Chapter Text
Go to Natlan, hone your vision and learn the ways of the wilds. That is your only trial as the new Knave before returning to Fontaine.
That is what she was told, after her pardon and her official recruitment into the Fatui Harbingers.
Peruere, or rather… Arlecchino now, is near the Scions of the Canopy. Having traversed her ways through the Children of Echoes before making her way here.
Natlan's landscape was surely unique. No wonder they told her to do a “trial” of any sorts here. What she did here was inconsequential and all up to her.
She wandered up the mountains, climbing and hiking before reaching a certain area on the outskirts of the main village. There, she heard a slight commotion. She recognized the sound and rushed towards it, her curse became active as her scythe appeared in her hands.
There, she saw a saurian, a Natlanian creature, mutated by Abyssal energy. Standing just a short distance from it, with only a scuffed looking knife, was a small child with dark hair. She didn't have time to contemplate. She ran forward and with a swift slice, she cut the monster down. It vanished and disintegrated into black and purple smoke. Turning, she saw the child look at her.
Her own eyes widened, even if it was just slightly. The child was at most only seven years old, but his eyes… they were empty. Empty… that same expression she had seen imprinted on all the children under Crucabena’s rule… as well as her own, from back then.
She kneeled down to get eye level with him and reached a hand out as the child backed up for a moment.
“What are you doing here, child? It's dangerous.” Arlecchino said.
The child said nothing, only rifling through his pockets before taking a small amount of mora out and placing it in her hand.
“What is this for?”
“You saved me. You get paid for it.” The child said simply.
Arlecchino was at a mild loss, sure it wasn't odd to see children even as young as him handle mora, but it was mostly to just get small trinkets and whatnot. Yet here…
“I don't need mora for saving a life in danger. You likely need it more.” Arlecchino said as she tried to hand the mora back. The child only shook his head.
“You saved me, you get mora. That's a fair exchange.” The child said.
“...I think I see where this is going.” Arlecchino said as she stood up. “You wish to not be in debt to me, correct?”
The child nodded his head.
Arlecchino took three pieces of mora and handed it back to him. “Then here, I give you back your mora, in exchange for something else. Your name.”
The child looked at the mora back in his hands, “My name is worth that much?”
“I believe so. A name is important, is it not?” Arlecchino asked.
“....My name… is Kinich.” The child said, pocketing the mora again.
“Kinich, where is your family?” Arlecchino asked.
“Mother left, Dad died.” Kinich said simply.
“An orphan then? Don't the people at your village help you out?” Arlecchino asked.
Kinich shook his head, “They don't take mora, so I don't get help. Only the merchants I talk to, because they take mora and trade with me.”
Arlecchino frowned, had the village just… not care for this child? He looked significantly more roughed up than any other child in the village. Has he been here all alone?
A tiny ember of resentment burned in her chest. There they go again, praising community but so willingly leave one of their own to die…
Arlecchino shook her head, “Take me to where you live. I'm curious.”
“...Why?” Kinich asked.
“I simply want to see your abode, that is all.” Arlecchino said, the child looked hesitant, but then she took another five pieces of mora. “Here, consider this my payment for seeing your home.”
Kinich looked at the mora, before nodding. He took it again and started to walk away, Arlecchino got back to her feet and followed after him.
It wasn’t long before they got to an old hut, it looked rather rundown, but repairs have been made and a garden full of native Natlan vegetation was growing well. Kinich stopped in front of the door and opened it with an old key. The door croaked in distress as the hinges were starting to rust, Arlecchino walked inside as Kinich lit a small oil lamp.
“This is my home.” Kinich said simply as he took a seat at a small table.
“How long have you been living on your own?” Arlecchino asked.
“...A few weeks…” Kinich said, shifting a bit.
“Was your father killed by a mutated saurian like the one that attacked you?” Arlecchino asked.
Kinich shook his head, “He died… chasing me.”
“Chasing you?”
“I didn’t want to get beaten that night, so I ran away.” Kinich said, his voice empty. “He was drunk and fell down a cliff.”
Arlecchino felt his blood boil just as she realized what had happened. She clenched her hands for just a moment before immediately moving towards the boy, kneeling down and grabbed him by his arms.
