Author's Note:
At the moment, I don't really feel like writing about Sumeru, but I'm 3/5 done with laying the foundations for my Genshin Impact series.
If I finish writing this introduction, only Natlan remains. Of course, there is also Snezhnaya and the Tsaritsa, but it will last a few more months until we can see the Crio Nation and the Crio Archon.
I almost forgot in my works for Genshin Impact there is a story/short story centered on Skirk.
Ps. The second half of this story was written during a night of insomnia and pain.
I woke up at 2am with swollen gums, it hurts like hell, I have to take antibiotics for a week, then I have a dentist appointment.
XXX
Story Title: The Archon House - Adventures in Sumeru
Plot: Before leaving for Fontaine, the Traveler and Paimon stayed in Sumeru for some time, during that time they had many adventures with the inhabitants of Sumeru, such as Nahida, Dehya, Layla, archive of stories about the secondary missions of the Sumeru characters.
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Story Arc: Nahida - Sapientia Oromasdis
Episode 1: Dream of Awakening
Chapter 1: A Bored Traveler, Impending Danger
Plot: The Traveler and Paimon walk through the streets of Sumeru City. When the Traveler begins to get bored, he and Paimon receive an event at a certain event: A Moment of Dreams.
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POV Narrator
Sumeru is one of the seven regions of Teyvat. It is the nation that worships Lesser Lord Kusanali, the Dendro Archon and God of Wisdom.
It is renowned as Teyvat's center of learning for housing the Sumeru Akademiya.
The city of Sumeru is located in the Avidya forest, Dharma forest, Sumeru.
The city of Sumeru is known throughout Teyvat as the "City of Wisdom."
It is under the jurisdiction of the Sumeru Akademiya and is built on the top of the Divine Tree.
The city features many districts and points of interest, such as the Grand Bazaar, Zubayr Theater, Treasures Street, and more.
Located in the middle to top half of the tree is The Akademiya, which serves as the main base of the Sumeru Akademiya.
On top of The Akademiya rests the Sanctuary of Surasthana, which is a treetop palace where Lesser Lord Kusanali resides.
XXX
One day, the Traveler and Paimon walk through Sumeru City.
Paimon, she physically has a small and graceful body, which gives her the appearance of a fairy.
She has thick white hair cut just above her shoulders, dark purple eyes, and pale skin.
He wears a white long-sleeved sweater, a midnight blue cape dotted with stars, white socks and white boots.
Rose gold embroidery and decorative cuffs are attached to the sweater, boots and sleeves. A gold triquetra is embroidered on the front of the sweater.
Paimon's accessories are a dark blue star-shaped hairpin and a rose gold tiara that levitates above her head like a halo.
As it moves, you can see a trail of small floating constellations.
The person who plays the role of the Traveler in this timeline/universe is called, Bruce Bel Bahamut Belmont, but no one other than Paimon knows his True Name.
The Traveler has the appearance of an effeminate boy in late puberty.
He is 175 centimeters tall and has an androgynous build, which makes it very difficult to determine his gender.
The Traveler's face has soft, delicate features, thin eyelashes, and facial features reminiscent of Artoria Pendragon or Morgan Le Fay, some of her ancestors through her maternal grandmother.
Her skin color is bright, milky white, smooth and free from imperfections.
The Traveler has beautiful, very long, inky black hair, kept in a variation of the Hime cut with the addition of a couple of braids.
The hairstyle consists of a front fringe, straight side locks, long up to the cheeks that hide the ears.
The Traveler's long hair is held in two braids: a front braid that covers the left side of his face and a back braid that falls behind his head, past his shoulders.
The back braid is thick and intricate, as if the Traveler were a relative of Rapunzel; the braid reaches knee height.
This braid is decorated with seven long red threads made of an unknown material.
At the end of the braid is a large, thick, ring-shaped silver accessory, decorated with runes of an alphabet unknown to Teyvat.
The back braid is simple and elegant: it covers the Traveler's left eye, then becomes thinner and continues until it reaches the heart area.
This braid is decorated with a purple ribbon and at the end there are four silver beads.
The right eye is visible and shows a light gray coloration, although it can appear silver in the right light; the pupil is amethyst purple.
