Chapter Text
They were going to kill him they were going to kill him. He needed to escape right away, find a place to hide and think of a plan, away from here.
With momentous strength he moved his tiny legs to go faster, faster, and faster. He huffed and huffed, till sweat ran like rain down his chubby face. Yet he could still hear them yelling and shouting his name, holding those damn pitchforks and clubs. Giving him a seemingly never-ending chase through the forest.
Exhaustion was nearing, clouding his vision, shortening his breath, and making his legs numb. Nevertheless he persisted, catching himself stumbling a few times, forcing his nearly wrecked legs to move.
Finally he found a tiny entrance to a cave he knew those villagers won't be able to locate easily. He managed his small body to squeeze through after multiple tries. Inside was damp, cramped, and unbearable to his wounds; but this was the only place he could hide in. For now, once those fools got tired of searching for him he'll leave to find… a livable shelter at the very least. Somewhere more accommodating.
A small sigh left his lips. His eyes dropped as his body begins to lay slack on the ragged stone walls of the cave, his consciousness slowly leaving him. For a moment he thought he smelt the warm bread his mother would bake only for a few occasions. He tasted them before, they would always taste so delicious, the bread feeling like clouds on his tongue, and filling his stomach with a fuzzy feeling he liked. These moments were the only time his mother ever felt caring. She would smile and caresses his head, telling him she would bake more later just for him. Yet she never did, at the end of the day she would have entirely forgotten her promise.
Even so, he misses those moments. He wants to go back, go back and say he was sorry. Apologize for ever disobeying them and that he'd never–…
– What a stupid thought. He knows even if he does that, they'll never accept him as one of them ever again. No matter how much he desperately begged them. That's okay, he'll find another place. One that will accept his interest and him, and if that place doesn't exist then he'll make it with his two bare hands. He'll prove them all wrong, they'll see…
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"If only that brat didn't exist," his father speaks with venom, "then we wouldn't be stuck here laboring till we die!" He looked down at the momentous amounts of debt and unpaid loans.
His mother's expression morphed into resentment, "you honestly think I wanted this?!" Her voice tones of offense, "this was your fault! You did this to me! You said it wouldn't happen but it did!" She shouted in fury whilst throwing a cheap vase at him, "I had so much ahead of me! A future dammit! A was going to be a scholar, I had professors praising me! And you ruined it all!"
His father dodged the flying vase rage evident on his face, "your blaming me! You should consider yourself lucky I even stayed, most men would leave a woman like you in a heartbeat," he strode towards her, his heavy steps echoing through the house, "maybe I should if you keep acting like this," his mother let out a shriek of pain. She slumped down onto the wood tiles, holding her reddened cheek, as tears flowed out of her eyes.
Zandik in the comfort of his bedroom ignored it all. Instead he chose to admire the nearby tree swaying and the small bird couple that decided to build their nest there. It was already filled with their eggs, snugly placed inside. They chirped happily as if anticipating the birth of their young-lings.
He simply watched them dance, sing, and incubate their dear eggs. After a while the two birds left, probably off to search for something to eat. A healthy parent produces healthy kids. His crimson eyes focused onto the three tiny eggs inside the nest. The three eggs looked so fragile, delicate, and brittle. He figured if they were in any sort of pressure they would instantly break. The eggs were nothing like him. He was tough and strong, he could take any kind of pressure without breaking.
He closed his eyes for a moment, a breath leaves him. He reached out to his desk, grabbing a rock he found earlier on the ground…
Loud cries of two birds chirped from outside. Zandik ignored them, tuning all kinds of sound out as he reads a book his parents got him in his bed.
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He felt like he was floating in mid air. He never experienced something like this before, but it was nice in a sense. It made him feel somewhat free, as if nothing in the world mattered at this very moment except for one thing. For one reason or another, something was compelling him to ask a question. Any question his heart desires. He pondered why that was, but his curiosity blurred his mind. He wondered what would happen if he does ask a question…
"…Why was I born?" The words left his mouth before he could think.
