Author's Note:
Ladies and gentlemen, I'm proud to tell you that I've almost completed the Teyvat Divine Phaeton. On June 9, 2027, at 8:10 PM, I obtained Mavuika.
But most importantly, I passed my last exam with an A; I passed all my written exams and oral tests!
Just one more step and I'll be a graduate!
Back to Genshin Impact, here's the chronological order of my conquests:
- Furina
- Raiden Shogun
- Winds
- Nahida
- Columbina
- Neuvillette
- Mavuika
I'm so happy I got Mavuika. The last time I tried, I got Diluc instead, and I was disappointed for a long time.
Now all I need is Zhongli to complete the set of Archons available in Genshin Impact. I'm wondering: 'Which will be available first, Zhongli or Tsaritsa?'
PS. I'm extremely happy, but ironically I'm writing a one-shot about a character who is in a sad, melancholic, and depressed state of mind.
XXX
Story Title: The Archon House - The Melancholy and Ambition of a Traveler (One-shot)
Plot: After saving the nation of Sumeru from an unprecedented calamity for the umpteenth time, Traveler traveled to Inazuma, where he encountered the Little Hexenzirkel. He then traveled to Natlan, where he locked himself in a cave for seven days and nights, showing no signs of coming out. A worried Paimon went to fetch Mavuika, unaware that this action would lead to such a turn of events.
XXX
POV Narrator
In Natlan's arena, the Stadium of the Sacred Flame, the woman who bears the mantle of Pyro Archon, Mavuika, was enjoying the day with a light workout.
Mavuika is a beautiful woman who appears to be 25 years old, 175 cm tall, and her three measurements are B90/W58/H90. She has long, red-orange hair that reaches her knees. When she unleashes her power, her hair transforms into living flames with shades of cyan and yellow. Her eyes are a deep red-orange. She wears a black motorcycle suit with red sun-shaped details that leaves her hips and back exposed, with a matching long-sleeved mini jacket over it. On her feet, she wears black high-heeled boots decorated with red and orange studs. She also accessorizes with black gloves, a finely crafted golden choker, and gold and red sun-shaped earrings.
Taking a moment to rest, Mavuika let her sword vanish. The beautiful red-haired woman couldn't help but let her mind wander. Among the many thoughts racing through her mind was what Paimon and Traveler, better known in Natlan as Shuja (The One True Hero), were up to.
"It's been ten days since Traveler left Natlan with the Dendro Archon, I wonder when he'll be back. Perhaps if I asked him to referee the next tournament, he'd stick around a little longer?" Mavuika thought, wishing the famous hero would be closer to her and Natlan. Unfortunately, Traveler was called that for a reason: he was always traveling.
Suddenly, a certain White Fairy flew into the arena, moving at an unusual speed for her and almost crashing into the Goddess of War.
"Paimon, where's Traveler? Did something happen to Shuja?" Mavuika asked, finding it very strange that the White Fairy was alone, given that she was practically glued to her companion's side.
Paimon has the appearance of a tiny fairy with childlike features, pale skin, and large, dark blue eyes that shine like a starry sky. Her hair is short, thick, and pure white, cut just above her shoulders with straight bangs and two longer strands of hair that frame her face. A dark black, three-pointed, geometric tiara floats above her head, decorated with gold details. She wears a one-piece, white, body-hugging suit; a large, gold-embroidered geometric symbol adorns her chest. The sleeves and cuffs are decorated with gold Celtic spiral or triquetra motifs. On her feet, she wears tight, white ankle boots with gold toes and details.
"Paimon desperately needs your help!" the White Fairy exclaimed loudly, clearly panicked.
Mavuika stiffened but did not lose her head, keeping her cool as expected.
"Paimon, calm down, tell me what happened. Where's Traveler?" Mavuika asked in a friendly voice, wanting to know what had happened and at the same time reassure the little creature.
Paimon was shaking in panic like a puppy in the rain.
"The problem is Traveler, he's not well! Paimon is worried sick!" exclaimed the White Fairy, without holding back.
The Goddess of War's eyes widened, but her face showed none of the other's panic.
"What happened? Is Traveler sick?" Mavuika asked with a slight tone of concern. The red-haired woman knew that Paimon's best friend was a legendary adventurer, and such a person wasn't easily defeated.
