Cytham

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

Canon
Cyno and Alhaitham share many interconnecting parts, especially with Alhaitham's recent acceptance of the role as Acting Grand Sage that makes him Cyno's boss. 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.

Alhaitham's Character Story 2
In Alhaitham's second character story, it's stated that he's regularly invited to the Sanctuary of Surasthana to discuss matters of the Akademiya with Lesser Lord Kusanali. Various members of the Archon Quest's cast regularly meet each other, including Cyno himself. Nilou at one point wonders how he came up with such an elaborate plan, and that Cyno was among those curious as to the secret behind such a haphazard but still successful vendetta against the Sages and Fatui. She says that, while Cyno (and Dehya) were also curious, but she insinuates that he might've been too shy to ask.

Regardless, this suggests an immense degree of closeness, and that Alhaitham and Cyno regularly collaborate together. This closeness was further displayed in Alhaitham's demo video, as well.

Voice Lines
Alhaitham and Cyno, as of the 3.4 Version, both have voicelines about each other.

In Cyno's, he mentions how he doesn't like overly-intelligent people due top their extreme arrogance that leads he or one of the Matra to apprehend these scholars who push boundaries too much. However, he concedes that Alhaitham is an extremely rare example of someone actually reliable and that he actually maintains control and can avert potential disaster. Although it might come across as begrudging, Cyno does possess respect for Alhaitham and his intelligence.

Conversely, Alhaitham's voiceline references his story quest that he and Cyno collaborated closely on, and how his conscience is clear because he wasn't the cause of a potential disaster. It conveys a degree of closeness between the two and how well they synergize together, and how Alhaitham genuinely seemed relieved that he wasn't an enemy of Cyno's like he narrowly was in the Archon Quest.

Alhaitham's Character Demo: "Think Before You Act"
In Alhaitham's character demo, Kaveh, Cyno, and Tighnari are gathered at a table with an empty place setting playing Genius Invokation TCG together. They open the conversation by poking fun at Alhaitham's "feeble scholar" gag mentioned in the Archon Quest, and Cyno agrees that it was absolutely a front. Kaveh goadingly asks Cyno if Alhaitham is stronger than him, which the General goes on to fold his arms and retort that he's absolutely not stronger than Cyno. Tighnari goes on to mention, when Alhaitham finally joins them, that they were debating how good he is in a fight. Cyno leans in with a knowing smile and remarks, "You keep your cards close to your chest." Perhaps what is also telling is that Alhaitham, normally so asocial, actually agreed to play Genius Invokation, Cyno's favorite pastime.

Aside from the flirtatious undertone that shippers have picked up on, it's been noted how Cyno's remark reflects on a similar statement Alhaitham himself said, that he keeps his cards close to his chest. Fans have mentioned how he and Alhaitham seem to have many instances of mirroring one another with this being one of those times.

When Alhaitham goes on to describe his technique, he states a process that is quite simple to him, but Tighnari and Cyno refute in unison that it's actually not. A moment after, he orders wine from the bartender, stating how good it is. This is rather humorous as people have noticed how Cyno's goblet was far away from Alhaitham, but through the conversation, it mysteriously wound up very close to the Scribe. This has led fans to believe that he copped Cyno's to sample, and that it technically counted as an indirect kiss.

Vulture Volans Story Chapter
In Alhaitham's story quest, Vulture Volans, he and Cyno are confirmed to collaborate together on a major case.

At the very beginning, an NPC known as Aarav mentions that the Akademiya was launching an investigation around suspicious circumstances regarding Ilyas and Siraj. Because of how it concerned possible academic transgressions, Aarav mentions to the Traveler that Alhaitham personally left Cyno a letter and asked if he would team up with him in the endeavor.

In the last chapter of the story, Cyno makes an appearance at the cave containing the fabled Hivemind after following the cipher Alhaitham left for him in the message. As Siraj concedes defeat and that he's prepared to stand trail, Alhaitham goes on to mention how he'd left a simple picture for Cyno and several incongruous trail markers that only Cyno could detect that led him to follow Alhaitham so precisely as he did, informing of the high degree of synergy the pair have with each other.

Cyno proceeds to mention how he and the Matra have already begun processing the crime scene and any unwilling accomplices, and praises Alhaitham for how the latter's predictions had been extremely accurate. Alhaitham confirms the job well done, and leaves the rest of the work to Cyno in good faith. At the very end, Cyno affirms that everything is underway with concluding the potential crime, and that if the Traveler encounters any lingering allies of Siraj's, to come see him at the Akademiya. He then goes on to say that Alhaitham is waiting for them at the entrance, and to rest once they've finished.

Perhaps what is the most telling about this quest, as confirmed in Alhaitham's character stories, is that Cyno and Alhaitham display a high degree of synergy with one another and working closely as the Acting Grand Sage and General Mahamatra that work to create a just ecosystem within the Akademiya under the Dendro Archon, cementing the parallelism they displayed as early as the promotional video before 3.0's release. Alhaitham's voiceline about Cyno revolving around this specific case further confirms them as extremely close and mirror each other as co-workers.

