Archive of Our Own

Death is a fact of life. One could even say it’s the culmination of everyone’s life. Every living thing will meet their end, no exceptions. Even gods aren’t exempted. And at the end of it, Cyno, as the Lord of the Underworld, will be the one to greet and judge their every action during their life.

Another fact is that when wars come to be, it unfortunately also increases the lives lost.

Though death and life are in constant balance, the scales will always tip towards the inevitable. For every life born, there is someone crossing death’s door. Wars are one of the instances where it shifts the scales too far in favor of another.

The inevitable result of the Archon War raging for almost a century is that there are bound to be too many souls that are cut short now finding their rightful and final way to the Underworld.

More souls than even the Underworld typically accounts for.

Now, the Underworld has always received hundreds of souls on any normal day, but for all that Cyno can freely expand the Underworld to accommodate the ever growing populace of his domain, he can’t as quickly and fairly judge them. There is due process to follow that the Underworld staunchly stands by and Cyno doesn’t want to compromise their rules just because they haven’t seen these huge amounts of souls in very long awhile, possibly aeons ago. Archons, Cyno wasn’t even the Lord of the Underworld yet the last time.

“The way you’re going, you may not even be the Lord of the Underworld long after this.” A gentle chiding voice interrupts him.

Cyno blinks, stopping from his musings—ah did he start talking to himself again? Sometimes he unconsciously does it when gathering his thoughts—and looks back at his second in command and a guardian daemon, Candace, who raises an eyebrow at him. She stands by the door of his office, arms crossed in her usual black and gold armor and her signature shield strapped behind her back. He really must have been deep in thought for him to not hear her enter but he also wouldn’t put it past her if that had been her intention.

“I don’t know what you mean. I am perfectly fine.” Cyno frowns as her words finally register and then his eyes narrow as he further digests them. “Unless, there is someone who wants to contest my place?”

Candace rolls her eyes, snorting. “The Dark Sea will freeze over before anyone will dare to do that. I am referring to how you are going to overwork yourself to death—and yes, pun intended—,” she gives Cyno a knowing look before continuing, “if you do not take a break. You have finally appointed other judges than yourself, actually let them do their jobs instead of you taking the brunt of it as always.”

“I am. I’m here in my office instead of the Justice Pavilion, aren’t I?” Cyno counters.

“Not after Setaria has to remind you multiple times of the timetable—which might I remind you, you created yourself—before you actually relented. She said that she asked you to take a rest as well.”

Caught, Cyno can only shrug and smile apologetically at her. “Adding judges has helped with our problem but it isn’t entirely solved yet. I’m trying to brainstorm possible ways we can further improve.”

If he’s honest though, there is a part of him that is still not quite comfortable with the new arrangement even though he and Candace have personally reviewed and vouched for the new judges. He has done this job by himself for so many centuries that it's taking awhile to get used to in relegating the duty to others and trusting them to make the right decision. At Candace’s knowing look, she’s probably figured this out too. She has known him for a long time after all.

“Still that can wait another day. It’s not like the souls are going anywhere,” Candace says pointedly. “Maybe taking a rest will also help you. A tired mind can’t plan well. Go and take a break.”

Cyno wants to protest but at Candace’s stern glare, he finally relents. He can try to out-stubborn Candace but the daemon can be really firm and immovable and her concern and care will always be one of the fights he doesn't mind losing from time to time. Besides, he does feel a bit weary after judging thousands of souls even if he won’t admit it out loud.

“Fine,” he says, standing up from his seat. He puts on the helm of darkness, its weight familiar and comforting. Candace smiles in relief.

They walk out of Cyno’s office together with idle talk in between them. When they reach the edge of the Justice Pavilion, they part ways so Candace can go back to her station at the entrance of the Underworld. Cyno would have joined her but she insists that taking a break means Cyno isn’t allowed to the main important grounds of the Underworld. “Work” as she dubs them.

Before she goes though, she turns towards Cyno with an enigmatic smile and says, “I know it’s not your preferred activity of relaxation but taking a walk to the other parts of the Underworld might do you some good. It is not only gloom and listless souls that your realm can offer, remember?”

Cyno considers her words and her smile. She isn’t the only one who knows the other one well. He raises an eyebrow. “Not a bad idea and I am considering it. But did you have a premonition?”

Candace laughs and shakes her head. “No, nothing as bad as a premonition, I think. It is vague and only a feeling as always. You know I am not much of an oracle despite the rumors.”

“Is it a good or bad feeling?” Cyno asks, curious. She can’t give prophecies like other prophets but she gets these keen intuitions from time to time that have helped him and the Underworld more than once.

“Hm, I can’t fully say but I think it’s one of those things that it depends on what you will make of it.”

Vague indeed. Cyno shakes his head and gives her an amused smile. “I see. I will keep a lookout then.”

“I don’t think it is anything serious but do remember to relax,” Candace says and gives him another pointed look.

They say their goodbyes and Cyno heads off, mulling over her words. It has been awhile since he explored the Underworld and even if her intuition might actually lead to something unpleasant, Cyno is confident that he can deal with it. The Underworld is his realm . He has the power and the advantage. With that in mind, he starts towards the Door of Barbatos.

—-----------------

The Door of Barbatos is one of the secret entrances left in the Underworld, dated way before Cyno became the Lord of this realm. It is an entrance made by a clever demigod in his quest to bring his precious friend back to the living. Although the demigod had failed, the last Lord had decided to keep the entrance for its ingenuity. Cyno had debated removing it but has left it for now because there are other pressing matters. Besides, it has proven to be useful to get discreet information from above especially during the Archon War.

It’s near the Underworld palace, off the path and in a secluded cavern surrounded by willow trees. Only a handful of people know it, and it's one of the places Cyno makes sure to send patrols frequently. Sometimes he even checks it out himself. With all the influx of souls, he hasn’t got a time to check it in a while. He can already feel Candace’s disapproving frown but he does enjoy the walk and the scenery. Contrary to the popular belief, the Underworld isn’t wholly pitch dark. Light comes from blue flames in the braziers that line the walls interspersedly and a soft glow emits from some of the rocks, casting interesting light and shadows to the willow trees and its leaves. The shadows he casts as he walks by them is a comfort, his power at the very tip of his fingers.

He is only halfway to the cavern when he feels the Door of Barbatos opening. A foreign presence. He freezes in surprise before he immediately goes into gear and activates the helm of darkness to use the shadows to move quickly. But by the time he reaches the cavern, he is already too late and the foreign person has fully stepped in the Underworld. He curses then immediately fully turns himself invisible. Based on its presence, it is comparably weak to Cyno but it is best to observe and determine their agenda first before apprehending them.

The Underworld is not for the living; people who willingly go here always have motives.

He waits at the entrance of the cavern for the trespasser to appear. He only has to wait a few minutes before a man emerges. The man is a head taller than him with a well built physique. Styled grey hair with hints of teal at the tips and underside, and a fair face with unique two-toned colored eyes of turquoise and orange. He wears a flowy white toga with a green cloth tied tight around his tapered waist. Now that he’s closer, Cyno can tell he is a minor god. He doesn’t recognize him from anywhere nor is he anyone Cyno is aware of. He also can’t see any insignia or other details that can tell if he is affiliated with another god or nation.

Cyno blends in deeper to the shadows as he observes the minor god looking around with curious eyes like he’s simply taking in the place before him. Aside from that, the man’s face remains impassive. He walks to the closest willow tree to him and touches its trunk, the branches and leaves imperceptibly swaying after a few seconds.

Cyno narrows his eyes. A nature god? What is a nature god doing in the Underworld?

