CHAPTER 18:
THE DENDRO ARCHONS
Aether frowned as Nahida finished relaying her information early the next morning. Eventually, he asked, "And there is nothing else you can tell me?"
Nahida shook her head. "I cannot, because I either lack information, or, like the other Archons, the contract I have with Celestia prevents me from telling you too much. Whether your sister is the true leader of the Abyss Order, a high-ranking member, or a controlled patsy, I have no idea. What we do know is that prior to that point, she was lauded as a hero by the Aranara. I even saw some trace documents claiming she had also helped save the Girdle of the Sands with the help of the Pari, but I can't confirm that."
"…No, it's okay," Aether said gently. "Honestly, you've been very helpful. What worries me is if the Balladeer, I mean, Scaramouche is here."
Harry frowned, as he was present for Nahida speaking with Aether and Paimon that morning. "How dangerous is he?"
"He's a Fatui Harbinger," Aether said. "I've fought two of them, and they were hard-fought battles. What's more, Scaramouche was originally intended to be Ei's vessel, meant to contain her power, and he has her Gnosis too. So he's pretty damn dangerous. And he's smart. Not that the other Harbingers weren't, but he's also got over four centuries of experience. The first times I met him, thankfully, I didn't fight him, but the last time, I couldn't. I was overwhelmed by the grudges of a dead god and succumbed to unconsciousness. We were rescued by Yae Miko."
"Paimon was really scared for Aether and Sirius," Paimon said, the fairy-like creature rather uncharacteristically solemn.
"Hey, speaking of health scares, are you okay, Aether?" Harry asked.
"I'm still a bit woozy, but I'm all right. I'll stay here under Tighnari's observation for now," Aether said, rubbing his head. "Still, at least I've got a better grasp of the situation. A lot of the time, I pretty much went in blind, save for what Paimon and a few locals were able to tell me. It wasn't so bad in Mondstadt and in Inazuma, but in Liyue, I got accused of being complicit in Rex Lapis' demise by some overzealous Millelith officers. Honestly, given what I heard about Fontaine and its Archon, Furina or something like that, I'm dreading going over there."
"You trust what I say as gospel?" Nahida asked.
"Not quite. I do trust you, Nahida, but I still intend to confirm what you said, as much as I can."
"Good," Nahida said. "Trust, but verify. The populace of Sumeru takes whatever they download into their minds as gospel, losing the ability for critical thinking. I'm not saying you should avoid using an Akasha Terminal, they are useful tools. But the information provided to those using them is strictly controlled by the Akademiya in general, and the Sages in particular."
"I get that. Still, like I said, I have a better idea of what to expect," Aether said. "So thanks, Nahida. I'll be honest, you've been the most helpful of the Archons. Venti…he likes to dance around issues. Zhongli cites his damned contracts. And Ei…well, she was traumatised by what happened to her sister during the Cataclysm. I don't want to make her snap, especially as she can pull a matter-annihilating sword from her cleavage."
Harry stared at him flatly. "…What."
"Never mind," Aether said. "Believe me, that's far from the weirdest thing I have seen, even before I was stranded on Teyvat. In any case, once I'm well, I intend to head for Sumeru City with the others. If nothing else, I want to see what the situation is like, as well as register with the local Katheryne."
"Paimon can't believe she's a construct," Paimon mused. "Paimon knew she was weird, but not like a Ruin Guard or like that."
"I sort of suspected it. I saw gynoids like her before on my travels with my sister. In any case, I also want to touch base with those allies of yours in Sumeru City," Aether said. "Dunyarzad and Dehya? I know you said Cyno is an ally, but I've had a bit of a bad experience with the local law enforcement before. Once we're done in Sumeru City, well, if we can't get any word of Scaramouche, I think I'll stick with you for now, Nahida. If I can help you, I will."
"Thank you, Aether," Nahida said. "Maybe you could attend the Sabzeruz Festival? Dunyarzad is funding it this year, and it's sure to be enjoyable."
"A festival?! Will there be tasty food?" Paimon asked, her eyes more starry than usual at the thought of food.
"In all likelihood, there'll be all sorts of tasty food. I'll be sure to show you around," Nahida said, humouring the impish being. And judging by the way Paimon danced a little jig in mid-air, squealing in delight, Nahida had hit the mark.
"Is it safe for you to come with us, though?" Aether asked. "I get that the Fidelius conceals your identity, but is it still safe for you?"
"I can't guarantee that, but in the end, I don't want to be caged, ever again," Nahida said solemnly. "Don't worry, I've grown a little stronger since being freed. And I have my very protective brother, to say nothing of a new circle of friends."
"Still…it bothers me what you said about Il Dottore," Aether mused. "Childe…I mean, Tartaglia…he told me a little about La Signora, who used to be a mage from Mondstadt. Scaramouche came from Inazuma, given that he was Ei's creation. But if the Fatui are up to something in Sumeru, it'd make sense that they'd send Il Dottore, someone familiar with the lay of the land here, especially as Scaramouche, given what Tartaglia heard, may have gone rogue. If Il Dottore was this Zandik guy, then who's to say he isn't here already?"
