Archive of Our Own

Tighnari will never claim to know Hat Guy of Vahumana well. Frankly, he’s still caught off guard often by the fact he’s even called Hat Guy and people genuinely respect that name.

In the past two or so years after the Akademiya Extravaganza, however, Hat Guy has ultimately become a more prominent presence in Tighnari’s life than he thought he would be. For one, he’s a magnificent scholar; Tighnari himself has read quite a few of his papers in his spare time. They’re usually found by Alhaitham, then get stolen by Kaveh, who passes them on to Cyno once he’s done reading, and Tighnari gets the last opinion. Occasionally, even Collei will read along with him, as her interest in Inazuma stemming from her various light novels hasn’t gone away just yet.

Still, because of Tighnari’s aversion to the city, most of his information about Hat Guy (seriously, he’s going to figure out his real name one way or another) comes from Cyno or Kaveh — who, admittedly, gets his own information from Alhaitham. Not to say Tighnari hasn’t tried; Nahida in particular was very avid about Hat Guy meeting new people whenever he first came to Sumeru, and even more so after they met at the Extravaganza. Which is how Tighnari got roped in.

Nahida likes to keep good relations with the people that work with her and people she considers friends, which is a category that Tighnari somehow falls into. Cyno is closer to her, and it mostly has to do with the fact that Tighnari is so close to him, and that allegedly Cyno won’t shut up about him. It’s flattering, and quite entertaining, so Tighnari does like talking to Nahida even if just to poke fun at the man next to him.

Otherwise, though, she is a great person and conversation partner, and is very adamant in learning more about the forest and what resources they need outside the city. She listens closely and reads every single note or paper that Tighnari happens to bring, and is quick to follow up with her own ideas and solutions. Her assistance is kind and welcome, especially since she has her hands full with the entirety of the city as well. Even when they have meetings unrelated to work, Tighnari finds it easy to talk to her about pretty much anything. She is a gentle god, and a friend more so. Even Alhaitham and Kaveh agree with these notions.

At the beginning, she would bring Hat Guy along to some of their meetings, or tea times rather, under the guise of acting as her assistant. During these visits, he would mostly sit and do his own work while occasionally glaring daggers at whoever was present, even the Traveler despite their somewhat begrudging friendship. He refused any food and drink, except for one momentous occasion where Cyno and Tighnari had happened to bring some of Collei’s pita pockets. He never finished his portion, and the disgust was visible in his expression, but he still tried. So, he really wasn’t that bad of a person. And nowadays, he’s grown more accustomed to their presence, or at least learned that he can’t make the rest of them go away.

Alhaitham and Kaveh have their own strange dynamics with Hat Guy: Alhaitham and he have some kind of mutual respect that involves Nahida and the fact both of them seem to despise any sort of social norm and unnecessary small talk. Hat Guy is able to get under Kaveh’s skin very easily, though, which should make sense if he and Alhaitham are able to get along. Despite this, Kaveh still attends their get-togethers, and the pointed jabs and barbs between the two have become something like a game for the both of them.

Tighnari knows Hat Guy gets along with others in Sumeru as well. Nilou takes his attitude in stride, just as she does with Alhaitham, earning his respect in some ways. If Tighnari has heard correctly, Dehya and Hat Guy have been caught sparring on multiple occasions, both in and out of the city. Sethos, in particular, has taken to Hat Guy like a moth to a flame; fascinated and unbothered by the burn. He takes the brunt of Hat Guy’s numerous attempts to make an enemy of him with no contempt. They certainly have a strange relationship, but a friendly one at least.

Even Collei has met Hat Guy on a few occasions, and for some unknown reason, he treats her with a tone of kindness that he allows no other. It may be that she’s young, or that she has her own anxieties that are visible in the way she converses with him, but he treats her well enough. Really, that’s good for Tighnari’s book. Hat Guy, despite his endeavors to bare his teeth like a wild Rishboland Tiger and make every person hate him, is a good person underneath. Or, at least… not a criminal. Maybe?

Still… Tighnari can’t say he was expecting this particular event.

He’s tagged along with Cyno during his temporary stay in the city, both a vacation visit and assisting with a seminar at the Bimarstan. Cyno needed to have a quick meeting with Nahida about something or other, and Tighnari was itching to get away from the brunt of the city. The Sanctuary of Surasthana is quiet and soothing in a way very unlike the rest of Sumeru City, more reminiscent of the forest itself. Since Nahida had been freed, she allows visitors more often than not, but the place remains relatively uncrowded out of respect for her home. On weekends, the place is usually empty. It’s a reprieve, so Tighnari was happy to come with.

However, when the two of them enter today, it’s not completely empty. Instead, they’re greeted by Hat Guy and another person: a boy, just barely shorter than Hat Guy save for his horn-like headpiece that looks a tad too realistic. He wears a tail too, which Tighnari doesn’t think is odd since he looks more like a child, and he knows children like these kinds of accessories for fun (they love his own ears and tail quite enough), but then the tail starts moving and Tighnari is suddenly much more interested.

Hat Guy and the newcomer haven’t seemed to notice them yet, too absorbed in their own conversation. “I don’t care what you do at the Akademiya,” Hat Guy says, something like a scoff coming out with the words. “A lot of it is open to the public. Look around at whatever.”

The boy frowns, hands wrung together as his tail shifts nervously from side to side. “Sumeru is so much larger than Mondstadt. The Akademiya alone is almost the size of our city! How do you handle it? Can’t you show me around?”

“You’re exaggerating,” Hat Guy says dryly, visibly unimpressed. “It’s fine enough. Didn’t Mondstadt’s library used to be the largest one in Teyvat?”

“Yes! Miss Lisa told me about that!” Cyno and Tighnari exchange a surprised glance. “It’s a very interesting aspect of history. The Great Fire of the Fall Equinox, they call it—“

“I’m sure you can read all about it in the House of Daena.” Hat Guy’s voice is something like bored, or annoyed, but it doesn’t hold nearly as much vitriol as it usually does. He sounds less patronizing, or aggressive. Cyno must be interested as well, considering he hasn’t moved an inch from next to Tighnari. “Are you done?”

The boy’s frown seems to grow more downturned, becoming something like a pout. He visibly droops, tail curling inward and Tighnari’s pretty sure there are wings on his back as well, nestling further into his spine. Hat Guy, surprisingly, winces just slightly. “What, Durin?”

“Do you not want to come with me? I came here to see you, you know.” There’s a deeply sad lilt to his voice, one that strikes a chord in Tighnari’s brain that gives him an urge to run straight back to Gandharva Ville and wrap Collei in blankets and hugs, if applicable.

He’s not expecting it to work on Hat Guy, who Tighnari has seen watch a grown man grovel and beg before him not to submit a paper until he graduates lest it bring his entire thesis to the ground, and immediately pull out the binded paper itself to turn in on his way out. However, Hat Guy just sighs, long and suffering, putting a hand to his temple. “I didn’t say that,” he grits out, and Tighnari can practically feel his own eyebrows raise to the ceiling. “Let’s go. Right after we kick out our visitors.”

