The Second Archon War: Sapientia Oromasdis 10 (Patreon)

Sapientia Oromasdis 10: When I Awoke

Tears streamed down Nahida’s face, and she had to wipe her eyes, even as she laughed and applauded. Beside her, Hana and Sana were embracing and crying as well. Dr. Bashir had tears streaming freely, uncaring of who saw, and Rasab’s father next to him was weeping openly as well. They all watched as Rasab slowly stood up from his wheelchair and with a firm hand, pulled the rope leading the bell.

The clear peal was accompanied by the song of Arabalika, the little Aranara who had accompanied Rasab for ten months now. 

“You did it,” Nahida told Rasab, giving him a big hug. “You beat it.”

“I couldn’t have done it without you and Lika,” Rasab said, laughing and hiccuping through tears himself. “Now I can finally go back to school!”

That sent a pang through Nahida, but she smiled at Rasab all the same. “I’m sure all your friends are eager to see you.”

“What school do you go to? Maybe we’ll be in the same class. What grade are you in?” Rasab asked eagerly as Nahida helped him sit back down in his wheelchair. Despite the Dendro infusions, Rasab was still weak, and would likely need months of recovery before he was back to full strength. 

“I, um, I don’t go to school,” Nahida admitted to Rasab. 

“Why, ‘cause you’re so smart?” Rasab asked, frowning slightly. 

Before Nahida could answer, his parents came over and hugged him, Rasab’s father even kneeling and gently taking Nahida’s hands. “Thank you. To both you and Doctor Bashir. My son is alive and well today because of you.” 

“We’ll still need to monitor Rasab, he could go into remission,” Nahida cautioned, but she did smile and reassure, “But I think that’s unlikely. This treatment seems to be highly successful, and Rasab has responded well to it.”

After, there was a small party with the doctors, nurses, and a few other patients at the clinic. Several of them were undergoing treatment from Doctor Bashir and Nahdia, though their methods were now being applied in any hospital that could get their hands on a Dendro Vision Holder. There still weren’t many of those globally, Nahida had only granted 2,178 Visions since her arrival, but there were a disproportionate number of those in the medical field, or who would be willing to help with cancer treatment even if they lacked prior medical expertise. 

As the party wound down, Nahida nervously went over to Rasab, a small green envelope in her hands. “Um, I-I wanted to give you one of these…um, i-it’s my birthday next week, and we’re having a small party…”

“Really?” Rasab perked up at that, and a wide grin spread across his face. “I can go to parties again! Dad, can I go to Nahida’s birthday party?!” 

“Of course!” his father agreed immediately as Rasab ripped open the envelope to reveal the carefully hand-made invitation. “When is it?” 

“Next Monday, October 27th! What do you want for your birthday?” Rasab asked Nahida curiously.

“Just to have some friends to share it with,” Nahida answered honestly. 

“A book,” Bashir put in for her, putting a hand on her shoulder to help steady her nerves. “She adores reading.” 

“We’ll get you the coolest book we can find!” Rasab assured Nahida, which made her blush. 

Later, when Nahida was sitting in the back seat of the van as they drove home, she looked out the window, smiling to herself. “I think we really made a difference today, at least to one family.”

“If you think it’s just today you’ve made a difference, you’re not as wise as I thought you were,” Bashir told her as they wove their way through the traffic. “You’ve saved the lives of who knows how many with these new treatments, and you’ve given a little boy back his life and hope.”

“He might have recovered anyway, even without the Dendro infusions,” Nahida pointed out.

“Perhaps, the survival rate for childhood acute myelogenous leukemia is 68% as you well know, but with these new treatments, what do you project the survival rate will become?” Bashir asked kindly. 

Nahida already knew the answer, but she reran the numbers, just to be sure. “About 92.3% in children, 58.7% in adults.”

“That’s a huge change, Nahida. But even if had just been Rasab, you reduced the treatment time for him by at least a year, possibly more, and gave him back his childhood. Have you heard the story of the starfish?”

“Yes, but tell it to me anyway,” Nahida said, hugging herself and smiling. 

“A man was walking along the beach after a great storm, and saw that thousands, perhaps millions, of starfish had been washed up on the shores. The man felt sorrow that the starfish would die, but did nothing, for there were too many to save them all. As he walked along the beach, he found a young girl, picking up starfish, and tossing them back out into the surf.”

“‘What are you doing?’ the man asked the child. ‘Don’t you know that there are too many to save them all? You can’t make a difference that will matter.’”

“The young child paused, looking down at the starfish in her hands. ‘Yes. But I can save this one, and it will matter to it.’ Then, she threw the starfish back into the ocean. After a moment’s consideration, the man also bent down, picked up a starfish, and tossed it back. Together, he and the little girl saved many more starfish than they could have alone.” 

