In aeternum ligata
── .✦ ── .✦ ── .✦ ── .✦ ── .✦ ── .✦ ── .✦ ── .✦ ──
──── ୨୧ ──────── ୨୧ ──────── ୨୧ ──── ୨୧
─ ʙᴇɢɪɴɴɪɴɢ ᴀɴᴇᴡ!
ꜱᴜᴍᴍᴀʀʏ : ᴀ ᴡᴏᴍᴀɴ ᴄᴜʀꜱᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ɪᴍᴍᴏʀᴛᴀʟɪᴛʏ ᴍᴇᴇᴛꜱ ᴢᴀɴᴅɪᴋ ᴛᴡᴏ ᴍᴏɴᴛʜꜱ ᴀꜰᴛᴇʀ ʜᴇ ʜᴀᴅ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴇxᴘᴇʟʟᴇᴅ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴋᴀᴅᴇᴍɪʏᴀ. ᴛᴏɢᴇᴛʜᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴇxᴘʟᴏʀᴇ ꜰᴇᴇʟɪɴɢꜱ ᴏꜰ ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴀɴɪᴏɴꜱʜɪᴘ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀꜰꜰᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴ. ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴊᴏᴜʀɴᴇʏ ᴛᴏ ꜱɴᴇᴢʜɴᴀʏᴀ, ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ᴢᴀɴᴅɪᴋ (ᴅᴏᴛᴛᴏʀᴇ) ʙᴇɢɪɴꜱ ʜɪꜱ ʀᴏʟᴇ ᴀꜱ ᴀ ꜰᴀᴛᴜɪ ʜᴀʀʙɪɴɢᴇʀ.
a/n : I'm alive...I've been on writer's block... Should I post this on AO3? Also this is not proofread!!!
➺ words : 2.3k
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
The beginning of a journey,
With my dear heart and soul.
— Zandik.
⊹₊⟡⋆
It had been two days after the incident. During those two days, Zandik had kept a close eye on you and insisted that you stay in the cavern until the both of you go to Port Ormos.
Nonetheless, you spent the majority of those two days bothering Zandik about his project while also providing insight on immortality.
Actually, you felt quite happy that someone like Zandik would want to spend an eternity with you. It made your heart flutter a lot.
The day before going to Port Ormos, you were packing both his and your clothes together in one big piece of luggage. It was unideal, really, but you had to make do with what you had – along with packing other necessities.
“Uh, Zandik. We have no coats…” You grumbled in disappointment – already imagining the freezing temperatures you’d be forced to confront in Snezhnaya.
“We’ll buy some on the way.” He reassured.
“Well…wouldn’t it be difficult? I mean, Sumeru barely deals with cold temperatures. So I imagine it would be hard to find some coats.”
“We would just have to look harder. I’m sure there are merchants that have coats.” He said, patting your back in a there, there.
“Perhaps…” You responded.
Zandik watched thoughtfully as you closed up the luggage before patting it with a thump.
“Ah, I forgot; we’re going to leave this afternoon.”
“Huh?”
“It takes a day to get to Port Ormos, so we must make haste as soon as possible.” He said.
“Wait, why didn’t you tell me this!?” You responded, “Zandik, if it takes a day to go to Port Ormos, we must go now!” You continued, as Zandik laughed at you.
—-
After three hours, you had finally begun making your way to Port Ormos – earlier than Zandik wanted. But you insisted, worried that both of you would miss the boat to Sneznaya.
Fortunately, you had managed to catch a carriage ride going to Port Ormos, making it easier for travel.
You were seated at the rear of the carriage, humming a soft musical tune.
"Zandik", you said suddenly.
“Yes? What’s wrong?”
“What does Pierro look like?” You asked.
“It’s hard to describe him in simple words. But he is an old man,” he said thoughtfully. “He wears a mask that covers half his face, which looks to be heavily Khaenri’ahn…how intriguing…” He murmured off.
“Intriguing indeed!” You proclaimed humourously.
Which Zandik didn’t find quite funny, as he stared at you with one eyebrow up.
“Are you mocking me?”
“I would never mock you, dearest Zandik! That would make me mean… And you know I’m a really compassionate person!” You giggled as he realised you were being sarcastic, rolling his eyes with a grumble.
“Mm. Go rest now; we won’t arrive until the morning.” He said, changing the topic.
“I can’t sleep. I really can’t. I feel so excited, travelling with you and going with you to Sneznaya. It feels like my heart might explode with how exhilarated I am. I–” Before your mouth was covered with his warm hand.
“I might need to tape your mouth shut.” He grinned.
You narrowed your eyes before licking the palm of Zandik's hand, causing him to stiffen up and quickly retract his hand.
