you cannot escape the reality of your existence.’
No. That's not true—
‘You were created as a tool and then discarded, but I saw the value hidden within you. I made you into what you are. Without my intervention, you simply would have remained idle for all of eternity. Do you suggest that remaining a locked away tool would have been your preferred outcome?’
(Yes, he wanted to say. I would rather have never left that domain if it meant not becoming the weapon that you made me.)
‘Oh, Balladeer… You realise I have only given you exactly what you've always wanted, no? It was your request that I turn you into a god, which is your birth right… And now that I have granted your wish in death, you wish to rescind your request?’
(He regrets ever being naive enough to believe anything out of this man's mouth, this man— who twists everything into its cruelest form—)
‘Hesitating now, are we? Realising that your current situation is entirely your fault? Hm… Well, I am quite curious what you will choose to do, now. I wonder… will you tell them the truth to protect them, even though you know they will not accept you afterwards? Or will you simply let them continue believing that you aren't actively endangering them as the weapon that you are, with futile hope that someone will come to save you?’
(He refuses to let the Doctor control his thoughts. This is himself. He is in charge. He has made his own decision, and however it turns out will be up to chance— but he believes, maybe foolishly, that there are more possibilities than the two that the doctor is suggesting— because his choice is not the only variable—)
‘You know full well that you haven't much time remaining. Your body is finally falling apart, and it's all because of your choices. And you are fully aware that when it does, you won't be the only one to suffer from your actions… Around you, your state is already having adverse effects on the nation that has accepted you unknowingly. I wonder what would happen if they discovered what you have done?’
(‘I didn't do it. You did this to me. I never asked for this—)
‘Don't tell me you seriously believe that, Scaramouche? You know full well that I was simply fulfilling your end of our mutual agreement. It was your own wishes that led to this outcome.’
(‘You don't get to— you don't get to twist it like that— Your lies and manipulation don't work on me anymore, Dottore—’)
‘And yet you still don't truly believe that, otherwise you wouldn't be trying so hard to convince yourself you are not to blame. You wish to pin the fault on myself, but I am not even there. It is your own self destruction that is hurting everyone and everything you've grown to know and care about. Even at this very moment, where you haven't quite yet broken, your malicious energy is causing countless conflicts across the nation where you lie.’
‘Either way, your fate has been sealed. There is no way for you to stop it now for you are already too late. The game is over, therefore it is only up to you to determine the ending.’
(‘You're wrong— you're wrong. I— …I've already made my decision. But… I trust them far more than I trust your words, enough to have faith that there are more possibilities than the two you are suggesting. It's baffling to me that you could be so narrow minded—’)
‘Ahaha… Do you really believe that? Genuinely? Hm, okay then. I am all the more fascinated by your persistence. Perhaps you truly have changed… On the outside. Your core remains the same as it always has. You require others to guide you. You have no power of your own, blindly following the commands of others is the only thing that can give you purpose.’
(Has he really changed? He… that man can't be right about this. He can't. He isn't the same as he was. He has broken free from needing those strings to be held up in the first place, he controls himself fully and always has—)
‘They are only using you as I have and as you have used me. Once they realise that you are not worth the pain? They will discard you as well, send you far away where no one can save you.’
(Even if that happens, that's their decision. He wouldn't have any issues with that, because it's what he deserves, anyway. But it wasn't up to him to make that choice. He didn't even know what he wanted. He wanted to protect them from himself, but he didn't care how. He would leave if he needed to. Regardless of what this idiotic voice inside his head may tell him.)
‘That is why it is too late for you, now. No one will help you because you aren't useful to anyone. You have only ever brought suffering to others because you are incapable of making proper decisions for yourself. The second they are aware of the truth of what you've done, they will leave you just as everyone else has.’