He wears a black and purple suit with several silver accessories, such as rings, bracelets, tie clips, and brooches.
Around the Traveler's multifunctional belt is an imitation of a Vision Electro.
The most eye-catching piece of clothing is his leather coat, which looks like it came straight out of a cyberpunk world, colored mostly black with neon purple stripes and topped with a hood trimmed with silver feathers.
On the back of the coat is a False Delusion.
This accessory, along with the False Vision, serves to explain to the masses why the Traveler can use multiple elements.
"I'm bored, this day is bringing nothing at all." Said the Traveler in an apathetic voice.
The Little Fairy's expression went from carefree happiness to slight anxiety.
'This is bad, a bored Traveler becomes unpredictable and the risk of laughter in a bar/inn becomes almost a certainty.' Paimon thinks, she is worried about what could happen.
The White Fairy has traveled far and wide with the Traveler, exploring four countries so far: Mondstadt, Liyue, Inazuma, and Sumeru.
On this journey whose destination is not yet in sight, the White Fairy has learned Three Unpleasant Truths about the Traveler:
One, the Traveler is a living magnet for calamities and troubles of all kinds, from small ones, like sudden bandit attacks, to large ones, like fighting gods or people as strong as an Archon.
The things that have happened in Sumeru so far have become the norm for Paimon. A conspiracy, Fatui with their twisted plans, a False Clockwork God to face in combat, a girl to save (Nahida) from her captivity etc.
Two, the Traveler is extremely popular with women and certain men, to Paimon's chagrin, wherever they go, women and men will sooner or later end up making eyes at the Traveler.
So far, three Archons (Venti, Zhongli, Shogun Raiden) have shown some interest/appreciation for the Traveler in their own way.
To Paimon's relief, Nahida, being a female child, is unaffected by the Traveler's charms.
Three, the Traveler is crazy, he himself confessed to being Distorted, that is, his mind and vision of the world work differently than ordinary people.
The Fairy soon realized that the Traveler is an alien in more senses than just a person from a different world.
Paimon she saw how the Traveler reached the heights of happiness and enthusiasm in the most difficult moments, when he faced obstacles or opponents that could kill him.
The Traveler lives to adventure, discover new things, and fight against worthy opponents.
So when the Traveler doesn't find an interesting adventure or task to complete, he begins to get bored, and at best becomes irritable or irascible.
In the worst cases... he ends up unleashing his repressed impulses against a monster or a group of bandits or Fatui... the result is not pleasant to see.
Paimon flies behind the Traveler and clasps her hands together as if she were about to pray to the Archons she has met so far.
As if Nahida had heard Paimon's wish, a passerby named Pedrush stepped into the Traveler's path.
"Hello, Traveler. Have you ever heard of: A Moment of Dreams?" Pedrush asks, trying to make more people aware of the event that has gained popularity in Sumeru City.
"As long as it doesn't involve Vision Bearers with problems to deal with, Archons in trouble, or evil adversaries to behead, I'm not interested." The Traveler said, starting to show his negative side due to boredom.
"Is this some kind of sweet drink by any chance!?" Paimon asks, floating so that he's between the Traveler and Pedrush.
"Haha, I'm afraid not. It's the name of an event we've started to organize regularly." Pedrush explains, addressing the Little Fairy and not the Traveler who is not in the mood to socialize.
"Dreams have become a hot topic in Sumeru, and many people are eager to share the dreams they see at night," Pedrush explains, noting that before the release of the Anemo Archon, adult Sumeru residents were unable to dream.
The Traveler crosses his arms and looks around with his good eye, looking for a more interesting person or object.
The Little Fairy instead stays to listen, wanting to know more about this event, maybe it will change the Traveler's mood.
"Same goes for me! The last time I dreamed I was just a kid, so I can't help but feel excited and nostalgic about dreaming again." Pedrush said, loving being able to dream and talk about his dreams with other people.
"Just another fad, it won't last long, you'd be better off finding something more constructive or enjoyable to do, like building models of buildings or historical battle scenes." The Traveler mutters, having long been an insomniac who prefers an hour of meditation to eight hours of sleep and dreaming.
