"I found something on your real parents."
Dehya had been chewing candied nuts, enjoying her morning with her man when Aether spoke. Her jaw slackened. Your real parents. It took a while for those words to sink in. He'd found something on her parents. Impossible. Dehya leaned forward, her eyes narrowing.
"You found them?"
Aether rubbed the back of his neck. "No, it's more like I found some leads. Would you like to hear them?"
Would she like to hear about the people who ditched her as a baby and left her to die in the desert? Seconds passed before she could answer. Dehya surrendered a slight nod. Aether opened a notebook.
"Two decades ago, the House of the Hearth made incursions into Sumeru Desert. 'Mother' turned kids over to the Doctor for experiments. It's possible you were one of the kids she meant to trade. But there's another possibility"
He showed her some official looking documents: a birth certificate of some Clervie. Dehya didn't know much about birth certificates, but she knew a forgery when she saw one. What kind of birth certificate didn't list a father? And one section had been completely burned to cinders. She glanced questioningly at Aether.
He explained, "The previous Knave had a daughter. Arlecchino found this buried deep in Fontainian records. See that section that's been burned apart? The Knave had something to hide about her kid. It's very possible that she had twins."
"Sounds like a stretch."
"I think so too. Arlecchino thinks she could tell if you were related to 'Mother.' You don't remind her anything of the last Knave or of Clervie. But it's possible."
Aether flipped the notebook several pages.
"Another one: the former matriarch of the Tannit Tribe Babel claimed she lost her baby in a sandstorm. The Tannit Tribe lived in Sumeru Desert, where your dad found you, so it's possible."
"So this Babel lady's my mom?"
"I hope not. She tried to kill Jeht."
Dehya snorted. Of course. Her mother may have been a maniac. Either the Knave or Babel, both just as horrible. All things considered, maybe getting stranded in the desert was a good thing after all.
"What did Babel say about me?"
"I didn't ask." He adjusted his scarf. "Jeht and I killed her."
"Don't worry about it," she replied. "Are there any other Tannits who might know?"
Aether darkly shook his head. It occurred to her now that he had stated the Tannit Tribe lived in Sumeru Desert: lived, past tense. Dehya sensed a rather unpleasant story. Best not to pry.
"I'm not convinced you're entirely Eremite, Dehya," he continued. "Your blue eyes aren't commonly found in Eremites. That's why the Knave theory seems at least a little credible to me. But the eyes thing does lead to another theory, but…I'm not sure how to say this."
"Just say it."
"I went on a mission in Enkanomiya once. It's said the vishaps evolved over time to become more humanlike. That could explain your…serpentine pupils."
Dehya flicked open her compact mirror and examined her blue eyes. What did she see—a monster looking back at her?
"Huh. So, daughter of a psychopath or lizard in disguise. I've got lots of options."
"I was going to follow up on one other lead today. Want to come with me?" He paused.
She hesitated. Did she want to go with him and learn exactly where she came from? So far, the possibilities didn't look all that great. Noticing her hesitation, Aether shrugged.
"It's okay. We don't have to if you don't want to."
"No," she said. "I … I must know."
Tubby's Notes:
Name: Dehya
Occupation: Mercenary
Profile: Powerful and beautiful, Dehya's made quite the reputation for herself in Sumeru. Dubbed the Flame-Main, she fights with the prowess of a fiery lioness. Her battle instincts are on par with Ei's and her strength could give Itto pause. She's resourceful, independent, and tenacious. Aether has befriended gods, harbingers, and adepti. Still, Dehya remains one of the strongest warriors he calls friend. There's a popular song amongst the Eremites just about her:
"Sing a song, sing along, take your sitar, let's sing all day long."
"Sing my sword, sing my bow, sing my tattered ban-dan-oh."
"Fear no one, fear no lad, only fear if Dehya is mad."
"We love Dehya, she's beautiful and strong. Oh, our precious Dehya, we'll never do you wrong."