The minor god nods to himself, brushing the trunk with long pale fingers before moving forward. He would interspersedly touch another willow tree as he walks and they do not fail to respond to him. In one instance though he suddenly bends down and picks a glowing rock to pocket it after turning it around a few times, much to Cyno’s confusion. Cyno stamps down the urge to reveal himself and take back the rock and continues to follow in the shadows.

They reach the edge of the willow forest and continue on the familiar path to the Underworld's palace. So he really was asking the trees for directions as Cyno suspected and considering where they led the minor god…is his business with Cyno, the Lord of the Underworld himself? Still, Cyno decides to not show himself and continue observing.

(He can’t help but also feel relief that the willow trees do have a sense of loyalty as they didn’t rat him out. With all the things he has to deal with, he doesn't know where to start with treacherous trees.)

They are nearing the Underworld's palace when the minor god pauses in the middle of the path as he reaches a fork on the road. He tilts his head in consideration. He glances to the left where the palace lies ahead before he looks at the right, a big yew tree at a distance. Cyno frowns as he realizes where it leads. It is the small garden, where the few plants that can survive the Underworld are and of course a nature god is attracted to it. The minor god, after a minute, continues on the right path and Cyno follows with growing trepidation.

They reach the yew tree and, without a preamble, the minor god reaches for its trunk. Unlike the willow trees though, he flinches and pulls his hand away, a frown mars his fair face for the first time before shaking his head, murmuring something under his breath that Cyno cannot hear. The yew tree remains standing still, nary a leaf out of place in its branches, seemingly unresponsive to the nature god's proddings.

Cyno raises a curious brow. Hm, the path to the palace does not have trees nor vegetation. Is he trying to get intel via the scarce plants in the Underworld? A very unorthodox method but it means this minor god isn’t to be underestimated.

The garden isn’t much with only asphodel and crocus flowers growing on the flower beds, another yew tree on the other end and in the middle three pomegranates trees stand. The minor god continues to the middle, running his fingers gently at the asphodel flowers as he walks by. Cyno tenses as he nears and pauses in front of the pomegranate trees but instead of running his hand on its trunk like the other times before, he curiously reaches out to one of the red ripe pomegranates on its branches. He barely has a hand around the fruit before Cyno is already beside him, emerging from the shadows, cold dark fingers wrapping tight around his wrist. Cyno feels the minor god flinching in shock, teal eyes widening, but he only tightens his grip.

“Do not take from the Underworld,” Cyno warns, voice grave, as he glares up to the minor god under his helmet. 

The minor god takes a couple steps away from the pomegranate tree and Cyno lets him, letting his wrist go in order to stand firmly in front of the pomegranate trees. He crosses his arms and stares down the minor god. The minor god, once the shock wears off, meets his look with an impassive face. Cyno isn't sure yet if the minor god is just insolent or actually doesn't have a self preservation bone in his body.

“You don't belong here. Who are you and what are your intentions here in the Underworld? How did you know about the Door of Barbatos?” Cyno asks directly. There is no point in beating around the bush.

“I am Alhaitham, a minor Sumerian god of cultivation, and I am looking for someone,” the minor god—Alhaitham—replies evenly. “As for the Door of Barbatos, I have read about it in a book and heard of the rumors. I admit it took quite a while to figure out where the entrance is.”

Cyno narrows his eyes at the minor god. He's not familiar with the name but his reason is common enough. He had to dig more on the Door of Barbatos later. “The dead's rightful place is here.”

Alhaitham opens his mouth to respond but Cyno cuts him off to continue, “But it's not the dead you are after, aren't you?”

If the minor god had been after a dead loved one, he would have tried to meet with Cyno sooner instead of detouring into a simple garden trying to find information. Or trying to locate the main areas where souls reside instead of leisurely strolling the Underworld. He doesn’t sense any urgency nor desperation to reunite with a dead loved one from Alhaitham at all.

Surprise passes through Alhaitham’s face, eyes widening, before he gives Cyno an assessing look.

“Yes, I am not after the dead,” Alhaitham confirms blithely. He tilts his head as if in thought and he gives Cyno another considering look before he continues, “I am looking for my patron god. She has been missing for a few weeks now.”

Cyno frowns. Why is he looking for his god in the Underworld?

“Only a select few gods are allowed to step foot in the Underworld,” he glares meaningfully at the minor god as he speaks, “and aside for you, no other god has stepped foot on the Underworld recently. I would have noticed if that was the case.”

“Hm, that changes some things but I can't rule out the Underworld just yet,” Alhaitham says,  cryptically, as he puts a hand on his chin in thought.

Cyno feels his temple throb in annoyance and he has half a mind to shake down this minor god if he continues to be not forthcoming with his responses.

“And why not? Who is this patron god you're looking for anyway?”

“I'm looking for the Goddess of Wisdom, Lord Rukkhadevata, and some of the leads I have so far have pointed to the possibility of her being here.” This time Alhaitham gives him a full answer. Maybe he finally senses Cyno is losing patience.

Cyno pauses as the name conjures up an image of a kind and wise white haired woman with bright green eyes in his memory. They have met a handful of times; the first time they met was when Cyno was inaugurated as the Lord of the Underworld and then the few times Cyno bothered to go up and convene with the other gods before the Archon War. She is one of the kinder and benevolent gods who tried to keep the peace and negotiated with her fellow Sumerian gods for a joint ruling over Sumeru. For a few years, it did work until Deshret, another Sumerian god, became discontented with the arrangement and wanted more. Cyno doesn't know the details of what exactly happened other than the fact that Rukkhadevata became the declared Archon of Sumeru after.

Either way, a major god that is also an Archon missing doesn’t bode well. Not when it's only been a year since the Archon War has officially finished and gods and people alike are still settling in with the new status quo and fragile peace. Said Archon that apparently might be hiding or being hidden in the Underworld. If the minor god is to be believed, then this might also put to question and ruin the Underworld's neutrality. Cyno feels the throbbing in his head get worse.

The Underworld has kept away from the Archon War as it was overall an upper world conflict. Cyno doesn't see the point of joining gods fighting over land and followers when the Underworld has more than enough of those. The Underworld is a limitless realm that expands whenever and however he wants it and all the souls in it are under his jurisdiction. He has other more important matters to attend to than spilling blood and ichor. He will inevitably have all of them when the time comes anyway. Perhaps the most unfortunate thing about the Archon War that Cyno laments is that too many souls have their time cut short. People deserved to live their full lives before reaching their final way to the Underworld.

“What are the Pantheon's actions about this? Do they also think she's here?”

“They're keeping her disappearance secret from the public right now and according to the missive they sent me, they're investigating the matter. I do not know if they have the same leads as I have so I'm not sure if they also suspect she's in the Underworld.”

“You're doing this independently?” Cyno can't help but ask, befuddled.

The minor god nods nonplussed. Maybe he really doesn't have a working self preservation built in his body.

Cyno sighs and decides to let this point go for now and tackle the more immediate important matters. He'll grill Alhaitham at a later date. “The God of Wisdom is missing and based on your leads, she’s hiding here even though I cannot feel or sense her.”

This time Alahaitham hesitates and he looks around. He pauses as he finally notices the thin veil dome of shadow Cyno has put around them from the start to conceal them from prying eyes and ears. He relaxes and continues, “I do not think her disappearance is of her own accord exactly.”

Great. So there's more at work here. Cyno doesn't really think Rukkhadevata is the kind to run from her people anyway. He sighs again.

He looks back to Alhaitham who meets his eyes head on. It would be impressive if it weren’t also annoying. Most of his subordinates can't even look him in the eyes out of fear. “Tell me all you know when you come back. The leads, everything, with proof ,” Cyno says, pointedly. “And I might overlook you trespassing in my realm.”