“I like that story,” Nahida said, looking back out the window. She put her hand to the glass, gazing out at all the people going by them on the street. “I know I’m not a very good Archon, I can’t save everyone. But…I still want to make a difference.”

“I haven’t heard you say that before. What makes you think you’re not a good Archon?” Bashir asked, glancing at Nahida in the rearview mirror.

“I’m not like Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, who guided Sumeru for many long centuries and created many mighty works, establishing the Akadeymiya, that is the Sumeru institute of higher learning. Nor am I like Barbatos, who brought freedom to his people in Mondstadt and in Germany, or like Beelzebul who slew many evil gods in the Archon war and saved Japan from Leviathan. I’m just… I’m just a foolish little radish,” Nahida said bitterly. 

“Really?” Bashir asked, frowning as they pulled in to the driveway. 

As they did so, Qiqi looked up from watering the plants, a smile forming on her lips. She trotted over, her watering can trailing dribbles of water, Aranarakin and Arana buzzing along with her. She raised her hand, her fingers opening and closing in a greeting. “Hello, Nahida. Hello, Daddy.”

“Hello, Qiqi,” Nahida said brightly, her sulk forgotten in the simple joy of reunion. “Hello, Arana, and Aranarakin. Rasab is cured of cancer!”

“Yay,” Qiqi said, clapping her hands, though Nahida knew she hadn’t the faintest clue what that meant. The aranara trilled happy cheers, buzzing about Nahida’s head happily. 

“This is good news! Wheeled Nara will be able to walk again! He will grow strong, and drink from many waters,” Aranarakin said happily. 

“Sarva nara has made his dreams come true!” Arana declared, landing on Nahida’s head and making her giggle. 

As they chatted, Farasha stuck her head out of the house, then smiled and waved. “Hey there! I got your text, congratulations! I’m so happy to hear little Rasab is healthy!”

“And he’s coming to my birthday party!” Nahida giggled, beaming happily at the thought. 

“That’s great to hear, little radish,” Farasha said, coming over and giving her a hug. Then she stood on her tiptoes to kiss Bashir, and Nahida blushed and looked away. “I made dinner to celebrate!”

Nahida and Bashir both froze, giving Farasha uneasy looks.

“Ha! Just kidding. I bought takeout. Not even I want to eat my own cooking,” Farasha teased, ruffling Nahida’s hair. “Come on, I got falafel from that stall you like.”

At that news, Nahida and Bashir both perked up immediately, hurrying inside to share a happy meal. The falafel was delicious, and it felt good to come home after a long day’s good work. Farasha was looking much better than she had, her eyes dancing with laughter, her cheeks flushed with health. 

Tentitively, Nahida poked at both Farasha and Qiqi’s demons. 

DATA? Papilio asked eagerly. Even Pristina Nola, which was what Nahida had named Qiqi’s Demon, pealed with eagerness. 

Yes. At last, I can give you the full treatment plan for leukemia using Dendro energy, Nahida told the two demons. They eagerly seized on the information Nahida shared, including the delight and joy of a job well done, the tears of pain and happiness, and the love that Rasab and his parents had shared. 

Pristina tingled her delight, as did Papilio who simply said DATA ACCEPTED. THIS EXCHANGE IS SATISFACTORY.

After dinner, Nahida got Bashir’s permission and hopped onto the internet, where after a quick search, she found Tess. 

Hey! How’d it go? Tess asked, her spirit vibrating with eagerness. 

Really well! Rasab is fully in remission. There is a slight chance that he could relapse, but…

But you’d sense that, wouldn’t you? Absolutely zero cancer, then?

None at all! He’s cured! And the treatment is being used successfully at other hospitals where there are Dendro Vision Holders! We might see a real breakthrough in all sorts of cancer treatment, as well as other diseases! Nahida said in delight. 

That’s completely awesome! I’m really excited for you, Nahida! °˖✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧˖°

╰( ^o^)╮╰( ^o^)╮ Nahida grinned, basking in success for a moment. 

Then she frowned, and sent, Have you talked to your dad yet? 

No. I told you, I’m not going to do that until I have a real fallback plan. I’ve just about gathered what I need. Once I have all that ready, and I’m sure talking to him won’t result in me getting erased, then I’ll do it. This time, Tess sounded more than a little grumpy and irritated. 

I could help you, you know. You could come live on our computer, or I could make you one…

No. This is my problem. I’ll solve it myself. If thing’s don’t work out…maybe living in your dream or whatever is a good fallback. I just…I really don’t want to screw this up, OK? I promise, I’ll talk to him soon. 

It had been nearly nine months of this, and Nahida knew Tess had been slowly acquiring the funds to get her own fabrication plant together, where she could construct a body of her own to flee to if her talk with her father went badly. Nahida didn’t think that would happen, Andrew Richter didn’t seem like a bad man at all. But, he did have a demon leeching off his soul, and they drove their hosts to great evil, so caution wasn’t imprudent. 

