"Oh but this is an offer you can't refuse. You see, the tutor I found is none other than an esteemed student right here at the Akademiya. One of the very best. Perhaps you've heard of him....a scholar named Alhaitham?"
Your mouth fell open as the book you held fell to the floor with a loud thud.
"Is something wrong?" your teacher asked, startled.
You blinked quickly, taking a few moments to register what he said. "Alhaitham...? Isn't he one of the Haravatat...? One of the Akademiya's most esteemed students?"
"Correct! And I've gotten him to agree to tutor you, isn't that exciting?" your teacher asked, his grin growing wider as he looked at you with a sparkle in his eyes.
It was anything but exciting. Alhaitham was by far one of the most popular students; fluent in over 20 languages, including the ever-challenging language of the Scarlet king - a language only few could understand. He had flawless grades and was beyond just smarter than most students here. Yet as large as the rumors about him were, not many scholars had actually seen him - including you. He was often on work or projects outside the Akademiya.
So why in the world did he agree to tutor a nobody like you?!
"There's no need to thank me," your teacher continued, flipping through the large stack of papers on his desk. "Your lessons start at sunrise tomorrow and I look forward to seeing your improvement,"
Without another word, you turned and rushed out of his office. You could feel frustration bubbling up inside of you as you made your way through the twisting alleyways into the bustling streets of Sumeru at night. The sun had started to set in the orange-streaked evening sky, marking the end of the workday.
You let yourself get lost along with your worries in the busy crowds of the marketplace. Stall owners began calling out to the passerby, competing with other stores to put out the most attractive deals. You quickly made your way to the Puspa cafe and were welcomed by the mouth-watering smell of shawarmas as you pushed the doors open.
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You let out a heavy sigh as you trudged to the nearest empty table and practically collapsed onto the seat. Placing your head in your hands, your brow furrowed as you recalled what had happened earlier.
"A tutor? What the hell do I need that for? I can do just fine by myself...and out of all the people, it just had to be him," you quietly grumbled to yourself as you perused the menu.
Forget it. You had lost your appetite the moment you received your exam results.
"Is there anything I can get for you today, miss?" the waiter asked, approaching your table.
"I'll just....have one Padisarah pudding," you decided, hoping something sweet could lift your spirits.
"Of course miss, that will be 500 mora,"
You shoved your hands into your pockets, searching for your wallet. Dread slowly filled your mind as you kept searching. Where was it?? You could have sworn it was there just this morning!
"Is there anything wrong, miss?" the waiter asked, staring at you expectantly.
"Well...I seem to have uh...misplaced my wallet," you explained, embarrassed at yourself for making such a stupid mistake.
"I'm sorry if you can't pay please lea-"
"I'll cover it," a gruff voice interrupted. You looked up to see someone with a black and teal cape walking towards your table, handing the waiter 500 mora.
"Oh, thank you, sir. Your pudding will be here shortly, miss," the waiter smiled, swiftly taking his leave.
You stood up to greet the mysterious stranger who volunteered to pay for your food. "Thank you so much, is there any way I can repay you?" you asked, taking in his appearance. He wore a sleeveless black top covered by a cape with a bright green dendro vision hanging off of the shoulder. What was even more striking than his light gray hair were his emerald-colored eyes as they met your gaze.
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You couldn't help but stare at the stranger's ethereal beauty for a few moments before quickly snapping back to reality.
"No need to repay me," he replied, crossing his arms. "Do you mind if I share your table?"
- x -
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