Chapter Text
Nahida frowns, her fingers tapping against the desk. The incident regarding the Wanderer and his past had left a deep impression on her.
Despite the fact that it had turned out as well as it could have, she felt as though she would have been more helpful if she had properly understood his feelings. If she had properly empathized with him then perhaps he wouldn't have taken that path.
Though his actions had caused great harm, the erasure of his existence was not the appropriate response.
With his past completely forgotten save for a select few who knew the truth, he would never truly be able to gain what he wished for. To be forgiven for his actions by those he wronged. To reach out to his mother and learn of her reasoning and ease the remaining burdens on his heart.
Though he seemed to be fine with remaining as he was, he clearly still desired to have a place he could return to. A home, and people he loved who loved him in return.
His actions had ensured that those wounds would remain without closure.
She felt pity for him, though she wasn't sure if pity was the right word. A dull ache lay in her heart when she thought if it all, of how he was misled and used. Even now, she could tell he doubted the truth he had once held above all, but now there was no one who could give him the answers he sought.
She wished she could help him, but how could she make him feel loved if she had never experienced it for herself?
She could understand sorrow and loneliness, as well as desiring to be free and accepted. Yet, she did not know what having a family was like, for she never had one of her own.
If she had ever felt that way, it had disappeared with her memories.
Even now, there was no one who was her equal, save for the other Archons, and she could not ask them such a question.
What does it feel like to have a family?
What does it feel like to be loved?
Though she's seen it from afar, she doesn't think she can truly understand the joys without experiencing it herself.
She decides this is something she must know and summons her two advisors to assist.
"Acting Grand Sage Al-Haitham, General Mahamatra Cyno, I have a request I'd like to make."
The two look tense, no doubt assuming her request is something important, perhaps even dangerous. She feels a bit embarrassed to ask them, knowing that it's nothing of the sort.
"If it's something I can do for you, I will abide by your request." Cyno says with a determined look.
Al-Haitham simply nods, "What is it that you need?"
"Oh. Um…" There's the brief thought that she should think better of her request, yet she doesn't think she would be able to ask it of anyone else.
"I want to know what it means to have a family."
The two stare blankly at her for a moment before they share a glance.
Nahida bites her lip, perhaps that was too much to ask?
"Lord Kusanali," Al-Haitham breaks the silence, "I'm afraid we don't know what you mean by that."
Cyno shoots him a glare before turning to look at her, "What he means is, how do you want us to fulfill your request?"
How to fulfill her request?
She frowns, pondering the question. Perhaps pretending to be a family would give her the insight she needed?
"I suppose I want to experience things a normal child would experience with their parents."
"I see." Al-Haitham frowns, pondering her words. "Alright. I think we can do that."
"Really?!" She can hardly contain her excitement at his approval.
Al-Haitham nods, ignoring Cyno's suspicious look. "Yes. We should be able to make a plan for that."
Nahida smiles, "How wonderful! Oh, but I wouldn't want it to cause any issues, so perhaps we should keep it to a day only."
"Is that enough?" Cyno asks, "There are many things families do, I don't think we can get through them all in a single day."
Nahida shakes her head, "It's alright. A day is enough." They were all busy, and this was a whim of hers. She could not trouble them for more of their time.
"There must be things you'd like to do, correct?" Al-Haitham asks, "Why don't you decide on that first?"
"What I'd like to do?"
Well, if nothing else she would like to look at Sumeru with her own eyes and walk along the ground with her own feet.
She wanted to listen to the laughter of her people and hear the joy within their hearts.
"I'd like to experience Sumeru, not as the Archon, but as a normal person." It was a difficult request, no one would be able to pretend they did not know who she was, but even so she would like it if people could treat her normally.
"I see. Then let me draft up a plan for our outing." Without waiting for a reply Al-Haitham exits, leaving the two of them alone.
Cyno clears his throat, "If there are any specific things you'd like to do, I'll pass them along to him."
"Thank you, General." She smiles shyly, "I know it's an unusual request."