Tighnari and Cyno both straighten up, rigid like children caught in the cookie jar. Hat Guy doesn’t even deign them with a glance, while the other boy — Durin — turns around with wide, curious eyes. “Oh,” he says. “Hello there.”

Cyno blinks. “Hello. Is Nahida here?”

Hat Guy swivels his head around dramatically, showcasing the visibly empty room. “No.”

Cyno blinks again. “Where is she?”

“I’m not her keeper. Figure it out yourself,” Hat Guy says, at the same time that Durin pipes up with a kind, “I think she’s with Scribe Alhaitham at the moment!”

Great. Debriefing with Alhaitham, who apparently might know this Durin, is a necessity as of right now. Cyno nods seriously, and they take their leave before Hat Guy’s glare can burn through their faces.

Cyno opens the door to Alhaitham’s office without knocking, and the fact that the Scribe can’t even be bothered to glare at him for doing so or at Tighnari, Nahida, and Kaveh invading his workplace is a testament to how far their friendship has come. Or it would be, if Kaveh wasn’t currently slandering the lack of decor in here for the third time this week. Nahida watches politely, and lights up whenever the two of them enter.

“Cyno, Tighnari!” She smiles, hands coming together. “How are you doing?” Kaveh vaguely greets them before returning to his verbal spar. Alhaitham barely glances at them.

While Cyno covers whatever work topic they needed to go through that he couldn’t really care less about, Tighnari moves over to the desk and leans into Kaveh and Alhaitham’s conversation. “Who’s Durin?”

“Who?” Kaveh frowns.

Tighnari pointedly looks at Alhaitham. “You’ve seen him, right? Hat Guy’s friend?”

“Hat Guy has a friend?”

Alhaitham hums consideringly, flipping a page of his book. “I’ve barely met him. I ran into him and Hat Guy the other day.”

Tighnari and Kaveh both wait for more. They get nothing.

“Who is he?” Tighnari sighs. “I think he said he was from Mondstadt.”

Surprisingly, Alhaitham does look up at that. His expression is unreadable as always, but his eyes are scanning the room in a way that suggests he’s running through something in his head. “He’s from Mondstadt?”

“I believe so.”

“…Hm.”

“I’m still lost,” Kaveh says. “Who are you guys talking about?”

“Cyno and I went to the Sanctuary of Surasthana to look for Nahida,” Tighnari recounts. “Hat Guy was there, and so was this boy named Durin. He looks younger, maybe around Collei’s age if I had to guess. But Hat Guy… actually listened to him. And talked with him.”

Kaveh’s eyebrows furrow together as he evidently puts a lot of thought into this. “I see…” he says, with all the seriousness of someone being presented with a cold case. “This is certainly a conundrum.”

“And get this.” Tighnari leans forward conspiratorially. “Durin apparently wanted Hat Guy to show him around the Akademiya. He initially said no, but then Durin pouted and he agreed.”

The other’s jaw drops, gasping with all the dramatics that this situation requires. Alhaitham’s eyebrows even raise slightly, almost like he’s impressed. “What?” Kaveh whispers as obnoxiously as he can, taking into account Cyno and Nahida still having their conversation across the office. “This is the same guy who once told a toddler sobbing in the street to get a hold of himself, yes?”

“Precisely.” Really, Tighnari isn’t really as shocked with this as Kaveh is. And he doesn’t consider himself one prone to gossip. He’s more so… intrigued. And investigative. What is it about Durin that makes Hat Guy let his guard down? Have they known each other for a long time? If so, why haven’t they ever heard of or seen him until now? And how would they know each other? From during his wandering travels, maybe?

“Sorry to keep you all waiting,” Nahida walks over with Cyno, bringing the three of them out of their stupor. “What are you talking about over here?”

“Nahida, do you know who Durin is?” Tighnari asks. If anyone was going to know anything about Hat Guy’s personal life, it would be Nahida. And while he was at it… “Also, what’s Hat Guy’s actual name?”

Nahida effortlessly avoids the second question, instead beaming up at them all at the mention of Durin. “Oh, Durin! Yes, he’s visiting from Mondstadt! Mostly to see Hat Guy, but he’s been attempting to help us out with some activities at the Akademiya. He’s an alchemist!”

“I’m sure he’s great and all, but what does he have to do with Hat Guy?” Kaveh questions, and then immediately stiffens at his own casual tone of voice. “Ah… Lord Kusanali.”

She’s unbothered by his attitude, waving him off. “I’m afraid it’s quite a complicated story. You’d do better asking him yourself.”

“Would we?” Cyno monotones. “It’s Hat Guy.”

“Oh, no, I meant Durin,” Nahida giggles. “At least, if he’s amenable to it. He’s a very sweet boy, but a little nervous when it comes to socializing and new environments. His brother should be visiting sometime soon as well, if you’d rather wait and ask him.”

For some reason, Alhaitham seems the most perplexed by this statement. “Durin has a brother?”

“Yes! Oh, but not in the way you’re probably thinking,” she tells him, which makes absolutely no sense to the rest of them, but must to Alhaitham, who nods easily.

Somehow, the conversation escalates, as Nahida is suddenly interested in if any of them have siblings — Tighnari privately thinks that she just doesn’t want him to bring up Hat Guy’s name again. All of them exchange various conversations until she realizes that she has somewhere to be, and exits swiftly after giving everyone a bright smile and a wave.

As soon as the door shuts, all four of them huddle. Or rather, Alhaitham sits at his desk and the rest of them gather around it.

“Who is this kid?” Kaveh asks, mostly exasperated as he immediately makes himself comfortable on top of Alhaitham’s desk and does a bad job at ignoring the dry look he gets in return.

“Durin. Have you been listening to the conversation?”

Naturally, Alhaitham is given a smack to the head for his troubles, which he does a good job ignoring. “Have you? We barely got any information!”

“Perhaps we should just leave it alone.”

Cyno sighs. “Perhaps. It is quite a personal thing we’re looking into, if Nahida is to be believed.”

Tighnari hums an agreement.

“Fine,” Kaveh grumbles.

Yeah, that doesn’t last.

Really, they pretend it does. They pretend to forget all about Durin and Hat Guy for a good day or two before they get desperate. Or rather, Kaveh gets desperate, Cyno and Tighnari aren’t ones to be outshined, and Alhaitham is an observer.

It starts inconspicuously. Kaveh just happens to be out that day, and he just happens to decide to visit Scribe Alhaitham and, oh no! He’s not there! Guess he’ll just look elsewhere! Kaveh’s second option just happens to be the Sanctuary of Surasthana, where Hat Guy just happened to be with Durin the other day. Kaveh had never claimed to be a genius (unless you count almost every argument he’s had with Alhaitham) so it’s really not his fault if he runs into them! Right?

No one is at the Sanctuary. He tries not to be too disappointed. After all, they had agreed to not get into this. Just because Hat Guy is rude, entitled, and generally an unpleasant person to be around, and some kid had somehow gotten under his scales, doesn’t mean they have the right to pry.

