CHAPTER 22:
WARMTH AND COLD
Not long after dinner, Dunyarzad had bearded Harry to take a walk with her. Dehya was the only one accompanying them, following them at a discreet distance, but the others stayed. Well, Venti intended to come, but his fellow Archons stopped him from, in his words, 'serenading the lovebirds'.
They passed a building that had a number of beds in the open air. Dunyarzad's expression became solemn. "Bimarstan," she said.
"Oh, the hospital?" Harry asked, having learned about it from Nahida.
Dunyarzad nodded. "I went there for treatment many times."
"Right. Bimarstan's basically like the NHS back home, most health care's pretty cheap or free," Harry mused.
"True, but there are certain specialists that require more payment, and the treatments of Eleazar are far from cheap, especially the more effective ones," Dunyarzad said quietly. "Actually, it was while I was sleeping in a bed there that I first met Nahida. That place isn't a place of happy memories, but they're still significant."
"Yeah. Same goes for the Dursleys' house," Harry said. He'd already set up a Privacy Charm around them as they spoke. "I may have mixed feelings about Hogwarts, but I have far better memories of that place than I did of Little Whinging."
"Hmm. Still…to think you're an Archon now. Or rather, you always were. And now, I've met two more, and your godfather is the consort of another," Dunyarzad said. "I remember my parents saying they met Rex Lapis during a trip to Liyue during the Rite of Descension, but…I guess life can give me new things to experience."
Harry nodded. "Just so you know, I'm new to this whole godhood thing, and I'm not going to demand worship, or even ask for it. I just want the one thing Nahida and I both deserve: a chance to live our lives on our own terms, to help people on our own terms." A thought occurred to him. "So…this Nilou…how do you know her?"
"Oh, she's actually been a friend of mine for a few years now," Dunyarzad said. "I met her on a previous visit to Sumeru City. We've kept up a letter correspondence since. I uhh…never really told you about her, did I?"
"…No, but honestly, it's been a hectic few weeks, hasn't it?"
"It has," Dunyarzad agreed. "Actually, while I've been sending letters to Nilou since you arrived in Port Ormos, the last time we met in person was shortly before your arrival in Teyvat. We were discussing on the quiet about how we could organise a revival of the Sabzeruz Festival. I didn't expect my parents to agree, but your arrival and Nahida's rescue actually spurred them to agreeing, with conditions, of course. Having Dehya watch me and a contingent of the Blazing Beasts as security was one of them."
Harry nodded absently. "So…she's basically the star performer at Zubayr Theatre?"
"Indeed. That outfit is meant to be a representation of Nabu Malikata, the Goddess of Flowers. The Sabzeruz Dance she is to perform comes supposedly from a time when the gods gathered and celebrated." A smile touched her lips as they continued walking down the street. "And there's much to celebrate now. I have a new lease on life, temporary though it may be. I've met so many Archons, and I've met you in reality. In fact, in a way, I've experienced more in the past few weeks than I have for the past few years."
Harry looked to her, knowing why she said it. Because of her disease, she was always living against the clock, more than so many other people. "And you can experience more, Dunyarzad," he said. "Look, I'm not going to guarantee Nahida and I will be able to cure you, or even find a better treatment…but we're not going to stop trying. You, Collei, all those other Eleazar sufferers…we're going to try our best to save you."
"I know you are…but I'm still prepared for the worst. I have been for years," Dunyarzad said. "That's why I'm trying to do as much as I can. And to think, we're even involved in an adventure of sorts. Saving the world from the Withering of Irmunsul…alongside the famous Traveller Aether, Paimon, and three…no, four Archons. Actually, my mother's side of the family includes a few novelists. My mother even had a few short stories published, under a pen-name, of course. But it feels like a grand adventure. How many people get to say that?"
"…Adventures are messy things," Harry said quietly. "Don't get me wrong, they can be fun…but many times, they aren't. They often stop being fun once good people start dying."
"Fair enough," Dunyarzad said. "I remember some of the stories Dehya told me about her jobs as a mercenary, including that one involving Jeht. Jeht's father Jebrael was a good man, one of the few in the Tanit, and he sacrificed himself to save Dehya and Jeht. And what happened after that…well, sometimes, there aren't good endings in reality. But…I feel happy. Even elated. Because this is still an adventure, like something out of a story. Walking amongst gods, saving the world…I may not be one of the heroes fighting evil and destruction per se, but…I feel great just being part of it."
