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[cyeli-no]

Isekai/Reincarnation AU: Cyno/Al-Haitham’s Deaths (pt. 2)

— “The people of Sumeru didn’t get their happy endings. The forest skies cry endlessly as the nation's archon weeps for friends lost over the years. Now, the two of the last ones alive keep cover beneath the canopy, a final promise of protection.”

Linked posts: Character Sheet (pt. 0), Collei Reborn (pt. 1)

─── ⋅ ⋅ ∘ ☽ ༓ ☾ ∘ ⋅ ⋅ ───

The people of Sumeru didn’t get their happy endings. The forest skies cry endlessly as the nation's archon weeps for friends lost over the years. Now, the two of the last ones alive keep cover beneath the canopy, a final promise of protection.

Al-Haitham, ever the feeble scholar, was targeted because of his relationship with the General Mahamatra. In an attempt to capture whoever it was after his life, he made a plan to be bait. There was a miscalculation in his plan, or maybe it was a hopeless wish for his beloved to choose himself for the first time. Cyno had always been the type to do everything to save his loved ones and it was used against him. When a threat on the Grand Scribe’s life is passed without any ability to reach him, Sumeru’s General accepted the proposed bargain of his own life. Nahida insisted they would do everything in their power to bring him home, but that turned out to be empty platitudes.

Cyno’s corpse was returned to Sumeru and with his departed soul, he took Al-Haitham’s, too. Word didn’t spread too fast, kept a secret because the position he held. Collei received word of it a few days later, vaguely told of how Cyno’s corpse was returned on the porch of his partner’s household. Maybe she was never intended to hear about those details, but worry seeped into everyone's words and actions because he had since locked himself in the late man’s office. No one was able to convince him to leave, to eat, to do anything, until Collei went banging on the door.

She should’ve been more understanding, perhaps, but she couldn’t stop her shouts and crying, begging him to open the door because she had begun losing more memories with the man. He could not always return to her in Gandharva Ville so her visits allowed them to create memories within his small and inviting (as much as scholars disagreed) office. Those memories now were barred away from her; all the days she would visit and help him reorganize all the trinkets loved ones bought him, the nights she would fall asleep on the cushions to his writing and he would lay her cloak over her, the countless times she could walk in and claim his time because he loves her (she couldn’t begin to claim he once loved her as if he ever stopped because she knew he wouldn’t). With Al-Haitham inside, she couldn’t do that anymore, despite how hard she tried to rip the door open.

So she begged, begged him to not take him away anymore because there would be nothing left for to hold onto. He unlocked the door and she continued to cry, protected by the walls of his office and gently held by arms large enough to tie down her guardian once upon a time. He wasn’t as warm as Cyno was and his touch didn’t bring her as much comfort. But, if she closed her eyes and she inhaled deeply to stop her hiccuping sobs, she could pretend she could smell the sweet fruit of the desert on his clothes. She could pretend he was a different man.

He was buried as he lived, with meager belongings but filled with tokens of the love he received. His personal wish to not be mummified was the first thing Candace and Dehya discussed about his funeral ceremony. Al-Haitham agreed without hesitation. He let them take over as the only ones who could uphold his desert customs. Similarly, Candace requested in private for Al-Haitham to take over the forest rites because Cyno was a child of Sumeru, both halves of it. He almost denied her selfishly, but he knew more than anyone about how many forest practices Cyno wasn't allowed to partake in because of his origin.

The heat of the sun or the tickle of Tighnari’s tail left tingles against Collei's skin and static vibrated beneath it. The weight of his mantle was heavy in her arms, but it must be nothing compared to the pots held by the others. Even Nahida, with her smaller frame, holds a case of metal trinkets. Collei was the first to fall to one knee by the grave, his head positioned to tilt towards both the mausoleum. She laid the jackal head down and closed her eyes. Flowers bloomed where her tears hit the sand, hands shaking too much to push herself back to her feet. I love you, she cries. I love you, the flowers sing.

Al-Haitham’s passing was unsurprising, especially in Collei’s eyes. He threw himself into vengeance. He stopped at nothing, stooped to a level he wouldn’t have once because everyone knew of Cyno’s ideals. Kaveh tried to tell him it wasn’t what Cyno would’ve wanted, but that wasn’t enough. (“He knew I wouldn’t have wanted him to go for my sake.” Al-Haitham’s voice was filled more anguish than the anger he once held. Despite it all, never once did he tell them What he wants doesn’t matter. Collei knew he would be lying if he said that. After all, the reason why Cyno’s precious Casket of Tomes remained is pristine condition was because everything Cyno cared about mattered to him.)

She wasn’t the one beside him when he left, but she was the last to hear his voice. (“Are you scared?” She asked, seated by his bed as his tired eyes stared blankly at the ceiling. She nearly winced at the question, ready to retract it when he chuckled. His voice was softer, usually reserved for one man, “Not at all. I’ll be returning home.”) She didn’t cry as he is returned to the earth, claiming a spot in the desert instead of the forest.

[cyeli-no]

Isekai/Reincarnation AU: Collei Reborn (pt. 1)

— where Collei ends up dying in an accident (her wind glider malfunctions) and she wakes up in a medieval fantasy that follows the plot of one the novels Cyno used to read to her

Except, rather than the characters, she meets people from Sumeru who have already died, including Cyno himself. (She doesn’t realize it at first because the people in her house and that she interacts with for the first few years are accurate to the novel)

Kind of think it would be funny if everyone had a different plot that feels very disconnected from each other but it really isn’t. Cyno and Al-Haitham have their enemies to lovers in a medieval fantasy AU, Collei has an isekai/reincarnation AU, Candace has a political drama, Dehya has a mystery, Nilou has a slice of life (but make it medieval).

Linked posts: Character Sheet (pt. 0), Cyno/Al-Haitham’s Deaths (pt. 2)

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Collei, reborn into the body of a tragic side character, is the daughter of a duke who was supposed to kill his children because they failed their use. She is intent on making sure she doesn’t die, doing everything in her power to convince her father to rethink her worth. In the end, because of the reincarnation, she has more magical power than the original character did. He becomes softer with her, treating her like a daughter.

She overhears maids discussing how he threatened to kill her brother. Collei tries to talk to her father, convince him to see value in him like he did her, but it doesn’t work. His anger is unrelenting when he demands she not meddle in affairs she knows nothing about. He can’t lay a hand on her for some reason, a sign of his twisted affection. In retaliation, he ends up sending her brother far away, somewhere she can never reach.

She isn’t in danger, but there is little that can convince her to stay despite people whispering how she has melted his heart. She knows the timeline and doesn’t cower from him. No, she goes to work right away. There are very few people with enough authority to question a duke, even less who are willing to fight one. But, she knows of the feared duke of the north, a popular character because of his unwavering loyalty to the newly-coronated queen and a trusted ally to the main character.

During the annual ball, Collei wanders through the garden in hopes of finding the duke. Something in her heart seems to shatter at the sight of him, sitting beside the pond and allowing ice to spread in the water. Her throat constricts and “Cyno?” falls out before she can even realize that is what is circulating through her brain. He doesn’t look the same. Jet black doesn’t glow under the moon like Cyno’s white always did. His red eyes are just as piercing as they were in his first life when they face her.

She becomes overwhelmed just at the sight of him, memories flooding her mind of him in their previous lives. He is by her side to hopefully comfort her as she unravels. In the end, the only way to ease her heart is to let small snowflakes fall and cover her hair. They melt when they touch her, but when she opens her hand to catch one, he leaves it for her to hold. It is a bit before she can regain her voice to discuss her proposal to move to the north with him.

In the novel, the duke was described as a good man who would do anything to protect people. She always found Cyno in the character; a kind man who would never allow injustices to occur. She could feel all her worries melt away when she asks him, begging him to take her far away from home, to a place her father can never follow.