"Sick? Don't be ridiculous! Traveler never gets sick. In fact, viruses, poisons, and curses are afraid of him," Paimon commented, as if saying those words would calm her.
"So Traveler was seriously injured? By whom? You'd have to be as strong as an Archon to make him bleed," Mavuika asked, slightly more concerned than before and raising her voice. The Goddess of War had fought alongside Traveler, and from what she'd heard of his exploits before Natlan and after Nod-Krai, she was convinced that only a greater deity could pose a threat to the hero of Teyvat.
"If it were a flesh wound, the problem would resolve itself quickly. Traveler heals quickly," Paimon said. He would much rather it were a simple wound, since those had never been a concern for him.
The White Fairy's words calmed the red-haired woman slightly. If Traveler wasn't sick or even injured, the dangers were greatly reduced.
"Paimon, tell me clearly what happened to Shuja," Mavuika asked in a slightly more serious voice, wanting a clear answer.
The White Fairy looked on the verge of tears.
"Traveler isn't feeling well... mentally. He's stopped eating, he's stopped sleeping, he doesn't want to come out anymore. He's been locked in his room for seven days and seven nights," the White Fairy explained, her voice filled with anguish.
"Calm down, Paimon, take a deep breath," Mavuika said, leaning over and touching her back, moving her hand up and down to soothe her. The gesture calmed Paimon, if only for a moment.
"Paimon fears that Traveler might do the unthinkable," declared the White Fairy, expressing her greatest fear. In Paimon's world, Traveler's existence had become a fundamental pillar; without him, what would she live for?
Mavuika suddenly turned pale. A macabre scene flashed through her mind.
"I'll go get Citlali, she's an expert," Mavuika said, ready to rush to get the best person to handle such problems.
"We don't have time! Traveler has been left alone too long, who knows what he might do!" exclaimed the White Fairy, clinging to the red-haired woman.
"Hold on tight," Mavuika replied. In a flash, she summoned her motorcycle, Flamestrider, grabbed Paimon, and climbed aboard. "Tell me where we should go!" she exclaimed, using her flames to rev the engine.
XXX
Flamestrider darted out of the arena in an instant, quickly carrying the Goddess of War and the White Fairy to their destination.
"Paimon, tell me what happened to Traveler to make him so down?" Mavuika asked, wanting to find out the cause of such a depressive episode.
"Paimon doesn't know, everything was going well," replied the White Fairy, convinced that everything was going well.
"Think carefully, Paimon. I can't help unless I know the cause," Mavuika said. She could do much, but she couldn't perform miracles.
"After saving Sumeru from the Doctor's plans once again, Traveler and I went to Inazuma. We met the Little Hexenzirkel and had a blast," the White Fairy began to give a short summary of the events surrounding the little witches. "Traveler was very happy to be watching over Klee, Yaoyao, Qiqi, Sayu, and Prune," Paimon said, finally showing a small smile instead of concern or terror.
"No surprise. Shuja, despite his tough exterior and sharp tongue, is a protective big brother who spoils his little sisters," said Mavuika, having seen how Traveler had cared for Kachina.
"Paimon knows perfectly well! Paimon is the most spoiled of all Traveler's little acquaintances," said the White Fairy, knowing she was getting tons of love and attention.
"But if he was happy before, why is he depressed now?" asked Mavuika, posing the crucial question.
"Paimon doesn't know exactly. Traveler was overjoyed, though he kept his usual stoic expression. But when Traveler was talking to Alice, Klee ran to hug them and called them mommy and daddy," the White Fairy recounted, believing that moment was the trigger.
The name Klee lit sparks in Mavuika's head.
"Traveler told me about Klee. He said they were close, but I thought it was more of an older brother-younger sister relationship, not a father-daughter bond," Mavuika said, having heard several stories from Traveler about people across Teyvat.
"Alice was a little embarrassed by Klee's words, but Traveler had a strange look in his eyes. Since then, little by little, Traveler's mood has darkened," Paimon commented, beginning to remember certain details that had previously escaped her.
"How can a little girl calling you Daddy cause depression?" Mavuika asked. If a little girl had called her Mom, she might have felt either embarrassed or happy.
"It concerns Traveler's family," the White Fairy said in a dark voice.
"You mean the twin sister who went mad and became the Princess of the Abyss Order?" Mavuika asked, knowing Traveler's sister's plight. The great hero of Teyvat was the good half of one of the forces threatening the world.
