Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“...Wake ██, (Y/n)..! Can y██.. ████ me?!”

A soft thud and faint chatter coming down the hallways forced you to wake up in a cold sweat. The chattering grew louder as a group of students walked into your library, only for them to be scolded for talking too loud. You touch your sore forehead and realize you slept on the desk again. You’ve been having strange and rather… unexplainable dreams lately. 

Looking out the window, where the sun is directly shining, you notice it is already morning as you rub your eyes and stretch your arms. Yesterday night's prolonged, sprinkling rain left the plants outside soggy and moist. Fortunately, the rain on the leaves was now pouring off and falling on the damp ground of the academy.

The morning air was cool and refreshing due to the rain. Perfect for taking a breather after a hellish week, you thought. You begin to decide if you should go out for a short jog, but you remember you still have something important to do today.

You recall a glimpse of yesterday when you finished your stand-alone research for the semester. You were chosen right away as a scholar to be transferred to another academy located at Sumeru because of the favorable feedback and praise you received from the higher-ups for your remarkable work. They mentioned that the Akademiya will give you a larger opportunity to broaden your knowledge and perhaps you might find the answers you’re looking for.

"Ah!"

Your eyes widened in shock, and you remembered that you were supposed to pass the final manuscript for you to get transferred to Sumeru. You were already enrolled at the Akademiya as of last night, and you kept checking your acceptance letter to make sure you weren't dreaming or anything. Today is the day you leave, and you were elated to finally have some freedom to explore and take on research journeys. 

Since you were young, you have always had an interest in studying different kinds of herbs and creatures, though that is just one of the many things you want to study. It was almost like a dream come true that you'll be able to build up your knowledge, especially in Sumeru, for having the highest rate of where the wisest and most knowledgeable scholars come from. You also aspire to become one.

It was overall exciting until you look back on a memory of overhearing two students say one time that the Sumeru Akademiya is almost identical to the pits of hell and it's an absolute nightmare to study there. From the looks of it, it does seem that way. Plus, after hearing about a particular scholar whose thesis was rejected a million times, those rumors became more convincing. You never really thought about that too much since it wasn't the issue for you, but rather the environment and how people are there.

As someone who never really had a permanent friendship with anyone, you were quite nervous about that. It's not like people don't like you, but for someone who is quite intelligent and tops the examinations, anyone would feel intimidated by your mere presence. However, things will undoubtedly change now that you are to become a scholar at the Sumeru Akademiya. Surely, you must first adjust to a new learning curve and establish some relationships with other researchers, but that is not important.

One of the preceptors from yesterday approaches your desk and greets you with a small smile. "(Y/n), it seems you slept in again today. Take as much time as you want. The ship arrives in three hours." He reminds you, peering at the papers scattered all over the desk you had slept on.

“G-Got it, sir. I’m just about to turn my final revision in.” You couldn’t help but laugh nervously as you started to clean up the desk hastily but carefully.

He lets out a laugh, going around the desk to collect the final manuscript that you had prepared all night. “I’ll be taking this, so you go and prepare now. The higher-ups wish you well in your future endeavors, (Y/n).” He smiles at you before heading out of the library as he reads the papers carefully.

You simply nodded in response, a little touched by those words, and got up to start fixing the cluster of papers on top of your desk. Since falling asleep here was rather reckless and could become a negative habit, you try to remind yourself to stop sleeping in libraries from now on. Because you were so eager to go to Sumeru, you were determined to complete all your requirements overnight before you departed. Even so, it was worth it. Now, you can have all the time to prepare.

Most of the papers were mostly drafts that you gathered since you felt some sort of sentimental value over them. You have been working on this research for quite a long time now, and it was the main reason you were getting transferred to one of the best academies in Teyvat, so it has already grown in you.

You turn around to be on your way to leave the library after tidying up your papers. It wasn't until just now that you noticed how opulent the library's interior is. Perhaps you were burying yourself too much in your studies that you only noticed this now. Nonetheless, you spent the majority of your time here and consider it your second home. At the Sumeru Akademiya, you were certain their libraries would be ten times more fascinating.

"Leaving already, (Y/n)?" A colleague you were acquainted with walks up to you with a book in her hand, heading in the direction of the cafeteria. 

"Yes, I have to go." You glance at the big wall clock in the hallway.

She hums in response, her face taking on a despondent look. "Study well and make some friends, okay? And write to me, I will be looking forward to those, at least." She waves her hand as she goes ahead to make her way to the canteen.

Keeping that in mind, you wave back at her. Before, the two of you weren't particularly close, but because you frequently worked together on the same projects, you practically became friends even though she’s older and you had separate classes. It's a shame you have to leave now.

You arrived at your dorm and immediately started to pack your belongings in a huge bag after greeting a few other students along the way. You weren't going to bring everything; you just needed the essentials in your daily, particularly for studying.

You also take a quick shower so you can put on something neat and comfortable. It doesn't get too cold there, according to what you've heard. Just the right temperature to go exploring, you thought. After all these years of living in such a cold region, you were yearning for some heat.

When you were done changing clothes, you stood at the doorway and faced your room. It was time to leave now. You inhaled slowly and exhaled sharply before scooping up your luggage and heading through the corridors. Fortunately, you made sure to reserve breakfast for yourself in the morning, so you walked straight to grab it from the cooks themselves even though the cafeteria was already jam-packed with students getting their breakfast.

You opted to just have your breakfast while traveling because you were already running out of time as you peered at the enormous wall clock. As you were leaving the academy, a few preceptors you knew waved goodbye and wished you success at the Sumeru Akademiya.

Without wasting any time, you hurried inside the carriage as it was already waiting for you outside the academy's gates. The chauffeur tips his hat and greets you with a genial smile. He assures you that you aren't going to be late for the ship and that you just arrived at the right time. You thanked him and leaned back as the vehicle began to move.

The people preparing and opening their next-to-each-other sidewalk shops could be seen through the windows on each side of you. You were practically imprisoned in that academy, so going outside still feels like it’s the first time you’ve been there. The way that sounds is giving you an unhealthy feeling, you thought. It's been a while since you went outside the academy to buy some pastries, but that could wait for now. 

You lean closer to the window and look up at the clear blue sky while taking a big bite of your breakfast.

Suddenly, your imagination wanders to the possibility that something unexpected might occur while you are studying there. You start to worry, yet you have confidence that nothing bad will occur. You laughed quietly to yourself, thinking that your luck couldn't possibly be that bad. You dismissed the thought out of hand right away, thinking it was ridiculous to even ponder. It could just be your lack of sleep… and lack of touching grass.

After a long time, you arrived at the dock and started walking toward the ship you would take to Sumeru. The seamen recognized your name and figured you were one of the newest scholars to be transferred to the Sumeru Akademiya. They complimented you for being able to get to study there. Some have mentioned that the thesis is one of the hardest stages to graduate from, but you were already aware of that, so it wasn't a surprise to you anymore. You were confident you’d get through it.

You took a seat and crossed your arms thoughtfully, watching the men at the dock unhitch the ship as you felt the deck beneath you slowly start to move. The sound of the waves was gentle and hypnotic as if you could fall asleep from it. You lean over the wooden taffrail and look over the exceptionally blue sea, full of wonder, and deep down lies solitude.