He flinched, instinctively. His eyes widened before Arlecchino pulled up the sleeves and fabric of the tattered garment he was wearing. Scars littered his body and a long blade like scar traveled up one of his arms.
“Your mother… she left, why?” Arlecchino asked.
“She had the courage to leave, I didn’t.” Kinich said.
“I see…” Arlecchino sighed, “Do you plan on leaving this place?”
Kinich shook his head, “This is my home, I don’t want to leave.”
“Very well,” Arlecchino said as she stood up. She was going to offer taking him back to the House of the Hearth, but considering Natlan’s culture and the ties they have to the Wayob… It’s not like Kinich can just leave, even if he wished to. He was tied to this land, whether he wanted to be or not.
Arlecchino took out a small sack of mora, making Kinich tilt his head. Considering this boy had a focus on mora from whatever had happened during these trying years, for now, following along with his way of life was the only way she could provide him any help.
“Then I have a proposal.” Arlecchino said, “Here’s my payment in advance, I desire to live here with you for the next month. Is this enough for that?”
Kinich looked at the pouch of money before looking up at her. “Why do you wish to live here? The village has much better lodgings than I do.”
“Consider it a personal interest.” Arlecchino said, “I am here for training and I’d rather not be among a lot of people. So your place is most ideal for me, this payment is solely for lodging, as I will be hunting and gathering my own materials and food. Is that acceptable terms?”
Kinich looked between her and the pouch of mora again before nodded, taking it slowly from her hands. “It’s a fair trade I think.”
“Then we are in agreement, it’s nice to make your acquaintance, Kinich.” Arlecchino said.
“...What is your name?” Kinich asked after a moment.
“You can call me… Peruere.” Arlecchino said, she hasn’t quite lost her attachment to that name yet, and considering she won’t be seeing this child after she leaves Natlan, it was better if he wasn’t associated with the Fatui. She could only imagine his life was hard enough as it was.
“Okay, Peruere.” Kinich said.
“You’re good at hunting…”
“I’ve been on my own for survival for a bit before. So I know my way around hunting animals.” Arlecchino said as she dragged a dead boar across the field while Kinich held a small gathering basket full of edible plants, herbs, and fruits.
“What are you doing in Natlan?” Kinich asked.
“As I mentioned before, I am here for training, although the specific details of my assignment were not given to me. I very much have to figure out what I’m supposed to be training on while I am out here.” Arlecchino said.
“So we’re both trying to figure things out then…” Kinich said absently.
“You could say that.” Arlecchino said.
Cooking and butchering the boar as well as preparing the fruits hae gone more smoothly than she had initially realized. Kinich was only seven yet knew all the ways of butchering a boar to get as much edible meat and bone as possible. However, that empty gaze in his eyes remained all the same, no matter what they were doing.
Kinich wasn't doing it because he had a knack, he was doing this because it was a necessity, anything less likely would have been detrimental. So, Arlecchino helped prepare other things quickly as well, watching Kinich intently and providing aid when he tried to cut through a particularly tough piece of bone.
Meals were cooked over an open fire outside. As the kitchen area was in severe disrepair. Kinich took different herbs to season the meat and his skills at lighting a fire were also surprisingly efficient and well thought out.
Others would praise a child like him for being smart and able, but all Arlecchino can see is a child forced to do things for the sake of survival.
And so, after the meal was done, she followed Kinich to the basin and helped clean off the dishes and their other tools.
“The blade hasn't been sharpened in awhile.” Arlecchino noted as Kinich took out the small hunting knife he had back when he was attacked by that corrupted saurian.
“...I don't know how to sharpen it.” Kinich said.
“I can show you.” Arlecchino said, she took a seat on a rock and took out a small tool. “This is a sharpening stone, usually they're fashioned out of a specific rock. Luckily, I've already seen a few veins of these here. But for now, watch me. In order to get the blade nice and sharp, you need to file it down in this motion.”
She took her tool and held the knife taunt. Gently brushing it down the blade on either side like she was washing it. Kinich watched her do it intently.
After the blade was sharpened, Kinich asked her how to do grappling hook blades. When he grabbed the one he claimed his father used, she couldn't help but notice some dried up blood on the leather casing. The ember flickered again before she quickly snuffed it.