"That's a distinct if disturbing possibility, Aether," Nahida said. "Zandik was a genius when they expelled him from the Akademiya, I have no compunction about saying that. But that makes him all the more dangerous as our enemy if he is here in Sumeru. He was arrogant, yes, but he is still a genius. What he did to suppress Collei's Eleazar was inspired, even if the trauma it caused her and the side-effects of having the remains of a deity sealed within her only serves to remind us of how evil he is. He cares only about pushing the boundaries of knowledge without heed to the costs."
"In other words, a mad scientist who's also one of the most powerful beings in the world," Harry said. "Bloody hell, I really hope he's not here. Scaramouche sounds bad enough. And we have the Sages to deal with, not to mention whatever the hell is behind the Withering and Eleazar."
"I think you and I should pay another visit to Aaru Village today, see if we can speak to one of the Desert Keepers again," Nahida said, looking at Harry, before returning her gaze to Aether and Paimon. "We'll keep you posted, obviously. You'll forgive me for not waiting until you're recovered before heading to Aaru, but time is of the essence."
Aether nodded, rubbing his head. "I understand. That incense did a number on me. If that was really Irmunsul I saw, it's a wonder I don't have my brain leaking out of my ears."
"Ew, Paimon would not have liked seeing that," Paimon remarked, wrinkling her nose. She then looked to Harry, and then put her arms behind her back, looking a little bashful. "Umm, Paimon wants to know…will you guys be back in time to cook dinner? Only, Paimon loved the food you cooked, Harry. Aether's a great cook, especially once Xiangling of the Wanmin Restaurant gave him some pointers, but…Paimon also wants to try more dishes from this Earth place you come from."
"I hate to break it to you, Paimon, but a lot of dishes are the same between Earth and Teyvat," Aether said with a chuckle. "Lumine and I actually spent some time there when we visited."
"…Okay, so, stupid question, but why are a pair of teenagers going world-hopping?" Harry asked.
"…I'm actually far, far older than I look, Harry. Long story short…our homeworld has been destroyed long ago, and Lumine and I barely escaped its destruction. We've been travelling ever since, until Asmoday stopped us on Teyvat," Aether said solemnly. "My past is a bit of a painful subject, so…I'd like to leave it at that for now. In the end, we were little more than tourists who ended up smack dab in the middle of a battlefield, which I suspect to be the Cataclysm. And then, as we made to flee…Asmoday showed up. Still…something's not quite right about this world. I'm trying to discern why that is."
"And why your sister has become a card-carrying member of the Abyss Order?" Harry asked.
Aether nodded. "I wish to learn what made her do that. In any case, I'm going to help Tighnari and Collei around Gandharva Ville, some easy tasks while I'm recuperating. I won't keep you two. Best of luck at Aaru Village…"
After saying their farewells for now, Harry and Nahida headed to Aaru via the Statue of the Seven, heading straight to see Candace. Luckily, the guardian was speaking with one of the normal guards of Aaru Village. Noticing them approach, she dismissed the guard, and went up to them. "Harry, Nahida. Good morning. Why have you come this time, may I ask?"
"We've had a bit of a breakthrough regarding the entity in the Village Keepers," Nahida said. "If you don't mind, we would like to discuss this with you and Uncle Anpu in private."
"Very well…"
Anpu and Candace considered this new information carefully. "So, based on this Aether's experiences, you believe that the entity may be either your predecessor, or else the Goddess of Flowers?" Anpu asked.
"Yes, or at least a female entity. I was hoping to confirm that," Nahida said. "And, if it doesn't put too much of a strain on the Village Keeper, attempt to converse with them, try and learn more if possible."
Candace and Anpu shared a look, before Anpu nodded. "Very well. But I must warn you, there is…trouble brewing regarding the Village Keepers."
"Of course there is," Harry muttered. "Does the Akademiya want them back or something?"
"No. However, a local Ayn al-Ahmar group has been taking an unhealthy interest in them lately," Candace said. "Well, technically, they're not actually part of the Ayn al-Ahmar, but they share many of the same beliefs and fanaticism. Their leader is a man called Rahman. He's normally mostly reasonable, but his group are only a few steps up from the more belligerent Eremite groups, and he's a fanatical follower of King Deshret. And the interest he is showing in the Village Keepers is suspicious. I have nothing truly concrete, but they have been asking many questions about the exiled scholars."
"…I wonder why," Nahida mused. "The Akademiya exiled them. I doubt they'd be useful as hostages against the Akademiya. Maybe they believe the Village Keepers to be possessed by Nabu Malikata or one of the Jinni?"
"It's possible, as many of our people revere the Jinni and the Goddess of Flowers," Candace agreed. "But even so, I do not believe that to be the most likely explanation for Rahman's interest."
"Perhaps. Thanks for informing me. Incidentally, have you witnessed any Fatui activity lately? Beyond the norm?"
"Not in Aaru, but I have heard reports from elsewhere," Candace said. "An Eremite group I have links to was approached by the Fatui, led by a man called Il Dottore, who claimed to be a Harbinger. They rejected the offer of employment, and my contact in the group sent me information."
