Cytham

Cytham is the slash ship between Alhaitham and Cyno from the Genshin Impact fandom.

Canon
Cyno and Alhaitham share many similarities within canon, such as the fact that Alhaitham was originally offered the role of General Mahamatra before Cyno, but declined the offer and let the post go to Cyno, instead. Due to Alhaitham’s acute understanding of the position—such as how he read an extensive log that gave him foresight to know how the Sages could track and predict Cyno’s actions—it can be assumed that Alhaitham keeps close tabs on the General Mahamatra. As Scribe of the Mahamata, Alhaitham is seemingly responsible for overseeing much of the law that Cyno implements, which means they could work closely, if indirectly.

However, when it comes to the contact maintained at the Akademiya, Alhaitham mentions how, "We never spoke two words to each other at the Akademiya," which means they likely didn't interact much if at all while in the Akademiya before the Archon Quests.

Personality-wise, Alhaitham and Cyno are known to be quarrelsome with each other, often bickering and holding long silences. However, they’re also shown to have similarities due to their stoic, intimidating personalities. In addition, they have intimidating reputations in the Akademiya that makes them feared as much as they are respected.

In the Sumeru Promotional Video before 3.0’s launch, the pair are shown battling with one another before being interrupted by Dehya, alluding to the cutscene later seen in Archon Quest: Dreams, Emptiness, Deception.

Dreams, Emptiness, Deception
Act III is when Alhaitham and Cyno first encounter each other, Cyno confronting them due to noticing that Alhaitham had been in possession of the Divine Knowledge Cupsule, among other reasons, that begins with a fight that mirrors the one shown in the Sumeru Promotional Video where the two men are not only equally matched and fight each other to a standstill, but need to sequester themselves in Aaru Village when they notice the impending coming of a terrible sandstorm, interceded by Dehya despite how combative the two of them still are.

Once inside, Candance urges them to speak of their troubles peacefully, which results in an understanding that Cyno reveals the man had been tracking the Traveler. Several times throughout this conversation, Cyno and Alhaitham are shown to have a quarrelsome attitude towards each other, with their exchanges often littered towards long silences and bickering. Near the end, it only becomes clear that neither is against the other, which results in a tenuous truce with each other when it's obvious there's common ground they don't have to fight upon, but rather work together with.

King Deshret & the Three Magi
In the next act, they come to a point where Cyno ponders how the Akademiya is aware of their plans before Alhaitham provocatively tells Cyno he's the mole, much to his anger. However, Alhaitham goes on to explain that the Akasha System has the ability of computation, and with all the knowledge composed on Cyno, they accumulated what they knew on Cyno in the recent past and its calculations were able to predict how Cyno would act due to his solitary nature. Although it dismays Cyno at first, he works through it and they eventually come to the next phase of their plan that involves trekking into the desert.

They go on to the site of mysterious ruins where Alhaitham translates a transcript that details the words of Kasala, a priest of the Scarlet King that dons a headdress suspiciously similar to the one Cyno wears, leading to fannish speculation of him either being a reincarnation or descendant of the priest.

Upon some Eremites seeing both Alhaitham and Cyno after emerging from the ruins, they become terrified, further alluding to the equally intimidating reputation both men have.

Akasha Pulses, the Kalpa Flame Rises
In the last chapter of the Archon Quest, the group convenes at Aaru Village where they strategize with the last leg of their vendetta against the sages that involves using a group of Eremites as bait in order to infiltrate Sumeru City on the next Jnagarbha Day and draw the Akademiya guards' attention away from what the group plans on doing in order to save the Dendro Archon and release Irminsul from corruption. After completing a series of tasks, the Traveler meets up with Cyno at Caravan Ribat and they proceed from there. However, Cyno does meet it with extreme doubt against Alhaitham due to his understanding of the Eremites and not wanting to senselessly sacrifice them, but the Eremite known as Rahman convinces him that it's what they want, and Cyno begrudgingly goes through with it.

Through a complex series of events, ranging from Alhaitham using himself as bait to help the Traveler and Cyno vowing himself to Nahida in a fashion that mirrors Kasala's resolve thousands of years ago, they and the group manage to save Nahida, Irminsul, and even reverse Eleazar among other amazing feats that comes as a result of their teamwork. All of which was because of Alhaitham's extensive planning from the very beginning that they succeeded at all, yet it wasn't something the Scribe could've done alone.

