Chapter Text
“This is for you; you may have as many cups as you'd like.” Flins sets a cup of tea on the table for you, a small cloud of steam wafting off the top. The aroma is pleasant, the floral and sweet scent agrees with you. You take the cup gratefully, sipping it slowly as Flins turns to tend to labeling the boxes of his bone jigsaw puzzles. Though the hobby is definitely unusual and peculiar, you can respect the dedication and craftsmanship he devotes to it. They're certainly impressive, though odd. “Thank you.” You murmur, the tea is soothing to your tired body, its warmth and smooth flavor make your shoulders release the tension you didn't even notice was there. “Are you not going to have any? I quite like it.” You ask him, setting the cup on the table as he scribbles some dates on a blank box. “Oh, me? I'll pass. I don't favor tea as much as you do.” His tone is light and relaxed, back still turned to you as he organizes his collection.
You knew it… Flins is somehow never thirsty, or hungry, or sleepy… It doesn't make any sense! How could someone who dedicated his life to fighting the Wild Hunt never want to eat? Surely he needs energy, right? You grumble, placing your chin in your palm as you glare at him. “How come you never want anything? You decline food, drinks, hell, I don't think I've ever even seen you sleep!” He finally turns to you, a smile on his face that you can't quite read. Was it mischievous? Or secretive? You couldn't tell.
“Really? Have you ever thought I'm just declining out of politeness? I brewed that for you, not for me.” He humors as he pulls a box off the shelf, opening it and sorting through the contents. “Ugh, no. Flins, it's like you're not even human.” He perks up, his golden eyes flicking over to meet yours. Something in him shifted. “Do you truly believe that claim?” His voice lowers slightly, and it unnerves you. Hes always been unsettling and honestly creepy, but his demeanor now makes your spine crawl. You shift, sitting up a little straighter. It feels like his eyes are boring holes into you. “Yes… You're not human, right?” You admit your thoughts, staring back at him with intensity and anxiousness. “...You're a vampire, aren't you?”
Flin's eyes widen before he snorts out a laugh, bringing his gloved hand to his face to stifle his laughter at your comment. You can feel embarrassment rise in your face, blooming into pink ears and cheeks. “Hey— Don't laugh at me like that!” You can't help but giggle along with him. You also can't remember a time when you saw him laugh like this, so maybe your incorrect guess at his nature wasn't such a bad thing.
He composed himself; the tension was completely gone with the fit of laughter from you two. The box was disregarded as he turned fully to you. “Well, I guess I should come clean to you, since we have recently grown so close.” His tone is soft, yet genuine, and he takes in the change in your demeanor as you process his words. “Though not a vampire, you were correct. I am not human.” He admits, and the air falls silent.
“...What? Are you serious?” The shock hits you, even though you already speculated this, it was different to hear the confirmation come from him directly. “Yes, I'm serious.” He speaks as if this is a completely normal topic for you two to talk about. You blink, sighing and slumping into your seat. “I knew it…”
He huffed a laugh. Your reactions were endearing to him, and he watched you take another sip of the tea he made for you. “You knew it? You were certain I was not human?” He teased, focusing back on the box of bone puzzles before him. “Well… Thats besides the point.” You change the subject. “If not human, then what are you?” You question, your voice was a tad bit softer, as you didn't want to pry— this was clearly something he didn't want everyone knowing— but you couldn't help yourself from at least asking.
“I'm sure you would be able to figure it out yourself. You are very perceptive, so much im sure you could land a position at the Curatorium of Secrets with Lady Nefer.” You ignore the compliment, though it doesn't go unnoticed. “Youre not gonna tell me!?” You exacerbate, straightening up again. After all this effort you went through putting together the pieces of the little things you've noticed about him, and even gathering the courage to tell him so, he still won't admit his true nature to you.