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"Where did this brat even come from," a somewhat mature voice of a woman spoke.
"Umm…that's what we wanted to ask you," another voice much more squeaky and young said, "we found him at one of the storage rooms with injuries all over."
"Is he not a child of one of your researchers, Herta?" A male voice said sounding like a serene pond.
The previous mature voice scoffed, "as if. I can assure you my followers are smart enough to know a space station is too dangerous for a kid to be in," she stated it so confidently it borderlines arrogance.
"I'm closer to them that you are Hertz," a new voice announced with a rambunctious attitude, "I know, none of them are getting laid. So this kid can't be one of theirs."
The atmosphere turned awkward for a moment before the squeaky voice sighed heavily.
"What did I expect?" She murmured under her breath, "but uh-what are going to do with him? If he isn't one of the researcher's son, then whose?"
A pregnant pause briefly occurred, "…what? Do you three really think I'm going to take him? I have better things to do than to babysit some unknown brat. Actually I have some important research I should be conducting right this instant. If you excuse me," light steps rang on the metal floor before something opened in a sharp sound and closed again.
"…So, are we going to keep the guy?" The voice with the rambunctious attitude asked. It was around this time Zandik decided to wake up from his deep slumber.
His surroundings slowly became clearer as he regained his bearings. The first thing he saw were three teenagers looking at him with varying concern and worry.
One was a girl with pink hair and the prettiest bluish-pink eyes he had ever seen, another a boy with black hair and turquoise eyes that reminded him of the lakes near his village, and the last one was a boy with grey hair and piercing yellow eyes.
Zandik unconsciously tightened the grip he had on the cotton blanket placed on him. This wasn't the cave or anywhere familiar. This place with metal walls and floors, that smells of unknown medicine and chemicals, and three strangers cornering him in the bed he was laying in. It made his heart rate go faster, his mind becoming cloudier than before, and he felt that he couldn't breath right, it was like something heavy was blocking his airway tightening his chest further.
Whatever this place was he needed to leave right away. He couldn't stay as a cornered animal waiting to be slaughtered and eaten. His eyes darted around faster than his brain could process, in that short time he found a mysterious door? He thinks it's a door, it resembles a door. He turned his attention back to the three teenagers, they had their backs turned talking amongst each other. This was a chance he couldn't afford to waste. In a swift motion, a bit too fast for the distracted teenagers to react, he leaped out of the bed and ran as quickly as he could towards the strange door. As he made it in front, the door opened with a sharp sound. Without wasting a second, he ran out of the room leaving the trio in bafflement before the panic sets in.
"…Hey! Kid!" The grey haired one called, "come back! Your injuries aren't healed yet!" Along with his voice, footsteps of three people accompanied it, trailing behind Zandik.
He ignored them, well to be more specific he couldn't hear them. All he could hear were muffled voices yelling about something, something he would rather not hear. So he ran, faster than the much taller adolescents running after him.
This unknown location he found himself in felt like a metal labyrinth, each corridor or hallway looked the same as the previous one. It was becoming frustrating for the little child, yet he could not simply give up. Not until he was sure he was safe, but everywhere he looked led to a dead end. He was starting to think there was no exit at all, just then he spotted a metal door similar to the one that let him escape. It looked so out of place within these halls with nothing but cylindrical containers and metal boxes. Yet he can't help but be drawn towards it.
He stood in front of it. The door opening in a swift motion, revealing not the outside no, but a room filled with holograms and machines. Zandik cautiously entered the mysterious room. The sounds of machines humming buzzed around his head as he explored this strange space. When he took a closer look at one of the holograms nearby it showed a complicated formula he had never seen before.
Numbers upon numbers stacked together with unknown symbols connecting them. It fascinated him to no end, to the point he had forgotten his own panic. Once again his curiosity was getting the better of him. Slowly he reached out towards the formula, almost touching it's digital surface–
"–that's not for touching," the hologram disappeared and in its stead stood a purple haired woman in a witch like attire, "what are you doing here? I thought the Nameless took you in already," her voice sounded familiar. Zandik realized it was probably the same voice that left before he fully woke up. Herta, he thinks her name is.