—A song sung by the members of "Blazing Beasts" around the campfire
However, I don't believe she will cause problems. Despite her trade as a mercenary, Dehya has exceptional hygiene. Her Mora goes towards the necessities, equipment, and especially towards cosmetics. So, I'm happy to say, she will never track sand inside the mansion.
Dehya has a complicated relationship with her father Kusayli. When she was a child, he put on plays for her and told her wonderful stories about lions. As she grew older, the nature of his work disgusted her. I don't know all the details, but his work seems to involve blackmail of a sort. They became estranged, never fully reconciling before his death. Recently, Dehya learned she was adopted. Her father Kusayli found her in the desert as a baby and raised her as his own. She wonders about her origins at times. While self-discovery isn't a priority, I know the subject occupies her thoughts.
Dehya's whistle echoed in the Temple of Silence. The noise bounced off the cavernous, towering catacombs reaching the uppermost top shelves. Still, it kept going and going until finally petering out like a dying campfire.
Aether raised an eyebrow at her. You having fun? His expression asked. She answered with a shrug.
They descended the steps into central chamber. Primal torches protruded from railings and outcrops at varying heights. Even underground, their brightness made the lifeless mausoleum vibrant and alive.
Aether exchanged words with a scholar. The man escorted them through a hidden passage into a narrow room with undecorated furniture consisting of a couch, two bookshelves, and a desk with a chair. A young man with a tan, brown hair, and a yellow bandana sat in the chair. He busied himself sorting through withered, yellow parchments.
Aether approached the man and opened his mouth for a greeting, when he spotted three other guests in the chamber. Three women they both knew well. On the couch sat Arlecchino, perusing a hefty tome. Her legs, folded at the thighs, unfolded as the Knave stood up.
"Aether, Dehya."
"Ah, they're finally here," said a sweet high-pitched voice. Kokomi returned a book to the shelf and turned to greet them. In the corner, Jeht had been kneeling as she spoke with Ben-Ben. Now, she too got up and greeted them.
Aether frowned, "What are you all doing here?"
"I invited them," came a new voice. At the entrance, Heizou, grinning in his mischievous way, leaned against the door frame. "You asked me to look into her case, right? We'll need their help."
Heizou shrugged. Crossing the threshold, he clasped Dehya's hand.
"Hello, my name's Heizou. I'm a detective from Inazuma. Aether asked me help digging up some leads on your parents. Wow, strong grip you got there."
Dehya relaxed her hand a bit. Heizou nodded, pointing towards Arlecchino. The Knave took a good, long look at the mercenary. Her face moved less than a statue, giving absolutely nothing away. Yet, Dehya felt emotions warring beneath the skin: anger, fear, and most incredibly of all hope.
What did she see? The child of Crucabena, Peruere's greatest enemy of all who had put her through hell—or the sister of her best friend Clervie? The Knave's mouth opened involuntarily, letting out a moue. Her brows tightened in concentration.
"Those eyes," she murmured. "They look a bit like hers. But beyond that, there's no resemblance."
Arlecchino casted one final glance at her, before returning to the sofa. Once more, she reopened the tome. Dehya let go of the breath she'd been holding. That woman had a piercing gaze. Even after countless battles, the Flame-Mane couldn't suppress her twinge of unease.
Her thoughts shifted as Jeht ambled over. The clearwater Eremite paused for a half-second. She produced a crimson bandana. Dehya knelt so she could wrap the cloth around her eyes. Jeht studied Dehya thoughtfully.
"I don't know…I'd say you two look nothing alike except…"
"Except Babel wasn't fully Eremite either," finished Heizou. Jeht nodded. "Her parents were Vahumana scholars. It would explain your eyes. Plus, the timing's perfect. Babel's child would've been as old as you."
