Chapter Text
The streets of Sumeru City's Grand Bazaar were packed with people buzzing hurriedly and happily. Despite the hot weather outside, the air was pleasantly cool inside and full of excited voices from young and old alike.
Here, someone wanted to buy a new fabric and over there the smell of sweet pastries wafted across. A child pulled their mother’s hand to excitedly show her something.
The wanderer hated days like these. He hated this hustle and bustle. He hated crowds. He couldn’t relate to the happiness of those around him. He didn’t fit in here.
Grimly, he pulled his hat lower over his face to avoid making eye contact with anyone. The fewer people he saw today, the better.
As he lowered his arm again, his gaze lingered on his wrist for a moment. On his wrist where he knew some words were written in red curved and shiny writing.
The first words of his soulmate.
Bullshit he thought after a moment’s consideration before covering the words with the short gloves he was wearing today.
The whole principle of soulmates. Fate’s chosen other part of a person? Ridiculous. Fuck fate. Fate didn’t care for people like him. The construct of soulmates only existed because people gave it belief and meaning.
But not for him. He despised people who believed solely in the importance of soulmates. The thought alone made him sick. There was nobody out there for him anyways. And there never would be. After all, he wasn’t even human.
However, that hasn’t always been his perspective. Back when he lived on Tatarasuna and the words appeared on his wrist, he was even excited about it.
But fate was cruel. Time did not stand still. It was ever going forward. Centuries passed and he never heard the supposedly magical words. He had long since given up hope while waiting.
He came to terms with it a long time ago. He was on his own in this world.
He swallowed his anger with clenched fists.
“Do we really have to be here?” His question was aimed squarely at his companion, the Dendro Archon herself. Albeit in the body of a snezhnayan puppet, so as not to attract unwanted attention.
Nahida had always been good to him, ever since the incident where he tried to become a god. He holds a deep respect for her. And he was truly grateful for everything she did.
But sometimes she could mean a little too well.
“Yes, we have to. We’ve already talked about this. You can no longer run away from your problems and distract yourself by wandering in the woods. It’s important that you meet people. You’re due to enroll in the Akademiya in two weeks and you’re still shyer than a stray dog.”
She put her hands on her hips gravely as she spoke to him. The wanderer just rolled his eyes.
“Like that’s going to change in two weeks.” He retorted cynically; hands clasped in front of his chest. “I wasn’t made to be with humans.”
“All I hear are lame excuses. You’re not even trying. We’re going to buy some books for the Akademiya together and I want you to enjoy yourself around town. Go out and talk to the people. Listen to their stories and get to know them. You’ll be surprised how much you might have in common.”
She gave him a warm smile before winking at him. “And who knows, you might even hear the magical words.”
That struck a nerve.
Annoyed, he furrowed his brows, and it took a lot of self-control to not snap. “I’ve already told you that I despise the concept of -“But his cursing fell on deaf ears. Nahida, who was walking next to him this whole time, was gone.
Great he sighed irritably and stopped for a moment.
There’s no use in arguing with her. She can be like a mother sometimes. Irritated, he shook his head.
Whatever. She gave me some mora. I’ll just do it by myself and then leave this goddamn place.
He strolled through the Bazaar in silence, his eyes still downcast. When he bought the books he needed, he exchanged only the most necessary words with the seller. He would hardly have thought it possible, but by the time he was done it was even more crowded than before.
One more reason to leave as soon as possible.
His eyes scanned the area to find the quickest way out of here. It probably would be best if he walked past the stage and then through the gate outside. Maybe it was emptier there than here.
Again, he pulled his hat low over his face and rushed off to pick his way through the crowd of people. He hated it. Luckily nobody paid him any attention. The occasional elbows that grazed him from time to time got on his nerves anyway.
“You won’t believe it; I’ve finally met my soulmate. The moment was just like magic.” He overheard a conversation. He clenched his fists. That again.
What was it about today, that he was constantly reminded of the existence of soulmates?
He didn’t want to hear any more about it. This shit was for dreamers. He would never hear the 'magical words' himself.
“Sorry but you look lost. Can I help you with anything?”
And in that moment, the world around him stopped spinning. He stopped abruptly. Shocked. Like very part of his body was frozen. If he had a heart, it would drop at this instance. An icy shiver ran through him, causing him goosebumps. A moment later, everything got hot.
These words…
He had read them a thousand times before. A thousand times with red curled ink on his lifeless skin. He’d damned it every time.
And yet, he could hear them loud and clear.
The first words of his soulmate.
He paused briefly. As if by itself, his body turned to the source of the angelic voice. There in front of him, in front of the bazaar’s grand stage, stood a girl with long red hair and the kindest and warmest smile he had ever seen.
She wore a white cloth on her head decorated with gold and black horns. Her top was short, white and blue, and the blue skirt she wore shimmered and swayed in the colors of the rainbow every time she moved.
Sky-like soft blue eyes looked at him questioningly. And all he could do was gape at her beauty.
“Not even the Dendro Archon herself can help me now.” He murmured with a thin voice without thinking about it.
When she heard these words, she first looked confused, then turned pale. Surprised, she covered her mouth with both of her hands.
“You… You are...”
Was this disappointment in her eyes? Was she disappointed that he was supposed to be her soulmate?
But then the expression on her face turned into one that couldn’t stop beaming with true happiness. So much genuine happiness. It left him speechless.
Did he really just meet his soulmate? Today, of all days. After all these years of learning to loathe the concept of soulmates. And yet she stood before him. With the most beautiful smile in the world.
A small soft laugh escaped him. It wasn’t cynical or ironic like usual. It was real. Even a bit shy. His chest suddenly filled with warmth. Oh, how he hated that.
His mouth opened to say something, but no word came out. What was he supposed to say anyway? What should anyone say in such a situation anyway?
Even if she was supposed to be his soulmate, he didn’t even know her. How is a conversation like this supposed to go? Wasn’t anyone else irritated by this??
The girl in front of him, apparently affected by his laughter, began to giggle. She gently placed both hands on her chest.
“What’s your name, soulmate?” She asked in a soft voice, and it triggered hat lovey dovey feeling in him again.
It was quiet for a moment. Had she left him speechless?
“Naoki.”
Okay, he probably wasn’t left speechless, but his voice sounded thin, almost cracked. It’s probably because of her expectant look, he tried to tell himself as an excuse, but his flushed cheeks told him the truth. At least his flushed cheeks weren’t visible. He hoped they couldn’t be, anyway.
And why did he have to introduce himself by that name? The name the traveler had given him. The name Nahida called him by. The name given to him for his new life.
“What a nice name.” She said with a smile on her lips and some part in him wished for nothing more than to hear her say his name.
“By the way, my name is-“
“Nilou, do you know where the ribbon for tomorrow’s performance went?” A loud voice interrupted her and she turned around. But instead of answering immediately, she turned back to him, giggling softly. “Yeah, that’s right.”
So Nilou huh.
For a moment they locked eyes and it said so much more than words could ever do. He hated that he felt like all the stories about soulmates, somehow confirmed themselves, but he was still lost in her sky-blues eyes.
“How about you come to our next performance? We could have some tea together afterwards if you like.” Eagerly she held out a ticket to the still perplexed wanderer.
“I hope to see you again.” She winked at him before running hurriedly but still over the moon to her colleague, shouting something in his direction.
But all sounds around him fell on deaf ears. All he was aware of was the ticket in his hands. The last few minutes played over and over in his head.
There was a smile on his lips. A goddamn little smile. And he couldn’t stop it.
Damn it fate. He whispered; the ticket now pressed against his chest.
Ah fuck it. Could it hurt to try?