"No, the rest of his family," said the White Fairy, her expression even darker, being the only person in the world who knew the details of Traveler's life before Teyvat.
The Goddess of War was about to ask more questions, but the White Fairy beat her to it.
"Mavuika, turn right, we're almost there!" Paimon exclaimed, pointing the right way with her little hand.
The red-haired woman turned the handlebars of her motorbike and increased speed, wanting to reach her destination as quickly as possible.
XXX
Soon the Flamestrider stopped in front of a cave near Coatepec Mountain.
"Shuja stays in a cave?" Mavuika asked in a surprised voice, as he got off the motorbike.
"Traveler is an eccentric individual. Sometimes he prefers to stay away from people and camp in strange places like abandoned buildings, cemeteries, caves, ruined temples, or on tree branches," said the White Fairy. Her voice made it clear that she wasn't a big fan of those eccentric, isolationist campsites.
"I don't care how much it costs, but I'll buy him a proper home on the People of the Springs' land or build him a dwelling myself near Citlali's. A little company won't hurt either of us," Mavuika thought, not wanting to let Shuja continue to wander in such inhospitable places.
Furthermore, deep beneath Mavuika's generosity and friendship, there was a grain of selfishness that told her that if Traveler and Paimon had a true home of their own, they would pass through Natlan more often.
"Take my hand, so you can enter without activating the magical defenses Traveler has created. He rarely lets his guard down," the White Fairy explained, flying over to the Goddess of War and offering her her little hand.
Mavuika grabbed Paimon's hand, and they crossed the cave threshold together. A shiver ran through Mavuika's entire body.
'I feel like I've walked through an ice field,' thought the red-haired woman, sensing a drastic change in the air.
"Welcome to the ninety-seventh hideout Traveler has built in all of Teyvat out of boredom or paranoia. It's a little chilly, but that's normal for us. Traveler loves cold climates," Paimon said, speaking more to himself than to Mavuika.
"This is a cave? It looks more like an apartment under construction," Mavuika said, looking around with mild shock.
The place had been precisely carved out of the rock, forming a perfect square with a smooth floor, ceiling, and walls decorated with amber stones and engraved runic symbols. The room contained a sleeping bag for Paimon, a pair of beanbag chairs, some trunks, a mirror hanging on the wall, and a pot. There were several chairs, tables, and shelves made of pure stone. It looked as if someone had combined Flintstones style with modern designs and techniques. At the far end of the room was a door frame covered by a red curtain.
"Traveler is a high-level Sorcerer and at this point is an expert at using Geo and combining it with his magic. Give him a day and he can turn a cave into a rock-hewn cave home," Paimon said, taking great advantage of his best friend's skills.
"Let's go see how Shuja is," Mavuika said, before hurrying through the curtained doorway into an octagonal-shaped room.
Every surface was smooth and perfect, but every millimeter was covered in archaic symbols, runes, numbers, and all sorts of things only a madman or one of the world's most brilliant minds could conceive. In that room of scientific and magical madness, Traveler lay on his back on the floor, staring up, completely still.
"Please, let's not make it too late," Paimon thought. She was absolutely terrified, imagining the worst-case scenario in her head.
"Traveler!" Mavuika cried, falling to her knees. She grabbed his shoulders and shook him, thinking he was unconscious or unconscious.
"Why are you acting like a hysterical lunatic?" Traveler asked in a monotone voice, not appreciating the red-haired woman's actions.
"Thank goodness you're alive!" Mavuika exclaimed, placing a hand on her chest and letting out a sigh she didn't know she'd been holding in.
"Paimon was so worried she almost stopped flying," the White Fairy murmured. In relief, she lost altitude, almost touching the ground.
"As if the universe would grant me the luxury of dying and resting in peace," Traveler commented, returning to his lying position, staring at the ceiling with his hands crossed over his chest.
'At least he speaks, that's progress,' thought the White Fairy, appreciating this step forward.
"Mavuika, while you're here, could you take care of Paimon for a couple of days or a week? I need time to think," Traveler said, raising his forearm and drawing a circle in midair with his hand.
"Paimon won't leave you alone! You're not well, you've been acting strangely for a week, even by your standards!" exclaimed the White Fairy. She would only leave if dragged by force.
"Traveler, I'm starting to get seriously worried. Why are you talking like that? This isn't like you. What happened to you?" Mavuika asked, worried about the mental state of Natlan's hero.