In the aftermath, Cyno, Alhaitham, and the others are invited by Nilou to a feast at the Grand Bazaar where they not only celebrate their victory, but Cyno's reinstatement as General Mahamatra. Even before the feast, Alhaitham was the first to show an unhesitant willingness to attend, while Cyno seemed more inhibited. During it, the pair sat across from each other and even expressed similar joy at the atmosphere the feast provided despite both of them being rather solitary, especially after Nahida possessed the Traveler's body briefly to express her thanks to everyone. Dehya, again, jokingly refers to Alhaitham and Cyno as "the big Akademiya bigwigs" that is especially true in the wake of the Archon Quest where the pair will be instrumental in restoring Sumeru, working together with the Archon to reform the Akademiya and bring justice to the likes to the discriminated Desertfolk among other many works to bring peace and justice to Sumeru once again.

Nahida’s Character Teaser
In Nahida’s Character Teaser, one of the segments describes the Flower Knight and his retainers, showing the Traveler as the Flower Knight and Cyno and Alhaitham among his retainers like the dream Nahida has cyclically.

Xiphos & Faramarz
Alhaitham’s signature sword during the promotional video and Archon Quests, known as Xiphos’ Moonlight, contains this as part of its description: "‘Later on, the swordsman adored by the Jinni of moonlight would encounter an exiled foreign wanderer. The wanderer had accepted silver coins, blood money from kings opposed to Tulaytullah, and he shouldered their grudges and hatred against the hero. Thus they who should have become friends at some bar became foes in battle, fighting each other to the death with the moonlight as their witness. In the fight, their blades were bathed in ruby wine while the overripe pomegranate burst, vital, vivid red pouring from the rupture… The deadly duel finally settled. The pale moon cast its cold light upon the winner and the defeated alike. 'Whichever direction the wind blows, there is never a single ripple in the cup of life. The three departed goddesses had long determined the heroes' fate, even if they could never fathom it themselves.’"Although it’s unconfirmed, given how Alhaitham is first shown with this sword in the Sumeru Promotional Video when he fights against Cyno, there’s the strong implication that Alhaitham is meant to parallel Xiphos while Cyno parallels Faramarz, the foreign wanderer. This seems to fit given how, when they first meet, Alhaitham has been on the same side as Cyno all along despite the latter’s misgivings; in addition, they have a very contentious dynamic with one another that could fit the description of how ‘they should have been friends’. Unlike the tragic tale of Xiphos and his would-be friend, Alhaitham and Cyno work out their differences in uniting to fight for the same cause to save the Dendro Archon and Sumeru as a whole.

Reincarnation Theory
Although it’s more fannish than confirmed, it’s heavily implied that Alhaitham could be a possible reincarnation of the Scarlet King. Those who agree with this theory note that his eyes mirror the ‘Eye of the Scarlet King’ shown in a story cutscene that detailed the truth behind the Greater Lord’s demise during what was presumably the Cataclysm. Fans note how, when beings like gods (ex. Zhongli, Nahida) change form, they retain their eyes no matter how different their appearance is. This could mean the same for reincarnations, and how transmigrants of the Scarlet King might possess these same eyes as seen in Alhaitham.

Cyno, meanwhile, is seen as the Scarlet King’s priest’s reincarnation. The priest, known as Kasala, was interred in ruins and recorded a last testament to the truth of the previous Dendro Archon and Scarlet King’s fall and how he remained faithful until the very end. Not only does Cyno don a jackal headdress identical to the one Kasala wore, but his signature weapon, the Staff of the Scarlet Sands, is one of three parts of the scepter that the Scarlet King possessed that was emblematic of his authority in the desert over his peoples that his retainers could authenticate. As one of his retainers, Kasala would've likely had similar authority.

Quotes
"I don't really like people who are too smart. They think they can control everything, and constantly venture to the fringes of danger. But Alhaitham is one of the more reliable ones. In most cases, he is actually in control of things and has the ability to avert potential disaster."

- Cyno, about Alhaitham

"You seem to have placed a lot of trust in Alhaitham, to the point of blocking an attack for him. If I were you, I'd never choose to side with him. I wouldn't believe a single word that comes out of his mouth. I have been pursuing this scribe for a long time. I urge you, stand back and do not seek to defend him any longer. Otherwise... there will be consequences."