But god (sorry Nahida), Kaveh is so curious.

After his plans to coincidentally run into them don’t work out, he decides to subtly ask around. Subtly.

As it happens, Durin is apparently a figure that multiple citizens are confused about anyway. Hat Guy by himself is already infamous for his scathing criticism of historical records, papers written with such certainty that he seems as if he had just been there for it, and that damned hat. It’s no surprise that the one guy that’s brave enough to hang out with him in public and smile to his face stirs up some questions. Or two, if you count Sethos, but he’s so charismatic that people have mostly gotten over his and Hat Guy’s dynamic.

So, it makes sense that Durin is his own popular mystery. For one, he’s a vacationer from Mondstadt, which sparks even more interest in how he and Hat Guy know each other. For another, apparently he has horns and a tail? Kaveh would’ve appreciated that tidbit of information, thanks Tighnari and Cyno. But overall, no one knows much about him. Other than that he’s sweet, but anxious, and loves to get gifts for his family and ask questions about various things.

If anything, that makes the situation even more confusing; because Hat Guy is mean, and arrogant, and has never said a word about his family, and believes himself to be right about all of his answers all of the time. Asking a question would be a death sentence to him if it wasn’t meant to be patronizing, sarcastic, or otherwise at someone else’s expense. How in the world do these two fit together?

He sighs to himself and goes to exit the Sanctuary after his third visit, and instead comes face to face with Cyno entering.

“Kaveh,” he greets, a slight confusion in his face. It makes sense, unfortunately; Kaveh isn’t one to visit the Sanctuary unless explicitly invited there. It seems disrespectful otherwise. “What are you doing here?”

“Um,” Kaveh says, eloquently. “Seeing Nahida. But, ah, she’s not here. So I’ll… just. Go.”

He moves to weave around Cyno, but the other’s narrowed stare locks him into place. The true power of the General Mahamatra. “Seeing Nahida? Not putting your nose into Hat Guy’s business?”

“No? What?” Kaveh laughs. Cyno blinks at him, expression blank, and Kaveh can’t even find it in himself to be disappointed in how quickly he folds. “Yes. Kind of.”

Cyno nods, exhaling a deep sigh. “Come with me,” he says, in one of the most serious tones Kaveh’s ever heard from him. So, of course, he follows.

They head to Lambad’s Tavern, and Cyno makes his way to the back corner with all the secretiveness of a spy on a mission. Hidden at the darkest table is Tighnari, hands folded together as he stares down the wall in thought. His ear twitches when they start to approach, and he does a double-take at Kaveh. Then, he looks to Cyno.

“How could you,” he says, and his voice makes it sound like the two are about to get divorced or something. And Kaveh instantly realizes what this is. He gasps.

“How could you?!” He exclaims, squeezing into the booth across from the two. “You guys are investigating Hat Guy without me?”

“It’s not what you think—“ Cyno starts, but Tighnari shakes his head with a tense frown.

“I can’t believe this. I thought I was your only investigating partner.”

“You’re my husband. You’ll always be my only investigating partner.”

Tighnari thrusts a hand out at Kaveh, “Then what is this?! You brought him to our debrief!”

“What is going on with you?” Alhaitham says dryly, and all three of them jump.

Alhaitham stands idly by their table with a container of lunch that he was likely about to bring back to the office. Nilou, for some reason, is at his side, staring confusedly at them all.

“Hello, everyone,” she says kindly, once it’s clear that no one’s going to take the initiative to speak. “Alhaitham and I ran into each other just a moment ago. We barely saw you two come in! Are you all having lunch together?”

“Apparently so.” Alhaitham sighs as if he’s not voluntarily slipping into the booth with them and getting his lunch out.

Tighnari scoffs, “Who said?”

“No, listen,” Cyno says seriously. “If we’re going to investigate, it’s better to have a team.”

“Are we still on about this?” Alhaitham deadpans.

“Don’t tell me you’re not interested, too.” Kaveh jabs a finger into his shoulder. “I caught you reading the etymology behind the name Durin yesterday.”

Cyno snorts, and Alhaitham gives the both of them a long glare.

Tighnari sighs, evidently giving up on whatever image he was maintaining. “Nilou. It’s nice to see you. How are you?”

“Ah, I’m doing well, thank you. The plays this year have been so delightful! The newest one coming up is going to be a surprise, but I’m so excited to see what people think. How are you doing?”

“Do you know who Durin is?” Tighnari asks in lieu of an answer.

Nilou blinks, and then her smile becomes radiant. “Ah, yes!” She excitedly claps her hands together, and the four of them lean in just a tad. Or rather, Alhaitham has to lean because Kaveh is pushing at him. “He’s a very good friend of mine! Such a sweet boy. Hat Guy and I met him a while back.”

What.

“What?” Kaveh blurts out.

“Ah, I’m sorry, I’m afraid I have to go,” Nilou says after someone across the tavern calls her name. “It was lovely to see you all, though!”

They watch dejectedly as she runs off, waving happily all the way. Kaveh thinks he waves back, but he honestly doesn’t know.

“So,” Cyno starts, slowly. “Hat Guy and Durin have known each other for… at most, two to three years?”

“We’ve known him for the same amount of time!” Kaveh groans. “At this rate, he isn’t going to let us into his home until we’re all old and gray. What makes Durin different?” He feels bad for being so indignant about a literal child if the others are to be believed, but seriously. Did them beating each other up at the Akademiya Extravaganza mean nothing?

“Have you all been plotting to force Hat Guy’s hand in friendship for two to three years?” Alhaitham frowns.

“It worked with you,” Kaveh deadpans.

Alhaitham shakes his head and sighs. “You are incorrigible. Besides, Hat Guy doesn’t even have a house as far as I’m aware.”

Tighnari throws his hands up, “He doesn’t have a name, he doesn’t have a house, it’s a wonder he has friends at all.”

“Have we considered the fact that Hat Guy just has a soft spot for children?” Cyno ponders. “He acts similarly with Collei. Perhaps Durin is just an unsuspecting vacationer that happens to be an acquaintance who has attached himself to Hat Guy without a proper guardian nearby.”

“Doubtful. Remember crying toddler?” Kaveh reminds him.

“…Maybe it’s just older kids? Babies are an entirely different beast.”

Tighnari hums, tail swishing in thought. “Maybe. But… I dunno, it seems odd. I’m not completely sure what species Durin belongs to — he may not even classify as a child at all.”

“Yeah, I was wondering what that was about,” Kaveh hums. “I heard he had horns?”

“And a tail. And wings.”

“Wings?!” Kaveh exclaims. “I didn’t hear about that!”

“Ah, maybe Hat Guy’s just happy to find a flying partner,” Cyno suggests. “How… uplifting.”

The three of them quickly look elsewhere.

“…You see, because, uplifting as a word can be used to describe something as happy or inspiring, but it can also be used—“

They don’t get much done after that.