Traveler tilted his head towards the Goddess of War and looked at her with his one good eye.
"Do you seriously want to listen to my frustrations? This won't be good. I strongly advise you to babysit Paimon and come back to see me in a week. I think I'll have my problems solved by then," Traveler said in a dull voice.
"Shuja, you've done so much for Natlan. Now it's my turn to do something for you. Tell me what happened to you," Mavuika asked, kneeling beside Traveler.
"You, Mavuika. That's what happened to me," Traveler declared, his voice rising slightly. "You, along with Natlan, the other nations of Teyvat, and their Archons. I didn't realize it until it was too late, but you destroyed me piece by piece from within, like a disease discovered in its final stages," Traveler said, placing a hand over his heart.
"I don't understand," Mavuika said, showing only confusion, not expecting such an answer.
"Paimon has a vague idea. I think it's an emotional thing; Traveler isn't good with strong emotions," said the White Fairy, being the only person in the world who could presume to understand how Traveler worked.
"My motivations for starting this journey were twofold: to find my other half and to take revenge on that goddess!" Traveler said, slamming his fist into the floor.
"I know. Your intent to reunite with your sister has become public knowledge," Mavuika said, unwilling to talk about revenge, an emotion too negative to delve into in this situation.
"Everyone knows I'm looking for my other half, but very few know she rejected me. She wants to rebuild Khaenri'ah first, not rejoin my side and return to where we came from," Traveler said, throwing another punch, more powerful than before.
'Traveler's twin sister has always been a sore point for him, as was his life before he came to Teyvat,' the White Fairy thought, feeling sorry for the pain Traveler was feeling.
"Do you miss your sister or are you homesick?" Mavuika asked, hitting two weak points.
"Thanks to you, I don't know where home is anymore!" Traveler exclaimed, lifting himself off the floor and looking Mavuika straight in the eye.
A normal person would have backed away, but Mavuika remained firm. She noticed that in Traveler's good eye there was pain, sadness, and guilt, as well as anger and a hint of madness, but that had always been present in the hero of Natlan.
"There were four goals behind all my actions: find my sister, fully recover my powers, get revenge, and then return home," Traveler explained, holding up four fingers with his right hand.
"Things have changed as we travel," Mavuika said, knowing that Traveler was painting himself as a selfish man who only cared about his own goals, but a selfish man wouldn't do so much for Natlan and its individual inhabitants.
"You're right, Mavuika. Traveling through Teyvat, my goals have changed. Now I want to beat my sister senseless. It's worked before, it will work this time," Traveler said, clenching his fist.
Paimon approached the Goddess of War and whispered in her ear, "Please don't ask questions about the twins' unique relationship, it will do more harm than good."
"I not only want to regain my full power, but also to add to and master what Teyvat has offered me. First Anemo, Geo, Electro, Dendro, Hydro... next Cryo," said Traveler, holding out his hand and pointing his palm upward.
A perfect circle of magical energy appeared above his palm, with six small spheres of elemental energy above it, one for each element he had unlocked.
"It's always impressive to see how you can precisely manipulate multiple forms of elemental energy," Mavuika commented, taking it as a good sign that Traveler was lucid enough to perform that precision trick.
'If Traveler explains things and shows off, then he's doing better than Paimon thought,' thought the White Fairy, realizing she had exaggerated in imagining the worst-case scenario.
"I've learned more about my target. Her name is Asmoday, she's one of the Four Shades, so I'll have to deal with the rest as well: Istaroth, Naberius, Ronova. Finally, the Heavenly Principles, he or she will have to answer a lot of questions," Traveler said, adding several names to his target list, though none of them were at all easy or within the reach of the common man.
"Shuja, you're… the word brave isn't quite right, but you have more guts than us Archons, who prefer not to mention those names," Mavuika said, impressed and slightly frightened that Traveler knew so much.
"I've added the task of caring for Paimon. If she wishes to remain in Teyvat, I will have to see to it that she has the best conditions possible; if she wishes to remain with me, I will have to make renovation plans," said Traveler, deeply attached to the White Fairy.
"Traveler, you are so sweet and caring when you want to be! Paimon will always be by your side, no matter where!" exclaimed the White Fairy, expressing her devotion.
A small, barely perceptible smile appeared on Traveler's face, but Paimon noticed it and smiled back.