Alhaitham frowns in confusion. “I can tell you what I know now.”

“I won't entertain any of your theories without solid proof,” Cyno states plainly. “And the living cannot stay here in the Underworld for long. You have overstayed your welcome. Let's go.”

Cyno walks past him and towards where they came from earlier, Alhaitham only hesitating for a second before following him. He makes sure to keep the veil up around them as he escorts the minor god back to the Door of Barbatos. They both walk in silence which suits Cyno fine as he has a lot to think and plan for right now. Once they reach the doors, Cyno opens it with a simple tune. The doors creak and start slowly opening.

“That was a Sumerian lullaby,” Alhaitham comments, a tinge of curiosity in his voice.

Cyno doesn't reply nor bother to look back at the other god. Alhaitham wisely doesn't follow-up. They wait in silence as the Door of Barbatos fully opens up. Once open, they look at each other, one wary and the other impassive.

“I'll give you a week. More than that and the Door of Barbatos will move,” Another thing Cyno has to question Alhaitham later as he doesn’t entirely believe that he read of the door’s existence and then figured out its location in just a book. He continues, “We'll meet in the garden. You can come any time. I'll sense you once you step in the Underworld.”

“Alright,” Alhaitham says and nods in agreement. “I should have more information once I come back.”

“You should or else judgement awaits you for trespassing in the Underworld,” Cyno says, voice low. He lets down the veil of shadow around them, the shadows falling on him silkily almost affectionately while Alhaitham shudders at the sudden cold and oppressive feeling on his shoulder, goosebumps rising on his skin.

Alhaitham looks at him warily. “I will keep that in mind.”

Alhaitham steps towards the doors to the other side. As the door starts to close, Cyno calls out to him. He turns and sees Cyno looking at him with intense carmine eyes under his helmet while most of his body is shrouded in shadows.

“Another thing to keep in mind. Do not take from the Underworld,” Cyno repeats with the same gravity as before, voice stern but oddly compelling, “lest it lay its claim over you.”

Cyno raises a glowing stone before fully blending in the shadows just as the Door of Barbatos shuts. Alhaitham blinks, the wariness from earlier blending with a mix of complicated feelings in his chest, his skin still tingling and tight with goosebumps. He looks at the inside of his sash and confirms the rock he picked up earlier is nowhere to be seen. Despite himself, Alhaitham can't help lifting one corner of his lips up. He still finds his current situation very troublesome but at least it will be interesting.

On the other side, Cyno is already on the way back to his office. So much for a leisurely walk in the Underworld. He knows Candace isn't a prophet and only gets intuitions but this might be the first time she's very off the mark.

—-----

Alhaitham comes back in the middle of the day at the end of the week.

Cyno raises his head from paperwork as he senses his presence again. He had opted to skip his shift as a judge today so he'll have a more flexible time to meet Alhaitham. He didn't expect his colleagues to throw up a fuss though, with Setaria even asking him if he's sick and Vennessa almost body slamming him to check if he was replaced by a doppelganger. Candace had watched in the sideline with mirth before finally taking mercy on him and distracting the other judges so Cyno can make his escape.

Cyno stretches before grabbing the helmet of darkness on the table and puts it on. He checks his black toga to make sure it isn't too wrinkled—he was so caught off guard with their reactions that he didn't manage to fully dodge Vennessa's tackle—and heads off immediately towards the garden.

Cyno hadn't been idle for the past week while he waited for Alhaitham's proof. He'd done his own investigation. He had confirmed some of Alhaitham’s claims thanks to his resources and Candace’s help: the Goddess of Wisdom has been missing and it hasn't been made public yet even now. Another thing he finds out is that Alhaitham is actually one of the candidates to replace her if she continues to be gone long enough that the people of Sumeru or other opposing gods notice to avoid a power vacuum and a civil war. Which begs the question of Alhaitham's motives. Why is he looking for the missing goddess when he's possibly next in line? Is he actually the one who kidnapped the goddess and is now covering his tracks?

How bold of him to use the Underworld then.

Cyno would have scoffed if he hadn't searched the Underworld up and down for the Goddess of Wisdom only to turn empty handed. It's either the Goddess of Wisdom isn't here to begin with or worse someone actually managed to pull one on Cyno and is successfully hiding her well under his nose. He wasn’t able to satisfactorily confirm either conclusion much to his frustration. Only an insolent Sumerian god is his lead.

Once the garden is in sight, he fully activates his helmet and blends in with the shadows. He continues towards the garden and looks around for Alhaitham. He sees him leaning against a pomegranate tree, eying the ripe fruits in one of its branches. Cyno frowns and hastens his stride. Alhaitham has barely lifted his arm before Cyno is already on him. He sharply tugs Alhaitham’s arm back, slamming it against the tree. Alhaitham gasps in surprise and tries to summon his weapon with his free hand but Cyno stops him, summoning shadows to wrap around his other arm to restrain him. Alhaitham tries to kick him but he just blocks it with his shadows, which in turn, wrap around Alhaitham’s leg to bind him and further press him against the tree.

Cyno lets the shadows fall off him and glares at the minor god. “I told you before, do not take from the Underworld.”

Once Cyno reveals himself, Alhaitham stops resisting and his body goes lax in his hold. Cyno frowns in confusion but before he can comment about Alhaitham’s lack of self preservation, Alhaitham beats him to it.

“And I haven’t taken anything,” Alhaitham calmly says, seemingly unperturbed with his current position. “I was only admiring the pomegranates. Looking isn’t against the Underworld rules now, is it?”

“No, but I know that look you all curious gods have. ‘Just looking’ always leads to something. Not to mention, you, a living person, being here is against the rules but with the current circumstances, I’m temporarily making an exception. I may have given you permission to come back but do not take any more liberties,” Cyno warns and squeezes the pale warm wrist in his hand, his shadows wrapped around Alhaitham doing the same.

Alhaitham flinches in pain but he doesn’t resist. He stares back at Cyno, evenly with his cool turquoise eyes. “I understand and I will try to keep my hands to myself.”

“You need to do more than try,” Cyno says, gritting his teeth. This minor god…

“How would I be of any help in finding my patron god if I can’t, at the most basic, look around?” Alhaitham shoots back.

Tense silence permeates between them as they stare each other down.

“And why should I believe you when you are next in line to be the Sumeru Archon?” Cyno starts, voice low and dangerous, still not letting Alhaitham go.

Cyno feels Alhaitham tensing in his hold and sees a flicker of surprise in Alhaitham’s eyes before Alhaitham snorts. The reaction catches Cyno so off guard that he accidentally loosens his grip on Alhaitham but the other man doesn’t break off from him.

“Well, for one, I have no ambition to be the next Sumeru Archon,” Alhaitham replies, blithely, shrugging his shoulders. “Some of my acquaintances would agree I’m not fit to be one, too. Not to mention, being one of Lord Rukkhadevata’s trusted advisors has already more or less painted a target on my back. Becoming an Archon would just seal the deal of never having a peaceful life.”

The lackadaisical response gives Cyno pause but he still can’t help but narrow his eyes in suspicion. 

“And why should I trust you?”

“You don’t have to but I did bring proof as we agreed before.”

Another stare down between them, dark carmine eyes clashing against cool turquoise eyes, before Cyno sighs and let Alhaitham go, calling off the shadows as he does so. He backs off a bit to give space between them but not too far so he can still easily restrain the other god if he has to.

Alhaitham sighs in relief as he is let go and kneads his sore wrist, the skin around it a bit red. He then procures three Knowledge Capsules and a red brocade with a familiar crest from his sash and presents them to Cyno. Cyno’s eyes widen in surprise. It's been awhile since he’d seen a Knowledge Capsule. Last he heard, it’s planned to be slowly phased out and decommissioned in the next year.