After lunch, the four of them head to the Akademiya. Alhaitham and Cyno because they need to handle something work related, and Kaveh and Tighnari because they’re still trying to put their heads together about this Durin situation.

Nahida has blessed them today, it seems, because as soon as they enter through the doors, there’s a bright purple head of hair nearby that catches Kaveh’s eye.

Horns, and a tail, too. Kaveh gasps, stopping in his tracks. “Is that him?”

Tighnari nods fervently, and his ears twitch as he tries to pick up on the conversation ahead. The group moves ever so slightly forward to catch the volume with their human ears.

Durin is without Hat Guy currently, instead talking with a middle-aged scholar that seems unhappy to be there. He’s holding himself in a way that Kaveh associates with the students that think themselves better than everyone else, and it sets a sour taste in his mouth. Despite Durin having experience with these types of people, like Hat Guy, he’s nervously wringing his hands together and his tail is swishing agitatedly.

“I’m not sure why you think you have any bearing over my work,” the scholar scoffs when they’re close enough to hear. “You’re not enrolled in the Akademiya, and at that, you’re a child. Where are your parents anyway?”

Durin gives a visible wince, and Kaveh understands it more than anything. Other older scholars had their own thoughts about his parents, too, when he tried debating with them.

“I’m just trying to help,” Durin says, voice bold despite everything. “I overheard you talking about mixing Flaming Flower Stamens and Trishiraite together. It could end very badly for you and the experiment—“

“Which one of us is actually part of the Spantamad Darshan?” The scholar rolls his eyes. “What experience do you have?”

“I—I’m an alchemist, sir—“

“Really? You don’t sound too proud. Maybe speak up a little.”

Kaveh makes to move forward, because that’s enough for bullying a child, thank you, but Tighnari grips his arm. He throws him an incredulous look, but the other just tilts his head in another direction. When Kaveh looks, Hat Guy is approaching.

“This will be good,” Alhaitham says, crossing his arms. No kidding.

“Hey,” Hat Guy calls, walking up to stand beside Durin. Kaveh can’t help but revel in the way the scholar flinches. “What’s going on here?”

“Ah, nothing, Hat Guy.” Durin laughs nervously. “Don’t worry about it, it’s just—“

The scholar, however, must have some sort of death wish, because he says, “This is the kid you hang out with, right? Control him.”

Kaveh feels his jaw drop to the floor, and he glances over to see Tighnari with a similar expression. Cyno straightens up, probably preparing for a fight to break out.

“Control him?” Hat Guy grits out. “Who exactly do you think you are?”

Durin bites his lip, looking between the other two with a frenzied expression. “Really, Hat Guy. It’s fine. I— um, was trying to help with an experiment I heard him talking about, but— but, it wasn’t my place. Really.”

Hat Guy scoffs, rolling his eyes. “So, you’re so narcissistic about your work that you can’t take criticism from someone younger than you?”

“I didn’t ask for criticism!” The scholar shouts. “I was simply talking with a friend about mixing Flaming Flower Stamens and Trishiraite together, and this child had the audacity to tell me how to do my work!”

“No, sir, I— I just think— Those two substances together could cause an awful explosion, so maybe just… be careful? If— if you do use them?”

“See? Telling me how to do my work!”

“This is insane,” Tighnari mutters. Kaveh quietly agrees. What an absolute egotistical maniac — everyone knows you don’t get far in the Akademiya without listening to others opinions.

“He’s trying to help you,” Hat Guy grumbles. “How long, exactly, have you been studying at the Akademiya?”

The scholar shifts awkwardly. “Around eleven years.”

Hat Guy smiles, in the sharp, patronizing way he does when he’s truly angry. “Right. And how’s your final thesis coming?”

“I don’t see how that’s any of your business.”

The smile grows wider in a terrifying way, and Kaveh is baffled that the scholar hasn’t admitted defeat yet. “Oh, I just mean that maybe your theses would be better if you actually accepted help from among your peers. After all, Durin is decades younger than you and probably a better alchemist than you’ll ever be.”

The scholar does back away at that, affronted and offended. Durin all but grimaces, holding a hand up to his mouth. “Really, Hat Guy, you don’t need to—“

“No need to be modest,” Hat Guy huffs something like a laugh. “You study under the Chief Alchemist of Mondstadt’s Knights, right?”

Cyno turns to raise his eyebrows at Tighnari, who fixes him with a similar glance. Kaveh isn’t completely sure what a Chief Alchemist is meant to entail, but it sounds pretty glamorous if he does say so himself.

“Ah, well, yes, but—“

“So I’d listen to him,” Hat Guy says, any trace of a smile or any humor absolved from his face as he glares at the scholar. “After all, he knows what he’s talking about. It’d be a shame if some extra Flaming Flower Stamens ended up in your experiment after being warned of explosions.”

A laugh escapes from Kaveh’s mouth unbidden, and he immediately slaps a hand over his mouth. Hat Guy glances over at their little group, and all three of them crowd behind Alhaitham’s larger build. Thankfully, he seems to have other things to worry about, since his eyes almost immediately return to the scholar.

The student, for his part, is looking appropriately admonished and terrified at the sight of Hat Guy’s threats, and fidgets with his sleeves awkwardly. “Right. Well. I appreciate your… advice, but I think I’m still going to go through with it. Maybe we should just stick to our respective workplaces.”

Kaveh’s more than happy to let this man blow himself up out of pride, but Cyno sighs deeply and starts to walk forward, so the rest of them reluctantly follow. “You aren’t the only Spantamad scholar around here, you realize.”

Hat Guy turns his glare upon him, but doesn’t make any move to dismiss them. The other man all but jumps into the air at the sight of the General Mahamatra, which is both dramatic and quite hilarious. Durin brightens up at seeing them, though, a pleasant smile on his face. “Ah, hello again!”

Cyno nods to Durin, then roves his gaze over the scholar beside them. “I, for one, can’t quite recall the elemental reaction between the two ingredients, but I doubt that there’s not a single Spantamad student here you can call on if you don’t believe this one person trying to help you. If you’re so insistent on testing it by yourself, then I’ll have to ask you to do it away from the city. It’s better to be overly cautious than overly prideful, yes? Paying for damages won’t do your tuition any favors.”

Hat Guy raises a challenging eyebrow, nodding toward Cyno. “Especially with your going on eleven years.”

Kaveh doesn’t fight this time to keep a grin off his face, and Tighnari’s tail flicks through the air with something he recognizes to be amusement. Alhaitham, for his part, hasn’t left yet, so he’s likely just as entertained.

The scholar sheepishly bows his head, face as red as Kaveh’s clothes. “Of course, General Mahamatra.” Then, reluctantly, he turns to Durin. “Thank you for your advice.”

Durin blinks, straightening up. He shifts awkwardly, but after a slight nudge to his side by Hat Guy, he says, “Um, you’re welcome.”

The man walks away, swiftly making a run for it once no one initially stops him. Hat Guy shakes his head and sighs. “I had that handled.”