"But my ultimate goal, returning home, has become much more complicated," Traveler declared, losing his smile and looking melancholy. He closed his hand, ending his display of mastery of the six elements.
"Why has it become more difficult?" Mavuika asked, knowing the problem was connected to Traveler's home house.
"Because you, people of Teyvat, have contaminated me with your culture, your philosophy, your friendship, and your love!" Traveler exclaimed in cold anger, clenching his fists.
'This isn't a bad thing,' Paimon thought, knowing that Traveler got angry over good things.
"Where is my home now!? In Ysatnaf or Teyvat?!" Traveler asked, falling back abruptly to the floor.
Mavuika reached out, but pulled back, knowing it wasn't the right time to intervene. The volcano had to erupt first, and then the reconstruction would begin.
"At first, I had simple, clear goals. I thought I could solve everything in a hundred days or a year, but instead I've been traveling the surface of Teyvat for several years, interacting regularly with its people, not just for business, but for pure pleasure," Traveler said, running a hand through his hair as if his mind were filled with a thousand thoughts.
Traveler shifted his gaze to Mavuika.
"Congratulations, Mavuika. You have created a beautiful nation, you have a people with good people among their ranks, and you are the most successful Archon I have met so far. Be proud of what you have accomplished and what you have done to me," Traveler said, speaking as if the Goddess of War had committed detestable acts.
Mavuika looked slightly puzzled, but she also smiled, appreciating Traveler's words, even if they were spoken with a subtle anger.
"Traveler is a Tsundere," the White Fairy declared, as if it were obvious.
"You, Paimon, aren't blameless either. You started out as a pet, but now you've become my family, my fourth best friend, my clingy, no-good younger sister. I couldn't live without you. I love you, but I hate you, then I hate myself for loving you, and then I hate myself for hating you for loving you," Traveler said, starting to talk nonsense.
The White Fairy tilted her head slightly and crossed her arms, then said with a smile, "Paimon loves you too, Traveler, but you should take a nap, you need it."
"Maybe instead of a nap, he could use a trip to the hot springs and a visit from Mualani," the red-haired woman suggested, knowing that Traveler had a soft spot for Toyac Springs.
Traveler was silent for a long moment.
"Mavuika, do you know how many people I've met?" Traveler asked sharply in a stoic voice.
"Lots of people?" Mavuika replied, not even trying to answer seriously.
"A sea of strangers whose names and faces mean nothing to me. But in all of Teyvat, I've met 112 people whose names, faces, and many other things I've learned," Traveler said, pausing for a moment. His gaze returned to the ceiling. "One hundred and twelve people whose fates matter to me in the slightest, some more than others. Of those 112, several dozen are almost friends to me. Some bear the label of my apprentice, many of them my collaborators of varying degrees of intimacy, even fewer are teachers, and the elite of them are... potential... love interests," Traveler confessed, as if he were pulling out his own teeth.
"If Traveler is confessing his feelings, this is a unique situation," the White Fairy whispered, her eyes widening, her face turning slightly paler.
"Traveler, are you sad because you're happy to be with us?" Mavuika asked, finding the whole concept strange. She didn't see how it related to Traveler's sister and home.
"Why couldn't you just be helpless, helpless idiots who needed saving, like in the past, when I could travel from world to world with ease?" Traveler said, looking up at the ceiling, imagining entirely different skies. "But you, the people of Teyvat, are special. I care about you, I care about Nod-Krai, Natlan, Fontaine, Sumeru, Inazuma, Liyue, Mondstadt. If necessary, I would be willing to die for this world and for you, which I have almost done several times," Traveler said, placing his hand on his chest and closing his good eye to feel the phantom pain of the wounds from his last serious battle.
Somehow, the memory of the pain seemed to calm him. Traveler raised his back, keeping it straight with his butt on the floor, and bent his legs.
"I've been in Teyvat too long, interacting with its people for better or worse for too long. My desire for vengeance is fading. Instead of imagining the sky ablaze, I'm thinking about the wrong things like... what if I indulged in a serious romance? Choosing a partner, choosing a territory, building a home... and finally, reproducing via traditional or magical methods, raising and training my own offspring, half Teyvat and half Ysatnaf," Traveler confessed, as if speaking of committing a terrible crime.
"This is perfectly normal. I'm also thinking about finding the right person and moving on with my life," Mavuika admitted with a slight blush on her cheeks.