He agrees quicker than she originally planned with the duke. She doesn’t even feel relief because she felt it the second she realized it was him. How ironic that he saves her in two lives.

She meets Dehya because of Cyno. She is his head “knight” (really, she is his best friend who didn’t want to continue working for another nobleman and, instead, is Cyno’s right hand for everything) who he assigns to protect Collei. She learns that the person Dehya used to work for was collecting information on civilians with magic powers and she is trying to figure out why with the help of Cyno.

When she outlives the point in which her character was supposed to die, she gets hit with more memories of the content of the books. She remembers how the northern duke dies in a tragic accident to protect the queen. He was physically overpowered after being poisoned and Collei gets hit with the realization that she is too weak to do anything to prevent it.

At this point, Collei insists on learning how to fight from Dehya, but the former Flame Mane rejects it. For someone with her magic power, it would be smarter to learn from someone who actually practices magic. Despite Cyno being close and available, Collei realizes there is an even better option.

She remembers the mage who served the royal family. He was imprisoned because people believed him to be the one who murdered the king. In the end, the main character freed and recruited him to their cause. The north duke and the mage had few scenes together, but each one was filled with animosity. Despite being aware of the possibility of history repeating, she knows there is no one as good at magic as him.

With Cyno being friends with the crown princess, who Collei learns is Candace, it is easy for her to find the mage. He doesn’t stray too far from his tower, and she is willing to scale the stairway to find a way to protect Cyno in this life. When she knocks on his room door at the top of the tower, she is surprised to find Al-Haitham there. She isn’t sure how to convince him, but she tries anyway. She doesn’t beg, knowing how little sway it will have on him in the end because she is nothing besides a groveling child.

Her magic sparks intensely when he is about to shut the door on her, singing the wood of his door. Al-Haitham can probably easily fix it, but he just watches as her magic swarms around her, lightning dancing along her skin. Her body vibrates with it, but all she can remember is how the purple once trailed after Cyno’s form. It should be scary, stressful, and yet she finds herself relaxing against the static.

In her previous life, Al-Haitham would have done anything to save Cyno. She watched him dedicate their final years together to doing everything he could to ensure Cyno return home safe. (She also knows how useless it all was in the end because he couldn’t have ever saved him.) In this life, would he be the same?

It’s too troublesome for him. His rejection hurts and the bitter thought that her guardian’s previous lover might cause his demise burns. She learned to bit her tongue for her father and does that here. She leaves with only vague warning of his imprisonment.

─── ⋅ ⋅ ∘ ☽ ༓ ☾ ∘ ⋅ ⋅ ───

I had other thoughts but not thought out:

Al-Haitham and Cyno meet because Collei insists that the mage be her teacher and Cyno will be damned if he lets her work with a stranger

For the first few lessons, he watches them and Al-Haitham makes constant snide comments

They don’t like each other, but Collei and Candace do not let them fight too much

Al-Haitham falls in love with Cyno first. He falls first, falls hard.

Collei goes through the typical isekai story of trying to save herself and the people she loves

The reason why Tighnari kills Collei’s dad after reincarnating is because he hears from Nilou how he hurt Collei

Nilou sometimes gets memories of her past life and whenever a black magic curse is lifted (Candace and Al-Haitham), they experience their past lives

Collei is best girl!!!

[cyeli-no]

Isekai/Reincarnation AU: Character Sheet (pt. 0)

Linked posts: Collei Reborn (pt. 1), Cyno/Al-Haitham’s Deaths (pt. 2)

─── ⋅ ⋅ ∘ ☽ ༓ ☾ ∘ ⋅ ⋅ ───

Collei was reborn into body of side character who dies young (when main character found out, they killed her father and that sparks the whole novel)

The character originally had dormant magic, but being reincarnated awakened it and she has extremely strong magic. Al-Haitham teaches her and she is a natural because of her old vision

She runs away from home and Cyno adopts her

Her memories of her past life are sometimes incorrect (memories are fickle like that) and she will gain more memories of the novel as time goes on because it doesn’t all come back to her

─ ༓ ─

Cyno is a duke who maintains the northern territory, feared because they do not have public relations with other territories and it is said people who enter never escape. Being so private, the original main character would always hide in his estate

His dukedom is filled with refugees from other lands who are trying to escape something or someone, including Collei herself

He has average magic powers, but he is innovative in his fighting style, mixing magic with his weaponry and adapting from the fighting styles of other lands

He actually has a private network of people, thanks to Dehya and Nilou

─ ༓ ─

Al-Haitham is a mage who serves the royal family who is fabled to have the most magic power out of anyone in the kingdom

He rarely leaves his tower because his magic was sealed away by the king’s black magic, leaving him cursed without any knowledge on how to escape

His character is originally imprisoned for treason and killing the king, but Collei’s warning and her decision to visit him constantly to convince him to teach her magic becomes a good alibi

Also, he 100% falls in love with Cyno first.

─ ༓ ─

Candace is the crown princess who is coronated when Collei begins staying with Cyno because the current king has become too old to continue managing public affair

Her family has a history of using black magic, which she uncovers, and she is the only member of the royal family who is only able to use black magic (her parents forced it on her because she was born with no magic)

She spends the first few years of being queen trying to rebuild her kingdom because the previous king let sections of it fall into ruin

─ ༓ ─

Layla is a maid who works for Candace

She has no magic powers, but her extended family does and were connected to someone who went missing after interacting with Dehya’s previous employer

Her character is supposed to be killed by someone planning to start a rebellion and frame the main character

─ ༓ ─

Dehya’s background is unknown, only Cyno knows about it and Collei doesn’t because her character was barely mentioned

In an attempt to solve the mystery, her character disappears from the novel early on. In the isekai timeline, she has to stay behind because of an assassination attempt on Cyno

She has dormant and very weak magic, which she eventually tells Al-Haitham to seal away once it awakens because it is more of a hindrance than helpful

─ ༓ ─

Nilou is a commoner who has prophetic magic, having a double life where she works as an anonymous informant and a beloved florist

As a florist, she mostly interacts with commoners and occasionally Cyno. She is the one who knows Cyno’s favorite flowers when Al-Haitham ends up buying some

As an informant, noblemen often visit her for readings

She is a trusted friend of Cyno and consequently builds a strong relationship with Dehya (and Collei in secret)

─ ༓ ─

Kaveh is a commoner-turned-knight who was supposed to become the best friend of the main character

He has no magical powers, but he is very capable swordsman, especially after he begins sparring with Dehya

─ ༓ ─

Tighnari doesn’t reincarnate until much later because he is Valuka Shuna and they have long lives

When he does, he reincarnates into the body of the main character of the novel, whose introduction is killing Collei’s father and running away from Kaveh’s character

He remembers his past life, just like Collei, but doesn’t know anything about the world

[cyeli-no]

Old fic idea where Cyno’s past start to haunt him after dreams return to the people of Sumeru. He sees the priests who experimented on him every time he closes his eyes and feels trapped in his own skin when he lays alone in a dark room. Memories where he was beat or of when he nearly died follow him closer than his shadow. The lives he was forced to take leave him perpetually covered in red that he cannot wash away.

When he wakes, he feels as if he is losing the last pieces of his mind. In the darkness, he will whisper out a question Hermanubis and receive no answer. Is this what the scholars who stole the Forbidden Knowledge faced? But, he feels even more foolish than that. He shouldn’t be stumbling just from memories, especially not memories he believed he long since overcame. But, his skin crawls and his fingers dig into it in attempts to rip it apart. He never does, forcing his body into a bath and submerging himself until he wrinkles and his body is loose enough to finally take in breaths without his ribs crushing up against his lungs.

His sleep schedule has never been the best and it is even worse in the height of reworking the Akademiya. He needs to find new matra to replace the ones instated by the former Grand Sage as he chases after scholars who have taken advantage of the uncertainty of their nation to do as they line. He is single-handedly in charge of so much that it feels like his legs cannot function properly at the end of the day. He is so tired, wants to close his eyes and rest, and al he can get are whispers of men and women he hoped would never rear their heads again.