Cyno nods, “I know. But I didn’t exactly want him to blow up the school anyhow.”

“Thank you for your assistance!” Durin smiles, “Sorry for… causing a whole thing. I truly just wanted to help.”

The four of them exchange various eye rolls and the wave of a hand. “Please, don’t even,” Tighnari says. “Scholars like him don’t deserve your respect. It’s no wonder he’s been here eleven years.”

Hat Guy raises his eyebrows like he’s impressed, an expression that is rare on him in general, but increasingly common when it comes to Tighnari and his own sharp remarks. That is one thing they share, at least. “Listen to him,” he tells Durin. “People like that are going to try to get on your bad side a lot, for your age and your background. Don’t give them any of your time.”

His tone is almost… educational. Like a piece of advice that Kaveh would hear Tighnari or Cyno give to Collei. Out of Hat Guy’s mouth, it’s startling, when all he usually gives are insults and slander. Durin, however, stands up straight and nods seriously, taking it to heart. “Right.”

Kaveh’s excited to introduce himself, figure out what the whole deal is with Durin, but Hat Guy glances at their group for barely a second before gesturing to the door. “Great. Let’s go.”

“Wait, but, what about the—“ Durin pipes up.

“Let’s go.” Hat Guy grumbles, all but dragging him away.

“Damn it.” Kaveh sighs. “What a hoarder.”

For some reason, Alhaitham’s lips quirk up slightly, in that way that usually means he’s thought of a joke that’s only funny to him. “Actually, in the legends, it’s usually the other way around.”

Tighnari frowns, ears flattening. “What does that mean?”

“I have work to get done.” Alhaitham saunters off like he hasn’t just given them a verbal puzzle to solve.

“I won’t be able to make it to our tea time tomorrow,” Nahida sighs. “The Grand Sage has something she needs my input on as soon as possible.”

“Should we reschedule?” Cyno asks. Tighnari might come hang out anyway, just to be away from the crowds, and Kaveh will likely take the time to bother Alhaitham, so it might not matter.

Nahida shakes her head, probably thinking the same thing. “No, no, I’ll just come to the next one! I won’t be able to make the tea, though, so maybe you can go to the tavern or café. Hat Guy should be bringing Durin along.”

At that, Cyno raises an eyebrow. “Really?”

“Yep! He’s been excited to meet you all! Hey, maybe you should bring Collei, too?”

Cyno does just that. Collei has always had trouble making friends, and Durin seems to be about her age with the same politeness yet nervousness when it comes to conversation. She seems pretty excited as well, but Cyno can wager that’s likely from Kaveh playing up the mystery behind Durin and Hat Guy’s relationship.

They end up at Puspa Café, for the tea, and the three of them find Kaveh and Alhaitham outside. Alhaitham looks as bored as always, while Kaveh is rummaging through his pockets for something or other.

“It’s nice to see you guys!” Collei greets, and Kaveh gives her a tight smile as he continues to search for whatever it is he’s looking for.

“It’s lovely to see you as well.” He sighs. “I wanted to bring a gift for Durin, to welcome him, but I think I left it at home…”

“You did,” Alhaitham says.

Kaveh whips his head up. “What?! Why didn’t you tell me?!”

“You didn’t ask.”

“You—“

Tighnari ushers them all in before it can devolve from there.

Hat Guy and Durin are already present, the former looking just as happy to be there as he was for all of their other meet-ups. Durin, on the other hand, looks pleasantly excited, chattering away in Hat Guy’s ear. The fact he’s not being snarled at like a rabid tiger right now is a testament to their bond, truly.

“Hat Guy, and Hat Guy’s friend,” Cyno greets as they all take their seats. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Durin straightens up immediately, smiling brightly. “Ah, it’s so nice to properly meet you guys as well! I’m Durin, an alchemist from Mondstadt.”

“Finally!” Kaveh sighs dramatically. “Thought we’d never get a chance to introduce ourselves. I’m Kaveh, this is Cyno, Tighnari, Collei, and you already know Alhaitham…”

Everyone exchanges introductions that are a little awkward considering they’ve already technically met, save for Collei who’s immediately able to get along with Durin by asking about his horns.

“Ah, your horns, is it a headpiece, or…”

“No, no, they’re real!” And then Durin pauses for a moment, and turns to Hat Guy. It almost looks like he’s looking for something, and then Hat Guy nods and Durin gives Collei another cheerful smile. “I’m of a draconic species. So, horns, wings, tail…”

There’s little room for him to show off the latter two features, but he flutters his wings just a little behind him. Collei positively lights up. “Oh, I see! That’s so fascinating!”

Strangely, Alhaitham is focused in on the conversation, a contrast to previous meetings and even outings to the tavern with just a few of them. Usually, he brings a book or something to read while the rest of them chat, piping in with his own thoughts when he sees fit. Now, though, he’s staring at Durin with the same interest that the rest of them are. “Durin… of a draconic species. Is the name intentional?”

Durin blinks at him, face going blank. His eyebrows furrow together the tiniest bit, and his posture goes tense in a way that only Cyno and his sharp eyes would be able to notice. Hat Guy sighs, and relaxes back into his seat, almost as if he’s trying to calm the boy beside him subconsciously. “He’s just interested,” he tells him. “Consider him trustworthy. Tell him whatever you want.”

“Alhaitham? Trustworthy?” Kaveh frowns, and if the confusion is based on the particular adjective or the fact that Hat Guy had essentially just given the man a compliment, Cyno isn’t quite sure.

Durin, though, nods and eases back into a comfortable position. His face is less guarded, and his nervousness is apparent in his frown and the way his hands wring together. “Well, you could say I’m another version of him. I’m not him, really, but also… am. It’s a very complex situation, so it may just be best to think of him as my namesake.”

Cyno has absolutely no idea what that tidbit’s about, and a quick assessment of everyone at the table shows similar confusion. Alhaitham, however, nods thoughtfully.

“Thank you for explaining,” Alhaitham says, and Cyno’s thrown for a loop, because thanking people is not a thing Alhaitham does. Ever. Kaveh’s jaw is on the floor, and he looks more offended than anything. “I was simply curious. Would you be open to talking about it more another time?”

“Ah, maybe…” Durin replies. “But it’s not really something I like to talk a lot about. My brother’s coming to Sumeru soon, so you’d be able to get a lot of, um, scholarly answers from him.”

That seems to be enough for Alhaitham, who pulls a book out of seemingly nowhere and settles back to read. He takes a sip of Kaveh’s drink, which effectively derails the conversation.

Overall, it’s a good outing. Durin is aware of what Genius Invokation TCG is, and has played a few games at the Cat’s Tail in Mondstadt, so Cyno deems him a suitable enough player to join their card games. He and Collei are at a similar level, so after Hat Guy taps out after his obligatory one match, Durin and Collei team up as one. Usually, Hat Guy is loud and proud about his dislike of the game, but he’s oddly quiet this time around, instead opting to watch Durin and whoever conversates with him.