“Two of these Knowledge Capsules were disguised as any normal Knowledge Capsules but were actually used for communications between the conspirators,” Alhaitham says, offering the two Knowledge Capsules to Cyno. 

Cyno takes the Knowledge Capsules and inspects them. They have obvious tampering and modifications done to them. No doubt to prevent a leak of information.

“Meanwhile, this one—,” Alhaitham says and lifts the last Knowledge Capsules in his hands, “—is a legitimate Knowledge Capsule I found when I investigated one of their hideouts. It contains information about the Door of Barbatos and it is where I learned of its existence first.”

Cyno raises an eyebrow at him and asks, almost accusingly, “So you really didn’t learn it from books and rumors?”

“Oh, I did. To find the entrance at least. This capsule only tells that a secret entrance to the Underworld exists. Nothing more and the conspirators managed to move almost all of the evidence before I arrived so I wasn’t able to find anything more in the hideout unfortunately.”

Cyno casts him a doubtful look but Alhaitham just raises an eyebrow at him. Cyno rolls his eyes and turns back in inspecting one of the Knowledge Capsules in his hand. He rubs the familiar crest etched on the side in thought before activating it. Normally, you would need an Akasha Terminal, a Sumeru invention to access knowledge from Knowledge Capsules, to activate it but a god wouldn’t have any problem in using it.

He first receives from the Knowledge Capsule basic information about desert plants but once he digs deeper, he finally gets what he’s looking for.

“The weak god has been caged and will be transported where she belongs shortly. Proceed with the next steps of the plan before the missives are sent to the candidates.”

“What were the next steps?”

“They paid a visit,” Alhaitham says.

“They tried to assassinate you?” Cyno asks with a frown.

Alhaitham shrugs his shoulders. “They did. Apparently, I am in the way of their god ascending to Archonhood.”

“But this god—” Cyno gestures at the red brocade in Alhaitham’s hand and the crest in the Knowledge Capsules and continues, “—couldn’t be. Deshret is dead and belongs to the Underworld now. Besides, he is rightfully serving his time in Tartarus. I personally made sure of it. Who is this god they’re talking about?”

“Quite astute of you, Lord Cyno,” Alhaitham says with, if Cyno isn’t mistaken, a note of appreciation in his voice. “Unfortunately, I don’t have any idea who yet. I do think the Eremites truly believe that Deshret is behind the plot of the Goddess of Wisdom kidnapping when in fact someone else is pulling the strings.”

“Do they plan to resurrect Deshret or are they just using his followers to do the dirty work?” Cyno asks, his frown deepening. The first one is definitely a major violation of the sanctity of life and death and Cyno cannot overlook it.

“I think it's the latter. The Eremites believe Deshret is still alive, just in hiding, and so far I haven’t seen or heard of any resurrection plans.”

“But we can’t rule it out yet as we don’t know who is doing all of this,” Cyno says. He turns over the other Knowledge Capsule in his hands and activates it. Same as the other one, it has unrelated information, this time about oases and other water sources in the desert, on the surface but once Cyno gets past it, he receives information about some coordinates in the desert. It must be the hideout Alhaitham is talking about. And in the last bit:

“We have found the entrance. Come immediately.”

“I got that one from a scholar who was acting suspiciously. Aside from being a Deshret fanatic, she has been obsessively researching the Underworld for a year and a half. She’s in the Akademiya’s custody right now but so far, she seems to be just a pawn that gets fed instructions.”

Cyno hums in thought. “Give me that Knowledge Capsule.”

Alhaitham hands over the remaining Knowledge Capsule and Cyno activates it. As Alhaitham said earlier, it just goes over the possible existence of the Doors and the history of its namesake, Barbatos. No hints on how to summon or find the Doors. Still its existence is a risk. Matter of fact, he has a big problem—a missing Archon, an insolent minor god and a cult—to deal with because of it. Cyno lets the shadows absorb and dissolve it. Alhaitham doesn’t protest and only raises an eyebrow.

“So you think they transported and hid the Goddess of Wisdom here because of the mention of entrance and Knowledge Capsules about the Doors. I can see why but I am not satisfied with this. Do you have anything concrete?”

“Well, not really, it's anecdotal so it's up to you if you believe me or not. One of the last things my assassin told me before he killed himself was that, ‘That weak goddess is gone and will never see the light of day again. She will rot in the place where no one can return from, gods or mortals alike. You can look in every corner of Teyvat and you’ll never find her.’ And in one of the Knowledge Capsules, it mentioned they were transporting her to ‘where she belongs’. With their less than pleasant beliefs about my patron god and the Knowledge Capsules, I can only surmise they want her dead and that they believe she truly belongs to the Underworld.”

“If that is the case, why not just kill her? Gods may live long but we aren’t invincible. We can still die.”

“Killing a god always leaves a mess and triggers natural disasters and as a major god that’s connected to land and nature, I reckon Lord Rukkhadevata’s death would be widespread, not just in Sumeru. Whatever they’re planning, they need to be discreet.”

“So kidnapping and hiding her away to ‘where no one can return from, gods or mortals alike’ instead,” Cyno finishes.

Alhaitham nods. “And ever since you’ve been the Lord of this realm, you have a good track record of making sure that no living soul that dared to trespass or dead souls that want to escape from ever returning or leaving. Another factor to consider is the Underworld’s staunch neutrality on upper world conflict. This will be the last place the Pantheon would look into.”

Cyno closes his eyes and sighs deeply. With the facts now laid down before him, he can’t deny and refute Alhaitham’s claims. He opens his eyes and stares at Alhaitham, who looks back evenly. Somehow there’s something reassuring about the other god’s quietude even if it can be infuriating as well.

“That clean track record might have already been broken as you’re here and whoever they are might have already hidden the goddess.”

Alhaitham shrugs. “True but I heard you’re understaffed thanks to the Archon War. A slip up is inevitable. Besides, you did catch me. I hardly got past your notice.”

“No kidding. You literally just waltzed in the Underworld,” Cyno snorts in disbelief.

For a moment, there’s silence between them before Cyno sighs again. “Seems like we have a common goal. I will work with you. I’ll gather as much as I can, maybe even pay a visit to Deshret in Tartarus.”

Alhaitham nods in agreement. “I’ll continue to look for more leads. Same day, same place?”

“Yes, but you need to use another entrance. I have to move the Doors of Barbatos but I’ll send someone to you to direct you where. I’ll arrange how we can communicate in the next meeting.”

With the both of them in agreement, Cyno summons a skeleton, still clad in its armor from the moment it died, and watches in amusement as Alhaitham steps back in surprise. He pats the skeleton in the shoulder. “This is your escort for today as I have things to attend to.”

Alhaitham eyes the skeleton warily. “You don’t have to. I know the way back.”

“I believe you but I still don’t fully trust you,” Cyno says bluntly. 

For his part, Alhaitham just nods in understanding. He looks back and addresses the skeleton: “I suppose, lead the way.”

The skeleton rattles back at him and turns around to start heading to the willow forest with Alhaitham a step behind it. Cyno watches until they’re a speck in the distance before blending back into the shadows.

—--

The visit with Deshret didn’t go as well as expected and Cyno wasn’t expecting much from the start. For one, the mad god is still, well, mad and crazy, talking about how the Forbidden Knowledge will save them all and other unintelligible ramblings. He doubts the mad god is in on the plan of his own ascension if it is him.

He then double checks the surveilling harpies to make sure no one has recently visited Tartarus and tightens the security in the whole Underworld. He and Candace agree to keep it between them for now, in case an Underworld resident is a mole and tips off the cult.

