Work Text:
The hustle and bustle of Treasures Street reached its lowest point as the moon slowly ascended in the sky, vendors and merchants packing up their shops for the day and talking amongst themselves freely. As the merchants conversed about the satisfaction of yet another active yet profitable day and what they were going to do once they were back inside the comfort of their own homes, their gazes turned to two individuals walking past their stands energetically.
Or more accurately put, one individual energetically dragging another individual by the hands in the direction of the Puspa Café.
“This… really isn’t necessary, Nilou,” the General Mahamatra tried to protest, looking around and seeing the merchants nod at him approvingly at what they were seeing. He rolled his eyes at them and focused on the young woman pulling him along. “You really don’t need to have me tag along with you.”
Shaking her head, the star dancer of the Zubayr Theater turned back to look at him with a teasing smile, her aqua eyes glimmering with mirth. “If you had time to watch my final performance for the evening, then surely you have time to enjoy some Padisarah Pudding with me,” she responded, winking knowingly at him. “Wouldn’t that be a wonderful way to end the evening?”
His cheeks reddening from her winking and teasingly gorgeous grin, Cyno could not help but to sigh in defeat. “Alright, alright… but do you really have to drag me?”
Giggling, Nilou released her hold on his hands as the two stopped in front of the café. Cyno inwardly regretted the loss of feeling her gentle and warm hands holding his own, but shook that feeling off as best he could. “I figured that it would make my point across that I really want to enjoy the rest of the evening with you,” she explained, her own cheeks reddening as she then gave him an apologetic look and held her arms behind her back shyly. “Sorry if that was a bit much…”
“Nilou… not at all,” Cyno assured her, a small smile appearing on his face. “I’m just… flattered that you want to spend more time with me this evening, honestly. Let’s enjoy ourselves then, shall we?”
Her shyness dissipating, the red-haired young woman nodded enthusiastically at him as she closed her eyes and smiled brightly. “Mmhmm!”
As the two entered the café, the aroma of fresh coffee wafted in their faces, the dimly lit interior of the building providing a sense of comfort and security. Enteka, the manager of the café, noticed the two vision holders walking in and gave them a welcoming smile. “Nilou and the General Mahamatra, welcome!” she greeted them warmly, gesturing for them to sit at a table near the wall. “Please get comfortable. I assume that you want the usual?”
“Yes please!” Nilou exclaimed as she and Cyno sat down at their table. “Two orders of Padisarah Pudding!”
---
Cyno’s helmet and Nilou’s veil sat next to each other at the edge of the table as the two enjoyed their bowls of Padisarah Pudding from either side, conversing with each other about what they had been up to before Nilou’s dance performance that evening. Cyno informed her about an incident at Caravan Ribat regarding Eremites and counterfeit Mora and how they were swiftly dealt with while Nilou told him about how she has been trying out new dance routines that she can integrate in future performances. Despite how different their respective days were, they both gave the other their undivided attention and listened intently at what the other had to say.
“Wow… so you really showed those guys no mercy despite them begging you to go easy on them?”
“Of course. If I were to be light on these guys, they would just continue running amok and thinking that they can get away with anything they please. It’s up to me to make sure that they stay in line and know their place, I will not tolerate even the pettiest attempts at crime.”
Humming, Nilou nodded her head and took another small bite of her pudding, her gaze completely focused on Cyno as her eyes were lit with admiration. “That’s just like you, Cyno. I’m always so impressed at how you conduct yourself,” she praised him.
Raising an eyebrow, Cyno also took a bite from his own pudding. “Is that really worthy of your praise, Nilou?” he inquired. “It’s just one of my philosophies. There’s no point in being praised for doing the right thing.”
“But that’s exactly why I’m giving you what you deserve!” she responded earnestly, catching him slightly off-guard as his eyes widened a bit. “You probably don’t hear it enough, and while it is expected for people to do the right thing, a lot of them end up not doing so. And judging by how busy you often are as the General Mahamatra, it’s clear that these expectations are not being followed. So being able to enforce justice so efficiently as you do… that alone is worthy of praise.”
