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If you had to choose between your beliefs and your loved ones, what would you choose as a god? What would you choose as a human?
Cyno, the lone jackal, inputted the scripts of the duties he’s done from his last investigation. His face was immune by the mention of another investigation. He was quick to prepare, light with only his polearm.
Cyno caught sight of the feather of judgement. The feather lightly swayed against the soul of the wind. Normally a sight like this would guide him across the desert, however today it guided him through a greater field of challenge. The streets of Sumeru city; a place he’d avoid as much as he can. The idea of a city, streets lined with people and towers that loomed; these judging stares brought Cyno a sense of distracting discomfort. Unlike the open desert where threats were easy to spot, evil was easier to disguise in the city. Much easier to shield. Which made it much harder for a Mahamatra to strike; Especially if that involved the innocent. Today he was to walk through the streets. His mind was curious upon a late rumour he had encountered. His eyes listened towards the gossip of the streets.
“I hear Dori got arrested by the Mahamatra.” One person said.
“No, where are we supposed to get canned knowledge now?” The other responded.
“Don’t worry, she’s out now.” They concluded.
Cyno looked down, he pieced together the info he encountered. It was obvious he was the one who made the arrest. Yet as his memory serves, the most recent arrest he made was never motivated by illegal canned knowledge. Although an incredibly small part of him regretted the original charges he made upon this Dori, hearing this balanced the scale of his judgement. Dori served little time. Although a hassle, she got away with a few weeks and a sacrifice of mora. Cyno would remember a character like that. And a character like that he remembered was now free upon the town. Investigation on her was going to be hard.
“Good thing, I wouldn't want the Palace of Alcazarzaray to fall apart because of her arrest. I would have no work otherwise.”
Or not.
Cyno made his way towards the north jungles. The palace itself was easy to find. So was the genie's familiar face. Dori was always swift in escaping the people of the law, but Cyno was swifter. Unlike Dori, Cyno was exceptionally good at using his environment to his advantage. When Dori noticed this, it was too late. The genie was already in the jackal's lamp of judgement.
“Hey! Let me go! You’re in the wrong for not paying for that travel kit!” Dori barked.
Cyno was frustrated by this accusation, “This lie again?”
“It’s not a lie! Are you here to arrest me on that again? Even though I already served my time?!”
To his surprise, Cyno’s eyes detected that she was telling the truth. So he responded with another truth “You’re under the charges of distributing illegal canned knowledge.”
“I’m not distributing anything!” Dori innocently uttered.
“Uh huh, then what's that?” Cyno points behind Dori to a rug of glowing green canned knowledge.
Dori chuckled, “Oh uh, Well what if I gave you information in exchange for being spared.”
“What knowledge could I possibly want that I need help from you.” Cyno hissed.
“Well we have loads! How to be a better mantra, how to enhance that dopey polearm of yours, um what else? You like catching criminals right? Maybe some hints on catching them." Dori ruffled through her pockets finding something, anything to evade punishment. She found a piece of paper, whispering to herself, "Oh I still have a receipt from that fox eared forest ranger? I really should get rid of it-”
Cyno was suddenly interested, the jackal now biting the genie for more information. “Tighnari? Why do you have a receipt from him?”
Dori teased, “Ah you know him? Ehehe, customer confidentiality is a high price to break. One of more than a billion mor-”
Cyno pointed his polearm towards Dori, electric glows brewed around him. “I could arrest you on the spot you know. You’re lucky to be speaking for this long as well as have that receipt on your person.”
“If you want it so bad here! Take it all! Please just leave me alone with some mora at least. Surely you wouldn’t hurt this poor innocent child would you?” Dori flashed her eyes like a puppy dog, hoping to tug at least some of the Great Mahamatra's heart strings.
Cyno walked towards the glowing canned goods, browsing them with brisk eyes. Dori’s face shifted to disappointment as the Great Mahamatra to dragged her to jail once again. The goods were confiscated, now in a peaceful environment for a Mahamatra to fully dissect. The illegal canned knowledge was of no interest of Cyno except as evidence needing to go back to it’s rightful place. No, what struck a personal curiosity in the jackal was Dori’s deal she had made with Tighnari.
The desert sunlight haloed the rainforest jungle; it breathed greenery in love with kisses of the sun. Dewdrops jumped onto the palms of Tighnari. He smiled towards the rainforest. It became healthy enough to protect it’s children below and Tighnari was happy to witness this. Collei waved at him from the jungle beds below. She sprung with life that she fought through her whole life to get. Tighnari couldn't be more proud of her, he imagined a certain someone would agree as well. A soft breeze brushed Tighnari’s fennec ears. His ears picked up the sounds of someone walking towards him from behind. Tighnari sensed the person had no intention of threats. Softly turning around he was right, he became delightfully relaxed upon seeing his old friend Cyno. Much more than he was before.