What if it becomes lonely there? You start to overthink.

The idea of being lonesome made you cynical, even though you had always been interested in studying there and enjoyed listening to the higher-ups talk about the Akademiya. Perhaps you'll start to lose yourself in the process as time goes on and you get sick and tired of the repetitiveness. Perhaps it’ll be different.

You won't know anyone there once you get there, and neither do they know you. One would simply say that you just have to blend in and go along with the flow, but for you, it's quite different. When you were back at your previous academy, it took you a while to adjust to the surroundings and make friends with the students.

It'd be a big problem if it were to happen again, so you try to tell yourself to become more approachable and social this time. You wouldn’t want it to happen again.

The Sumeru Akademiya is an enormous school with numerous students, scholars, alumni, and more. Without a doubt, someone else there shares your interests. Inevitably, you would make at least one friend there, right? What could possibly go wrong?

⁂

"Thank you," you bowed slightly and told the driver of your third ride who dropped you off at the Akademiya.

It took quite some time to get all the way here from your hometown. They meant it when they said it was a long way, but you didn't complain. You made a few stops to eat and rest along the way, so you didn’t have to worry about finding food as soon as you stepped foot in Sumeru.

You arrived at Sumeru during high noon, which is the usual lunchtime for everybody, but you were still full, so you decided to go ahead to the Akademiya. The breeze here felt gentle and refreshing, though the sun was now burning your skin due to the lack of clouds in the sky. The sensation was interesting.

The Akademiya is located in the middle of Sumeru City, so you were a little taken aback when your gaze went up to the giant tree in the middle of the city. It was much bigger than what you expected, and you were afraid of the possibility that the tree might get knocked over and fall like a giant mythical creature falling from the skies and destroying an entire village. But that only happens in fantasies and fiction.

‘That must be the real thing,’ you thought to yourself. Your grip on your bag tightens as you start to wander into the grounds of the city. Green was all you could see everywhere as different kinds of plants and trees you'd never seen before surrounded the entire city, even outside the city. The surroundings were pleasant everywhere you turned. It was very rare to see in your hometown. There were also vendors along the walkways, offering goods and shiny trinkets.

"Excuse me, where is the entrance to the Akademiya?" You ask one of the passersby, you figure they might be familiar here because of their body language and outfit. They seem to be a scholar.

She turns to you and eyes you up and down, putting a finger to her chin thoughtfully. "Oh, you must be one of the new transferees. Just go up the stairs until you reach a large gate with researchers outside. A representative is waiting near the entrance to give you a tour."

You nod your head and thank her before heading to the location where she had instructed you to go. You were surprised to find others there, including recently arrived scholars and researchers from various regions. You don't know these people, but it was a relief to know you weren't the only one to stand and wait for someone to approach you. 

There was not much space anymore to be close to the entrance, so you had no choice but to stand behind the crowd, tip-toeing to see what was happening at the front. Your heart starts beating loudly from the excitement and anxiousness you feel. You had arrived at the Akademiya, and soon you'd be studying and sleeping in their massive library, which was one of the things you had been looking forward to. 

The scholars passing by looked so professional and daring to you that your admiration and determination grew. You could be like one of them someday. You start imagining yourself in their shoes like a child dreaming of becoming a princess one day. Suddenly, the sound of a loud creak as the doors opened made you flinch a little.

Everyone became silent when a member of the Akademiya came out of the doors, greeting all of you with a smile and a subtle wave of his hand. It was an old man in his mid-60s, he was wearing a green uniform with a bird-like symbol on his chest.

"Welcome to Sumeru Akademiya, everyone," he announced, followed by constant claps and cheers from the crowd of rookie students, including you.

Chapter Text

The man introduced himself as one of the herbads of the Akademiya, and he was the one assigned to give you a tour of the academy. It was close to how you imagined it, but you didn't expect it to be enormously spacious inside since you're technically inside the trunk of a giant tree. Some of the researchers who happened to be there greeted you as you walked further inside. You observed the other researchers who had their heads buried down in their books, while some were almost falling asleep and their heads were tilting a little to the side, struggling to keep their eyes open.

Because you were completely in awe everywhere you looked, you almost strayed away from the group from time to time. The first impression you had was that everyone seemed nice here, and you could only anticipate that this first impression wouldn't change. Of course, you were still observing the environment, but it looked completely normal just like how a school usually is. Everyone seems to be in their world, busy with their research and studies.

You knew this was going to be easy for you now, even though their system is quite strict compared to your previous academy, so you had to adjust to that. There wasn't much to do today other than take a tour around so you could get familiar with the places since you'll be rotting here for who knows how long. There are still a lot of questions popping up in your mind that you might have to ask the researcher later.

The herbad stated that you'll be starting next week to give you enough time to adjust to the new environment and find a place to settle in. He suggested a lodge nearby in the city, but only four people can stay there, so you kept in mind to reserve a room for yourself as early as possible; you put a heavy emphasis on that in your mind. Of course, the hardest part of studying is finding a place to live in. 

As for the remaining students who didn't get to settle in the lodge, they have to find a place outside the city, which is pretty stressful and hectic to get to the Akademiya, if you say so yourself. It’s a shame there are only four rooms when there are probably hundreds of new transferees.

Hopefully, you won't eat your own words later.

You didn't know that settling here was the difficult part, for it was the last thing you had to worry about. You thought that they’d be more lenient by giving the students their dormitories. Even so, you didn't find it distressing. It was just a matter of being responsible and being independent. You're on your own now, after all.

The herbad stops in front of a big door and turns to face the group. "Now, this door leads to the House of Daena, also known as the largest library in all of Teyvat. You may freely borrow any book here, just make sure to return it safely." The door opens wide for you to walk in.

You were greeted with a much larger interior than the room you just walked out of, with lots of bookshelves that could have all the copies of books known to man. The library is empty for now since everyone's still out for lunch, so you and the lot were allowed to roam the library for a while. Everyone placed their bags down and went their separate ways to go to the bookshelves of their choice. As much as you wanted to explore the library, you stayed behind to have a chat with the researcher. The library isn't going anywhere.

You approached the man to spark up the conversation. "Excuse me, can't I start a day later?"

"What's the rush?" He chuckles, clasping his hands behind his back. "There is still much to do before you officially start your studies here, young one."

You nodded slowly, "is that so?"

"Before you begin, you must go through a test that will indicate which Darshan you belong to and which specific subject you will be specializing in." You saw his expression change as if what he said might have been confusing for you to comprehend. "Ah, is that clear for you..? All will be explained during the orientation day."

"Yes, don’t worry, I understand," you confidently nodded to assure him. Interesting. So there’s a test that decides which darshan one will be specializing.

Sooner or later, everyone came back and gathered back in front of the herbad when they were done exploring. They were now chattering about the well-known books they saw, and all you could do was listen to them. After a while, the group followed the herbad to where he was off to next.

You approached an elevated platform in the middle of the library, which leads above or below. The herbad stated that it leads up to the Grand Sage's office and down to a big confinement room. It might not be of much use to the students since only the higher-ups use it, though. Still, a time might come when a student has to use it. Who knows?