The two were silent for a small while after Nilou’s passionate response, aqua eyes staring into red ones as they both processed what she just said. Eventually, Nilou began to twiddle her thumbs as her cheeks flushed in embarrassment. “I-I’m sorry, Cyno, I hope what I said didn’t sound weird or anything! I just figured you needed to hear something like that, but I know it’s not my business so I hope I didn’t overstep anything-”
“...Thank you, Nilou.”
“E-Eh?”
Cyno closed his eyes and nodded before opening them again, giving the dancer a small yet genuine smile. “Thank you,” he repeated. “You always say the kindest and most thoughtful things to me. I’m truly not used to having such attention, but if it’s from you… it puts me at ease. Ever since we’ve gotten to know each other more, you don’t hesitate to say such things to me.”
Returning a warm smile of her own, Nilou put a hand on her chest and nodded. “And I’ll continue telling you these things and more, Cyno. If no one else will tell you them, then I’ll take that role for myself.”
“That doesn’t sound too bad at all…” Cyno mused, taking another bite from his pudding. “And this pudding… it’s puddy good, don’t you think?”
“Puddy… good?” the red-haired dancer repeated, tilting her head. “Puddy… oh I get it! You changed ‘pretty’ for puddy because of the Padisarah Pudding we’re eating! How clever!”
Giving her an amused look, Cyno chuckled. “I only really thought of that one on the fly, it’s not as impressive as you may think it is.”
“Doesn’t matter to me,” Nilou shook her head. “Even your most bizarre puns and jokes will always have an audience with me… even if I don’t understand them fully. Still, you’ll always explain the punchline when I don’t, right?”
As the tanned white-haired young man nodded his head, Enteka walked up to their table holding a flier. “Ah, I hope I’m not interrupting you two,” she said, holding out the flier to Cyno. “I just remembered that there’s a fishing event that will be at the city’s wharf tomorrow that you may find interest in, general.”
“Thank you, Enteka,” Cyno replied respectfully, taking the flier and beginning to read over it as the manager made her way back to her counter. “Hmm, a fishing competition it seems. And the grand prize is-”
His eyes then promptly widened, clutching the flier with both hands as he looked over the flier once more to see if he was reading it correctly. Curiously, Nilou stood up from her spot and walked over to Cyno’s side so she could stand beside him and read over the flier herself. “Hmm? What’s the grand prize, Cyno?” she asked in wonder.
“A holographic print of “The Mausoleum of King Deshret” support card!” Cyno explained ecstatically, looking up at Nilou in amazement before scanning the flier again. “The card itself is common, but a holographic print of it is extremely rare to come across. It must cost a fortune! Genius Invokation TCG enthusiasts from all over Teyvat would kill to get their hands on this card, and it’s being offered here as the prize for this fishing event!”
Nilou could not help but to giggle at his enthusiasm, always finding his unbridled passion for the card game enticing. Most of those in the Akademiya gave no appreciation for the arts, so seeing the General Mahamatra himself as a proud enthusiast for something he considers an art captivated her. “You should totally enter the competition then, Cyno!” she told him happily. “I’ll even be there to cheer you on if that’ll help!”
“As much as I’d like to participate and as much as I’d enjoy your presence…” Cyno trailed off. “”...Tomorrow I’ll be at Caravan Ribat for most of the day to finish up the incident report in regards to the counterfeit Mora scheme. By the time I return, the competition will be long over.”
“...Oh.”
Nilou’s smile fell as she watched Cyno’s enthusiasm vanish, his disappointment clear on his face as he let out a quiet sigh. “I suppose there’s always next time assuming they make it a habit to run these competitions, but who knows when I’d get a chance to obtain this specific card again? Truly a shame.”
“Cyno…” she whispered, biting her lip as he picked up his helmet to put it back on his head, adjusting it accordingly. He then reached into his pockets and fished out a sum of Mora before reaching for Nilou’s hand and placing the amount into it.
“This will cover the both of us, Nilou,” he told her solemnly. “I’m… sorry that I sullied the mood here.”
“N-No, you did no such thing,” she protested, looking into his eyes. “I just wish… you were able to find time to enter the competition. I don’t want you to miss your chance in getting this card…”
“I don’t want to miss it either, but I can’t neglect my duties. I know I’ll get another chance to get this card someday,” he assured her, giving her a small smile to ease her worries. The fair-skinned dancer gave a small smile back before nodding slowly.