“Ah Cyno, it’s rare to see you again so soon! What brings you here?” Tighnari smiled gayly in both tone and expression.
Cyno’s face was silent, in an expression serious as stone. To anyone including Tighnari this was just how he always is. However, Tighnari's excitement melted into distress upon seeing Cyno’s fists clenching tightly a sheet of paper. He’s known Cyno for so long to know he was here for serious business.
“I take it you’re not here for jokes.” Tignhari teased.
“What did you purchase from Dori?” Cyno interrogated.
Tighnari gulped his expectations. The weight of fear froze him. Questions quickened around his mind. This was a secret he had kept from everyone, especially from Cyno. It wasn't the how that Tighnari wanted to know, it was the question 'what will happen now'?
“What are you talking about?” Tighnari said, tasting his pleas that growed from the back of his throat.
“Don’t play dumb with me!” Cyno’s voice was cracking under an unprofessional tone, one mixed with anger and a hint of fear. He pulled out the receipt, hiding behind it. “This receipt I've gotten from Dori proves you made an illegal purchase with Dori.”
Tighnari was shocked. What surprised him the most was Cyno's reaction. He had witnessed Cyno’s interrogation before; in all of them Cyno always remained a calm composure under threatening eyes. However this time, for the first time, Cyno wasn’t calm or rational in his interrogation. He was a human as well, not Anubis. And Tighnari knew this. Tighnari thought his words carefully, knowing the path it's leading to.
“Just look at the receipt on what I purch-”
“I’ve read the receipt!” Cyno screamed with electric fury.
Tighnari could feel the electric static coming from Cyno’s vision, as if it was breaking. Tighnari exclaimed, “Let’s talk this out Cyno.”
Cyno continued, ignoring Tighnari. “Because of this purchase i’ll have to hold you and Avidya forest in contempt of purchasing and distributing illegal goods as well as perjury and treason. ”
“You know I can’t let you do that to the forest, even for you Cyno. You know that right?” Tighnari gulped, holding onto a face of courage.
“Very much so.” Cyno's eyes glowed.
Cyno held his polearm tight; as if it’s the last thing he can truly trust anymore. He shielded his eyes with his mask, it glowed loud in electric purple. Ribbons of Judgement surrounded him and his heart. He lunged forward towards Tighnari. Tighnari dodged Cyno’s attack; his practice with the Jackal helped his predict his patterns. The ribbons of judgement caught Tighnari, slithering around him into a trap. Collei spotted the sudden fight. She was confused why her two caretakers who always held a good ally-ship were suddenly fighting. Panicking, she looked around for a shortcut to reach them quickly. Tighnari kicked Cyno through an air flip pulling apart the ribbons that surround him. Elemental Dendro aggravated against Cyno. The plants itself worked against Cyno. Although Cyno sliced through each of them easily with no mercy. Tighnari aimed his bow; practice made his head-shot aim easy. But shooting his friend was not. Memories taunted him; Memories of them raising Collei together, Memories of their days in the Akademiya together, memories of who Cyno is, just memories. Tighnari relaxed his bow down.
“The forest isn’t at fault you know. It’s not too late to talk this out.” Tighnari pleaded.
Cyno’s vision wasn’t willing to listen. He was judge, jury, and executioner, and Tighnari’s soul weighed heavier than the raven’s feather. Cyno’s vision, his power, and he himself promised to never break the vow of judgement. How could he call himself a Great Mahamatra otherwise? Timing the anticipation, Tighnari shot arrows to the beat of Cyno’s steps. Cyno blocked each with the polearm, each of them electrocuted. Cyno lunged his polearm; Tighnari swiftly dodged it once again. Collei jumped in between the two, shielding Tighnari. Tighnari was surprised yet concerned for her safety.
“Collei, you have to leave.” Tighnari whispered.
“No! You can’t make me anymore! Why are you doing this Cyno? I thought we were your friends!” Collei demanded.
The Great Mahamatra was quiet, “Collei move, now.” was all Cyno would say.
Cyno charged forward, using the polearm to jump. Mid-air he aimed to jump on Tighnari, to pierce him as he landed. Collie who was afraid shielded herself. Tighnari jumped on Collei leaping towards Cyno, this pushed the both of them off the trunks of the trees.
“Tighnari! Cyno!” Collei screamed as they fell. Her screams faded in vain.
Cyno clashed against the water swamps below. His electric determination charged the waters that surrounded him, electrifying himself in the process. But his persistence was stronger to fight against the pain. Tighnari landed on his feet. He carefully walked towards Cyno, reaching out his hand to help Cyno up. However Cyno attacked; his face concealed from Tighnari, devoid of emotion.
“Why are you making this hard Tighnari?” Cyno yelled as if he was pleading.
“You’re doing that to yourself Cyno!” Tighnari reasoned.