"…" He hesitated for a second, "I ran away," he honestly said. Herta blinked, processing the words he had just said. Her face morphed into something between exasperation and bewilderment.
"You… ran away?" She repeated in a questioned tone, "why would you do that?"
Now that she said it out loud, why did he ran away? He looked back at his memories and found no good reason. The trio from before seemed nice, and they weren't actively harming him. From their conversation alone he could deduce that they found him and treated his wounds. Someone with malicious intent wouldn't do that. He figured that the probable reason why he ran away was entirely due to panic and anxiety reaching its maximum.
Zandik dropped his head, embarrassed at his actions, "because they looked scary at first," it sounded so childish yet it was the only good reason he could give her.
Herta let out a small chuckle, "scary? Now that's a first. Never would have imagined the Nameless scaring a little kid. However that doesn't explain how you got here. So explain that young man."
"… I found the door," he said it in an obvious tone. Herta raised a brow, but believe his statement. There was no reason for him to lie.
"You found the entrance? But I made sure this time around," she murmured and paused. Her attention turned to the kid that intruded into her secret lab. She specifically made this lab impossible to find by the ordinary masses, after getting interrupted by Welt and Sunday the first time around. The only ones who could find this lab would be fellow Members of the Genius Society. Which would mean, this unknown blue haired kid is also a Member. If that was true, then why wasn't she informed of this. Usually when others get approved, Droid Head would send her a notification without her consent inside her mind of a new Member of the Genius Society. Somehow this kid was an exception. An exception she can't help but want to find out why.
"What's your name?" She decided to say. Whatever this kid was, it certainly got Droid Head's attention and by proxy hers too.
He bit the inside of his cheek, "Zandik," he forced the words to come out. He never liked his name, whenever it was spoken it would always sound like a curse and maybe it was. But it was the only name he has.
"Alright then Zandik," she said with no venom in her voice, "while I usually kick out intruders, you are a special case. You may stay and ask any questions you may have, but you cannot touch anything here even for a fraction of a second," she lowered her gaze to match his, "do you understand?"
Zandik nodded almost excitedly. He wanted to know what that formula was and all the different things inside this laboratory too, even if it means trusting a complete stranger. He knew this was a bad idea but he couldn't turn down an opportunity like this, he'll deal with the consequence later like he usually does.
Herta beckoned him to follow him through the myriads of holograms, mysterious items, computers, and giant machines; until the both of them stopped at the center of multiple massive monitors stuck together showing different locations of offices and similar laboratories.
"Now do you have anything you want to ask? I don't have all day, and I have much more important duties to attend to," she didn't look at him when she said it, solely focusing on the screens before her.
Zandik also focused on the screens with interest, "… if you have much more important duties, then why are you here? Entertaining me?" That part was strange to him, he could tell she was an important figure from the way she presented herself. So why is she bothering herself with a kid like him, it's not like he has anything interesting to offer her.
That earned a smirk, "asking the real question huh? Well to put it simply you caught my interest," Zandik snapped his head towards her, "I don't know why but Droid Head didn't inform me of your acceptance to the Society. It got me curious as to why that is, so I want to figure out why your such an exception."
Zandik tilted his head, "Droid Head? The Society? What are those?"
"Droid Head, Nous, you know the Erudition. And Society, the Genius Society," she said it with a tone indicating that it was the most obvious thing in the world, but Zandik has no idea what any of those mean. Nous, the Genius Society he has never heard of them before in his life, and he has read a lot of books from the other regions of Teyvat.
"What? What does Nous or the Genius Society mean?" Now that got Herta's attention. Her head turned away from the screens, now focusing on him. Her eyes widened slightly, her lips frowning, and her brows furrowed. Zandik got the feeling that, that wasn't something he should've said. A small pit started to form in his stomach, he has seen that face on adults before. They made that exact expression whenever he asks something they deemed a 'stupid' question. He lowered his gaze fearing already disliking the upcoming words Herta would say to him.