As they stared at each other, his hand lingered on hers for longer than intended before the two realized, both of their cheeks flushing before Cyno retreated his hand. “Well… good night, Nilou. And thank you for inviting me out this evening.”
“Ah… of course! Good night, Cyno.”
Giving her one last small smile, the young man made his way out of the café. As she watched him depart, her gaze remained on him until he disappeared behind the doors, sighing sadly after they closed and turning her attention back to the flier on the table. She picked it up and began to read it over, noting the time that the competition was said to begin and seeing the requirements of how to qualify.
“Are you going to participate, Nilou?”
Letting out a squeal of surprise, Nilou turned around to see Enteka smiling knowingly at her from behind the counter. “I think you should. Imagine his surprise when you give him that rare card and how happy he’d be that you did something so meaningful for him.”
“W-Well… I just think it’s unfair how he has to miss out on this event…” Nilou muttered. “He loves Genius Invokation TCG so much… if I can at least contribute to his passion in any way, I want to be able to do so.”
“You really like the general a lot, don’t you?” the manager of the Puspa Café teased at the star dancer, chuckling seeing her fidget shyly on the spot. “I know you have what it takes to win that competition, and once you do win, two rounds of Padisarah Pudding will be on the house.”
Relaxing her shyness, Nilou nodded her head and beamed at the manager. “I…I’ll do it. Thanks Enteka.”
“You got it. Now go home and get some rest, you’ll have a busy day tomorrow.”
---
As the afternoon sun was high in the sky over Sumeru City the following day, an excited crowd gathered around the wharf. The onlookers chatted amongst themselves regarding their expectations and predictions on who would win the competition, their eager words reaching the ears of three Akademiya students sitting on the side of the pier with their fishing rods at the ready.
“Hehehe…” one of them chuckled, adjusting his glasses and looking between his companions. “You did a great job in hiding all those fliers so we’d be the only participants in this competition, Solomon.”
“Teehee, but of course,” the one named Solomon guffawed, smirking arrogantly. “I’m glad that we did this days in advance so no one would get in our way between us and the holographic card. What do you think, Shadi?”
“Ufufu… I agree,” the one named Shadi snickered. “The best part about this is that the General Mahamatra clearly won’t be participating in this competition so our plans won’t be hindered in any way possible. What do you think, Ramesses?”
“Hehehe… exactly. That rare card will be ours for the taking,” the main one named Ramesses chuckled again. “Now then, we just have to relax comfortably until the competition begins-”
“Sorry that I’m late, I’m here!”
The three students widened their eyes in surprise hearing a soft feminine voice exclaim before the sound of sandals came running across the wooden pier. They turned their eyes to see the star of the Zubayr Theater with a fishing rod in one hand and a basket of bait in the other as she made her way to her spot on the far right beside them, sitting down and adjusting her skirt. She noticed the three staring at her before she waved politely at them. “Let’s have a great competition, guys!” she said kindly.
The three students then huddled, Ramesses and Shadi glaring at Solomon. “You idiot! I thought you said that you hid every flier and no one else would join the competition!” the leader scolded, gritting his teeth as Shadi nodded in agreement.
“I-I could’ve sworn I hid every single one! I guess one slipped by…” Solomon retorted, clicking his tongue. “But it’s not like it matters, right? That dancer is an airhead. She probably doesn’t even know the first thing about fishing and is probably just here for publicity.”
“Solomon’s got a good point, Ramesses,” Shadi piped, peering over at Nilou and snickering. “She’s an idiot from the Theater, there’s no way someone like her can even think of comparing to us. She probably thought the card looked pretty and wants it as a drink coaster.”
“True, true… you’re both right. It’s better we see someone clueless like her instead of someone more threatening,” Ramesses conceded. “Alright boys, get in your positions.”
As the three went back to their respective spots on the pier, the announcer of the competition then began to speak. “Welcome to Sumeru City’s first ever Fishing Invokation Competition!” he announced, eliciting cheers from the crowd. “Today we have four eager participants ready to showcase their fishing expertise in order to reel in the grand prize: a stunning holographic print of “The Mausoleum of King Deshret” card! There are not many copies of such a card in the world, so this highly sought after prize will be in the pockets of one of our four competitors by the end of today!”