(Stop trying to get in his head. He knows this isn't all true. He knows— knows what it feels like to care about someone, now. And maybe… maybe they don't feel that way about him, but he knows at least one of them does— once you care, there is no going back. It's futile to try and give up, too painful to let go—
‘Even as you are, lying in that room, you are simply dead weight putting excess strain upon the nation you claim to serve. Soon enough, should you choose to let them continue believing you have a chance to be saved, you will destroy each and every one of them. Surely you realise the extent of your own selfishness, and its inevitable impact?’
(Maybe he was nothing but a burden, maybe Nahida would have been better off never letting him stay, never inviting him into her home or life, never getting to know him or care— they both care too much. And he would doom everything else she cares about because of it. So he needed to—)
‘Or maybe… you are just like I am. Curious as ever to witness the impact of my creation? Unfortunately for you, your survival is not a possibility in this scenario. Wasting time here will not change the outcome.’
(... The Doctor was only trying to instigate him by comparing him to himself. He was nothing like that man. He did not—)
‘The clock is ticking. You don't plan to wait until it's too late, do you? You may believe that they care about you as you care for them. But if you truly care for them, surely you would rather protect them, would you not? I know how your mind works, Balladeer. Such emotions are the reason why you are a broken tool.’
(Emotions are what have freed him, in the end. They have cursed him and hurt him but ultimately made him human. He didn't accept the Doctor’s twisted views anymore.)
‘You want them to know the truth, so they can hate you when you leave. So that when you finally betray them, it will hurt less because they'll know you've already done so once before.’
(...)
‘And… Your greatest fear is dying without atoning for your sins. I have been so gracious as to grant you a warning now, so that such a future will not come to pass for you.’
‘I have already predicted that you will tell the truth. And you will, because to you, there is no other acceptable outcome, no? Because if you decide not to… The world you will create will be exactly as I have wanted. Humans will be free to pursue knowledge for the sake of knowledge, regardless of the consequences of how it is used and obtained. Perhaps… Some exactly like me will be capable of perfecting a weapon such as you. In such a world… there will be no limits to what can be done.’
‘I’m certain that you understand me more than most humans, at this point. You know of my goals and my motives, and that is why you know there is nothing you can do to deter those circumstances. You are fully aware that I have never sought power for the sake of power, I must simply play the ultimate villain for the sake of progressing collective information.’
(He would never understand. He knows, but he doesn't understand.)
‘You, on the other hand, possess purely selfish, human motivations. You have always been far closer to humanity than I. You express the inconceivable desire to be accepted.’
(Acceptance. Huh. The first thing out of this man's mouth that hasn't been an outright lie or a manipulation tactic, simply a fact that he himself could agree with. Maybe it is selfish. But that doesn't make it evil.)
‘I'm sure you understand now why that could never be possible for you, even though you got to put on a “puppet show” for a couple of years.’
(... A puppet show. This was real. What he has… it's real. For the first time in hundreds of years. He has a real life. And now it would be taken from him. Unless he happened to get lucky. But he's never had luck on his side before. So…
‘I think you have forgotten a valuable lesson about your own existence. Without you, I may no longer be a puppeteer. But without me, you remain a puppet.’
(...)
‘When you soon awake, send my regards to the Archon of Sumeru. And… you had better act upon your choice swiftly, as you will soon be out of time to dally.’
‘Though… There is one other thing we've yet to talk about.’
(Huh?)
‘You are probably wondering how I managed to assure our mutual destruction. Don't deny it, Scaramouche. I am well aware of your adorable curiosity.’
(...)
‘Well, to put it bluntly, I bound your survival to my soul. I won't go into the monotonous details of how. I will simply explain how my plan worked, since this was technically a failsafe.’
‘Simply put, that part that you didn't realize was so vital? I bound its function to the stability of my own soul. And then I encountered you once more, after you had pulled that stunt to try and erase yourself. Once I realized who you are, I was able to recognize the tether I had used once more and I ensured that the fragment containing it was the one I sent into Irminsul. It would have still functioned if I was only dead. Unfortunately, your little archon just so happened to erase that part of my soul.’
‘You do understand what this means, don't you, Scaramouche? You realize that all this time, we have been reliant on one another through a vital link like a mother to her infant in the womb. You cannot live without me. I created you.’