"Paimon didn't know Traveler was thinking these things. Klee's words triggered all of this," said the White Fairy, realizing that Klee had been the spark that had triggered this explosion of emotional awareness.
"Alice is a good woman and a powerful witch. She's my kind of woman as far as arcane practitioners go. Klee is a wonderful little girl, she reminds me of Powder, a bomb-loving little girl my third best friend, Mash Kyrielight, adopted and I helped raise," Traveler said with a melancholy expression, speaking openly about his past. "When I was standing next to Alice, Klee grabbed our hands and called us Mom and... Dad," Traveler said, raising his right hand and placing it in front of him, as if visualizing the scene.
"I realized that, emotionally, I would have no problem starting a love affair with Alice and raising Klee to become a grown woman. Then, for a moment, the images of Klee and Alice were replaced by other partners and our hypothetical offspring. The Little Hexenzirkel were replaced by ghosts from my past," Traveler said, beginning to open up about the trigger. "Who am I? What have I become?" Traveler asked, covering his good eye, looking lost.
The White Fairy remained completely silent, having never seen Traveler react like that.
"You are Traveler, the hero of Natlan," Mavuika replied, speaking sincerely and eager to help.
"Mavuika, tell me my name," Traveler asked in a serious voice.
"Traveler," Mavuika replied casually.
"No," Traveler replied, clenching his fist.
"Shuja?" Mavuika tried again, using the Elder Name Traveler had earned for his actions in Natlan.
"No, I meant my real name," Traveler said, speaking in a serious voice, as if wanting to emphasize something.
"But I don't know," said Mavuika, unable to know that answer.
"I have a name all my own. Before I was Traveler, I was Saver, the one-eyed black dragon, the Archduke of the Duchy of Bahamut," Traveler commented in a bittersweet voice. "I have a family waiting for me in Ysatnaf and responsibilities to fulfill, but I'm stuck in Teyvat and I'm thinking of starting a new family, continuing to be Traveler and no longer Saver. Now I don't know who I am or what I should do," the stranger declared, finally revealing the source of his anguish: a deep conflict between the love of the past and that of the present.
"Traveler, I understand some of your pain. I had to leave my family behind for Natlan's sake," Mavuika said, speaking of her own long-standing grief.
"A selfish idiot would say you don't understand, but I don't," Traveler said calmly, placing her hands on her knees. "Mavuika, you've suffered so much, you've given your all for your people. You're a wonderful woman; as a leader and a warrior woman, I respect and appreciate you," Traveler said, speaking sincerely.
The Goddess of War blushed, being weak at Traveler's compliments.
'Traveler, even when he's depressed, is a magnet for women,' Paimon thought, slightly frustrated about it.
"But you've always been Mavuika and you've finally accomplished your mission, while I'm in a different situation," Traveler said, mentioning the differences between their two states.
"True. I've always been in Natlan, I've never been stranded in another world, and my little sister didn't become the Princess of an end-of-the-world cult," Mavuika said, knowing that Traveler's situation was a thousand times more complicated than her own.
"Mavuika, I brought you here to help Traveler, not to put wood on the fire!" exclaimed the White Fairy, not appreciating the red-haired woman's overly honest approach.
"My journey isn't over yet; there's still so much to do. I just need time to reflect and find the right motivation to move forward. So, Mavuika, can you take care of Paimon for me?" Traveler asked, needing time alone to process his discoveries about himself.
"Paimon won't leave you alone! You're not well," said the White Fairy, pointing to the walls covered in crazy graffiti.
"I'm just having a little crisis about my place in the world, my definition of home, the loss of the motivation for revenge, and trouble managing emotional bonds," Traveler said, acutely aware of the problems he was facing.
"I say we should go out and get some fresh air, eat something, and see how Citlali or Mualani are doing," Mavuika suggested, putting a hand on her head, having never faced a situation like this.
"Both would make my problem worse. Citlali is in love with me; she's a lovely Tsundere woman who wants a partner who can live as well as she does. Mualani is a wonderful, cheerful girl who has a crush on me; she fits my artistic type of woman that I appreciate," said Traveler, knowing those two women intimately.
"Do you know?" Mavuika asked in surprise, believing that Traveler didn't know about Mualani and Citlali's feelings for him.