More cheers rang out through the crowd as the three Akademiya students grinned smugly at each other. As for Nilou, she just looked around at everyone with a soft smile, enjoying the vibes of how lively everyone seemed to be.
“I will now announce our competitors! First, we have the elusive and cunning student within the Kshahrewar school of the Akademiya ready to excel to greater heights! Give it up for Ramesses!”
Grinning at the crowd and waving, the glasses-wearing student received some audible applause as he clearly basked in it.
“Next we have a student from the Spantamad school: an enthusiast of everything pertaining to the elements! Give it up for Solomon!”
Solomon puffed out his chest and guffawed, earning some audible applause from the crowd himself.
“Our third competitor is from the Vahumana school: a master of everything that pertains to the unknown and unnatural phenomena! Give it up for Shadi!”
Shadi crossed his arms and smirked knowingly, closing his eyes and nodding once he also received some audible applause.
“And last but certainly not least, our fourth competitor has applied for the competition on such short notice! But nevertheless, we are extremely proud to have her involved in our competition! And who would’ve thought that she’d be someone that is quite beloved throughout Sumeru City! Please give it up for the lovely Nilou, the star dancer of the Zubayr Theater!”
Hearing her name, Nilou turned to the crowd and smiled sweetly at everyone, waving shyly at them. “I’m happy to be here! And I’m going to do my best to win!” she exclaimed.
The ensuing applause and cheers from the crowd were deafening. The three Akademiya students gritted their teeth and glared at the unknowing Nilou who continued to smile and wave at everyone.
“Excellent!” the announcer boomed, pointing at the water. “The fishing spot that you can see has ten fish swimming around: five Sandstorm Anglers and five Lazurite Axe Marlins! The point of the competition is simple: whoever catches the most fish wins! Now without further ado… cast your rods and let’s get this show on the road!”
The three Akademiya students prepared their bait and casted their rods at the same time as the crowd cheered wildly, grinning at each other knowing that it did not matter who between them would win when the result would be the same regardless. As for Nilou, she held a ball of Sugardew Bait in her hand before attaching it to the hook of her own rod.
“If I recall, the Traveler told me that this is the most effective way in getting these types of fish…” she mused inwardly. “I’ll have to thank them for this advice coming in handy sometime soon.”
She then casted her rod into the water, smiling once she instantly felt a nibble on her line. “Ah, a bite!”
As she reeled in the biting fish, the three students meanwhile sat there with the lines still casted. “Hey Ramesses, nothing seems to be biting… are you sure we have the right bait?” Solomon questioned as he and Shadi looked over at their leader in expectation.
“Don’t be stupid, of course we have it!” Ramesses scolded. “Look, there’s plenty of time for the fish to be baited in, especially since that idiot dancer definitely won’t reel in anythi-”
“Wow! Nilou has already reeled in five fish!” the announcer bellowed, causing the crowd to boom with excitement. “This is the fastest fishing I’ve ever seen! I don’t know how she’s doing it, but she keeps reeling them in like they’re nothing! We’re seeing a true and unabashed fishing prodigy!”
“””WHAT?!?!?!?!””” the three students shouted in unison. They peered over at the dancer who hummed a merry tune to herself, reeling in her sixth fish effortlessly as it landed in her basket. Then the seventh. Then the eighth.
“R-Ramesses…” Shadi and Solomon cried, their fishing rods falling into the water below. Ramesses himself couldn’t believe what he was seeing, watching helplessly as Nilou successfully brought in the ninth and the tenth as well to end the competition.
“I can’t believe it! That was a total domination! I’ve never seen anything like this folks!” the announcer exclaimed excitedly, rushing over to Nilou and helping her stand up as he held her left arm in the air. “We have our winner by an astronomical margin! Ladies and gentlemen, Nilou of the Zubayr Theater is our winner! CONGRATULATIONS!”
The crowd chanted Nilou’s name in unison as they cheered and applauded wildly, the dancer grinning from ear to ear as she pumped her free fist into the air in glee. “I did it! I won the grand prize!” she cheered. “I won, I won!”