That man is lucky he died from a cliff. His fate would not be so merciful if she had a say in it.
After helping Kinich sharpen his tools, he presented her with some mora again.
“What is this for?” Arlecchino asked.
“Payment. For teaching me that.” Kinich said simply.
Arlecchino decided not to argue and humble accepted the “payment”.
Days go by and two weeks have already come and gone. By this time, Kinich seems to have gotten fully used to Arlecchino's presence. She was glad about that, the child wasn't so weary of her now.
Still, nothing much happens as she simply observes him as they go about their days of training, hunting, gathering, and cooking.
Some days are altered because of storms, others are altered because of trips to the market for supplies. And others… are altered in different ways.
Arlecchino was keeping watch for a bit as the night went on, only to hear mild whimpers from Kinich's room. Cautiously, she cracked the door open and saw Kinich shivering and whimpering under the tattered blanket he had been using.
Haven't made a point of getting a better cloth blanket… that's a shame he has to reserve resources like this.
Arlecchino walked over gently, before sitting beside the boy. The glow from her vision sparked just a bit as she placed a hand on him. The shivering soon began to slow. Although his whimpering remained.
A nightmare?
Arlecchino used her other hand to brush his hair out of his face to see it twisted in discomfort. Arlecchino looked around and saw a small book lying on a chair. She recognized it as Kinich would sometimes read it after dinner. She got up briefly to fetch it and angled it so the moonlight streaming in through a window was enough to illuminate it.
“The Hill of Silent Crickets… interesting title.” Arlecchino mused quietly. If Kinich liked it enough, then maybe this would soothe him.
She opened the book and started reading, gently brushing Kinich's hair as her pyro vision glowed dimly to keep the boy warm. It was a chilly night out…
As she read, the boy relaxed, and his fitful nightmares seemed to have come to a stop. Regardless, she kept reading the book, just until the pages came to an end.
Arlecchino ended up falling asleep against the bedframe. Waking up at dawn to the sound of singing birds. She felt something around one of her hands and she looked down, Kinich had ended up gripping it. Holding it tightly against his body.
He looked so much more peaceful now, in comparison to last night.
“Kinich, it's morning now.” Arlecchino said as she moved her hand. The boy’s eyes fluttered open as he let out a yawn.
“Peruere… good morning…” Kinich said as he sat up.
“Good morning to you, did you sleep well?” Arlecchino asked as she set the book aside.
“I did… thank you for reading to me.” Kinich said.
“You were awake? Why didn't you say anything?” Arlecchino asked.
“It's usually better if people think I'm asleep. That's all. They don't bother me.” Kinich said.
“If you'd like, I'll read you that book more often. I don't particularly enjoy the story, but the crafting of it has a unique… tone to it. Even though I think a child like you shouldn't be reading these sorts of things.” Arlecchino said.
“What kind of things should a kid read?” Kinich asked.
“I'm not sure, really. Though I know storybooks in Fontaine are quite fantastical.” Arlecchino said. “Now then, shall we begin the day?”
Kinich nodded as they both got up.
The days became routine again, although Arlecchino managed to learn more about Kinich throughout their days together. It was… interesting to say the least. She all the more felt like she would have justification for taking the boy home with her and having him in the orphanage alongside the other children she oversaw. That way she knew he wouldn't have to worry about food or board, or clothing and education. He would be able to make friends and be a child to an extent.
Yet the laws of this land prevent such an occurrence, alongside Kinich's own refusal to leave his home despite his simple routine of survival.
“You're going now?” Kinich asked as Arlecchino packed up her bags.
“Yes, it has been a month and my training has concluded. I do feel like I have accomplished a lot here.” Arlecchino said, “Now then, will you be alright on your own?”
Kinich nodded his head, “I'll be fine, I know how to handle myself.”
Arlecchino chuckled, “Very well, be good then. I will be taking my leave.”
She patted Kinich's head, a motion that made the child flinch slightly before he seemingly didn't mind it. Arlecchino removed her hand, and gave him a brief goodbye as she walked away.
She would have someone later come by just to keep tabs on him, not to interfere, help or hinder. Just… someone to make sure he was doing okay with what the world tossed him. She would be happy to know a child she met would be doing just fine, even if she couldn't help him in the way she wished to.