‘And I can also destroy everything that you believe to be yours.’
—
When the traveler had brought all the others back, Nahida learned just how many people went looking for her and was filled with guilt.
It has been a couple hours since then, most of them went back to their homes and normal business.
She didn't want them all to stay for her sake.
Her friends were too kind to her. She was supposed to be the archon. Her people were her children. And yet, they still…
Kaveh, Faruzan, and Tighnari stayed with her to help watch over the wanderer. But she wouldn't let them take over her responsibility for too long, because she sent them away to guest rooms shortly after their conversation.
She knew they stayed because they were worried about her.
She has worried them too much about her own state.
The traveler refused to leave her alone. Paimon stayed, too, because she was worried.
She was worrying them with how much she dreaded having to potentially choose—
She didn't know what she would realistically do, despite knowing what she should do.
And she could handle him, more than anyone else. She was the only one who should take care of this. The raw information shouldn't hurt her, because she was also made from it too, right? She originally came from Irminsul and was only transferred to Aaru, but they still originated from the same source.
Her and the traveler wouldn't be harmed by him (she knew he wouldn't let himself harm her even if she could be)
… Raw elemental energy could still hurt her though. (It's been seen, time and again, that both ‘not enough’ and ‘too much’ of anything can harm her. But she must be safe because this is her responsibility—)
They managed to stabilize the wanderer for now, but…
Nahida was really, really scared.
She has felt powerless many times before, however… The crushing guilt and dread from the decision she may be forced to make is more painful than anything she's ever felt before.
Destroying Irminsul was an easy choice. It was the obvious one. And thanks to the others alongside her planning, it was one without consequences that couldn't be managed.
This felt… different.
Her heart was heavy.
As she watched the Wanderer dream (suffer in nightmares—) and twitch in pain (agonizing, all encompassing—) she knew— he may be stable for now, but he won't be for very long. And when that time comes, if she runs out of other options— she will have to—
(Abandon him. Send him away to die—)
(Alone—
Like she was.)
She wasn't ready to take that step.
(She feels something she can sense she has felt only once before. But she can't remember when, or why, just— the painful goodbye of someone. From a choice she made— but she doesn't remember. That's weird. And suspicious… maybe… Was Irminsul changed before? That would… the traveler would know. But perhaps there was a good reason he hasn't told her… it's probably something she shouldn't know.)
(But her curiosity is insatiable. But she's not like the Doctor. She can respect the world and what it needs.)
(She hates that she could be seen as anything like the doctor. She hopes he would never see her like—)
It hurts.
She wants to reach out to comfort him— (to cry in his arms, scream, tell him he can't leave her—not like this—) but she can't even get near him, a wind barrier is shielding his body— (it's of his own making, he is trying to protect her— to protect all of them—) and she can't—
She's useless.
It should be a comfort that her friends are helping her through this, but they don't know— don't know the extent or the danger, fully—and she is guilty of selfishly endangering her people now, too. Carelessly.
This isn't like her.
She carefully plans for every outcome and has never had any problem sacrificing for her nation, if necessary.
Why was this so different in her hea(rt)d?
The best she could do for him was try to protect his dreams—
(But she couldn't access his mind right now—it was blocked off, and that in itself was distressing—)
He's been isolated from the outside world. (Is he isolating himself?)
She uses her blessing as best as she can, creating a palace around to try to ease his suffering. (Maybe there was some way he could share some of it with her? She would do anything to lessen his pain if she's powerless to prevent—)
She doesn't know that yet. There is still a chance. Still time, still hope. Her people have taught her hope. She would not discard those lessons now, (she can't revert back to that helpless sapling trapped dormant in a seed—)
She knows better. She has learned and grown, just as he has. If he wants— (she has to respect his choice, even though she knows she won't like what he is sure to do the second he wakes. If he does wake up, that is.)
His body is still… unstable. (His mind must be in a far worse state—)
Would he ever truly be able to recover from this? (Would she?)