He knows it takes a toll on his body when he nearly loses his arm to an Eremite he once would have been able to easily overtaken a month prior. It’s jarring to have the wind knocked out of his lungs as he is pressed to the floor because as his vision darkens for a moment, he is being bound by chains Cyrus once freed his wrists from and the man above him is just another scholar with a scalpel. He doesn’t scream, the sound always trapped in his throat instead because his body reminds his mind how much it aches at the sound.

He doesn’t move when the man cackling above him is flung off. But, at the sound of his name, he calls for the one who has always rescued him, “Professor...?” There is a pause and he knows that it isn’t Cyrus. Cyrus who gathers him closer because he fears Cyno will freeze by how cold he is, stripped away to barely nothing, is not showing his face in his blurred vision.

No, it’s not Cyrus. His mind knows there is danger more than his body allows him to move. Sitting upright aches, even with the slight assistance by whoever helped him, and he can’t relax the limbs that tense at the touch. “Cyno?” The voice fills the air and he strains his eyes to follow the movement of their lips. “Are you with me?” He doesn’t know if he answers, but they frown and he can feel his energy slipping. They lean closer and catch him easily, “I’ve got you.” The promise leaves him breathless.

It is like he laughed without making a sound or moving. Will he be dragged back again? After he just escaped? It’s always the same.

Insistent, the person tightens their grip, “I will keep you safe.” His mind submerges deeper in fog and the endless night. He can’t make out their face anymore and he has to be okay with it.

When he wakes up, he will have to handle it because he can’t right now. When he wakes up, he will escape. When he wakes up—

He makes a wish to the distant stars for Cyrus to find him.

Cyno doesn’t find Cyrus in his dreams. Instead, he just watches blood splatter across the floor and watches people draw closer to rip the remains of his mind apart and watches— He can feel Hermanubis rumbling under his skin and he knows to swallow down the urges to release the spirit. He cannot let it. Help me... What a terrible feeling it is to not believe his father will make it in time.

He wakes up in complete disarray, unable to sit upright with his body heavier than ever. He barely moves from whatever he is laying on, head pounding, and he searches from Cyrus instantly. Dad? His mind must be playing tricks on him because the footsteps are certainly heavier than the sage. Still, he reaches for the person like a child wishing to be held. He wants to be held.

He wants to be okay.

Recognition comes to him slower than normal when the door is pushed open. But, she smiles when he manages to croak out her name, “Dehya.” She nods and settles by his side, extending her hand to check his forehead.

“Glad to see you’re awake.” She hums under her breath in contemplation as she wipes away some of the sweat built. His frantic demeanor must be more obvious that he originally thought because Dehya settles beside him, “You passed out on me, so I brought you to Aaru Village. Before you stress out, I made sure no one saw us on our way in and Candace checked on you; said you were mostly just exhausted.”

He accepts the cup of water when offered, taking the smallest sips he can manage. His throat feels as if it is is shut, purposely keeping the liquid meant to relieve the ache out of his system. He doesn’t respond, too focused on swallowing. Still, she releases a sigh of understanding at the question he surely has, “I dealt with the group protecting the scholar, who I escorted back when Candace was checking on you.”

He opens his mouth to express his gratitude, but he is left gasping for air instead, the weight against his chest growing with each passing second. His head pounds and he just can’t— something cold presses against his forehead, steadying him before he fully slips. She holds the damp rag to his forehead, “Deep breath, General. I’ve got you.”

Cyno’s voice is hoarse, begging for water that his body is preventing him from stomaching. “Promise...?”

She will never mention the tremor in his voice, the exhaustion that seeps into the sound. Instead, she rests a hand over his, “I promise.”

Her words drag the final breath out of him, relaxing into her touch. The empty cup nearly falls to the floor when it slips out of his hold. She catches it with one hand and carefully lowers the man with another.

He is asleep when Tighnari arrives with Al-Haitham and an old scholar that she can’t identify. She remains close to his side with the promise lingering in her mind. She makes room for the doctor to work, but practically steps between the scholars and the sleeping desert-native. Warily eyeing the stranger, “Will he be alright?” She asks her friend.

Tighnari lets out another frustrated sound, “It would be better if we could transfer him back to connect him to an IV. He’s dehydrated and needs a lot of rest.” He is careful not to raise his voice, the way Cyno’s brows scrunched at the slightest noise is a grim reminder of how hard it is for him to properly rest.

Rest that he desperately needs.

The sharp intake of breath draws everyone’s attention back down. He calls for someone, a wordless sound begging for sanctuary. His body tenses, fingers flexing, and his entire body jolts away from Tighnari when he tries to soothe him. He nearly shouts, mouth falling open to scream— Dehya’s footsteps and the clatter of her chair hitting the floor muffle his whimpers.

She quickly steps into the old man’s path before he can touch her terrified friend. Her back is turned, but the warning remains clear as she pushes back his damp hair. “It’s alright, Cyno, you’re safe.” She repeats as she did every single time he began to stir. He turns towards the sound of her voice and leans into her touch.

Cyno’s eyes are still squeezed shut when he whispers her name. “I’m here.” She answers, “Tighnari just finished checking up on you.” He makes a soft hum at that, “He said you need to drink some water. Think you can sit up for that?”

He blinks his tired eyes open, his weight falling against her firm arms to allow her to straighten him up. He apologizes at one point in the process and she just shakes her head at him. “The Great General Mahamatra apologizing? And to think Sumeru views you as merciless.”

His breathless gasp is his response and she steadies him before he could collapse. “Don’t apologize. Thank you for trusting me to take care of you.” He doesn’t answer that, but she can feel the eyes of three men against her skin as she shifts to sit beside him.

Later, he can tell her what is wrong. Later, they will have to find a solution for his condition. Later, she will offer to fight the sources of his nightmares as retribution. Later, there is so much they can do later.

Now, he leans into her touch, knowing they will be here when his nightmares threaten to drag him away.

[cyeli-no]

Fic Idea: Haino Soulmate AU 2 (pt. 1)

—in which there is a red string on everyone's hand that connects them to their soulmate.

Relationships: Al-Haitham & Cyno (romantic), Al-Haitham & Candace & Cyno & Dehya (platonic)

Triggers: Amputation

Linked Posts:

─── ⋅ ⋅ ∘ ☽ ༓ ☾ ∘ ⋅ ⋅ ───

Cyno wasn't born with a thread to a soulmate. But, when Cyno became possessed by the spirit of Hermanubis, he connected to someone. The purple ribbons wrapped around his right arm pull him towards someone, soulmate is what his thoughts whisper.

Then, he meets Al-Haitham. He sees the purple ribbon wrapping around his ring finger. He wants to confront him right away but can't because the issue around Sumeru's archon and the sages is much more dire and he isn't the type to allow personal problems impede his ability to protect his nation.

He plans to ask after they overthrow the government, but fixing it takes much more energy that he originally though. Right before he leaves for his mandatory paid vacation, which Al-Haitham insists on, he has dinner with him, Candace, and Dehya. During that dinner, the topic of soulmates comes up and Cyno learns that Al-Haitham doesn't have one. The ribbon connects Cyno to Al-Haitham, but is it not reciprocated at all.

It isn't actually true, though. Al-Haitham sees the ribbon whenever Cyno enters the Pactsworn Pathclearer state. It isn't until a bit after the coup that he sees the divine spirit in Cyno and realizes he is the one Al-Haitham is connected to. He had assumed, even before they met, because his reputation precedes him, but he realizes it fully after. The issue is that he doesn't believe the ribbon indicates them being soulmates. It is unheard of to have anything besides a red thread and those usually appear the moment their soulmate is born.