"Let's call it a day, everyone." The researcher announces, catching everyone's attention. "For now, you can take a rest for the whole day and prepare yourselves for the upcoming test to officially become one of the scholars of the Akademiya."

You wave your hand and say your goodbyes to the researcher as he heads off. The group soon scatters, and you are on your own again. You checked the time and proceeded outside the Akademiya to go to that lodge. You were hoping there was at least one slot left as you walked faster, little by little.

Once you reached the grounds of the city, you immediately turned your heel in a hurry. The passage was a little crowded, but you still made it through. The heavy feeling in your chest began to settle down when you saw the roof of the lodge. Without hesitation, you made your way into the lodge and climbed up the wooden staircase.

The caretaker of the lodge noticed your presence and hurriedly sat upright in her seat as if someone had almost caught her doing a bad deed. "Y-Yes, may I help you?" She widely grinned at you.

"Room for one, please?" You gave her a small smile in anticipation.

"Of course, of course!" You sighed in relief and clutched your duffel bag. Weird. It seemed like no one was aiming for this lodge close to the Akademiya except for you. Perhaps everyone is scattered hunting for dormitories as they all thought only four rooms seemed unlikely to be vacant. Even so, it’s a win for you.

She got up to get something from the wooden key holder behind the desk. "You got the last room," she chuckles as she hands you the key. Nice.

"Thank you," you took it and proceeded to your designated dormitory.

You almost felt bad for the other scholars that they still have to wander outside the city just to have a place to stay. Too bad they're not you.

With a gentle push of your elbow, the wooden door swung open. You drop your bag on the bed to stretch your arms since you were carrying it all morning. Your whole body felt sore, and you were too lazy to even move a muscle, but you still had to study just a little for the test.

The room's interior is just like your dorm back at your previous school. You will admit that it is a little dusty since everything is wood, even the furniture. You were reluctant to clean the areas since the dust wouldn't bother you, but it's perfectly fine to burn a bit of your time.

After you unpacked your things, you took out your notebook and studied a little. You thought about answering the questions related to biology since that was more likely to be your field of interest. Even though the other fields piqued your interest, you didn't have the time and energy to study them all at once. Any field is fine for you.

Once some time had passed, you emerged from your room dressed in a short cloak. It was still bright outside, so you decided to go out and explore the city. You didn't bring anything else except for your keys and some mora, just in case you ate dinner on the way.

"I'll be right back," you told the caretaker with a small wave of your hand, receiving a quick nod in return while she was occupied with writing something on her desk. You take a quick look around before descending the wooden stairs.

Everyone's quite lively and busy here, that's for sure. It was no different from your hometown, but it feels more peaceful here for some odd reason. Perhaps it's because nature seemed more evident here. After all, the city is built within a forest and the Akademiya is in the trunk of a giant tree. You were slightly curious about how it was built, but you knew the technology here was already on another level, considering a lot of knowledgeable people studied at the Akademiya.

Now that you're here, you don't know what to do besides study. But is that the only thing you're going to do? No more or less than that, as your father would say.

If your mother were here right now, you would receive a great deal of temper from her, and she would continuously scold you for not thinking about your love life for once. Truth be told, you didn't care about that. She would say the same thing a million times a day about you finding a man suitable for your tastes once you turn the right age to be courted.

Honestly, you would rather die. Most people would say it's a necessity, but you find it quite annoying and cliché, and it's not a necessity for you, at the very least. You would rather do a complex thesis forever.

It may seem magical in novels, stories, and such, but some of the events in the books are most likely impossible to happen in real life. You thought it would only look embarrassing, though it's not like you didn't get to experience it once. Just one time, and after that, you swore to never fall head over heels for someone who is not worthy of pure and sincere... love . It would be utter bullshit and a complete waste of your precious time.

You dismissively shake the unnecessary thoughts out of your head and focus on where you're headed. Studying here is the sole reason you came here, not because of anything else. In other words, you don't need anyone or anything else. A part of you slightly pitied yourself for that, and you knew your mother would be sad if she knew you were still sticking to your lonely life, but for now, you just have to go with the flow. You still have a long way to go.

Just a friend would do, at least for now. You prioritize your studies more than anything else, after all. Even if you're at the right age to be courted by some fool, you choose to ignore that path.

As you walked along the sides, children as little as baby peas were playing by the stalls, and their cheerful laughter caught your attention.

Their bright expressions made you uneasy. You envy them. You didn't get to experience much of a bright and happy childhood since you were too occupied with academics.

Your father was quite strict and stern in terms of academics and such. He graduated from the Sumeru Akademiya, hence another reason why you're here. But you choose to ignore that reason as you don’t want that to be the only reason you’re here, just because your father was once here. You dreamed of being here too. He wanted you to be exactly like him. You make a small mistake on a test, and he barges into your room like a big and destructive storm has come. Smoke would be coming out of his nostrils as his chest heaves, and a fuming expression is splayed across his face like a ticking bomb that's about to explode, taking his anger out on you with hurtful words and a stinging slap across your face.

He's not like that anymore, though. In fact, he seems less agitated now. Perhaps it's all because you made a lot of progress and flawlessly became the top student at your previous school. Now, your whole life has been consumed by studying since you were young, like a spider building its web for its whole life, lingering in it, and only leaving when necessary. 

You also chose this life and would rather stay on this path. You came all the way here because of your own decisions, not his. When he found out you were transferring to the Akademiya to be a scholar, he was so happy and relieved. That was the first time you’ve seen him smile and proud of you. You keep in mind to write to him when you go back home.

On the other hand, your mother was the complete opposite of your father. She is gentle, kind, and caring like any other mother. She is supportive of everything you do, and because you didn't receive much affection during your youth, she wants you to have someone who will love you unconditionally.

Most of the time, you tried your best not to show a disgusted expression whenever the word was mentioned. It only sends chills up your spine when you hear it, especially during your stay at your previous school. Girls in your class were head over heels for some guys who didn't even show a hint of attention toward them. It confuses you how a small interaction has already made them go crazy, squealing and becoming boisterous like they have squirrels in their pants. Is that love at first sight? It's scary, you thought.

Perhaps it was the anxious feeling from your father's past actions that caused you to become apathetic and uninterested in anything. On top of that, you had no time to be loved by your parents because of how strict and conscientious your father was. It was almost as if he never cared about your livelihood but only about your great potential to match his knowledge, especially after being forced to study without a break at such a young age.

Your hatred for him never ceased until now, but there's a part of you that wanted to thank him. He turned you into who you are now, a perfect successor of his, potentially bound to succumb later on. You hate to admit it, but you're much more comfortable with the way things are now. Maybe because you have become accustomed to it. No, you had to get used to it.

Because of that, you weren't taught what love truly is. You believe there is no such thing as true love and that it can turn into something different that's not called love anymore as time passes. Is there such a thing as long-lasting love?

Even so, nothing will change your mind now. You grew tired of it, and you decided to move on from the past, bit by bit. Now you're here, at the Akademiya, to do something you enjoy and not go crazy over someone looking your way once and never again.

You turned a corner, and before you even knew it, your body had harshly collided with something so tall and hard that you had lost your balance. It’s as if a lamppost had been built in the middle of a passageway.