Are you really asking that? No wonder your parents want nothing to do with you.
Hah! What a stupid question, isn't the answer already obvious?
I don't have time to answer your question, Zandik. Find them yourself.
Stop disturbing me, with your dumb questions. The answer is already there so why are you even asking?
Zandik… never ask me that again.
"…Nous is the Aeon of Erudition, THEY are a being that collects never-ending knowledge in the pursuit of the truth of the Universe. The Genius Society is faction under THEM, founded by THEIR creator, Zandar One Kuwabara. The Genius Society is a Society that houses various scientists from different fields all deemed worthy by Nous and were gazed by THEM. Now does that answer your question?"
Zandik turn back to her, his eyes disbelieving on what he was hearing and seeing. Herta right now didn't look at least one bit inconvenient, actually she had a small smirk on her face as if she found his question amusing. He blinked and small droplets of water fell onto the metal ground. Herta's smirk faltered changing into a concerned frown.
When she answered his inquiry she hadn't expected him to start crying all of a sudden. She hadn't said or did anything to incite such a reaction, so why was this brat crying in front of her? This was one of the reasons why she didn't like interacting with kids with the sole exception of Stephen. They are always so unpredictable, and for once that wasn't a good thing. So this leaves her with a massive problem, how is she going to comfort him? She was never the best when it comes to interacting with people and now she was expected to comfort some kid? You might as well ask Aha to stop laughing.
Taking a deep sigh Herta crouched down lowering herself on the level of the sniffling kid, "hey. Why are you crying?" She cringed at her awkward response but she persisted on, "you can't cry here, you're going to short-circuit my machines if you keep at it," that was not the best way to go at it but what do you expect with a Genius? Their minds are on another plane than ordinary people.
The kid quickly wiped his eyes trying his best to get rid the of the tears, "…sorry," he murmured so softly Herta almost couldn't hear it, "I don't know why I'm crying either."
Well that made things more difficult, how is she going to stop him if he doesn't know the reason why his crying either. What to do? She honestly has no clue, for the first time in a while the great Herta was stumped…
…A small laugh left her lips. This? This stumped her? She has dealt with much more challenging problems, such as cracking the de-aging method, escaping Polka, and dealt with the Amphoreus incident for Aeons sake! But a child crying is what made her stuck. She couldn't help but laugh a bit at this absurd situation.
Zandik stopped sniffling, he watched in confusion as Herta laughed to herself. She now looked like an evil witch more than ever, and it kind of made him terrified apprehensive of her. Tears streaks from his eyes painted his face drying up rather fast, he's no longer crying but he is now worried about what was happening to Herta. He feels unsure if he should just leave or wait out her hysterical episode to finish.
"Hah!" Herta stopped after noticing Zandik wasn't crying anymore, a pink blush covered her cheeks when she realizes what she had just done. Trying to save face Herta cleared her throat, "ahem–well are you done crying?" He nodded, "good…" a few seconds passed in awkward silence. For all her genius and greatness, Herta doesn't know how to move forward. Socializing with kids is one of the few things Herta has yet to master the other one being baking. Just now an idea popped into her head. Before she physically met him, she saw the kid staring into one of her unfinished formulas. If this twerp is now part of the Genius Society then he would no doubt be interested in this type of thing.
She stood up and opened a holographic panel depicting the aforementioned formula, "I could tell, you were eyeing this earlier," she moved the panel to where Zandik could see it, "I'll explain it to you, but you can't cry. If you do I'm kicking you out," it was a harmless threat, she wasn't actually going to do that to a small kid. However, Zandik took it seriously. Already planting the idea of not crying in his head.
"Alright, I'll start off with the basics," she snapped her fingers and the whole room transformed into a cozy lounge with a table and two chairs on each side, the two already sitting on the chairs facing each other from the opposite sides. The wires, machines, and holograms vanished replaced by paintings of Herta or various mirrors. The monitors on the other hand was replaced by a giant window showing the outside filled with starlight. Zandik looked out in amazement, he has seen the starry night before but never this close. It was as if he was inside the night sky itself. But something felt wrong, how can he be this close to the sky? This shouldn't be possible, right?