He doesn't tell Cyno he knows. There's no point and it would just interfere with their developing friendship. It's enough that he can see the glowing purple as a guide to where part of his heart is or as a promise that the man he has grown to care about is alive.

It's enough until it isn't anymore.

Al-Haitham is in his office, checking on the purple ribbon that doesn't seem to fade no matter how much time passes. Usually, Cyno doesn't need to use the divine spirit's power for long, especially not for an hour that seemingly stretches endlessly. He is on his feet, declaring he will be taking off early, when everything comes to a stop.

The ribbon goes slack and stop glowing. It flutters slowly to the floor as it begins to dissipate, a connection severed— Al-Haitham is racing out the door to the last place Cyno may be from matra reports. He gathers the last few centimeters of the ribbon in his hands as he goes, unable to let it disappear as he clenches it in trembling hands.

He finds a bedridden Cyno in Aaru Village, alive but not well. He stares in a mix of horror, from the stump of a right arm, and relief, that Cyno is still alive. Candace has to catch him with bloody hands, staining his coat in red when his legs wobble. Dehya doesn't even manage to lift her head to placate his anxieties, hands clenching the only one Cyno has left.

His heart shatters more when Dehya's voice cracks recounting the memory of finding Cyno bleeding out from a sword to his gut, of how he insisted on continuing because of a job he could never turn away from, and then of the way he is shoved to the floor with Dehya much too far to reach him. She watched, trying to push back a man pinning her with his sword, as a blade descended down and tore through skin and cracked through bones. As terrible as the sound it is to hear the blood spill and limb rip off, it was nothing compared to the panicked sobs that left Cyno. He had screamed, a jackal wailing in pain, and he sobbed desperately for Al-Haitham.

"Will he be okay?" Al-Haitham's words wavers in a way that sounds completely unnatural with his voice. When Dehya doesn't answer, the air tenser than it was moments ago, Candace's soft voice raises in an attempt to ease their nerves (or maybe her own). "Our general is a strong man." It isn't much of a reassurance when the man's eyebrows remain knit and his sudden wheezes for air leaves the trio winded. "Physically,"—Dehya's hand reaches up instinctively—"he will probably heal." Her fingers twist around her bare skin, skin paling with how tightly she clenches, "I worry more for his mind and heart. "It is not easy losing a soulmate."

Cyno wakes up in a haze, spilling apologies for failing the Acting Grand Sage. What he is apologizing for is lost on the man, but he tries to reassure him just the same in hopes of not ripping the sutures. At one point, Cyno offers another apology for being the one fated for the man. Not long after, he passes out, exhausted and full of relief just from the sight of Al-Haitham.

It happens a few more times before he finally wakes up with enough of his mind to hold a conversation. At Candace's suggestion, partially because of the assumptions Dehya and Candace made about their relationship, Al-Haitham is left to talk to him. Cyno apologizes for forcing his beliefs of their soulmate status onto the other.

"It's nothing you need to be concerned with. I will work it out myself."

Al-Haitham reveals, uncertain whether it is the right idea, of how he could occasionally see the ribbon. He is forced to leave when Cyno's heart breaks from the realization that even fate couldn't make someone love him.

That isn't true, Al-Haitham tries to explain, but Candace is quick to drag him out when Cyno begins to hyperventilate and Dehya returns to sitting by his side. Candace, just as harsh as the other two can be, is gentle when she settles beside him in his room. "He is experiencing a lot, right now. Give him time and he will hear you out..." The disbelief on his expression is answered by a smile, certainty . "We both know of his kindness, Al-Haitham. Give him time. He is Sumeru's fair judge, after all."

It is a difficult journey of healing, aided by Dehya whose prosthetic arm is evidence of her lost connection to her soulmate. She knows, to an extent, how Cyno feels and tries to help him work through his mental turmoil. Despite Al-Haitham not wanting to be Cyno's soulmate (that isn't true), it is so hard to no longer know where Al-Haitham is or whether he is safe.

Healing journey and their relationship is strained but it does change overtime. Al-Haitham falls in love with Cyno (he was already in the process of that when the arm chopping incident happened). Cyno learns how to accept love that is freely given without requiring a promise of destiny.

They are soulmates, chosen in spite of fate.

"You're my soulmate." The word makes Cyno's shiver, curling closer to his partner to ensure he is not in a cruel dream. The taller man tugs him closer and presses a reassuring kiss against the top of his head, "I love you and I choose you every time and forever."

[cyeli-no]

Headcanon: Cyno's Hugs (pt. 2) [Cyno Relationships]

Originally had a thought of Al-Haitham hugging Cyno after his missions because he can finally relax and feel completely safe— But I think Dehya gives Cyno the best hugs, no one can tell me otherwise.

So putting pause on that to talk about Cyno's friends and how they hug him.

Linked Posts: How Cyno likes hugs (pt. 1)

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My personal opinion is he leans into Dehya's hugs the most. She has always been more physically affectionate than others are around him, which made him grow accustomed to her warm touch faster. He leans into her side when they walk or She runs hot like the desert, but she is firm and always holds him steady. Cyno is heavier than he appears and his sudden weight can make people stumble. But Dehya never does. In fact, even if he trips and falls against her, she won’t even move and just laughs as she lifts him back up. It is like she is always ready to catch him and hold him, and she always will.

He is also very comfortable around Tighnari since they are best friends and his tail always curls around Cyno. It's a habit, now, for his tail to wrap around Cyno to protect him and hide him from eyes of people who hope to see him weak. His archer arms will tighten their hold to ground Cyno back to reality whenever his mind begins to wander away. It happens more often than they'll admit and sometimes Tighnari will take off his gloves so Cyno can feel the pads of his fingers. Tighnari does everything in his power to make sure Cyno feels safe and he always has.

Al-Haitham is the exact opposite of them. He isn't wrong to call himself a feeble scholar, always the one who needs to brace himself or take a step back to make sure they don't trip (unlike Dehya). He also doesn't have arms strong enough to tie down the General Mahamatra (unlike Tighnari). He runs cold and is not overly affectionate. But when he hugs Cyno? He lets Cyno bury his face into his chest, wraps his arms around his head to keep him close in case the man starts to have second thoughts. He doesn't care what others think or say about him, but he knows how it affects Cyno (especially since people always seem to scrutinize him over every little thing). So, he will make sure his coat covers him completely without suffocating him. Cyno doesn't really have a reason for hugging Al-Haitham (Dehya invites it and Tighnari expects it). Despite that, he finds his way into Al-Haitham's arms and is always welcomed into them. Al-Haitham's hugs don't have the intention to, but it reminds Cyno that the Akademiya can also be another home; there are people there who cherish him and Al-Haitham certainly does.

When he hugs Lisa, he feels like she wants to smother him (lovingly). Cyno finds comfort in how tight she squeezes him and presses him to her collarbone. She is so gentle with him, resting her cheek on his head and occasionally pressing a kiss against his hair. Where most of the others do not vocalize their thoughts, Lisa continues to whisper loving words, promises of his importance, and general adoration for her precious little brother. She teaches him of a love that transcends distance, never asked for but always freely given.

Candace does not hug him often, usually a brief and reassuring touch. She will throw her arm around his shoulder or let him lean against her when his exhaustion is too high. It is part of her consideration over him. When she finds him in the desert, he is high-strung, stressed, or hurt. And, more than anyone else, she intrinsically understands his responsibilities. So, just as he is with her, she is careful around all his bruises and aches, alleviating the burden that threaten to bury him under the floor. Even if it isn't often, she stands at the entrance of Aaru Village to welcome him and offer her unwavering comfort and firm support.

