So I wrote this a little while ago based off my opinions on Cyno's second story quest. My opinions have since changed but I'm still pretty fond of this so here you go.
"Don't put to much pressure on yourself, Cyno! If you need any help working things out, just come and find us!"
With those parting words, Paimon and the traveler parted ways with Cyno and Tighnari for the night. Sethos had given them an ultimatum between his power and... the professor. Cyrus. The man he had known his whole life. At least, he thought he had known. Cyno wasn't so sure now. He wasn't really sure of anything now.
Like always, he had done a good job at keeping his composure during the confrontation with Bamoun and Sethos. He had to keep his composure, lest the power of Hermanubis overwhelm him. And of course, he maintained his level-headed stance around the traveler and Paimon. Not because he didn't trust them, or because they weren't friends. But simply because he didn't want them to see the reliable General Mahamatra break down.
But now it was just him and Tighnari, standing in his asylum of silence where a light breeze of nothingness echoed against the rigid and ancient stone walls. All the other members of the temple of silence had gone to check on their leader's decaying health, so it was just them. No one could see Cyno now, other than Tighnari. His friend. His family.
Cyno had always held his family and friends close to his heart. Tighnari, Collei, Lisa, Kaveh, Candace, Dehya, even Alhaitham. They were all precious to him, an integral part of who he was, not as the General Mahamatra, but as Cyno. And then there was Cyrus. The man who he had looked up to, trusted, whom he had called his father. The man who held him in his arms as a child during a buring fever, comforting him and telling him that there was a reason for this. That he was gifted. That he had inherited something incredibly special. Why would he have questioned it? Why would he have questioned him??
Tighnari's ear flicked as he heard the crackle of electricity being elicited from Cyno's vision. He turned his head fully, to see that Cyno had his hands in his hair, as glowing purple silk- like bandages wrapped around his arms and flowed loosely around him. His helmet which had been adorned on his head was now covered by the mask which resembled the late god. Electricity crackled around him, this form of his now more unstable than usual. Tighnari, instead of panicking like any rational person would, simply gazed at Cyno with a look of empathy and care.
He sensed that Cyno had been dealing with some very prevalent feelings of anguish and betrayal ever since Cyrus' role in the temple had been revealed. In all honesty, this whole ordeal regarding the temple pissed off Tighnari to no end. Cyno had been doing so good recently, even becoming more expressive and light hearted. And now this...
Tighnari placed a gentle hand on Cyno's back, rubbing it in a soothing manner which had been able to calm the man down in the past. He still remembered the first time he had encountered this unstable form of Cyno's, how he looked at him with utter fear. Fear of rejection, and being left alone. But all Tighnari did, was reach out a hand to him and say;
"It's going to be okay." The familiar words grounded Cyno, but still, the raging emotions inside him felt like too much. He grunted and buried his face into his hands, trying to process everything that he had just learned. That he had to come to terms with. A few tears had now fallen onto the sand covered grounds.
"He was- he lied! He lied about-"
"And you have every right to be upset with him." After a few more seconds of sputtering and choked grunts and sobs, the energy flowed around him began to dissipate. And soon enough, Cyno was back again, standing in a trembling stance. He took in slow, but shaky breath, trying to take in his surroundings and ground himself. Tighnari let him gather himself, but his hand never left his back, never leaving Cyno for a second.
"...I'm sorry." He said shakily, his head tilted toward to the ground. A small loving smile graced Tighnari's lips and he carefully brought Cyno into a hug. He let Cyno's head rest on his shoulder, which the other man didn't resist. In fact, he melted into it.
"You have nothing to be sorry for." Tighnari stated firmly yet gently. "This isn't your fault, understand? We'll get through this. And afterwards, you can have a talk with Cyrus."
"Yeah... yeah you're right."
