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The only thing he remembers about the man was the way he shined so bright in the moon, his hair turning silver as he smiled oh so cheekily.
It was the first time Kinich had felt so…mesmerised about anyone.
It was just another typical night, with everyone asleep at the unholy hours, few stay awake to protect the peace. And Kinich was no different from them, given he was being paid by the Elder, nonetheless hes sure to get the job done.
Monster activities have been increasing at an alarming rate the past few nights, and everyone was being cautious, yet a travelling merchant still got hurt. So the elder had paid Kinich to find the source of these activities, and protect the tribe by killing nearby hilichurls in the process.
Kinich already found the cause, it was related to the abyss, of course, and would take a few days to actually clean up. So Kinich opted to clear the surrounding hilichurls at best.
This too was a night of the same routine, except Kinich made a mistake. Very unlike him, but with Ajaw present no one really should be surprised.
”Oi! Kinich there’s another herd coming from the north!”
Kinich sighed, wiping the sweat and blood off his cheek he got ready to face off another swarm of monsters. Only…they never came, “…where are they?” Kinich glared at the pixel.
”I-I swear! I want you to die! But I’ll help you during battle! Hey! Don’t you dare give the great Ku’hul Ajaw that look!”
The ancient name bearer sighed and serched around, looking for any signs, “…where do you feel their presence?”
”mostly everywhere! But the north ones are running towards here…well they are supposed to running towards here! But now this– gahhh! Kinich behind you!”
The said man was hit in the face before he could look at what was behind him, he could feel the blood trickling down his nose, and before the second hit came in he dodged and jumped backwards, he held his half broken nose with his fingers, hoping to stop the bleeding.
A lawachurl.
It was a huge geo lawachurl.
There’s no way Ajaw didn’t notice it.
’I swear if that stupid dragon–‘
Kinich could not continue his thoughts as the geo monster came for him once again. Now with more preparation, he was ready. And in few swift movements Kinich activated his dendro vision and pulled Ajaw as the projector, ready to shoot dendro bullets bullets, by the first nuke the lawachurl was down.
”Hmph! To think such a vile beast would mess with the great dragonlord’s senses! How disgusting!”
Kinich glared, “Are you sure you didn’t do that on purpose?”
”You dare doubt me!? How could you Kinich!?”
”Seeing your past actions…it’s not really surprising. I should put you in time out again”
”Don’t you dare-“
Both shut up again when they sensed elemental energy once again, closer and stronger. Strong enough for even Kinich to notice.
”See, I told you! Something was blocking my senses! Next time you better-“
”just shut up”
The dendro vision holder held his breath looking around for anything. Anything that would contain elemental energy, in times like this he really wished he had elemental sight like the traveller.
Until a pink cat caught his eye.
”what’s that?” Ajaw’s curious pixelated form asked, “it has a lot of pyro energy” he was the first to approach it, and Kinich let him, it’d be safer that way. “It’s a normal cat in a hat, it’s just has tons of pyro energy infused in it. It might be another pyro vision holder.” Ajaw explained to the Sabrina Hunter, whose mind and eyes were elsewhere, “but I can’t sense the use of phlogiston, Oi– Kinich!? Are you even listening!?”
Kinich couldn’t listen, even if he wanted to, he kept looking up at the top of the tree, someone was there, he couldn’t tell who.
And then the clouds moved and the moon shone brightly, casting the perfect glow to get a clear view of the shadow’s face. It felt as if all the air inside his lungs were knocked out.
Clearly an outsider, pale blonde hair, purple eyes that seemed to glow in the dark, ivory skin, and those pink lips presented in a smirk. Archons he was beautifully perfect.
”Ah I see I’ve been caught”
That voice was all that’s needed for Kinich to extend his dendro gimmick and lunch himself up the tree. He wanted to be closer, have a closer look. So now he was standing on the tree branch, which thankfully was thick enough to hold two grown men, his hand holding the branch above to keep steady while the other sat at the inner end having the tree bark for support. And for a second they just stared, both in awe of each other. One curious about the other while another curious about the others abilities.
”Woah. Cool thing you got there.”
He had genuine awe in his voice and Kinich only got more curious about him. He wanted to see the man’s other sides.
Before he could say something Ajaw flew up. And curse Ajaw for life that piece of shit.
”Hey! You twink! You’re the one blocking my senses aren’t you! How dare such puny boy like you do that!? You- you- Ah Kinich! Stop pushing me!” Kinich’s scowl grew bigger the more Ajaw spoke.
”Can’t you like just shut up? He’s clearly not from natlan and is using a different mechanism, let me talk”
“How dare you push around the great dragon lord!? You humans are all the same! He clearly meant to hurt you!”