"I'm crazy, a little confused, and half-blind, but I'm not stupid, disillusioned, or deaf. I can tell when a woman or man is attracted to me. I often pretend not to see so as not to complicate my life and save myself from having to give a hard and fast refusal," Traveler said, sounding far more perceptive than he let on.
Mavuika grew slightly paler; her War Goddess aura was replaced by something more deadly and fragile.
"This means that..." Mavuika stood up, unable to finish her sentence.
"I'm perfectly aware that over the past year your platonic feelings for me have become romantic in nature, you're not subtle about that," Traveler said stoically, looking Mavuika straight in the eye.
'At least we don't talk about anguish and complicated problems anymore,' thought the White Fairy, trying to look on the bright side.
"It's selfish of me to ask, especially when you're so down, but what do you think of me and my feelings?" Mavuika asked, her face red, unable to hide it any longer.
"Do you want me to answer you seriously, as frankly and honestly as possible?" Traveler asked, standing up for the first time in a long time.
"Yes, be honest and forthright as always. That's one of the things I like about you," Mavuika said, bracing herself for rejection, even though she longed for it to be reciprocated.
"Your soul is a radiant sun, full of courage, loyalty, and love. It's one of the things I appreciate most about you as a person. You are one of the finest souls I've ever seen on Teyvat; as a necromancer, I'm tempted to steal your soul, seal it in a jewel, and keep it with me forever, so beautiful is it," Traveler said, starting to talk about the soul, the first thing that interested him.
Mavuika blushed at the compliment.
"Traveler, among his innate abilities, has the gift of seeing people's souls. To him, they are the most important thing, more important than the mind and physical body," thought the White Fairy, knowing her best friend's perception of reality.
"Your skills as a warrior woman are at the pinnacle of martial art, and your control over the element of Pyro is a mythical phenomenon to behold. You are one of the most powerful and skilled women in all of Teyvat. Every training session we had together, every fight in the finals, every fight on the same side was pure joy. I've always been torn between wanting to fight you or watching from afar and immortalizing the moment on canvas. You are a Goddess of War and a muse of the arts," Traveler said, speaking of his second interest: the ability to fight.
"Your intellectual abilities are not to be underestimated. You are not a woman of science, an Arch-Witch, or a super-genius like me, but you are leagues above the crowd of idiots," said Traveler, displaying his sense of intellectual superiority, justified by the fact that in all of Teyvat only Zandik and Sandrone were his scientific peers.
"In terms of diplomacy, problem-solving, strategy, tactics, and social relations, you are a brilliant woman," Traveler concluded, finishing his analysis of Mavuika's mental capabilities.
"Traveler has always complained about being surrounded by idiots. Having people who stimulate him on an intellectual level is something he always seeks. Beautiful but stupid women are something he detests or causes pure apathy," Paimon thought. He knew his friend's preferences very well; after all, they traveled far and wide together.
The red-haired woman couldn't help but smile, hearing only nice things coming out of Traveler's mouth.
"You're the Pyro Archon of Natlan, and that speaks volumes about your social standing," Traveler said, quickly brushing aside that category. "Aesthetically, anyone can see that you're a work of art. Personally, your physical appearance and sense of style appeal to my artistic side," Traveler said, reaching out and gently touching Mavuika's hair.
Paimon covered his eyes with his hands, not wanting to see what was happening, but his curiosity was great, so he moved a single finger to peek.
The Goddess of War's blush deepened; her ears turned as red as her hair, and her heart pounded wildly.
"Redheads are one of my favorites, and your eyes are as beautiful as rubies. Red hair and red eyes—an attractive combination," Traveler said, looking Mavuika straight in the eye.
The Goddess of War began to feel her legs turning to jelly.
"In my personal opinion, you are the most beautiful woman in Natlan. All things considered, you are my ideal warrior woman—my ideal type," Traveler said, flashing a sincere smile, so sweet it could enchant a woman and perhaps make her heart stop.
Mavuika's hair involuntarily lit up, creating a pleasant fire.
"I like playing with fire," said Traveler, for once showing an amused expression as he wiggled his slightly burned fingers.
"Stop playing with my heart," Mavuika said, giving Natlan's hero a playful shove.
'Alternative therapy works wonders, teasing a woman improves Traveler's mood,' thought Paimon, having not seen Traveler so well-disposed, even for a moment, all week.
"So... would you like to go out with... me?" Mavuika asked with a slight hesitation and embarrassment, having never done anything like that before.