"It's alright. You don't need to worry about troubling us." His gaze is warm as he assures her, "We are here to help you. You can ask anything of us, Lord Kusanali."
"Does that sound alright? Or would you like for me to make some revisions?"
Nahida smiles, "I have no complaints. The plan is very well thought out and I am looking forward to tomorrow."
Al-Haitham nods and folds the paper, tucking it into the pouch on his hip.
"There is one other thing I would like to address, Lord Kusanali."
"Yes? What is it?"
"Well, in this scenario we are playing a family, correct?" Nahida nods in reply.
"Are Cyno and I meant to be your parents?"
Hm… She had never considered that, but perhaps that would be the better option.
"Yes, please act as if you are my parents."
There's a flicker of hesitation in Cyno's face at the thought of being a parent to an Archon, even if he's just pretending.
Al-Haitham doesn't seem to have the same worries.
"In that case, I'll be your father and Cyno will take on the role of your mother."
Cyno frowns and crosses his arms across his chest. "We're both men, so we're both the father."
"Children don't come as a result of a relationship between two men." Al-Haitham states plainly.
Cyno scowls, "That sort of logic isn't needed."
Nahida laughs nervously, "Ah, since we're simply playing pretend, I don't think we need to worry about those details."
"Hm. Alright. How should we refer to each other then?"
Cyno thinks for a moment, "I suppose using our normal names would be fine but…" His eyes flicker to Nahida.
"It would make me happy if the two of you could call me 'Nahida' rather than Lord Kusanali during our game." Nahida smiles warmly, clapping her hands together.
"Then it's decided." Al-Haitham gestures between the three of them. "The setting is that we are a married couple, and our daughter is Nahida. Is that agreeable to you, Cyno?"
Cyno nods, "Yes. I understand." He pauses, as if debating something in his mind. "Haitham."
The change in referral catches Al-Haitham off guard for a moment. His attention shifts over to Cyno, staring at him. Cyno returns the look until Al-Haitham shifts his gaze away. He clears his throat, "Right."
Nahida's eyes look from one to the other, 'I wonder what they're thinking right now. But it would be impolite to pry…'
She had thought the two got along quite well, but perhaps that wasn't the case?
The silence stretches a bit too long, and Cyno clears his throat to dispel it. "Tomorrow then?"
"Yes. Tomorrow." Al-Haitham turns to address Nahida. "We will be meeting in front of the Akademiya at 9 am. Will that be alright Lord-" He clears his throat, correcting himself. "Nahida?"
She smiles brightly at them, "Yes. I look forward to our trip together."
The sky is bright and the weather is pleasantly warm. Nahida takes a deep breath and smiles.
A perfect day for an outing.
When she exits the Akademiya's doors, they are waiting for her, speaking quietly amongst themselves.
"It's an interesting look for you." Al-Haitham remarks as he looks over Cyno's clothing.
"Speak for yourself."
"There's no need to be so tense. I don't think it looks bad on you."
Hearing her footsteps, they turn to greet her.
Her eyes widen when she sees them, they look very different without their usual clothes. So much so that she can hardly recognize them.
Cyno is dressed plainly, closer to the average Sumeru citizen, and were it not for his unusual hair she's certain she would not give him a second glance.
Gone was the General Mahamatra, and in his place a more calm and serious looking young man who could disappear into a sea of people.
Al-Haitham's attire stands out a bit more with his color scheme of black and green, yet his clothes appear fairly simple compared to his usual attire. It's strange to see his arms bare, the embellishments attached to his hip missing, and devoid of the extravagant cape and shoes he generally wears.
They look so unlike themselves, but to have such attire already prepared, maybe they wore them off hours?
Perhaps it's because it's supposed to be a casual outing that the two look so different than usual.
She wonders if she should've changed into something else as well.
Cyno is the first to speak, hiking up the bag on his shoulders. "Are you ready, Nahida?"
Al-Haitham draws out a sheet of paper from his pocket, checking it. "First, we should get some food from the bazaar as our breakfast and then get a few supplies."
"Breakfast… What should we eat?"