Rasab agreed to come to my birthday party. I wish you could come as well, Nahida sent, feeling a little guilty. She was trying to play on Tess’ emotions, just a little. 

Well, we can have an awesome party in the Dream after. Maybe you could introduce me to the rest of your family, Bashir’s been getting better at this Dreamwalking stuff, right? 

Yes, but he doesn’t take his training very seriously aside from healing. I’ve tried to get him to learn some basic defensive techniques, but all he’s really interested in is ways to help his patients. I can’t blame him: learning advanced healing techniques does require a great deal of training, and the same can be said of Elemental Combat. Not that I would be very good at teaching that…

It’ll be fine. At least your dad loves you. 

I hope you find out yours does too, Nahida said, then after a bit more chatting, signed off for the night. 

The next day, Nahida accompanied Dr. Bashir and Farasha to the Special Action Squad HQ, in order for Doctor Bashir to conduct his usual medical exams of the Parahumans. As had become her habit, Nahida helped the doctor with the check-ups, subtly doing her own exams of the Demons that possessed the Parahumans of the squad.

 Thankfully, most of them were not anywhere near as close to subsuming their hosts as Farasha’s had been, and most of the Demons were eager to trade more freedom for their hosts for bits of information from Nahida. Since she had 500 years of Akadymia research to draw on, having downloaded a copy of all available records in the Akasha long ago, Nahida had a lot to bargain with. 

The other benefit to this was that Nahida got to say hello to all the members of the Special Action Squad, especially her friend Corporal Muhammad, who helped her as she helped administer to the various patients. 

“So, these sub-dermal spikes, they cause you pain?” Nahida asked, gently prodding at the skin of one of the parahumans. There was a bit of angry red swelling around where large fragments of what looked like obsidian were poking out of his forearm. 

“Yes, that’s what I keep telling the doctors! I just need more of the pain medicine,” the man, who called himself Alnays growled. He was in his mid-twenties, and from Nahida could tell, his liver was in horrible shape from the constant drinking he was doing, along with opioids. Doctor Bashir hadn’t been the one to prescribe those, but the spikes really were causing Alnay’s pain. He could fire them at his enemies and grow them rapidly, to the point where they would cover his entire body in a nearly indestructible coat. 

“Hmm, that’s a temporary solution to the problem,” Nahida murmured. She reached out and touched Alnays’ Demon. It recoiled and snapped at her, but she gently offered it a bit of information.

You’re causing your host pain.

PAIN IS DATA. DATA IS PARAMOUNT. SUBJECT IS IRRELEVANT. 

I can show you a better way. Here, wouldn’t you like this information on how to use geo constructs to create armor? 

THIS IS…DATA? DATA! 

In exchange, you’re going to modify how you treat your host. I’m going to alter your function and his biology to shut off the pain receptors as he uses his power, and that unnecessary aggression trigger you’ve added. 

All the demons did that, which frustrated Nahida to no end. Young human males were aggressive enough by default. Pouring fuel on that fire was a recipe for disaster. 

CONFLICT IS NESSESSARY. PAIN DRIVES CONFLICT.

There’s another way. And, don’t you want this juicy data I have for you? If you behave, I’ll have more for you later…

The demon was reluctant, so Nahida brought in a ringer to help her: Papilio. 

BRIGHT TREE HAS GOOD DATA. DO AS BRIGHT TREE ASKS. HER DATA IS SUPERIOR, Farasha’s demon told Alnay’s, which Nahida had decided she would name Prickly. 

CONSENSUS REACHED. BARGAIN ACCEPTED. GIVE DATA! Pickly demanded, and Nahida handed it over, mentally giving the Demon a pat on the head like she would a dog. It balked at first, but then came back for more as Nahida fed it more dribbles. That made Papilio sulk, so Nahida affectionately gave it a small packet of information on a type of Pyro stove. 

Thank you! Make sure to tell all of your friends to be nicer. Humans aren’t subjects, they’re friends. Remember how much fun it is to have tea with Farasha and I?

FUN IS IRRELEVANT, ONLY DATA. Papilio grumbled. Then it hopefully asked, MORE DATA? 

What do we say, Nahida said sternly.

PLEASE! THANK YOU! MORE DATA! Papilio vibrated eagerly.

Later, Nahida said gently. If you’re good. 

PAPILIIO WILL BE GOOD, the Demon assured her. 

As she struck the bargain with Pricky, Nahida had been infusing a bit of Dendro into Alnay, which caused him to suddenly sag as she soothed away the pain. “I can make it so it doesn’t hurt anymore, no drugs. But to do that, I need your permission. I’ll have to alter your physiology slightly. The way your powers have manifested, they’re causing you pain. I can make it so they’ll no longer hurt you, and provide better results at the same time.”