He’s returning from Tartarus when he feels Alhaitham. He pauses in confusion, it's still three days away before the next meet up, before activating the helmet and using the shadows to travel quickly to the willow forest. Alhaitham has barely steps out of the cavern with someone before Cyno emerges from the shadows. Both Alhaitham and Dehya, the mercenary demigod Cyno have a long contract with and the one he told Alhaitham he will send to him, gasps in surprise and steps back. Cyno can’t help but snort in amusement.

“Archons, Cyno! I’ve told you to stop doing that,” Dehya groans, her hand over her heart rather dramatically in Cyno’s opinion.

“We’ve worked together for years. I would have thought you have gotten used to it,” Cyno says, deadpanned before immediately switching gears. “We aren’t meant to meet up until three days from now. Did something happen?”

“Nothing on my end but this guy wants to visit and can’t find the entrance since you moved it,” Dehya answers before she turns towards Alhaitham, “I told you he’ll sense us the moment we step foot here.”

Alhaitham just shrugs in response. Cyno frowns at him. “Did you have new information?”

“Sort of. Nothing about the location of Lord Rukkhadevata yet. It seems the cult decided to lay low for now. Did something happen here?”

“We’ve tightened the security…” Cyno narrows his eyes in thought. “What do you mean lay low?”

“There have been sightings near the old entrance of the Doors but before we caught them, they’re gone and haven’t been around lately,” Dehya answers.

“Same in the desert,” Alhaitham adds. “They may be laying low because of the tightened security or…”

“Do you think they might have changed their plans in using the Underworld?” Cyno asks.

“Too early to say. We haven’t really confirmed if they already have managed to sneak in Lord Rukkhadevata here or not. I think we should try keeping a low profile as well.”

Cyno frowns before nodding. “It's too late now to call off the harpies without raising further suspicion so I have to do it gradually over the next few days.”

Alhaitham and Dehya nod in agreement.

Cyno shares then what happened with Deshret and confirms their next actions: Alhaitham and Dehya will continue their surveillance upstairs and Cyno and Candace will pull back some of the security but also keep a tighter lookout for anything amiss. 

Dehya stretches after their discussion and heads out the cavern. “Well since I’m here, I’ll catch up with Candace and keep her up to date with our plans.”

Cyno nods at her before grabbing Alhaitham’s wrist as he moves to follow Dehya. He glares at the other god. “And where do you think you’re going? You’ve already delivered your information. Go back upstairs.”

Alhaitham frowns at him in displeasure. The first time he sees a negative emotion from him. “We are collaborating. I’d like to explore the Underworld and investigate myself.”

“No, leave the Underworld matters to us. The living shouldn’t be here,” Cyno repeats with a firm tone.

“I don’t see you kicking Dehya out immediately. Last I checked, she isn’t dead nor an Underworld resident,” Alhaitham shoots back.

Cyno feels Dehya pausing at the mouth of the cavern and looking over them. He gives her a look and she rolls her eyes, raising her hands in acquiesce.

“I’ll go, I’ll go. Go easy on each other though, sheesh,” Dehya says, exasperated. She’s a few steps out when she shouts, “Remember, you’re allies now!”

Cyno frowns at her before his attention is brought back to the god beside him when Alhaitham tugs his wrist from Cyno’s grip. Cyno doesn’t let go and just tightens his grip. They glare at each other.

“Dehya is different. I have a long standing contract with her. Besides, she isn’t allowed to stay a whole day here either.”

“So there’s a margin of how long a living can stay here?”

Of course, that’s what Alhaitham got out of that. Cyno sighs in frustration. “That’s not the point. You shouldn’t be here. Go back.”

“I was going to bring it up in our next meeting but since I’m here now, let's discuss this alliance. If you want we can also make a binding contract,” Alhaitham says, his tone firm. “Unless, the God of the Underworld and Judgement doesn’t see the point in making one with a minor god like me?”

“I do not like what you’re insinuating. There is no other reason I’m not letting you dawdle in the Underworld other than I do not trust you,” Cyno grits out.

“Even when Dehya vouched for me?”

It was a surprise when Dehya told Cyno she’s acquainted with Alhaitham and she readily vouched for the god after Cyno asked her opinion about him. Apparently, Alhaitham is one of her informants and they have worked together under Lord Rukkhadevata from time to time. He’s smart and reliable, if a little unorthodox sometimes in his methods and opinions, Dehya said.

“Yes,” is Cyno’s curt reply.

Alhaitham’s frown gets deeper and his eyebrows furrow. “I do not take you for a fool. You say you do not trust me but still work with me?”

“I trust you about the missing Goddess of Wisdom and the cult. I have fact checked everything with Dehya. But your motivations? That I do not trust.”

“I’ve told you I have no ambition in being the next Archon,” Alhaitham snorts derisively.

To be honest, Cyno is starting to believe that even if they’ve only met a few times, he can tell Alhaitham isn’t interested in power. He’s more worried about another matter. “And your fascination with the Underworld?”

Alhaitham pauses at that, his eyes widening slightly before schooling his face back to neutral. Cyno narrows his eyes in suspicion.

“Being a wisdom god, I am naturally curious. The Underworld is one of the few places that have little written information, much less people who visited themselves,” Alhaitham answers.

Cyno can’t detect any lies but still, he feels the minor god isn’t telling entirely the whole truth.

“I prefer to keep it that way. The little information about the Underworld out there the better.”

“Of course. I do not plan on publishing anything about the Underworld. It is merely personal curiosity. I will keep all what I learn to myself.”

“I can’t just trust your word for that. I do not want a leak like the Doors again.”

“Then we should start talking about that binding contract,” Alhaitham says simply. “I feel like that’s fair if we still plan to work together, right? Besides, an alliance between two parties should benefit both. So far, things have been one sided.”

The audacity…Cyno takes a deep breath. “If what you say about not wanting to ascend is true then getting back Rukkhadevata is a big benefit on its own.”

“True but I feel like we can gain more in this alliance,” Alhaitham counters. He pulls his forgotten wrist from Cyno’s grip towards him to draw Cyno in and leans closer, his two-toned eyes alight with something Cyno can’t decipher. “Dehya is the best and she is strong but having another like her with a wider network and a god is a big boon, don’t you think so? I am a wisdom god, I will share what I know with you. Call it an exchange of knowledge.”

“And here I thought you already have a patron god.”

“That I do and I do not have plans to change that anytime soon but I am not particularly tied down with working only for Lord Rukkhadevata,” Alhaitham says. He tilts his head, his lips quirk up slightly as he asks, “So, a deal?”

Cyno stares at him and Alhaitham looks back evenly. A binding contract could keep Alhaitham in check as the Fates do not take it lightly if one is broken. The breaker will be severely punished, proportional to their violation. And having more contractors isn't bad up above. Currently he only has two demigods contracted to him, Dehya and a certain “mere” prison warden in Fontaine. He can occasionally rely on Venti, the God of Wind and Travellers, but he’s as elusive as his element on a sunny day. The Underworld isn’t exactly popular in Teyvat. 

Not to mention, as much Cyno is loath to admit it, he has realized he hasn’t really been fair in treating the other god and now that he is aware he can’t really continue as he does out of principle especially as Alhaitham hasn’t really done anything suspicious or out of line so far.

Something Alhaitham probably had banked on when he brought it up earlier. 

Cyno feels his temple throb and his eye twitch in annoyance. He sighs and squeezes the warm wrist on his hand before letting go, the heat left on his palm almost tingly. “We’ll swear it on the name of the River Styx.”

The smile Alhaitham gives him would almost be attractive if it weren’t also so infuriating.