"What do you want to eat?" Al-Haitham asks, turning to her.
"Hm… Shawarma wraps!" Her enthusiasm brings a small smile to them both and Cyno offers a hand for her to take.
"Then we'll get shawarma wraps for breakfast."
With a hot shawarma wrap in one hand and Cyno's hand in the other, she finds herself glancing over at every stall they pass.
Cyno is very accommodating, walking slowly and stopping whenever it seems like she might want to take a closer look.
Al-Haitham has disappeared somewhere into the crowd, having taken it upon himself to get their supplies.
It's strange seeing everyone greet them, only to do a double take once they realize who they're talking to. Their eyes shift from her over to Cyno, then back again.
She doesn't know if Cyno's presence prevents them from inquiring about the situation, but she's glad she doesn't have to explain.
It would be rather embarrassing to admit that she was indulging in a game, even scheduling a day off to do so.
She takes a bite of her food, listening intently as Cyno inquires about the price of a thin blanket.
Her throat is parched, and she turns to Cyno to request a drink.
How should she refer to him? Should she use his name? Or, considering the game's scenario, should she refer to him as father?
No, that would cause a stir.
She tugs Cyno's hand, drawing his attention. "I'm thirsty, can I have something to drink?"
"Yes, of course." He immediately turns to the shopkeeper, who has already heard her words and is scrambling to procure a drink for her.
She wanted to be treated normally, but she's not quite sure if this is how a normal outing is supposed to go.
Yet she doesn't find herself minding it as she enjoys her shawarma wrap and peach juice.
Cyno's hand feels so warm against her own.
Their first stop is Pardis Dhyai, where a plethora of rare and exotic trees and plants are housed. She had been wanting to visit the place since she had first heard about it, it was a shame that her first visit had ended so poorly.
One of the Mahamata generously guides them, showing the various plants being cultivated. Medicinal herbs, exotic saplings and trees, vibrant and fragrant berries, as well as hybrids of flowers she's never seen.
She listens intently as the process of growing each one is described to her, making mental notes to experiment in her own time.
She finds herself wondering if she could create some bountiful fruit bearing trees or an herb to cure all illness.
Perhaps she should attend some Amurta classes to learn more about the various agricultural techniques that have come to pass throughout the years.
She's surprised when one of the researchers hands Al-Haitham a thick folder, which he passes off to Cyno without a word.
Cyno catches her gaze and smiles. "It's for you to look at later," He says, placing the folder into his bag.
Was her interest so obvious?
They depart from the facility a few hours later, with Cyno leading them to a nice shaded clearing nearby. He sets a blanket down on the grass, and gestures for them to sit.
This is their second activity, something suggested by Cyno in lieu of stargazing. For she has gazed at the stars many times, but she had yet to cloud watch.
It sounds so peaceful. To take a moment to rest, to lay down on the ground and gaze out at the clouds, enjoying nature.
She's never paid much attention to the clouds before but it's fun to watch them float lazily by, trying to make sense of their unusual shapes.
"That one looks like a cat!" Nahida exclaims as she points to the sky.
"Which one?" Al-Haitham asks with a tilt of his head.
"That one there, do you see the curling tail?"
"Ah, that one. Hm, I wouldn't call that one a cat. It looks more like a letter." Al-Haitham gestures to another cloud, "That one looks like Cyno's headdress."
Cyno looks up at the words, frowning as he scrutinizes the cloud. "That one is a rabbit."
"No, it's definitely your hat." Al-Haitham looks over at Nahida, "You see it too, don't you?"
"Hm…" She raises her hands to the sky framing the cloud with her fingers. "I can see both."
Cyno shakes his head and rummages around in his pack, pulling out a few glass bottles and wrapped packages.
"Are you hungry yet, Nahida? I have some pita pockets if you are."
Nahida sits up quickly, "Oh, is this a picnic?"
So it was not simply cloud gazing, but a picnic while they enjoyed nature.
Cyno sets down the wrapped pita pockets and gestures to the glass bottles.
"Berry juice, sunsettia juice, and peach juice. Pick whichever one you like."