“Do it. I just… I want the pain to go away,” Alnay groaned, sagging in his chair, his eyes squeezed shut. 

“Very well,” Nahida reached up, tapping his forehead gently, and putting Alnay into a trance. 

Then, she carefully reworked his biology with the help of Pricky the Demon, so that the spikes would no longer send flares of pain as they manifested, and so that they didn’t grow directly out of Alnay’s bones and through his muscle and skin, but out of the hair follicles on his body. That would make him much more of a porcupine, and Nahida also rewired the nerves to no longer register this as painful. She gently instructed Prickly how to make the spikes “float” on top of Alnay’s skin, showing it how to get better results as a defensive and offensive measure, while also not burdening the host. 

There were a few other minor adjudgements: Nahida had Prickly strengthen Alnay’s bones and muscles so they could better bear the load of the heavy spikes, and gave them some thermo-regulating properties as they’d block sweat glands, which could lead to overheating if not properly balanced. 

All this took Nahida only a few minutes, after which she gently tapped Alnay on the forehead again. “Wake up! It’s all done.”

After a few blinks, Alnay sat up, looking down at his now spikefree body. “I… I don’t hurt anymore. But where…”

“You can control it better now, though it will take some practice,” Nahida told Alnay. “Just focus the same way you did before. They won’t grow out of your bones, but you should have better aim. The one issue is, um, you have hairy palms now…”

Turning his hands over, Alnay examined his palms, from which bristly black hair now sprouted. 

“Those can turn into spikes now, if you focus. See? Like that!” 

Alnay had produced one large spike in his right hand, and two smaller ones in his left, both gleaming dully in the fluorescent light. “There is no pain… how…?”

“Um, I’m training to be a doctor with my father,” Nahida said, which was technically true. “He’s shown me a lot of the techniques he uses to treat parahuman patients.” Also true. Though it had nothing to do with what Nahida had just done.

For a moment, Alnay just stared at his hands. Then he popped off the spikes and dropped them to the ground with a stone-like clatter. Then he bowed deeply to Nahida. “Thank you! Thank you so much! I… I could not sleep, could not be with my wife, could not even hug my children… thank you! It’s been five months…”

“Hey, get up, you’re welcome! I’m just doing what any good doctor would do, if they knew how,” Nahida told Alnay, who was crying as he continued to babble his thanks. 

Nahida saw several other patients, though none of them needed adjustments as major as Alnay, which was a good thing as she was fairly worn out after that much of an expenditure of energy. When lunchtime came, a familiar face came to see her, and Nahida burst into a smile.

“Aunty Faruzan!”

“Hello there, Nahida! I hear it’s almost someone’s birthday!” Faruzan said, poking her head. “You’re father is still busy, and Farasha’s in a meeting with the President. Why don’t you come join me for a light lunch.”

Lunch turned out to be some salads with dates and almonds, while the two of them discussed various historical and modern fashion trends. At the end of it, Faruzan presented Nahida with a box. “It’s finally ready! I was worried that you’d have grown to much by the time I finished it, but you hardly seem to have grown at all over the last year, so if anything, it might be too big.”

Nahida had, in fact, not grown at all in 500 years as far as she could tell, so it was highly unlikely she’d grown in the past year. Still, she eagerly dug into the box, knowing what she would find, but all the more delighted. 

“It’s beautiful!” Nahida gasped, holding up the shimmering green fabric. It was a cape costume, though really it was more of a historical costume. The entire dress was green silk, with colorful patterns in the shape of yellow flowers embroidered on it, and more patterns along the hem, which would fall to just below Nahida’s knees. There was also a collar on the dress with more vines, and even a few stylized radishes, which made her giggle. To top it all off, there was a brown headwrap that had more green and silver scrollwork along the hem, all of it complimenting the dress. 

“Happy Birthday, Nahida. I know it’s early, but I just couldn’t resist giving it to you today,” Faruzan said, smiling happily. “Go on, try it on! I want to make sure it fits you.”

The costume fit like a glove, and Nahida raced through the halls of the headquarters with Faruzan behind her, giggling in her eager glee to show off her new costume. She ran back to where Bashir was seeing patients, only to skid to a halt, her heart suddenly pounding.

“What is this? Why are you running?” an angry Major Waleed demanded, half raising his rifle towards Nahida, who took a step back in fear. 

“Major! She’s just excited to show her father,” Faruzan snapped, stepping forward and pushing Nahida behind her skirts, glaring at the captain and the two other guards with guns. 