The jingling sound of your keys falling to the ground alerted you, so you immediately bent down to grab them, only to see a thick book by your feet instead. You were quite familiar with it, so you tilted your head and picked it up.

"Is this yours?"

Swiftly, you stood back up on your feet when the man with a body that was hard as a rock stepped closer. It seemed like you were the only one who got badly affected by that. With your frail body, it was not a surprise. You have everything except physical strength, which you have to work on.

"Yes, I'm sorry..." Once you had a clearer view of him, you became silent for a moment.

He sure is tall—definitely like a lamp post; you felt like a sewer rat standing in front of him as he looked down at you. His hair was as gray as mist with pale highlights, and his eyes were a pastel color of turquoise with orange pupils. You glance at his ears and observe the large golden earpiece he's wearing. Interesting, you thought.

"The book," he informed, pointing to your hand.

"Right," you handed it back to him and took your keys from him as well. “Uh, thank you.”

He wiped the dust off the book and flipped through the pages while you observed his actions. You could tell he is well-built just by watching his biceps move as he does something. He closed the book with a heavy sigh, startling you a little. 

His outfit seemed to indicate that he was from here, so you were guessing whether he could be a scholar of the Akademiya or a higher-up. Judging from the book he's holding, it seems like he's studying something related to injunctions. First impressions must be good, so you have to act straight. You purse your lips, waiting for something he might say.

"You're not from here, are you?" He asks, turning to face you with an unreadable expression.

How straightforward. You internally rolled your eyes.

"I'm glad you could tell," you blatantly replied. "...Yes, that's correct." You instantly came up with another response, just in case he takes it the wrong way. You curse to yourself for being cocky. The words just slipped out of your mouth.

He steps closer to you as he taps his earpiece. He looked you up and down, which made you slightly furrow your eyebrows while you followed where his eyes were going. A little scared but confused, you only stood still and let him do his thing since he knows best what he’s doing.

This must be an Akademiya thing. Surely, he's not some kind of police official here who finds you suspicious for some reason. You began to realize that he only had that uninterested expression on his face the whole time, and you haven't seen it change at all. That’s some talent, you thought. You parted your lips to say something until you met his eyes, leaving you unable to spell out the things you wanted to say. 

"Where's your Akasha terminal?" He slightly tilts his head and points to his earpiece.

You raised a brow, curiously looking at it. "Am I supposed to have something like that?"

"Look around you," he crossed his arms.

And so you did, and funnily enough, you were the dumb one here. The people around you were wearing one on their ear as well, even the children. A defeated sigh left your lips as you turned to face him again.

"Well," you cleared your throat, thinking of a silly and senseless excuse. "I didn't know, I may have forgotten to get one at the Akademiya." You simply said, pursing your lips. That must be why you were the only one to be at the lodge first. Everyone must have gone to get those earpieces.

After all, it's the truth. You were in a hurry to get a dorm to be able to live comfortably here, but you were too occupied to get yours after the tour. Still, you had priorities.

"Last month's new transferees knew better," he bitterly commented, turning to his side. Your eye twitched.

He was starting to piss you off now, and you wanted to shout at him, but you knew you couldn't do that. Your impression of him immediately changed, and you hoped you wouldn't get into the same Darshan as him. Besides, shouldn't he be at least nicer to someone new here?

Because of that, you disregarded the thought of asking for his name and making friends with him. He must think highly of himself just because he's from here. You internally rolled your eyes at him and watched him look around.

Truth be told, you were expecting a gentleman and a calm personality just by observing his appearance, but instead, you were met with an obnoxious man. Your first day at Sumeru is looking rather pleasant already, you thought.

"My deepest apologies for not paying proper attention," you forced a small grin, being the nice one here since you were left with no choice.

He said nothing and only gave you a nod before turning around. He opens his book again to the page where he left off when he bumped into you. The passages and pathways were crowded, and you had no choice but to wait for a while. You were in the center of the busy city, after all.

You turned to the opposite side of his direction, just to make sure you didn't cross paths with him again. Once you heard him walking, you looked over your shoulder to watch him sink into the crowd.

"Who does he think he is?" You mumble to yourself, burning the back of his head with your intense scowl.

You prayed to the archons you don't meet him again .

Chapter Text

You made your way back to the Akademiya to get your Akasha terminal. The others had already gotten theirs and were now exploring the city. You wore the earpiece and tapped it once as a hue of green took over your field of vision, startling you a little. 

“Use it often, especially during your research. Just know it cannot be used outside of Sumeru.” The representative who gave out the earpieces raises a hand to catch the attention of everyone standing in front of you. “Please take good care of it and... try not to break it.” He smiles sheepishly; his expression shows that an incident has happened before. You were kind of curious and wanted to ask, but you refrained from being nosy.

You simply nodded and turned to leave the Akademiya since it was almost nighttime. While walking, you are also occupied with studying the terminal and configuring its settings. It’s convenient and quite techy. As expected, the Akademiya is more advanced than your academy. This is better than having your asthma triggered by all the chalk on a blackboard on a daily.

The doors were opened wide as it was time for everyone to go home. You were a little bummed that the day had to end already. To you, it felt like you only got here a second ago. You decided to stay out for a bit more and buy something to eat. Knowing the street smarts of this new city is also beneficial, you thought.

The locals greet you on the way and welcome you to the city. You warmly smile at them as you scramble to find your way wherever destiny takes you. You were starting to regret this; you didn’t even know where to go and where to find what. Perhaps it was also because you’re tired from moving a lot all day. 

At this point, you wished your eyes were flexible and expandable enough to look from above to find a place to eat. Now that you’ve strayed too far, you don’t even remember which way it is back to the lodge. You’ll just have to trust your instincts and gamble. As you continued walking, the smell of delicious food grew stronger, luring you to its source. 

“Whoa, sorry.”

You gasped and almost collided with someone again, but you backed up immediately, and so did the person. It’s as if the archons are cursing you today and blessing you at the same time.

“I’m so sorry,” you bow to him before turning your attention to the restaurant to the right of you. The person seemed to be going into the restaurant as well. You turn back to him and he flinches as if your curious gaze made him nervous or something, causing your eyebrow to raise.

“W-What?” He cleared his throat, looking back at you and the door to the restaurant. “Aren’t you going in?” He awkwardly smiles at you, waiting for you to do something.

“Hmm,” you hummed, fiddling with the strap of your bag. You weren’t even sure what to order, to begin with. “...What dish would you recommend to me?” You approach him, eyes sparkling to show that you’re looking forward to whatever he says.

His eyes widened, and his jaw slightly dropped as if the question made him panic. “I.. uh..” he stuttered, which made you think that the food here was either good or bad and that he couldn’t tell you. “Sorry to break it to you, but…” He swallowed, preparing to tell you the bad news.

“Oh, no, it’s okay. Any dish is fine for me, I can eat anything. I wasn’t forcing you to answer, don’t worry.” You reassure him to let him calm down a bit. He looks like a ticking bomb that’s about to go boom.

“I’m sorry, w-what I was trying to say is-”

“Would you like to eat with me?” You couldn’t help but ask as your thoughts about the delicious food had accidentally blocked whatever he was trying to say.

