Steampunk hainos au notes.
Nahida would be that kind of artificially created being. She is real child but due to the government project she had so much knowledge programmed into her, artificially added. She often has a lot of profound wisdom and general knowledge but lacks lot of common sense and doesn't fully understand humans.
She was only sometimes paraded around as symbol of the country.
As part of Haithams and Cyno's ongoing research into The Project, they make way to another secret place. Its located deep in forests, miles outside the city.
They have first confrontation with some of the Azar's forces and find Nahida in this lab. Apparently she was going to be discarded as even with extensive knowledge, she was not useful for Azar's seeking of philosopher stone. Now he was planning to get rid of her.
They find a very weakend child they recognize from newspapers.
The fight is quite difficult as the lab has deadly automatons employed as Guardians.
During the fight Alhaitham gets injured in his stomach, while trying to protect the child they just found. He's still using his cane-rapier to slash back at the automatons. And the alarms are still blaring.
They are getting surrounded by the automatons.
As last ditch effort Cyno summons powers from Hermanubis. Its almost as he was possessed, his eyes glare with red, veins pop from effort. Inhuman strength surges through him and he mauls through the enemy lines.
With this they manage to escape from the place, bloodied and barely standing.
In the end Cyno loses consciousness, and its up to Alhaitham and Nahida to somehow manouver back to the hotel they stayed at.
It's Nahida who walks Alhaitham through first aid for his injuries and they both take care of Cyno.
Its two days after that Cyno wakes up, finding Alhaitham by the bed, sitting and reading.
Alhaitham did rest a bit, but he didn't realize just how much he would be worried about Cyno. They were somewhat partners in crime/research/investigation. Still deep in their secrets. Alhaitham, even if he initially recognized Cyno as proclaimed dead captain of kingsguard, didn't have much idea as to how he was alive. He first thought everything was a sham, but as long as he knew Cyno - a few months now - he wasn't keen on the government's forces.
With how the Cyno looked and acted in that Lab, he started suspecting there was more at play there. Nevertheless, if not for Cyno and his power he would be shot dead like swiss cheese along with Nahida.
But other than his analysing mind, he was getting worried about Cyno's condition. And somehow, he ended up resting and sitting by his bed.
Cyno woke up. He gathered his bearings.
And later that day, he would recount his death to Alhaitham.
And Alhaitham decided that since Cyno decided to be so straightforward with him, he also told his part about, probably the origins of Azar's project. And that what Azar is looking for is probably stuck in his body. Or at least part of his research.
Oh, and now they also have Nahida to take care of :) good thing that Alhaitham's apartment has guest rooms :)
