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“Tighnari, you should be resting.” Hazm’s words were drowned out by the sound of thunder. Even if rain wasn’t pouring around them, he was certain that Tighnari would disregard his warning and continue patrolling. Tighnari leaned heavily on Karkata and continued to walk along the gate of Pardis Dhyai. He struggled to cover himself with the umbrella and hold onto the mechanical crab at the same time. “You’re still recovering from your injuries. Let the staff deal with securing the wall.”
“These plant-based traps are delicate and it’s best that I place them myself. I’m the only one here who has a dendro vision. I’ve rested enough so don’t worry about me. I have Karkata to help me so please go back into the greenhouse.” Tighnari brushed aside Hazm’s concern. “Hazm, the students need you more than I do. They’re probably scared after the Fatui came and a panic is the last thing we need. Go back inside and reassure them that they are safe here.”
Earlier, Pardis Dhyai had been attacked by the Fatui. A thunderstorm forced them to retreat but Tighnari was still wary of the Doctor returning for Haypasia. He planted traps around the main entrance. His body still felt sore after being struck by lightning but he forced himself to move forward. As a Forest Watcher, it was his duty to protect the rainforest.
“You shouldn’t waste your breath trying to change Tighnari’s mind.” Someone interrupted their argument and they turned towards the voice. With the storm around them, it was difficult to see the person aside from their silhouette. The person was tall with strange ears and he almost appeared to be a jackal. While Hazm shrunk back in fear, Tighnari recognized him.
“Cyno, what are you doing here?” Tighnari forgot his pain and started to run towards him. He only took a few steps before Cyno was in front of him and hugged him tightly. In contrast to the rain falling over them, Cyno’s body was warm like the desert sun. They haven’t seen each other since he started his investigation weeks ago and Tighnari wanted to savour his warmth. However, the thunder reminded Tighnari that they couldn’t linger in the moment.
He placed his hands on Cyno’s shoulders and lightly pushed on them. The small gesture was enough to tell him to let go. Tighnari held his umbrella over both of them. “We should go inside before you catch a cold. I already have my hands full treating Haypasia.”
They walked into the greenhouse where the staff and students were taking shelter from the storm. Tighnari had a million questions about Cyno’s investigation and the Traveller’s visit. He searched the greenhouse for a place they could talk without someone overhearing. Unfortunately, the glass walls didn’t provide much privacy.
Tighnari spent countless hours at Pardis Dhyai and he knew of one place they could be alone. Cyno must’ve had the same thought as he took Tighnari’s hand and led him to the back door. They stepped outside but they didn’t become wet from the rain. The petals of the tall, white flower acted like a canopy above their heads. They sat in the thick bush of flowers. When they were students, they would use the spot for their clandestine meetings.
“You surprised me when you came. I didn’t hear a trap being triggered.” Tighnari took a towel and placed it over Cyno’s wet hair. He often listened to Tighnari explain them during their dinners together so he knew them well. He also made him plant-based traps to use during his investigation. “The Traveller and Dehya came and asked about the Doctor. They couldn’t talk about the details but it sounds dangerous. He said they were going to meet you in the city. Did something happen for you to come back here?”
“They said you were hurt in a fight.” The concern and regret in Cyno’s voice made Tighnari pause.
“Did you come back just to check on me?” Tighnari already knew the answer when he looked into Cyno’s red eyes. With a sigh, he untied his belt and white tunic. “My injury isn’t serious and the lightning barely left a scar. I don’t know what you’re planning to do with the Traveller but it’s likely connected to the Akademiya. Rescuing our Archon is important and you can’t let yourself be distracted by me.”
Tighnari started to take off his hoodie but his shoulder protested and made him wince in pain. He cursed lightly at himself. He wanted to reassure Cyno that he wasn’t hurt but it was difficult to hide the lingering pain he felt. Cyno took the hem of Tighnari’s shirt and helped him pull the fabric of his head. His eyes fell onto the violet scars on his shoulder. The electro aura littered his skin like a spider web and the sight made Cyno’s stomach turn.
Tighnari placed his finger beneath Cyno’s chin and guided his gaze back to him. He brushed his wet hair from his face. Their eyes met and Tighnari could see anger clash with the regret he saw earlier. Cyno snarled, “The Balladeer did this to you. As soon as we free the Dendro Archon, I’ll see that he and the sages pay for their crimes.”
“They deserve to be punished but I hope you’re not letting your emotions affect that decision. The Akademiya is a powerful organization and you can’t afford to be reckless with them. You’re the General Mahamatra and you need to be impartial.” Tighnari reminded him.
“General Mahamatra.” Cyno repeated the title and bitterness tainted the words. Even before he joined the Matra, he saw how dangerous the unrestrained pursuit for knowledge could be. Scholars would disregard life and betray each other for knowledge. He believed he could keep scholars on a righteous path by punishing scholars as the General Mahamatra. The sages only saw that title as their hound to control.