“Yes, of course!” He says frantically as if his brain had finally short-circuited. It was awkward now, but only you weren’t aware.

“Okay, cool. Let’s head in, shall we?” You smile at him before going inside, while he follows you behind. You had a feeling it should be the other way around since he should know everything here, but you didn’t mind. The interior amazed you and the interesting patterns on the walls and floors. There was an upstairs, so of course, you had to go up there.

The place felt relaxing, as if you could just hibernate here. A part of you almost wanted to spend the night here, but your dusty lodge is waiting to be cleaned. You and the male settled at a table upstairs, as you found it more peaceful there. 

You sneak a peek at the unknown man across the table, scanning the menu as closely as you are. ‘Does he not know what to pick?’ You thought. You convinced yourself they might have just changed the menu, that’s why he’s looking through it carefully.

It seems something had annoyed him. “Are you from the Akademiya?” He starts, sparking up a conversation as he discards the menu.

“Yes, it’s my first day here. I’m (Y/n), by the way.” You also close the menu to talk with him. “And you?” You held out your hand.

“Sethos,” he shakes hands with you from across the table. “I’m from the Akademiya, but I rarely explore the city.”

You raise a brow until you realize you made a confused face. “Don’t you wander here often? You gave me the impression that you already had every corner of the city memorized.” He laughs at your comment, pouring water on your cup. 

“I wish,” he grins, pouring some for himself as well. “I come from the desert of Sumeru. I came here on a whim to relax a bit. But I can’t let anyone know so…” You understood what he was trying to say, you didn’t dare to ask the reason even though you were extremely curious.

“I see,” you nodded. Soon, the waiter approached to take your orders. You talked more with Sethos and learned how huge Sumeru is. You couldn’t wait to explore the rainforest and desert now. He also told you that he leads a temple in the desert, which made you connect the dots. 

You were a bit surprised that you were practically talking to a lord. “S-Sorry for my rudeness earlier, uh..” you awkwardly laugh, feeling a little bad now. Who knew your first friend would be someone higher than you who resides in the desert?

“Come on, it’s fine, drop the formalities! We’re friends now, and I prefer being called by my name.” He laughs it off with a dismissive wave of his hand.

You were going to talk more when your food came, and your nostrils almost flared at the divine smell. You only realized now that you ordered so much. Neither of you didn’t know what to order, so you both agreed to the dumb decision of ordering everything on the menu.

“Let’s dig in, shall we?” You both laughed it off and started. 

As the plates started piling up, you were beginning to get full, but Sethos seemed to have a bigger appetite than you. You couldn’t believe he was still going and seemed to enjoy every last bite. You were too full to even move, one would think you’re pregnant or something. If only a bed just spawns next to you and you can sleep here right now, you thought.

While waiting for Sethos to finish eating, the incident earlier suddenly flashed in your mind. The mere thought of it pisses you off. He was indeed good-looking, but you could already tell what his whole personality was after that short interaction. As someone who observes people well, you know deep down you can never get along with a person like that.

The book he was holding came from the library. Could he be a teacher or a student? Or perhaps, both? You bet he’s older than you and in a different darshan, then that way, you won’t have to see him again. You clicked your tongue when you realized you were thinking about it too much.

“You seem bothered by something,” Sethos clears his throat, chugging down the juice.

“It’s nothing,” you shook your head and stood up for the food to go down. “I’m gonna go pay, you stay here.” 

“H-Huh? I’m payi-”

You hurry downstairs, laughing to yourself as you hear him grumble. Not even a second later, you were already regretting getting off your seat. You just wished Sethos had tied you to the chair. A few minutes ago, you had just sworn not to be within five meters of this man again, but unfortunately, he’s here and is within four meters of you… again.

Fortunately, though, he doesn’t even seem to notice you, and it seems like he’s just about to leave, so you’ll let it slide this time. And here you are, awkwardly standing in a corner, waiting for him to scram from the counter. If looks could kill, he would already be dead way earlier. It’s almost as if he gained a stealthy nemesis. A smart one, too.

He seems to be talking to the restaurant owner and ordering booze. “Hah,” you scoff to no one. Not only is he rude, but he’s a drunkard too. That’s already two red flags in a person, and you managed to find out about it in less than a day. As expected, his stoic expression never budged even once, even though the person he was talking to seemed to be having the best laugh of his life.

After their conversation had finished, he swiftly grabbed the bottle and two cups, heading back to his table somewhere. You didn’t waste a second and almost dashed to the counter hurriedly, you almost blurted out everything you ordered, but you still said them carefully for the owner to follow you.

“That will all be 11,390 mora, please.” 

You didn’t even care about the amount, you just wanted to get out of here already. Your hand searches the depths of your bag for a sack of mora and hands it over to him. He was still counting the mora, so you had to wait for a while. You tapped your foot impatiently, praying to the archons that a cage had been built surrounding you and the counter to prevent a particular person from approaching.

You glance around to see if Sethos has already come downstairs, but you doubt it, he must be resting. You dragged him to eat with you, after all. You should take full responsibility. 

“Unfortunately, this isn’t enough mora, bu-”

“I’d like another bottle, boss.”

You didn’t turn around. You knew who this was without even looking. It’s as if that certain egoistic tone and voice is already etched in your mind. Your eye subtly twitched, thinking of your next move. You internally sighed and moved to the side to search every corner of the inside of your bag. There must be some more that fell inside from the pouch.

“Another one? You and your colleagues did well on your recent documentation, eh?” The man laughs boisterously, turning around to grab a bottle from the rack that has bottles displayed.

Even if the restaurant was full of chatter and laughs, you listened closely to them as you busied yourself with searching for mora in your bag. If he finds out you’re short on mora, it would be an embarrassing story to tell. You wanted them to keep talking since you were also curious about what this man does, as much as you dislike him.

“We’re just finishing up, we’ve covered three cases so far.” He crosses his arms, slightly glancing your way but keeping it discreet.

Cases? Documentation? Is he like a librarian? Or some lawyer? Probably a researcher too. You couldn’t help but think about what it is, but it only made your head hurt.

“Could I also get a glass of Chardonnay?” He adds, causing the owner to abruptly look around the rack to find it. 

“Oh, dear, I think I’ve got to go down to the cellar to find one.” He scratches the back of his head after searching every rack. 

“No rush, take your time.” He assures him.

“Thanks! Oh, please take your time, too, miss. I’ll be back in a moment.” He informs you before heading to the back so you can see his silhouette slowly descend. 

You could have sworn your inner grumble could be heard from you when you realized the situation. If only you could teleport to your lodge right now to grab mora and teleport back here, you thought. You’d rather be buried right here and right now than even speak to him.

“If you did that to talk to me, do it now while I’m still not vexed.” You stated, staring in front of you.

He didn’t say anything and only turned to his side to look at you. “Humor me.”

You rolled your eyes, trying to hide the slight chill that prickled up your spine. “You know, if you wanted a court jester, you could just hire one. I’m not in the business of making you laugh.” You crossed your arms and turned slightly away, trying not to let him see that you were, in fact, on edge due to the entire situation. You still needed to go back to Sethos to ask him for spare mora.

He let out a low chuckle, his voice stern. “You assume I find jesters entertaining. Try again.”