Pedrush grimaces when he sees that the Traveler isn't the least bit interested or supportive, but says nothing and focuses on Paimon.
"Ah, right, now everyone can dream again!" said the Little Fairy, she forgot for a moment about how the people of Sumeru couldn't dream before.
"Yes! We organized an event to give anyone with new dreams a platform to freely share their experiences. And that's how our event was born: A Moment of Dreams." Pedrush shares the details of the event of the moment.
"So it's a bit like a chat in front of the fireside." Said the Fairy, losing her enthusiasm slightly.
"If you need to socialize and talk about imaginary things, couldn't you have created a literature club?" Said the Traveler, participating in the conversion in a positive way.
"In my youth, when I attended Ars Magus Academy, I joined a Book Club to maintain my cover as a sickly female student. I enjoyed the conversations and arguments about which couple was the best." The Traveler confesses, his tone nostalgic, almost smiling.
'Finally, a smile means that a poor unfortunate soul will not be the victim of the Traveler's wrath.' Thinks the White Fairy, feeling much more serene than before.
"You could say that. We hear incredible and fantastic stories every day. Really, why not you hear them too?" Pedrush said, still trying to attract new members to the event.
"I'm not interested, but you can try Paimon, so I can at least get a free evening just for me and my dagger." Said the Traveler, seeing an opportunity to have some fun without worrying about looking after the fairy.
The Planeswalker pulls a ceremonial dagger from his coat, surely his definition of fun is far different from the average person.
Pedrush wisely steps back, rethinking his idea of inviting the Traveler to a Dream Moment.
Paimon, instead, takes the Traveler's hand and squeezes it tenderly.
"Paimon is a small, naive and defenseless child. If you leave her alone at any time, she risks getting hurt or being kidnapped or eaten." The White Fairy said in a childish voice, trying to sound like a good-for-nothing younger sister who needs her older brother.
The Traveler sighs as he places the ceremonial dagger back into his coat's inside pocket.
"How did a Fairy like you survive in this world before you met me?" asks the Traveler, his voice stoic.
"One of the great mysteries of the world. Just like how you manage to steal the hearts of Archons without even trying." The White Fairy replies, trying to be mysterious.
Pedrush, whether it's courage or stupidity, clears his throat, drawing attention to himself.
"Paimon would like to come to the event: a Moment for us to dream is as normal as breathing." Said the Fairy, trying to refuse delicately.
But then the White Fairy changed her mind when her stomach started to rumble.
"Wait, but if there were free drinks and snacks, then Paimon might consider it!" Paimon exclaims, she wishes to use the event to fill her stomach without having to pay a single coin.
"If this were the British Lostbelt, you would have been a Fairy whose goal was to eat all the sweets in the kingdom or something related to cooking." The Traveler mutters, speaking of things only he fully understands.
Of course, Paimon became the only person in Teyvat who was privileged to hear the stories of Chaldea, but she didn't cover them entirely.
"Really? So you mean... that you've already seen a lot of dreams?" Pedrush asks, showing difficulty in conceiving the idea of a person who has had dreams since birth.
"Mm-hmm, but there's no need to get so excited, it's nothing special." Said the Fairy, acting humble for once.
"Honestly, Paimon is right. Dreaming is a normal thing for everyone, even animals dream, in fact, the strange ones were the inhabitants of Sumeru who did not have dreams while they slept." Said the Traveler, feeling as if he was talking to an alien.
Pedrush makes an embarrassed expression, aware that for foreigners to be so enthusiastic about being able to dream is a bit strange.
"No no no, we need experienced participants like you two to share your experiences with dreams. Allow me to call you dream experts!" Pedrush said, desperately wanting to bring Paimon and Traveler to today's event.
"Oh, expert. Hehe, Paimon likes it!" The Fairy exclaims smiling, enjoying her new prestigious title.
"Now you seem interested, hehe. Please follow me to the meeting point. It won't take you much time. Don't worry, you'll find all the drinks and snacks you want there." Pedrush said, having listened to Paimon's words, finding his weak point.
"Wow, how kind!" Paimon exclaims, being won over by the promise of food.