"Hey, don't sell yourself short, Dunyarzad. If it weren't for your suggestion, we might not have met Tighnari and Collei until later," Harry said. "And you and your family gave Nahida and I shelter, even a place to live, despite the dangers. Some heroes do ordinary things under extraordinary circumstances, Dunyarzad, and there's different kinds of strength and heroism. Honestly, you're pretty strong-willed. I'm not sure how I could have coped with being afflicted with Eleazar."
Dunyarzad hummed thoughtfully. "…And that's why I've fallen for you, Harry," she said quietly. "It's not your looks or the fact we met in Nahida's dreamscape…no, it's your kindness. Your compassion." She looked up at the Great Tree. "Those Sages, even so many of the scholars…they forget what that is in the pursuit of knowledge above all else. And it's not just them who lose themselves in pursuit of their goals. My family is a mercantile one, and yet, so many others lose their hearts in pursuit of Mora. I actually spoke with Zhongli about it. He'd seen it happen too many times in Liyue. All too often, he'd come to Liyue during the Rite of Descension as Rex Lapis, and find a merchant he favoured the year before having become a greedy and immoral plutocrat. Even with the Qixing keeping things from going too far, he lamented such changes in those he thought were good. Though not all of them were. But my point is…that is what makes you special, your compassion."
"…That's nothing special," Harry said. "I mean, you're compassionate too, and so is Dehya and Nahida, to say nothing of a lot of the people we meet."
"True, but…you're the one I have feelings for, Harry, long before we learned that you were an Archon," Dunyarzad said quietly. Then, seemingly on an impulse, she reached up and kissed him. "…My first kiss," she murmured.
"But not the last, I hope, for both our sakes," Harry said, smiling, even as they both blushed. And then, they kissed again, embracing under the moonlight…
Back at the manor, Nahida was sitting on a couch, reading a text she had ordered on the history of King Deshret. Thanks to Dehya, this one was more towards the Eremites' view on things, though it was, apparently, one of the less-biased works. She was hoping it might have some clues on the source of the Withering, as well as Kasala's tomb. Venti was sitting nearby, strumming his lyre gently. The noise thankfully wasn't intrusive, indeed, it was soothing to the Dendro Archon. Still, Nahida looked to Venti and frowned. "Why are you playing your lyre to me?"
"You're shackling yourself to your mission, Nahida. I'm just freeing you. It's my thing," Venti said. "Besides, Zhongli doesn't like me playing around him, and he's gone with Sirius, Aether and Paimon to try out the Puspa Café. Coffee's not my thing, really. I'm tempted to go find a bar, but I doubt they'd serve me, given my appearance."
Nahida looked to him. "Then why choose that appearance, Venti?"
"It's…a bit of a long story, back when Decarabian had imprisoned and enslaved the people of Mondstadt. Oh, he didn't realise he was a tyrant, Nahida, which was what was so galling and yet so tragic about him. He thought he protected his people by caging them, by preventing them from even conceiving of rebellion. And yet…eventually, they did. I was just a nameless little wind sprite, and yet, I, along with a bard whose name is lost to history, helped stoke the fires of rebellion." Venti looked away, his expression uncharacteristically solemn. "But in that very rebellion, he lost his life. I created this vessel in his image as a tribute to him."
"…I'm sorry for reminding you of your loss," Nahida said.
Venti shook his head. "It's been over two millennia. And he died fighting for a good cause. No, I have bigger regrets than that, as much as his death is a regret of mine. Not intervening sooner when the nobility turned Mondstadt into another cage, for example. And then, there's you. I…have to admit, I sort of shirk my responsibilities as an Archon. Then again, I am the God of Freedom. Freedom to do as I wish. But…what happened to you was beyond the pale, Nahida. If only I had known…"
"Would Celestia have let you interfere in the affairs of Sumeru?" Nahida asked.
"Not if a certain bard did a few things discreetly," Venti said with a cheerful wink, though his smile soon dropped off his face. "It's a moot point now. Your brother freed you. I'd say all's well that ends well, but it hasn't ended yet. It's only just begun. Between the Withering of Irmunsul and whatever the Sages and the Fatui are up to, well…interesting times lie ahead, in the cursed sense of the term."
Nahida nodded, humming to herself. "…Cursed…whatever causes the Withering has the taint of the Abyss…and the Aranara spoke of crazed whispers. And it's contagious, though not in the way most pathogens are. Still…we need to find out what it is before we purge it." Her eyes widened in realisation. "Oh no…"
"What?"
"…Not just purging whatever causes the Withering…but Lord Rukkhadevata herself!" Nahida said, looking to Venti in horror. "Through the Village Keepers, she kept saying 'World, forget me'. I think she is so badly contaminated by whatever that is, she wishes to be erased from Irmunsul!"