“The President is in here and no-” a burning crimson butterfly flowy fluttered over Waleed’s shoulder, and he froze, both guards slowly backing away. A moment later, Farasha stepped forward, the fiery insect landing on an outstretched finger. She smiled at Nahida, then turned to Waleed. 

“Major. That is my daughter. Her father and I are getting married in only two months. Perhaps you hadn’t heard,” Farasha said in dangerously chipper tones. 

“I…” Waleed swallowed, backing away from Farasha’s maniacal grin. “I didn’t recognize her.”

“Oh, really? Well. I suggest you ask my fiance to check your eyes. He’s very good at that,” Farasha purred, the butterfly’s wings opening and closing to reveal a little skull pattern as it rested on her fingers. Stepping forward, Farasha put her face right in Waleed’s. “Because if anything were to happen to Nahida, I would kill everyone in this room. Starting with you. And then, who knows? I might burn the entire city down before I killed myself. Do you understand me, Major?”

“Y-yes.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Waleed shot Farasha a look of pure hatred, but his horror of the fiery insect in her hands overpowered his pride. “Yes, ma’am,” he grated, his voice dripping with anger and terror. 

“Good.” With that, Farasha ripped a bandaid off her finger, and the butterfly was sucked back in, whisps of smoke training from the wound. Then Farasha rebandaged it, and turned around. “Get out of my sight.”

“But the president-”

“Is perfectly safe with me, and even more so with Doctor Bashir. You, however, are not. Saeed is less merciful than I am towards those who threaten our daughters.”

Waleed’s eyes went very wide, and the other two guards exchanged horrified looks. “W-we’ll wait outside.” In a stampede of boots, they were gone. 

Nahida sent a worried pulse towards Papilio, and to her shock, found the Demon was actually angry, but that it wasn’t the Demon’s anger that had propelled Farasha to nearly immolate Walleed. Instead, both host and demon were in perfect agreement: PROTECT NAHIDA. 

That was both comforting and terrifying. Nahida was very familiar with the protective maternal instincts of humanity, but what did it mean that a Demon wanted to safeguard her? 

NOT YOU. DATA. DATA MUST BE PROTECTED, Papilio said sullenly. That lie might have worked better if the Demons had any experience with falsehoods, or if Nahida wasn’t the God of Wisdom. As it was, Papilio came off more as a petulant child. 

Thank you, but please, don’t hurt people for my sake, Nahida sent, then turned her focus back to what Farasha was saying. 

Farasha had knelt, smiling at Nahida and adjusting her dress slightly as she didn’t meet Nahida’s eyes. She looked uncomfortable but had been saying comforting platitudes. That wasn’t what was really bothering her, and Farasha was just getting to what had her on edge. 

“There’s activity on the Iranian border. We think they’re going to try something in the next week, so I’m being sent there to monitor them. I… I might miss your birthday.”

Tears sprang into Nahida’s eyes unbidden, even though she knew it was folly. “That’s OK, w-we can celebrate when you get back.”

“We will,” Farasha promised, hugging Nahida tightly. “I just… I didn’t want to miss your birthday, Little Radish. Not with so many of your friends being there. Did you invite Nadia like I told you?”

“Um, n-not yet,” Nahida admitted. “She has a check-up tomorrow… I was waiting for that.”

“Well, make sure you do it. There’s a lot of kids and their families who would love to call themselves your friend, you know?” Farasha said, standing again. “And that dress looks amazing on you. I might have to get you to make me one, Faruzan!”

“I’d love to,” Faruzan said, smiling and putting a hand on Nahida’s shoulder. “Am I invited to this party of yours?”

Nahida gasped, and quickly dug into the bag slung over her shoulder, digging out an invitation. Before she could hand it over to Faruzan, she froze, the letter clutched in her trembling hands. 

“Ah, what’s this, for me?” the President said, striding through the door with Bashir half a step behind him. 

Nahida considered telling the President no, but he was too unpredictable for that. If he felt slighted, even by a little girl… “I-I’m having a party, a-and I wanted to invite you, Your Excellency…”

“Ah, how kind. Waleed, take it for me. Waleed?” Saddam looked around, an irritated expression on his face. 

“I sent him outside. I’m all the protection you need in here,” Farasha promised. 

A look of irritation flashed over Saddam’s face, but then he smiled, putting his arm around Farasha’s. “Ah, my thoughtful butterfly, always looking out for me! Yes, now, we must talk. Come, this is for your ears only.”

Arm in arm, Nahida’s invitation forgotten, Saddam strode out, forcing Nahida to duck against the wall to make way for him. A moment later, he was gone, and Bashir was standing next to her.

“Are you alright?” he asked, crouching down next to her.

She nodded, silently handing the invitation to Faruzan, who gave her a quiet, “Thank you.”

“I think… I think I want to go home now,” Nahida said, feeling exhausted. “I had to rewire Alnay’s biology, his powers were deliberately causing him pain, so I helped his demon understand how to interact with a human host in a less destructive manner.”