“So… how did you two meet?” Tighnari asks at one point, trying to remain nonchalant as he plays a card upside down. Cyno turns it around, a tiny annoyance.

“Me and Hat Guy?” Durin asks.

“Yeah. I don’t mean to be rude, but…” Tighnari shrugs. “I’ve never known Hat Guy — or, whatever his name actually is — to be one for making friends.”

Hat Guy easily ignores the ploy to learn his name, instead becoming transfixed with Durin and Collei’s cards all of a sudden.

Durin seems to miss it entirely, instead nodding with a short laugh. “Ah, yeah, that makes sense… Um, we met about a year or so ago now. It’s a really long, complicated story, but the gist of it is that we both got roped into the same situation. The Traveler was there too, if you’d like to ask them about it sometime. Oh, and Nilou, if you know her!”

There’s a long moment of silence.

“You guys… only met… a year ago?” Kaveh asks, eyes darting between them.

Durin tilts his head. “Yeah?”

“Must’ve been one hell of a situation…” Tighnari mumbles.

Cyno hums and takes a purposeful drink of his tea. “When you have a good tea-mate in a rocky situation, it’s easy to become best-teas.”

There’s another long moment of silence.

Then, amazingly, blissfully, a laugh. Durin practically doubles over in a fit of giggles, leaving Collei to hold their cards together. “Ha! I get it! Because of the tea!”

“Yes!” Cyno exclaims. Finally! The last time he had someone genuinely, truly laugh at a joke of his like this must’ve been years ago, during the Windblume Festival in Mondstadt whenever he had met Albedo. Truly, these two were connoisseurs in humor. Durin does study under him, after all — perhaps they are just similar in these aspects. Cyno certainly isn’t complaining.

Hat Guy looks deeply disgusted by both their amusements, and everyone else is sharing a variety of dry and unimpressed looks. But Durin is still laughing, so Cyno obviously has to keep going.

Tighnari takes one look at him, and shakes his head with a deep glare. He supposes he’ll have to save the jokes for another time, with less people present.

It’s been a short while since Sethos has visited Sumeru City, and he’s used to Cyno grabbing him up to explain to him all the various happenings and gossip around the place. Now, though, he’s walking through the city leisurely as ever, when he’s suddenly pulled onto the side of the street.

The first thing that Sethos thinks is ah, I’m being kidnapped, and he immediately starts kicking. He only succeeds in bruising Cyno’s shin, who grumbles annoyedly.

“Oh, you scared me! Cyno!” Sethos sighs in relief. Then blinks. “And… everyone else?”

Tighnari, Kaveh, and Alhaitham are also present for some odd reason. It’s weird for them to meet up together without inviting Sethos, too, nowadays, even though he had to miss the last two or so tea times due to his own work. It doesn’t seem to be a fun hangout, though — they all look weirdly troubled.

“No time to talk. We’ll explain on the way,” Cyno tells him, and immediately starts walking. The rest follow, and Sethos has to speed up a bit to keep pace.

“Hey! What—“

“Hat Guy has a friend,” Tighnari says.

Sethos frowns. “Other than us? And Nilou? And Dehya, to some extent?”

“Other than all of us.” Kaveh nods. “The boy is from Mondstadt, and apparently he’s of some kind of draconic species? Incredibly fascinating. But the point is they met only a year or so ago, and they seem to be extremely close, but none of us have ever even heard of him until he started visiting! Do you know Durin?”

The onslaught of information has Sethos thrown for a loop, frankly, and there’s a long moment where he just has to stare at the sky and question his decisions. Hat Guy? A close friend? That no one knew about? I mean, he was a private guy, but…

“No, I don’t know anything about this Durin character! What’s—“

“He’s an alchemist, and apparently he has an older brother that’s also acquainted with Hat Guy.” Cyno is leading them upwards, to what seems to be the Sanctuary of Surasthana. “We just found out the brother got into the city today, so we’re going to harass him for answers about Hat Guy and Durin. So to speak.”

“I’m so confused,” Sethos says, mostly to himself. “Have you not just asked Hat Guy and Durin themselves? Seems you know when they met and all—“

“You don’t understand,” Kaveh mutters conspiratorially. “They’re, like, best friends, Sethos. Durin pouts at him to get what he wants, and Hat Guy agrees. We witnessed him threaten a scholar on his behalf the other day. He doesn’t even insult him! Like, ever!”

Now that was a conundrum. Sethos can’t say he’s known Hat Guy all that long, probably barely a little longer than the Durin guy. But… “Haven’t you guys known him way longer, though?”

“Yes!” They all chorus, save for Alhaitham, who’s as unbothered by the situation as ever.

The rest of the way there, the trio regales Sethos with all they’ve picked up so far.

“A draconic species, but he seems like a child of sorts? Maybe the same age as Collei, but his true age… I have no idea what kind of draconic species exist, to be honest, save for Natlan’s animals. Anyway, so we thought it was just a soft spot for kids…”

“But you remember that time with the crying toddler, yes? So then we thought, oh, well, maybe it’s just bigger kids.”

“But we went out with them just recently, Collei and Durin as well. Durin laughed at him, something like an agreement about him not being able to make friends, and Hat Guy just took it.”

“He wouldn’t even let us meet the kid for weeks! Nahida had to scheme a hangout!”

“Scheming is a strong word, but that is essentially what happened.”

“And the scholar. We thought Hat Guy was going to kill him where he stood! Truly, It’s been a while since I’ve seen him that angry.”

Sethos’ mind is moving a mile a minute, trying to piece together all the information he’s been given like he’s just read a detective novel. The entire situation is so… strange. It took months before Hat Guy even started to tolerate his own presence, and he still doesn’t even know the guy’s actual name! But this Durin and his brother are taking a trip to Sumeru just to visit him?

They’re all still caught up in the whole thing by the time they make it to the Sanctuary, so once they enter it takes a minute to figure out that they’re not alone.

“So, we have to find—“ Cyno cuts himself off, expression suddenly shifting in a type of shock that Sethos rarely sees on him. “…Albedo?”

The Sanctuary has been fitted with all kinds of decorations and knick-knacks since Nahida’s freedom, so Sethos has heard, but it’s still a little strange to see a guy just casually reading a book at a table in God’s house. He looks up at all of them with a blank, assessing expression, and his eyebrows raise before he shuts the book completely.

“Ah, I wasn’t expecting to see you both here. And… company.” Albedo nods toward the others, but keeps his eyes on Cyno and Tighnari. Tighnari, for his part, looks just as baffled as Cyno must feel. “Were you looking for Nahida?”

There’s a long stretch of silence while they wait for Cyno and Tighnari to do literally anything. Eventually, Sethos clears his throat. “Um, who is this guy?”

Cyno continues to stare at Albedo like he’s grown two heads, but Tighnari seems to come back to himself. “Ah, this is… the Chief Alchemist of Mondstadt, Albedo. We met him at the Windblume Festival, when we took that vacation.”