'The sad thing is that I really can't leave my Little Fairy alone, just someone promises her food and she lets her guard down. If I want to have fun on my own I should find a babysitter, maybe Tighnari?' The Traveler thinks, wondering if the leader of the Forest Rangers can look after Paimon.
"Sign us up! Oh, but wait... Paimon is rushing again. We should see what the Traveler thinks first." The Fairy said, remembering that the Traveler has not expressed interest in participating in this event.
Paimon and Pedrush turn their attention to the Planeswalker from Earth-2126/Ysatnaf.
"Believe me, you do not wish me to share my experiences in matters of dreams." Said the Traveler in a deadly serious voice.
The Planeswalker has seen too much in his life not to be marked in some way or form, making his dreams rarely pleasant unless he takes action of an arcane or elixir nature.
"If Paimon speaks for both of us, can you accompany Paimon?" asks the White Fairy, trying to negotiate with her best male friend.
"Well, I'll be your silent escort to the party." The Traveler said, crossing his arms.
Paimon smiles, enjoying the Traveler's approval.
"Hehe! Well, hurry up and take us to become dream experts!" Paimon exclaims, turning to Pedrush, placing his hands on his hips, enjoying the moment.
"Ahah, very good. Then follow me both." Pedrush said, happy to have convinced two experts to participate in the event, even if only one of them wants to speak.
'Anything is better than being bored.' Thinks the Traveler, choosing to entertain his White Fairy at the event of chattering dreamers.
XXX
After a short walk, the trio of people are almost at the meeting place for the local event: A Moment of Dreams.
"Do you know what the most important thing about being an expert is?" Paimon asks, as he floats around the Traveler who is climbing the stairs.
:"Well, I suppose it's about accumulating knowledge and sharing your experiences?" Pedrush replies, raising an eyebrow at the Fairy's unusual question.
"No, it's all a question of title. From now on, Paimon will be known as Paimon, the Dream Expert!" The White Fairy replies, clearly in the grip of a momentary delusion of grandeur.
"Paimon, if you've stopped daydreaming, we've reached our destination." Comments the Traveler, accustomed to his female travel companion and her whims.
The trio arrived at one of the terraces on the gigantic hotel in Sumeru City.
Here is a crowd of people talking about their recent dreams, chairs and a table with a buffet.
Pedrush walks forward, placing himself in the middle of the terrace.
"Sorry to interrupt, guys. We finally have some REAL dream experts with us!" Pedrush said, drawing attention to himself, then to Paimon and the Traveler.
"Esteemed experts, this way, please. Um, now, if anyone has any questions, please feel free to ask." Pedrush said, leading the Faerie and the Planeswalker to their places of honor.
"They must be experts in dreams from another land... Fantastic!" exclaims a person named Ilman, full of enthusiasm to be able to talk to experts.
"Oh, I have a question! Me first! Me first!" exclaims a man named Nasser, wanting answers to his questions.
"No rush. Everyone line up and ask in order!" Pedrush exclaims, trying to maintain order.
After some initial commotion, everyone eventually queues up.
"Wow, Paimon didn't expect them to be so enthusiastic." Paimon said, she imagines this event and its participants are so full of energy.
The Traveler simply sat down on a chair, letting the White Fairy fend for herself.
XXX
After a long time, the Traveler got up, returning to his Fairy who had finally finished talking to the chattering dreamers.
"Ugh, their questions were too hard. I don't really know anything more than them. I'm just a more experienced dreamer, that's all." Paimon said, her voice tired, she often spent a lot of her energy talking to crowds of people.
"From what I saw they enjoyed talking to you and your bizarre dreams." Comments the Traveler, having observed everything carefully from his seat.
"You're right. It's more rewarding to explore and ponder the meaning of a question than to focus on the answer itself." Paimon said, trying to sound like she's an intelligent and profound Fairy.
"Right now, these people are like vagabonds who have been starving for three days and nights and are desperately trying to regain their strength. Whatever explanation they receive now is just for their sustenance, no matter how good it is!" Paimon exclaims, mimicking a certain person's way of speaking.
"Oh, and now that Paimon says that, do you know who comes to mind?" asks the Fairy, sure she'd left a clue earlier with her metaphors.