[cyeli-no]

Headcanon: Cyno's Hugs (pt. 1)

— Cyno has a specific way he likes his hug

Linked Posts: How different friends hug Cyno (pt. 2)

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Cyno buries his face when he hugs people. Partially because it makes him feel the safest. It is a strange thought because usually, he likes the open space. It is a reason he enjoys wandering the desert (besides how it is a place he considers home) and why he is careful to avoid being touched when in public. But, with the people he cares about? With the people who remind him daily of how much they love him? He feels safest wrapped in their warmth. It helps that he is so incredibly short.

[cyeli-no]

I love your cyno characterization, you depict his struggles and worries so well. showing him as someone who fights with loneliness and depression to some degree even when he knows he has people around him who care about him a lot. so I also love how you write alhaitham showering him with affection and reassurance and I will be honest I’m always a sucker for worried alhaitham when he’s forced to crack his carefully sculpted facade

Thank you thank you! Cyno is my favorite character, so I like creating angst centered around him. It helps that he has so much angst potential with his mindset and his job that injures him constantly— He really feels like someone who is used to being lonely and not knowing how to stop feeling it, despite being surrounded by people. He is loved and not understanding, so he has to relearn what it means to be cared for.

You are so right to say Al-Haitham being affectionate and reassuring is peak! Soft Al-Haitham and loving Cyno is my favorite Al-Haitham! He tries to seem unbothered and then, bam! Cyno angst! What else is he supposed to do besides besides care for him? I might be biased and just want everyone to love Cyno, but Al-Haitham makes it so easy—

Why make fave happy when he can be sad and then gets comforted?

I'm glad you like my characterization! Thank you, this made my day!

[cyeli-no]

— Incomplete thought about how Cyno usually is tense when it is too quiet because he is always ready for a fight, but Al-Haitham is quiet. With Al-Haitham, everything becomes quiet and it's strange at first. Late into one night, when the world is silent around them, Cyno finally feels safe.

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It's a quiet night, Cyno content to lay against the heat of Al-Haitham's body. He doesn't run as hot as the desert, but the warm feeling of home leaves his body relaxed and eyes fully shut. He breathes, the incense smoke that clings to Al-Haitham's skin wafts into his nose and he just melts.

"You're divine." His partner's voice is low, lips pressing against Cyno's temple. He releases a giggle, tilting his head up to gaze at the man's face.

His voice is a whisper back, not daring to allow his voice to break the serenity settled over them. "Didn't think you would be so sacrilegious after saving our nation's archon."

The man shakes his head, "She does not demand devotion. What a benevolent archon we have." The words draws out another chuckle, left breathless by the time Al-Haitham begins to drop kisses over the man's face.

Red eyes flutter shut as one is placed right above his eyebrow. "You shouldn't openly discuss your shift in loyalties with the General Mahamatra." The warning is answered by a roll of the eyes.

"Even when my new loyalties lay with my general?" Cyno's face burns, tucking himself into the crook of Al-Haitham's neck to hide his embarrassment at the open affection. All it takes is arms tightening around his waist and tugging him in for Cyno to remember how his body fits perfectly against Al-Haitham's.

Everything is perfect and warm, "You're unbelievable." His voice is muffled and he can feel how the Acting Grand Sage's body trembles with his low chuckle.

"You're lovely." The noise that escapes Cyno's throat is strained, but Al-Haitham just continues to hold the man close. Before he can say a word, the taller man presses another kiss to the top of his head, "I adore you."

There is nothing Cyno can do or say besides snake his arms around the other and cling closer. He can't repeat the words, can't voice the way his heart beats for this man. All he can do is bask in the warmth and the love and hope the other knows how much he is cared for. He hopes because the words lock in his throat and he is left breathless and aching.

It's a stupid doubt to have because Al-Haitham's smile can be felt against his head, the whisper of love against his ears, meant only for him and not even the heavens are privy to it.

The night is quiet once again, but it doesn't leave Cyno's skin prickling with anxiety or his body taut in preparation of a fight. No, it's quiet and it's warm and Al-Haitham loves him as much as he is loved.

[cyeli-no]

haino marriage where Al-Haitham decides he will marry Cyno after he wasn’t allowed to know about the general’s status in the hospital. Cyno just returned from a terrible mission, carried by some of his subordinates and practically a corpse with grayish skin. When Al-Haitham was Acting Grand Sage, he had the authority to receive updated and visit his bedside whenever he needed to stay at Bimarstan. As Scribe? He isn’t allowed such a thing.

He is well-versed in the laws of the land and the only other way is to be family. The only person allowed to know his condition are Cyrus, his legal guardian, and Collei, who he is the guardian of. Al-Haitham can’t be adopted by Cyrus or by Cyno, so he settles for the next best thing he knows will work: Marriage.

After Cyno is all healed up and can allow people in, Al-Haitham delivers a 35 slide presentation about the benefits of marriage (I don’t think he would have actual slides because he couldn’t be bothered to make it. But, he definitely has enough content for 35 slides—) and tries to convince Cyno without once mentioning the hospital thing.

I did imagine this whole scenario to occur when they aren’t even together. Al-“super bad at feelings”-Haitham and General-“not good with relationships”-Mahamatra Cyno are always great to me.

Where they get married because they know they want to support each other in every way and be able to be together before they ever say “I love you” (or even “I like you”) to each other. Scholars who are idiots in love.

[cyeli-no]

The RWRB movie trailer screams haino to me, so here's the quotes of the trailer with who I think would say it—

Disclaimer: I know absolutely nothing about the plot besides the movie trailer; waiting to watch the movie before reading to not feel disappointed in the movie LOL

Cyno, Prince of the desert, and Al-Haitham, (Acting) Grand Sage appointed by the monarch of the forest. Enemies (or like... not-friends) to lovers, so canon

---

Dehya/Kaveh: You better act like sunshine's out of his ass and you have a Vitamin D deficiency.

I originally thought it would be Dehya telling Cyno cuz they have that friendship vibe to be, but Cyno would be the type to recognize his responsibilities even without the reminder. So, I think Kaveh telling Al-Haitham might be better.

---

Cyno: Did I do something wrong? Haitham: Do you ever wonder who you'd be if you were an anonymous person in the world? Cyno: I have no idea what you're talking about. Haitham: Archons, you're as thick as it gets.

Cyno 100% would be the oblivious one. I think he would probably feel guilty about wanting to escape his responsibilities and would never tell Al-Haitham what he was thinking. If it was Cyno, they would never kiss. Also, I just think the one elected by Nahida, who was forced into the position, already complains about being a "leader". In this context, it might be more of a mix of Al-Haitham’s desires to escape that life and genuinely asking Cyno whether he would ever want to escape (with Al-Haitham). I imagine Cyno would usually shy away from conversations about his personal desires. Even if Dehya and Candace asked him, it would feel like a burden to tell the people he is meant to serve that he has personal desires that contradict his duties. But, Al-Haitham? He doesn't owe Al-Haitham anything and he will not be judged harshly for wanting some freedom.

---

Dehya: We are in a hotel crawling with reporters. If anyone sees you leave this hotel, I will take your head from your body. ... Acting Grand Sage.

I originally wanted big sister Candace to be the one threatening Al-Haitham, but I am a sucker for Cyno-Dehya friendship. Also, it would be a funny story for when Dehya-Haitham friendship starts and they can look back at how Dehya threatened his head.

---

Candace: You need to figure out if you feel forever about him.

Candace: Do you love him? Cyno: What difference would it make if I did?

---

Cyno: Prince Cyno belongs to the desert. Haitham: We can figure out a way to love each other on our own terms.

Cyno who will choose his duty over himself and Al-Haitham who will choose himself over all that stupid stuff. Tangent, but I like Al-Haitham who will suck it up because helping Cyno is more important than his personal annoyances. I am a sucker for Al-Haitham loving Cyno.

[cyeli-no]

Characters that carry a lot of burdens and responsibilities deserve to have a found family who will support them and love them (and also call them out for running themselves to the ground).

Cyno. I'm talking about Cyno. Cyno deserves the biggest found family.

