Dehyarzad

"Don't worry, my guardian knight."

- Dunyarzad to Dehya, during Archon Quest Chapter III: Act II.

Dehyarzad is the femslash ship between Dehya and Dunyarzad from the game Genshin Impact.

Canon
Dehya and Dunzaryard are very close friends. Along with that, Dehya was Dunzaryard's bodyguard for many years (according to her dialogue in her story quest) until her resignation in the Sumeru Archon Quest. Both of them are from Sumeru, but they come from different regions : Dunyarzad was born and raised in the rainforest, while Dehya grew up in the desert. There is also a major difference between the way they were raised. Dunyarzad was always at home, never allowed to leave her room because of her illness, while Dehya was growing up with traveling mercenaries, so that made her wander a lot in the Desert and learn how to survive in this harsh environnement.

Archon Quests
Dehya and Dunyarzad are first introduced in the first act of the Sumeru Archon Quest : Through Mists of Smoke and Forests Dark. Dunyarzad is the daughter of the Homayani family, a prestigious and respected family in Sumeru. Dehya works as a mercenary — we later learn in Dehya's Story Quest that Dunyarzad's father specifically reached out to her brigade to hire her.

Because of Dunyarzad's poor health, her parents are constantly worried about letting her roam the city on her own, and opt to hire a significant number of bodyguards to ensure her safety at all times. As one of the bodyguards, Dehya often accompanies Dunyarzad on her trips to the city, as well as occasionally keeping her company at the Homayani Estate. The two have developed a strong friendship, even within the bounds of their formal arrangement of employer and employee.

The first time the two interact on-screen is in Lambad's Tavern, after Dunyarzad had successfully escaped from the other bodyguards looking for her. Dehya, however, is able to find her easily, and tries to convince Dunyarzad to head back home. After explaining herself, Dunyarzad is able to convice Dehya to let her stay in the City for the Sabzeruz Festival, on the condition that the Flame-Mane keeps an eye on her. Their arrangement proves to be beneficial, because Dehya will be the one who later protects Dunyarzad from being kidnapped.

After the Samsara starts in the second act of the Archon Quest : The Mourn a Thousand Roses Brings, the encounter between Dehya and Dunyarzad's kidnappers plays out the same every day, with the only difference being Dehya improving her skills with her new greatsword. The first day, it's revealed that the person behind the anonymous donation that allowed Zubayr Theater to be able to finish their preparations for the festival was actually Dehya all along. Dunyarzad cries after realising how much Dehya cares for her happiness.

Since with each cycle Dunyarzad's health worsens, the Traveler and Paimon seek Dehya's help, using the donation as proof of the existence of the time loop. Dehya believes them, having sensed that the Dunyarzad she was interacting with during these loops was off — way more tired and sad than she should've been. She mentions that Dunyarzad's parents said that's how she used to behave, long ago.

Despite not being able to physically see the unconscious body of the real Dunyarzad, Dehya feels her presence, claiming that she could sense her aura and even her feelings. She quickly comes to the conclusion that her lady is in great danger so, wanting to protect Dunyarzad, she agrees to help and find a solution with the Traveler. This attempt does not work, but the Samsara is eventually broken and Dunyarzad is safe. After the Festival, the two part ways for a time, with Dehya leaving for the Desert while Dunyarzad is resting.

The two reunite again at the end of the last act of the Sumeru Archon Quest : Akasha Pulses, The Kalpa Flame Rises in Port Ormos. Dunyarzad is free from her illness, and doesn't need Dehya's protection anymore. Likewise, Dehya wants to go back to working as a mercenary outside of Sumeru City — specifically in the Desert. They both are saddened by Dehya's imminent departure, and have decided to spend their last week together doing everything that Dunyarzad could not do while she was sick.

The last time they're seen interacting on-screen is at Zubayr Theatre, at a feast organized by Nilou. They spend their time celebrating their victory and enjoying the food and company as much as possible.

Mantichora Chapter : Lionsblood
In Dehya's story quest, the Traveler and Paimon come across Dehya and Dunyarzad, who were hanging out together in the Grand Bazaar. Surprised, Paimon points out that she didn't expect to see them together because Dehya doesn't work for the Homayanis anymore. Dehya answers that "their friendship wasn't over" and that "they were still the best of friends." She explains that she still sometimes work for the Homayanis because the pay is good, and that Dunyarzad told her to stay at her place whenever she was working in the city, even going as far as to say that her parents thought someone was missing at home everytime Dehya wasn't around.

Dunyarzad asks Dehya when will their next trip to the Desert be planned. When Dehya refuses to bring her along this time, she admits that she only asked this because she noticed something was off with the mercenary recently. We later learn more about Dehya's history and past with her father, as she shares everything with Dunyarzad.

While the first Archon Quests were centered around Dehya helping Dunyarzad, this quest is the reverse.

This quest also reveals that Dehya and Dunyarzad's fathers, Kusayla and Shahzaman knew eachother. They met when the two girls were just babies, so their story goes back a long way. Their stories are more intertwined than we thought at first, creating an interesting plot-twist.

Quotes
"Dehya"

- I guess I'm just used to calling you "my lady." Old habits die hard.

"Dehya"

- Sure. That's quite the trip though — I'll carry you.

"Dehya"

- Haha, I said I was going to resign from being her bodyguard, not that our friendship was over. We're still the best of friends.

"Dunyarzad"

- Would you swear on that? Friends shouldn't lie to each other, you know. I won't pry any further if you're willing to swear on what you just said. But if something really is bothering you, then just tell me. You know I'll help you however I can.

Fanon
The pair quickly rose to popularity following the release of patch 3.0 and the first two acts of the Sumeru Archon Quest, becoming the most popular ship for both Dehya and Dunyarzad. Their dynamic of bodyguard and protected reminded fans of the popular 1992 movie The Bodyguard, which automatically coded their interactions as romantic in the eyes of the shippers. Furthermore, their canonical affection for each other fueled the ship even more. The two have also quite contrasting personalities, with Dunyarzad being cheerful and sweet despite her circumstances, and Dehya being the more cynical and jaded of the two. However, Candehya has emerged in 3.1 as a rivaling ship, and is now way more popular.

There are currently 100+ works on AO3, most of which depict the pair as romantic.

Fandom
FAN FICTION

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Trivia

 * After the end of the Sumeru Archon Quest, the last time we see Dehya and Dunyarzad they're planning a trip to the desert. In the Scarlet Sand Sojourn web event, we get to see their time together on the trip.
 * We saw both Dunyarzad and Dehya as kids, Dunyarzad in the Sumeru Archon Quest, and Dehya in her own Story Quest.
 * The fansong "I've never forgotten" centered around Dunyarzad was used in the game. The OST featured in Dehya's "Scarlet Sand Sojourn" event is based on it.