“I won't tell you because you are absolutely capable of figuring it out yourself. Think of it like this,” He explains. “As I work on my bone jigsaw puzzles, you can piece together the puzzle of my identity.” Spoken with a smile, he examines a bone, angling it to see how it could connect to the others. Hes so nonchalant about this, it's a wonder to you that he puts so much effort into keeping his identity secret, yet he wants to play a game with you to guess his nature?
“Really?” You sigh. He only nods with a hum; he most likely just wanted to tease and play around with you because he knew your reactions would provide ample entertainment (but also because hes learning that he enjoys your company more than he initially thought). “Where should I start…” You murmur under your breath when you realize he was dead serious about this, and that there was no way you were going to be able to convince him to tell you otherwise. “Well, why not start with those things you said you noticed. You were certain I was not human before I told you, correct? You’ll be able to see all the evidence.” He chuckles softly, piecing together small bones, some carved and some found.
And so, you began to talk about everything you noticed about him. You weren't sure if he suggested this because he actually thought it would help you, or if it was because he slyly wanted to hear the things youve noticed about him. No matter, because you were already spilling the details about how you've caught his pointed ears through his silvery-ultramarine hair and about all the times he seemed to appear out of thin air. He listened to everything you had to say intently.
You recalled a story to him when it was the dead of winter, you and Flins were outside during a snowstorm after offering to help out Nefer for an important commission. However, you soon realized this was a mistake, as the cold was bone-chilling and relentless. You had a furs and thick coats to retain your body heat, and the snowfall wasn't as peaceful as you hoped. It was hard to see far in front of you, even with the help of Flins lantern; the bright violet hue could not penetrate the flurry of ice before you. You shivered and tried your best to keep moving so circulation could bring heat to your limbs, but all you wanted was to sit curled up in blankets with hot drinks in front of the fireplace. When glancing over at Flins, you couldn't help but notice his lack of reaction to the bitter cold. He moved as if the cold didn't bite at him; his teeth never chattered, but most of all, there was no cloud of misty breath leaving his lips. You figured maybe the blizzard was to blame, as it was hard to really see anything, but the more you paid attention, the more you realized there was no breath at all. His chest did not inhale with oxygen, and there was no respiration; no puff of foggy breath leaving him. Naturally, this made you both concerned and curious. How is he not breathing? Something had to be wrong… Yet, you never brought it up until now, watching Flins nod along with your story.
“Yes, I remember that indeed.” He connected a few bones; you guessed they had to have been hind legs or possibly shoulders. With a smooth and velvety voice, he continued. “Another correct observation, I do not need to breathe like you.” His responses feel like hes grading your capabilities like an exam…
“What else…” You murmur to yourself, eyes flicking around while you search your brain for any other anomalies. That's when your gaze catches his, and it sparks your memory. His eyes. They are unlike anything you've seen before, and that's not coming from an affectionate place, but rather an acute observation. You've noticed the yellow is in fact his pupil and not his iris. It dilates like a cat, expanding large and full like a golden saucer when hes in the dark; then shrinking to small beady circles when hes faced with the sun. You can't recall any other being in Teyvat with eyes like these— a closer look is necessary.
So, you get up from your seat, only needing to take a few steps to get close enough to him. “Look here,” He glances over at you as you approach, setting his puzzle down as your hands reach out to adjust his face to be parallel with yours. You two are awfully close now, but your excuse was that this was necessary in order to figure out his identity.
His golden pupils were blown wide with barely any of the navy rim left, and you hoped that fae shared the same dilation factors as humans did. His lashes were a dark blue, some more of a pale violet or lilac color, along with dark circles around his eyes, almost looking like eyeshadow. His skin was somber and almost grey-ish, yet it shone with the slightest iridescence when the light hit it just right. Though sharp, his features are unique with carved cheekbones and a subtle bump to his nose bridge. His lips were thin with a mauve undertone, similar to the faint blushing to his cheeks that you pretended not to notice, though your heart jumped when you had caught notice. His hair was soft-looking, with indigo roots and pale tips, similar to his lantern's flame. He was certainly attractive… But now was not the time to gawk and stare at him; you were here to look for clues to his identity!