Sethos has heard about that. Mostly because of Cyno and his singing praises of the alchemist that laughed at his joke once. Truly a hero of the ages, and he was standing right before them. He’s also heard about him just a moment ago, when…

“Oh, you’re the one that Durin studies under, yes?” Kaveh exclaims, clapping his hands together. “It’s so nice to meet you, I… uh, wait.”

“We heard that Durin’s… brother was in town,” Alhaitham finally speaks up. It’s nice to know he’s just as curious about this situation as the rest of them.

“You’ve already met Durin? Ah, that’s good. I was hoping he’d make some new friends.” Albedo nods, a small smile growing on his face. “Yes, that would be me. I’m Durin’s brother.”

Sethos suddenly understood the meaning of the phrase ‘so quiet you could hear a pin drop.’

“You’re… Durin’s brother.” Cyno slowly sounds out.

Albedo nods, just as slowly. “…Yes.”

“…Adopted?” Tighnari asks timidly. They must not look anything alike, and from what Sethos knows, they’re definitely not the same species.

Albedo blinks and tilts his head, now looking confused. “No.”

“…No?” Alhaitham’s eyebrows furrow.

“We have the same mother.” Then, a pause. “In a sense. Kind of.”

“I’m so confused,” Sethos repeats, mostly to himself. “Do you and Hat Guy… know each other? Or is he just Durin’s friend?”

“I consider us friends, of a sort,” Albedo says, in a cryptic way that has gears shifting and turning in Sethos’s head.

“I mean, like. Your brother just traveled countries to hang out with him, and you’re just… cool with that? He’s a kid, right?”

“Essentially. But he’s very self sufficient. And I trust Hat Guy not to let him get into any trouble.”

Sethos is still confused, and starting to feel like he’s losing his mind. “So… you trust him with your little brother. You guys are close, then?”

Sethos is probably a little too invested in their relationship, and he realizes it’s obvious too late when Albedo turns a perplexed look his way. His gaze is analyzing, considering, and Sethos has to fight not to wilt and run away at the sight of it.

Then, something in Albedo’s eyes light up, just slightly. It doesn’t bode well for Sethos, especially when the other’s lips quirk up the tiniest, amused amount. “Ah,” he says, as if just now understanding Sethos’s question. “We’re both raising a child together, if that explains anything.”

“What?!” Someone needs to sedate him. Immediately.

If it’s any consolation, the others beside him wear similar expressions of shock. Tighnari’s tail is frozen straight, and Kaveh looks as if he’s about to faint. Alhaitham and Cyno are as stoic as ever, but even they look pretty damn surprised. “You… You and… Hat Guy,” Cyno says.

“Me and Hat Guy.” Albedo nods, with a very serious expression on his face. Then, after a pause where everyone works to reign in their shock and/or terror, he smiles again. “I’m messing with you. Durin is a child, and we both do take turns to teach him things like guardians in a way, but that’s the extent of it. Hat Guy and I have no romantic relations with each other.”

Sethos chokes on air, sputtering wildly. He feels like he’s gotten whiplash.

“Right. Right, of course,” Kaveh says, holding a hand to his chest like he’s in the midst of a heart attack. With the way his breath is coming out, Sethos is worried for a moment that he truly is

“Well,” Cyno says. And then, “Well. That is certainly a… circumstance. How did you two meet?”

Albedo hums, thinking for a moment. “To put it simply, Durin and Hat Guy both got caught up in a strange situation. The Traveler was involved, if that explains anything.” It does. Everyone knows that where the Traveler is, chaos follows. “I had no knowledge of Durin beforehand… ah, this version of him, anyway. So when I heard about his appearance, I had to go investigate. Hat Guy and I essentially met Durin at the same time, even though he’s my brother.”

“This… version of him?” Sethos frowns.

Albedo tilts his head, suddenly confused again. “Have you all not… heard the name Durin before?”

“I have,” Alhaitham pipes up. The rest of them whip around to face him. “But I didn’t think it prudent to inform everyone, lest something chaotic unfold. I thought it was strange, and Durin was reluctant to talk about it. He advised me to speak to you.”

“You know the history, then.”

“I’m the Akademiya’s scribe and a scholar of Haravatat. The history of Dragonspine and its lost civilization has come up more than once in various ways.”

Sethos is beyond lost at this point, and everyone else seems to be as well. Alhaitham is his own stubborn presence. Kaveh, though, quickly speaks up with his own indignation. “So, wait, how much exactly have you been just sitting on?! How much do you know about Durin?!”

“I’m happy to tell you all the story, if you’d like.” Albedo ushers to the table he’s at, and everyone is quick to grab chairs and sit down. Alhaitham folds his hands together like he’s about to conduct an interview.

“For starters. Are they one in the same? Is he a danger to others?”

“Those are two separate questions,” Albedo points out, and Sethos has an inkling that these two would get along famously. Nevermind the fact that neither of those questions make sense. “Not that it matters much. Are they one in the same? Yes, and no. Is he a danger to others? Yes, and no. But, to put it simply, he could be a danger in the right scenario. Ultimately, though, his power is safely controlled. Your city and people are safe with him around.”

“I don’t care about the city or its people,” Alhaitham says, not very convincingly. “I’d just like to make sure I don’t die in the near future.”

“God, way to be nice to the kid,” Kaveh scoffs. “Seriously. You think that little nervous guy could kill you?”

“He could.” Albedo nods. “All of you, really.”

“What?!”

“How old is this kid again?” Sethos wonders aloud.

“Actually, I’m curious about that too.” Tighnari clears his throat. “He said he was of a draconic species. What kind of species? How does age work with them? He looks like a teenager to me, but his manner of talking… I don’t know. How old is he?”

Albedo narrows his eyes a little, thinking deeply. “Well… Five hundred years old. And a year old. And a couple months old.”

Everyone shares a collective moment of confusion. “Excuse me?”

“Wait.” Tighnari holds his hand to his head, suddenly troubled. “How old is Hat Guy?”

“Oh, our age, I’d say. Like, twenties?” Kaveh says.

“No,” Albedo says.

“Oh. How old is he?”

“Depends on who you ask,” Albedo replies with an amused tilt of his mouth.

“How old are you?” Tighnari asks.

“Ah, well…” Albedo waves a hand, looking rather unbothered. “Anyway. Durin in the version he is now is technically a couple months old. However, his body is that of a teenager and his mind remains more childish. Draconic ages vary depending on the type; I’ve found that sovereigns usually age faster in terms of mentality, while Venti usually compares Dvalin to a teenager himself… Although, I suppose that could just be Venti’s own age playing a factor, not to mention the five-hundred-year nap…”

“Who is Venti?!” Kaveh exclaims.

“My apologies, I’ve gotten off track…” Albedo shakes his head. “Or, well, completely on track, technically. Five hundred years ago, during the Cataclysm, an alchemist from Khaenri’ah created a dragon and imbued him with abyssal energy. This turned him violent, and powerful, and she named him Durin and unleashed him on Mondstadt.”