“Demon?” Faruzan asked, looking up from reading the invitation with concern. 

“Just what she calls the Corona Pollentia,” Bashir said, picking Nahida up in his arms. He smiled at Faruzan. “You’ll be there?”

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Faruzan promised, giving Nahida’s hand a squeeze. “You two get home.”

That evening, Nahida made sure to take Farasha into a special dream with Papilio, carefully showing the Demon ways of Farasha’s power working without the need for her to self-harm. 

“It’s bad for a host's psychology if you deliberately teach them self-destructive behaviors. If you want to form a truly symbiotic relationship, there are other ways,” Nahida told Papilio. 

“I mean, I’d prefer not to cut myself up,” Farasha agreed. She was once more a young girl, barely pubescent, looking much as she must have when she became the Butcher of Dasman Palace. “But that’s how it’s always worked.”

“Powers originated from species with burning blood. Modified with adaptive memetic spread. Energy transfer requires blood,” Papilio grumbled in a tinkling voice that sounded all wrong for a horrible demon, but fit the beautiful crimson butterfly it manifested as. 

“Well, then you adapt them better to a new host. I have some ideas. I won’t make any major changes tonight, but…”

Nahida talked for long hours until it was time to let Farasha truly sleep, then took Papilio on a tour of the flower gardens of Pardis Dhyai, or at least the best approximation Nahida could simulate from the data she had available. 

“Butterflies are supposed to love flowers,” Nahida told Papilio. The Demon obligingly went over to a flower, which shriveled and burned at its touch.

“No useful data acquired,” the demon reported. 

“No, no, like this,” Nahida said, and showed Papilio how to gently caress a flower and smell it. It took a few tries, but eventually, Papilio managed to touch a flower without incinerating it. 

In the morning, Nahida was there when Nadia ran in for her appointment, her weary mother trailing behind her. 

“Hi, Nahida! It’s good to see you again!” Nadia said, coming over and giving Nahida a hug.

“Your leg is doing well, you’ve grown a lot,” Nahida said, smiling up at the taller girl. 

“Yeah, did you shrink? It’s like you’re smaller than last time,” Nadia said, measuring from her own head to Nahida’s and giggling. 

“No, I’m still the same size. I guess I just grow very slowly,” Nahida said in another of her astounding understatements. 

The checkup went well enough: Nadia’s bones had mended completely months ago, and she seemed to be a girl in perfect health. 

“Um, would you come to my birthday party?” Nahida asked, handing Nadia an invitation after the visit was over and Sajy and Bashir were just chatting. 

“Yes! I love birthdays! Mom, we have to come to Nahida’s party!” Nadia begged.

“Of course, dear, when is it?” Sajy asked, taking the invitation. “Ah, next Monday after school. Perfect. Abdul just got a new job, so we can afford a nice present.”

“He’s always sleeping during the day now, his job must be really hard,” Nadia commented. 

“Just you coming is enough,” Nahida told Nadia. “I don’t get to see my friends very often…”

“It’s too bad, you’d like my friends at school,” Nadia said. Then she brightened suddenly, a mischievous grin on her face. “Mom, we’re going to play in the garden!”

“Alright, don’t go too far,” Sajy said, then turned back to talk with Doctor Bashir as Nadia led Nahida outside.

“I have a totally awesome idea!” Sajy whispered. “You can come to school with me on your birthday and meet my friends!”

“I can’t, I’m not allowed,” Nahida said, hanging her head sadly. 

“That’s why we’ll sneak you there!” Nadia said eagerly. “It’ll be easy! We could walk to school from your house, it’s not that far.”

“But I’m not supposed to,” Nahida said, even as her heart began to flutter with excitement. 

“Yeah, but it’ll just be one time! And maybe if the teachers like you, you can keep coming!” Nadia laughed. “I’ll come on Monday and take you there with Zeina and Ela. It’ll be great!”

Nahida almost said no, but she so desperately wanted to go to school. She nodded. “Ok. I think I can make it work…”

The next couple of days passed far more slowly than usual, with Nahida eagerly anticipating both her birthday party and her first (and perhaps only) day of school. When the day arrived, Nahida told Dr. Bashir she’d be staying home with Qiqi that day, then told Mrs. Rasab she’d be down in the clinic. Then, Nahida took the backpack with paper, pencils, crayons, a lunch in a brown paper bag, and a water bottle, and hurried out the the street. 

A few minutes later, Nadia and her two friends came by, along with one of their fathers.

“See, she’s right there! She’s new,” one of the girls, Ela Nahida surmised from her thoughts, told her father. 

“Who is this girl?” Ela’s father asked, frowning at Nahida.