Her mind tells her it's too late— (he's too broken—)
(She's broken. She grew, she learned, but the defects in that seedling she was trapped as—
They persist in her, they will never fully heal— even as she grows bigger around them, they will always be there, dragging her back down into the depths of her lonely, fragile soul.)
Her fragile existence. (The both of them are the same, in that way.)
She may grow into a grand tree someday, (but she will never be healed.)
But she will never be enough.
(The wanderer was like her, but so different from her. He had already been growing out of the ground during these past 500 years, growing into a cruel and unforgiving world that could wipe out new growth in an instant unless one grew a tough exterior to persist. Being called a ‘late bloomer’, could not be more accurate for him; the buds had already grown. His were only guarded by the sepals for an extended time in the harsh environments they survived. Only when there was light and safety was he finally able to bloom as a beautiful flower, with perfectly imperfect petals to interact with the world.
She, on the other hand, had been trapped, a dormant seed. For five hundred years, she remained within that cage, unable to begin growth or sprout as a sapling. Though she has now become said sapling, with the potential to grow into a great tree in her own right, it remains that she still came from a defective seed. One who others had decided was incapable of growth long before she had the chance to try.)
(She was still so, so far from blooming. Her shoots were still growing up out of the ground, her roots planting her down in her nation as they grow deeper and more entwined with the people and home she is growing to care for.)
(Maybe they were more alike in that way. He had to form new roots, too. His were ripped from the ground many times— if he were any ordinary plant, he never would have survived. She doesn't know if his durability is fortunate or unfortunate, considering the unimaginable suffering such an existence would bring.)
(And she was scared, because she found comfort in said durability. She grew used to his constant presence beside her, he guided her towards the light as much as she gave him a safe space to bloom.)
(But now, it is uncertain whether he is truly as durable as she believed—
Now, she has to grapple with his fragility as much as her own— he is as breakable as she is, and it terrifies her. He has survived being uprooted and torn— picked apart— but she thought he would still be okay in the end, because he was safe now. He made her safe now.)
(He is her last physical connection to her own history, her past, her family—losing him would be infinitely more painful than losing Irminsul was, because he is a person. He is alive. Just like every other living thing, he deserves the chance to thrive. She opened her home and her heart, risking it all when she was uncertain and newly sprouted. That risk was rewarded with comfort and protection, but more than that: the steady presence of family, to hold her hand, to guide her to the light, to pick her back up when she fell so that she could continue growing.)
Nahida was overthinking (and crying.)
This lonely boy (lonely as her—) who she picked up off the ground at his worst was now leaving her— (she always told him he was free— she would never be anything like that man—)
(She lied.)
So she continues to sit next to him in that room. Unable to reach out. Unable to hold his hand, or offer him the comfort they both mutually granted one another whenever the other was scared, or stressed, or crying from nightmares (of being trapped, of being left behind, of stolen freedom—). She could not lecture him for this (as they often did to the other each time one of them decided to do something reckless, or sacrifice themself, or—). Because this wasn't in his control (it wasn't in any of their control) there was no one she could blame, aside from a man who is long gone
(she blames herself.)
She did what she had to do. (But that doesn't mean she isn't responsible for her decision.)
(This is happening because the doctor is gone. She knows, logically, that a greater (actually, probably equal—) disaster would have occurred if he wasn't, but this still felt like an ocean full of salt was rubbed in the fresh wound of the crisis and destruction of Irminsul, the part of her that was still struggling to adapt to the new environment.
She was turning this over, over and over, inside her simultaneously highly emotional and highly analytical mind.
She wanted to stop thinking.
(That was not something she would ever wish for— who has she become—?)
So instead of sitting and waiting patiently, or going to sleep (as she should—) which was currently impossible, she decided to write a rush letter to be transported on the wind.
(And the wind whispered back, she is not alone.)
She wrote a letter to Mondstadt. (Where he has family— found a family besides her—) The people he knew there had a chance of helping him. She trusted that.