The way he speeds through the story like it’s just a simple anecdote is almost nauseating, and the rest of them seem similarly thrown for a loop. All but Alhaitham, who has apparently known this history for a long time. Sethos guesses it makes sense — he’d never gotten a lot of history lessons that didn’t pertain to Sumeru in the Temple of Silence, and Cyno was much more involved in the elemental side of things in the Akademiya. Tighnari, similarly, devoted himself to biology and the environment. Not a lot of time to read up on Mondstadt history, except for the Scribe.

“There are various different tellings of the story, and the truth of the matter is that we will never know how the true Durin felt. Whether he knew what he was doing, or simply couldn’t control himself…” Albedo shrugs. “Either way, the Anemo Archon and the Dragon of the East felled him, and his remains became the mountain of Dragonspine.”

“Sorry, his remains are Dragonspine?” Cyno finally speaks up. “We were hanging out on the dead remains of an evil, abyssal dragon?”

“Yes. That was also before his heart got more or less removed, so it was beating beneath us the whole time.”

“Oh my god,” Tighnari says, a weird mixture of disgusted and fascinated.

“Why do you think it’s called Dragonspine?” Alhaitham sighs, a rather bored tone to his voice. “It’s a dragon’s spine.”

“Ah, of course, you’re right, I should be keeping up better with the etymology of Mondstadt’s geographical locations,” Kaveh says sarcastically.

“Some of them have very interesting backgrounds,” Albedo adds, and Alhaitham nods toward him agreeably.

“So, if that Durin was killed, what about the one now?” Sethos asks.

“Years later, a group of powerful witches put together a sort of magical storybook. It’s a very odd and complicated explanation.” Albedo hums. “But the gist of it is that one of the writers learned about Durin’s story and decided he needed a happier ending. So, she wrote one. However, the storybook itself had properties unlike any other, so the Mini Durin from that book was able to travel to the real world.”

“How in the—“

“It’s better if you don’t ask a lot of questions,” Albedo tells Alhaitham. “Anyway, during a situation a couple months back, I was able to use an ancient alchemical technique to fuse the heart of Dragonspine Durin and the mind of Mini Durin to create a full human.”

“You did what?!” Tighnari gapes. “I mean… I know you’re an alchemist, but… but… what?!”

“You should probably get used to the fact that humans can be created using alchemy,” Albedo says, and his minute expression speaks of some kind of a joke only he is privy to. “Simply put, that Durin is the one you see before you in the current day.”

“So your mother was the writer of Durin’s story?” Alhaitham ponders.

“No.”

Alhaitham blinks, taken aback. He frowns. “So…”

“No, my mother was the creator of the original Durin.”

Sethos is on the brink of an epiphany. He can feel it. “Wait, so then…”

“Albedo! Kunimitsu and I are back!” A voice rings out from the entrance. The group of them hurriedly turn around, and Durin (or at least, it must be Durin, unless there’s another guy with wings and horns running around in Sumeru) and Hat Guy’s visages greet them. “Sorry we took so long— Oh, it’s you guys again! Hey, how is everyone?”

Hat Guy looks positively ruffled to see them all, which is normal, but his expression is troubled in a way Sethos has never seen before. It’s a visible cringe, as if someone had said something unsavory, or…

Sethos gasps.

Tighnari bursts up from his chair, slamming the table with his hands. “Your name! Kunimitsu!”

Durin goes rigid, expression immediately turning to one of fear and guilt. His wings and tail droop low, and he slowly turns toward Hat Guy. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t know they were here… I should be more careful with that in public.”

Sethos fully expects Hat Guy — or, Kunimitsu? — to go on a rampage, starting with the poor boy in front of him. To his surprise. though, Hat Guy just slowly uncurls his fists and takes a slow breath. Then he sighs. “It’s fine. With how much they see the Traveler and Nahida, it was only a matter of time before someone slipped up.”

“I can’t believe you actually have a name.” Tighnari laughs joyously, looking the happiest Sethos has seen him since… well, ever, honestly.

“Wait,” Sethos holds up a hand. “These two know your real name, and we didn’t?! You’ve known them for way less time than us!”

“Aww, is that true?” Durin asks Hat Guy, looking touched. “How long have you known them?”

“At least three years by now,” Kaveh pipes up happily.

“Wow! You guys have been friends for a while!”

“And they didn’t know your name or how old you are?” Albedo asks, relatively unimpressed.

“Wait, seriously?” Nahida asks, and it’s only then that they all realize she’s been standing there for who knows how long. “I thought you would've told them by now!”

“Oh my god,” Hat Guy sighs deeply, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Yes, fine. My name is Kunimitsu. I’m five hundred years old. Happy?”

“You’re what?!” Kaveh yells.

“I’m tired of your whining. Get over it already.”

“Do you keep track of your age, or is that just a general estimate?” Alhaitham asks, because of course he does.

“I keep track by the centuries, usually. Too much work to keep up with anything else,” Hat Guy grumbles.

“So, I suppose that’s why you and Durin became friends? Because you’re both technically centuries old?” Cyno says, relatively unbothered despite the situation.

“What? No.” Hat Guy scoffs. “Everyone my age is a bother and a nuisance. They know too many things.”

“Okay, so seriously, why did you guys become friends?” Sethos asks, desperately. “We just keep hearing that you were both involved in a situation. Should we lock all of us in a room together and hope we come out best friends?”

“Do that and I kill you.” Hat Guy glares at him. “Durin attached himself to me like a stubborn parasite and won’t leave. Much like Nahida, the Traveler… and you all.”

“Aww,” Durin says again, like Hat Guy had said something sweet.

“This won’t do.” Cyno says, and then inexplicably, starts pulling out cards. “We are going to remedy this as soon as possible. You will be our friend.”

Sethos has been on the receiving end of Cyno’s belligerent friendship before, but he’s always had a more positive reaction to it. Hat Guy, on the other hand, looks more and more like he wants to do something violent.

“To be completely honest with you, Kunimitsu feels… odd.” Kaveh frowns. “N—Not that it’s a bad name or anything! I’m just… so used to calling you Hat Guy.”

“Absolutely not,” Tighnari huffs. “I refuse to go back to that.”

Albedo hums thoughtfully. “I’m afraid I didn’t bring my cards with me on this trip.”

“Not to worry,” Cyno tells him. “I have extra decks you can use.”

“Ah, is there one for me as well?”

“Of course, Nahida.”

“Oh, come on, Kunimitsu! Play with us!”

“When do you return to Mondstadt again?”

“We’re going to Nod-Krai together, remember?”

“…Damn it.”

There’s definitely something that happened with Durin and Hat Guy — they must have some sort of weird shared trauma that Sethos isn’t privy to. But, honestly, he can’t find it in himself to be bothered anymore. Albedo is cool, in that awkward deadpan Cyno-esque way, and Durin is a nice dash of positive energy to their usual stoic group.

If they ever get close enough to Hat Guy to figure out what happened there or what the hell he’s been doing for the last five hundred years, then good. If not, then that’s all well too. What matters now is they have a little dragon and a little god to entertain, apparently.