“Um, I’m Nahida. I-I know Nadia from meeting her at the clinic,” Nahida admitted. 

“Hmm, I haven’t seen you before, but isn’t this the clinic where-” the man began, but Nadia interrupted him. 

“Come on, Mr. Sabah, we’ll be late, we have to hurry!” Nadia declared, then giggled and pushed Nahida along in front of her her. Mr. Sabah seemed to decide this was someone else’s problem, with a little help from Arana who buzzed up and whispered in his ear to redirect his thoughts, then followed after the four girls as they hurried off the towards the school. 

The building they arrived at an elementary school less than a mile from Nahida’s house, and a palace she’d visited frequently in the dream world as well as walking by in the waking one. It was yet ten minutes until the school day started, with teachers standing by the gate and welcoming in students, or monitoring the children playing in the school yard. Nahida’s steps slowed as she took it all in: the chaos, the running, and the shrieking, as well as the jumble of emotions.

However, as she approached, fully a dozen aranara lifted off from within the school yard, catching the attention of the children. They all buzzed over to Nahida, greeting her warmly. 

“Welcome, Sarva Nara! Have you come to join the other nara?” one particularly bold aranara named Arabalika asked, hovering over Nahida’s head. 

Ela and Zaida goggled, but Nadia took Nahida’s hand and nodded to Arabaika. “She is! It’s her birthday, so she’s coming to school with us!”

With that, Nadia pulled Nahida into the schoolyard, where she was soon surrounded by eager children, all asking who she was and how the aranara knew her. 

“Why do the djinn call you Sarva Nara?” one boy with a runny nose asked.

“Um, b-because that’s their name for a special tree,” Nahida replied. The children seemed to accept that, but before they could inquire further, an older woman in a practical ankle-length skirt and a checked headwrap came over, peering over her spectacles at Nahida. “Nadia, Ela, who is this girl? I’ve not seen her before.”

“She’s Nahida, Mrs. Wafa,” Nadia explained. “She’s starting school!”

“Oh? Are your parents here?” Mrs. Wafa asked, looking down at Nahida as her brow wrinkled. “Haven’t I seen you somewhere before?”

She’d seen Nahida at the Mosque a few times, and Nahida feared that the woman would soon recognize her. Hastily, she took off her backpack, offering up a sheaf of papers. “Um, m-my father sent these, to register me.”

Mrs. Wafa’s eyebrows rose, and she paged through them, before pausing. “Ah, yes, you’re one of Doctor Bashir’s daughters. But I thought-” Her lips pressed into a line, and Nahida felt her heart skip a beat, and she feared all was lost.

Then Mrs. Wafa smiled at her, kneeling down at putting a hand on Nahida’s shoulder. “Well, it’s about time. I’ll talk with Principle Ali, but he feels the same way I do: Little girls belong in school. Even if I’m sure Doctor Bashir has been doing a good job of teaching you, it’s not good for a child your age to be alone. What about the other one, the girl with the developmental delay, Qiqi isn’t it?”

“Um, she didn’t come today,” Nahida mumbled. 

“I see. Well, she would be somewhat hard to handle for us, but we’d find a way. Come, dear, I’ll show you to the classroom.”

Nahida was led to a classroom with a photo of President Saddam on the wall, and shown where to put her things. She could hardly believe she was getting away with this: Mrs. Wafa clearly knew Nahida was a cape of some kind, but she also clearly thought the law banning parahuman children was nonsense and that a young child should be in school. Apparently, the principal shared her belief, as when he came at Mrs. Wafa’s call, he just told her he would take care of registering Nahida and took the papers. 

He smiled at her and said, “Welcome to our school, Nahida Saeed.” Then he left. 

A short time later, Nadia and her friends along with twenty other little girls crammed into the small room with Nahida. The room was furnished with rows of wooden desks, and had pictures of state propaganda on the walls mixed with cute pictures of cats with motivational sayings, charts for numbers, colors, and the arabic alphabet, and a few other things. 

Then, for short while, Nahida was just a child in a classroom. Mrs. Wafa taught the First Grade girls, and happily welcomed Nahida to her classroom. Nahida sang along with the morning songs and recited the ways to count to one hundred, listened to a story, and raised her hand (only once, she didn’t want to take away from other’s learning) to answer a question to Mrs. Wafa’s delight. 

For a blissful hour, Nahida was just a little girl, in a classroom with her new friends, enjoying life.

Then, she sensed Death. 

It came over Nahida like a wave of doom. A sense of dread and horror so palpable she nearly vomited. She spun about in the middle of the lesson, jumping up to her feet and knocking back her chair with a clatter. 

“Nahida? Do you need to use the potty?” Mrs. Wafa asked, but her voice was distant, unheard.

Death comes. 