He turned back to Herta with an apprehensive look, "um, Miss Herta? Where in Teyvat are we?"
She raised a brow, "Teyvat?" She searched in her mind if there was ever a world like that, but her search yielded no results, "I have never heard of a planet with a name like that before, is that where you came from?"
Zandik's stomach dropped, he felt like the ground beneath him swallowed him whole. He wasn't in Teyvat? Then where was he? Is he outside of Teyvat? How did he get here? Why is he here? The outside world began to blur, sounds blending in together becoming more like static, as panic slowly plants itself inside his mind. Why was he panicking? Isn't this what he wanted? To be as far away as possible from his village. So why does it feel like the entire world was crashing down into him?… Why? Why was it so suddenly hard to breathe?
Droplets of water dripped onto his lap, without realizing it he was crying again. A small gasp escaped his mouth, does this mean he'll get kicked out? Is he going to be kicked out again? Well it didn't surprise him, he always has a knack for making other people hate him.
"Now why are you crying this time?" However Herta's voice spoke so softly, there was no annoyance no irritation. And when he looked, he found her standing beside him with expression of pure concern. For some reason it made him cry even more.
Herta felt like she was at her wits end. Just as the kid returned to normal he was cry again seconds after, harder this time. She sighed, she really should kick him out. A sobbing kid like him has no place in this laboratory nor near her presence. Yet she can't bring herself to do it, instead out of pure instinct and a bit of desperation , she slid her delicate fingers through the soft and curly blue hair of Zandik trying to at least give him a sense of comfort.
His body froze at the touch, as tears continued to stream down his cheeks. This response felt foreign to him, he doesn't know how to react or what to say. So he sat silently, slowly moving into the touch of her fingers.
After a long silence, Herta finally broke it, "now are you willing to tell me why you were crying again?"
Zandik sniffed but was able to let out a small nod, "…I want to go home."
Herta blinked, that was it? He wants to go home? Well it's not like she can blame him, she pieced the puzzle rather quick. She could tell the kid was taken from his home planet without his consent and probably realized it a little too late. In her mind she cursed, Nous. Why did THEY think it was a good idea to take a kid so young outside of home planet. Whatever, she could just search his home, and drop him off there. He said it was called 'Teyvat' right? She'll go off from there.
A yawn left Zandik's mouth before he could stop it. Herta turned her attention back to him. His eyes along with his entire head was dropping, ready to fall into the table any second now. She snapped her fingers and a soft looking pillow materialized on the table. He unconsciously blinked before letting sleep conquer him, his entire body immediately slumping into the table.
Herta watched as his chest rose and fell in a rhythmic pattern. She kept caressing his head even after he fell soundly asleep, in her mind it just felt right. On the other hand her free hand summoned a bunch of holograms showing various planets in the universe, scrolling through each and every single one of them.
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"Somethings wrong," Istaroth gazed at the night sky filled with scattered colorful stars painting the deep blue with pink, purple, yellow, and white patches of light. Each having a section of their own, creating different images of animals or items. However there was one seemingly empty patch amongst the numerous stars.
She walked towards the empty patch of nothing but navy blue. Observing it in closer view, however no matter how much she stared it yielded no answer. Her slender finger's circled in counter-clockwise. The stars moved accordingly, morphing backwards from their previous form. While the once empty patch started to be filled with light colored cyan of varying sizes forming into what looked like the shape of a crow.
"This one," Istaroth narrowed her seemingly gentle eyes, "how can this be?" She couldn't believe it. At first she thought the constellation that was missing was something insignificant, it happened from time to time so this wasn't that strange to her. But no, the constellation that had vanished all of a sudden was of significance. One bearing of a heretical fate, a fate needed to push Teyvat into new heights.
Istaroth needed to get to the bottom of the missing constellation, she needs to get it back. Or else, the future of Teyvat is as unknown to her as it is to a ordinary mortal.