Nahida and Harry shared a look of shock. "Did your contact describe him?" Harry asked.
"Tall, arrogant, with blue hair and wearing a bird-like mask," Candace said.
"…So Il Dottore, or someone claiming to be him, is in Sumeru," Nahida said. "It may be as we feared. Still, we mustn't tarry. If you would, I would like to speak with a Village Keeper again."
"…We'll try Khalil again," Anpu said. "But try not to agitate him too much."
"We will try, sir…"
They found Khalil shuffling around outside of his dwelling again, muttering to himself. Nahida walked up to him. "Excuse me? I'd like to speak with you again, if that's okay with you?"
Khalil turned to look at her. "…Recurrence…repeat…another samsara…it comes…"
"Sir…or rather…my lady…I…I think I know who you may be. Are you my predecessor, Lord Rukkhadevata? Or are you Nabu Malikata, the Goddess of Flowers? Or one of the Jinni? Please, if there's anything I can do to help you, then…can you tell me? If it's you, Lord Rukkhadevata…I know you lost power during King Deshret's fall, thanks to the Raiden Shogun."
The elderly man stilled, and then sagged. At first, it looked like he was on the verge of collapse, but he was merely kneeling, meeting Nahida's eye level. "…Just a shadow…a shard…of what I once was," Khalil all but choked out, as if talking was an extreme effort once more. "…But…you…know…part of…truth. My…successor. No…" Khalil's eyes flicked to Harry, and they widened in realisation. "My…successors. My…children. For when…a branch…is broken away…sometimes…a seed…or a shoot…may fall off…and find fertile ground. Just as it has…with you two."
Harry blinked in shock. What the hell was Khalil…no, this fragment of Rukkhadevata saying? What the hell was she saying?
Khalil suddenly gathered them both up into an embrace, weeping softly. "…Children…my children…one born…with purpose…the other…by serendipity. I'm sorry…for the task ahead…is cruel. But…it is your…solemn duty." He looked up at them, before smiling sadly. "As the Dendro Archons."
With that proclamation, he lost consciousness, slumping to the ground. Harry caught him, checking his condition with a spell, despite his shock and turmoil. "He seems all right. I'd keep an eye on him, but…Nahida, what the hell did he…I mean, she mean? That was Rukkhadevata talking, right?"
Nahida, after a moment's silence, said, "…I think she meant exactly what she said, Harry. I think she meant that we are siblings in more ways than one. That I am not the sole Dendro Archon." Her eyes turned to Harry with mixed feelings in them. Sorrow. Disbelief. And yet, there was also happiness. "Rather, you too are an Archon…"
CHAPTER 18 ANNOTATIONS:
Wait, WHAT?! HARRY IS ACTUALLY NAHIDA'S SISTER?! WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK?!
Now, before you think I have gone completely off the deep end, allow me to elucidate. This is something I considered not long after the soulbond idea began to truly take off for this story, long before I actually started writing it in earnest. Instead of it being a simple bond, they are effectively twins.
The hows are actually relatively simple to explain for those who have played through Sumeru. Rukkhadevata basically broke off an uncontaminated branch from Irmunsul and formed it into her successor so that Nahida/Buer/Kusanali would be able to erase Rukkhadevata, and thus Forbidden Knowledge, from Irmunsul. However, in this version of events, a fragment of this branch broke away, and drifted across dimensions, away from Teyvat, into the Potterverse, still linked to Nahida, but not at all sentient or aware, just a potent spore of Dendro energy and world consciousness…which eventually settled into the nascent soul of Harry Potter.
In some ways, Harry and Nahida's situation are not unlike Makoto and Ei. While Makoto wielded the Gnosis, it is clear Ei had considerable power in her own right. But Harry and Nahida, in some regards, are basically two halves of the same being. They are the Dendro Archon, they just have separate consciousnesses. A bit like how Marika and Radagon are the same being in Elden Ring, but have different consciousnesses and separate bodies (though I feel that Marika and Radagon had separate bodies for a time in their lives anyway). And without the creepy self-incest thing those two have.
I actually brought in this twist sooner than I intended. I only intended for it to happen at the very end of the fic, when they meet Rukkhadevata's remnants within Irmunsul. But when I was thinking about what Rukkhadevata would say to Nahida and Harry…well, a mother knows her children, right?
Anyway, I'm not sure when the next chapter will be out. Hopefully, it will be soon, but no promises. I got back to this chapter sooner than I thought. I spent the first few days since Fontaine was released just exploring, refraining from starting the story chapters. I finished the first act of the Archon Quests today. Firstly, what the hell is Arlecchino up to? Secondly, I regret standing up for Lyney. Thirdly, Furina is a bitch, pure and simple, and she needs a good spanking. Fourthly, why isn't Neuvillette the Hydro Archon instead of her?
Still, the investigation bits were cool. And Paimon pretending to be a hybrid of Poirot and Sherlock Holmes, and ending up looking like Groucho Marx, is hilarious.
No numbered annotations this time.