You hesitated, contemplating whether it was even worth trying to pull something witty or if silence would serve you better. Instead, you met his gaze, defiant. This place is crossed off your list now that you found out he seems to be a regular here. You asked yourself why you’re even here. If you had just brought enough mora, you would already be on your merry way.

You folded your arms, your gaze fixed on him as he stood there, arms crossed, looking entirely unbothered. "If you’re just here to waste my time, consider it successfully wasted. I’ll be on my way."

He looked you over, his expression unreadable but more focused than before, as if he'd just noticed something worth a second glance. "And here I thought you’d stick around for the entertainment.”

You scoffed, brushing him off. “You’re a lot of things, but entertaining isn’t one of them.”

A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth, though he tried to hide it. “Then why are you still here?”

You met his gaze, refusing to back down. “Maybe I’m just waiting to see if you’ll say anything worth hearing. So far, I’m not impressed.”

He tilted his head, as if intrigued despite himself, his eyes narrowing just a fraction. "I didn’t realize I was supposed to impress you."

"You’re not," you shot back, "but I’d think you’d have more than empty words to offer."

He let out a quiet, almost amused breath and, for just a moment, his guarded expression softened. "Believe me, I have better things to do too, but you’re… not quite what I expected.”

You hesitated, caught off guard by the shift in his tone. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

His eyes glinted, curiosity barely veiled. “Nothing,” he said, the smirk returning, his demeanor turning distant again.

But despite his dismissal, his gaze lingered just a second too long before he turned away. It was subtle, almost as though he didn’t want you to notice the small crack in his indifference.

“Fine,” you replied, keeping your voice steady. “Then I’ll consider this a waste of my time.”

He nodded as if to say "Suit yourself," but there was a trace of something more in his gaze, something almost like reluctant curiosity, as he watched you leave.

You practically stomped on the floor as you made your way upstairs through the crowd, as more people were coming in for dinner time. Stopping in front of your table, you let out a huff, startling Sethos.

“Oh, you’re back! Are you okay?” His face looked puzzled as he asked you, hinting that you took quite a long time downstairs.

You dropped into the chair across from Sethos, folding your arms as if to ward off the lingering irritation. “Ran into a mess downstairs,” you muttered, still visibly annoyed.

Sethos’s eyebrows shot up, surprised. “Someone?” he asked, frowning. “Must’ve been quite the character to put that look on your face. What happened?”

“Some insufferable, arrogant guy who thinks he’s too good for basic manners,” you huffed, leaning back in your chair. 

Sethos leaned in, clearly intrigued. “Wow, okay. That sounds... intense. What did he do?”

You exhaled sharply, replaying the encounter in your mind. “It was more his attitude. He looked at me like I was some kind of nuisance for even being there. Made a point of acting like he had better things to do, but he never left.”

Sethos glanced to his side, as if he had just realized who you were talking about. “That’s… interesting.”

“‘Interesting’ isn’t the word I’d use,” you replied, crossing your arms. “He had this smug look, like he knew something I didn’t. As if I should’ve been the one who was bothered, not him.”

Sethos grinned nervously, unable to hide his amusement. “You sure you didn’t just misread him? Maybe he’s just… awkward with people?”

You scoffed. “Awkward? Please. He was enjoying it, and I know it.”

After ranting your heart out and you became calmer, you both decided to leave, and Sethos agreed to pay the remaining amount you couldn’t without hesitation. You’re not sure how he’d even pay it since you don’t see him carrying any bag of anything and his pockets seem empty, but you didn’t question it. Sumeru is full of surprises, you thought.

As you descended the stairs, your blood started to boil, and you searched for him everywhere. He and his ‘colleagues’ must be in a room. When you returned to the counter and he was no longer there, you felt a little sense of relief. The owner crosses his arms, smiles at you and Sethos, and then glances at you. Your brows wrinkle at his expression. 

Sethos cleared his throat and mentally prepared to give his speech. You already know what he’s going to say. “Hey, boss, you see, I didn’t bring mora today, but I would li-” 

“You are Sethos and (Y/n), right?”

Your eyes widen.

Sethos grins widely, and his eyes gleam, almost relieved, but you were the opposite. You were confused and agitated. “Yes, oh my gosh, I’m so glad you know m-”

“How did you know my name?” You felt bad that Sethos kept getting interrupted, but you needed to ask why and how. Your mind was basically in shambles, trying to think of any way he knew your name. You don’t ever remember telling him.

“Oh,” his mouth went agape. “The Scribe next to you earlier picked up your tab. Lucky you, huh? It’s all good now, you don’t have to pay any more, miss.” He laughs, bending down to give you back the bag of mora you brought.

“R-Really? The Scribe of the Akademiya?” Sethos couldn’t believe it, as if he knew more about this ‘scribe’ than you did.

You stared at the bag of mora in his hands, processing his words. “The Scribe?” You frowned, repeating his title. You hadn’t given him a second thought. Why would he go out of his way to cover for you?

The man nodded, grinning. “Yep. He did without a second thought. Said it was ‘a favor to a friend,’ though it looked like you two had just met.” He set the bag in front of you and added with a laugh, “Guess that’s one way to make an impression, huh?”

You exchanged a glance with Sethos, who looked equally perplexed. “A ‘friend,’ huh?” he murmured, giving you a curious look. “I didn’t realize you had mysterious benefactors hanging around.” You had a bad feeling that Sethos knew something.

“Neither did I,” you muttered, tightening your grip on the bag. “I never even told him my name.”

Sethos leaned against the counter, the intrigue clear on his face. “Did he say anything else? Or just mysteriously pay and vanish?”

The man shrugged, scratching his head. “Not much. He just asked me to put it on his tab, said he hoped you’d enjoy the evening, and then he left.”

Sethos let out a low chuckle. “Wow, you’re already close?”

“Never in a million years,” you replied, shaking your head. “If anything, he seemed like he barely tolerated me.” You glanced toward the door, still trying to wrap your head around it all. “He said I was wasting his time, but then… he does this?”

“Maybe he felt a little nice..? He must’ve noticed you were annoyed,” Sethos tried to reason it out, but it only made your blood hotter as seconds passed. 

“Thank you,” you bow to the owner, suggesting you are finally done talking. You tried to be as unbothered as possible as you made your way out of the restaurant.

“W-We’ll be off now. Thank you, boss, and please tell the Scribe!” Sethos follows you behind.

The cold breeze of the night refreshed you as you stepped out. You felt suffocated in there. You begin to calm down a little. So, he gets to know your name, and you don’t even know his? Isn’t that a bit unfair?

You’d suggested taking a walk beyond the city’s edge to help digest the feast, but Sethos quickly dismissed the idea, saying it was too dangerous after dark. And so, you found yourself meandering through the quiet veins of the city instead, the gentle lantern glow painting golden trails on the cobblestone streets.

As you wandered, conversation flowed easily between you and Sethos. He shared bits of city wisdom, shortcuts through the market, which vendors would overcharge, and how to tell a tourist trap from a hidden gem. He also revealed that he studied under the Vahumana Darshan at the Akademiya, a path rooted in historical record and ancient texts. He spoke of it with a casual pride that made you smile.