- Cyno, during The Four at Loggerheads

"Yes... General Mahamatra Cyno, head of all the matra at the Akademiya. He's a formidable hunter, and the ultimate nightmare for any who have committed academic crimes. [...] Very perceptive of you... Nothing escapes a matra's senses."

- Alhaitham at Cyno, during The Four at Loggerheads

"Ahem... Well look at you two, acting all tough and self-righteous over there. [...] Yeah, sure looks that way... Two giants from the Akademiya, duking it out once and for all. Not something you get to see every day, that's for sure. Listen, I know you academic types love to fill up your big brains with self-righteous morality, and lord your empty rules and virtues over each other…"

- Dehya, about Cyno and Alhaitham’s similarities

"Later on, the swordsman adored by the Jinni of moonlight would encounter an exiled foreign wanderer. The wanderer had accepted silver coins, blood money from kings opposed to Tulaytullah, and he shouldered their grudges and hatred against the hero. Thus they who should have become friends at some bar became foes in battle, fighting each other to the death with the moonlight as their witness. In the fight, their blades were bathed in ruby wine while the overripe pomegranate burst, vital, vivid red pouring from the rupture… The deadly duel finally settled. The pale moon cast its cold light upon the winner and the defeated alike. 'Whichever direction the wind blows, there is never a single ripple in the cup of life. The three departed goddesses had long determined the heroes' fate, even if they could never fathom it themselves.'"

- Xiphos’ Moonlight, description

Fanon
Ever since the release of the Sumeru Promotional Video, many fans started and still enjoy the idea of Cyno and Alhaitham having either a bitter rivalmance, or enemies-to-lovers. Their similar personalities often see fans depicting them as being prone to arguing frequently, or otherwise having antagonistic encounters with each other.

On a more genial basis, there are those that enjoy the idea of them being Akademiya sweethearts when they were younger, and some further still like the idea of Lisa acting as a wingman that coaxes the two to accept their mutual if stubbornly repressed feelings for each other.

In addition, because of their determination to save the Dendro Archon, some fans have begun to ship the two as dads that raise Nahida as their own, still very much prone to bickering, but much more like an old married couple than anything truly antagonistic.

On a sentimental level, others still like tying the pair into the reincarnation theory and that they were past lovers who have to navigate both their feelings and forgotten memories that can either be remembered, or they recognize the connection the two of them have.

Currently, the pair has roughly over 350 works on AO3 and continues to grow with the progression of the Archon Quests since they’ve both come to work together. Although it is rivaled by Cynonari and Kavetham, some multishippers like to ship them as OT3's or OT4's of varying combinations, if not jokingly seeing them as exes that have moved on to Tighnari or Kaveh, respectively. On another angle, some view Tighnari and Kaveh as their close but exasperated friends often fatigued by the constant drama between the couple.

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Trivia

 * With Alhaitham bearing a Dendro Vision and Cyno an Electro one, they're both capable of producing a Hyperbloom/Quicken reaction, which in turn is capable of Aggravate and Spread.
 * In some translations, some fans have noted the ways Alhaitham addresses Cyno that sound especially intimate, such as the French "dear Mahamatra" or German "my Mahamatra"; in addition, he also uses terms to indicate respect and some closeness, too, in the Vietnamese sub. Regardless, in many translations, Alhaitham uses wording that conveys respect and some flirtation.
 * In the wild, mainly in Africa, jackals and eagles are known to compete over similar resources (such as prey) despite having the odd story where they're seen hunting together . Given Alhaitham and Cyno's contentious relationship and friction while working together, this fits them. In addition, Cyno's constellation is shaped like a jackal while Alhaitham's is an eagle.
 * In Egyptian Kemeticism, Horus and Anubis are sometimes depicted as half-brothers. Because of Alhaitham's associations with eagles in his name and constellation, and Cyno with jackals in his aesthetic and constellation, Cyno is often compared to Anubis while Alhaitham is to Horus. In addition, with Horus as god of the sky and kingship while Anubis as lord of the underworld, they bear a parallel to one another.
 * Aesthetically, both Cyno and Alhaitham have similar eye motifs in their designs with Alhaitham's being in his off-shoulder cape and Cyno in his headdress.