"The youngest and loveliest Archon ever, Nahida." The Traveler replies, finding the answer easily.
"Bingo! If she were here, she would probably make a similar analogy. Unfortunately, she is very busy right now and may not have time for meetings like this." Paimon said, thinking of the Anemo Archon, who they haven't seen in a while.
The Traveler's nose twitches for a moment, a sign that he has perceived a certain scent.
"We'll see very soon." The Traveler comments, knowing that a certain adorable little girl is nearby.
"Dear experts, we have another guest who would like to consult with you." Pedrush said, making a surprise announcement.
"Huh? But you saw how we just answered all the questions." Paimon comments, with a confused voice. The Fairy thought she did a great job as a dream expert.
"Ah, but this guest is rather... special." Pedrush said, not wanting to spoil the surprise.
"You finally came out into the open for a goddess of plants you are staying too long indoors within the walls of the Sumeru Akademiya." Said the Traveler, already knowing who the last minute guest is.
Nahida, the Anemo Archon, has approached the First Sage of Buer, aka the Traveler.
Nahida, despite being 500 years old, has the appearance of a short child, between five and ten years old, one would say.
He has pale skin, pointed ears, large green eyes, and white hair with dendro-green tips that glow when he uses his Elemental Ability or Elemental Blast.
Nahida's hair is braided from the right side of her head into a ponytail on the left side. She wears a large green headdress on the left side and a green leaf on the right side.
Nahida's outfit consists of a white dress decorated with green and gold details, short detachable sleeves of patterned green fabric, and a gold bracelet on her right wrist. The dress is embellished with numerous green gems and is decorated with intricate gold patterns.
Underneath, he wears a pair of white knickerbockers.
On her back she wears a pale green cloak divided in two, and on her feet she wears short white stirrups adorned with gold that leave her almost completely barefoot, with her toes and heels exposed.
"My question is: why didn't you tell me about such an interesting place right away?" Nahida said, stopping in front of the Traveler and Paimon.
"I just discovered the existence of this event a few hours ago." The Traveler said, before stroking Nahida's head tenderly.
"Eh, Nahida!? How did you get here!?" Paimon exclaims in a happy voice.
During these conversations Pedrush bows to Nahida and leaves.
"Interesting events like, A Moment of Dreams, don't happen every day, after all. No matter how busy you are, I would still take the time to check it out." Nahida said, smiling, enjoying the affection provided by the Traveler.
"I like to hear that you care about other things besides your duties as Anemo Archon and leader of the Sumeru Akademiya. In some ways you are still a child you should enjoy yourself more, you have eternity to work." The Traveler said, stopping from petting Nahida's head, only to pick her up.
"Have you grown or have you been eating large meals?" asks the Traveler, sensing that Nahida has grown heavier somehow.
"I've grown an inch since we last saw each other, Traveler." Nahida said, nuzzling her head against the Traveler's chest.
Paimon seeing this scene can't help but feel three feelings:
One, happiness in seeing Nahida happy.
Two, jealousy towards Nahida for being held in the Traveler's arms and receiving caresses on the head.
Three, concern about Nahida, that she might not be so immune to the Traveler's charms.
The Planeswalker, seeing Paimon's expression, puts Nahida down, then moves his arms so that he is caressing the heads of both white-haired girls.
"You two are adorable little things." The Traveler comments, feeling a mix of paternal nostalgia and Déjà vu in his heart.
Soon, the tender moment is over, the Traveler has stopped spoiling Paimon and Nahida.
"I really didn't expect to meet you here, though." Nahida said, playing with her fingers, which often happens when the Traveler offers her affection.
"Oh, right! If anyone understands dreams, it's you! You should be able to help us answer all these questions!" Paimon exclaims, confident that Nahida may be the best dream expert in Sumeru.
"You're not wrong. It's okay, they can ask me anything. The more interesting, the better." Nahida said, interested in this new experience.
The crowd of chattering dreamers suddenly went silent.
"Huh? What's wrong? You were all so excited a minute ago... why the sudden hesitation?" Nahida asks, proving that despite her status as the Goddess of Wisdom, she is still a child.