But even as Sethos spoke, your thoughts drifted elsewhere, to him. That elusive Scribe. The one with eyes like storms and a presence that clung to you longer than it should.

“Have you met this Scribe before?” you asked, tapping your chin absentmindedly.

Sethos tilted his head thoughtfully. “Only once. Briefly. But he’s well-known. He even stepped in as Grand Sage temporarily, which caused quite a stir, though no one was surprised. He’s brilliant, but…” Sethos trailed off with a shrug. “Not the warmest person around. Still, if you find yourself crossing paths with him often, he might surprise you with a stray sentence or two.”

You exhaled sharply and shook your head. “That’s exactly what I’m trying to avoid, being in his vicinity.”

Sethos chuckled at your expense. “You say that, but fate seems to think otherwise.”

Before long, he glanced at the time and sighed. “I should go. Someone’s expecting me. It was nice hanging out, (Y/n). Really.” You exchanged goodbyes, parting ways with a wave. And just like that, you were alone again, adrift in your little world. But it didn’t feel so heavy now. You’d made a friend. That counted for something.

Later, the weariness of the day finally caught up to you, settling in your limbs like sand. Between the food, the emotional whiplash, and the sheer novelty of it all, you headed back to the lodge without another word.

The days that followed melted into quiet repetition, a self-made routine. You buried yourself in your studies, poring over books borrowed from the House of Daena, chasing alignment with the Darshan you longed to join. Pages turned beneath your fingers, each one a step closer to your goal. Three meals a day marked the rhythm of your focus. Eat, study, sleep, repeat.

Then came the day you’d been bracing for your entire academic life: the Darshan Selection Trials. It had arrived quietly and all at once.

You stood at the threshold of the House of Daena, shoulders squared despite the unease coiling in your stomach. The space was alive with scholars, researchers, and hopefuls like yourself, far more than you expected. Their voices echoed against the marble walls, a chorus of ambition and nerves.

Naturally, you were prepared. Painfully prepared. You’d practically memorized the entire structure of the Selection Trials. Oral, practical, and written assessments, each more daunting than the last. They would also be evaluating your understanding of the Three Virtues: Admonition, Ingenuity, and Praxis. Because raw knowledge wasn’t intimidating enough, they had to test your soul, too.

Still, you’d read every pamphlet, scroll, and obscure footnote available. You knew what was coming. Probably. Hopefully.

Your targets were Amurta or Spantamad. Either one would be a dream come true. Or at the very least, a non-disastrous ending. You weren’t picky, just mildly desperate.

You glanced around, sizing up your competition. Some looked pale as parchment; others had the smug calm of someone who probably studied since they were in diapers. You, on the other hand, were existing in a bizarre state of confident dread. You were both fine and not fine.

Then your thoughts slipped somewhere else entirely. That dream.

The one you had before leaving your homeland. You crossed your arms, your eyes narrowing slightly as you tried to summon more of it. Why did it resurface now, of all times? You could barely recall the details, only a faint voice and a sentence that dissolved like mist the moment you woke. Something about it tugged at you. Not with urgency, but with eerie persistence.

You told yourself it was nothing. A random dream. Just your overworked brain playing tricks. But… was it?

Before your mind could spiral further, a loud drumbeat snapped you back to the present. Everyone jolted slightly. The trials were officially beginning. A line began to form at the entrance to the preparation hall, and you fell in with the rest of the researchers, breathing in and out slowly, like you were trying to calm not just your nerves but your entire existence.

That door ahead didn’t just open into a hall. It opened into your future. No pressure, definitely.

When it finally creaked open, the sight that greeted you was almost surreal. The chamber beyond was massive, larger than even the House of Daena, and bathed in green, as if the forest itself had crept indoors. Vines twisted elegantly around pillars, and intricate geometric patterns sprawled across the high ceiling. It looked less like an examination room and more like a sacred garden maintained by scholars with a flair for interior design.

At the far end of the room, the Six Great Sages sat in quiet judgment, their presence commanding yet distant, like statues that occasionally blink.

The Akademiya officials ushered everyone to their assigned seats for the written portion. You settled in, heart pounding with the quiet intensity of someone about to make or break their academic future. The officials reviewed the structure of the trials once again: how the evaluations would be scored, what came next, what failure meant.

If you didn’t make the cut for your first-choice Darshan, you could try for another. That was a small comfort… until you realized how much that sounded like being offered backup soup after dropping your main dish on the floor.

And no, you couldn’t be part of two Darshans. That kind of ambition would get you labeled “eccentric” at best or “unhinged” if you were lucky.

Still, you sat a little taller, eyes forward. You didn’t come this far just to let a few nerves or long-forgotten dreams get the best of you.

Soon after the orientation, there was a brief preparation time before the tests began, so everyone was given time to revise or do absolutely nothing. You were doing the latter. 

You weren’t sure whether it was a curse or the Archons themselves personally smiting you for some forgotten sin, but there he was. Again. That infuriating, smug, entirely too composed male you seemed cosmically bound to encounter in every unfortunate scenario.

He strode into the room like he owned it, and, to your horror, took a seat just below the Six Great Sages. Seriously? A front-row seat to your potential downfall? This had to be a joke, one the universe found particularly funny.

Your mood plummeted. You slumped into your chair with the emotional energy of someone watching their ex win the lottery. This was going to be a long day. You tore your gaze away from him, deciding to focus on the far more tolerable activity of people-watching. At least the strangers around you didn’t make your blood pressure spike.

When the trials finally began, your Akasha Terminal blinked to life, a green shimmer overtaking your vision. For a second, it felt like you’d been transported elsewhere, yet your body remained in the same seat, motionless. This must be part of the test.

The first challenge appeared: a virtual scroll filled with ancient texts and a lengthy dissertation on herbology. A bit heavy, sure, but nothing you couldn’t handle. You studied it with ease, breezing through the material and answering the questions without so much as a furrowed brow. Honestly, it was more fun than difficult. You even learned a thing or two along the way, which was a bonus.

The next section was slightly more intense, scrolls on elemental reactions and celestial phenomena. The stakes were higher, the material denser, and your Akasha Terminal seemed determined to fry your brain through sheer volume. Still, with your stockpile of prior knowledge, it was manageable. Challenging, yes, but nothing that left you in a cold sweat.

By the time the written trials ended and the terminal flickered off, you sat back in your chair, perfectly composed. Around you, however, was a gallery of despair, students with haunted eyes, sweat-drenched brows, and the overall look of people who’d just stared directly into the Abyss. You blinked. Was it really that bad? The answers were practically gift-wrapped in the materials. You shrugged inwardly. Maybe you just studied harder. Or maybe your tolerance for academic chaos had been dangerously underestimated.

Next came the oral trials. These were done in groups of four, and thankfully, the grouping was randomized. No awkward mingling required. Your team was given a stack of scrolls with a randomly assigned topic, which you were expected to present after analyzing, harmonizing, or demonstrating its relevance. Other groups were assigned tasks involving elemental reactions, engineering theory, and even real-time magical simulations. Yours? A lively but manageable scroll on bio-luminescent flora and its potential applications. Frankly, it felt less like an exam and more like a group project with unusually high stakes. Still, it flew by. One moment, you were discussing core concepts; the next, you were done. Easy.