Ignoring the romance aspect, he is so loved by the people around him.

He has Lisa and Cyrus from his childhood/Akademiya days. I personally headcanon he met Taj around this time, which influenced him to join the matra. He always had a sense of justice, but sometimes you need to meet someone to realize one's career path.

I like the idea of Cyno and Kaveh being Akademiya friends. Do I care about canon? Yes. Would I rather be delusional? Yes <3

After becoming matra, he was able to meet Tighnari and Collei. He has dinners with them, trusts Tighnari enough to leave his job, and sends people to him when they're injured. Tighnari calls Cyno his best friend, too. The three going to Windblume together feels like a family vacation. Despite Collei being somewhat intimidated by him, she respects and cares about him.

There are also members of the matra who care about him. Taj (if my other headcanon enters delusion), Aarav (He makes sure matra affairs are taken care of during Cyno's vacations based on 'A Parade of Providence' event. Headcanon him as Cyno's second-in-command), and Shohre (She is the one who hides from Cyno's jokes. Also headcanon she is one of his trusted matra as someone who works at the Akademiya because she can pass as a student).

If we ignore my delusions, post-Mahamatra is when he also befriends Kaveh and gets close to him through Tighnari.

The archon quests connect him to Al-Haitham, Candace, Dehya, and Nilou. He trusts Candace and Dehya enough to leave affairs to them during the 'Windblume's Breath' event. He works closely with Al-Haitham and their relationship went from enemies to allies to trusted coworkers and friends.

Cyno is loyal and respects Nahida as an archon. She also cares about him. Found family. Also, their backstories (Collei's too) all fit nicely with one another. The parallels and the way they would be able to understand each other is great. I think Nahida would feel closer in a more personal way to Cyno at first because Cyno still views her as an archon. But, of course he cares about her more than that, too.

Sumeru is just Cyno's found family.

Playable characters: Lisa, Tighnari, Collei, Kaveh, Al-Haitham, Candace, Dehya, Nilou, and Nahida NPCs: Cyrus, Taj, Aarav, and Shohre

[cyeli-no]

4ggravate Pre-Marriage: Doubts (Pt. 2)

—where Cyno and Collei are both having some struggles adjusting to change

Linked posts:

Part 1: 4ggravate Pre-Proposal post

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Cyno talks to Collei first. Of course he does because her life is so intertwined with his and Tighnari's. He knows the others discussed it with her before and about her eager acceptance of the new changes because it meant his and Tighnari's happiness. However, he, as the one who brought her back to Sumeru, holds an obligation to talk to her directly.

Standing by her side in her hut, making pita pockets, they work in relative silence for a bit. "Collei." He finally starts, knowing her little signs of stress and anxiety like it is the palm of his own hand. "I understand you have told Tighnari and the others that you are excited for our future together..." She nods, keeping her eyes on the food in front of her. He notices how her fingers twist the bread out of the corner of his eyes, "It is a big change for all of us; for you, too. It's alright if you are unsure—"

"I'm not!" She yelps. But, she does squirm a bit under his watchful eye, head dipping lower, "I am really happy for you and Master Tighnari..." She insists.

"But?" He urges her to continue. He begins to work on the filling, chopping some ingredients a little messily. It is usually quicker, more efficient, but his goal isn't just a quick dinner with everyone.

She shakes her head, the slice of bread breaking apart, "It's..." She winces, "scary..."

"Scary." He echoes, no judgement in his voice.

"Yes." The conversation progresses slowly, but it goes nonetheless. She sags where she stands, sighing. There is no rush with the other. There rarely is when Collei is involved and she knows this. The familiar tightness in the pit of her stomach does not completely escape and she sucks in a sharp breath. Her head tips forward, hair casting a curtain between the two to at least hide the frustration from the other.

How can she explain herself? How can she tell him all that she is feeling when she doesn't fully understand? She is so selfish, and it's all just so much. He's given her so much, and yet she just—

"It is scary." He admits, softly. Her body jolts in place, her breathing quicker than just a few minutes earlier and she hadn't realized, "Everything has changed so quickly. I don't know how to truly handle it."

Collei finally faces him, swallowing when his body turns towards her properly, "Is it scarier... than going so far to hunt scholars?"

He weighs her words carefully, thinking it over, "It is." He ultimately decides, "It's different from fighting and seeking justice. The decision to love and the changes from that are not meant to be judged by the scales. I am scared of that uncertainty."

Cyno doesn't avert his gaze, waiting for her to gather her own thoughts as she allowed him to. "It's all just..." She closes her eyes, not wanting to watch him as he finally sees all that she is. All the ugly parts of her heart that cannot give them her complete happiness at a joyous time. "Sometimes, I feel like I just came here yesterday. There was still so much about Sumeru I didn't know about before. And then, with Lesser Lord Kusanali taking over and the reform— Not that I'm against it! I understand why! I just..."

She sucks in a breath and Cyno nods despite her inability to see. "I want you both to be happy..." She says, "But, it's so much sometimes. I just don't know..." She blinks her eyes open, searching for comfort and answers in the desert sun, "how I would fit in your new life..."

Cyno doesn't reach for her to comfort her. His voice remains firm, "While our home lives may change because Al-Haitham and Kaveh are here, they will not take your place in our homes or in our family. Things may change, but your inclusion in our family will not. You are our family. They will join, but never take over your place." She is quiet where she stands, biting down on her lower lip and gnawing it until she can taste metal in her mouth.

The taste drags her mind back to the surface, where he is waiting for her. Always waiting, always patient, always ready to catch her. And he does when she steps into his warmth, "I'm scared." She whispers, begging for his affection as she buries herself closer.

There is no reason to be, she can almost hear him say. She doesn't know how she would respond because there is a reason! There are many!

Instead, all he does is gather her closer and support her entire weight as she unravels, "That's okay." She nearly crumbles. She knows all the possible meanings to those two words would make her mind combust, so she will simply take it for all she knows it to be.

No matter the changes, he will be by her side. How can she continue to be scared forever if the brave and strong General Mahamatra will be the one guiding her, just as he has done before?

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When the four are settling for the night, Collei back in her own hut, Tighnari glances at Cyno, "Did the talk go well?" The General shrugs, setting his cloak on the chair and stripping out of the ornaments lining his pants.

"We both need some time to get used to everything." He admits, catching how Kaveh pauses in fixing his hair up.

"You're having regrets?" He asks, voice more meek than it should be.

Cyno twists quickly with a frown, "No." He is quick to deny, truthfully, "I know you went to the desert to learn about our proper proposals. Even the dowry and this"—he raises a hand to tap the clip pinning his hair back and hopefully tug it out of his knotted hair—"must have taken you all so much time and effort." His frown deepens when the ornament catches on strands of white, too tired to tend to it it properly.

He is moments away from just ripping it out, his hair be damned, when Al-Haitham taps his hand away. "Stop that." He eases Cyno to take a seat at the edge of the bed. The Grand Sage presses a light kiss against his temple as he begins to pull detangle his hair.

His eyes close at the gentle touches, "I don't think I'll ever get used to all this." He admits. Tighnari's tail wraps around his torso, the fox's worry clear in the protective hold it has, as if anyone in the room would dare to harm him.

"What do you mean?" Kaveh's voice is closer than it was moments before and the dip in the mattress is enough for the General to know exactly where he is.

"Being loved." Kaveh makes a sound and grabs Cyno's hand despite the other two knowing he shares the sentiment. How ironic it is that the two who feel the most worries about whether they deserve love are always giving so much of it.

Still, unintentionally ignoring the blonde rambles, Cyno's soft mumbles continue. Al-Haitham's ministrations are dragging the exhaustion from the place he forced them back to, threatening to pull him under. His head falls against the man's shoulder, the tail and hand holding him adding another layer of comfort. "One day, I'll repay you all for everything you've given to me." It's a promise, one the other three don't want or need.