“Ugh...! Don’t do that.” He stuttered as he stared at this palm before wiping it on you.
“Hey!” You shouted before you wiped it back on him.
“Don’t do things you can’t win.” As he returned your action.
For thirty minutes, both you and Zandik went back and forth for a long time. Before you finally yielded in defeat, falling on your back with a loud thump! And yawning.
“Oh? Did I tire you out now? Wonderful!” He teased, which made you roll your eyes.
“How long until we arrive?” You yawned in between your words.
Zandik stayed silent for a moment before responding softly, “Hmm… Perhaps six hours? Or until the coming morning. Anyways, you should rest now. I’ll wake you up when we arrive.” He said, watching you slowly doze off.
He closed his eyes, absorbing the brief breeze that came his way. Before opening his eyes back open, he watched as the sun descended.
There are not many things Zandik appreciates in life, after all. He had a cruel and utterly disappointing childhood, from being chased out of his hometown to being the object of ire towards other akademiya students.
Ever since you had supposedly followed Zandik into his cavern, it felt like his life had done a three-sixty—he was glad that you came to pursue him. You were a comforting person to be around; you appreciated things about Zandik that he would have got scorned for.
You noticed the small details about him, just like how he notices small details about you—like the furrow on your brow when you are intensely concentrated on something and how you fidget with your fingers when you are nervous or excited.
But he would rather die than let you know that he pays attention to the cute details about you.
If you did, he would never hear the end of it. He could imagine you purposely attempting to do anything to fluster him.
Yet again, he was glad that he met you—he hoped you were happy with him too.
He looked back over to your sleeping form, chuckling softly at the drool on the side of your mouth. Taking out a white handkerchief and wiping the corner of your mouth—to which you responded with a loud groan before turning over.
“You’re so cute.” He whispered softly, playing with the strands of your hair.
—-
“We’ve arrived!” The merchant shouted, coming to an abrupt stop.
“Huuh…” You yawned, stretching your limbs and waking up – you then realised that Zandik had fallen asleep beside you.
“You said you’d wake me up…” You murmured, shaking Zandik awake softly.
“Are…we there?” He said with a loud groan, which made you jump before hitting him on the shoulder.
“You’re so loud!” You said, as Zandik rubbed his shoulders in circles.
To which he huffed in betrayal, “It’s the morning, and you’re already hitting me.” He spoke in between yawns.
You rolled your eyes at his dramatic display. “You practically yelled in my ear so loudly!” You defended, crossing your arms.
“But we are here in Port Ormos!” You said excitedly.
At your response, Zandik instantly sat up before getting out of the carriage – holding out the palm of his hand for you to take. Which you obliged with a toothy grin.
As you stepped down, you patted your dress, getting rid of the dirt that was clinging onto your dress. Meanwhile, Zandik grabbed the luggage, which was filled with both your and his clothes, materials, and necessities.
“It’s only the early morning; we don’t have until… let’s say approximately three hours until we both meet up with Pierro.” He spoke as he lifted his other free arm, which you took gladly.
“Sooo…what are we going to do now?” You said, as Zandik gave mora to the merchant, who counted the coins before nodding in satisfaction.
“You’re worried about the temperature in Snezhnaya, yes? So we’ll use this time to find a merchant who sells coats and other things.”
“Oh right! Yes!. Let’s go!” You responded, pulling Zandik along as he followed you – of course, without nearly tripping and face-planting into the floor.
“Can you be careful?”
“Sorry! Hehe! I’m just excited!” You smiled.
It was teeming with loads of travellers, merchants and foreigners. So you stuck closely to Zandik so that you weren’t pulled apart.
Nonetheless, your attempt to find coats was an absolute fail – it was a shame, really. The coats that you found were thin or not thick enough to warm you up. You don’t blame the sellers; after all, Sumeru is, if not always, either warm or hot in temperature.
“How hard is it to find coooats!” You groaned in exhaustion as you and Zandik walked to and fro for what felt like a long time. You were crouched on the cobbled ground, clinging onto the hem of Zandik's thin coat.
“Well… I wasn’t expecting little to no coats.” He responded disappointedly before shrugging his shoulders. “It seems we have to go without any coats, unfortunately.”
“That’s not very comforting! You know people usually begin to reassure another when there is a problem!”
“I’m not exactly…great at reassuring people. But I can warm you up if you get too cold.” He spoke softly as he softly patted your head.
“Really?” You replied, surprised that he would take the chance to initiate when usually you’re always the one to initiate things with him.
He nodded. “Alright. Let’s go; we are to meet Pierro around this time at the port.” He spoke , helping you get up. To which you replied with a thank you.