Serenitea Pot
Both Alhaitham and Cyno favor the indoor set, Of Settled Thoughts, and bear similar dialogue on the location.

Alhaitham remarks that books are meant to be read, but in some households, they serve another function as decoration. He insinuates it's likely because the owners don't have the patience to read said books.

Cyno praises how every book is in its place; with the spines facing outward, similar genres kept together, and there isn't a single banned volume. However, he notices some are crooked and sets to correct it at once.

Although it might seem miniscule, both Alhaitham and Cyno are ardent readers and enjoy being in the presence of many books, especially within a library. This adds to the many similarities the pair have with one another.

Etc.
The Temple of Silence is a mysterious organization that Cyno canonically has allegiances to, while Alhaitham is one of the only known people to have contact with a member of the Temple. His outfit, the Rational, reads:  '“Don’t bother the Scribe with trivialities… What do you think those soundproofers of his are for, anyway?” So observed an experienced staff member at the Temple of Silence.' Because Cyno is the only known member, it can be speculated that the person remarking on Alhaitham's earpieces could be Cyno himself.

An aspect that governs Cyno's aim when invoking justice are the six deadly sins from which almost all the Akademiya's rules and laws originally derive. According to his character story, "the six ancient sins seem to have been forgotten by most, and ambitious people have been on the move since", he's taken them to heart and punishes all transgressors harshly, depending on which one they've broken. Curiously, Alhaitham seems to be among the rare few who remembers them closely, too. In Alhaitham's story quest, at an earlier time he describes when Siraj had presented his Hivemind project at an earlier stage. Alhaitham had rejected it because it broke the first cardinal sin, and that "from violating matters regarding human evolution to attempting the forbidden and fearing none, the six cardinal sins are the origin of all evil in this world. They are also what the sages use as a reference when formulating or amending the rules of the Akademiya." Again, this demonstrates yet another area that both Cyno and Alhaitham have uncanny familiarity in.

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, Candace 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 initial 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."'That mortal is not alike to you. He comes from a sordid land, and his hands are stained with blood, while his heart festers with delusions and madness. [...] Only then can the bright moon and the newborn stars grant him pure wisdom and help him shed his bitter memories and desires.'"Alhaitham's true signature sword, the Light of Foliar Incision, is proven in its lore to have been Faramarz's. Its description takes place after his tragic battle with Xiphos in the desert that saw the latter defeated and dead. As this sword's description shows, Faramarz's fate following the battle is one of delusion and madness, and he encounters the legendary huntress Viridescent and, perhaps indirectly, Viaghara. Although he's given a chance at redemption, Viridescent stays her hand and allows him to try and atone, and in doing so, forges the Light of Foliar Incision. This connects it to Faramarz and Xiphos being like Cyno and Alhaitham, respectively, in the respect that Alhaitham came to wield both swords belonging to the two contenders. Yet, again, instead of needing redemption, Cyno and Alhaitham put aside their differences unlike their failed predecessors and even become friends by 3.4, meeting and drinking in a tavern that Xiphos' Moonlight laments Xiphos and Faramarz never got to do. In a way, their fates come full circle through Alhaitham and Cyno in how they befriend each other by 3.4.

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. In addition to his eyes, the patterning on Alhaitham's shirt closely matches another Deshret-connected motif that appears to be of his pyramid with the gemstone near his collarbone aligning with the placement of a similar rhombus seen in other depictions of Deshret.

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 two 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. In the Windblume 3.5 event, Breath of the Windblume, Cyno and Lisa revealed that his power sourced from Hermanubis. As written in the Lay of Al-Ahmar, it's strongly implied that Hermanubis is the Scarlet King, which would mean that Cyno's powers are tied to Deshret somehow. While Cyno's rumored background in the Vision portion of his character story mentions the wild rumor that he was raised by a Hermanubis priest and sent to the Akademiya to enact his will, Cyno's revelation to Lisa revealed that he does indeed house the spirit of a nameless priest that many believe is Kasala's.

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.

"The hivemind case certainly added to the matra's workload, but my conscience is clear. The root cause of what ultimately transpired actually has nothing to do with me at all. I'm sure Cyno appreciates that, as he hasn't once approached me about the incident."

- Alhaitham, about Cyno.

"You keep your cards close to your chest."

- Cyno, Alhaitham's Character Demo: "Think Before You Act"

"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.

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.

As of the current updates, some have noticed and latched on to the fact that, as Acting Grand Sage, Alhaitham is Cyno's boss and play out tropes accordingly. In addition, with the resolution of the Archon Quests and cameos in Alhaitham's story quest and character demo, Alhaitham and Cyno are confirmed not only to work closely together in the Akademiya, but that they synergize exceedingly well together. While they started out as tenuous allies, Cyno and Alhaitham are both collaborators and potentially even friends.

Currently, the pair has roughly over 600 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 like in Kavethaynonari, 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. Cytham is referred to with the "🌱⚖️" emojis.

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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.
 * 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 of Egyptian Kemeticism. 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.

Variations
"Kavethaynonari refers to the polyship between Alhaitham, Kaveh, Cyno, and Tighnari"