_____

Making the contract itself doesn’t have much fanfare. He brings Alhaitham in his office in the Underworld palace with Alhaitham curiously looking around the whole time on the way. He figures with both their temperaments it would take awhile for them to come to an agreement. So it's a surprise that they are done after an hour. They both settle their terms—interjecting when one doesn’t agree and then compromising—before swearing on the name of River Styx to complete it. Alhaitham is reasonable, it seems when not hindered by his personality. Still by the end of it, Cyno is exhausted while Alhaitham, despite maintaining his stoic demeanor, is more pleased than he has ever seen him.

With his goals accomplished, Alhaitham is more amiable in going back home for today, giving Cyno a lazy wave as he follows his skeleton escort obediently. Cyno heaves another sigh.

“He’s quite interesting,” Candace muses as she emerges from the shadows.

“He is,” Cyno admits grudgingly. He doesn’t lie after all. “But he is also a pain in the ass.”

Candace laughs as she takes the seat Alhaitham previously occupied. “Can’t wait to formally meet him.”

Cyno purses his lips as he looks at his oldest friend. “You say he wasn't a premonition back that day. I feel like it's a very false assessment.”

Candace shrugs and smiles kindly at Cyno. “You know, I am not an Oracle. Besides, a premonition depends on what you make out of it, right? Have heart, Cyno, I feel like he’ll be a good ally.”

Cyno hopes she is right and trusting Alhaitham won’t bite him back later.

_____

Alhaitham comes back after two days. Cyno is in the middle of his shift as a judge when he comes in so he isn’t able to greet him and he compromises in sending the same skeleton as before. Fortunately, he only has an hour left of his shift.

Vennessa and Setaria look on with interest but don’t comment as the skeleton gets absorbed by the shadows. That is until an hour passes with fifty plus souls judged, and Cyno stands up from his desk to clock out.

“You’re going?” Setaria asks, surprised.

Remembering how they reacted last time, Cyno carefully says, “...I have business to deal with.”

Vennessa raises an eyebrow, skeptical. “Does it have to do with the recent increase of security?”

“Yes, it does,” Cyno sighs. He really has been hasty with that decision. “Anyway, call me if there is any trouble.”

After receiving affirmatives from the two, Cyno goes to where he can sense Alhaitham. It seems like he’s back to the garden. He sensed him earlier exploring past the garden, reaching Asphodel, the place where souls roam, then turning back after a few minutes of walking idly.

Alhaitham is leaning on one of the pomegranate trees with a book open in his right hand. The skeleton escort stands by next to him dutifully.

“As you didn’t use our agreed communication, I am guessing you aren’t here because there’s new information with our case,” Cyno says as a greeting, appearing by Alhaitham’s right shoulder. He glances at the book Alhaitham is reading. Hm, something about souls.

Alhaitham flinches in surprise, almost losing his hold on his book if not for Cyno intercepting it, their fingers touching as he clasps it.

“You really like to make an entrance, don’t you?” Alhaitham says mildly as he recovers and looks back at Cyno.

Cyno shrugs and pulls away from the other god. He won’t admit nor deny he finds amusement when he catches people off guard, especially impenetrable people like Alhaitham. “So, reason?”

Alhaitham rolls his eyes and closes his book. “Yes, as there’s not much time passed since last time, the cult is still laying low. As for why I’m here, I believe we agreed about that two days ago.”

“Something about looking around for Rukkhadevata and researching on the side. You’re the one who insisted on getting the privilege and access and yet, you’re here reading under the shade.”

“There is no existing map of the Underworld and it's a very big place. Even I will have trouble where to start.” Alhaitham shrugs and glances at his skeleton escort. “My escort isn’t much help in that regard as well.”

The skeleton clatters back at him in response. Cyno snorts, hiding his amusement by turning away. “I suppose there is sparse vegetation here for you to ask directions.”

Alhaitham blinks in confusion and—ah—it's only a speculation on Cyno’s side and he only showed himself to Alhaitham once he reached the garden for the first time, right? He doesn’t regret following Alhaitham that day but, for some reason, he feels a bit embarrassed right now.

“Oh, that,” Alhaitham says, nodding in understanding. “The plants here aren’t that cooperative anyway except for the willow trees and even then I have to bribe some of them a little bit with Dendro.”

“Is that so…”

“You don’t have to worry. They’re loyal to their Lord. Except for these three.” He lightly knocks back his head at the pomegranate tree he’s leaning on. “They don’t offer confidential information but they whisper temptations in eating their fruits. Something you’re very against.”

Cyno frowns and looks at the aforementioned trees. “Rather than me, I think they’re just loyal to the Underworld.”

Alhaitham peers at him curiously but doesn’t push when it's obvious Cyno isn't going to add anymore. Instead, he changes the topic. “You weren’t at the Doors when I came in.”

Cyno looks back at Alhaitham, eyebrow raised. “I do have a job and millions of souls to judge. I don’t have time to be your escort. But,” He pauses in consideration before continuing, “I’ll give your skeleton a map. It should go without saying but just to be doubly clear, you’re not allowed to take it outside of the Underworld.”

“...Understood,” Alhaitham replies, a beat too late. “Are you the only judge?”

“No, there’s currently nine judges including me.”

“I see.” Alhaitham nods in understanding, a thoughtful look passing through his face.

Before Cyno can press him about the sudden question, Alhaitham straightens up. “I suppose, it's time to go.”

Cyno blinks as he realizes it has been almost three hours since Alhaitham stepped in the Underworld today. They agreed his margin of stay is four hours max so there should still be an hour or so left.

At Cyno’s silent question, Alhaitam says, his lips tilting up, “I also have a job.”

Cyno snorts at the somehow unexpected answer. “I can’t really tell. You seem to be the kind to slack off.”

“Not really. I aspire to finish my job in a timely manner,” Alhaitham says, offhandedly.

He turns at his skeleton escort and nods at it as a signal. The skeleton rattles back and starts walking with Alhaitham a step behind it. Cyno watches in amusement at the side until they’re a speck in the distance.

Alhaitham starts visiting every two days after that. Most of the time, he’s relegated to the skeleton escort but sometimes Cyno is done with his shift and free to greet him and be his guide. There are times they only stayed in the garden and talked: the missing Goddess, a mix of topics about the Underworld and Teyvat or anything in between. Alhaitham did agree to an exchange of knowledge.

“

Cyno is reluctant to admit but when the other god isn’t being purposely difficult, he is nice and interesting to talk to. He’s rational and straightforward and, although he finds him disrespectful at first, isn’t scared to challenge Cyno. It’s refreshing in an intoxicating way.

_____

It’s been three weeks of Alhaitham’s regular visits. The cult is still laying low and Cyno takes this time to meet the clauses of their contract on his side. Just to be done with it but he also found he enjoyed revisiting old spots from the major rivers and its inhabitants, the guardstation with his guard dog Hermanubis and Candace to a secluded farm only few knew about where ambrosia are made. There are more to the Underworld than death and listless souls indeed.

He has plans on bringing the other god to an uncharted waterfall but those plans immediately get forgotten when he sees the minor god crouched in front of the pomegranate trees holding his bleeding side. He shadow travels the remaining steps between them.

“Alhaitham!” Cyno calls, crouching next to him. He touches him in worry and tries to peer at his wound. He doesn’t sense Death yet but depending on the wound and where it came from, it might be a matter of time.

Alhaitham blinks at him, his usual alert eyes hazy around the edges. “Don’t worry, it’s just a shallow wound.”

And indeed it is. Once Cyno manages to get a look of the wound, it's a thin line starting from below his ribs to the side of his hips and isn’t bleeding as much once he cleaned it with the fabric he tore off from his toga. Still that doesn’t ease him as it’s obvious it’s more than a wound. A simple wound doesn’t explain why Alhaitham is shivering and too pale.