As you and Zandik were working your way to the meeting spot, you couldn’t help but feel excited as well as nervous. Pierro seems like a menacing man—the name speaks for itself—as well as some sort of big shot. The fact that he recruited Zandik screams volumes of significant and powerful influence.
On the other hand, you had never been to Snezhnaya before. Never. You spent the majority of your eternal life at Fontaine—a beautiful country, of which you are glad to be a citizen—until you heard of Zandik.
The rest was history, starting from there.
Nonetheless, you were happy that you at least would be adventuring with Zandik on this journey—no matter how many times you have expressed your vast excitement, you were vigorous.
After snapping back to reality, you saw a noticeable figure in the distance – surrounded by soldiers.
It was, no doubt, the man himself: Pierro.
“Zandik...! Is that him? He looks like he could defeat a whole army with just his intimidating stare! Forget his soldiers; just look at the man!” You whispered, 'Shouted', as Zandik chuckled.
“Perhaps, but he’s actually pretty calm and rational-like.” He responded a second later.
“How do you even know that? You met him once! Once!” You emphasised with your index finger.
“It’s quite simple. Even if it was just our first interaction, I could tell very well that he is a reserved and analytical character.”
“Has anyone ever told you how bizarre and astonishing you are?" You chirped out, which earned you a chuckle from Zandik.
“No, this is my first time receiving such high praise.” He smiled.
By the time the both of you had finished your back-and-forth conversation with one another, you had come face to face with Pierro.
"Greetings, Doctor. It pleases me that you have accepted.” Pierro said earnestly with a nod of his head before quickly glancing at you with a raised eyebrow.
You recoiled subtly—away from his oppressive stare, which Zandik seemed to notice as he wrapped his hand around your waist in an attempt to steady you.
“This is my… dearest…” Zandik hesitated, unsure whether such a title bothered you, as he subtly glanced over at you with a sheepish grin. You responded with a reassuring expression; in fact, you were quite happy that he bequeathed you the title of his dearest.
Pierro only responded with a deep hum of his voice before he motioned—which was a wave of his hand—towards his soldiers to board the ship.
“Does…that mean he doesn’t mind?” You asked Zandik as the two of you began boarding the ship.
“I think so, yes. Don’t worry; even if he didn't, I still would’ve found a way for you to come with me regardless. So don’t worry your pretty little head about it.” He reassured, carrying the luggage that the two of you brought.
—-
You had finally settled in a private cabin—compact but cosy; you flopped on the bed with a huge thump—realising that the bedding arrangements consisted of one huge king-sized bed—it was tough and, overall, really uncomfortable. You would have sooner, sleeped on the ground than this…
“What’s wrong?” Zandik called out, breaking you out of your trance.
“Rest assured, dear Zandik! It seems that this trip to Snezhnaya will be bumpy and hard!” You said humourously, which earned you an amusing expression painting his face.
“It was the only accommodation available; it was either rooming with other…individuals—which I’m sure you wouldn’t want, nor do I want either.” He patted you lightly.
“True…you’re right. Well, we had best make do with what we have! Let’s begin unpacking—oh! Also, how long until we arrive?” You asked.
Zandik clicked his tongue, crossing his arms in thought—it was as though he were scanning or, better yet, making an approximate calculation of when the both of you would arrive at your new home.
“Let’s say…about a week at best, so make yourself comfortable, dear one.” He responded as he proceeded to make his way to the two small suitcases that the two of you packed—though one was filled with a tonne of his notes and materials while the other was filled with clothes and necessities.
You watched for a moment—observing attentively, rather—the way Zandik organised things judiciously before you stood up from the stone-hard mattress, making your way to help unpack your and his clothes.
“Hey Zandik…that Pierro guy…did he say anything else? I didn’t see when we got in..." You grumbled, intently focused on unpacking—grabbing one of Zandik’s many blouses and stacking it on the pile of blouses that Zandik made.
“Ah! He did actually! He asked to speak privately with me at night. It’s probably to touch on the logistics of my coming to Snezhnaya—perhaps regarding you too…” He muttered boredly.
“Well… I hope for the best for your conversation!” You said enthusiastically, continuing your duty of unpacking the small suitcase.
It was fortunate that the two of you managed to find two warm coats for the trip. If you didn’t, you no doubt would believe that the two of you would be freezing to death.
Nonetheless, you spent the whole afternoon reorganising your and Zandik’s items and clothes and having chats with one another—which consisted of Zandik grumbling under his breath or rolling his eyes, with you responding with a flair of laughter or giggles.
You were glad you were with dear Zandik.
──── ୨୧ ──────── ୨୧ ──────── ୨୧ ──── ୨୧