“Has curiosity gotten the better of you? What's the meaning behind this?” He questions with a hint of humor in his voice, though he doesn't seem to be complaining or bothered at all. “Your eyes are not human, so what else isn't?” You tilt his face to the side, examining for anything unusual, before your eyes catch his pointed ears. Yes, you've been curious about this before. They're certainly too pointed to be cosmetic, and they seem to be completely natural. He has a few piercings adorned with silver colored jewlery. “Your ears are not human,” You continue, listing off your findings. You adjust his face back to normal positioning, feeling something spark within when you catch eye contact. Your eyes flick down to his lips. Maybe it was subconscious, but you ended up continuing your little ‘investigation’ here. Your thumb pulls at his lip, exposing his teeth. Nothing seems to be different, but to confirm, you gently pry his mouth open. He gruffs slightly, baring his teeth as you coax him to do so. His teeth are a little more pointed than you would've imagined, yet not quite enough to be alarming like your vampire allegation earlier. “Hmm… Your teeth are normal— but your skin is cold.” Your palms lie flat against his face; no warmth spreads from his tinged cheeks. Perhaps he was getting flustered, as his gaze flicked anywhere but at you.
Reluctantly, you let go of his face after finding all of the details you possibly could. He stands up straight again, his eyes still taking in your form before him. “I must say, you are incredibly observant of me.” He muses with a steely voice, pretending as if that interaction did nothing to him. He looked back at his puzzle, but he was unsure if he wanted to spend the time to finish it, or to allow you to ‘examan’ him some more. Though you settled back in your seat, taking a sip of the tea he brewed for you and contemplating what he could possibly be. “I still don't know… are you sure you don't want to just tell me?” You lament, shoulders sagging as you wonder if you'll ever be able to figure it out. All of these clues point to something inhuman, but what? A Seelie? An Adeptus? A Melusine? Hell, maybe a Saurian?! He chuckles richly, inevitably deciding to finish his puzzle. “Have you ever heard the story of the Azure Flame?” He questions, and for a split second, you wonder if this is him coming clean. You shake your head.
“I see, well then, allow me to tell you a story.” Through your time spent together with Flins, you've learned that he loves to tell stories, and some of them are so ancient that you wonder how he can remember and recite the details so well. Hes calm as he begins to talk, working to piece together the puzzle of bones before him. “The Azure Flame is a tale from Nod-Krai; a Lantern Fae said to have done many good deeds for Nod-Krai during its peak many, many years ago. Some say that if you are lost or in danger at night and you happen to see a flickering blue flame, you should follow it.” His tone is delicate and soft, his eyes never leave his puzzle, though. “However, an Abyssal Calamity had struck, which I'm sure you are familiar with— the Wild Hunt.” You nod along, listening intently. “From the devastation and corruption, the Lantern Fae had snuffed out their light, extinguishing their flame. The Fae chose their resting place at the Final Night Cemetery, resting in a grave for eternity to escape the pain and guilt of the fallen humans it once helped.” His tone shifted to something more somber, and you recongized many words within this story. The Final Night Cemetery? That was here. And the part ‘extinguished their flame’, is that something equivalent to suicide?
His gaze seemingly locked on nothing as he recounts this story. “However, on a fateful night, the Wild Hunt was rampant and relentless, the Ratniki had found a blue lantern, and a fatally injured one used the grave for a brief respite. His blood had seeped into the inscription and stone, miraculously awakening the Lantern Fae that was sunken into a sleep-induced state for seemingly forever.” The more he speaks, the more and more the dots start to connect. Was he perhaps this Lantern Fae?
“And so, the Azure Flame was once again ignited, swearing to protect the people of Nod-Krai from the wild hunt for as long as they may live. Though to tell the full tale, we would be stuck here for hours, but it's a rather heroic and bittersweet story, wouldn't you say?” He turns to you, placing the final bone into his puzzle, the skull.