"Honestly, I'd say yes, whether I'm emotionally stable or unstable. I'm not made of stone, after all: flesh is weak, even mine, it just takes longer to soften," Traveler said with a tone of contempt, lowering his gaze.
"I understand you're not feeling well, but you should be enjoying life instead of sitting alone and thinking," Mavuika said, grabbing Traveler's hands and squeezing them gently.
"It's not that simple. Don't fool yourself into thinking you can fix me: many women and a few men have tried, but they've only learned to manage me and tolerate my flaws better. I'm a bad influence, I corrupt people," said Traveler, having a negative opinion of himself despite all the good he's done so far.
Traveler took a step back.
"No, it's simple: I like you and you like me, we should go out and see how it goes," Mavuika said, explaining how things worked and taking a step forward.
"Paimon has a suggestion! Why don't you solve this dilemma of yours with the method you love so much? As you always say, you're just a leaf blown by the wind," said the White Fairy, pulling an old gold coin from her dress that wasn't a Mora, but an Aureus, the most famous coin of the Roman Empire.
"Do you want to use a coin to choose whether to go out with me?" Mavuika asked, finding the situation absurd and stopping her grip on Traveler's hands.
"To make more complex decisions, Traveler uses a jar filled with dice of various shapes and materials," Paimon said, as he passed the coin to his best friend.
"If you can't accept my little quirks, you might as well not flip the coin," said Traveler, as he toyed with the gold piece.
"You like to be the tough guy," Mavuika commented with a challenging smile, putting her hands on her hips.
"Things are never beautiful, especially for someone like me," Traveler said, appreciating Mavuika's fighting spirit. "If heads, you take Paimon and let me solve my dilemma alone so I can continue my work for a week," Traveler said, looking at the rune-covered walls. "If tails, you take me and I'll stay by your side for 72 hours. If I like it, you can continue to court me as you see fit, and I'll do my best to spend as much time as possible in Natlan and stay nearby," Traveler said, preparing to flip the coin while staring at the Goddess of War.
A victorious smile spread across Mavuika's face, feeling lucky despite having a 50/50 chance of getting the object of her desire. Traveler flipped the coin... Mavuika jerked her hand forward and caught it. The result was tails.
"Congratulations, you win, Mavuika," Traveler said, accepting the outcome. He hadn't specified any other rules, only what would happen based on the two sides of the roll.
"Out of curiosity, what were you working on?" Mavuika asked, as she made a bold move and grabbed Traveler in her arms bridal style.
"My heart may be confused, but my mind continues to move forward, transcending emotion and weak flesh," Traveler said, placing his hands around Mavuika's neck.
"Has anyone ever told you you're cute when you're being a cryptic know-it-all? I'd appreciate a clear answer," Mavuika commented, letting her elation do the talking for her instead of feeling embarrassed by the way she was carrying it.
"You allowed me to carry the Pyro Gnosis within me. This allowed me to take a step forward in my project of creating my own set of Gnosis," Traveler declared, having ambitious plans that would not stop despite the bad times.
"Create a Gnosis? Can you really do something like that?" Mavuika asked, not believing it was impossible for him; after all, Traveler had a habit of disobeying the world's rules.
"Imagine the Pyro Gnosis as a stone and my body as a puddle of mud: when it entered me, it left a clear imprint. I have the construction plan, I just need the materials and the right forge, but I can tinker with the formula as much as I like," said Traveler, having used his emotional distress as fuel to work on the design theory.
"Instead of Shuja, your name should have been Uumbaji. Perhaps I could ask you to take Xilonen's place when it comes to repairing my motorcycle and sword," Mavuika said, combining compliments and heated flirtation.
"If you ask nicely, I might consider you," Traveler commented. He had no problem with manual labor, just mass production and repetitive tasks.
"You like to take on the impossible," Mavuika said, smiling, happy with how things were going.
"Only those who attempt the absurd will achieve the impossible – Maurits Cornelis Escher," Traveler replied with the quote from the Dutch artist.
'It took years, but an Archon managed to step forward and take Traveler. I wonder if this will start a new and strange war between Archons,' the White Fairy thought with a comical note, aware that Mavuika was not the first person to fall under Traveler's spell, but only the first to have made a serious and direct move.
The End (?)
XXX
Author's Note:
Personally, I think I'm terrible at writing scenes of depression and sadness. I prefer a dark beginning and a happy ending.