Finally, the practical trial arrived. The one you were most confident in.

You were allowed to choose your desired Darshan for this part, and naturally, you headed straight for Amurta. Unsurprisingly, many others did the same. The trial was straightforward: each participant received a plant specimen randomly sourced from somewhere in Teyvat. Your task was to analyze it, identify its origin, properties, and potential uses. All within one hour. You were granted access to books, scrolls, and records to support your findings.

And you? You finished with the swiftness of someone brewing a casual cup of tea. While others squinted at leaves like they were deciphering ancient runes, you had already written your summary, cross-referenced your sources, and mentally prepared what you’d say if questioned.

You hadn’t realized how much time had passed until it was over. Truly over. The trials had consumed the entire day. One moment, you were deciphering plant genomes and arguing about scroll interpretations, and the next, the officials were congratulating everyone for surviving what could only be described as the Akademiya’s intellectual gauntlet.

The Six Great Sages had now taken over, reviewing the outputs with that unreadable calm they all seemed to master. You were granted a one-hour break before the results were announced.

And you? You practically floated out of the examination hall. No, scratch that. You danced. Not literally twirling in circles, but there was an undeniable bounce in your step that might’ve passed for choreography. 

A few researchers glanced your way, clearly baffled by your joy. One even looked mildly alarmed, as if you’d lost your mind somewhere during the elemental reaction segment.

Unbothered, you awkwardly moonwalked your confidence into a quiet corner and planted yourself there like an ornamental fern.

From your spot, you resumed your now-ritualistic hobby: people watching. Most of them seemed to know each other. Chatting in familiar tones, exchanging post-trial theories like seasoned comrades. Meanwhile, you stood out like a sore thumb... or rather, like a very determined transfer student who didn’t get the group chat memo.

You were certain you were the only one from your city. No one else had your accent, your walk, or your taste in practical footwear. It hit you, then the pressure. You weren’t just another hopeful here; you were representing home. Whatever “home” meant now. You had to make it count.

With the trials behind you, your mind drifted back to that strange dream again.

You remembered being in danger, though from what, you weren’t sure. Someone had been trying to wake you up. You even recalled your name being called, though the voice was muffled, like it was underwater. Odd. You didn’t usually dream so vividly. And it wasn’t like you had any traumatic childhood memories lurking around.

Well, except maybe that time your father smacked you with a ruler for messing up simple math. But that was character-building, not trauma. Probably.

You chalked it up to being visited by your dead grandparents, again, and decided not to overthink it.

Just as you were about to find a quieter place to sit, someone approached you. A very tall someone. So tall, in fact, you’d initially mistake him for a particularly judgmental lamppost.

You didn’t even look at him. “I don’t have anything to say to yo—”

“You seemed more like a scroll-and-rune type,” he interrupted, his voice as calm as ever. “Still, you did well back there.”

You blinked, caught off guard. Was this a compliment? From him?

Wait a second, wasn’t this the man Sethos described as unfriendly? Or did he just have no friends to practice friendliness with?

You gave him a wary side glance. “They’re not my forte,” you said simply, keeping your tone neutral. “But... thanks.”

There was a pause. The silence between you wasn’t heavy, just vaguely confusing—like the moment you realize a storm might pass without rain after all.

You weren’t sure what he wanted, or why he suddenly decided to talk, but one thing was certain: This day just kept getting weirder.

He nodded once, eyes scanning the crowd as if the conversation bored him already. “Still, for someone who claims it’s not their forte, you looked oddly comfortable.”

You rolled your eyes. “It’s called competence. You should try it sometime.”

He glanced at you, expression unreadable. “I do. Regularly.”

“Right. By lurking around like a ghost and judging people from the shadows?” You crossed your arms, cocking your head. “Sounds productive.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Better than dancing around the hall like you just solved the riddles of Irminsul.”

You scoffed. “That’s called confidence. Maybe if you smiled once in a while, you’d understand the concept.”

“I smile when there’s something worth smiling about,” he said dryly.

You blinked. “Wow. That sounded rehearsed. Do you write these down in your little Scribe diary?”

That got the faintest twitch from the corner of his mouth. Not a smile, more like a smirk trying to escape and getting strangled halfway.

“I don’t waste parchment on nonsense,” he replied coolly. “Besides, I prefer silence. Something you clearly haven’t mastered.”

“I’ll work on that right after you work on your social skills,” you muttered.

There was a short, standoffish pause. Neither of you looked directly at the other, but the tension buzzed like a leyline gone rogue. And yet... neither of you walked away, either.

Eventually, he broke the silence. “You’re not from here.”

“Is it that obvious?” you deadpanned. “What gave it away, the foreign name, the different accent, or the constant sense of existential dread?”

“You carry yourself like someone who’s used to being underestimated,” he said flatly, ignoring your sarcasm. “It’s hard not to notice.”

You frowned. “And you carry yourself like someone who’s never had to earn their place.”

He turned to you then, meeting your gaze without flinching. “You assume too much.”

“And you say too little.”

He held your stare for a moment longer, then looked away, disinterested again or pretending to be.

“Anyway,” you huffed, adjusting your sleeve, “thanks for the backhanded compliment or... whatever that was.”

“You’re welcome,” he said, not sounding grateful at all.

You glanced at him one last time. “I still don’t like you.”

“That makes two of us.”

And with that, you both stood there, side by side, arms crossed, thoroughly annoyed, and for some reason, neither of you left.

You shifted your weight, suddenly very aware of how long you’d been standing next to him. The break was nearly over, and the crowd was slowly filtering back into the hall. You didn’t want to be late for the results, not after all that effort.

With a tight breath, you pushed off the wall. “Well, I’ve had enough of this emotionally draining bonding session.”

“Wasn’t bonding,” he said flatly.

“Exactly,” you shot back. “Glad we agree on something.”

You turned to leave without another word, but before you could take more than three steps, his voice stopped you.

“Alhaitham.”

You paused.

“…What?” you said, glancing over your shoulder.

He didn’t move from where he stood, arms still crossed, gaze steady.

“My name. Since you never asked.” His tone was as casual as ever, but something in it, quietly intentional, made your spine straighten.

You stared at him for a second. “Okay. Good for you, Alhaitham.” You started to turn again, but he wasn’t finished.

“And yours is (Y/n).”

That made you stop completely.

You turned fully now, brow furrowed. “How do you know that?”

He looked at you like the answer was obvious. “I have eyes. And ears. You’re not exactly inconspicuous.”

You blinked. “So you were listening.”

“I was observing,” he corrected. “There’s a difference.”

“You're incredibly cocky, you know that?”

“I do,” he said, annoyingly unfazed. “And you’re incredibly defensive.”

The air between you shifted again, like something was crawling just beneath the surface, waiting.

You stared at him a beat longer than necessary. “Enjoy the rest of your day, Alhaitham.”

He inclined his head, just slightly. “You too, (Y/n). Try not to trip over your ego on the way out.”

You didn’t dignify that with a response. But your footsteps were louder than before as you walked off, just in case he needed the reminder that you chose to walk away.

Still... you couldn’t help but wonder why hearing your name from his lips felt like more than just observation.