"Nahida, you should be patient with them, they need time to gather all their courage and take a step towards you." Said the Traveler, standing at Nahida's side.
"But it's not like I look particularly intimidating or anything, right?" Nahida asks, looking slightly confused.
"You are the most adorable being in all of Sumeru, your appearance will never frighten anyone. When you have blossomed, you will become not only a Great Goddess of Wisdom, but also of Beauty." Said the Traveler, unable to restrain himself from patting Nahida's little head.
The Anemo Archon can't help but blush, clearly her young mental age doesn't make her immune to the Traveler's charms.
"And in terms of reputation and fame, you have also done many great things in Sumeru, yet they have not even given you a glance." Nahida said, having seen how many people interact with the Traveler without any problems, despite him being a famous hero across the world.
"Talking to a hero and talking to an Archon are two different things. For me who have seen and done everything, you are a special child, for them you are a goddess." Said the Traveler, trying to make things clear.
Nahida's happy expression became weaker.
"Alas, the interesting questions have vanished in an instant. It seems I am the one who spoils the fun. I am leaving alone." Nahida said, trying to keep a neutral expression, but the sadness is felt in her voice.
"Aw, that's not true, Nahida!" Paimon exclaims, she wishes Nahida would stay and have fun with her.
"I don't want to intrude on the original purpose of 'A Moment of Dreams,' which is to allow people to gather here and freely share their wonderful dreams," Nahida said, not wanting to ruin the experience for the residents of Sumeru City.
"Now the atmosphere here is like water poured into a container... The water is safer and more stable, but it has lost its free-flowing nature of the river. I just wanted to be another drop in the water, not a cold, restrictive container," Nahida said, using complicated metaphors just to say that she wanted to have fun like a normal child.
"Children will be children no matter the species." Comments the Traveler, having long experience when it comes to children having difficulty making friends, especially with commoners.
"He's sulking." Paimon stated the obvious.
"Hey, it's okay, everyone. There's no need to be shy! Archon Dendro is really kind, so please, just ask! Otherwise he'll go away." The Fairy said, addressing the crowd of dreamers.
"Okay... I'll try." Said a person named Ata, who talked about Slime with Paimon.
"Oh, it's the slime guy." Paimon said, she can't help but give people a nickname.
"Hey, drop the nicknames, please? Besides... I don't want to be a Slime anymore. Maybe a Finch or a fish would be more suitable for me." Ata said, as he stopped in front of the Little Goddess of Wisdom.
"I see. So you want to become a little animal in your dreams, right? Why do you think that sounds good to you?" Nahida asks, returning to her happy self.
"I guess I just want to try something different. My everyday life is the same. The sky is right above me and the ocean is just beyond the horizon, yet I remain trapped in a monotonous life." Ata replies, trying to explain how she feels.
"So you want to experience something new in your dreams... Sorry, I'm getting a little confused. Why don't you seek out new experiences in real life?" Nahida asks, curious why Ata doesn't try this route.
"Because if I don't work, I won't have Mora anymore. Sure, I don't want to be out hammering nails and chopping wood every day, but I have elderly parents and small children to take care of.
When I realized all this, I realized that my life had already been filled to the brim with insignificant matters and I had no freedom anymore." Ata confesses, being overworked.
"But if that were the case, then even if you became a flying bird or a swimming fish, in your dreams you would still be hammering nails and chopping wood. The reason is that you have already been trapped. No matter what your physical body transforms into, your mind will still remain stuck in the same situation." Nahida replies, trying to help Ata solve his problem.
"Really? That sounds terrible! So what should I do?" Ata asks, wanting a solution.
"I don't know everything you're going through, but how about replacing your hammer?" Nahida offers a simple solution to a complicated problem.
"Huh? Replace my hammer?" Ata asks, puzzled by this answer.
"That's right. Having worked for so long, you know more than anyone what makes a hammer a good hammer." Nahida said, leading the conversation to a topic Ata knows well.
"Well, sure. A good hammer should be heavy enough to drive the nail in with a couple of blows... and the handle should have a good grip, not too smooth. Come to think of it, it's been a while since I replaced my current hammer." Ata replies, knowing a lot about his trade.
