✚ 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐀 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐋𝐢𝐚𝐫 ✚ | 𝘊𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘢 [read desc]

𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝟸𝟼 - 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚊𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚒𝚊𝚛

Childe sat on a bench, feeling a deep sense of hopelessness. He stared at the ground, lost in his thoughts, until he noticed Nahida, the Dendro Archon, approaching with a boy who seemed oddly familiar to him.

Summoning his courage, Childe stood up and walked over to them. Nahida noticed his approach and turned towards him, while the boy beside her looked surprisingly worried.

"Excuse me, I was wondering if..." Childe paused, tears inexplicably rolling down his cheeks as he looked at the boy. Nahida's eyes widened in a mix of confusion and concern.

"Hey, are you alright?" she asked, gently laying a hand on Childe's arm to gather his memories without his awareness.

"I'm fine... I just..." He sighed and wiped his tears. "I have no idea why I'm crying." Childe turned to the boy, who stood with widened eyes. "Have we met before?" he asked cautiously.

Nahida withdrew her hand once she had collected enough data from Childe's forgotten memories. ".. No. I believe this is our first meeting..." the boy said, lowering his hat to hide his face. Childe felt a desperate urge to demand answers but held back, not wanting to scare them away.

"..I see. Well, forget it... Sorry to bother." Childe turned and left, feeling a confusing mixture of anger and sadness when he looked at the boy. But why?

The boy watched him with concern etched on his face. Noticing his intense stare, Nahida asked, "Is there anything between you two?"

".. No. He's just a former colleague," the boy replied, shaking his head. Nahida sighed and continued to lead him elsewhere. Childe watched them from a distance before looking down at the ground. "..I'm just wasting my time on something I clearly won't remember," he muttered, wandering around the city.

Nahida, meanwhile, had instructed the boy to go to the Akademiya and read specific books she had listed. She then returned to the Sanctuary of Surasthana and delved into Childe's forgotten memories, exploring the moments he had shared with the boy.

She let out a breath, understanding that their relationship resembled that of lovers. The way they spoke to each other was filled with affection and care.

Pausing her exploration of the memories, Nahida considered how to ease the tension between the two whenever they met. It would be a difficult task, but she believed it was the best way to help them reconnect and overcome the barriers that had been placed between them.

The boy soon returned to the Sanctuary of Surasthana and approached Nahida, crossing his arms. "I'm back. I really have no idea why you're making me read those books," he said with a groan.

Nahida smiled and turned to face him. "It's so you'll pass your test. Don't you have one coming up soon? I'm sure you understand that it's for your own good!" she replied, placing her hands on her hips.

"..Whatever." He sighed, knowing he couldn't do anything to stop her. "Hehe, anyways... remember the Fatui we talked to previously? I was thinking you should befriend him and talk with him," she said, leaving the boy in shock. "So what do you say, *hat guy*?"

"You're out of your mind..." he said, furrowing his brows before inhaling deeply and continuing to speak. "...But since you're the one suggesting it... fine. At least, I'll try." Nahida's smile widened as he agreed.

"Great! We'll meet with him tomorrow then. For now, why don't you go and spend some time with the Aranara at Vanarana?"

*Hat guy* agreed and went on his way to Vanarana. Nahida stayed at the Sanctuary of Surasthana to continue sifting through Childe's forgotten memories of the boy.

Meanwhile, Childe, wandering through the forest, stumbled into the boy once again.

"Oh... you again," said the indigo-haired boy, continuing to walk.