For now, she had to stay put.
He wasn't waking up. Not yet. Not now.
And for once, she allows herself to fully feel the weight of everything—
Nahida cries into the night.
—
“Sir Albedo! You have received a letter addressed to both you and Durin!”
“Oh? Who is it from?”
“I'm not sure, it just showed up here!”
“Ehe~ I believe I can probably explain that, though I'm sure it would be best if you read it first. It was written with much urgency. A tiny sapling is in need of support, as she is currently struggling to weather the harsh winds on her own.”
“Sorry, you are dismissed then. Venti, do you mind explaining?”
“I will, but I'm sure the little dragon who followed me here would like to hear this as well.”
“... Is this related to Hat Guy?” Durin asked, entering the office from behind Venti.
“Mm… yes, it is. You two should probably read Nahida's letter, she provides far more detail than I could. Your friend needs you right now, as does she. I will submit your leave requests to Jean right now. I have no doubt that you will wish to leave as soon as possible once you read it. Though if I may request, it would probably be best if you wait until tomorrow morning to fly there. I will leave you be, for now.”
“We will talk to you later then, Venti.” Albedo dismisses the Anemo archon.
“Albedo… What do you think it could be about?” Durin wonders, concern worn clear on his face. “… It must be bad if Nahida is contacting us directly, do you think it has to do with the recent crisis in Sumeru?”
“I'm not sure, Durin. …”
Albedo reads the letter, then repeats it out loud to Durin.
He leaves out a few parts that are only relevant to his own expertise. As well as some of the… more concerning information.
Even without those parts, the situation seems quite dire. Albedo has still informed his brother of more than enough worrisome news for him to involve himself.
“Albedo… that… sounds really bad. But I don't really… understand what it is saying. I… can you explain it to me…?”
“... I think it would be best if you just went to sleep, for now. We'll head over there tomorrow morning. It's getting quite late, and you need the energy to fly. You do want to see Hat Guy as soon as possible, don't you?” Albedo dismisses Durin.
“... Yeah, right…” Durin mumbles, walking out the door.
They will have to wait to assess the extent, though Albedo has no doubts about the urgency. If there is anything he can do to help with the knowledge he has, then he has a duty to Hat Guy as his friend to do it. He hopes that he is considered a friend to him in turn, but he will try to help regardless.
Being an artificial life form, Albedo has empathy for all life. Not only humans. He can understand and care to protect all living things, but sometimes he has no option to do so. He understands what he must do when he has no such options, having killed many of his own kin who have wreaked havoc or caused harm. He would do the same to himself if it reached the point where he could anticipate it.
He hoped someone else would stop him, too. And, hearing Hat Guy's situation… Hat Guy himself is not actively hostile, and would likely comply if he was required to…
But a part of Albedo did not wish to accept such a thing.
A part of him hurts at the thought of losing a friend. One who… he could understand, more than most people. At least to some extent. From what he knew… they were quite similar to one another. But that is also why he knew that his friend likely would not accept staying to be helped if it meant potentially causing harm to those he cares about.
Albedo mulled over the contents of the letter for quite some time. It was quite detailed, actually. The Dendro Archon must have trusted the winds to bring it right to him, otherwise there is no way she would risk leaking such concerning information… unless she was truly as desperate as she seemed.
Hm… Albedo is aware of the fact that Sumeru is in danger yet again, but for the Dendro Archon to be in such a state, she must be truly distressed . It is likely that she is close family to Hat Guy. It does make sense, considering that both of them originated from the Irminsul tree. Albedo can feel her unwavering bond with him through her written words. If the Dendro Archon is desperate enough to write to them all the way in Mondstadt…
She must have run out of options within her own nation. Or, more likely, they have run out of both knowledge and resources to find a lasting solution.
Albedo isn't quite sure if he will be able to help on his own, but he does trust in his knowledge and abilities enough to try.
—
Durin could not sleep at all that night. He couldn't stop thinking about… whatever that was about.