"You should replace it. Then decorate the handle with something you like... maybe some ornaments, fur, or a stiff leather covering. Then, write your children's names on it." Nahida advises, her voice clear and confident.
"Makes sense... I think it would give me a nice boost of energy at work!" Ata said, letting the Anemo Archon's words win her over.
"A new sense of adventure often begins with the little things in life. You don't have to become a bird in flight or a fish in the sea. You just have to do your best in life, and all the things you love will become your source of happiness." Nahida said, speaking as if she were the one who writes fortunes.
"Yes, yes... Now I understand. This is a real revelation for me! I'll go get a new hammer right now... No, I should build one myself. Thank you, great Dendro Archon!" Ata said, before going away to take the first step towards solving his problems.
"That's our Nahida! Only you could get straight to the heart of the matter." Paimon exclaims, giving a little applause for the Goddess of Wisdom.
"I actually didn't quite understand the problem." Nahida confesses, failing to understand almost anything about Ata's problems.
"Huh?" Paimon said, with a confused expression.
"You're definitely making progress as a leader, Nahida, pretending to have things under control when, in reality, you can't even find your way out of the elevator. It doesn't work in times of crisis, but it does work if you're a small-town union." The Traveler comments, knowing a lot about different types of leadership.
"I gave him that advice because I once saw a worker doing the same thing. Whenever he got tired, he looked at the names on the handle of his tool. After a moment, he started smiling. It surprised me a lot at the time... I guess the names on the handle belonged to people who were important to him." Nahida explains where the idea came from.
"The reason is quite simple when you think about it." Said the Traveler, knowing how a couple of names can motivate a man.
"Mm-hmm. After observing her, I know that this kind of behavior motivates people... but why?" Nahida said, with a thoughtful expression.
"Is it excitement, trepidation, or helplessness? I really don't know... And even if I could understand what's going on in his head, it's still hard to fully understand his feelings." Nahida said, having trouble understanding certain subtleties of the human soul.
"The reason is simple, love. One of the forces that have forced humanity to do all sorts of madness." Said the Traveler, beginning his explanation for Nahida.
"You are a Goddess too young to fully understand love. But there is nothing a father or mother would not do for their child. Work from dawn or dusk; devote themselves to their growth by putting themselves in the background. My mothers made many sacrifices for us, but they never complained. I did the same when my turn came. You will understand it as you grow up." Said the Traveler, while stroking Nahida's head in a fatherly way.
"Love?" Nahida mutters, with a confused expression, not understanding love, beyond simple affection for someone.
"Traveler, are you a father by any chance?" Paimon asks with some hesitation.
The Fairy has learned many things about the Traveler, about his "childhood", his extended family, his career as a Planeswalker, etc.
But some topics were not even mentioned, such as the Traveler's life before ending up with his twin sister in Teyvat.
"No Comment." replies the Traveler, speaking like a seasoned politician.
"Now we can talk about Nahida, who is acting as a psychologist for Sumeru City, you seemed a little tense." Said the Traveler, having the eye of an Expert Detective.
Yes, you understand that the Planeswalker wants to change the subject of the conversation.
"You guessed it, Traveler. I was a little nervous a little while ago. But luckily, seeing his happy face finally reassured me, I didn't say anything wrong. Don't worry, though. This is just my way of learning." Nahida replies, trying to sound strong and capable.
"I'll be happy to help you if you ever need it, Nahida." Said the Traveler, stroking the head of the Little Goddess of Wisdom again.
"Hey, don't forget about Paimon! Everyone knows that Paimon is also very good at reading people's feelings!" exclaims the Little Fairy, wanting to help Nahida as well.
"Thank you both. It makes me feel so much better. Let's move on to the next question, shall we?" Nahida said, blushing, happy to have such friends in her life.
Continues ...
XXX
Author's Note:
I decided to skip some unnecessary dialogues that would have made the chapter longer without adding anything concrete.
I plan to write The Archon House - Adventures in Natlan, when I get Mavuika in Genshin Impact.
I will probably write a Marvel X Type-Moon X Genshin Impact crossover story, with elements of Natlan.