Alhaitham lets out a hiss of pain as Cyno presses on the wound before continuing, sensing Cyno’s discontent, “It’s poisoned but I’ve drunk the antidote. Fortunately it's the same poison as the first time so I was prepared. Just waiting for it and my self-healing to kick in.”

Cyno eases up, relieved. “Where did you get attacked? Who are they?”

“On the way here but not near the Doors. I was still quite far away actually so they probably didn't know where I was going. It’s the cult,” Alhaitham answers and presents a torn familiar brocade he managed to grab during the scuffle.

Cyno frowns as he grabs the brocade. “They’re moving again, huh…”

“It seems so,” Alhaitham sighs as he leans back on the tree. Cyno watches as Alhaitham’s self healing starts closing his wound and color slowly comes back to his skin. He silently breathes a sigh of relief.

“I’ll call Candace and Dehya,” Cyno says, sending a message through the shadows.

After five minutes, Candace and Dehya emerge from the shadows cast by the pomegranate trees. Dehya breaks off Candace's hold on her and wheezes on the ground. Cyno winces in sympathy. Shadow travel is unpleasant to those who are not used to it.

“Fuck shadows,” Dehya groans in misery.

After waiting for Dehya to recover and reassuring Candace that Alhaitham is fine now, they catch them up to date. They’re silent for a moment before Alhaitham breaks it, his turquoise eyes clear. “Cyno, I have a plan to push the cult.”

“What is it?” Cyno raises an eyebrow, intrigued.

“They don’t know where the Doors are now, but apparently they’ve noticed my coming and going in the Underworld. They’ve accused me of lying with another god and betraying Sumeru.”

Cyno freezes in surprise but before he can recover Alhaitham continues, “They seemed to get more agitated when I didn't confirm nor deny their accusation. So I got to thinking…”

“No,” Cyno glares at him. He hasn’t finished but he gets the gist of where he is going.

Alhaitham raises an eyebrow at him, challenging. “They obviously do not want my involvement with you. If I publicly show my alliance with you then that might force their hand.”

“We don’t know how strong is the one that’s behind the cult. It's too dangerous. Not to mention, what about the Pantheon? They haven’t told the public yet about the missing Sumeru Archon, right?”

Alhaitham grimaces and shakes his head. “No, they haven’t but they are summoning us candidates at the end of the week. I think they’re now planning their next move. I don't know if they'll proceed with ascending a new Archon or maybe a different plan. It’s been two months and people are starting to notice Lord Rukkhadevata’s absence.”

Cyno curses. “If you admit your alliance with me while the Goddess of Wisdom is missing, that might put the suspicion on me. We can’t have the Pantheon involved. It will put the Underworld’s neutrality to question.”

“Then what about making a scene and kidnapping Alhaitham during the candidates’ meeting?” Dehya suggests.

Everyone pauses to stare at her. Dehya raises her hands in defense. “What?! With the situation as it is we need to push the cult to show their cards while also stopping the Ascension. I know you don’t care much for your own reputation, Cyno.”

“I don’t,” Cyno agrees. “But I care about the Underworld’s.”

“Who said you’re doing it for the Underworld?” Dehya grins, her fangs oddly sharp. “I’m suggesting you kidnap Alhaitham on the premise of crime of passion.”

Cyno blinks, a strange feeling on his chest at the thought. Next to him, Alhaitham hums in thought.

“It needs a little more polish but maybe…” Alhaitham says as if he’s really considering this insane plan.

“What?! How did we get to declaring our alliance as a bad idea to staging a kidnapping?” Cyno exclaims. He turns towards Candace, eyes begging for help.

“It is a rough plan but I think we can make it work,” Candace smiles.

Cyno feels like he’s in the twilight zone and he's the only sane one left. He turns back towards Alhaitham and meets inquisitive turquoise eyes. Alhaitham tilts his head, an eyebrow raised and a slight smile on his lips.

“So, should we start planning?”

_____

The Lord of the Underworld rarely makes an appearance in Teyvat to the point only few know what he looks like. And yet when he appears in front of the Pantheon and the Sumerian gods summoned, everyone gasps and intuitively knows who he is.

Despite his slight stature, his posture and gait exudes confidence and power. His long white hair creates a compelling contrast on his black toga and dark skin, the sunlight somehow giving him an ethereal appeal while the shadows, even not his own, follows him silkily. And although a bit obstructed by the helm of darkness he wears, unmistakable intense carmine eyes pierces through everyone as he glances around looking for someone, inexplicably holding them captive. 

Once he lands on Alhaitham, he smirks and saunters over. He reaches towards Alhaitham and Alhaitham, entranced, barely resists as cold dark hands grips him before losing consciousness and welcomes the darkness. He knows he’ll be safe.

“I’ll be taking what’s mine,” the Lord of the Underworld declares once he secures the minor god in his arms and shadows surrounding him move to swallow the two of them.

A beat later and everyone erupts in uproar.

_____

Two men stand before the pomegranate trees, an almost familiar scene lately for the past two months.

“You don’t have to eat the pomegranates. You can just stay in one of Dehya’s safehouses,” Cyno insists for what feels like an umpteenth time.

“But no living being can stay here for long, right? With the recent commotion we did, everyone is expecting me to be stuck here. Not to mention we confirmed that my Lord is here. I would need more than four hours to scour the Underworld for her,” Alhaitham says plainly.

Alhaitam’s kidnapping and apparent favor from the Lord of the Underworld has sent the cult into a tizzy and Dehya has managed to intercept a message that orders the retrieval of Lord Rukkhadevata in the Underworld. Unfortunately there is no specific location stated and the messenger is just an innocent poor third party the cult hired to prevent leaks. Cyno is half relieved that they finally have confirmation about the Goddess’ whereabouts and half pissed they managed to hide her under his nose.

Alhaitham reaches out and plucks a ripe pomegranate off one of the branches, the branches rustling in response in glee. He snorts at the tree’s obvious excitement. He’s about to crack it open when a cold dark hand stops him. He stares back at intense carmine eyes.

“If you take from the Underworld, it will lay its claim over you,” Cyno says, voice solemn as he repeats his words before, at the start of everything. “It’s irreversible.”

“It already laid claim on me anyway. Spending a month off here isn’t so bad,” Alhaitham smiles and Cyno, with heart in his throat, lets go.

Alhaitham cracks the fruit open and eats one seed and Cyno feels a little bit undone. He grabs Alhaitham’s wrist that is also holding the fruit, barely paying attention when the fruit falls with a thud, and tugs him close. Like that time in the Pantheon, Alhaitham goes willingly and even meets his lips halfway, further unraveling him.

His mouth still tastes of the pomegranate. It suits him , Cyno idly thinks licking the juices left on Alhaitham’s lips and drinking Alhaitham’s responding moan before finally letting himself loose for the next hour as he presses Alhaitham to the tree, impatiently tugging his clothes.

______

The staged kidnapping for better or worse has moved things along but also caused another problem. The cult is scared and starts to get sloppy, leaving more clues behind and Dehya is slowly closing on them. Meanwhile, Cyno spends almost all his time fending off Pantheon gods requests for an audience with him while also firmly maintaining what he did is for personal reasons and doesn’t involve the Underworld. He doesn’t know for how long he can hold them off.

Three weeks later, Alhaitham comes rushing to his office while he is having a meeting with Vennessa and Setaria. He ignores the knowing look Vennessa and Setaria send him as he excuses himself. They move to another room, Cyno making sure to wrap shadows around it.

“I think I know where they’ve hidden Lord Rukkhadevata,” Alhaitham opens, his turquoise eyes gleaming. “The main entrance of the Underworld.”