Earlier that day, he was hanging out with Klee and the anemo Archon by the windrise tree. He did sense the wind felt.. off, even though he wasn't always the most observant person.
Something felt wrong, though.
The air was wrong. The wind was more still than calm. It was not comforting. The abyss felt wrong, pulsing through his veins as though competing with subtle corruption leaking in the environment.
He didn't feel that he was becoming dangerous, per se, but something felt dangerous. Off.
And…
The anemo archon wore a weird expression on his face when looking at him. As though he knew something that Durin didn't. Durin didn't like not knowing one bit.
And then the day slowly ended, and he was almost ready to go to sleep. But he couldn't displace that unease.
And then a wind whispered to him to go find Albedo. So he followed it. That was when he saw Venti entering Albedo’s office, and he knew it must be something important. Hopefully not something seriously bad or anything, but Durin was prepared for any news.
At least, he thought he was.
He knew his brother was hiding the worst of it from him when he read the letter, but even from what he knew— Hat Guy was in danger, and was dangerous at the same time.
Dangerous just like him—but not like him.
He was hurt, or sick, or really seriously—
Something bad was happening, and none of the intelligent people in Sumeru were able to do anything to really help him, and the Dendro Archon was writing to them all the way in Mondstadt because of it. Likely other people, too. Probably all of Hat Guy’s many friends. Durin really couldn't think of any one of his friends who wouldn't do their best to help, but… whether they could or not would be difficult to say. Considering just how many smart people were in Sumeru… didn't give Durin much hope.
He couldn't help but think, why now? What actually happened to his friend? Was he hurt the last time they saw one another, too? …Durin was a bad friend.
He also couldn't help but think back to Sandrone. She… was a lot like Hat Guy, and she sacrificed herself. Hat Guy did the same thing and very well could have died if Sandrone didn't place his core inside of Pulonia. Both of them went into that expecting to die—
He shouldn't think about that right now. But… Sandrone probably could have figured something out. She probably could have helped if she were here. Now… Durin trusts his brother’s capabilities, but he doesn't know that he'll actually be able to help, especially on his own.
The good thing is that he isn't actually alone, though. Durin trusts his Sumeran friends and his friends across Teyvat, they won't let anything too bad happen.
That doesn't mean that Durin can easily fall asleep right now, though.
He is still too worried to rest.
He can't stop thinking about Hat Guy, and tomorrow, and seeing him, and what state he will be in… He didn't even know the man could get sick in any way. Will they even allow him to see his best friend? …Will Hat Guy even want him near him?
He was a bad friend. He really should have… well, Durin supposed that hat Guy was just like that. He knew his friend better than anyone, he would say. Besides maybe the traveler and the Dendro Archon.
But only he knew how to weave his way into his friend’s heart.
He would have to go. There is no… he needs to see his friend. Lots of things have happened recently. And now his friend was hurting, and he wasn't there. He didn't even know what was going on.
Why? What happened? How? …How long?
…But he probably wouldn't get any answers, as usual. People forget that he isn't really a kid. Sure, he is a newborn in this body, but his mind has existed for 500 years, just like Hat Guy and Albedo. Even the corrupted Durin is over 500 years old.
(It's weird that he knows more people who are around five hundred years old than two hundred year olds. Were that many people created and born during and around the cataclysm? Anyways, that's an irrelevant thought. Another thing keeping him from sleeping.)
So no, he is not a child. Not really. But people still don't tell him stuff anyways, because he is so new to this world.
He wishes more people would take him seriously.
He knows he needs to wait until tomorrow before he can go. So he tries to sleep. But, he really can't. He'll just have to wait patiently for Albedo to wake up, and then they can leave first thing tomorrow morning.
There is no way he is getting any restful, restorative sleep tonight. He'll just try to at least… close his eyes enough to have the energy to fly tomorrow morning. He comforts himself with the thought of getting to Sumeru really quickly.
And so he tries until the sun peeks out from below the horizon and watches his (very much awake) self.