The man laughed at his words, catching both their attention, Ajaw was about to flip again but Kinich put a hand to his mouth, no way he wanted to miss this man’s laugh. “Sorry, I’ll have to stop you there. I didn’t mean to come in between your fighting nor put you in trouble.”
Kinich stared at him as if to continue, “My name is Lyney. I came here with a dear friend of mine but sadly I got separated from him…I was on my way back when there was hoard of monsters so I was fighting them, by the time I got here and summoned my skill you had already been fighting, I truly am sorry I didn’t mean to get you hurt”
Kinich continued to stare at him, a hand still on Ajaw’s mouth, who was getting redder by the second. Lyney feared he might really explode.
”Kinich. This is Ajaw.”
He turned away, finally removing his hand and motioned to the ground and jumped down.
’Ah…he wants to continue our talk..’ Lyney smiled, he was used to tjis since his sister is the same kind. He jumped down with grace and looked straight at the man, finally getting a clear view, ‘hm…good looking’
”Tell me, how does your friend look? I’ll help find him”
Lyney blinked in surprise, he wasn’t even going to address the issue? He almost died even his pet was mad? Well, better ask a native then roam around. And knowing the traveler’s reputation, he’d have high chances.
”He’s blond, has a floating pet like yours-“
”Aether?”
”Ah I see you already met him?”
Kinich’s heart beat faster, in excitement, they have a mutual acquaintance. Mutual friend. He wanted to say he knew him too, close enough to call him a friend, maybe we could be friends too. Aether seemed to stay here for a while especially now since he’ll be helping with the plan, will he stay long too? If he needs a place to stay, Scions of Canopy he’d suggest.
”I know where he is” is what he said instead, “he just helped me with an issue of my tribe a few days ago. So he’ll be around there.”
Lyney’s face lit up and Kinich’s curiosity grew even more. Will it ever stop growing? He wondered.
“Thank the archons! Would you be kind enough to take me there?”
Kinich nodded and spoke a simple, “Follow me”
The three travelled in silence, (Ajaw being silent was the most surprising) and eventually reached the Scions of the Canopy, Lyney finally spoke once they reached the centre. “So this is the Scions of the Canopy. I’ve heard a bit from Mualani when we were there.”
”You know Mualani?”
Another mutual friend
The two continued walking, both in the look out for Aether and Paimon.“Yes! We visited the hot springs before coming here, there was little problem with the abyss and I got injured, so I was stuck in the teapot for days, today I was finally able to fight again, only to get separated.”
”Teapot?” Kinich remembers Aether mentioning that, it was his choice in the end and he told he’d consider it. Lyney explained, “it’s this magic pot from liyue that has infinite space inside. It’s really helpful since there’s a huge mansion and many of the travellers friends come and go so it’s not lonely either.”
”I remember the traveller telling me about it.”
“If he invited you then you two must be close!”
”Lyney!”
A familiar squeaky voice called out.
The two turned around and Kinich saw how bright Lyney’s smile had become. “Paimon! Traveller!”
”Thank god you’re okay!” Aether said running towards them, and then noticed Kinich. “Oh Kinich! You’re here too?”
Lyney smiled and pointed to him with a peculiar smile, “this gentleman was kind enough to lead me to you. Him and his pet had been a wonderful company”
”Ajaw? Wonderful company?”
”Yeah, he was quiet the whole time?”
”Quiet the whole time?!”
Aether and Paimon looked bewildered and turned to Kinich for answers, who only shook his head, “I don’t know. Don’t ask me.”
Aether sighed, “well either way Kinich is nice guy so thankfully he found you first before anyone else. Thanks a bunch Kinich”
”No problem. It’s night so find a place to rest. The inn here is good enough for travellers call me if you need anything.”
Lyney turned to face him and held out his hand, Kinich raised a brow and touched it cautiously, hoping his expression didn’t give away what he was feeling.
Well if it didn’t now, he was sure he was a blushing mess because of what Lyney did next.
The magician bowed and kissed his fingertips, pulling out a rainbow rose from nowhere and giving it to him, “Thank you for your kindness gentlemen, if fate calls it, we’ll meet again”
Aether and Paimon didn’t seem fazed, but Kinich could barely process anything and the three left before he could say anything.
After the left is when Ajaw finally spoke, “Ew. Humans and their pesky feelings of love. How’d you even fall in love so fast you kid!”
Kinich ignored him and the rest of the night he was all he could think about. Even after heading to bed, his eyes were wide open as he stared at the moon through his window, “Ly…Lyney.” He tried pronouncing his name, “Lyney” he tried again, “Lyney” god did he like how it rolled off his tongue.
“Lyney”
Good to say, Ajaw suffered hearing a foreign name the whole night.