He can't make our their denials, welcoming the comfort of sleep while surrounded by three people who love him. The three must realize he is gone because they settle into a slightly tense quiet, Tighnari shaking his head in disbelief. Still, they settle into the bed to join him in his slumber. It'll be a conversation for later, a serious one they will need to have. But, for now, it's okay to leave it be and let their precious general rest.

Cyno is the first to wake up, half laying on top of Al-Haitham with his head still on his shoulder and the other's hand pressing against the small of his back. Tighnari's tail remains a weight over his body, crossing over Al-Haitham and still reaching Kaveh on the other side of Cyno, whose hand is firm in his. He blinks ones, twice, thrice— he smiles and closes them again. If getting married means this more often, he truly can't wait. No matter how unnerving it all is, at least he has three people who love him and will catch him every time.

[cyeli-no]

4ggravate Pre-Proposal (Pt. 1)

—where it's just three Dendro fools simping over Cyno and wanting to have a perfect proposal for him

Linked Posts:

Part 2: 4ggravate Pre-Marriage: Doubts post

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Dehya and Candace are some of the first to hear about the decision because Al-Haitham, who became close to the duo throughout his time in the desert and with Cyno, wants to respect his culture in the proposal. It seems disrespectful to forego his background and his family when asking for Cyno's life and dedication.

Dehya is unrelenting with her teasing, offering help disguised as friendly banter. He nearly regrets telling her when it turns out Candace is the one to offer the most help. She gives him a few traditions common throughout the desert, but the Temple of Silence does not share the same customs as she does.

She tells him how Cyno once mentioned how suitors will gift jewelry made of gold and gems during the engagement. The proposee's family usually receives a dowry of some type, too. Between giving the dowry and presenting the gifts, a marriage contract is written. Typically, it is between the father and the suitor, but the individual is often included.

"It is not for permission, necessarily." She clarifies when she watches the frown begin to form on his expression, eyebrows tightening. The memory of Cyno's reaction when he realized how deeply the former sages mistreated and used him rests heavy in their minds. At least she can verify how much Al-Haitham truly cares. "In the end, it is up to the individual to accept the proposal and make adjustments to the contract. Simply, it is acknowledging the important of our families."

Al-Haitham does pause for a moment in deep contemplation. "Yes, that makes sense." He ends up deciding on, though Candace offers him a small smile.

She shakes her head, "You may not understand them completely, but I'm glad you care to know about our traditions." He takes it as the sign of approval that it actually is.

He leaves with Dehya, who smiles contently throughout the entire walk back. She tells him a bit about their traditional wedding rings and wedding celebration customs before admitting, "Knowing Tighnari, I suspected it wouldn't be a desert wedding. At least now, it'll be like bringing the desert to him."

Al-Haitham rejects that notion instantly. "We cannot bring the desert to him. I know nothing of the desert and all I have come to learn was brought by Cyno himself. It would be a mockery to do anything besides welcome what he brings." Dehya's eyes blink shut as they pause in their journey. She can feel the familiar heat against her skin and the smell of the desert winds.

"You've thought about this a lot, hm?" She teases lightly, his completely honest affirmation making her grin, "Good." She says something in a dialect Al-Haitham does not quite understand. He can understand a few vague phrases, but she explains it to him without being asked once she finishes, "It is an old prayer. May your future together be filled with happiness and love that even when you reach the afterlife, you will traverse those unknown lands together."

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Tighnari and Kaveh are quick to agree to the idea. Truth be told, they both wanted to do something for Cyno and were debating something similar. Luckily, it truly felt as if everything was perfect for them. Al-Haitham and his endless pockets could definitely afford the dowry (though Cyrus' actual acceptance might be a bit more difficult to get with his outright disdain for his darshan), Kaveh works on designing the jewelry himself, and Tighnari works on creating simple (maybe a bit more detailed than the ones Dehya described) rings for all four of them.

When they go to discuss their plans to propose with Cyrus, Al-Haitham is prepared to give an entire presentation. Tighnari takes over before Kaveh's stressed rants can start and before Al-Haitham says something that might make them lose Cyrus' good graces.

Cyrus frowns when they ask if they are allowed to propose to and to marry Cyno. "Asking me to give him over is quite the archaic request." He muses.

It is Kaveh who answers this. Tighnari and Al-Haitham may be more logical, but Kaveh is intently attuned to his emotions and the emotions of others. He knows Cyno and his desires well, "Cyno respects your opinion and would be hurt if we did not try to include his family." He pauses for just a second to gather his bearings. He doesn't want to bare his entire heart to his soon-to-be father-in-law (hopefully), but he knows the man respects honestly as much as his son. "Cyno always makes sure the memories of our families are a priority. As one of the only living relatives he has, your blessing will mean a lot to him... and to us as well."

Cyrus is not a man of few words. He has spoken at length about jokes, the main reason Cyno tries them to lighten the mood. Still, the air constricts Kaveh as he simply stares at the architect with a frown. Cyno might be scary to some, but his body becomes rigid under the intense staring of the General's father. However, he will not avert his eyes. He knows discomfort well and knows, as his throat tightens and nearly chokes the air out of his lungs, that the comfort and love of Cyno is worth every second.

"You are good kids." Cyrus finally nods at Kaveh and Tighnari. Kaveh's entire body eases at the affirmation, sucking in a sharp breath through his teeth in relief. He nearly misses how the man warily eyes Al-Haitham for a moment before he shakes his head with a low chuckle. "As long as Cyno is happy, my blessing is yours." It's a needless threat, Cyrus knows, but he feels better nonetheless.

("Do they make you happy?" He asked his son when the eventual topic of his partners came up.

In hindsight, it was quite a strange question to ask because the answer was so obvious. "Do I seem unhappy?" The younger man asked, the confusion answered by a fond smile.

Cyrus has always been better at expressing his love compared to his two top students. He ruffled Cyno's hair lightly, "No. I just want to know how they treat you."

Cyno nodded, accepting the explanation completely. "They love me," those three words were enough to ease Cyrus' heart, "more than anyone else can.

"And I love them the same.")

"Another word of warning." Cyrus mentions as they are leaving his house, "Lisa Minci will not allow you to marry him if you do not invite her to the engagement."

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They, heeding Cyrus' advice, tell Lisa, Collei, Nahida, and Nilou. At one point, Tighnari gets worried they are telling too many people before even asking Cyno to marry them.

Al-Haitham just says, "They're family," and that's that.

Family, Tighnari echoes, when Collei runs up to hug him in her excitement. Family, he smiles, as Lisa smacks Kaveh lightly for waiting so long to ask the question. Family, he accepts, as Nilou and Nahida offer their help with wedding planning or support if they ever need it.

Family, he wishes for, when Cyno meets them for dinner with a bright smile, "I'm home." He glows despite the days of work coating his skin in dirt.

"Welcome home, love." Tighnari welcomes him closer and showers him with all the adoration he has been holding onto in the pits of his heart in anticipation of tonight. Tonight, to the world, they will become a family in every sense of the word.

Family, Tighnari learns, comes with the heat of the desert without any of the burning discomfort.

He cannot completely understand the clear discomfort and stress showing on the faces of the other two. They all know Cyno; he who is more devoted than anyone else will definitely say yes. And if he doesn't, he is nothing but kind. There is no world where they will be rejected cruelly.

The question hangs in the air, Cyno's eyes wide in surprise as he scans the three as if checking them for honesty. "Really?" It is a crime how soft his voice is. It is uncommon for him to be uncertain and it aches Tighnari's heart.

"We wouldn't ask if we weren't serious." It is a bit sassier than it needs to be, but his voice is firm to scare away his doubts.

It must do the trick because a breathless huff escapes him. Kaveh worriedly steps closer as garnet eyes glisten under the flickering candlelights, "Cyno—?"

