Chapter Text
It was another humid sunny day in Sumeru and Wanderer spent his day in the Sanctuary of Surasthana. If he truly wanted to, he could probably go to the Akademiya and annoy a few students. Maybe he would find the Acting Grand Sage and steal a few of his books, so that he has to pay overdue fines or disturb Faruzans class, which consists of sleeping and or bored students. If he is in the mood, he could help Kaveh with one of his sketches or Nahida with her endless paperwork. He still doesn't understand why she asked Alhaitham for help when he doesn't even really help her, not that he cares or anything, after all he is just here to repay his dues against Sumeru and for a bit of fun. No other reason at all.
Getting bored with this day, the Wanderer wanders towards Nahidas office. Opening the too tall door, he sees the same scene he has been seeing the last few weeks. Nahida is sitting in her too big chair in front of paper stacks higher than her and trying her best to finish them. Closing the door a big too loud behind him, she looks up from the paper she has in her hands.
“Good timing! I just wanted to call you, but it seems the wind has led you to me”, Nahida greeted the Wanderer.
“I had a feeling that you had something planned for me today, so what do you need?”
Instead of answering his question, her focus shifted back towards the papers scattered on her table. After a while, with a satisfied smile, she handed him an envelope.
“Wanderer, I need you to deliver this letter to Tighnari. Sadly, as far as I'm aware he isn't in Gandharva Ville but in Apam Woods conducting some of his research. Just give it to him, and he knows what to do'', Nahida said with her signature smile.
“If that's all, then I will be back by sunset.” With a nod, the Wanderer took the envelope and headed out the office. Before the door closed, Nahida waved him goodbye and returned towards her paper stacks.
Being only a few weeks in Sumeru, he surprisingly knew his way around the woods and desert of the land of Dendro and thanks to his Vision he can travel anywhere he wants. If his mind is filled with darker thoughts and raging storms, he simply takes a walk inside the woods or explores the ruins in the desert. When his mood is better, and he remembers that he is now finally free from the strings of his past, the Wanderer simply flies above the heads of the people in Sumeru and the sea flowing next to Sumeru City. Perhaps the freedom granted by Anemo fits him more than the constant stinging of Electro.
Flying above the hills, he always feels a prick behind his eyes. He has not yet found the reason behind this phenomenon. The closest reason, for him, would be that he isn't used to the landscape of Sumeru. With its endless greens and trees taller than even in Snezhnaya, with its clear blue rivers and welcoming warmth, he simply couldn't feel anything even when this realization hurts him to his core.
Many in his past life saw him as a puppet who could only feel negative emotions and the closest to happiness for him, they thought, would be his sadistic streak that he got from a certain Doctor. In reality, he is a very emotional puppet. Even to some extent too emotional. One of the few things that stayed consistent in his many lives, is his tendency to cry whenever he feels something. Be it when he is happy, angry or even irritated. He is simply a crybaby, and that stayed true even in this chapter of his life. So with tears falling from his eyes, he keeps on flying towards Apam Woods.
Once there, he has completely forgotten the fact that it rains constantly in this forest. Even though he has his hat, he still doesn't like the feeling of rain, especially on a humid day. Hoping that he finds Tighnari fast, he goes deeper into the woods.
Fate really hates me today, there is no other reason.
The Wanderer has been traveling for at least a couple of hours by foot, and there is no trace of the fox. To make matters worse, it began to rain even faster than before he entered the woods. Being so close to just turning around and returning to the Sanctuary, the Wanderer spotted something under a big leaf in front of him.
Approaching the leaf slowly, he sees that it is one of the walking cabbages, sitting and singing to no one. The last time he saw them, they seemed to enjoy his company and even gave him some soup, even if it was tasteless. Maybe the cabbage saw Tighnari or at least could help him.
“Hello, did you see a man with big black ears passing through?”
The cabbage stopped singing and stared him down with his two black eyes. After an awkward pause, the cabbage answered
“Hello good Nara! My name is Arabalika!”
Waiting expectantly for an answer, and not getting one, the Wanderer simply said
“Hello Arabalika, did you see a man with big ears?”
“Yes, weird Nara went that way and kept talking to himself,” Arabalika said while pointing his little staff left from their direction.
“Thanks for the help. Bye.”
Going in the direction that Arabalika showed him, he noticed that the cabbage was following him. Not wanting to waste time, the Wanderer just ignored him and attended to his business. Noticing the fox looking at some purple flowers, he called out to him
“Hey Tighnari, I have a letter for you!”
Tighnari has noticed the Wanderer a while ago, but based on what Lesser Lord Kusunali told him, The Wanderer is new in Sumeru and his socializing skills are somewhat lacking, so he lets the Wanderer approach him first. Wanting to answer him, the wandering eccentric just showed the envelope in his face and walked away. Feeling lost by the exchange, all he could do was to read the letter and go back to his research.
Wanting to return to the Sanctuary to tell Nahida that he has finished the task and maybe convince her to stop working for a second, he was about to take off. Looking back from where he came, he saw Arabalika standing behind him. Not to make things too awkward, Wanderer simply waved him goodbye and flew back towards his temporary stay.