“You sure did, Miss Nilou!” the announcer responded, bringing Nilou forward to a podium so she could face everyone in the crowd easily. “That fishing was incredibly fast! What’s your secret, and what motivated you to even participate in this competition on this lovely day?”
Nilou put a finger to her chin in thought and tilted her head, her cute appearance causing the crowd to gush in excitement. “Hmm, well I don’t think I can tell my secret to everyone because that would defeat the purpose in keeping it a secret, no?”
“A very understandable answer! But you can at least tell us why you’re here, right?” the announcer questioned. Nodding at him, Nilou then looked around at everyone, her aqua eyes shining with a variety of emotions.
“I’m here because someone who is dear to me wasn’t able to participate in the competition today, so I decided to participate in his stead and win the grand prize for him. You wouldn’t expect this person to have such passion for what he loves just by looking at him, but once you get to know him, he displays such love and appreciation for Genius Invokation TCG that I can’t even begin to describe the depths of it. I want to do nothing more than to support him with everything I have so he can continue captivating me with his enthusiasm and drive. That is exactly why I am here today.”
Everyone was in awe at her heartfelt response, amazed that someone could be so selfless and compassionate toward someone close to them. The announcer simply reached into his pocket and presented Nilou with the holographic TCG card safely protected by a transparent card sleeve. “Miss Nilou… no one is more deserving of this grand prize than you. I can do nothing more than to give you my utmost praise and congratulations. Please, take this card!”
Smiling serenely, Nilou nodded and graciously took the card into her hands. “Thank you. And thank you to everyone for having me today!”
The crowd once again exploded with mirthful cheers.
---
The sun began to set in the sky later that day, the horizon painted with a beautiful array of orange and blue. Holding the TCG card delicately in her right hand, Nilou made her way back to the Puspa Café with a wide smile on her face as she stared at it. She walked through the tunnel leaving the Zubayr Theater after telling everyone there about her achievement, earning her plenty of praise and congratulatory remarks from her friends and peers.
“I can’t wait to see the look on Cyno’s face when he sees this…” she whispered to herself, unable to contain her happiness. “He’s going to be so surprised and-”
Suddenly, a pair of hands gripped her left arm causing her to gasp in shock and alarm, being sure to grip the TCG card safely and protectively close to her chest with her free hand. She looked up in surprise and noticed that it was Solomon who was gripping her arm. “You’re not going anywhere,” he told her with a smug look. “Not until we get that card from you.”
“Someone like you doesn’t deserve to have that in their possession,” another smug voice chimed in. Nilou turned her gaze forward and saw Ramesses and Shadi walking up to her, the former with an especially disgusted look on his face. Putting two and two together, Nilou figured out that these three were waiting for their chance to catch her alone and said nothing, her aqua eyes narrowing.
“It’s completely unfathomable how you were the winner of that competition,” he spat. “You should’ve spent your time prancing around like a lunatic, not wasting everyone’s time with your pathetic speeches.”
Nilou glared at the three students, still holding the card as if it was her lifeline. “I won fair and square,” she told them, her delicate voice firm and clear. “I don’t care what you guys have to say about me. Waiting for the right time to corner me like this to intimidate me? I figured those from the Akademiya had more integrity than this.”
Getting into her face, Ramesses glared back hatefully at the dancer. “What gives you the right to reprimand us?!” he sneered. “I bet you think you’re superior to us in every way… don’t make me laugh. You’re just a worthless dancer and there’s a reason why the Akademiya looks down on you. You’re nothing more than a street worker. A floozy.”
His hateful words echoed in her ears and Nilou could feel her eyes heat up, closing her eyes as she breathed slowly. The scathing insults and accusations Ramesses told her were words she had not been new to hearing, but they still stung her all the same. Though the insults shook her to her core, she opened her eyes all the same and stared with no fear into Ramesses’ eyes. “I told you that I don’t care what you guys have to say about me,” she confidently declared. “You’re not getting the card. It’s for someone important to me.”
“I don’t think you seem to understand the seriousness of the situation you’re in, dancer,” the leader of the three students told her, reaching for the card safely secured in her hand as she instinctively held it closer to her chest. “Now be a good girl and give up the card-”
“And I don’t think you understand the seriousness of the situation you’re about to be in, you pretentious scumbag.”