"Yes." He answers them, and the gentle laugh that is slightly clogged by the tears welling in his eyes is the loveliest sound. "Yes..."

The second time is enough to rip Al-Haitham out of his stupor to reach out and catch Cyno's face in his hands. He presses a kiss to the top of the General's head, sighing away his stress, "Good."

Kaveh nearly shoves the man aside in his haste to hug Cyno. The latter's laughter fills the air as Kaveh falls onto his lap, "Sevens above, I adore you." He says, planting kisses on his cheeks.

Cyno can't get a word in as Tighnari's tail curls around his arm, dragging his attention to the side. Whispering against his ear and affectionately nuzzling him, "We're yours forever."

Forever... Forever sounds lovely.

[cyeli-no]

Cyno pushes Dehya out of the way of an attack, getting speared by the polearm instead of her. She is quick to dispose of them, but the damage has already been done. It is no doubt Cyno will die without swift medical attention. The issue is, they're stuck in the desert and Dehya had limited medical knowledge. She certainly doesn't know how to save her friend who probably has his organs punctured by a large piece of metal.

"It's not good." She admits openly to him, biting back any words of frustration for his needless sacrifice. It wasn't needless, she knows he'll say. If not him, it would've been her and then they'd have to lay in the sand waiting for her to die out instead.

He blinks at her, lips curling up into a small smile, "It's bad?" She clenches her teeth at the obvious amusement in his tone, "Apoleing, some might say."

The joke falls flat as he is dying in front of her. "Cyno—!" Her panic leaks into her voice as he coughs, blood spilling out of his mouth.

He knows he's dying, must know, but he still lets out a shuddering huff, as if unable to contain his happiness, "You should go. I'm the one who's stuck."

"Is this another one of your bad jokes?" She exhales sharply, glancing around for anything to help keep the pole from moving when she lifts him.

His eyes light up, "Did you get it? Stuck, like the pole—"

"Cyno, shut up." She growls, exhaling sharply through her nose to somehow calm her nerves. She just needs a moment to breathe, to figure something out... Her injured leg will not carry the weight of both of them. She can go alone and return with help, but that would take hours even at her fastest speed.

She won't leave him alone. Not yet. All she can afford is to continue holding the pole completely steady, to not let it shift and damage his organs any more. She almost wants to take it out, just weld the wound shut with her vision. She wants, so badly, for it to be just another minor cut they can ignore as they travel back. It would be a slow journey, she knows, but they would both be alive.

They'd walk back together. She would even help carry his weight for a while if he needed the support. She can imagine how he would deny her, how he would pretend as if he was okay. She can imagine Tighnari's angry shouts and she would laugh as Cyno got his wounds cared for. A disgusting sound of gurgling twists anxiety into her gut and her attention back to reality.

Dehya already has him shifted onto his side to prevent him from choking on his own blood. She's doing all she can, she knows she is. But, it just isn't enough. Dehya just isn't enough. So, she prays to her gods for a miracle, begging Sumeru's archon for help. Each second, she clings onto Cyno's desperate breaths. His jokes, unfunny and unbefitting of the entire situation, have long since left the air in a tense quiet. She regrets telling him to stop.

She asks, voice firm despite how one of her hands tremble against his cheek. She taps him lightly to drag his mind back to reality, his eyes glassy as he tries to focus on her every word. It is clear he can barely hear her, though, "Stay awake, okay? I'm sure Al-Haitham or Candace noticed how long we've taken. They're on their way." It feels as if Dehya's words are nothing more than a whisper, but her throat is raw from how much she is speaking.

Still, she doesn't miss the soft hum, a noise of affirmation nearly draining all her energy. Relieved to hear more than labored breathing, she ignores how the sun that once burned into her skin has begun making room for the moon. It hasn't been that long, yet. Cyno still has a lot of time and someone will come soon. Someone will rescue their precious General Mahamatra.

No one comes.

Her body is soaked in blood, she can't tell whether it is his blood or her own anymore, as she watches his chest slow and his breathing ease out. She counts the minutes his eyes were shut and he had been unresponsive; it must've been closer to an hour. She doesn't dare to blink for too long, to doze off.

But, she is just so damn tired. It's only been a few hours and she wants to lay her head to rest. She can't. She won't until he goes completely cold and the last hopes of his life are completely gone.

The final time his heart stutters, she screams more than she weeps.

Her screams are unrelenting into the desert night where no one finds them. She curses them for being so slow, blames them in some deep part of her heart, and refuses to relinquish her friend to the sands. His body is still warm, the only comfort under the cold moon.

─── ⋅ ⋅ ∘ ☽ ༓ ☾ ∘ ⋅ ⋅ ───

Other Snippet:

Desert nights have always been cold, but the ice encasing her as she clutches onto Cyno's hand in his final moments is nothing she has ever felt. Her heart frozen in her heart, unable to pump blood as her lungs contract painfully. They beg for air and all she can manage is beg the same from Cyno. Her body is soaked in blood, his blood, as she watches his chest slow and his breathing ease out. She counts the minutes his eyes were shut and he had been unresponsive; it must've been closer to an hour.

Had she been stronger, she would've ended his misery with her own hands. If she wasn't so hopeful that someone would rescue him, he wouldn't have had to suffer so needlessly.

She tugs him closer, ignores the metal pole that presses uncomfortably against her as she falls over his body. Cradling him the best she can, holding him, she screams more than she weeps.

Her screams are unrelenting into the desert night when no one finds them. She curses them for being so slow, blames them in some deep part of her heart, and refuses to relinquish her friend over. His body is still warm, the only comfort under the cold moon.

What is she going to tell everyone? He doesn't even have any last words for anyone else to hear. Until the end, he was mumbling jokes and telling Dehya to go. If she left him alone, would he have survived?

The thought and the metal pressing against her abdomen make her breathing stutter. And finally, hidden in shadows despite having the matra rush back, small tears trickle down her cheeks.

It is soundless, but she cries.

What was the stupid job that dragged her to where the General Mahamatra was conducting an investigation? What cruel twist of fate made them fight so many people while injured and tired? Was Celestia laughing as fate tore Cyno's life away?

She is just so damn tired. It's only been a few hours and she wants to lay her head to rest. She can't. Not until he goes completely cold and the last hopes of his life are completely gone.

When slumber drags her exhausted mind down, she can vividly see the image of the short man still smiling at her with a promise to show her how to play his favorite game. She may not have understood why other nations praised the existence of dreams, but now she knows. What a lovely thing it is to leave their cruel reality.

[cyeli-no]

A character who is seen as strong by everyone to the point where their wellbeing is ignored because "Of course they'll be fine! They are so strong!" They believe that, too, and will throw themselves into dangerous situations because they are the only one who can handle it and be okay. That character with the one who refuses to let them be strong. The partner who allows them a place to be weak and to be small and completely safe, regardless.

Aka, Cyno and his safe place being Tighnari.

Tighnari who will tell the matra off for not doing enough to lighten Cyno's burden. Tighnari angry at the sages for forcing Cyno to continue working when already injured or tired. Tighnari threatening to fight their own archon and Acting Grand Sage if Cyno doesn't receive time to rest.

Tighnari being strong so Cyno doesn't have to.

[cyeli-no]

Al-Haitham is a very vengeful person. If someone hurts the people he loves cares about, he will ruin their life. The issue is that they don't want him to do that.

Cyno has a strong sense of justice and will protect people who harmed him so they can be judged properly. He usually does not take it personally and would be frustrated if Al-Haitham does.

Kaveh would blame himself for other people being hurt. Even if Al-Haitham is logically right that he should not care about someone who hurt him, he can't help the guilt.

Nahida loves all the people of Sumeru, even if they caused her harm. She isn't all-forgiving, but she doesn't want them to be harmed needlessly.

Dehya is all for getting back at people, but she is kinder than he is and doesn't agree with his quest for returning the favor, 100-fold.