Dehya handed the cloth back to Jeht. Their hands brushed. Dehya suddenly realized that she might be touching the hand of the woman who killed her mother. The thought made her uncomfortable, not just for its irony but for its perversity. Crucabena and Babel hurt Jeht and Arlecchino, two women Dehya considered friends.
In her heart, she knew it totally illogical. She never believed that whole sins of the father crap. And yet, she couldn't help the guilt constricting her throat.
Kokomi took her palm. "I'm going to run a little test, okay? Try to relax."
A Hydro Orb blossomed up from her fingertip. It floated like a balloon and morphed into a fish that circled Dehya. Even though it wasn't alive, the construct examined her with all the mannerisms of a living creature. Dehya felt an unsettling kinship with the animal. That's what she might be: a vishap that became human, an animal.
That would be a lot better than being the kid of a murderer though.
The fish returned to Kokomi's outstretched hand. As its fins touched upon her skin, the construct began sagging at the tail and the head. Like melting ice cream, water dripped from its body and fell in splashes. Its torso collapsed, falling with a splash onto Kokomi's palm. The priestess nodded, as though she'd learned something fascinating.
"You'll be happy to know you're not a vishap."
"That's…good, I guess."
Kokomi stepped back.
Heizou directed them to Sethos. Without breaking his gaze from the records, the young man produced a notepad. Scrawled on its pages were names. Each name had a profile containing birthdays, family lines, and for some days of death.
"These are all the scholars who ever tried leaving the Temple of Silence," Sethos explained. "At least, the ones I could find records on."
"And?"
"I think you're barking up the wrong tree. Few leave the Temple and start their own families. In the last fifty years, only three people deserted. Within weeks, each one… met their untimely demise. Their children were brought back to the Temple. There's nothing connecting Dehya to our ranks. She can't be a child of one of our deserters."
The mercenary was kind of disappointed. She half-hoped her story wasn't one where negligent parents left their kid in the desert. If her mom and dad had died, that would've meant they never abandoned her in the desert. Which meant they wanted her but couldn't be with her…
Heizou glanced questioningly at Aether. He sighed. "Nahida and I have been searching Irminsul for answers, but the tree's so vast that it could take decades. Cyno and Rahman have been asking around the older Eremites but nothing yet."
Aether's shoulders sagged. "I'm sorry, Dehya. I haven't exactly given you the best options for parents, have I? Maybe I should stop looking."
"No," she said. "I'd like to find out."
"Are you sure? You might not like the answer."
"Yeah, probably not," she admitted. "Either they died out there in the desert, or they abandoned me. So what? I don't need them." Dehya smiled at all her friends and at Aether, all assembled here for her sake. "All my life, I've been surrounded by kindness. The truth may hurt, but I'll be fine."
Her friends returned her smile. Even the severe Arlecchino surrendered a glimmer of warmth in her normally dark eyes. In that moment, Dehya knew. Even if she was Crucabena's secret child, it wouldn't change anything between them. Even if Dehya wasn't Clervie's secret sister, to Arlecchino, she'd always be her sister.
Dehya regarded Aether, her man.
Her life had been a long and seriously bumpy road. Nobody could say where it started or where it would end. When she saw all the love in Aether's eyes, Dehya knew beyond a doubt: the road brought her exactly where she belonged.
"Well then," said Aether, "what do you want to do now, milady?"
Life in the Desert: Article by Charlotte
Hot, merciless, Sumeru's deserts have claimed the lives of many travelers and scholars over the years. However, many Eremites call the desert home. Most make their living as mercenaries, surviving paycheck to paycheck, as they struggle to eke out a dwelling place in this inhospitable climate.
Thankfully, their hardships are set to vastly improve from Lesser Lord Kusanali's initiatives and from the contributions of several well-meaning citizens. Famous mercenary, Dehya the Flame Mane, has formed a partnership with several influential figures who have already donated to the desert dwellers.