Alone on the beds of the forest Cyno and Tighnari fought. They battled in a dance of water. The water collided between angry electro-charge and sorrowful blooms. Cyno’s thoughts were chaotic and it showed through his attacks. All Tighnari could think was concern over his friend pushing himself to exhaustion. Each of Tighnari's attacks were disguised as ways to use the dendro blooms to heal Cyno. Whenever Cyno got close to Tighnari, Tighnari noticed Collei would shoot arrows of her own. Tighnari wanted to use this to his advantage. Tighnari looked for the nearest rocklifting branch and let Collei's vision trigger it. But when Tighnari was distracted by his ploy, Cyno stabbed Tighnari. Collei screamed but her voice long faded. Tighnari’s eyes widened with shock; at this moment he could clearly see the face that Cyno was hiding. Cyno’s work expression was there, but only a mask of it. Through that was anger, anger with tears bleeding from Cyno's eyes. How did it come to this? Why did it come to this? Tighnari knew he shouldn’t have used illegal goods and used his status and the forest to hide this. He knew deep down Cyno would find out sooner or later. How foolish of a fox to escape judgement. But a fox couldn’t help it, for a fox would instinctively fell victim to the thrill of trickery eventually.
Tighnari’s body succumbed to the weight of falling. The rainforest wept, opening itself as one last gift towards the dying Tighnari. Skies and stars shined in colours prettier than they ever were. All he could think of was how it was all his fault, that this was some form of justice for his soul. Tighnari trusts that if judgement that worthy’d death was what Cyno believed he deserved, then he wasn’t going to fight anymore. Before hitting the floor, Cyno caught him. He pulled Tighnari so his body would lean on Cyno's shoulder. Cyno held onto his polearm tightly. He knew if he pulled the polearm lodged deep in Tighnari, the blood-loss would kill Tighnari. So Cyno waited for Collei.
“Why aren’t you finishing the job?” Tighnari coughed. His blood fell onto the forest he once vowed to protect.
“You know why.” Cyno remained silent. Being a maid of death, he knew time was running out for Tighnari. He knew that there was only one question left in Tighnari. “Why? Why did you have to get it illegally?” Cyno's voice whispered. Falling apart over the question as if he needed the answer more than he needed life.
Tighnari answered through his dying breath, “I had to protect the forest, just as strongly as your belief in judgement. I’m glad you haven’t changed it and I’m sorry friend.”
Cyno held Tighnari tight. Words and sounds didn’t escape him. Only tears that fell delicately on Tighnari. Cyno whispered to himself knowing the response, "Why didn't you ask me to help you if you needed it so much?"
Tighnari smiled. Feeling the rain on him felt good for the last time. He was glad to have protected the forest, and glad to have a friend like Cyno.
“Tighnari!” Collei wept as she got closer. When she reached Tighnari, he was leaning against a nearby tree. She rushed towards him inspecting his wounds bandaged with ribbons of purple and yellow judgement. Collei was startled by a familiar yet threatening shadow.
“Why? Why did you have to kill Tighnari? He did nothing wrong!” Collie cried, “I thought he was your best friend so why? Why did you start fighting?” Collei fell into her hands, she couldn’t understand the missing details so the weight of confusion pulled her into breaking down.
Cyno’s back was turned. He blocked the sunlight, turning himself into a silhouette with his back turned away from them, devoid of emotion. His polearm still clenched in his fists. For once Cyno felt like a coward by not being able to face his wounded friends.
“I’ll be back in 2 days once I've compiled all the evidence.” was all Cyno said. Collei was in fear, unsure what this information meant.
“The Cyno showing mercy? You really have changed Cyno.” Tighnari laughed through blood and coughed with what little life he had. Collei smile with relief.
Cyno was surprised; relief calmed him to his natural work tone. “This isn’t mercy. Judgement is patient. If I see you the next time I arrive here, or if I ever see you again. Not even a fox like you will escape judgement.”
Cyno walked forward. The raven feather his person held danced towards Tighnari; although weak he caught the feather. Tighnari looked towards Cyno knowing this will be the last time he can truly see him. Collei propped Tighnari. She tended to the wounds the best she could.
Cyno’s hands rubbed his eyes, wanting them shielded from the world. The silent tears that fell, he wanted them to never be illuminated in judgement's sun. He could finally understand the last feelings of his teacher. The path of the Mahamanta was lonely, and this was what he meant. Cyno's ideals clashed against his feelings; this cracked at his vision. Although, through the lonely desert of suffering was the sun that warmed Cyno's tears. 'The sun illuminates judgement,' this is what Cyno reminded himself.
“On the day I am judged myself, may you not be fair with me. May you give me what punishment I deserve.” Cyno whispered to himself until he reached the empty desert grounds. This mantra wouldn’t rid the painful tears; eventually Cyno collapsed upon it’s weight.
Cyno cried, “Or maybe you’ve already punished me through this feeling.”