“Cyno, I told the Traveller to give you a message and I’ll repeat it now. Trust your own senses and experiences. You have a strong sense of justice that the General Mahamatra needs. The divine spirit chose you as a vessel to enact judgement for a reason.” Tighnari took Cyno’s hands and squeezed them tenderly. “I wouldn’t have asked you to help my master if I didn’t believe in you. I love you.”
Cyno placed his hands on Tighnari’s hips and pulled him onto his lap. He leaned down and kissed his shoulder where the thunder had struck him. “The raid will start tomorrow. I’ll bring them to justice.”
“When you defeat the Balladeer, the rain will stop and I can finally go home to check on Collei. She’s probably worried that we both disappeared all of a sudden. Come home to us as soon as you can.” There was no doubt in Tighnari’s mind that Cyno would succeed. “Though, I wish I could go with you and help with the raid. I’m the reason you’re in this mess.”
Even though Tighnari knew that Cyno was strong and intelligent so he could survive any situation, he didn’t want him in danger. He told himself that he would support him if the situation became dire but he was injured now. To his surprise, Cyno chuckled. “You faced the Doctor by yourself and stopped him from taking Haypasia. You helped our raid more than you think.”
Cyno was already suspicious of the Akademiya’s latest project but Tighnari’s request spurred him to investigate outside of his role of General Mahamatra. There were various reasons the sages would try to trick Tighnari to join them and each one endangered Tighnari. Before Cyno took an oath as the General Mahamatra, he vowed to protect Tighnari because he loved him.
“Admittedly, I wanted to shoot an arrow into his back after what he did to Collei. Killing him would lead to a war since he’s a delegate of the Tsaritsa.” Tighnari huffed as he put on his shirt. He picked up the yellow flower he often pinned onto his tunic. Instead of wearing it, he pressed it into Cyno’s hand. “Take this flower. It can be a charm and remind you that I be-leaf in you.”
A beat of silence passed before Tighnari blushed and turned away in embarrassment. “I was worried that you were still tense after our conversations so I tried to use your technique of telling a joke. I should’ve known that it wouldn’t work.”
“Ah, ‘be-leaf’ is like the word ‘believe’ except you changed it to reference a flower. Your pun would be better if you used…” He began to list a few puns with plants and Tighnari let out an exasperated sigh. As much as he loved Cyno, his jokes felt more forced than funny. Though, his jokes had their own charm because Tighnari understood the reason Cyno made them.
Tighnari leaned forward and kissed Cyno to silence his joke. While Cyno was distracted, he slipped the yellow flower from his hand. He leaned back and grinned up at him. “I changed my mind. Instead of returning my flower after the raid, return my kiss when we see each other again.”
Tighnari sat at his desk and crushed petals into a bowl to make a medicinal paste. The rain had stopped and he knew that it meant that Cyno and the others were able to defeat the sages. He returned to Avidya Forest and immediately started to prepare a salve to treat wounds. The raid was successful but there were likely people injured in the fight. His wound kept him from fighting but he still wanted to help in any way he could.
The sound of sandals against wooden steps made Tighnari’s ears twitch. He immediately recognized Cyno’s footsteps. He stood from his desk and went to open the door for him. As he reached the door, Cyno stepped through the entrance. Cyno had visited him so often that it was second nature to enter without knocking. His breathing was laboured. He carried the Traveller on his back and held a young girl with his right hand.
“Put Aether on the bed and I’ll check his injuries.” Tighnari helped Cyno place Aether on the bed. He looked over his shoulder to the small girl Cyno had bought with them. She didn’t appear to be hurt or need treatment. He spoke to her in a soft voice. “Can you go to the tent in the tree next to us? Wake up a girl named Collei and tell her that we have a patient. Sit down and rest, Cyno.”
“Sorry, I woke you up in the middle of the night.” Cyno sat in a chair. Tighnari wore a large black shirt that he often used when sleeping.
“I wasn’t sleeping. Collei kept telling me to get proper rest so I changed into my night clothes to make her think I was sleeping. Don’t tell her that I was awake and making medicine. Collei has grown up a lot to fret over me. Before you try to lecture me too, I fully recovered.” Tighnari pulled aside his shirt to show Cyno his healed shoulder. “How did everything go?”
“Better than we could hope. Aether fell unconscious but Nahida said that he wasn’t seriously injured.” Cyno said and he saw how Tighnari’s shoulders relaxed.
“You’re always bringing injured people to me.” Tighnari joked. Cyno watched him treat Aether’s wounds and knew that he was right to bring him to Avidya Forest. He considered him more capable than the doctors at the Bimarstan. “What about that little girl you bought back with you? I hope you didn’t adopt another daughter without talking to me first.”
“That’s the Dendro Archon.” His answer almost made Tighnari drop his bowl in shock. He briefly spoke to the Archon when she inhabited Aether’s body but he didn’t expect her to be so young.
Tighnari walked to the window and saw her walking with Collei. “She’s just a child. She’ll need someone to look after her at the Akademiya. You know how scholars are.”
“It sounds like you already decided to adopt her.” Cyno stood and walked to Tighnari’s side. “She offered me the position of General Mahamatra again. I accepted. I’ll protect her from people who would try to lock her up and I won’t let anyone hurt you.”