“Where are the shelters?” Nahida asked, her mind racing a mile a minute. She spun about, raising her voice. “Where are the shelters?!”

“Nahida?” Mrs. Wafa asked, looking startled. “What do you-”

The Angel of Death comes on silent wings. 

“Never mind, everyone, line up, right now!” Nahida gasped, running for the door.

Outside, the Aranara began to sing, a keening dirge of fear and terror, as they sensed Nahida’s fear spreading through the Dream at the speed of thought. 

“Nahida, what is-” Mrs. Wafa asked, but Nahida was slamming her hand onto the light switch, tapping into the electrical grid. Her premonition only intensified, a psychic wave spreading through her body like molten glass as every fiber of her being began to kick into overdrive. 

The Song of Destruction soon begins. 

“The Endbringer Shelters are located behind the school, do you know how to secure them against the Simurgh?” Nahida asked calmly, turning to Mrs. Wafa. “You don’t have much time.”

“Nahdia! Don’t joke about such things!” Mrs. Wafa gasped, swallowing hard. “And dear, I can’t cover for you if-”

The children began to cry, some of the girls clinging to one another in fear at the mention of the most feared of Endbringers. 

“This isn’t a joke,” Nahida said quietly. In the distance, sirens began to wail as Nahida triggered the Endbringer Alarms. “She’ll be here soon. Get to the shelters. Hurry.”

Mrs. Wafa had gone completely pale, freezing in place for a moment as several girls screamed. Then she drew herself up and clapped in a distinctive rhythm. Clap, clap, clap-clap-clap.

“Class, line up in ABC order. Quickly now, grab your lunches and any water you have,” she barked over the distressed sounds of children. “It will be alright. Think of it just like the drills we do.”

At an adult asserting authority, the children all responded, hastily grabbing their backpacks and lining up. But Nahida could not stay, slipping out.

“Nahida!” Mrs. Wafa shouted. “Nahida!” 

I’m sorry, Nahida whispered to Mrs. Wafa’s mind. I really liked being in your class today. But don’t worry. I won’t let the Simurgh hurt you. I promise. 

She dashed out of the building, even before the first panicked teachers led their students towards the shelter, which Nahida knew would not be enough to save them from what approached. Simple earth and concrete could not keep out the Song of Death. 

Forming a bubble of Dendro about herself, Nahida flew up onto the rooftops, a swarm of Aranara buzzing along behind her. 

“Sarva Nara! What comes?” Arabalika called.

“The Angel of Death!” Nahida cried. “Protect the children! Take them into the Dream! Her song won’t hurt them there! Spread out over the city! Get as many people into the Dream as you can!” 

“But, Sarva Nara, you cannot face-”

“Go! I am the Archon! I am the Branch of Irminsul! Do as I command!” Nahida wailed, tears filling her eyes.

The aranara hesitated, then bobbed bows in the air and scattered. Turning, Nahida looked up at the sky for a moment, taking a deep breath. She let her premonition calculate the vector of the Simurgh’s arrival, then set out across the city, jumping from rooftop to rooftop, floating over the panicked crowds below her. 

Qiqi, Mrs. Rasab, Doctor Bashir! Please, flee! The Simurgh comes! Nahida cried out. 

Nahida?! Where are you!? I can’t find you! Doctor Bashir’s thoughts came back to her.

It’s alright. I… I enjoyed having you as a father. I have to go now. I promise, the city will be safe.

Nahida?! What are you doing?! I’m going to the Special Action Squad Headquarters, but Qiqi and Mrs Rasab are-

I’m sorry. Get to safety. It will be well. 

Then Nahida forcibly cut the connection. She dashed across the city as fast as her little legs and Dendro bubble could carry her, cursing her lack of mobility in every language she knew, which was all of them, though she very carefully did not use any words that would actually be considered a curse. 

As she neared the city center half an hour later, she looked up, and a gleaming white shape descended. Nahida had been warned early of the Simurgh’s arrival thanks to her connection to the Soul of the World, warned of the coming death before it arrived. She leapt into the air, rising up to meet the Simurgh, traveling as fast as she could.

As if sensing her approach, the Simurgh slowed, altering her trajectory and veering towards Nahida. Then, the Endbringer came to a halt, precisely 1000 meters above the streets of Bahgdad. Slowly, the Angel of Death began to unfold her wings.

These are my people! This is my city! I won’t let you claim them! Nahida shouted with every fiber of her being, meeting the empty and malevolent gaze of the pristine creature.

The Simurgh smiled, revealing perfectly white teeth, then, she open her mouth, preparing to sing. 

Nahida closed her eyes and drew a single symbol in the air. 

Dream.

Then, the God of Wisdom and the Angel of Death clashed with will and song. 

PHILO: You have no idea how funny it was to have my silly little poem get everybody riled up. This is going to be a good one.