Cyno blinks in confusion. “We’ve searched there multiple times, but we didn't find anything.”

“I think they’ve hidden her in the border of the Underworld entrance and Teyvat. It’s why you didn’t sense her presence when you should have. She’s in between realms. Let’s go.” Alhaitham urges.

They shadow traveled near the entrance, meeting Candace and Hermanubis. She greets them and Hermanubis bounds over to them. Cyno leans down and pets him. 

“Did you find anything?” Cyno asks.

Candace shakes her head. “Not yet. Hermanubis can’t sense her.”

The main entrance is big and open with no doors—like a crack in a mountain except the Underworld isn’t tethered in anything physical. It appears when it has to for souls, never for the living. It's why Barbatos needed to create the Doors for his purpose. Alhaitham takes a step forward and Cyno has to tug his arm to stop him.

“Your time in the Underworld isn’t up yet,” Cyno reminds him before taking his place and goes toward the mouth of the entrance.

He looks at rocky ridges and then steps in the middle of the entrance. Immediately he feels the difference of the familiar cold on his heel and the too warm tingly feeling of his toes outside the Underworld. The view outside the entrance is of the desert; the sand reflecting the sunlight, too bright for Cyno’s sensitive eyes.

“Cyno?” Alhaitham asks, his tone tinged with worry.

Cyno shakes his head clear. “I’m fine, just a bit disoriented. I can’t sense anything either but,” he pauses and starts walking on the left side of the entrance, making sure to stay in the center. He presses a hand on the wall and closes his eyes for a minute.

“Nothing,” Cyno concludes with a frown before going to the right side. He does the same thing and waits for a minute. He’s about to say it's negative too when he feels a pulse. He gasps and presses his hand harder at the stone wall.

Another pulse and he follows it with his hands until he is crouched down and lands on a barely noticeable crevice on the side of the entrance facing Teyvat. He peers inside but its pitch black even for his enhanced eyes. With trepidation, he reaches inside. He doesn’t feel anything at first until he is elbow deep and he touches a cold surface.

“I found something!”

He feels his companions move closer, a warm hand reaching out to grip his shoulder. After a few awkward maneuvering, he manages to get a good grasp of the thing and pulls it out. It’s a plain bronze jar. The moment he carries it over the Underworld he senses life within it. Candace must sense the same as she gasps and Hermanubis barks. Alhaitham frowns as he looks at the jar with trepidation.

Cyno looks back at his companions, a complicated emotion on his face. “We have found the Goddess of Wisdom.”

_____

Extracting the Goddess from the magical bronze jar isn't as complicated as he expected. What he doesn’t expect is how small the Goddess became in two months, far from the tall elegant woman he remembers. Apparently, she used some of her powers to sustain her and it caused her body to regress.

“I’d like to thank you so much, Lord Cyno,” the now child-sized Goddess says, voice soft and tired. Aside from her smaller stature, she is very thin and looks pale and haggard with deep bags under her eyes. Despite this, she offers Cyno the brightest smile she can muster in her fatigue.

A deep desire to protect this child starts to bloom inside Cyno before he reminds himself that despite her appearance she is a thousand years older than him.

“No need. I am sorry it took awhile to figure out where you were,” Cyno says with deep regret. She was so close to them.

She shakes her head. “The person who orchestrated all of this is the one at fault. No need to apologize.”

“My Lady, do you know who did this to you?” Alhaitham interjects with a frown.

“Yes,” she says, her eyes turning sharp. “It seems like there’s much work to do, Alhaitham, when we get back.” 

Alhaitham nods his head in acquiesce and Cyno can’t help but frown. He tries to push the negative feeling crawling in his chest.

Alhaitham isn’t his. He does have a contract with him and he has to spend now a month in the Underworld every year so he will still see and interact with him but Cyno isn’t the god he swore fealty to.

“I am still quite weak before we can start planning…Is it alright to stay here for a little while, Lord Cyno?” Rukkhadevata asks, breaking his reverie.

“Of course but with your current constitution, I am not sure the Underworld won’t claim what little is left of you if you stay long…” Cyno frowns in worry.

“A day should be enough. I just need to get my bearings,” she says, smiling slightly.

After that Candace escorts her to the guest room with Alhaitham staying behind. Cyno frowns at him in displeasure. “Shouldn’t you be with your patron god?”

Alhaitham shrugs nonchalantly as he shortens the distance between them. “She is my patron god and I’d say I am loyal to her but I am not a blind nor a reverent follower. Besides, I know Candace will take care of her.”

Cyno remains quiet but lets Alhaitham pull him close, tucking him on his ample chest. Alhaitham continues, “I’ll explain everything to Lord Rukkhadevata. I’m sure she won’t mind me missing for three months. Though we have to clean Sumeru first.”

“Stop adding months, we agreed on one. You just want to slack off,” Cyno scoffs, rolling his eyes. “We have a contract, you can visit anytime anyway.”

“Is it so surprising that I want to spend time with my lover?”

“Is that what we are now?”

“I like spending time with you and the sex is good.” Alhaitham shrugs.

“How romantic,” Cyno deadpans before he snorts. He doesn’t really mind and actually prefers that Alhaitham is so straightforward. Somehow the weight on his chest eases up. He buries himself and indulges on the warmth he’s starting to get used to.

_____

Cyno decides to not partake in the plan Alhaitham and Rukkhadevata devised after a week of Rukkhadevata’s release. All people involved will meet him one way or another, he is patient and will pass his judgement when the time comes. Besides, Teyvat’s problems are not any of the Underworld’s business. He doesn’t care much about the supposedly artificial god the cult created to usurp the Goddess of Wisdom.

It’s been three months since then and last he heard: the plan is a success, the sages that are behind the scheme have been exiled (a too light punishment in Cyno’s opinion) and Rukkhadevata is starting to gain back her powers but she admitted that she probably won’t come back to her older form without passing the years.

Cyno and Alhaitham didn’t bother clearing up the staged kidnapping. In the end, they ended up together anyway and what he said that day didn’t end up a lie. The Pantheon has thankfully back off once the Goddess is found and doubly confirmed Cyno isn’t planning on invading Teyvat anytime soon. Though he is a bit concerned about the few romanticizations he heard about Alhaitham’s “kidnapping”.

On Cyno’s side, things are much the same. There are still thousands of souls to judge as life and death never really rests but he is calmer and less stressed now. And no, it’s probably not because he started clocking out on time recently. Something he definitely learned from a certain minor Sumerian god as Dehya likes to tell him. He just started to learn to delegate better.

His musing is interrupted when he hears a knock. He looks up to see Candace. Candace smiles at him. “I have some business at the palace. Let’s walk together?”

Cyno looks at the clock to confirm the time. He just finished his shift as a judge and is doing paperwork as he waits for Alhaitham. He smiles back at Candace and nods.

They walk together outside the Justice Pavillion, with idle talk in between. It’s when they reach the crossroads between the palace and the garden, Candace turns on him.

“So, was I really off the mark that day? Is he a premonition?” she asks with a mischievous smile.

Cyno snorts. “He’s quite troublesome and has a tendency to dip his toes into whatever interests him, dangers notwithstanding, so yes.”

Candace laughs, amused. “I see, I’ll keep that in mind when I catch him again in the kitchens.”

Cyno flushes as he remembers the first time Alhaitham cooked for him. “Okay, he isn’t all that bad.”

“Sure,” Candace says indulgently. “Tell him I say hi.”

They say their goodbyes and Cyno starts towards the garden. For old time’s sake, he activates the helm of darkness as Alhaitham under the pomegranate tree comes to view, a familiar red fruit in his hand.