Stolen Enchantment

Undeniable Sins

"Score my paper high, please! If I don't get this grade up I won't be able to graduate this year."

Kaveh practically begged his professor, the man hesitated and took the paper off the desk, and reviewed it one last time. He let out a long sigh before handing it back.

"Kaveh, you're so young. There's no need to push yourself to this length to graduate this year, there are many who receive their validations near their thirties. Don't you think you should relax?"

Kaveh's teeth gritted, and he raised his hands and twisted his hair around irritatedly. He knew well that it wasn't just his goal to graduate young, but it was his goal to surpass a friend who he understood was far greater than he ever could be. If he didn't graduate this year, he would be left behind. He didn't want to be looked down upon for staying another four years in the Akademiya. Just for a chance to be given his validation. Thinking about the smirk on the man's face, staring down at him as he throws his victorian hat into the air of celebration terrorized him at night. Such embarrassment was something he would be unable to bare.

"You don't understand, I can't relax! This needs to be scored higher if there's something I could do to raise my grade before next month-"

The professor paused him with the raise of his hand, he felt pity for Kaveh. He's seen students determined to graduate early, but it wasn't common. He had never witnessed someone so obsessed to earn their validation.

"Knowledge is something you cannot rush, Kaveh. Otherwise, you might end up in the rabbit hole of corruption. You need some more time."

The professor took out a pen from his desk and wrote it down on the stack of papers clipped together. It was his signature, beautifully written in one quick movement. He shook his head with slight disappointment, handing it back over to Kaveh.

"I give you my permission to take a second look at this when you believe it's corrected. You may turn it in to me only once. Good luck."

Kaveh's frustrated hair-pulling stopped abruptly as he snatched back the documents. An ambitious smile curled on his lips, he barely shouted a 'thank you,' in the professor's direction before he was gone.

Kaveh that night seated himself at his desk, his papers scattered everywhere as he analyzed every bit he could. The research paper was on visions and their mathematical aspect of it. To determine if the magic itself could be manipulated or not. Although the subject itself was sensitive, he remembered being told in one of his classes that testing such a thing was seen to be disrespectful to the Archons, it was only a theoretical paper. No such studies have ever been done hands-on, Kaveh didn't exactly understand how it was 'unethical'.

He saw it as understanding the art of magic gifted by gods. If it could be understood more than it is presently, it could be world-changing. A lightbulb flickered over his head, he remembered that Alhaitham was the only one in the whole Akademiya who received a vision before graduation. The two were, what you could call silent frenemies. While Kaveh was the only one who hung around Alhaitham, he had a burning jealousy for his intelligence. Maybe that was why he spent so much time around him. But it wasn't always like this, the two were well great friends. They had known each other for years before engaging in the high academic leagues. But ever since coming here, Kaveh had developed a strong evy about everything related to Alhaitham. But of course, he had no heart or awareness to admit something even in his head. 

Kaveh checked the time, it wasn't much past dark. He hurried with his papers to Alhaitham's dorm. He stopped to knock when he quickly realized that Alhaitham likely wasn't even there. He turned to the only other place he knew, the main library. During this time it was busy with students scattered around. Studying to their brain limit, but the silence was painful. Kaveh swept from aisle to aisle when he entered a dead end. The corner was practically turned into a room, with a large desk seated at the center. With stacks of books personally taken out of complete interest. Seated in the middle was a silver-haired man, dressed in casual student robes. He barely lifted his gaze from his book to take a look at Kaveh's disheveled state.

"Good evening Alhaitham, I have a request."

He spoke with slight nerves, a short smile curved at his lip to appear friendly. Alhaitham didn't take too much longer to look, as he glanced back down to his book, relocating his lost sentence.

"Is it compelling?"

Kaveh's eyes twisted around nervously as he fiddled with the corners of his research paper. He opened his mouth to speak but was immediately cut off.

"Nevermind,"

Kaveh jazzed his hands in the air hastily, almost pulling back Alhaitham's quick response.

"You didn't let me explain! It's for research, I need your vision to study something. I promise I won't destroy it or anything like that, it's simply for documentation."

Alhaitham's gaze shot back up again, they narrowed down in his direction leaving a burning mark in between Kaveh's eyes.

"For research purposes only?"

He asked with a frosty look in his eyes.

"Yes."

Pure silence. After maybe 2 minutes of intense staring and ringing ears Alhaitham finally nodded his head in agreement. He raised his finger to adjust the terms.

"You can take it for this single night, at twelve I will be taking it back."

Kaveh's mouth raised into a bright smile, he nodded and approached Alhaitham, putting his hand out for the vision. He truly found no worth in the vision besides the fact that it could be helpful in a physical dispute. If anything he could care less whether something would happen to it, but he still kept it in his hands to respect the gods anyway. He unclipped it from his robe and handed it over, he raised a brow and warned one last time.

"Research purposes, only."

Kave took it and examined the colorful and powerful magic sitting in his palm before he nodded respectively. Alhaitham moved his hand closer to Kaveh. his pinky finger sticking out, a promising game the two always did over small things like who got to use what pencil or book. Nobody took it seriously, at least that's what Kaveh thought. But Alhaitham's stern look proved overwise, Kaveh smiled and pointed his finger out. Locking it with Alhaitham's squeezing gently.

"Research purposes only."

Alhaitham suddenly twisted his finger around with his own, Kaveh cried out and pulled his hand away frustratedly. His finger was turning red from the sudden jolt.

"The hell is wrong with you?! Ugh, that's going to leave a bruise!"

Alhaitham just stared as he put his hand back down, he wanted to laugh but rather not for the sake of the moment.

"There will be more than just a bruise if you break our promise."

His eyes narrowed down, and Kaveh nodded while Alhaitham waved his hand dismissively.