Ramesses let out a pained cry as the arm he was reaching out to Nilou was suddenly grabbed back and twisted behind his back. Solomon gasped and released his grip on Nilou in response as Shadi fell on his rear in shock, the General Mahamatra in front of them as he glared daggers at the three students. Taking her chance, Nilou scurried to Cyno as he pushed Ramesses forward hard enough that he fell flat on his face, holding the red-haired dancer protectively as she pressed her head against his chest and wrapped her arms around him.
“C-Cyno…” she murmured, finally relaxing in his arms knowing that she was safe from the three students.
“Shh… I’m here. Let me handle this,” he whispered to her before turning his attention back to the students, his voice loud, powerful, and furious. “Harassing someone from the Zubayr Theater just because she’s a dancer? Saying all sorts of disgusting nonsense to her and threatening her? Who the hell do you think you are?”
Ramesses squealed and turned around, looking up at Cyno as he and his fellow goons could do nothing but quake in fear. “G-General Mahamatra, w-we can explain this! S-She has something that belongs to us and we’re just here to retrieve it…!”
“Bullshit.”
The three students cowered as Cyno spat that out, watching as the white-haired general gently moved Nilou aside as he materialized his staff, Electro aura beginning to surround him. “You three are never to bother Nilou ever again. And believe me, she will let me know if your harassment continues. And if it does… you can guarantee that I will show you three absolutely no mercy.”
Cyno slammed his staff into the ground, currents of Electro shocking the three terrified goons as they wailed in fear. “And don’t think that the Akademiya won’t hear about this. You three will certainly be punished even if it’s not from me. Now scram.”
Getting the hint, the three began to scurry away from the tunnel in terror, their shouts and wails slowly fading away the further they fled. Once they were completely gone, Cyno flicked away his staff and shook his head, turning to Nilou as she sighed in relief. “Are you alright, Nilou?” he asked her, his tone softening.
“Of course… I stood my ground against them, but their words… they still sting,” she answered, smiling sadly. “I’m used to abusive language from the Akademiya, but I don’t think it will ever stop hurting.”
Cyno’s heart stung at her response. It was completely unfair how someone as kind and delicate as Nilou had to endure such hatred and animosity often, especially since she was nothing but sweet to everyone she came across. While there was not much he could do to stop it all completely, he would certainly do everything in his power to defend and protect her. “I’m sorry there isn’t much more I can do for you…” he muttered, gazing at her apologetically.
Stepping closer to him, Nilou reached for his hands and held them gently. “Cyno… you’ve done so much more for me than you think,” she whispered to him. “I appreciate everything that you do, and I know you’re going to always be by my side and protect me. The least I can do… is give you this.”
She placed the TCG card in his hands and stood back, holding her arms behind her back as she watched his expression contort into confusion, then to shock, then to amazement. “N-Nilou, how… it’s the holographic TCG card from the competition…” he breathed, completely bewildered by her gift. “You… you entered the competition and won this for me?”
“I didn’t want you to be upset about missing your chance to get this card, Cyno,” she said quietly, her cheeks reddening as her aqua eyes sparkled with genuine affection for him. “So I won that card for you so I can continue seeing your passion and appreciation for TCG. And if I can be by your side to see it all, then I’d gladly do this again for you. After all, you've witnessed and enjoy my passion for dancing, so it’s only fair that I can do this for you in turn.”
Cyno’s own red eyes sparkling, he could do nothing but to gaze gratefully at Nilou, still completely stupefied by her sheer compassion directed toward him. “I-I just… I don’t know what to say or how to convey my thanks to you. Words aren’t enough to describe how much you mean to me.”
“You don’t need to say a thing for now.”
Nilou then wrapped her arms around Cyno’s left one. “Instead, how about you and I have some more Padisarah Pudding together? Since I won, Enteka said that it’s on the house.”
Smiling warmly at the dancer latching onto his arm, he began to lead her toward the direction of the café. “We can do just that. And while we’re there… perhaps we can voice our appreciation for each other even moreso, right?”
Winking at him, she gave him a loving and affectionate smile. “Every single word.”