This story of his certainly cleared everything up. Now the pieces connected, the pointy ears, the appearing out of thin air, his eyes, the lack of breathing and body heat, and the azure-colored lantern that he seems to take with him everywhere he goes…
“Are you this Lantern Fae? The Azure Flame?” You speak with a hint of a smile, partly because you believe youve solved the case of his identity, but also because Flins seldom speaks about his personal life. He chuckles softly, stepping back from his puzzle and turning to face you.
“Correct.” He looks at you with an emotion you can't quite put your finger on. Was it admiration? Affection? Perhaps hes simply satisfied you've solved the case. Whatever it was, you enjoyed the way he seemed to take in your presence. “Allow me to reveal my true identity to you,” He bows slightly, his hand straight and placed over his chest. “I am Kyryll Chudomirivich Flins, but you may call me Kyryll. Though please take caution when calling me by my first name, it's a secret.” His tone is teasing and pleased, and he seems to take a great deal of pleasure in revealing this to you.
“Kyryll…” You test his name on your tongue, and he quite likes the sound. “Yes, dear?” The affectionate name makes you falter for a moment, and you try your best to ignore it, but the slight warming of your face betrays you, so you come up with an excuse for saying his name. “...If you're a fae, do you have— wings?” You struggle to imagine the stoic and unsettling Kyryll with cute fairy wings. He hums to himself, amused.
“I suppose so, yes, though not like those found in children's books and fairytales.”
“Do you have pixi dust?”
“...No, the source of my ‘power’ is from my lantern.”
“But you aren't small like a fairy?”
“Thats because I'm a Lantern Fae.”
“Though, you like shiny things just like fae, right?”
“...Yes…”
He sighs to himself with a small puff of laughter. Perhaps his story skipped over details that are common knowledge to him, but foreign to humans. So, Kyryll proceeded to tell you tales of Lantern Fae and himself, from sad stories of death and passing, to humorous ones from his long life. The night seemed to never end, and both of you had found your way in front of the warm fireplace, sitting on the couch while you sipped at warm tea and snacked on crusty breads.
You had lost track of time, and before long, you found yourself dozing off to his lengthy stories. His voice is soothing and velvety with a hint of something monotone beneath it all, perfect for falling asleep to. With your consciousness fading, you tried to fight the sleep overtaking you. However, you could only fight it for so long, eventually falling into a deep slumber.
When your eyes peered open, you weren't sure how much time had passed. It felt like you may have been asleep for years, or maybe only ten minutes? Confusion of your surroundings was the main thing your sleepy brain could focus on. You lifted yourself up groggily, limbs tired as you found a blanket draped over your lap. You couldn't remember there being a blanket here before… As you realize where you are, a sort of frenetic panic sets in.
This is Flins Lighthouse! Wait— Kyryll now.
You rub your eyes, noticing the faint light coming from the thin windows. Though never was it sunny at the Final Night Cemetery, you could tell it was daytime. The fireplace had fizzled out, and the bread and tea were still on the table; a water pitcher and cup had joined seemingly overnight without your knowledge.
How could I have fallen asleep here?! I know we were up late, but I shouldn't have allowed myself to pass out like that! Will he think this is rude or unbecoming?
Moving to stand up and trying to remember where you left your coat and shoes when you first arrived, you're stopped by a weight in your lap, not particularly heavy, but somehow warm. You glance down, cautious and curious at the same time.
There lies a blue lantern, one with silver edges and a soft violet hue emanating from it, the Azure Flame. You sigh, relaxing and leaning back into the couch cushions as you look down at him, well, Lantern Kyryll. Was this his way of sleeping? Residing in his lantern and picking a spot to lay? Or maybe float or hang? It confused you, yet you welcomed it. One thing you were certain of was that he picked this spot to ‘sleep’; he chose to place himself in your lap. In no way, shape, or form did you mind; it actually confirmed something else inside you that maybe you would also need to start an ‘investigation’ on— his true feelings towards you.