He sets a canister in front of Al-Haitham, "Coffee."
"There's truly nothing like listening to the sounds of the forest while you eat." Nahida says as they eat together.
The pita pockets are still warm due to the leaves Cyno has wrapped them in. The sunsettia juice pairing with it quite nicely.
Al-Haitham nods in response, distracted by his book as he takes slow bites out of his pita pocket.
Cyno eyes scan the area as he takes bites of his food.
"Are you looking for something?" She asks, surprising Cyno.
"Just keeping watch." He explains, "You never know when or where Fungi or bandits may appear." He clears his throat to change the subject, "Do the pita pockets taste alright? I was in a hurry and didn't taste them myself."
Al-Haitham looks up from his book, "Did you make them yourself?"
"Yes. I got the recipe from a friend."
Al-Haitham hums and takes a bite of his food, chewing slowly.
"I think they're delicious!" Nahida says with a smile and a pat on his arm, "Thank you for taking the time to make them."
"Ah, you don't have to thank me for-"
"They're decent." Al-Haitham interrupts them before he turns back to his book.
Cyno shoots him an annoyed look but says nothing.
In an effort to clear the tension, Nahida draws Cyno into a tale about the forest and Aranara. Though his eyes do not stray from his book, she can tell it has drawn Al-Haitham's attention as well.
By the end of her story their stomachs are satiated and so they decide to pack up and move to their next destination, Port Ormos.
Port Ormos is a bustling harbor, filled with lively chatter, and everything from the crates to the buildings are large.
So it comes as no surprise that the people are nearly always in a hurry, large sailors and laborers carrying their goods through the streets.
Nahida finds herself oddly sandwiched between Al-Haitham and Cyno as they walk. Al-Haitham walks in front of them to part the crowds, while Cyno sticks close to her side so no one accidentally strides into her path.
Though there's no fear of getting lost, she still holds onto his hand as they walk.
She certainly wouldn't be able to walk so leisurely without their help, but it feels just a bit suffocating.
She cannot see much in front of her, as Al-Haitham's tall and broad stature blocks her view.
Nor can she look left, as Cyno seems insistent on keeping people's prying eyes off of her.
She could only look to her right as a result, though it was still a nice view. She sees people mingling and talking business, the smiles and laughter of her people as they go about their day.
Fishermen and porters carrying heavy crates bustle by them, Cyno casually stepping sideways to avoid bumping into them.
Perhaps she could convince them to circle back around later on when it was less hectic, she really wanted to see the ships.
They browse the many stores in Port Ormos. A furniture store and an antiques dealer draws Al-Haitham's interest, while a booth that sells games catches Cyno's attention.
Though this was meant to be a trip for her, she has no desire to restrict them. Moreover, she was interested in those stores as well, even more now that her advisors wished to visit them.
Nahida watches intently as Al-Haitham scrutinizes a wooden carving, turning it around in his hand. It's a strange shape and she can't quite tell what it's supposed to be, but it is certainly unique.
She would never have known Al-Haitham had such tastes if she hadn't seen it with her own eyes.
"If you like it, you should buy it." Cyno says simply as he glances over the shelves beside him.
Al-Haitham scoffs, "And have Kaveh yell at me for my poor choices?"
Cyno chuckles, hiding his smile behind his hand. "It didn't stop you last time."
"Hm. Sometimes it's worth the extra mora to annoy him."
"So, it is on purpose."
"Not intentionally, just a... nice bonus." Al-Haitham's tone betrays his words, failing to hide his amusement.
Cyno pokes at the carving in Al-Haitham's hands, "It's nice and small. I'm sure Kaveh would have picked it up himself."
"Your skill in persuasion needs more work."
Cyno hums, "Maybe I also enjoy seeing him annoyed."
They share a look and Cyno picks up a wooden carving from a nearby shelf, handing it to Al-Haitham.
"Maybe a pair would be better. What do you think?"
Since they are preoccupied, Nahida decides to browse the store by herself.
Perhaps she could find some things to decorate the Sanctuary to make it feel more welcoming.