Venti's own expression mirrored Nahida's horror. "But that means…erasing part of the data within Irmunsul is no trivial matter, Nahida! It means everyone of Teyvat, save perhaps for a few, will actually forget her existence! Only outworlders are guaranteed to remember your predecessor's existence!"
"I know!" Nahida snapped. "I know that, Venti! I can't help but know! And that would make it worse! I would forget my predecessor…no, my mother's very existence! Everyone in Teyvat would forget her, forget whatever sacrifice she made in holding back whatever is causing the Withering! It's too cruel! It's too damned cruel! And those monsters in Celestia, they just don't care!"
Venti gently hugged her, even as she began weeping. He didn't say anything to comfort her, at least at first. In hindsight, Nahida knew that Venti, as a bard, needed to be able to gauge the mood of his audience.
Once she had calmed down, Venti said, "It is cruel. Unfortunately, as Archons, as gods, we need to make hard choices. And sometimes, we don't make the right ones. Zhongli, Ei, hell, I will willingly admit, I have made some pretty bad choices at times. But…maybe there's a little ray of hope in this."
"…What do you mean?"
"I'm not sure whether we could save Rukkhadevata, or what's left of her, anyway. But…you and Harry are two sides of the same coin, the Dendro Archon, split in two. But…he grew up on Earth, meaning he is almost as much an outsider to Teyvat as Sirius or Aether, and thus not as linked to Irmunsul. Maybe…just maybe…there's a chance that he could remember Rukkhadevata…and as you are linked to him…so would you. I'm just speculating, Nahida, there's no guarantee that will happen whatsoever. But maybe you'll be able to remember her sacrifice. Rukkhadevata deserves that much."
Nahida gave her fellow Archon a sad smile. While Venti was right, that it was only a hope that could prove false…it was better than nothing. Lord Rukkhadevata deserved to be remembered. And she hoped that it wouldn't come to erasing the nearest thing she had to a mother.
"…I just feel so powerless and helpless," Nahida admitted to her fellow Archon.
"You're not alone, Nahida. I'm not like Zhongli or Ei. I probably have more fighting ability than you do, but not by much, and I will admit, I'm probably the weakest Archon overall," Venti said. "But you know what I do? I play to my strengths, what little I have. If there's one thing I have been good at, it's inspiring people. And what are your strengths? Your intelligence, your curiosity, and your power over dreams. Never underestimate the power of dreams, Nahida. Dreams may seem insubstantial, and yet, they still hold considerable sway over reality. Without dreams, how may people strive? How else are ambitions born?" Venti plucked out his Vision, showing it to her. "Visions are born of dreams, and the ambitions they nurture, Nahida. You and I both know that it isn't we Archons who grant them to mortals. After all, we Archons also possess Visions alongside our Gnoses, as do other deities or near-deities like Yae Miko. The Fatui have developed analogues, Delusions, that sap at the lifeforce of the wielder, and yet I know of at least two Fatui Harbingers who had both a Delusion and a Vision, La Signora and Tartarglia. Anyway, my point is…play to your strengths, and discover more. Take this advice from your esteemed elder."
Nahida couldn't help but snicker at Venti calling himself an esteemed elder. He, like Furina, had a strongly immature streak. But he was her elder by about a couple of millennia, and for all his faults, he knew how to reassure people when he put his mind to it.
Still, it was something to bring up with Harry once he got back from his little outing with Dunyarzad. About the very real possibility that, to save the world, they would have to erase Lord Rukkhadevata not only from existence, but from memory as well. A chilling thought to consider, and a really disturbing one. She could only hope that it wouldn't come to pass, that she was wrong…
CHAPTER 22 ANNOTATIONS:
Some more of the Harry/Dunyarzad shipping, and Nahida comes to a disturbing realisation, and is helped by Venti, of all people.
BTW, guess who I got on the gacha? I WILL HAVE ORDER!
Now, this will be the last chapter for a while, unless I can write another chapter. You see, the next one is already written, but as with my Elden Ring crossover Virtus et Scientia, I'm keeping at least one chapter in reserve for my December mass update. Another chapter may be out before then, but no guarantees, okay?
Review-answering time! MWkillkenny84: Nope. He'll be more sneering and doing his megalomaniacal bit…but will get more and more frustrated by not only Nahida pulling an Aizen…but everyone trolling him with Bohemian Rhapsody. By that point, he'll basically be throwing a tantrum from within the giant robot, making Paimon look mature by comparison.
No numbered annotations this time.