The library of Aaru Village, constructed by renowned architect Kaveh, has received a generous donation of up-to-date textbooks from the library of Mondstadt. The expanded collection includes tomes on practical knowledge as well as basic academics. Fairy Tale books from Mondstadt such as the Boar Princess and light novels, generously donated by Yae Miko Publishing, will open the children's eyes to cultures beyond their own. Furthermore, the books detail the world beyond Sumeru desert so that children can seek new opportunities beyond mercenary work.
Additionally, the curriculum has been updated. Mechanical experts Madame Faruzan and Xianyun will offer instruction on mechanical engineering for those hoping to pursue higher education at the Akademiya. Dignitaries who worked under Liyue's Tianqin shall teach economic concepts so Eremites can better manage their finances. Bubu Pharmacy lent several workers to instruct the Eremites on advanced medical procedures. Finally, legal expert Yanfei has agreed to tutor students interested in pursuing law.
Of course, this assistance extends beyond the academic and literary. Famous smiths Wagner and Amenoma Tougo opened trade schools for forge work. They are joined by crafts experts Yoimiya Nagonohara and Kaveh, as well as alchemists Timaeus and Albedo. Also, the overqualified Shinobu has agreed to teach basically anything and everything. They hope that practical knowledge shall offer Eremites sources of income that shall not endanger their wellbeing. The House of the Hearth purchased a plot of land to construct an orphanage. Arlecchino explained her decision, "Everyone deserves a place to belong. I only hope that my small contribution can provide a haven for those lost and alone."
So far, their efforts seem promising. Eremites have taken to their new crafts and the revamped education curriculum has proven successful. Some estimate the desert, and Aaru Village, could become a cultural capital of the world within the next decade.
It had been a good day, all things considered. The family thing had been a dead end, but helping her people made her more than satisfied. Best of all though, as afternoon approached, Aether brought her into his teapot.
He got to work in the kitchen, dicing onions and scallions for their dinner. She sat at the table, watching him with her chin resting on her fist. As he put the ingredients into a frying pan and lit the stove, she couldn't help thinking how he looked so … husbandly.
Husband. Most mercs didn't think about stuff like that. You lived from one job to the next. People didn't put down roots and start families in the desert. She certainly didn't think her life would be much different. And yet, here she was.
Aether served her a plate. They enjoyed their meal, making small talk about stuff that didn't really matter. It was nice. Aether washed the dishes. She offered to help, but he insisted that she was the guest. Dehya rubbed her stomach in content. Damn, that man could cook. When they got married, she'd have him cook for her every night.
When they got married…it surprised her how easily she accepted the idea. Gods, she really liked him. Aether dried his hands on a towel.
"Hey, Aether?"
"Hmm?"
"Ah, it's kind of silly but…" she twirled a strand of hair absentmindedly. "Say we got married? How many kids would you want?"
"At least two. What about you?"
"I dunno. I'm open to whatever."
Aether cast her a side-eyed smirk. "The great Flame-Mane having domestic fantasies? Truly incredible."
"Hey, I might be a merc but I'm a woman too."
"I know," he said. "Believe me, I've noticed."
His eyes lingered on her exposed midriff. She stretched her arms over her head and his gaze went predictably to her breasts jutting out. Now, it was her turn to smirk. This man had an eye that wandered more than the wind. He averted his gaze, red-faced. She just grinned, completely amused by his bashfulness. He'd slept with so many other girls and still got flustered so easily.
"Come on, take a look," she said. "But you'll have to pay me."
"What do you want?"
In response, she walked over, grabbed his shoulder, spun him around. Dehya embraced him, leaning her lips towards his ear. She whispered exactly what she wanted from him.
With a grin, Aether said, "I can do that."
He picked her up and carried her bridal style to the bedroom. After a vigorous lovemaking sess, they settled down for the night. Dehya didn't know where she'd come from, but lying in his arms, she knew who she was: Dehya the Flame-Mane, a daughter of the desert who belonged by Aether's side.